Policy on Ownership and Use of Family Stories

Last Revision: March 20, 2026

Introduction

Village of the Stars is committed to honoring the dignity, privacy, and legal rights of adoptive families and their children. This Policy establishes clear guidelines for the ownership and ethical use of Family Stories. Every story is shared only with full, informed consent and with deep respect for the individuals involved.

Article 1. Definitions

1.1 “Family Stories” means any text, photographs, videos, audio recordings, or other media that describe or depict the personal experiences, adoption journeys, or family histories of individuals connected with Village of the Stars.

1.2 “Story Owner” means the individual who is the primary subject of the Family Story. If the Story Owner is a minor or legally incapacitated, their parent(s) or legal guardian(s) shall exercise these rights on their behalf as permitted by law. As children mature, Village of the Stars will make reasonable efforts to involve them directly in decisions about their own stories.

Article 2. Ownership of Rights

The Story Owner retains all personal rights in Family Stories, including rights of privacy, right of publicity, and other personality rights, in accordance with applicable law. Any intellectual property rights (such as copyright) in newly created content belong to the creator unless otherwise agreed in writing. No organization or individual may claim ownership of a Story Owner’s personal rights except as expressly authorized in writing by the Story Owner (or their legal representative).

Article 3. Authorization Requirements

Any collection, use, editing, publication, or dissemination of Family Stories requires the prior explicit written consent of the Story Owner (or their legal representative). Consent must clearly specify:(a) the permitted manner and scope of use;(b) the specific content involved and any boundaries on private or sensitive details;(c) the channels and platforms where the story may appear;(d) the purpose of use (e.g., charitable, educational, promotional, or commercial); and(e) the duration of the authorization.

Story Owners (or their representatives) will be given a reasonable opportunity to review and approve the final edited version of the story before any publication or public sharing. They may request changes, use of a pseudonym, or anonymity.

Article 4. Right of Revocation

A Story Owner may revoke consent at any time by providing written notice. Village of the Stars will make reasonable efforts to cease all further use of the material. However, complete removal from previously distributed materials or third-party platforms cannot always be guaranteed.

Article 5. Exclusive Rights

No exclusive or proprietary rights may be asserted over any Family Story unless the Story Owner grants them in a separate written agreement that clearly defines the scope and duration of exclusivity.

Article 6. Restrictions on Sub-Licensing

Unless the Story Owner expressly permits it in writing, any authorized party may not sublicense, translate, adapt, reproduce, or grant any rights to third parties.

Article 7. Limited License Only

Any authorization granted under this Policy is a limited, non-transferable, non-exclusive license. Ownership and all underlying rights remain with the Story Owner (or the appropriate rights holder) and are not transferred.

Article 8. Privacy and Data Protection

All use of Family Stories must strictly comply with applicable privacy, data-protection, and child-protection laws. Sensitive personal information will be safeguarded and used only within the scope of the granted consent.

Article 9. Governing Law

This Policy shall be governed by the laws of the State of Indiana and applicable federal laws of the United States.

P. O.  Box 1292, Columbus Indiana 47202 USA 

villageofthestars@gmail.com                                    

www.villageofthestars.org