User Generated Content Agreement


Privacy Act Statement: Your information will be used to repost user generated content for marketing purposes.  Collection is authorized by 39 U.S.C 401, 403, and 404.  Providing the information is voluntary, but if not provided, we may not be able to fulfill your request.  We do not disclose your information to third parties without your consent, except to facilitate the transaction, to act on your behalf or request, or as legally required. This includes the following limited circumstances: to a congressional office on your behalf; to financial entities regarding financial transaction issues; to a U.S. Postal Service auditor; to entities, including law enforcement, as required by law or in legal proceedings; and to contractors and other entities aiding us to fulfill the service (service providers).  For more information regarding our privacy policies visit http://www.usps.com/privacypolicy.

Terms and Conditions - Release

Thanks for checking out the terms and conditions that cover the United States Postal Service’s (“USPS”) use of your photographs, images and statements regarding our organization.  If you have come to this web page, we have reached out to you asking if we can use materials that you have posted online or sent to us directly, which we would like to repost, use in various social media fora, or use for marketing purposes.   We’ll refer to these terms and conditions as “Terms.” The full Terms are laid out below. However, make sure you read the entire set of Terms before agreeing to them.

1. Terms

By submitting materials or posting USPS related materials on line  or by otherwise agreeing to our use of a such materials according to these Terms, you agree that you have read, understand, agree with these Terms and will comply with them in their entirety. You warrant and represent that you are 18 years of age or older. 

2. Copyright

You acknowledge and agree that you alone have taken the photos and written any copy associated with the materials (the “Content”), or you have the permission of the person that created the Content to allow us to use them.  You represent and warrant that you have taken the photograph yourself and own the copyright in the photograph, the materials shown in the photograph, and any copy written that we intend on using, or you have received the express permission of the copyright owner(s) to have such Content used and shared by us in accordance with these Terms. You acknowledge and agree that nothing in these terms limits USPS’s rights under the fair use doctrine or the First Amendment.

3. Permission of any Person Pictured

We ask that you ensure that you have permission to take the photograph of any and all persons appearing in the Content and that you have their permission to have their image and name used by us. If any people pictured are under 18 years of age, you must obtain their parent or guardian’s express permission to have their image and name used by us. You represent and warrant that you have express permission of everyone who appears in the Content (and their parent or guardian, if applicable) to be photographed and have the photograph and their names used and shared by the USPS in accordance with these Terms. You warrant and represent that you have sent a copy of or a link to these Terms to each individual displayed in any of the Content we have sought permission to use and such individuals have agreed to these Terms.  

4. USPS’s Use of Photographs and Content

You keep all of your ownership rights to any Content but give us permission to use the photograph as determined by us. By submitting, or otherwise agreeing to our use of, a photograph or other content, including but not limited to photo captions, your name, and the names of any person appearing in the Content, you grant us the worldwide, unrestricted, royalty-free, irrevocable, sub-licensable right to (a) reproduce, distribute, create derivative works from, publish, publicly display and perform, modify, edit, alter and otherwise use the Content in whole or in part, without further consent, review or participation from you, for any purpose throughout the world (including commercial and promotional) in any medium or format now existing or hereafter created, including but not limited to print, digital, or recorded material, websites, and social media platforms; and (b) use your name, commentary, and other information about you in connection with the Content. We reserve the right to use, not use, or discontinue using any Content in our sole discretion at any time. 

5. The Content

You warrant and represent that the Content does not: 

Infringe any intellectual property rights of any other person or third party, including but not limited to copyright and trademark;

Defame or invade the privacy or publicity rights of any person, living or deceased, or infringe upon any person’s or third party’s personal, property, or other right;

Contain any virus, worm, corrupt file, or other forms of malicious code or content that may harm a website or computer; and

Violate any law, statute, ordinance, or regulation.

6. Choice of Law, Waiver, and Indemnity

If you have a disagreement with us or think any of your Content has been used without your permission or in violation of your rights, email us at socialmedia@usps.gov so that we can address your concerns.

In the event any action is brought by You against the USPS, you acknowledge and agree that Federal law shall apply, and any actions shall be brought in federal court. 

You irrevocably waive all rights and agree to release and hold harmless USPS from any and all claims, costs, expenses, damages, causes of action and/or liabilities, of any nature, whether direct or indirect, known or unknown, foreseen or unforeseen, arising out of or relating to the Content, including but not limited to defamation; invasion of the rights of privacy or publicity; violation or any moral or artist rights; infringement of intellectual property; personal injury, damage to property, or any other similar matter. You further agree to indemnify, defend, and hold USPS harmless from any claim or cause of action related to your violation of any these Terms.

7. Enforceability

If any provision of these Terms & Conditions are deemed invalid, illegal or otherwise unenforceable then that provision will be limited or eliminated to the minimum extent necessary, and the remaining provisions of these Terms will remain in full force and effect.

Updated: 6/7/2016