Section 13: Credits for outside providers of material

Reasons for giving credits
Production credits
Placing of credits
Photographs in credits
Logos as credits

Introduction
The British Council seeks to offer fair and appropriate credits on its websites. We normally give production credits, credits for the supply of material by third parties, credits for some outside events and credits for some software providers.

Reasons for giving credits
Credits are given at the British Council’s discretion:

Production credits
These are to recognise editorial or creative input. They may be for British Council staff or they may involve co-productions, joint editorial initiatives or independent productions. Credits may be for a web site designer/builder, game designer, animation/graphic designer, picture library image/still provider, text/graphics contributor or other content provider.

Credits must be editorially justifiable, non-promotional and not unduly prominent. To avoid undue prominence and a confusingly busy page, credits must not sit on a top-level screen.

They should normally sit on a separate credit page accessed via a 'credits' link on the site’s home page, although not in the main navigation of the site. The number of credits listed should not normally exceed one screen

The British Council will do its best to publish all credits agreed with contributors to the British Council site. This cannot be guaranteed. Publication must be subject to the British Council’s editorial control and discretion. Contributors must be made aware of this.

Placing of credits
Logos for a co-production, joint editorial initiative or independent production will normally appear on a top-level page, with a click through to a full credits page. A simple text credit that appears for reasons of transparency is more likely to be on a top-level page.

Photographs in credits
Photographs of individuals, whether of British Council staff or external contributors, should not be included in credits.

Logos as credits
Great caution needs to be exercised in the use of third-party logos. Inclusion of third-party logos on the British Council’s website are not generally acceptable as a form of credit or recognition of a third-party’s role unless this is given as a benefit for sponsorship. See section 14 (Partnerships, including partnerships with business). Logos are used to enhance brand value and are a strong advertising tool. Use of logos on British Council websites may adversely affect perceptions of the brand and breach our charitable status if they are not provided in accord with English law.

But there are some circumstances when the use of an outside logo on the British Council site may be an appropriate credit.

The main reason for the use of a logo is: