Copyright Policy

1. Overview

Sea Turtle Patrol Hilton Head Island (“Sea Turtle Patrol HHI,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN: 82-3642853) permitted by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR Permit MTP566) to monitor sea turtle nesting and hatching activity on Hilton Head Island. This Copyright Policy explains the ownership of content on our website, https://seaturtlepatrolhhi.org/ (the “Site”), how that content may be used, and how to report suspected copyright infringement.

2. Ownership of Site Content

Unless otherwise noted, all content on the Site is the property of Sea Turtle Patrol HHI or its volunteers, partners, and licensors, and is protected by United States and international copyright laws. This includes, but is not limited to:

  • Photographs and video footage of sea turtle nesting, hatching, and stranding response activity captured by our patrol volunteers and staff
  • Educational and informational materials, including our Sea Turtle FAQs, nesting statistics, and seasonal reports
  • Our organization’s name, logo, “Sea Turtle Patrol HHI” branding, and related artwork
  • Written content such as blog posts, news and updates, event descriptions, and nest dedication materials
  • Graphics, charts, and nesting season data visualizations
  • Website design, layout, and source code

Use of any of this content without our prior written permission, except as described below, is prohibited.

3. Permitted Use

We support public education about sea turtle conservation and welcome reasonable, good-faith use of our materials for non-commercial, educational purposes, subject to the following:

  • Sharing and linking. You may link to our Site or share our publicly posted social media content (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube) through those platforms’ native share features.
  • Brief excerpts. You may quote brief excerpts of our written content for commentary, news reporting, or educational purposes, provided you credit “Sea Turtle Patrol Hilton Head Island” and link back to the Site.
  • Photos and video. Photographs and video of sea turtles, nests, or patrol activity may not be downloaded, reposted, reproduced, or used in other publications, presentations, advertising, or merchandise without our prior written permission. Many images include volunteers, donors, or members of the public who have not consented to broader distribution.
  • Partner organizations. Approved community and corporate partners may use designated materials available through our Partner Toolkit, solely in accordance with the terms provided there.
  • Press and media. Members of the media seeking to use our photos, video, or data in news coverage should contact us in advance for permission and proper attribution requirements.

4. Prohibited Use

Without our express written consent, you may not:

  • Reproduce, distribute, or publicly display our photos, video, logo, or written materials for commercial purposes
  • Alter, crop, or use our photographs or video in a way that misrepresents our organization, our volunteers, or sea turtle conservation efforts
  • Use our name, logo, or “Myrtle the Turtle” branding or storytelling content to imply endorsement of a product, service, or organization
  • Scrape, copy, or republish our nesting season statistics, FAQs, or educational content as your own
  • Use any Site content in a manner that violates the rights of any third party, including the SCDNR or other partner organizations

5. Third-Party and Donor-Submitted Content

Some material on the Site may be provided by third parties, including SCDNR, partner businesses, donors, photographers, and volunteers. Such content remains the property of its respective owner and is used by Sea Turtle Patrol HHI with permission. We do not grant rights to third-party content beyond what we have ourselves been granted, and requests to use such material should be directed to the original rights holder where indicated, or to us for assistance.

6. Reporting Copyright Infringement

If you believe that material on our Site infringes a copyright you own or control, please notify us with the following information:

  1. A description of the copyrighted work you believe has been infringed
  2. The location (URL) on our Site of the material you believe is infringing
  3. Your name, address, telephone number, and email address
  4. A statement that you have a good-faith belief that the disputed use is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law
  5. A statement, made under penalty of perjury, that the above information is accurate and that you are the copyright owner or authorized to act on the owner’s behalf
  6. Your physical or electronic signature

Please send notices to:

Sea Turtle Patrol Hilton Head Island P.O. Box 23434 Hilton Head Island, SC 29925 [Insert Contact Email]

We will review valid notices and respond appropriately, which may include removing or disabling access to the disputed material.

7. Requesting Permission to Use Our Content

To request permission to use Sea Turtle Patrol HHI photos, video, data, or other materials, please contact us at [Insert Contact Email] or through our Contact page. Please describe the material you wish to use and the intended purpose. We review requests on a case-by-case basis and reserve the right to decline any request that is inconsistent with our mission or the privacy and dignity of the individuals and animals depicted.

8. Reporting Sick or Injured Sea Turtles

This policy governs copyright matters only. If you encounter a sick, injured, or stranded sea turtle on Hilton Head Island, please contact SCDNR directly at 1-800-922-5431.

9. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Copyright Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or applicable law. The “Effective Date” above will indicate when this policy was last revised. Continued use of the Site after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.

10. Contact Us

Sea Turtle Patrol Hilton Head Island P.O. Box 23434, Hilton Head Island, SC 29925 EIN: 82-3642853 | Contact Page