Independent · not affiliated with the U.S. government

Draft — not yet reviewed by counsel. This page is not in effect. Wording in brackets is a fact still to be confirmed.

Terms

Terms of use

The rules for using GovTube, its API and its connector for AI assistants. They are short because most of what you find here is public record.

About these terms

GovTube (govtube.us) is run by [To confirm: Atlas Precision LLC, legal name and address]. By using the site, the API at api.govtube.us or the GovTube connector in an AI assistant, you agree to these terms. Effective date: [To confirm: date].

What GovTube is, and isn’t

  • GovTube is independent and not affiliated with the U.S. government, any official, party or campaign.
  • The words are transcribed by machine and can be wrong. Speaker names may not have been reviewed by a person, and results say so when they haven’t. Check the video before you rely on a quote; every result links to the moment.
  • Official transcripts (for example from the White House) are shown as published. They were edited by their publisher and are not checked against video.
  • When we fix a transcript, the change is listed in the corrections log and existing citation links say what changed.
  • Showing someone’s words doesn’t mean GovTube agrees or disagrees with them, or that they support GovTube. The rules we hold ourselves to are in the neutrality charter.

Using the video and quotes

Each source sets its own rules, and they apply to you whether you use GovTube’s site, its API or an AI assistant. The rules for each video are shown with it (and in the API, under rights).

  • House floor video. House floor video is a public record and in the public domain. House rules say it may not be used for any political purpose or in a commercial advertisement, and may not be broadcast with commercial sponsorship except in a news or public-affairs program. [To confirm: counsel: the rule itself says “any partisan political campaign purpose”; this notice is broader on purpose, so keep it or match the rule]Source: Rules of the House of Representatives, 119th Congress, Rule V, clause 2(c)
  • Senate video. Senate rules say recordings of Senate proceedings may not be used for political campaign purposes, and the Senate seal may not be shown with it. [To confirm: counsel: the Senate seal rule, not checked against senate.gov (the page refused our request)]Sources: S. Res. 28 (99th Congress), as amended by S. Res. 934 (118th Congress, agreed Dec 18, 2024), section 5(a) · U.S. Senate, Internet policy (use of the Senate seal)
  • Military video from DVIDS. None is in GovTube yet. If it is added, this applies: DVIDS footage is in the public domain. Using it does not mean the military or the U.S. government endorses you or your message, and the footage should be credited. DVIDS asks everyone who uses its video to show this notice: “The appearance of U.S. Department of War (DoW) visual information does not imply or constitute DoW endorsement.” Its video may not be used in a way that suggests the military endorses a person, business, product, party or candidate.Source: DVIDS, Copyright and usage
  • You are responsible for following these rules when you publish or reuse anything you find here. We show them as a reminder, not as legal advice.

GovTube claims no ownership of government works. [To confirm: counsel: terms for reuse of GovTube’s transcripts, citations and data (license, attribution wording)]

The API and AI assistants: fair use

  • No key is needed during the beta. Everyone shares fair-use limits, which are listed on the API page.
  • Don’t try to get around the limits, for example by spreading requests over many addresses or keys. If you need more, ask us for a key.
  • Keys are for the person or organization we gave them to. Keep them secret. We can change limits or revoke a key that is shared, leaked or used against these terms, and you can ask us to revoke one at any time.
  • When you publish results, quote the words as given, keep them in context and link to the citation. Say they come from GovTube (govtube.us). Don’t present them as an official government record, or as endorsed by GovTube or by anyone shown.
  • We may change, limit or stop the API and the connector, especially during the beta.

Don’t misuse the service

Don’t use GovTube to break the law, to attack or overload it, to get around its security, or to pass off an altered quote, time or citation as GovTube’s.

Accounts (when they open)

Accounts are optional. Keep your sign-in secure and your details accurate. You can delete your account at any time; the privacy notice says what that removes. We may close accounts that break these terms.

No warranty

GovTube is provided as is, without warranties of any kind, including about the accuracy of transcripts, speaker names or timing. [To confirm: counsel: disclaimer and limitation-of-liability wording, governing law and venue]

Changes and contact

If we change these terms, we’ll post the new version here with a new date. Questions go to info@govtube.us; transcript errors to corrections@govtube.us. See also support.