Terms of Service

1. Using ABC Online Services

The ABC provides its online services, including ABC-managed spaces on third party platforms, (ABC Online Services) on the following terms.

By continuing to access the ABC Online Services, you agree to be bound by the terms outlined below and any additional terms (including House Rules) outlined within the specific service you access. Please check this page regularly so you are aware of any updates to the terms. If you do not agree with any of the terms, as updated or amended, please do not use the service.

2. Contributing Content

You are responsible for all content you contribute to any ABC Online Services, including text, photos, videos, audio and links (Your Content).

By contributing content to any ABC Online Service, you grant the ABC a royalty-free, non-exclusive licence to use Your Content in any way that we want, and in any media worldwide. This may include the use of your photos or video on ABC television, transmission of the material by our overseas partners and syndication to our Australian content partners. You retain copyright and any other rights you hold in Your Content and can continue to share and commercialise Your Content as you wish.

You confirm you own or have the right to use any copyright material included in Your Content (including music, photos, quotes and excerpts of audio or video), that you have permission of anyone appearing or performing in Your Content and that you are not infringing any person’s rights by submitting the content to the ABC. You also confirm you have, where appropriate, sought the consent of the parent or guardian of any person under the age of 18 who is featured in Your Content.

Please ensure you keep your own copies of Your Content as the ABC may not archive, store or back-up Your Content nor continue to make Your Content accessible online.

The ABC will endeavour to provide you with an appropriate credit when using Your Content on ABC platforms, though you understand and agree this may not always be possible.

3. ABC Online Communities

While encouraging rigorous debate and the sharing of diverse opinions, the ABC expects community members to treat each other with respect and courtesy. These standards apply to interaction within all ABC Online Services including official ABC accounts established on third-party social media sites.

You understand and agree the ABC has ultimate editorial control over all its online services. The ABC may edit, remove or exercise its discretion not to publish your contribution for legal, editorial or operational reasons including if the ABC considers it to be:

  1. defamatory, or otherwise unlawful or that it violates laws regarding harassment, discrimination, racial vilification, privacy or contempt;
  2. intentionally false or misleading;
  3. an infringement of intellectual property rights including copyright;
  4. abusive, offensive or obscene;
  5. inappropriate, off topic, repetitive or vexatious. For example the ABC reserves the right to reject contributions that have been widely canvassed in the forum. It also reserves the right to reject contributions from participants who seek to dominate the discussion;
  6. compromising the privacy of any person or containing inappropriate personal information;
  7. seeking to endorse commercial products or services;
  8. seeking to directly solicit donations;
  9. deliberate provocation of other community members; or
  10. impersonating someone else and/or posting on behalf of a suspended member.

If you breach these Terms of Use, the ABC may block your account or contributions.

The ABC values the role of its communities in guiding content standards and etiquette among members. If you have concerns about inappropriate content on an ABC Online Service you can alert the moderator of that space.

When accessing or participating in an ABC-managed space on a third party platform, such as channels, pages or feeds hosted on an external site, you agree to comply with the terms and conditions specified by that third party platform.

The ABC recommends you make sure you understand the privacy settings for each platform with which you engage and choose appropriate options to protect your personal details and content shared.

4. Use Of ABC Content

All intellectual property rights in the content, software and systems owned by or licensed to the ABC on any ABC Online Services, including logos, images, names, designs, trademarks and copyright (ABC Content) are reserved to the ABC and its licensors. Such content is provided for your personal, non-commercial use only. Unless specifically noted in the House Rules for a particular service, you may not otherwise reproduce, republish, modify, adapt, translate, prepare derivative works from, reverse engineer or disassemble ABC Content, without obtaining the ABC's prior written permission. You agree not to remove, obscure, or alter any ABC copyright notice or trademark on any content you access and use. You also agree not to use ABC Content in a way that implies endorsement by the ABC or any person included in the materials. If you are interested in using ABC Content other than for personal, non-commercial use, please contact ABC Library Sales for further information. Entitlements under Part IVA Division 4 and section 183 of the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth) ('the Act') are reserved to the ABC. For educational institutions: Visit www.screen.org for information about 'Broadcasts' under section 113P of the Act (download of audio-visual content) and www.copyright.com.au for information about 'Works' under section 113P of the Act (copying text/images).

5. Children

The online protection of children is a shared responsibility between the ABC, the parent/guardian and the child. The ABC aims to ensure that children and young people (under 18) who engage with our online spaces understand the possible risks they face and how to minimise them.

When contributions are sought from, likely to have been submitted by, or include children and/or young people (under 18), the ABC will, where appropriate, seek the consent of a child’s parent or guardian before using a child’s contribution on ABC platforms.

Parents seeking appropriate content for young children and advice regarding information regarding online safety can find the ABC’s children’s online destinations at www.abc.net.au/children/.

6. Privacy

Any personal details and data acquired by the ABC from your participation in any ABC Online Services will be used only in accordance with the ABC’s Privacy Policy.

7. Disclaimers

The ABC does not endorse the views or material contained in the contributions of members of the public or third party sites. The ABC is not responsible for the content, availability or performance of external sites linked to or hosting ABC Online Services.

ABC Online Services are provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis. You understand and agree that you use ABC Online Services at your own discretion and risk and that you will be solely responsible for any damage or loss whatsoever that results from such use. The ABC disclaims to the fullest extent permitted by law all guarantees, warranties or representations of merchantability, acceptable quality and fitness for any purpose, security, reliability, accuracy, timeliness, and performance of ABC Online Services and any content contained therein.

8. General

These Terms of Use will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New South Wales which shall have exclusive jurisdiction over any disputes. If for any reason a court of competent jurisdiction finds any provision or portion of these Terms of Use to be unenforceable, the remainder of these Terms of Use will continue in full force and effect.

9. Enquiries/Complaints

For information regarding use of ABC Content contact ABC Library Sales.

If you have concerns about inappropriate or infringing content accessed through any ABC Online Services, please alert the moderator of that service where available.

You can also contact the ABC using the online contact form.

Complaints regarding ABC programming can be forwarded using the complaint form.

10. Registration

You may be required to register an account in order to access and/or contribute to certain ABC Online Services.

Any identifying or contact details required for registration will only be used in accordance with the ABC’s Privacy Policy.

The ABC may refuse registration of users whose suggested login names are considered inappropriate, impersonating another person or attempting to create multiple accounts for or on behalf of a suspended member.

You may terminate your account at any time by unsubscribing (where that option is available) or by contacting the ABC at abcaccount@abc.net.au. However your content may continue to be available online after termination.

The ABC may suspend or block your account if you breach the Terms of Use.