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House Rules

All contributions to A History of the World must follow the rules for BBC communities but there are also additional rules covering objects added to the site.

Rules for objects

When you add an object to A History of the World it must abide by both rules for BBC communities and the rules below. The BBC reserves the right to remove from the site objects that break any of these rules.

• Objects added to the website must be owned by the contributor.
• Objects must be man-made - i.e. no animals, no people, no fossils, etc.
• Buildings and other architectural objects, such as bridges, will not be considered.
• Objects should have a wider historical significance than simply a personal connection. Avoid adding family photos, diaries, letters or postcards, unless the object itself has a historical story - e.g. the letter was posted from the Titanic.
• Photos of the object must not break any copyrights - i.e. you cannot upload a reproduction of a painting, or other work of art without the artist's permission. Individuals and museums must obtain copyright before adding their objects.
• All contributors must be over 16-years old. If you are under 16, ask a parent or teacher to register and add your object for you.
• Objects must have been acquired by legal means and the owner must be lawfully entitled to keep them. Objects must not have been looted or taken from archaeological sites, or received through illegal export or import.
• Objects recovered from land in the UK may be added to the website only if they have been lawfully reported as treasure under the Treasure Act 1996, or they have been reported to the local finds liaison officer under the Portable Antiquities Scheme.
• Fakes or forgeries are only allowed where they are clearly identified as such in the accompanying text.
• The website cannot be used to help advertise any goods for sale.
• All contributions must be written in English.

All objects will be moderated in accordance with these rules, but neither the BBC nor the British Museum is responsible for the accuracy of any information relating to an object added to this site by a contributor.