Acceptable Usage Policies (AUP)

Acceptable Usage Policies (AUP)

Introduction

This document details AMDAAT Network Services Acceptable Useage Policies in relation to all use of its services.

Decisions and actions taken on Acceptable Use Policy violations include but are not limited to protection of our customers and our resources, provision of quality service to our customers, compliance with applicable law, and the protection of our reputation as a service provider.

If an AMDAAT Network Services account is involved in a violation of these policies, we reserve the right to suspend or terminate service without notice.

In the event that an account is suspended or canceled as a result of any activities proscribed by these policies, the account may be subject to reactivation charges. Users whose accounts have been canceled for misuse or violation of the Terms and Conditions of Service or these policies are not entitled to re-register for the Service. Any further registrations for the Service by or for the user whose account has been terminated for such activities will be rejected or the new account(s) will be terminated upon discovery, and such further registration or use may subject the user to additional account set-up, monthly usage and/or termination charges for each such registration in amounts to be determined by AMDAAT Network Services.

AMDAAT Network Services may take such action as it deems appropriate against any subscriber or account user for violations of the Terms and Conditions of Service or of these policies. However, there is no promise or obligation on our part to monitor or police any such activity and AMDAAT Network Services will have no liability to any party for any other party's violation of these policies or the Service Agreement.

General

Impersonation

You may not attempt to send Electronic Mail or News articles using a name and address of someone other than yourself. Attempting to impersonate any person, using forged headers or other identifying information, is prohibited. Attempts to do so that are discovered by AMDAAT Network Services or reported by other parties may be reported to the proper authority, and may result in the offending account being immediately terminated. The use of anonymous e-mailers and nicknames, by themselves, does not necessarily constitute impersonation if it is not being done with the intention of misleading the recipient or another party into believing that you are some other specifically identifiable user or person other than yourself.

Adverse Network Activity

Activities which adversely affect the ability of other people or systems to use AMDAAT's services or the Internet is prohibited.

Unauthorised Users

Unless otherwise specified in AMDAAT Network Services subscriber's pricing plan agreement, sharing of accounts and/or connections with anyone other than immediate family members in the same dwelling is strictly prohibited. Reselling Services without express written consent from AMDAAT Network Services, or offering any public information service using such accounts, such as running a Web server or FTP server, is prohibited. Subscribers may not provide public or commercial information over such connections. AMDAAT Network Services does offer business services for such purposes.

Excessive Usage, Bandwidth or Disk Utilisation

Where an AMDAAT Network Services account, service or feature descriptions specify limits on bandwidth and/or disk utilisation, use in excess of those limits is not permitted. Bandwidth and disk utilisation will be computed or determined by AMDAAT Network Services from time to time in developing its product and service offerings. In addition, sessions on dial-up accounts which exceed a reasonable time may be terminated in order to protect network resources and preserve Service availability for other users. In the event AMDAAT Network Services determines that an account is frequently exceeding reasonable sessions times for dial-up accounts, the account owner will generally be notified by E-mail.

If excessive dial-up session length is determined to adversely affect AMDAAT Network Services ability to provide service, immediate action may be taken. The account owner may be notified by e-mail as soon as practicable thereafter.

Idle Timeouts

Dial-up account sessions that use AMDAAT Network Services are subject to idle timeouts. An account session may be determined to be idle if there appears to be no interactive, human generated data received from the remote user's computer system within a prescribed amount of time.

Automated Data

Data that is generated on a user's computer system automatically, either by an automated program, script, automatic re-dialers or any other software device, is considered automated data. Automated data of any kind is not considered interactive use of AMDAAT Network Services, and as such, may be disregarded in determining idle timeouts.

Subscribers to "unlimited usage" or "unlimited access" plans for dial users may make reasonable use of the Service without a specific limit on hours used and without paying more based on hourly usage. These plans are NOT permanent connections, and the Service may be disconnected after a significant period of inactivity or after sessions of excessive length. Subscribers should keep the connection open only when actively using it.

Misuse of Subscriber Account

"Internet access accounts cannot be transferred or used by anyone other than the subscriber and members of the subscriber's immediate family. Unless otherwise specified in the AMDAAT Network Services subscriber's pricing plan agreement, account and connection sharing (other than among immediate family members within the same dwelling) is strictly prohibited. Unless otherwise specified in the AMDAAT Network Services subscriber's pricing plan agreement, no more than one login session can be active at a time on a subscriber's account. Accounts which have been transferred to other parties, or which show other activity in violation of this condition, may be terminated without notice."

Service, Network and System Interference

Subscribers may not attempt to interfere with or compromise the operation of AMDAAT Network Services network in whole or part, to interfere with any of the equipment comprising the system, or to access other accounts or restricted areas of the system.

Subscribers may not use AMDAAT Network Services systems in a manner that adversely affects the availability of its resources to other AMDAAT Network Services customers.

Facility Usage

Subscribers may only use those AMDAAT Network Services online and computing facilities and Service areas which have been authorized for subscriber use. If access is protected by a password, subscribers are not to make this password available to others or use the password(s) of others to gain access to such areas. Subscribers may not attempt to find out the password of another user, nor aid such attempt by any other person.

Subscribers may use AMDAAT Network Services online and computing facilities and Service areas only for authorized purposes.

Subscribers may not attempt to interfere with the proper or intended operation of any computing facility.

Subscribers may not attempt to subvert -- or aid others to subvert -- the security of any computing facility.

Subscribers may not interfere with use by any other authorised user, nor compromise the confidentiality of AMDAAT Network Services or any other party.

Any attempts, whether successful or not, to gain access to any computer system or customer's data without consent is prohibited.

Privacy

It may be necessary for AMDAAT Network Services employees or representatives to examine system operational and accounting logs and other records to resolve Service-related problems. AMDAAT Network Services reserves the right to access an account's mailbox or other features to resolve problems or mail system errors.

In addition, AMDAAT Network Services will cooperate with the appropriate legal authorities or other parties in investigating claims of illegal activity, including but not limited to illegal transfer or use of copyrighted material, postings or e-mail containing threats of violence, or other illegal activity.

AMDAAT Network Services makes no guarantee and assumes no liability for the security of any data on any server including those designated as "secure servers."

No computer system can be completely protected or should be considered 100% safe from intrusion. e-mail and other data transmissions over the Internet may pass through many computer systems, and should not be considered a secure means of communication unless encrypted. Even then, such information is only as secure as the encryption method used.

AMDAAT Network Services does not generally monitor the activity of accounts except to measure system utilisation and accumulate billing records. However, in our efforts to protect the integrity of our Service and fulfill any responsibility we may have, if we become aware of inappropriate use of AMDAAT Network Services we may respond accordingly.

Censorship

AMDAAT Network Services does not intend to censor the content of any newsgroups or other communications passing through its systems. We believe such choices should generally be left to the individual subscriber. Software tools are available to screen a subscriber account's access to newsgroups and Websites that might be considered offensive. It is the subscriber's responsibility to make use of such tools if desired.

Newsgroup postings and other e-mail messages sent via AMDAAT Network Services and the Internet are communications between the senders and consenting receivers thereof, and AMDAAT Network Services has neither the authority nor the responsibility to regulate their content. The views and comments expressed by AMDAAT Network Services subscribers or other senders of such postings or messages are solely those of their authors and do not reflect any review, approval or endorsement by AMDAAT Network Services. AMDAAT Network Services will, however, attempt to assist subscribers who continually receive e-mail they deem to be objectionable and/or unsolicited e-mail and who notify AMDAAT Network Services of the problem.

Illegal Activity

Internet access and all other Services provided to AMDAAT Network Services subscribers may be used for lawful purposes only, and use by a subscriber of AMDAAT Network Services for the transmission or storage of any information, data, or material in violation of any federal or state regulation or law (including, but not limited to, material protected by copyright, trade secrets, and information that is confidential as a matter of law) is strictly prohibited. The subscriber may not use AMDAAT Network Services to transmit or store any information, data, or material that is threatening, libelous, or obscene.

Copyright Infringement

Intellectual Property

Ownership of any software developed or modified by AMDAAT Network Services and all graphics, text or other information or content materials supplied or furnished by AMDAAT Network Services as part of AMDAAT Network Services or for incorporation into a subscriber's personal Webpage in connection with the Service shall remain with AMDAAT Network Services (or the party which supplied such materials to AMDAAT Network Services). Subscribers should be aware of the law of copyright as it affects computer software and other information or materials available or accessible on the Internet. A formal copyright notice need not be in evidence for legal copyright protection to be in force.

As a general rule, the subscriber is the copyright owner of any file which that subscriber solely creates for his or her own exclusive use. Any other file is copyright either by its creator, by commercial vendors, or by other individual users, and it is generally illegal for the subscriber to reproduce such file in any part or in any form, except by permission of the copyright owner or under an appropriate statutory exception. AMDAAT Network Services subscribers are strictly prohibited from transmitting, distributing or storing any materials in violation of any applicable law with regard to ownership and use of intellectual property. This prohibition includes, without limitation, the following activities:

Posting or using any materials in violation of any copyrights, patents, trademarks, service marks, trade names, trade secrets or other intellectual property rights of others;
Offering pirated computer programs, links to such programs, serial or registration numbers for software programs or copyrighted music;
Failing to obtain all required permissions to receive, upload, download, display, distribute or execute program or perform other works protected by intellectual property laws, including copyright, trademark, trade secrets and patent laws; Deleting or altering author attributes or copyright notices unless expressly permitted in writing by the author or the owner.
Violations of any of the foregoing may result in a demand by AMDAAT Network Services for immediate removal of the offending material, immediate temporary or permanent filtering, blocked access, suspension or termination of Service, or other action appropriate to the violation, as determined by AMDAAT Network Services at its sole discretion.

While it is not AMDAAT Network Services intent to monitor, control or censor communications on its Service, when AMDAAT Network Services becomes aware of a violation of its Policy, AMDAAT Network Services may take such actions as it deems appropriate to investigate and address the violation. Although AMDAAT Network Services will make reasonable efforts to provide notice so that violations may be addressed voluntarily, AMDAAT Network Services reserves the right to expeditiously remove or disable access to offending materials and/or terminate Service without notice if it believes in its sole discretion that there has been a copyright or other property rights infringement. Refunds, credits or other forms of compensation are not issued in connection with action taken for violations of AMDAAT Network Services Acceptable Use Policy.

E-mail

Notices from AMDAAT Network Services

Users may receive announcements from time to time from AMDAAT Network Services via e-mail regarding various aspects of the Service, including without limitation notices of feature upgrades or changes, Service-affecting issues or events.

Unsolicited E-mail

Sending mass, unsolicited e-mail by Service users is prohibited.

Using a AMDAAT Network Services e-mail address to collect responses from unsolicited commercial e-mail is prohibited.

Sending unsolicited e-mail advertising a service or Website, newsgroup, etc. located or hosted within AMDAAT Network Services domain space or address space, or service otherwise associated with AMDAAT Network Services is prohibited regardless of e-mail point of origin.

Mail bombing

Sending large volumes of unsolicited e-mail to a single user, or group of users, commercial or otherwise, by Service users is prohibited.

Harassment

Sending outrageously threatening or harassing e-mail (for example, making terroristic threats, or threatening physical injury or damage to persons or property), especially after being requested to stop, is prohibited. However, not every "flame" message or angry exchange of e-mail can automatically be considered harassment. AMDAAT Network Services is not responsible for the content or tone of any e-mail or other transmissions of the subscribers to its Service or other parties using the Internet, and subscribers or others should not expect that AMDAAT Network Services will attempt to mediate or otherwise become involved in any particular disagreement or dispute between Internet users. However, AMDAAT Network Services will cooperate with appropriate law enforcement agencies involved in investigating instances that may be reported to such authorities by subscribers or other users who believe they are being subjected to potentially unlawful harassment.

Other e-mail related issues

Subscribers also may not engage in the following activities while using AMDAAT Network Services:

Intercepting, redirecting or otherwise interfering or attempting to interfere with e-mail intended for other parties;
Mailing or sending files that contain copyrighted, commercial software or other material protected by intellectual property laws (or by rights of privacy or publicity) unless the user owns or controls the rights thereto or has received all necessary consents;
Knowingly or maliciously transmitting files that contain a virus or corrupted data;
Knowingly deleting any author attributions, legal notices or proprietary designations or labels in a file that the user mails or sends;
Publishing, posting, distributing or disseminating defamatory, infringing, obscene or other unlawful material or information;
Using AMDAAT Network Services or systems to threaten, harass, stalk, abuse, or otherwise violate the legal rights (including rights of privacy and publicity) of others;

Newsgroups

Newsgroup spamming

Excessive cross-posting, or posting the same article to several newsgroups, is prohibited. Generally accepted standards allow no more than 6 newsgroups, or cross-postings, for a single article or substantially similar articles.

Inappropriate Newsgroup Postings

Generally, there is no restriction on content or postings, except as defined by each newsgroup. Posting binaries to non-binary newsgroups is not allowed. Posting of off-topic articles is prohibited. Please note that commercial advertisements are off-topic in the vast majority of newsgroups.

Internet Relay Chat (IRC)

Violation of any accepted policies on IRC servers and the use of IRC bots is prohibited. If AMDAAT Network Services is banned or threatened with being banned or restricted from a server, the offending account may be terminated.

Miscellaneous

Any other behavior as determined by AMDAAT Network Services to be unacceptable. This includes any behavior deemed unacceptable by other ISPs, in violation of generally acceptable "Netiquette" practices, behavior which causes AMDAAT Network Services to be viewed unfavorably by others, or other behavior which may cause AMDAAT Network Services to be adversely affected via e-mail or news blocking, or which may cause AMDAAT Network Services to appear on detrimental lists for spamming, etc.

Acceptable Use Policy Modifications

AMDAAT Network Services reserves the right to modify its Acceptable Use Policies at any time at its discretion. Such changes, or notice thereof, will generally be posted online on the Service or otherwise electronically transmitted to users over the Service. A subscriber's use of the Service after such posting or other notice shall constitute acceptance of such policies by the subscriber.