External Content Policy

OpenMirai External Content Policy - Important information about third-party content, embedded media, and external services used on our platform

What This Policy Covers

This External Content Policy explains OpenMirai's position on third-party content, embedded media, external services, and any content that originates from sources outside of our direct control. This includes embedded iframes, YouTube videos, external links, third-party widgets, and other external resources you may integrate into your courses.

Why This Matters: Understanding the limitations and responsibilities regarding external content helps you make informed decisions about what to include in your courses and protects both you and your students.

What is External Content?

External content refers to any material, media, service, or resource that:

Originates from third-party sources (not hosted on OpenMirai servers)
Is embedded or linked in your courses or learning materials
Operates outside our direct control (we don't own or manage it)
Relies on external services for functionality and availability

Common Examples of External Content:

Video Platforms: YouTube videos, Vimeo embeds, Dailymotion content
Social Media Embeds: Twitter/X posts, Facebook videos, Instagram content
Interactive Tools: Google Forms, Typeform surveys, Kahoot quizzes
Document Viewers: Google Docs, Microsoft Office Online, PDF viewers
Live Streaming: Twitch streams, Facebook Live, external webinar platforms
Code Platforms: CodePen embeds, JSFiddle, GitHub Gists
Maps and Location: Google Maps, OpenStreetMap embeds
Third-Party Widgets: Chat widgets, calendar tools, booking systems
External Links: Links to websites, articles, resources, downloads
API Integrations: Third-party services connected via APIs

OpenMirai's Limited Responsibility for External Content

What We Are NOT Responsible For:

1. Content Availability and Uptime

No Uptime Guarantees: We cannot guarantee that external content will be available 24/7
Service Interruptions: Third-party services may experience downtime, maintenance, or outages
Content Removal: External content providers may remove or modify content without notice
Platform Changes: Third-party platforms may change their embedding policies or features
Geographic Restrictions: Some content may be unavailable in certain regions
Account Suspensions: Third-party accounts may be suspended or terminated

Example: If you embed a YouTube video in your course and YouTube removes that video, experiences downtime, or blocks it in certain countries, we cannot restore or guarantee access to that content.

2. Security and Safety

Security Vulnerabilities: We cannot guarantee the security of external services
Malware or Threats: External content may contain malware, viruses, or security threats
Data Collection: Third-party services may collect data from your users
Privacy Practices: External services have their own privacy policies we don't control
Authentication: External services may have their own login requirements
Encryption: We cannot guarantee encryption of data transmitted to external services

Example: If you embed an external form that collects student information, we are not responsible for how that third-party service stores, uses, or protects that data.

3. Content Quality and Accuracy

Content Accuracy: We don't verify the accuracy of external content
Content Appropriateness: We don't pre-screen external content for appropriateness
Copyright Compliance: We don't verify that external content respects copyright laws
Content Modifications: External content owners may modify content at any time
Misleading Information: External content may contain errors or misinformation
Offensive Content: External content may become offensive or inappropriate over time

Example: If you link to an external article that later gets updated with incorrect information or inappropriate content, we are not responsible for monitoring or preventing this.

4. Performance and Functionality

Loading Speed: External content may load slowly or affect page performance
Compatibility: External content may not work on all devices or browsers
Functionality: Features of external content may break or change
Mobile Support: External content may not be mobile-friendly
Accessibility: External content may not meet accessibility standards
Updates: External services may update without maintaining backward compatibility

Example: If an embedded interactive quiz from a third-party platform doesn't work on mobile devices, we cannot fix or guarantee its functionality.

5. Legal and Compliance Issues

Terms of Service: External services have their own terms you must comply with
Copyright: You are responsible for ensuring you have rights to embed content
Privacy Laws: External services may not comply with GDPR, COPPA, or other regulations
Age Restrictions: External content may have age restrictions we cannot enforce
Licensing: External content may have licensing restrictions
Jurisdiction: External services may be subject to different legal jurisdictions

Example: If you embed content that violates copyright laws or doesn't comply with GDPR, you are responsible for the legal consequences, not OpenMirai.

Your Responsibilities as a Course Creator

Due Diligence Requirements:

Before Embedding External Content:

Verify Legitimacy: Ensure the external service is legitimate and trustworthy
Check Terms of Service: Review the third-party service's terms of use
Test Functionality: Test the embedded content across different devices and browsers
Review Privacy Policies: Understand how the external service handles data
Verify Copyright: Ensure you have the right to embed or link to the content
Check Accessibility: Verify the content meets accessibility standards
Test Security: Ensure the external content doesn't pose security risks

Ongoing Monitoring:

Regular Checks: Periodically verify that external content still works
Update Links: Replace broken or outdated external links
Monitor Changes: Watch for changes in external content or services
Student Feedback: Listen to student reports about external content issues
Security Updates: Stay informed about security issues with external services
Backup Plans: Have alternative content ready if external sources fail

Best Practices for External Content:

Content Selection:

Use Reputable Sources: Prefer well-known, established platforms
Avoid Suspicious Sites: Don't embed content from untrusted sources
Check Reviews: Look for reviews and reputation of external services
Verify HTTPS: Ensure external content uses secure HTTPS connections
Test Before Publishing: Always test external content before making courses live
Consider Alternatives: When possible, host critical content on OpenMirai directly

Student Protection:

Inform Students: Let students know when they're accessing external content
Privacy Warnings: Warn students about data collection by external services
Age Restrictions: Respect age restrictions on external content
Content Warnings: Provide warnings for potentially sensitive external content
Alternative Options: Offer alternatives when external content may be blocked
Clear Instructions: Provide clear instructions for accessing external content

Documentation:

Keep Records: Document all external content sources you use
Note Dependencies: Track which lessons depend on external content
Update Logs: Maintain logs of when external content is added or changed
Backup Information: Keep backup copies of critical information from external sources
Contact Information: Keep contact details for external service providers
License Records: Document licensing terms for external content

Specific External Content Types

Embedded Videos (YouTube, Vimeo, etc.)

What We Don't Guarantee:

Video availability (videos may be removed or made private)
Playback quality or buffering performance
Absence of ads or promotional content
Consistent player interface or features
Availability in all geographic regions
Compliance with age restrictions

Your Responsibilities:

Verify you have rights to embed the video
Check that videos are appropriate for your audience
Test videos regularly to ensure they're still available
Provide alternative content if videos become unavailable
Inform students about potential ads or tracking

External Documents and Files

What We Don't Guarantee:

Document availability or accessibility
File format compatibility
Download speeds or reliability
Absence of malware in external files
Document content accuracy or currency
Compliance with accessibility standards

Your Responsibilities:

Scan external files for malware before sharing
Verify document content is accurate and appropriate
Ensure you have rights to share the documents
Provide alternative formats when possible
Keep backup copies of critical documents

Third-Party Interactive Tools

What We Don't Guarantee:

Tool functionality or reliability
Data security or privacy protection
Integration compatibility
Feature availability or consistency
User data protection
Compliance with educational standards

Your Responsibilities:

Review the tool's privacy policy and terms
Test tools thoroughly before student use
Inform students about data collection
Monitor tool performance and availability
Have backup activities if tools fail

What We Don't Guarantee:

Post availability (posts may be deleted)
Account status (accounts may be suspended)
Content appropriateness (content may change)
Platform stability or uptime
Privacy protection for viewers
Absence of inappropriate comments or replies

Your Responsibilities:

Monitor embedded social media content regularly
Remove embeds if original content becomes inappropriate
Warn students about potential tracking by social platforms
Consider screenshots as alternatives for critical content
Respect platform terms of service for embedding

External Links

What We Don't Guarantee:

Link functionality (links may break)
Website availability or uptime
Content accuracy or appropriateness
Website security or safety
Consistent website design or structure
Absence of malware or phishing

Your Responsibilities:

Check links regularly for functionality
Verify linked websites are safe and appropriate
Update or remove broken links promptly
Warn students about leaving the platform
Consider using web archives for critical resources

Technical Limitations and Considerations

Embedding Restrictions:

Browser Compatibility: Some embeds may not work in all browsers
Mobile Limitations: Embedded content may not be mobile-friendly
Security Policies: Browser security may block certain embeds
Cookie Requirements: Some embeds require third-party cookies enabled
JavaScript Dependencies: Embeds may require JavaScript to be enabled
Size Constraints: Large embeds may affect page load times

Performance Impact:

Page Load Speed: External content can slow down page loading
Bandwidth Usage: Embedded media consumes bandwidth
Server Requests: Multiple external embeds increase server requests
Caching Issues: External content may not cache properly
Timeout Risks: Slow external services can cause timeouts
Resource Consumption: Heavy embeds may consume device resources

Security Considerations:

Cross-Site Scripting (XSS): Malicious embeds could pose XSS risks
Data Leakage: External content may leak user information
Tracking: Third-party embeds often include tracking scripts
Mixed Content: HTTP embeds on HTTPS pages may be blocked
Iframe Security: Iframes can pose security vulnerabilities
Cookie Tracking: External content may set tracking cookies

When External Content Fails

Common Failure Scenarios:

Service Outage: The external service is temporarily down
Content Removed: The specific content has been deleted
Account Suspended: The content owner's account was suspended
Geographic Blocking: Content is blocked in certain regions
Terms Violation: Content was removed for violating terms
Platform Changes: The platform changed its embedding policies
Technical Issues: Browser or device compatibility problems

What OpenMirai Will Do:

Display Error Messages: Show appropriate error messages when content fails to load
Maintain Platform Stability: Ensure external content failures don't crash our platform
Provide Support: Help you troubleshoot embedding issues when possible
Document Best Practices: Provide guidance on reliable external content sources

What You Should Do:

Have Backup Content: Prepare alternative content for critical lessons
Monitor Regularly: Check external content functionality frequently
Respond Quickly: Update or replace failed content promptly
Inform Students: Notify students of temporary issues with external content
Document Issues: Keep records of recurring problems with external services
Consider Alternatives: Move critical content to OpenMirai hosting when possible

Recommended External Services

While we don't guarantee any external service, these platforms are commonly used and generally reliable:

Video Platforms:

YouTube (most widely supported)
Vimeo (professional, ad-free options)
Wistia (business-focused, analytics)

Google Drive (widely compatible)
Dropbox (reliable file hosting)
OneDrive (Microsoft ecosystem integration)

Interactive Tools:

Google Forms (free, reliable)
Typeform (professional surveys)
Kahoot (educational quizzes)

Collaboration:

Google Docs (real-time collaboration)
Miro (visual collaboration)
Padlet (interactive boards)

Note: This is not an endorsement, and we still don't guarantee these services. Always do your own due diligence.

Prohibited External Content

You must NOT embed or link to:

Illegal Content: Content that violates laws
Malicious Sites: Sites containing malware or phishing
Pirated Content: Unauthorized copyrighted material
Adult Content: Pornographic or sexually explicit material
Hate Speech: Content promoting discrimination or violence
Scam Sites: Fraudulent or deceptive websites
Dangerous Content: Instructions for illegal or harmful activities
Spam Sites: Sites primarily designed for spam or advertising

Violating these prohibitions may result in account suspension or termination.

Liability and Indemnification

OpenMirai's Liability Limitations:

By using external content on our platform, you acknowledge and agree that:

No Warranties: We provide no warranties regarding external content
No Responsibility: We are not responsible for external content failures, security issues, or legal problems
No Monitoring: We don't actively monitor all external content embedded on our platform
No Guarantees: We make no guarantees about external service availability, security, or compliance
Platform Only: Our responsibility is limited to providing the platform for embedding, not the external content itself

Your Indemnification Obligations:

You agree to indemnify and hold OpenMirai harmless from any claims, damages, or legal issues arising from:

External content you embed or link to
Copyright violations in external content
Privacy violations by external services
Security breaches from external content
Student harm from external content
Terms of service violations with external platforms

Reporting Issues with External Content

How to Report:

If you encounter problems with external content on OpenMirai:

Email us at: heretohelp@openmirai.com

What to Include:

Description: Clear description of the issue
Location: Where the external content is embedded
Content Type: What type of external content (video, document, etc.)
Error Messages: Any error messages displayed
Screenshots: Visual evidence of the problem
Device/Browser: What device and browser you're using
Steps to Reproduce: How to recreate the issue

What We Can Help With:

Embedding Issues: Technical problems with embedding on our platform
Platform Bugs: Issues with our embedding features
Best Practices: Guidance on reliable external content sources
Alternative Solutions: Suggestions for hosting content directly

What We Cannot Help With:

External Service Issues: Problems with the third-party service itself
Content Availability: Restoring removed or deleted external content
Third-Party Support: Technical support for external platforms
Legal Issues: Copyright or licensing problems with external content

Best Practices Summary

Do:

✅ Test Thoroughly: Test all external content before publishing
✅ Use HTTPS: Only embed content from secure HTTPS sources
✅ Monitor Regularly: Check external content functionality frequently
✅ Inform Students: Let students know when they're accessing external content
✅ Have Backups: Prepare alternative content for critical lessons
✅ Read Terms: Review terms of service for external platforms
✅ Verify Rights: Ensure you have rights to embed content
✅ Check Privacy: Review privacy policies of external services

Don't:

❌ Don't Assume Availability: Don't assume external content will always work
❌ Don't Ignore Security: Don't embed content from untrusted sources
❌ Don't Violate Copyright: Don't embed content you don't have rights to
❌ Don't Forget Mobile: Don't forget to test on mobile devices
❌ Don't Skip Testing: Don't publish without testing external content
❌ Don't Ignore Failures: Don't leave broken external content in your courses
❌ Don't Overlook Privacy: Don't ignore data collection by external services
❌ Don't Rely Solely: Don't make critical content depend only on external sources

Alternative: Host Content Directly on OpenMirai

Benefits of Direct Hosting:

Better Reliability: Content hosted on OpenMirai is under our control
Improved Security: We implement security measures for hosted content
Faster Loading: Directly hosted content typically loads faster
No External Dependencies: No risk of third-party service failures
Better Privacy: No third-party tracking or data collection
Consistent Experience: Uniform experience across all devices

What You Can Host Directly:

Documents: PDFs, presentations, worksheets
Images: Photos, diagrams, infographics
Audio: Lectures, podcasts, audio lessons
Video: Course videos, tutorials, demonstrations (subject to storage limits)
Assignments: Homework, projects, assessments
Resources: Study guides, reference materials

When to Use External Content:

Live Streaming: Real-time broadcasts from streaming platforms
Interactive Tools: Specialized tools not available on OpenMirai
Social Proof: Testimonials or reviews from social media
Large Files: Very large files that exceed our storage limits
Collaborative Tools: Real-time collaboration features
Specialized Content: Content requiring specialized platforms

Policy Updates

Changes to This Policy:

We may update this External Content Policy to:

Reflect changes in technology and external platforms
Address new types of external content
Improve clarity and user understanding
Comply with legal requirements
Respond to user feedback

Notification:

We'll notify you of significant changes through:

Email notifications
Platform announcements
Updates to this documentation

Your Options:

If you disagree with policy changes:

You can remove external content from your courses
You can close your account
You can contact us to discuss concerns

Getting Help

Questions About External Content?

If you have questions about this policy or need guidance on external content:

Email us at: heretohelp@openmirai.com

We can help with:

Clarifying policy terms
Recommending reliable external services
Troubleshooting embedding issues
Suggesting alternatives to external content
Providing best practices guidance

Response Time:

General questions: 24-48 hours
Technical issues: 24 hours
Urgent security concerns: Immediate response

Terms of Service - Main terms of using our platform
Privacy Policy - How we handle your data
Acceptable Use Policy - Usage guidelines
Security Policy - Security requirements and practices
DMCA Policy - Copyright protection procedures

OpenMirai External Content Policy
Beta Status: Active until February 1, 2026

Questions about this policy? Email us at heretohelp@openmirai.com

Remember: External content can enhance your courses, but you are responsible for ensuring it's appropriate, legal, secure, and reliable. When in doubt, host critical content directly on OpenMirai.

External Content Policy

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