This document outlines the precautions related to the handling of reports (hereinafter referred to as "Users' Reports") submitted in connection with the use of facilities and equipment managed and shared by the institutions participating in the Advanced Research Infrastructure for Materials and Nanotechnology (ARIM). These precautions apply to all submitted Users' Reports. Please ensure that you fully understand and agree to the contents of this document before submitting your User Report.

1. Submission and Publication of Users' Reports

When utilizing the facilities and equipment managed and shared by ARIM institutions, users are required to submit Users' Reports and the submitted Users' Reports will be published in accordance with the terms and conditions of the relevant institution (hereinafter referred to as "Institutions Sharing Facilities").
Users' Reports must be submitted by the deadlines specified by the Institutions Sharing Facilities for each fiscal year during which the facilities or equipment were used. Once submitted, the Users' Reports will be prepared for publication and made publicly available on the web in the following fiscal year, typically around June. These Users' Reports can then be viewed and downloaded without restrictions.
Submitters of Users' Reports and their affiliated organizations cannot object to the publication of these Users' Reports, as it is conducted in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Institutions Sharing Facilities.

2. Storage, Internal Sharing, and Disclaimer Before Publication

Submitted Users' Reports will be stored on the web. Until they are published, access to the Users' Reports will be limited to ARIM project stakeholders who require them for operational purposes.
The Users' Reports stored on the web will be managed with the utmost care to ensure appropriate handling through system maintenance, access control, and account management. However, in the event of unforeseen incidents such as cyberattacks or unauthorized access by third parties that result in theft or leakage, neither the Institutions Sharing Facilities nor the National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS) will be liable for any damages incurred by the submitters of the Users' Reports or their affiliated organizations.

3. Deferral of Publication

Notwithstanding the above, if there are special circumstances, the publication of Users' Reports may be deferred upon the request of the user and approval from the Institutions Sharing Facilities. The maximum deferral period is two years from the end of the fiscal year in which the facilities were used (e.g., for usage in fiscal year 2024, the maximum deferral period is until March 31, 2027).
It should be noted that a deferral of publication means that the publication of the Users' Report is postponed. Even if a deferral is approved, the conditions outlined in Sections 1 and 2 will still apply.