The Internet is a voluntary association of users interested in and willing to exchange information and data. At present, there is no oversight group providing governance over the principles, policies, or procedures for use of the Internet or the information and data accessed via the Internet.
In order to facilitate their contractual relationship, the Customer and Web System Consulting wish to define a working protocol of principles and policies and establish operating guidelines and acceptable standards of use of the Internet. Common sense is the best guide as to what is considered acceptable use. To this end the parties agree as follows:
Principles Governing Acceptable Use of the Internet by the Customer
Responsibility and Respect - The Internet is a network intended for use by mature, adult users (and by minors when supervised by mature adults). The Customer recognizes this principle and undertakes at all times to act with respect, courtesy, and responsibility; giving due regard to the interests and rights of other Internet user groups. This general guideline carries with it the following specific responsibilities:
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Compliance with Laws - The Customer will ensure that its use of the Internet complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations, including (but not limited to) those principles of law which protect against compromise of copyrights,
trade secrets, proprietary information and other intellectual property rights, libel or defamation of character, invasion of privacy, tortuous
interference, and export of technical or military data to prohibited countries.
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Discretion and Judgment - The Customer is expected to use discretion in the treatment and handling of Internet information and data and to take particular care to insure that adult information is not transmitted to juvenile users of the Internet.
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Improper Uses - The Customer will avoid violation of certain generally accepted guidelines on Internet usage, such as:
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Using a non-existent e-mail return address on a commercial solicitation.
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Spamming - sending unsolicited email messages to numerous e-mail addresses or newsgroups and/or generating a significantly higher volume of outgoing e-mail than a normal user.
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Blacklisted IP addresses - sending unsolicited email messages from our network resulting in the blacklisting of IP addresses.
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Trolling - posting outrageous messages to generate numerous responses.
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Mail-bombing - sending multiple messages without significant new content to the same user.
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Subscribing someone else to a mailing list without that person's permission.
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Cross-posting articles to an excessive number of newsgroups.
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Attempting without authorization to enter into a secured computer system.
Web System Consulting reserves the right to determine what constitutes improper use. Violators of this policy will be subject to fines of up to $5,000, immediate suspension, and/or termination. No other notice will be given.
- Knowledge of the Internet - The Customer
agrees to obtain a basic knowledge of the Internet and its operating
principles and procedures.
- Misuse of Resources - Customers will not
be allowed to use excessive amounts of CPU, memory, bandwidth, or other
resources on any Web System Consulting server or network. This includes,
but is not limited to, employing posts or programs which consume excessive
CPU time or storage space or resale of access to CGI scripts installed on Web
System Consulting servers. Participating in this kind of activity may
result in immediate suspension.
- Lawful Purpose - You may use, Web System Consulting's Services only for lawful purposes. You
may not transmit, store, post, display, or otherwise make available any
information, software, data, file or material in violation of any
applicable law or regulation. You may not use Web System Consulting's Services to facilitate, or otherwise
assist in, the violation of any law or regulation.
- Child Pornography - You may not use Web
System Consulting's Services to disseminate or
display images or other content that constitutes child pornography under United States laws. Web System Consulting is required by law to notify law enforcement
agencies when it becomes aware of the presence of child pornography on or
being transmitted through Web System Consulting's
network. In such matters Web System Consulting maintains a zero tolerance
policy to the enforcement of this prohibition and Web System Consulting
takes an active role in cooperating with law enforcement officials in
their efforts to prosecute violations of statutes that prohibit the
dissemination of child pornography.
- Refusal of Service - Web System Consulting
reserves the right to refuse or terminate service to anyone for any
reason.
- Security - The Customer is required to
protect the security of its Internet account and usage. The Customer's
password will be treated as private and confidential and will not be
disclosed to or shared with any third parties. Customers conducting online
commerce transactions through their web sites are responsible for the
security of all such transactions, and shall not hold Web System
Consulting, its agents, or employees liable for any incidental or
consequential damages arising from such
transactions. Web System Consulting recommends the use of SSL and PGP (or
another encryption/decryption tool), but does not provide any warranty or
guarantee for these products.
- Suspension - Activity that results in an
account being suspended will result in loss of fees paid. No refunds will
be made. Damages caused by the account will result in financial loss to
the Customer. Any complaints arising as a result of client activity will
be obvious grounds for suspension.
- Validation of Information - The Customer
is responsible for validating the integrity of the information and data it
receives or transmits over the Internet.
Complaints about violators of Web System Consulting policies should be reported to our e-mail abuse@websycon.com. Each complaint will be investigated and appropriate action will be taken.