Contributor Consent & Release Agreement

This Contributor Consent & Release Agreement ("Agreement") is entered into between you ("Contributor") and Ejiogbe Voices ("Platform"). By submitting audio recordings, transcripts, translations, or any other content to the Platform, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by the terms of this Agreement. Your submission constitutes your acceptance of all terms herein.

Ejiogbe Voices is a cultural preservation project dedicated to recording, cataloging, and sharing the knowledge of elders, practitioners, and communities across African and diasporic traditions. This platform serves as a living audio library, capturing oral histories, songs, prayers, and teachings for future generations while maintaining cultural integrity and respect.

3.1 Ownership & Stewardship

You retain full ownership of the content you submit. Ejiogbe Voices acts as a digital steward, not an owner, of your recordings, transcriptions, and cultural materials. You affirm that:

• You are the rightful owner of the content or have obtained explicit permission from all rights holders
• You have the authority to grant the permissions contained in this Agreement
• The content does not infringe upon any third-party intellectual property rights
• Your submission does not breach any other agreement or obligation

3.2 Permission to Catalog & Process

By submitting Content, you grant Ejiogbe Voices a non-exclusive, global, royalty-free license to digitize, catalog, preserve, and process your submission, including to:

• Store and preserve your content on secure servers
• Create transcriptions, translations, and metadata to make your content accessible and discoverable
• Display your content on the Platform according to the visibility and access settings you specify

Clarity: This permission does not transfer ownership, nor does it grant the Platform the right to sell or commercially exploit your content. You control whether your content is Public, Community-Only, or Restricted. These permissions are solely for preservation, cataloging, and educational access in accordance with your specifications.

3.3 Attribution and Credit

All content will be credited to you according to your preferred attribution. The Platform commits to:

• Displaying your name, title, and lineage (or pseudonym, if you prefer) prominently with your content
• Ensuring proper attribution in any derivative works, publications, or exhibitions that feature your material
• Respecting your wishes regarding how you are identified and recognized
• Providing a public contributor profile page showcasing your contributions (if you consent)

4.1 Respect for Tradition

We acknowledge that submitted Content may include protected, ceremonial, or culturally sensitive materials. We commit to:

• Honoring community-defined protocols for handling protected knowledge
• Implementing access restrictions as you specify
• Consulting with you or your community before granting access to restricted materials
• Removing or further restricting content upon formal request from you or your recognized community authority

4.2 Restricted Records & Access Control

You may designate your content with one or more of the following visibility levels:

• Public: Available to all users without restriction
• Community-Only: Restricted to registered members of the Platform who have affirmed their commitment to cultural respect
• Restricted: Access limited to verified practitioners, researchers with institutional affiliation, or other designated groups as you specify

You may further specify additional restrictions, including but not limited to:

• Gender-specific access (e.g., content only for women or men)
• Initiation-level requirements (e.g., access limited to initiated practitioners)
• Seasonal or ceremonial timing (e.g., content only accessible during specific calendar periods)
• Geographic restrictions (e.g., content only accessible to users in certain regions)

5.1 Documentation

You agree to provide accurate provenance information for your submitted content, including:

• Your name, title, and recognized role within your tradition or community
• Your cultural lineage, house, temple, or spiritual family (as applicable)
• The date and location of the recording or creation of the content
• The cultural context, significance, and appropriate use of the material

Submissions lacking verified expertise or clear provenance may be rejected to maintain repository integrity.

5.2 Representation and Warranties

You represent and warrant that:

• All information you provide is truthful and accurate to the best of your knowledge
• You have consulted with relevant community leaders, elders, or authorities where appropriate
• You understand the cultural protocols governing the sharing of the submitted materials
• You will promptly notify the Platform of any concerns raised by your community regarding your submissions

6.1 Primary Purpose

Your content is intended primarily for educational, research, and cultural preservation purposes. The Platform is committed to maintaining the non-commercial, community-centered character of the repository.

6.2 Revenue Sharing

Should the Platform or any partner organization wish to use your content for commercial purposes (including but not limited to publications, documentaries, commercial exhibitions, or funded research projects), the Platform will:

• Obtain your explicit written consent in advance
• Negotiate fair compensation or revenue-sharing arrangements directly with you
• Ensure that you and your community benefit appropriately from any commercial use

6.3 Platform Sustainability

The Platform may charge subscription fees or accept donations to support its operational costs, technical infrastructure, and preservation work. These fees support the Platform's mission and do not constitute commercial exploitation of your individual contributions. Contributors who meet verification standards receive permanent premium access as recognition for their cultural stewardship.

7.1 Quality Standards

We reserve the right to:

• Request clarifications, corrections, or additional context for submitted materials
• Reject submissions that do not meet technical quality standards (e.g., inaudible audio, incomplete metadata)
• Correct typographical or transcription errors in consultation with you
• Add contextual notes, disclaimers, or warnings where necessary for user safety or cultural sensitivity

7.2 Editorial Consultation

Any substantive editorial changes will be made in consultation with you. You will have the opportunity to review and approve significant modifications before publication.

8.1 Right to Withdraw

You may withdraw your content from the Platform at any time by submitting a written request to contributors@ejiogbevoices.com. Upon receipt, the Platform will remove your content from public access within 30 days and cease distribution to new users or partners.

8.2 Limitations on Withdrawal

Please note that the Platform cannot guarantee removal of your content from third-party repositories, academic citations, published research, or backup systems maintained for preservation purposes. We will, however, make reasonable efforts to notify partners and collaborators of your withdrawal request.

9.1 Personal Information

The Platform collects and processes personal information as necessary to manage your contributor account and content. This information includes your name, email address, and other contact details you provide. Your personal information will be protected with industry-standard security measures, not shared with third parties without your explicit consent, and used only for Platform operations and contributor communications. For complete details, please refer to the Platform's Privacy Policy.

9.2 Anti-Appropriation Clause

The Platform explicitly prohibits the use of submitted content for cultural appropriation, misrepresentation, or exploitation. Users who violate this principle will have their access revoked. The Platform will actively monitor for and respond to reports of inappropriate use.

9.3 CARE Principles (Indigenous Data Sovereignty)

Ejiogbe Voices operates in accordance with the CARE Principles for Indigenous Data Governance: Collective Benefit, Authority to Control, Responsibility, and Ethics. We recognize that traditional knowledge belongs to the communities from which it originates, and we are committed to ensuring that those communities retain authority and benefit from the use of their cultural heritage.

9.4 Public Recognition

If you are a verified contributor, the Platform may publicly recognize your contributions through contributor spotlights, acknowledgments, or featured content listings. You may opt out of public recognition at any time.

10.1 Limitation of Liability

The Platform provides the preservation service "as is" without warranties of any kind, express or implied. To the fullest extent permitted by law, Ejiogbe Voices shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages arising from or related to this Agreement or your use of the Platform, including but not limited to loss of data, business interruption, or reputational harm.

10.2 Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Ejiogbe Voices and its officers, employees, and agents from any claims, damages, or legal proceedings arising from: your breach of this Agreement, your submission of inaccurate or fraudulent information, infringement of third-party rights by your content, or any misuse of your content by third parties beyond the Platform's reasonable control.

In the event of any dispute arising from this Agreement:

• The parties agree to first attempt informal resolution through good-faith discussion and negotiation
• If unsuccessful, the parties agree to submit the dispute to mediation before pursuing litigation, conducted by a mutually agreed-upon neutral third party with costs shared equally
• This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the jurisdiction in which Ejiogbe Voices is based, while recognizing and respecting the cultural and community contexts of contributors

12.1 Governing Law

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the jurisdiction in which Ejiogbe Voices is based, without regard to its conflict of law principles. However, the Platform recognizes the cultural and community contexts of contributors and will strive to reach resolutions that respect these contexts.

12.2 Modifications

The Platform may update this Agreement from time to time. Significant changes will be communicated to contributors via email. Your continued submission of content after such amendments constitutes acceptance of the updated terms.

12.3 Entire Agreement

This Agreement, together with the Platform's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, constitutes the entire agreement between you and Ejiogbe Voices regarding your content submission and use.