Copyright
The digital content made available to you on the International Dunhuang Project (IDP) website (“the website”) is in the Public Domain or protected by copyright.
The website compiles images from several institutions for which different copyright may apply. Either the British Library (“the Library”) or an IDP contributing partner owns copyrighted content.
Public Domain content
The Content on the website marked “Public Domain” consists of content from the IDP collections that the IDP believes are in the public domain in most territories. The IDP is unaware of any current copyright restrictions on the content either because: (i) the term of copyright has expired in most countries or: (ii) we have found no evidence that copyright restrictions apply.
Creative Commons content
The website contains content that the Library or an IDP contributing partner has licensed under Creative Commons licences. Where this is the case, the content has been marked with that licence.
All text is © British Library Board and is available under a CC-BY Licence except where otherwise stated.
Reuse
Unless otherwise stated, the IDP makes all content available for personal or non-commercial reuse only. You may freely use such content for these purposes as long as you acknowledge the copyright owner of the material.
Please use the credit lines that accompany each digital item.
Ordering images and clearing copyright
If you would like to reproduce an image for commercial use, including, but not limited to, publication in electronic or print, then you must obtain a licence from the holding institution in advance.
Ordering and Reproducing Images from the British Library
To obtain high-resolution versions of digital images, first check for availability on the British Library Images Online service. If the item is unavailable there, then you will need to order it from the British Library’s Imaging Service
To purchase a licence for items in the British Library’s collections, please fill out the Library’s permission request form.
Ordering and Reproducing Images from Other Institutions
The website compiles digital images from several institutions for which different copyright may apply. To order digital images or clear copyright from these institutions, please contact their copyright department directly
Ethical Terms of Reuse
The digitised collections in the IDP include cultural materials, which may contain traditional knowledge and cultural expressions, including but not limited to, social and religious practices, rituals, festive events and stories embodied in the material.
While the contributors to the IDP may be the owners of copyright in the content themselves or the works may be in the public domain, the IDP recognises that broader rights and interests in intangible cultural heritage may, under national, customary, religious and other laws or practices, reside with the traditional custodians of such materials.
Therefore, the IDP requests that anyone reusing digital images from these collections apply the following principles:
- Please respect the creators – ensure traditional cultural expressions and all ethical concerns in the use of the material are considered, and any information relating to the creator is clear and accurate.
- Please note, any adaptations made to an image should not be attributed to the original creator and should not be derogatory to the originating cultures or communities.
- Please credit the source of the material – providing a link back to the International Dunhuang Project website will encourage others to explore and use the collections.
- Please share knowledge where possible – please annotate, tag and share derivative works with others wherever possible.
- Please preserve all public domain marks and creative commons licences attached to the works – this will notify other users that the images are free from copyright restrictions and encourage greater use of the collection.
This ethical terms of use guide is based on goodwill and is not a legal contract.
