GDN's Terms and Conditions

GDNet supports southern researchers to contribute and debate ideas in development thinking, policy and practice.

GDNet Knowledge Portal: Terms and Conditions of Use

The following terms and conditions (the “Terms and Conditions”) govern your use of this web site, and any content or information made available to, from or through this web site, including any sub-domains thereof (the “Web Site”). The Global Development Network (GDN) maintains the Web Site at http://www.gdnet.org as an information resource on socio-economic research and related subjects to those persons and institutions, including researchers that may choose to access or use the Web Site (the Users”). Your use of our Web Site, your registration on the Web Site and your provision to us of any content or personal information shall constitute your acceptance and agreement to these Terms and Conditions.

Terms and Conditions

Content of Web Site

The Web Site features public information about GDN and additional data, information and services that may be of particular interest to socio-economic researchers, research networks and institutes, and policy-makers in the development field. It has two principal objectives:

The Web Site serves as the electronic voice of GDN, providing information about GDN and its operations and activities. It also includes research papers from its Global Research Projects, Regional Research Competitions, Conferences, Awards and Medals Competitions and other activities funded by GDN. Finally, it features books and other publications produced or sponsored by GDN.
The Web Site is a portal for development research communications through the GDNet Program focused on promoting research generated in developing and transition countries through the GDNet Knowledgebase, which consists of three inter-related databases:

GDNet Researchers’ Database. This Researchers’ Database will provide information about researchers who have registered on the GDNet Knowledgebase pursuant to paragraph 2 of these Terms and Conditions. The information displayed on the Web Site is based on information submitted by the researchers. By signing up with the Researchers’ Database and making information available, the researchers agree to make such information publicly accessible online on this Web Site. The Researchers’ Database aims to promote the researchers and their work online.

GDNet Documents Database. This Documents Database will include abstracts to sourced documents from other web sites while maintaining the location of the documents at the original host organization. Such documents are selected on the basis of GDN’s editorial policy (available online at http://www.gdnet.org/~editorial_policy). The content of the Documents Database also benefits from a data-sharing agreement with ELDIS (http://www.eldis.org /) produced by the Institute of Development Studies in the United Kingdom for sharing content and, where appropriate or relevant, attribution is made to ELDIS.

The Documents Database includes abstracts in English as well as full text documents in certain other languages in their original languages of production. In the latter case, the original language of the research document is identified. Abstracts featured in the Africa Window are available in French and English, in the Latin America Window in Spanish and English, and in the MENA window in Arabic and English. These abstracts have been professionally translated into French, Spanish and Arabic based on the English version made available online. If any error in translation occurs, this is inadvertent and GDN does not accept any responsibility or liability for such erroneous translation.

GDNet Organizations Database. This Organizations Database provides abstracts and links to other development-related organizations from which content or research papers have been sourced and abstracted. Translation is also made available on the basis of regional requirements (French in the Africa Window, Spanish in the Latin America window, and Arabic in the MENA Window). These abstracts have been professionally translated into French, Spanish and Arabic based on the English version made available online. If any error in translation occurs, this is inadvertent and GDN does not accept any responsibility or liability for such erroneous translation.

Registration of Users; Attribution of Electronic Acts to You

Users may browse through the Web Site without formally registering as Users. However, Users are encouraged to register if they wish to benefit fully from the content and services provided by the Web Site and the newsletters or to contribute content to the GDN Knowledgebase.

Researchers who meet the Acceptance Criteria are particularly encouraged to register because this will enable them to upload content and other information, including their research papers and publications and to access online journals and datasets. You may complete the registration process online at http://www.gdnet.org/~register.

The registration process will involve creating a profile and an account with a User name and password [or other identifier] which you agree to guard as confidential information. Users agree to provide accurate, current and complete information at all times and to review, maintain, correct and update such information in a timely manner. If any User provides, or GDN has reasonable grounds to believe that any User has provided, any information that is inaccurate, not current or incomplete, GDN may suspend or terminate the User’s information record on the GDNet Researchers Database and related access to online activities

Users agree that all uses of the password [or other identifier] established for them under the registration process will be attributed to and legally bind them and may be relied upon by GDN and third parties with whom GDN works in order to provide the content and services through the GDNet Knowledgebase, as being a use made by such Users, even if someone else used a User’s password [or other identifier].

User-Generated Content: Representations and Warranties

From time to time, Users may wish to provide content, such as by uploading information including research papers and other publications, a video or recording, or submit views and comments in a chat room or blog. When Users provide content in this way, users:

represent and warrant that the content is (a) wholly their original work, or (b) that the Users have all necessary right, title, interest and licenses to upload it and make it available to GDN and other users for download, distribution and use under these Terms and Conditions without (i) violation (by Users, us, third parties, or others) of any applicable license, restriction or law, or (ii) a potentially adverse consequence to us, third parties, users or others that Users have not conspicuously disclosed in the content; and
grant GDN, third parties sub-licensees and successors and assigns, and each User who downloads the content under these Terms and Conditions, an irrevocable license, without fee, to (i) use, copy, distribute, modify and create derivative works from the content; and (ii) publicly display, license and distribute copies of the content, modified content and derivative works of the content.
acknowledge and agree that GDN may keep Users’ content indefinitely and disclose it for any purpose, including but not limited to: (a) comply with legal process; (b) enforce these Terms and Conditions; (c) respond to claims that any content violates the rights of third parties; or (d) without undertaking a duty to do so, protect the rights, property, or personal safety of GDN, the Users and the public.

Disclaimers

In the preparation of the Web Site, every effort has been made to offer the most current, correct, and clearly expressed information possible. Nevertheless, inadvertent errors may occur. In particular, but without limiting anything here, GDN disclaims any responsibility for typographical errors and for the accuracy of the information that may be contained on the Web Site. GDN also reserves the right to make changes in such information at any time without prior notice.

The information and data included on the Web Site have been compiled from a variety of sources, including registered Users. Unless expressly stated otherwise, opinions given on the Web Site are those of the individuals or institutions making them, and not those of GDN, which is not responsible for such opinions or any claims resulting from them. GDN makes no warranties and representations of any kind, express or implied, regarding the accuracy, adequacy, timeliness, reliability, quality or completeness of such information and data. Users will be expected to use such information with care and to exercise due diligence and pursue their own investigations and research to verify the accuracy or completeness of such information and data. Any reliance that Users place on information and data provided by the Web Site is, therefore, strictly at their own risk, and GDN will not be responsible or liable for any loss or damage suffered by Users from such reliance.

While every effort is made to ensure that the Web Site operates reliably, GDN makes no representations or warranties regarding the condition or functionality of the Web Site, its suitability for use, or that the service it provides will be uninterrupted or error-free.

By using the Web Site, Users assume all risks associated with its use, including any risk or damage to their computers, software or data that may be caused by any virus, software, or any other file that might be transmitted or activated through the Web Site. GDN shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, special, incidental, or consequential damages, including, without limitation, lost revenues or lost profits, resulting from the use or misuse of the Web Site or the information contained in the Web Site.

Some parts of the Web Site are interactive, and GDN encourages contributions by Users, which may or may not be subject to editorial control prior to being posted on the Web Site. GDN accepts no responsibility or liability for any material communicated by third parties in this way. GDN reserves the right to remove, review, edit or delete any content at its own discretion.

Prohibited Uses

Users are prohibited from using any part of the Web Site for any purpose which is illegal, immoral, offensive to others or in breach of others' rights, or submit any content of that nature. This includes, but is not limited to any content or purpose which is discriminatory or harassing on the grounds of race, gender, religion, age or any other personal attribute, foul language, inciting hatred, sexually explicit, abusive, defamatory, in breach of copyright or other rights and such other activity as GDN may from time to time determine is unacceptable. GDN may remove or block access to any content or communication for any purpose. If Users feel that any of their rights have been infringed by any content on the Web Site, they should contact GDN (contact details below) giving a full description of the offending content and reasons. GDN will investigate and, if it agrees, remove or block such content.

Links to Other Web Sites

Links from the Web Site may take Users to other web sites that are not controlled by GDN. Such links are provided in good faith and solely to assist Users in finding additional information on topics that may be useful to them. In providing such links, GDN does not necessarily endorse such web sites nor is it responsible for the content or privacy practices of such web sites. Use of any such links by Users will not render GDN liable to them or any other person for loss or damage of any kind.

GDN holds the copyright to all GDN publications and the content of the Web Site but encourages reproduction of these materials for non-commercial purposes. Proper attribution is requested, stating the original source of the material. Permission to make digital or hard copies of part or all of these materials for teaching or not-for-profit use is hereby granted without fee and without a formal request provided that copies are not made or distributed for profit or commercial advantage and that full attribution appears on the first page. Copyright for web content and publications not owned by GDN must be honored and permission sought from the copyright holder. Copying in any other circumstances, including but not limited to any commercial use, re-use in commercial publications, or for translation or adaptation, is not permitted without prior written permission from GDN for which a fee may be payable.

Storage and Use of Personal Information

GDN is committed to protecting the privacy of the information that Users provide to GDN. When Users visit the Web Site, GDN logs non-personally-identifiable information including IP address, profile information, aggregate User data and browser type. GDN uses this data to monitor patterns of usage and actual needs of Users.

GDN collects statistical information to monitor patterns of usage by Users such as Users’ demographics, interests and preferences, their URLs, which URL Users go to next, the time spent on [User’s portal?] [the Web Site?], from which country Users accessed the Web Site, User’s computer browser and browser language, User’s operating system, User’s resolution and screen size, and User’s IP address.

GDN uses the information Users have provided to GDN solely to enable GDN to improve the Web Site’s content and services and also to better protect and serve Users and GDN’s research community.

Security of Information during Transmission

While GDN will exercise the maximum efforts to protect Users’ personally-identifiable information, Users recognize and accept that data transmission over the Internet is not completely secure. Thus, GDN does not warrant or guarantee the security of any information during transmission to and from the Web Site. If any breaches, theft or misuse of such information occurs during transmission, GDN shall not be responsible or liable to Users for any damage or other consequences suffered by them

Trademarks and Logos

Requests for permission to use the GDN logo should be addressed to GDN at gdni@gdnet.org. Where such permission is granted, only the most recent version of the GDN logo should be used. Unauthorized use of the GDN logo is strictly prohibited

Amendment of the Terms and Conditions

The Terms and Conditions are subject to amendment at any time in GDN’s sole discretion, without any prior notice. GDN will, however, notify Users of any amendment to the Terms and Conditions by posting them on the Web Site. Users’ continued use of the Web Site thereafter will be deemed as acceptance by Users of the amendments.

Termination or Suspension of Service

GDN may suspend or terminate access to any subset or subsection of the Web Site and/or GDNet Knowledgebase, with or without cause, at any time without prior notice. GDN may, however, at GDN’s discretion, give notice of suspension or termination in the same way that GDN provides other notices.

Notices

GDN may give all notices that it is required to give Users by posting such notices on the Web Site or, in the case of individual suspension or termination of access to the Web Site, by sending the notice to User’s e-mail address at GDN’s discretion.

Contact for Questions or Comments

For any further questions, inquiries or comments regarding the use of the Web Site including the Terms and Conditions, please contact: support@gdnet.org