CITY OF GUADALUPE

Santa Barbara County, California

WEBSITE COPYRIGHT POLICY

www.cityofguadalupe.org

Effective Date: June 1, 2025  |  Last Reviewed: May 2026

1. Overview and Purpose

The City of Guadalupe, California (“the City”) maintains this website at www.cityofguadalupe.org (“the Website”) to provide information and services to residents, businesses, visitors, and the general public. This Copyright Policy explains the ownership of content published on the Website, the terms under which content may be used by third parties, and how the City respects the intellectual property rights of others.

By accessing or using the Website, you acknowledge and agree to comply with this Copyright Policy. If you do not agree with these terms, please discontinue use of the Website.

2. Ownership of City Content

2.1 Copyright Ownership

All original content on this Website — including but not limited to text, graphics, photographs, illustrations, logos, documents, data, audio clips, video clips, and software — is the property of the City of Guadalupe or its authorized content providers, and is protected by United States copyright law (Title 17, U.S. Code) and applicable state law.

2.2 Government Works and Public Records

Certain materials published by the City, such as municipal codes, ordinances, resolutions, meeting minutes, agendas, and official public records, may be in the public domain or subject to reduced copyright protections under California and federal law. However, the selection, arrangement, compilation, and presentation of such materials on this Website remains a creative work protected by copyright.

Requests for public records should be directed through the City’s formal Public Records Act request process and are governed by the California Public Records Act (Government Code §7920 et seq.).

3. Permitted Uses of City Website Content

3.1 Personal and Non-Commercial Use

The City grants visitors a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to access and use content on this Website for personal, non-commercial, informational purposes, subject to the following conditions:

• You may view, download, or print individual pages for your own personal reference.
• Content must not be modified, altered, or edited in any way.
• All copyright notices and attributions must be retained on any copies made.
• Content may not be reproduced in bulk, systematically scraped, or compiled into databases.

3.2 Educational and News Reporting Use

Limited use of City Website content may be permissible for educational purposes or news reporting, consistent with the doctrine of fair use under 17 U.S.C. § 107. Such use must:

• Be non-commercial in nature.
• Clearly attribute the City of Guadalupe as the source.
• Not imply City endorsement of any publication, product, or viewpoint.
• Not reproduce the content in a manner that could substitute for the original Website.

3.3 Official Government and Partner Use

Other government agencies and official City partners may reproduce City content for government purposes with proper attribution, provided such use does not misrepresent the City’s positions or policies. Written permission may be required for extended or ongoing use.

4. Prohibited Uses

Without the express prior written permission of the City of Guadalupe, you may not:

• Reproduce, republish, distribute, or transmit any substantial portion of Website content through any medium, including print, digital, or broadcast.
• Sell, license, rent, or commercially exploit any Website content.
• Create derivative works based on Website content.
• Use City logos, seals, insignia, trademarks, or official marks without authorization.
• Frame or mirror Website content on another website or application.
• Use automated tools, bots, or scripts to scrape, harvest, or systematically download Website content.
• Remove, alter, or obscure any copyright notices, trademarks, or proprietary legends.
• Use content in any manner that could mislead the public about City positions, decisions, or official communications.

5. Requesting Permission for Additional Uses

If you wish to use City Website content in a manner not expressly permitted by this Policy, you must submit a written permission request to the City Clerk’s Office. Requests should include:

• Your name, organization (if applicable), contact information, and purpose.
• A specific description of the content you wish to use.
• The intended medium, audience, and duration of use.
• Whether the intended use is commercial or non-commercial.

Permission requests may be submitted by mail or email:

City Clerk’s Office

Address: 918 Obispo Street, Guadalupe, CA 93434

Email: cityclerk@cityofguadalupe.org

Phone: (805) 343-1340

The City reserves the right to grant or deny permission requests at its sole discretion. Approval of one request does not constitute ongoing authorization for future uses.

6. Third-Party Content and Links

6.1 Third-Party Materials

The Website may include content provided by third parties, such as maps, embedded media, reports from partner agencies, or links to external resources. Such content is the property of the respective third-party owners and is governed by their own copyright terms and conditions. The City makes no representations regarding the copyright status of third-party content.

6.2 External Links

Links to external websites are provided for convenience only. The City does not own, control, or assume responsibility for any content on linked third-party websites. The inclusion of any link does not imply City endorsement of the linked site or its content.

7. Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) Notice and Takedown

7.1 Reporting Infringement

The City of Guadalupe respects the intellectual property rights of others. If you believe that content on this Website infringes your copyright, please submit a written notice to the City’s designated DMCA agent containing all of the following:

• Your name, mailing address, telephone number, and email address.
• A description of the copyrighted work you claim has been infringed.
• A description of where on the Website the allegedly infringing material is located (include specific URL(s)).
• A statement that you have a good faith belief that use of the material is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law.
• A statement, under penalty of perjury, that the information in your notice is accurate and that you are the copyright owner or authorized to act on the owner’s behalf.
• Your physical or electronic signature.

DMCA notices should be submitted to:

Designated DMCA Agent: City Attorney

City of Guadalupe: 918 Obispo Street, Guadalupe, CA 93434

Email: cityattorney@cityofguadalupe.org

7.2 Counter-Notices

If you believe that content removed in response to a DMCA notice was removed in error or misidentification, you may submit a counter-notice to the Designated Agent. Counter-notices must comply with the requirements of 17 U.S.C. § 512(g)(3).

8. City Trademarks and Official Marks

The City of Guadalupe’s name, official seal, logo, and other identifying marks are protected trademarks and official government marks. These marks may not be used without the City’s prior written authorization for any purpose, including:

• Commercial advertising or promotional materials.
• Any use that implies City sponsorship, endorsement, or affiliation.
• Political campaign materials.
• Merchandise or products.

9. Disclaimer of Warranties

Website content is provided “as is” for informational purposes only. While the City strives to ensure accuracy and completeness, it makes no warranties, express or implied, regarding the accuracy, reliability, completeness, or fitness for a particular purpose of any content on the Website. Content is subject to change without notice.

This Copyright Policy does not waive any immunity from copyright infringement claims that the City may otherwise have under applicable law, including California Government Code provisions.

10. Governing Law

This Copyright Policy is governed by the laws of the State of California and applicable federal copyright law. Any disputes arising under or related to this Policy shall be resolved in a court of competent jurisdiction in Santa Barbara County, California.

11. Policy Updates

The City reserves the right to modify this Copyright Policy at any time. Changes will be posted to the Website with an updated effective date. Continued use of the Website following any modification constitutes your acceptance of the revised Policy.

12. Contact Information

For questions about this Copyright Policy or to report concerns, please contact:

City Clerk’s Office

City of Guadalupe: 918 Obispo Street, Guadalupe, CA 93434

Phone: (805) 343-1340

Website: www.cityofguadalupe.org

© 2025 City of Guadalupe, California. All Rights Reserved.