API Terms and Conditions

The following text is legally binding in the original German version only. The English translation below is provided merely for your information.

Scope

  1. The Stiftung Preussischer Kulturbesitz (Von-der-Heydt-Str. 16-18, 10785 Berlin, Germany, legally represented by its president, Professor Hermann Parzinger), acting on behalf of the Deutsche Digitale Bibliothek Competence Network (“DDB”) which was established through an administrative and financial agreement between the federal government of Germany and the sixteen German states, issues licenses available at https://api.deutsche-digitale-bibliothek.de/ that grant users permission to access and use data contained in the DDB database via the DDB API in accordance with these terms and conditions of use (“Terms”).
  2. Users can register online for API access. When registering for API access, users expressly declare that they have received and understood the API Terms. By accessing the API, users accept and agree to be bound by these Terms.
  3. The rights granted to the user within this Agreement will be automatically rescinded in the event that the user violates any of the terms contained herein.

API authentication – using the API authentication keys

  1. An authentication key is required to access and use the DDB API. An authentication key is a unique string of characters assigned to each user, which must be sent with each API request to verify the user’s identity.
  2. Authentication keys are confidential and intended solely for use by the user to whom they are allocated. They may not be disclosed to third parties without the express written consent of DDB.
  3. DDB reserves the right to revoke authentication keys and block users’ access to the API in the event of improper use of the API and/or any data retrieved via the API. Improper use of data includes in particular:
    • any violation of these Terms and Conditions,
    • the use of data obtained via the API in any context that is illegal, pornographic, indecent, harmful to minors, or that promotes violence or criminal activities in any manner, or that may otherwise damage DDB’s reputation,
    • any excessive resource usage that may impact the stability of DDB’s systems or may interfere in any way with the performance of DDB’s systems.

Using the API

  1. DDB provides technical instructions on how to use the API, but does not offer technical support unless expressly agreed otherwise in writing.
  2. DDB monitors all uses of the API for the purpose of performance testing and to determine where improvements can be made.
  3. DDB reserves the right to limit the number of requests or responses that the user can send or receive via the API. Limits can be altered at any time by DDB and for any reason, but especially to maintain a consistent level of performance for all users.
  4. The API will be continuously upgraded, for example, through the addition of new functions. DDB will duly notify users of pending changes to the API. New versions of the API will be backward-compatible whenever technically possible. DDB does not, however, guarantee full functionality of user applications after the API has been amended or when a new version of the API is released.

Use of metadata, derivative works [previews] and content

  1. All metadata that can be accessed via the API are published under the terms of the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication and can be reused for any purpose. Some metadata contain extensive descriptions in addition to the information required for cataloguing purposes. These descriptions are protected by copyright but, in many cases, the rights holder or legal status is not known. Due to the fact that these detailed descriptions cannot be separated from the bibliographic metadata records at present, metadata enriched with such descriptions cannot be made available via the API for legal reasons until further notice.
  2. The API also provides URLs which link to derivative works and/or digital content hosted by www.deutsche-digitale-bibliothek.de as well as derivative works and/or digital content hosted by DDB’s partners and data providers. This can be seen in the public version of the data model. The derivative works and/or digital content that are referenced by these hyperlinks are generally not covered by the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal-Public Domain Dedication and may be used solely in accordance with the rights statement contained in the element dcterms:rights of class edm:WebResource. If no rights information is present in the element dcterms:rights of class edm:WebResource, or if the field is missing, the respective derivative and/or digital content may be used solely in agreement with applicable copyright law, or after obtaining the permission of the rights holder. DDB does not always receive information about permitted uses from its data providers. Such information may possibly be found on the websites of the respective data providers. In such cases, the derivative work and/or digital content may be used in accordance with the permitted uses listed by the data provider. Please note that DDB only presents its own copyright information.
  3. All applications that make use of the DDB API should clearly be labelled with a  “Powered by Deutsche Digitale Bibliothek” logo by the user. The logo can be found here. DDB reserves the right to provide links to user applications on a reference site, together with the application’s logo where applicable.

Copyright information and removal of data

  1. The DDB does not hold the copyrights to protected metadata, derivative works, and digital content. Rather, these are made available to DDB by a large number of cooperating cultural and scientific institutions. These data providers have insured DDB that the copyright holders have granted permission to publish these works under the conditions specified above. DDB cannot guarantee that the copyright information supplied by the data providers is accurate in each individual case.
  2. Metadata, derivative works, and/or digital content that are discovered to have been published unlawfully in the DDB database will be removed. Users of the API are obliged to immediately cease using such metadata, derivative works or digital content when requested by DDB.

Disclaimer

  1. DDB is liable solely in the case of intent and gross negligence.

    DDB shall not be liable for:

    • accuracy, completeness, validity etc. of metadata, derivative works [previews] or contents;
    • any copyright infringement regarding metadata, derivative works [previews] or content that have been made available via the API under conditions not authorised by the rights holder;
    • any copyright infringement due to incorrect information supplied by DDB’s data providers concerning the copyright of metadata, derivatives [previews] or content;
    • any use that goes beyond the rights granted in these Terms and Conditions.

Validity of the API Terms and Conditions

  1. DDB reserves the right to change these Terms and Conditions at any time. A user is considered to be informed about any adjustments or changes to the Terms and Conditions as soon as DDB sends notification of the planned changes to the e-mail address provided by the user when registering for an API key. The user is responsible for notifying DBB of any changes to the primary e-mail address provided during registration. By continuing to use the API without objection, the user accepts and agrees to be bound by the revised Terms and Conditions. Any subsequent reference to the “API Terms and Conditions” automatically applies to the revised Terms and Conditions.
  2. These Terms and Conditions are subject to the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany. Area of jurisdiction for all disputes is the state of Berlin.

Version of 24.10.2013