Terms of use
Last updated: September 2026
By accessing this website, icom.museum, and any pages within this domain (hereinafter collectively referred to as the “ICOM Website” or the “Website”), the user agrees to the following terms of use.
The International Council of Museums (hereinafter “ICOM”) reserves the right to pursue any remedies available by law in the event of a breach of these terms and conditions, including any infringement of ICOM’s rights in its name or of rights relating to any information, documents, text, video or audio material, or photographs (hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Content”) available on the ICOM Website.
1. The ICOM Website
a) Use of the ICOM Website
ICOM authorises access to its Website solely for personal or educational purposes. Any other use, including the reproduction or translation of Content from the ICOM Website or any use for purposes other than personal or educational purposes, is prohibited without ICOM’s prior express written consent. Requests for authorisation must be sent by email to communication@icom.museum and must include a detailed description of the intended use.
All Content on the ICOM Website is protected by French copyright law. ICOM holds the intellectual property rights in those elements of the Website that it has created or uses under licence, subject to any expressly identified third-party rights.
ICOM determines the Content of its Website according to its own criteria and at its sole discretion. ICOM reserves the right to modify or remove any aspect or element of its Website at any time. ICOM makes no warranty or representation as to the accuracy or completeness of any Content.
To the extent permitted by law, ICOM accepts no liability arising from the use of the ICOM Website or its Content, including where damage results from the user’s misuse, improper use or fraudulent use of the Content. ICOM, its staff members and its contracting parties shall not be held liable for content provided by third parties, subject to any obligations imposed upon them by law.
ICOM implements reasonable security measures but cannot guarantee that the Website will be free from viruses or other harmful elements. ICOM shall not be held liable for damage resulting from any such element, except where its liability cannot legally be excluded or limited.
b) Interactive Features of the ICOM Website
The ICOM Website may provide electronic bulletin boards, forums, access to mailing lists or other tools for sending messages or communicating. Views, opinions and statements originating from these various sources of information do not necessarily reflect the views of ICOM.
When using these tools, the user agrees: (a) not to engage in any defamatory, abusive or harassing conduct, conduct threatening the privacy of others, or conduct otherwise infringing the rights of any other person; (b) not to publish, post, distribute or disseminate any defamatory, obscene, indecent, infringing or otherwise unlawful information or material; (c) not to upload or transmit files containing software or other material protected by intellectual property laws (or privacy rights), unless the user owns or controls the relevant rights or has obtained all necessary authorisations; (d) not to upload or transmit files containing computer viruses, corrupted files or any other software or programs that may damage the operation of another person’s computer; (e) not to remove author attributions, legal notices, proprietary designations or labels from any uploaded file; (f) not to falsify the source or origin of software or other material contained in an uploaded file; (g) not to promote or offer to sell goods or services, or conduct or forward surveys, contests or chain letters; and (h) not to download any file posted by another user where the user knows, or reasonably should know, that the file cannot lawfully be distributed in this manner.
ICOM reserves the absolute right to remove any material posted on its Website without prior notice to the user. ICOM accepts no liability for the conduct of users in connection with such tools or for any material provided by users and posted on the ICOM Website, including, for example, any liability concerning the reliability or accuracy of information, data, opinions, advice or statements contained in such material.
2. Other Websites
a) Links on the ICOM Website
The ICOM Website may include links to other websites over which ICOM has no control. ICOM accepts no responsibility for such websites, including, for example, any responsibility concerning the accuracy or reliability of information, data, opinions, advice or statements published on them.
b) Links to the ICOM Website
ICOM appreciates users demonstrating their interest in the organisation by creating links from their websites to the ICOM Website. By adding such a link, users express their support for ICOM’s missions.
As a general rule, creating a text link to a freely accessible page of the ICOM Website does not require ICOM’s prior authorisation, provided that the link is presented fairly, does not infringe the rights of ICOM or any third party, and does not create any confusion as to the existence of a partnership, endorsement, affiliation or recommendation by ICOM.
The use of ICOM’s name, logo, trademarks, visual identity or any other distinctive element in connection with a link or its presentation remains subject to ICOM’s prior written authorisation, unless otherwise permitted by law or authorised.
Links to the ICOM Website must not be placed in any context that is unlawful, defamatory, misleading, discriminatory, contrary to human dignity or manifestly incompatible with ICOM’s missions and values.
Furthermore, as ICOM is a non-profit organisation, it does not permit links to the ICOM Website to be published on commercial webpages.
The integration, framing, reproduction or presentation of the ICOM Website or its Content within another website, including through framing or embedded-content techniques, is not permitted without ICOM’s prior written consent, subject to any rights and exceptions provided by law.
ICOM may request the modification or removal of a link where the manner in which it is presented is liable to infringe ICOM’s rights, create confusion or give the impression of a partnership or endorsement that does not exist. The operator of the website concerned agrees to consider such a request as soon as reasonably practicable.
ICOM may create links to third-party websites where it considers this useful for its missions, activities or the information of its audiences. ICOM does not necessarily control such websites and does not guarantee their availability or the accuracy, lawfulness or reliability of their content.
3. Maps and use of names
The use of a particular name to designate a country or territory, as well as the maps appearing on this Website, does not imply any judgement on the part of ICOM concerning the legal status of such country or territory, its institutions or governing authorities, or the delimitation of its boundaries. ICOM refers to the Member States of the United Nations and to the names by which they are recognised within the United Nations.
The mention of the name of a company or product (whether or not identified as a registered trademark) does not imply any intention to infringe proprietary rights, nor may it be construed as an endorsement or recommendation by ICOM.
4. Protection of personal data
ICOM attaches particular importance to compliance with applicable legislation on the protection of personal data and privacy, in particular Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of 27 April 2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data (GDPR), and French Law No. 78-17 of 6 January 1978, as amended, relating to information technology, files and civil liberties.
ICOM ensures that its members and users of the ICOM Website are informed about how their personal data are processed.
To ensure compliance with applicable legislation and to inform you about your rights and how ICOM uses your personal information, please consult our Privacy Policy, available by clicking HERE. This Policy sets out, in particular, the processing activities carried out, their purposes, the applicable legal bases, recipients, retention periods, any transfers of data, and the procedures for exercising the rights of data subjects.
5. Intellectual property
a) ICOM – International Council of Museums
ICOM has exclusive ownership of its name and logo. The composite trademark “ICOM – Conseil international des musées – International Council of Museums – Consejo internacional de los museos” benefits from the rights conferred by its registration with the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO).
ICOM’s name and logo may under no circumstances be copied or reproduced without ICOM’s prior written permission. Any request for authorisation must be sent to ICOM by email at communication@icom.museum.
b) Contents of the ICOM Website
ICOM provides information online primarily for persons interested in its efforts to ensure the preservation, conservation and transmission of cultural heritage. If a user wishes to draw upon, reproduce, publish or translate this information in order to disseminate it more widely, the user must send an email to communication@icom.museum providing details of the intended use, including the nature and size of the intended audience.
The use of material made available by ICOM online for any purpose is prohibited without prior approval.
Subject to third-party rights and any licences expressly indicated, ICOM reserves its rights in its publications, visual identity, Content and Website, as well as in Content that it has created or uses under licence.
6. Photo credits
Photographs published on the ICOM Website are subject to copyright and other applicable rights. ICOM uses such photographs where it owns the relevant rights or with the authorisation of the rights holder, unless otherwise indicated. ICOM thanks all individuals and organisations that have contributed to the Website.
Any reproduction or reuse of a photograph requires the prior authorisation of the rights holder, unless a statutory exception applies or a licence is expressly indicated on the Website.
ICOM has made every effort to identify the authors of these photographs. However, as this archival work involves historical photographs, some photographs may not be correctly credited. Accordingly, if you recognise your work among the photographs published on the Website, you may contact the ICOM Secretariat at communication@icom.museum so that the appropriate credit may be added. ICOM will review the request and, where appropriate, update the attribution accordingly.
If you recognise yourself in one of the photographs and do not wish to appear in it, you may contact the ICOM Secretariat at communication@icom.museum. ICOM will review your request and, where justified, take appropriate measures, which may include removing or anonymising the image where possible.