Acceptance of Terms
By accessing or using the Modern History Library catalogue (the 'Service'), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Use. If you do not agree, please do not use the Service. We reserve the right to update these terms at any time; continued use after changes constitutes acceptance. We encourage you to review this page periodically.
Use of the Service
The Service provides access to a curated collection of ebooks, primarily historical texts, for lawful personal, educational, and research purposes. You may download, read, and share copies of public-domain works where permitted by applicable law. Commercial redistribution or systematic reproduction is prohibited without explicit permission. Our catalogue includes works such as My past and thoughts, vol. 1 and Count Luckner, the Sea Devil, presented with editorial context to aid understanding.
Prohibited Conduct
You agree not to:
- Use the Service for any unlawful purpose or in violation of any applicable law.
- Attempt to interfere with, disrupt, or impair the functionality of the Service, including through automated queries, scraping, or denial-of-service attacks.
- Circumvent any access controls, rate limits, or technical measures designed to protect the Service.
- Upload or transmit viruses, malware, or other harmful code.
- Use the Service to infringe upon the intellectual property or privacy rights of others.
Automated Access and Data Extraction
Automated access, including web scraping, data mining, or bulk downloading, is permitted only where explicitly allowed and in a manner that does not burden the Service. We may limit or block automated access at our discretion. If you wish to use the catalogue for research or archival projects, please contact us to discuss reasonable arrangements. We are happy to consider requests for scholarly or non-commercial data collection.
Content and Copyright
Ebooks in the catalogue are presented with editorial notes, annotations, and formatting. The underlying texts may be in the public domain in some jurisdictions but not others. It is your responsibility to verify the copyright status of any work before using it outside personal study. The editorial enhancements, including introductions, summaries, and layout, are protected by copyright and may not be reproduced without permission.
We make every effort to provide accurate bibliographic information and transcription quality, but we do not guarantee error-free texts. Some works may contain historical language, imagery, or viewpoints that reflect the biases of their time; they are presented for scholarly context and do not reflect our endorsement. For example, titles like The treatment of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire are offered as primary sources for study.
Third-Party Links
The Service may contain links to external websites or resources. We are not responsible for the content, privacy practices, or availability of those sites. Accessing third-party links is at your own risk. We recommend reviewing the terms and policies of any external site you visit.
Availability and Modifications
We strive to maintain reliable access to the catalogue, but we do not guarantee uninterrupted or error-free service. We may suspend, modify, or discontinue any part of the Service at any time without notice. We are not liable for any loss resulting from such changes. If you rely on the Service for research, we suggest keeping local copies of important works.
Disclaimer of Warranties
The Service and its content are provided 'as is' and 'as available' without any warranties, express or implied, including but not limited to merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or non-infringement. We do not warrant that the Service will meet your requirements or that defects will be corrected. No advice or information obtained from the Service shall create any warranty not expressly stated herein.
Limitation of Liability
To the fullest extent permitted by law, Modern History Library and its editor shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages arising from your use of the Service, even if advised of the possibility of such damages. Our total liability for any claim shall not exceed the amount you paid (if any) for access to the Service. This limitation applies to all causes of action, whether in contract, tort, or otherwise.
User Responsibility
You are solely responsible for your use of the Service and for ensuring that your use complies with all applicable laws and regulations. You agree to indemnify and hold us harmless from any claims arising from your violation of these terms or your misuse of the Service. This includes responsibility for any content you share or distribute derived from the catalogue.
Rights-Holder Notices
If you believe that any content on the Service infringes your copyright, please contact us at [email protected] with sufficient information to evaluate your claim. We will respond promptly and take appropriate action, including removal of the material if warranted. To help us process your notice, please include a description of the work, your contact information, and a statement of good faith belief that the use is not authorized.
Suspension and Termination
We reserve the right to suspend or terminate access to any user who violates these terms, engages in abusive or disruptive behavior, or uses the Service in a manner that harms others or the platform. Termination may occur without prior notice, but we will consider reinstatement upon resolution of the issue where appropriate.
Severability
If any provision of these Terms of Use is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect. The invalid provision shall be replaced with a valid one that most closely reflects our original intent.