Disclaimer, Copyright and Content Policy
WW2 Stories | ww2stories.org
Last updated: Oct. 2026
1. Purpose of the Website
WW2 Stories is a historical website dedicated to researching, documenting and sharing material relating to the Second World War.
The website may contain original articles, historical research, photographs, documents, maps, quotations, recordings, video, illustrations and other material supplied by WW2 Stories, its authors, contributors, researchers, archives or other third parties.
This policy explains the basis on which material is published and used on the website and sets out our approach to copyright, permissions, attribution, historical accuracy, rights claims and the use of contributed material.
By accessing or using the website, you acknowledge and agree to this policy to the extent permitted by applicable law.
2. International Application
WW2 Stories is operated from Greece and is accessible internationally.
This policy is intended to operate internationally and shall be interpreted subject to the mandatory provisions of the law applicable to the particular circumstances, including applicable copyright, intellectual-property, consumer-protection, privacy and other statutory rights.
Nothing in this policy is intended to exclude, restrict or waive any right or liability that cannot lawfully be excluded, restricted or waived.
Where mandatory provisions of applicable law provide a person with rights that cannot be excluded by contract, those rights shall continue to apply.
3. Historical Accuracy and Interpretation
WW2 Stories makes reasonable efforts to ensure that published historical material is accurate and properly researched.
Historical records can, however, be incomplete, contradictory or subject to differing interpretations. Names, dates, locations, unit designations, aircraft identities, ship identities, casualty figures and other historical details may therefore occasionally differ between sources.
Where appropriate, material may identify competing accounts, uncertainties or disputed interpretations.
Historical articles represent the research and interpretation of their respective authors and should not necessarily be regarded as the definitive account of an event.
4. No Warranty
The website and its content are provided for historical, educational and informational purposes.
While reasonable care is taken in preparing and maintaining the website, WW2 Stories does not warrant that all content will always be complete, accurate, current or free from error.
We do not guarantee that the website, individual pages, files, links or other features will always be available, uninterrupted or free from technical defects.
To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, use of the website and reliance upon its content is at the user’s own risk.
5. Limitation of Liability
To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, WW2 Stories and its owner, organisers, authors, contributors and representatives shall not be liable for loss or damage arising from reliance upon information published on the website, including historical inaccuracies, omissions, interpretations or changes to content.
This limitation does not apply to liability which cannot lawfully be excluded or limited, including liability arising from fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation or any other liability which applicable law requires to remain enforceable.
Nothing in this policy affects statutory rights that cannot lawfully be excluded or restricted.
6. Copyright and Intellectual Property
Copyright and other intellectual-property rights in material published on WW2 Stories may belong to different persons or organisations depending on the origin and circumstances of the material.
Copyright does not automatically belong to WW2 Stories merely because material appears on the website.
Where WW2 Stories or an identified author owns copyright in original material, that copyright remains with the relevant owner unless it has been expressly assigned or otherwise transferred in writing.
The absence of a copyright notice does not mean that material is free to copy or use.
Copyright protection may arise automatically and may apply internationally under applicable law and international agreements.
7. Original WW2 Stories Material
Unless otherwise stated, original articles, written content, original research, photographs, graphics, videos, compilations and other material created by or for WW2 Stories remain the property of WW2 Stories or the relevant author or rights holder.
Except where permitted by law or expressly authorised in writing, no person may:
- reproduce or republish substantial portions of the material;
- copy, adapt or commercially exploit the material;
- reproduce photographs, graphics, documents or other protected material;
- redistribute substantial portions of articles or other original content;
- remove copyright, attribution or other rights notices; or
- present WW2 Stories material as their own.
Brief quotations, references, criticism, review, research use and other uses permitted by applicable copyright law remain subject to the relevant legal requirements.
8. Material Submitted by Authors and Contributors
A person submitting material to WW2 Stories must have the legal right and authority to submit that material and to grant the rights described in this policy and any applicable contributor agreement.
By submitting material, the contributor represents that, to the best of their knowledge:
- they own the copyright in the material or have obtained the necessary rights and permissions;
- they have authority to grant WW2 Stories the licence described below;
- the material does not knowingly infringe the copyright or other rights of another person;
- any information supplied concerning the origin, ownership or provenance of the material is accurate to the best of their knowledge;
- any necessary permissions relating to identifiable third-party material have been obtained; and
- they will provide reasonable assistance if a genuine question concerning ownership, provenance or permission arises.
For significant submissions, photographs, substantial articles or commissioned work, WW2 Stories may require a separate written agreement confirming ownership and licensing arrangements.
9. Licence Granted by Contributors
Unless a separate written agreement provides otherwise, a contributor who submits material to WW2 Stories grants WW2 Stories a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free licence for the full period during which the relevant rights subsist, including any renewals or extensions permitted by applicable law, to:
- publish the material on ww2stories.org;
- reproduce and store the material;
- display, communicate and make the material available to the public;
- distribute the material in connection with WW2 Stories;
- archive and preserve the material;
- reproduce the material in newsletters, books, magazines or other publications produced by or for WW2 Stories;
- use the material on official WW2 Stories social-media channels;
- use the material in publicity, promotional material and other activities connected with WW2 Stories;
- crop, resize, format, compress or make reasonable technical or editorial adaptations necessary for publication and presentation; and
- continue using material that has already been published where reasonably connected with the historical record, archives or previous publications of WW2 Stories.
The licence is non-exclusive. The contributor remains free to use the material elsewhere unless a separate written agreement provides otherwise.
The licence does not transfer ownership of copyright to WW2 Stories unless a separate written assignment or other legally effective transfer has been agreed.
10. Attribution and Moral Rights
WW2 Stories will make reasonable efforts to provide appropriate attribution where the identity of the author, photographer, creator or rights holder is known and attribution is appropriate.
Contributors should provide accurate attribution and provenance information when submitting material.
Nothing in this policy is intended to waive or remove moral rights or other rights that cannot lawfully be waived, transferred or excluded.
Where a creator has notified WW2 Stories of a valid moral right or attribution requirement, reasonable efforts will be made to respect it.
11. Historical Photographs, Documents and Archival Material
WW2 Stories may publish historical photographs, documents, maps, recordings and other archival material where there is a lawful basis for doing so.
That basis may include:
- ownership of the relevant rights;
- permission from the copyright owner or another person authorised to grant permission;
- a licence;
- material supplied by a contributor who has the necessary authority;
- material in the public domain;
- a copyright exception or limitation;
- an applicable statutory permission; or
- another lawful basis for use.
The age of a photograph, document or other historical item does not, by itself, establish that the material is in the public domain.
Material originating in one country may also be subject to different copyright rules in another country. Public-domain status may therefore require consideration of the particular work, creator, date, ownership history and applicable jurisdiction.
12. Public-Domain Material
Where WW2 Stories identifies material as being in the public domain, that identification is based on the information reasonably available to us at the time.
Public-domain status can depend upon jurisdiction and upon the particular circumstances of the work.
A statement that material is believed to be in the public domain is not intended to prevent a person with genuine evidence of continuing rights from contacting us.
13. Copyright Exceptions and Limitations
Nothing in this policy is intended to restrict lawful uses of copyright material permitted under applicable law.
Depending on the jurisdiction and circumstances, such uses may include quotation, criticism, review, research, private study, education, reporting current events or other statutory exceptions or limitations.
The existence of an exception or limitation does not automatically permit every use of a copyright work. Users remain responsible for ensuring that their own use complies with the law applicable to them.
14. Copyright and Rights Claims
If you believe that material published on WW2 Stories infringes your copyright or other rights, please contact us so that we can investigate the matter and, where appropriate, seek to resolve it promptly.
A rights claim should include:
- your full name and contact details;
- the URL or precise location of the material concerned;
- a description of the work or rights you claim to own;
- evidence supporting your ownership or authority to act on behalf of the rights holder;
- information concerning the origin and creation of the work;
- details of any relevant assignment, licence, inheritance or other transfer of rights;
- an explanation of why you believe the material is being used without lawful authority; and
- any other information reasonably necessary to investigate the claim.
A claim does not, by itself, establish ownership or infringement.
WW2 Stories may request additional information or evidence where necessary to establish the relevant rights.
15. Investigation of Rights Claims
When a credible rights claim is received, WW2 Stories may investigate the matter and may contact the contributor, author, archive, photographer or other relevant person.
While a claim is being investigated, WW2 Stories may, where appropriate, temporarily remove, restrict access to, replace or disable material.
Any temporary removal, restriction or other precautionary measure does not constitute an admission that copyright infringement or any other legal wrong has occurred.
Where appropriate, material may be restored if a claim cannot be substantiated or if lawful permission or another lawful basis for publication is established.
16. False or Misleading Rights Claims
WW2 Stories takes genuine rights claims seriously.
A person making a rights claim should ensure that the information supplied is accurate and that they have a genuine basis for asserting the rights concerned.
False, fraudulent, deliberately misleading or bad-faith claims may be rejected and may be dealt with in accordance with applicable law.
Nothing in this section prevents a person from making a genuine claim where ownership or infringement is reasonably disputed.
17. Authors and Contributors
Authors and contributors are responsible for the material they submit and for providing accurate information concerning its origin and provenance.
Publication of an article, photograph or other contribution does not necessarily mean that WW2 Stories independently verifies every statement made by the contributor.
WW2 Stories may edit, amend, shorten, format or decline submitted material where considered appropriate.
Unless otherwise agreed in writing, publication does not create an employment relationship, partnership, agency relationship or transfer of copyright between WW2 Stories and a contributor.
18. User-Generated Content
Where the website permits comments, submissions or other user-generated content, users remain responsible for the material they post.
Users must not submit material that is unlawful, defamatory, knowingly false, infringing, abusive, threatening or otherwise inappropriate.
WW2 Stories reserves the right to remove or restrict user-generated content where reasonably necessary.
19. External Websites and Links
WW2 Stories may provide links to external websites, archives, museums, institutions, publications and other resources.
Such links are provided for information and convenience.
WW2 Stories does not control those websites and is not responsible for their content, availability, accuracy, security, copyright status or privacy practices.
The inclusion of a link does not necessarily constitute an endorsement of the linked website or its content.
20. Historical, Political and Military Material
WW2 Stories deals with historical military, political and wartime subjects that may involve violence, death, controversial events, disputed accounts and conflicting interpretations.
Material is published for historical and educational purposes and should not be interpreted as an endorsement of any political ideology, military organisation, government, movement or historical position merely because it is discussed or reproduced for legitimate historical purposes.
21. No Professional Advice
The website provides historical and educational information.
Nothing published on WW2 Stories constitutes legal, financial, medical, professional or other specialist advice.
Where specialist advice is required, an appropriately qualified professional should be consulted.
22. Website Availability and Technical Issues
WW2 Stories may modify, suspend, relocate or discontinue any part of the website without notice where reasonably necessary.
We do not guarantee uninterrupted availability or that the website will always be free from technical errors, malicious software or other defects.
Users remain responsible for maintaining appropriate security measures on their own devices and networks.
23. Changes to Content
WW2 Stories may correct, update, amend, remove or otherwise change published material where appropriate.
This may include corrections to historical information, attribution, copyright information, provenance or other matters.
A correction or removal does not necessarily constitute an admission of legal liability.
24. No Automatic Transfer of Rights
Publication of material on WW2 Stories does not transfer copyright ownership to WW2 Stories unless a legally effective written transfer or assignment has been made.
Similarly, the publication of material does not transfer copyright ownership to website users or third parties.
Any rights granted to WW2 Stories arise from the applicable licence, agreement, permission, statutory provision or other lawful basis on which the material is used.
25. Applicable Law and Mandatory Rights
This policy is intended to operate subject to the law applicable to the particular circumstances and the mandatory rights applicable in the relevant jurisdiction.
Nothing in this policy prevents the application of mandatory provisions of Greek law, European Union law, United Kingdom law or the law of another jurisdiction where those provisions apply.
Where a provision of this policy is found to be unlawful, invalid or unenforceable, that provision shall be interpreted or limited to the minimum extent necessary and the remaining provisions shall continue to apply to the extent permitted by law.
26. Contact
Questions concerning copyright, permissions, attribution, provenance or other rights relating to material published on WW2 Stories should be directed to:
For all enquiries relating to this policy, please use the Contact page and contact form on the WW2 Stories website.
Where relevant, please include the URL of the material concerned and sufficient information for us to identify and consider the matter.
© WW2 Stories / ww2stories.org. All rights reserved where applicable.
