Unless otherwise noted, all materials that are part of this Web site, including images, illustrations, designs, icons, photographs, video clips, and written and other materials are copyrights, trademarks, trade dress and/or other intellectual properties owned, controlled or licensed by Canadian Heritage Information Network (CHIN) or its member museums.
We invite you to use the material on this Web site for educational and personal purposes. Copyright and other propriety notices should be kept intact with the material.
Express permission from CHIN or other indicated copyright owners is required if you wish to modify, copy, reproduce, republish, post, transmit or distribute the material in any way for any other purposes, especially commercial.
Language Policy
This Web site is produced by the Canadian Heritage Information Network (CHIN), a Special Operating Agency within the Department of Canadian Heritage in collaboration with museums across the country. Content created by CHIN is produced in both English and French. Searches can be conducted in either French or English but content contributed by member museums and other organizations not subject to the Official Languages Act may be available only in the working language of that institution. CHIN continues to work with its partners in developing bilingual terminology to support searching.
Privacy Policy
It is our policy to protect the privacy of all guests. To prevent unauthorized access, maintain data accuracy and ensure the appropriate use of information, Canadian Heritage Information Network (CHIN) has put in place physical, electronic and management procedures to protect any information we collect on-line.
If you register as a 'friend' of the VMC or to receive e-mail updates on the VMC or our partners, the information you provide is collected using the privacy enhancing technology, Secure Sockets Layer (SSL). This information is kept under CHIN's control, protected under the Privacy Act, and is not provided to any third party. You will not receive e-mail you have not requested and you may update or remove your name from mailing lists at any time by contacting us at vmc@virtualmuseum.ca.
If you have asked us a question that we can't answer, we may forward your message to someone who can unless you specifically ask us not to.
CHIN gathers information concerning the use of the VMC content through 'traffic data' captured in standard web logs and through feedback. From time to time, we may also use cookies to assist us in understanding how the VMC site is used. This information is compiled for the purposes of statistical analysis to improve the services we offer. Information is disclosed to third parties only in aggregate form.
Questions or comments regarding this policy may be sent by email to vmc@virtualmuseum.ca. If you are not satisfied with our response to your privacy concerns, you may wish to contact the Office of the Privacy Commissioner.
Cookies
'Cookies' are used on the VMC Web site in interactive games, special services such as 'My Personal Museum' and to assist in site navigation. The cookies (a special, random ID consisting of small text files stored on the hard drive of the user's computer) are necessary for these applications to function (e.g., for a game to keep score). In some cases the cookies expire once the browser is closed. No other use is made of the information gathered through cookies. From time to time, we may also use cookies to assist us in understanding how the VMC site is used.
Public communication
"Public communication" means a discussion group, chat area, bulletin board, news groups, letters to the editors, webmaster(s) or employees, or e-mail function offered as part of this Web site.
You shall not upload to, distribute through, or otherwise publish in a public communication hosted on the VMC Web site any content which is libelous, defamatory, obscene, pornographic, threatening, invasive of privacy or publicity rights, abusive, illegal, or otherwise objectionable that would constitute or encourage a criminal offense, violate the rights of any party, or that would otherwise give rise to liability or violates any law.
Disclaimer
The materials in the VMC Web site are provided "as is" and without warranties of any kind either express or implied. CHIN does not control or warrant the availability or content of any external Web site or other resource to which this Web site links. Under no circumstances, including but not limited to negligence, shall CHIN be liable for any damages that result from the use of, or the inability to use, the materials in this Web site or linked sites, even if CHIN or a CHIN-authorized representative has been advised of the possibility of such damages.
Jurisdictional Issues
Unless otherwise specified, and except for clearly international offerings stating a change in law or jurisdiction, the content in this Web site is presented solely for the purpose of promoting and providing access to collections and associated content held by Canadian museums, and the Virtual Museum of Canada, all situated in Canada.