Terms and Conditions — Reuse of Web Content
This is the first full capture of FAO's "Reuse of Web Content" terms — the whole document appears as new text, so there is no earlier version to compare it against. The terms are mostly generous: FAO lets people copy, print and download its content for free for study, research, teaching and non-commercial use, and news releases can be reused with no permission at all. Commercial use, translations, adaptations, photo edits and any use of the FAO logo still need written permission. The parts that can work against you are the fine print: FAO says it is not liable for anything at all that goes wrong from using the site, it can change or shut down the service or amend these terms whenever it likes, you consent to cookies just by using the site, and nothing in the terms gives up FAO's legal immunity — which makes suing it in a normal court very hard.
FAO accepts no responsibility for anything that goes wrong
FAO says the site is provided "as is," that it does not guarantee the information is accurate, and that it is never liable for any loss or damage caused by using that information — including errors, omissions or outages. If you rely on FAO data and it turns out to be wrong, you have no claim for compensation.
“Under no circumstances shall FAO be liable for any loss, damage, liability or expense suffered that is claimed to result from the use of information posted on this site, including without limitation, any fault, error, omission, interruption or delay.”
What you can do — Double-check any FAO figures against a second source before relying on them for business, legal or health decisions.
FAO keeps its legal immunity, so suing it is very difficult
As a UN agency, FAO has immunity from being taken to national courts, and these terms make clear it isn't giving that up. In practice this means that even if you had a valid complaint, an ordinary court may refuse to hear a case against FAO.
“No part of these Terms and Conditions shall constitute or be interpreted as a waiver of the privileges and immunities of FAO.”
Terms and the service itself can change at any time with no direct notice
FAO can rewrite these terms whenever it chooses and can also alter, limit or shut down any part of the site. The only promised notice is a post on this same page, so you would have to check the page yourself to notice a change.
“FAO reserves the right to amend this policy at its own discretion. Notifications of any significant amendment will be posted on this page.”
What you can do — If you reuse FAO content regularly, re-check this terms page before each major project, since changes appear only here.
You take on the legal risk for third-party material inside FAO works
Some tables, figures and images inside FAO documents are owned by other people. FAO doesn't promise these are clear to reuse, and says any claim brought over them is your problem — you have to check and get permission yourself.
“If you wish to re-use a component of the work, it is your responsibility to determine whether permission is needed for that re-use and to obtain permission from the copyright owner.”
What you can do — Before republishing an FAO table, chart or photo, check its caption for a non-FAO credit and get permission from that owner.
Cookies and traffic monitoring are accepted just by visiting
FAO monitors network traffic, keeps raw logs, and uses cookies to collect anonymous browsing information. Your agreement to cookies is assumed from simply using the site rather than from a choice you make.
“FAO also collects anonymous information about users' browsing behaviour when users visit the website, through the use of cookies. By using the FAO website, users agree that FAO can place cookies on users' computer, mobile phone or handheld devices”
What you can do — Block or clear cookies for fao.org in your browser settings if you don't want the tracking.
You can be removed or banned from forums without an appeal route
Repeatedly breaking the forum content rules can get you removed or banned from FAO discussion forums and commenting tools. The terms don't describe any warning process or way to challenge the decision.
“Users repeatedly posting material that falls into the above categories will be removed and/or banned from participating in the related fora and commenting tools.”
| 1 | ##### **REUSE OF WEB CONTENT** | |
| 2 | ||
| 3 | Content on the FAO website is protected by copyright. To ensure wide dissemination of its information, FAO is committed to making its content freely available and encourages the use, reproduction and dissemination of the text, multimedia and data presented. The use of publications and documents available in the [**FAO Knowledge Repository**](https://openknowledge.fao.org/home), is governed by an [**Open Access policy**](https://openknowledge.fao.org/3/i9461en/online/i9461en.html). Please consult this policy for detailed terms and conditions applicable to the use of FAO publications and documents. | |
| 4 | ||
| 5 | Specific statistical databases are covered by the [**Open Data Licensing Policy**](https://openknowledge.fao.org/handle/20.500.14283/cd7464en), and governed by the [**Statistical Databases Terms of Use**](https://www.fao.org/contact-us/terms/db-terms-of-use/en/). | |
+ ADDEDPublications and statistical databases follow separate rules Documents in the FAO Knowledge Repository follow an Open Access policy, and statistical databases follow their own Open Data Licensing Policy and terms of use. You have to read those separately. | ||
| 6 | ||
| 7 | All other content on the FAO website (except where otherwise indicated), may be copied, printed and downloaded for private study, research and teaching purposes, and for use in non-commercial products or services, provided that appropriate acknowledgement of FAO as the source and copyright holder is given and that FAO's endorsement of users' views, products or services is not stated or implied in any way. FAO encourages unrestricted use of news releases provided on the FAO website; no formal permission is required to reproduce these materials. | |
+ ADDEDFree reuse of most site content for non-commercial purposes You can copy, print and download most FAO website content for private study, research, teaching and non-commercial products or services, as long as you credit FAO and don't suggest FAO endorses you. News releases can be reused with no permission at all. | ||
| 8 | ||
| 9 | All requests for translation and adaptation rights, and for resale and other commercial use rights should be addressed to [**\[email protected\]**](https://www.fao.org/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#2a49455a5358434d425e6a4c4b450445584d) or submitted via the online [**Licence Request Form**](https://www.fao.org/contact-us/licence-request/en/) when downloading. | |
+ ADDEDCommercial use, translation and adaptation need permission If you want to sell something using FAO content, translate it or adapt it, you have to ask first by email or through an online licence request form. | ||
| 10 | ||
| 11 | ##### **RECOMMENDED CITATION:** | |
| 12 | ||
| 13 | \[© FAO\] \[Year of publication\] \[Title of content\] \[Page number (for publications)\] \[Location on FAO website\] \[Date accessed and/or downloaded\] | |
| 14 | ||
| 15 | Third-party content-FAO does not necessarily own each component of the content contained within the work. FAO therefore does not warrant that the use of any third party-owned individual component or part contained in the work will not infringe on the rights of those third parties. The risk of claims resulting from such infringement rests solely with you. If you wish to re-use a component of the work, it is your responsibility to determine whether permission is needed for that re-use and to obtain permission from the copyright owner. Examples of components can include, but are not limited to, tables, figures, or images. | |
+ ADDEDYou carry the risk for third-party material inside FAO content Some tables, figures and images inside FAO works belong to other people. FAO does not promise they are safe to reuse, and if someone sues over them, that's on you. | ||
| 16 | ||
| 17 | All queries on rights and licenses should be addressed to [**\[email protected\]**](https://www.fao.org/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#b7d4d8c7cec5ded0dfc3f7d1d6d899d8c5d0) | |
| 18 | ||
| 19 | ##### **REUSE OF PHOTOGRAPHS** | |
| 20 | ||
| 21 | Conditions for reuse of photographs on the FAO website are the same as those for other content, with the exception that photographs must not be modified without prior permission. | |
+ ADDEDPhotos can't be modified; logo use is heavily restricted Photographs may be reused on the same terms as other content but must not be edited without permission, and must be credited as FAO/[photographer]. The FAO logo cannot be used at all without prior permission, and FAO can demand its removal. | ||
| 22 | ||
| 23 | Permission must be requested for any commercial use, advertising, marketing, storage or third-party distribution of FAO photographs. FAO reserves the right to withhold distribution and/or permission to reproduce FAO photographic material should the intended use be considered inappropriate. FAO photographs must be credited each time they are published. The recommended citation format for photographs is FAO/\[name of photographer\]. | |
| 24 | ||
| 25 | To request permissions, please send the URL address in which the photograph(s) appear to [**\[email protected\]**](https://www.fao.org/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#394951564d561455505b4b584b40795f585617564b5e). | |
| 26 | ||
| 27 | ##### **NON-FAO CONTENT** | |
| 28 | ||
| 29 | The FAO website may include third party copyright material for which rights and permissions must be obtained from the copyright holder(s) indicated. | |
| 30 | ||
| 31 | ##### **USE OF FAO LOGO** | |
| 32 | ||
| 33 | The FAO logo is the corporate identifier and official seal of the Organization, and it is protected under international treaties and conventions on intellectual property. Its use is highly restricted and is prohibited without prior permission. Requests for use of the FAO logo for any reason whatsoever, whether or not in association with other logos, must be addressed to [**\[email protected\]**](https://www.fao.org/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#563539262f243f313e221630373978392431). If permission for use of the FAO logo is granted, instructions for its placement and display, including related disclaimers, must be strictly adhered to. The use and reproduction of content containing the FAO logo must not be in association with advertising or with the names of proprietary products and must not imply FAO's endorsement of products or services in any way. FAO reserves the right to request the immediate removal of its logo from unauthorized websites or products. | |
| 34 | ||
| 35 | ##### **LINKING TO THE FAO WEBSITE** | |
| 36 | ||
| 37 | FAO encourages users to establish hyperlinks to the FAO website and prior permission is not required. The FAO logo should not be included when linking to the FAO website, unless prior permission has been granted (see Use of FAO logo) | |
| 38 | ||
| 39 | ##### **DISCLAIMERS** | |
| 40 | ||
| 41 | The designations employed and the presentation of information on the FAO website do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of FAO concerning the legal or development status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The mention of specific companies or products of manufacturers, whether or not these have been patented, does not imply that these have been endorsed or recommended by FAO in preference to others of a similar nature that are not mentioned. | |
| 42 | ||
| 43 | Information on this site is provided on an "as is" and "as available" basis. FAO makes every effort to ensure, but does not guarantee, the accuracy, completeness or authenticity of the information on the FAO website. FAO reserves the right to alter, limit or discontinue any part of this service at its discretion. Under no circumstances shall FAO be liable for any loss, damage, liability or expense suffered that is claimed to result from the use of information posted on this site, including without limitation, any fault, error, omission, interruption or delay. | |
+ ADDEDSite provided "as is" with no liability for FAO FAO doesn't guarantee the information is accurate or complete, and says it is never responsible for any loss or damage you suffer from using it. | ||
| 44 | ||
| 45 | Hyperlinks to non-FAO websites do not imply any official endorsement of or responsibility on the part of FAO for the opinions, ideas, data or products presented at these locations, or guarantee the validity of the information provided. The sole purpose of links to non-FAO sites is to indicate further information available on related topics. The information is provided on the basis that users accessing the platform assume responsibility for assessing its relevance, accuracy and suitability for application. | |
| 46 | ||
| 47 | No part of these Terms and Conditions shall constitute or be interpreted as a waiver of the privileges and immunities of FAO. | |
+ ADDEDFAO keeps its legal immunity Nothing in these terms counts as FAO giving up the special legal protections it has as a UN agency. | ||
| 48 | ||
| 49 | ##### **DISCUSSION FORA AND COMMENTING TOOLS** | |
| 50 | ||
| 51 | The FAO website contains specialized discussion fora and commenting tools. When participating, users agree not to: | |
| 52 | ||
| 53 | defame, abuse, harass, threaten or otherwise violate the rights of others; | |
| 54 | ||
| 55 | publish, post, distribute or disseminate defamatory, infringing, obscene, indecent or unlawful material; | |
| 56 | ||
| 57 | upload or attach files that contain software or other material protected by intellectual property laws unless the user owns or controls the rights and has received all necessary permissions; | |
| 58 | ||
| 59 | upload, email, transmit or otherwise make available unsolicited advertising of any goods or services, or conduct or forward surveys, contests, "spam" or chain letters, etc. | |
| 60 | ||
| 61 | Users specifically acknowledge that FAO is not liable for the conduct of any other user. Users repeatedly posting material that falls into the above categories will be removed and/or banned from participating in the related fora and commenting tools. | |
+ ADDEDRules for forums and comments, with removal or bans In FAO discussion forums you must not harass others, post unlawful or infringing material, upload copyrighted files you don't own, or send spam. Repeat offenders can be removed or banned. | ||
| 62 | ||
| 63 | ##### **SECURITY** | |
| 64 | ||
| 65 | For site security purposes and to ensure that this service remains available to all users, FAO employs software programs to monitor network traffic to identify unauthorized attempts to upload or change information, or otherwise cause damage. | |
| 66 | ||
| 67 | Except for authorized investigations and to maintain required correspondence files, no other attempts are made to identify individual users or their usage habits. Raw data logs are used to determine the number of users and, occasionally, which general domains are accessing the FAO website. FAO also collects anonymous information about users' browsing behaviour when users visit the website, through the use of cookies. By using the FAO website, users agree that FAO can place cookies on users' computer, mobile phone or handheld devices | |
+ ADDEDTraffic monitoring and cookies by default FAO runs software that watches network traffic for security, keeps raw data logs, and sets cookies to collect anonymous browsing information. Simply using the site counts as your agreement to the cookies. | ||
| 68 | ||
| 69 | Any information provided to FAO by users is held with the utmost care and security, and is not used in any manner other than that set forth in the [**Privacy Policy**](https://www.fao.org/contact-us/privacy-policy/en/), or in any additional site-specific policies, without users' explicit consent. | |
+ ADDEDPersonal information handled under the Privacy Policy Information you give FAO is only used as described in its Privacy Policy or site-specific policies unless you explicitly agree otherwise, and staff must keep personal data confidential. | ||
| 70 | ||
| 71 | All FAO employees who have access to or are associated with the processing of personal data are obliged to respect the confidentiality of official business matters, including personal data. | |
| 72 | ||
| 73 | ##### **NOTIFICATION OF AMENDMENTS** | |
| 74 | ||
| 75 | FAO reserves the right to amend this policy at its own discretion. Notifications of any significant amendment will be posted on this page. | |
+ ADDEDFAO can change these terms whenever it wants FAO can amend this policy at its own discretion; it only promises to post a notice of significant changes on this page. There's no advance warning or email alert. | ||