By accessing, downloading, or using VARS data for your research, you acknowledge that you understand the unique characteristics and limitations of the VARS data, and you agree to all conditions of use described herein. If you do not accept all of the terms of this Policy, you are not authorized to use VARS products or data described below.

About VARS data

MBARI’s deep-sea still images, video footage, and related data (collectively referred to herein as “VARS data”) are maintained in a centralized archive. VARS data may be made available to you via numerous modes including, but not limited to: directly from our Annotation GUI, Knowledgebase, Query, Deep-Sea Guide, or any other database-access applications or delivered from us via email, website, portable hard drive, or other transfer method (collectively referred to herein as “VARS products”).

The assets in this observational database are primarily used to support our own scientific research, engineering development, education, and communication goals. We are also happy to share our VARS data with external researchers and believe that a collaborative approach, with an exchange of expertise (e.g., updated taxonomic classifications and observational findings), is the most mutually beneficial. If you are interested in obtaining the most current observational data for your research project(s), we encourage you to review the information about our unique data and to understand our terms of use below.

Media inquiries for news, feature stories, and productions that focus specifically on MBARI research and technology will be considered by our pressroom team. We do not allow use of our still images or video footage for strictly commercial endeavors including, but not limited to, advertisements, stock collections, websites, picture books, etc. Nor do we supply materials for projects that we determine do not align with our institutional objectives. To request images or video for media, educational, or other non-commercial purposes that meet these criteria, please submit a Media Request Form.

Data characteristics and quality control

VARS data is unique. We use our internal VARS Annotation system to characterize all video observations as consistently as possible. Our annotation research staff continually enrich the database contents by adding new concept names, descriptive, and visual information as our knowledge grows over time. Due to this dynamic process, the VARS data are continuously undergoing updates to reflect new information as well as quality control and other improvements.

Though they have proven to have great inherent and inferred scientific value, the observational data found in the VARS database were not always collected using systematic research procedures. Among other factors, biases have been introduced as a result of changing camera capabilities, mission objectives, resource constraints, environmental conditions, observational techniques, and taxonomic classifications over time. For these reasons, if you are considering using VARS for your scientific publication or project, we advise you to work with us directly so we can ensure you have the most up-to-date and complete dataset available. Contact MBARI’s Video Lab (videolabadmin@mbari.org) to discuss your project further.

Exclusions

MBARI typically embargoes all new annotations and related data for two years for internal quality control and scientific use. Extensions to the embargo period may be granted for specific data sets actively undergoing review and analysis for publication. The majority of annotations and related data older than two years are made available through our Deep-Sea Guide, direct requests, and other methods, but it should not be assumed that these data are representative of the entire VARS annotation database.

Terms of Use

By accessing and using material on any MBARI web page, you are consenting to be bound to MBARI’s standard privacy and terms of use policies found here.

Notwithstanding the aforementioned MBARI standard policies, use of any VARS data, whether retrieved by you from any MBARI website or affiliated platform, or received directly from us, in their original or any derivative form, is limited to only your internal research activities and any peer-reviewed, agency, or other professional publication or report that directly stems from your research project. When you obtain or use VARS data, MBARI grants you a non-exclusive, non-transferable, one-time license to use the data in all media known or hereafter invented, in the world, and in perpetuity so long as such uses are directly related to your research project only. Authors should acknowledge MBARI’s VARS system as the data source in any research publications by including the citation listed below. If your publisher’s specific editorial guidelines for citation or credit can not accommodate this, contact MBARI’s Video Lab (videolabadmin@mbari.org) to discuss options.

Schlining, B.M. and N. Jacobsen Stout (2006). MBARI’s video annotation and reference system. Proceedings of the Marine Technology Society/Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Oceans Conference, Boston, MA, pp. 1-5.

Additionally, in the spirit of mutually beneficial collaboration, it is generally expected that any science publication relying heavily on information or interpretation from an MBARI researcher(s) will acknowledge the researcher(s), typically by including them as collaborators and co-authors when their contribution has been significant.

For use of VARS data in any other type of publication or any other uses related to your research project [including, but not limited to: your own website, blog, or video channel (e.g. YouTube), or any third-party data repository, institutional website, or media coverage], authors must obtain separate written permission from MBARI’s pressroom team.

Ownership and warranties

The VARS data and the copyright to the VARS data and affiliated VARS products are and shall remain the property of MBARI. MBARI provides these data and products “as is”, with no warranty, express or implied, of the data quality or consistency. They are provided without support and without obligation on the part of the MBARI to assist in their use, correction, modification, or enhancement.

Changes

We may modify, add, or remove portions of this VARS Data Use Policy (each, an “Update” to the Policy) at any time without prior notice and such Updates will be effective immediately. If we make Updates to this Policy, we will change the “Last Updated” date above. Your continued use of VARS data and any related tools or products will confirm your acceptance of the updated Policy. We encourage you to frequently review the Policy to ensure you understand the latest terms and conditions associated with use of VARS. If you do not agree to the updated Policy, you must discontinue using VARS products and data.