Visitor regulations

Preamble

These visitor and usage regulations govern the legal relationship between the DDR Museum Berlin GmbH, Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 1, 10178 Berlin – represented by the managing directors Gordon Freiherr von Godin and Quirin Graf Adelmann v. A. – and the physical and legal persons (»visitors«) during their visit to the DDR Museum. The visitor accepts these visitor regulations by purchasing an admission ticket and/or by entering the premises of the DDR Museum.

§ 1 Visitation and house rules

(1) The visitors must follow the instructions of the supervisory staff. The supervisory staff is entitled to request the presentation of a valid ticket at any time.

(2) The museum management is entitled to take audio and visual recordings of visitors for presentation and advertising purposes. The recordings may be stored permanently. The museum has the exclusive right to use these recordings.

(3) In the case of a concrete suspicion of theft, the museum staff is entitled to check the suspected visitor. In particular, the museum staff is entitled to search the visitor’s bags. If there is no concrete suspicion with regard to a specific person, the museum staff is entitled to check the visitors’ bags if there is a concrete reason, such as the sounding of the anti-theft alarm system.

(4) Visitors who violate these visitor regulations may be asked to leave the building. They may also be banned from the museum by the management.

§ 2 Fee

(1) An admission fee is charged according to the fee index which can be found at the ticket office.

§ 3 Code of conduct

(1) The visitor is obliged to handle all exhibits and collection items with utmost care.

(2) Commercial photo, video and sound recordings, as well as any form of advertisement, are only permitted with the written consent of the management and if a fee has been paid. The amount paid is determined by the image fees of the Bundesverband der Pressebildagenturen und Bildarchiv e.v. (BVPA). In the event of infringement, a contractual penalty of 500,000 euros shall be charged.

(3) Visitors must behave in such a way as not to disturb, obstruct or harass other visitors. Mobile phones must be switched off whilst visiting a museum.

(4) Groups with children and young people, especially school classes, may only enter the museum under the supervision of a responsible accompanying person. They must remain in the group during their visit.

(5) Smoking and the handling of fire as well as bringing food and drinks into the exhibition rooms are not permitted. Animals are not allowed in the exhibition. Exceptions are made for service and guide dogs. Proof must be presented at the ticket office when purchasing tickets.

§ 4 Liability

(1) Visitors visit the museum at their own risk. The museum, as well as its staff and assistants, is under circumstances liable for any damage or loss or property unless deliberately caused by intentional or gross negligence.

(2) The exclusion of liability according to clause (1) is indicated by clear notices in the entrance area.

§ 5 Liability of the visitor

(1) Visitors are liable for any damage they cause. Legal representatives are liable for damage caused by the persons they represent. In particular, parents are liable for their children.

§ 6 Bounty

(1) In the event of theft or damage to property by visitors, the museum management offers a reward of up to 100 euros for any information that leads to the successful prosecution of the offender.

§ 7 Video surveillance

(1) The entire museum area is monitored by a video system to safeguard the exhibits, especially against damage and theft.

(2) The recorded image files are used solely within an autonomous system of the DDR Museum and are not transmitted to any second party. In the event of a criminal offence, the image files will be transmitted to the responsible law enforcement authorities.

§ 8 Lost property

(1) Any items found on the museum’s premises have to be handed into the ticket office immediately. The items will be dealt with in accordance with the rules of the German Civil Code.

§ 9 Coming into effect

(1) These visitor and user regulations come into force on 14 July 2006. The fee index is an integral part of the visitor rules.