UNEP-WCMC operates a ‘take-down’ policy, such that if UNEP-WCMC is notified of a potential breach of copyright, or other reasonable notice of a possible violation of any law (including but not limited to laws on copyright, patent, intellectual property, trademark, confidentiality, data protection, obscenity, terrorism, defamation or libel), the complete document or dataset or relevant portion will be removed from the repository as quickly as possible pending further investigation.

Where the grounds for complaint are considered to be valid, the complete document or dataset or relevant portion will be permanently withdrawn from the repository. A decision on whether the material may be made available again may take some time if it is necessary for UNEP-WCMC to seek legal advice to resolve the complaint.

If you have discovered material on our website, including in the WDPA, or in our electronic document collection which you consider to be unlawful e.g., breaches copyright, (either yours or that of a third party) or any other law, including but not limited to those relating to patent, trademark, confidentiality, data protection, obscenity, defamation, libel or incitement to terrorism, please contact xxxxxx providing the following information:

• Your contact details.
• The details of the dataset or relevant portion of said dataset, including URL where possible
• The nature of your complaint or concern.
• An assertion that your complaint is made in good faith and is accurate.
• If you are complaining about breach of your own copyright or other intellectual property right, please also confirm that you are the rights owner or are authorised to act for the rights owner.

1. UNEP-WCMC will acknowledge receipt of your complaint by email or letter and will make an initial assessment of the validity and plausibility of the complaint, possibly taking legal advice.
2. In the first instance take-down requests will be reviewed by UNEP-WCMC. If the initial assessment is that the complaint is found to be potentially valid and requiring further consideration or legal advice, the material will be temporarily removed from the website, the document repository, the WDPA site or associated web portal pending an agreed solution.
3. Where relevant, the original contributor of the material in question will be notified that the material is subject to a complaint, what the basis of the complaint is, and will be encouraged to respond to, or address the complaints concerned.

In the case of erroneous or inaccurate data on the website, the WDPA or associated web portal:

On completion of the take-down procedure outlined above, one of three outcomes will result:

• If the complaint is rejected, the dataset or relevant portion will not be changed and the dataset will be reinstated on the website, or in the WDPA and through associated web portals.
• If the complaint is valid and an agreed-upon solution results in changes/updates to the material in question, the material will be reinstated on the website, or in the WDPA after the necessary changes/updates have been made.
• If the complaint is valid and an agreed-upon solution cannot be reached, the material will be permanently removed from the website, the WDPAand associated web portals.

In each case, you will be informed of the decision.

If you are unhappy with the decision taken, you have the right of appeal. Your appeal should be addressed to the Director (contact us).

In the case of infringement of intellectual property rights:

On completion of the take-down procedure outlined above, one of three outcomes will result:

• If the complaint is rejected, the document, dataset or relevant portion removed from the repository will be reinstated to the relevant repository. 
• If the complaint is valid and a resolution satisfactory to both parties can be reached, the material will be dealt with in accordance with this arrangement. 
• If the complaint is valid and an agreed-upon solution cannot be reached, the material will be permanently removed from the repository in which it was held.

In each case, you will be informed of the decision.