Last Updated: July 2023
Houston Stringer respects the intellectual property rights of others and expects users, contributors, and visitors to do the same.
This policy explains how copyright concerns may be reported and how Houston Stringer responds to claims of alleged copyright infringement.
Copyright Ownership
Unless otherwise indicated, all original articles, photographs, videos, graphics, logos, designs, audio recordings, and other original content published by Houston Stringer are protected by United States copyright law and international copyright laws.
All rights are reserved unless otherwise expressly stated.
Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, republication, or commercial use of Houston Stringer content without prior written permission is prohibited, except as permitted by applicable law.
Third-Party Content
Houston Stringer may publish or reference content provided by:
- Contributors
- Freelance journalists
- Members of the public
- Government agencies
- Public records
- News sources
- Public officials
- Other third parties
Copyright for third-party materials remains with their respective owners unless ownership has been transferred or licensed to Houston Stringer.
Fair Use
Houston Stringer may reproduce or reference copyrighted materials under the fair use provisions of United States copyright law, including for purposes such as:
- News reporting
- Commentary
- Criticism
- Education
- Research
- Public discussion
Nothing in this policy limits any rights available under the fair use doctrine or other applicable copyright exceptions.
Reporting Copyright Infringement
If you believe material appearing on Houston Stringer infringes your copyright, you may submit a written notice containing:
- Your full name.
- Your mailing address.
- Your telephone number.
- Your email address.
- A description of the copyrighted work claimed to have been infringed.
- The URL or location of the allegedly infringing material.
- A statement that you have a good-faith belief the use is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law.
- A statement, made under penalty of perjury, that the information in your notice is accurate and that you are the copyright owner or authorized to act on behalf of the copyright owner.
- Your physical or electronic signature.
Incomplete notices may delay review.
Counter Notification
If you believe material was removed or disabled as a result of mistake or misidentification, you may submit a counter-notification as permitted by applicable law.
A counter-notification should include:
- Your name and contact information.
- Identification of the material that was removed.
- The location where the material appeared before removal.
- A statement under penalty of perjury that you believe the material was removed due to mistake or misidentification.
- A statement consenting to the jurisdiction of the appropriate federal court, where required by applicable law.
- Your physical or electronic signature.
Houston Stringer reserves the right to forward counter-notifications to the original claimant as permitted by law.
Repeat Infringers
Houston Stringer reserves the right to remove content, suspend contributor privileges, terminate user access, or take other appropriate action against individuals or entities who repeatedly infringe upon the intellectual property rights of others.
Contributor Responsibility
Contributors are solely responsible for ensuring they possess the necessary rights, licenses, permissions, or legal authority to submit photographs, videos, audio recordings, documents, graphics, or written materials to Houston Stringer.
By submitting content, contributors represent that they have the legal right to grant Houston Stringer permission to publish that material.
Contributors agree to indemnify and hold harmless Houston Stringer, its owners, employees, contractors, affiliates, and representatives from claims arising from submitted content that infringes the rights of another person or entity.
Public Records and Government Materials
Houston Stringer regularly reports on matters of public interest using public records, court filings, government documents, press releases, and other publicly available materials.
Publication of these materials is done in accordance with applicable law and does not imply ownership of government-produced content where copyright does not apply.
Reservation of Rights
Houston Stringer reserves the right to:
- Remove or disable access to content at its discretion.
- Request additional documentation before acting on any copyright claim.
- Decline requests that are incomplete, fraudulent, abusive, or otherwise legally insufficient.
- Preserve records relating to copyright disputes.
- Cooperate with law enforcement or other authorities when required by law.
Contact
Copyright concerns, DMCA notices, and counter-notifications may be submitted using the contact information published on the Houston Stringer website.
Houston Stringer encourages parties to attempt to resolve copyright concerns in good faith before pursuing legal action whenever appropriate.