Undernet Acceptable Use Policy

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The following document specifies and describes the rules and regulations for acceptable use on the Undernet IRC network, hereinafter referred to as "the Undernet" or "the network."

While connected to any Undernet server, you must comply with the following rules. Consequences for violation of these rules are specified in Section Three (3).

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1) Rules
2) Disclaimer
3) Consequences for Violation
4) Appealing a Violation
5) Help and Assistance

1 - RULES

You must agree to abide by the following rules while connected to an Undernet server:

• No faked or altered user@host information;

• No denial of service ("DoS") actions or abuse of Undernet resources, including but not limited to flooding, cloning, mass-messaging, and mass-inviting, will be permitted;

• Unsolicited advertising to Undernet users is not allowed;

• Each server's administrative team retains the right to deny access to or use of its server's resources to any user(s), group, site, or domain, without the benefit of prior warning or notification if they so choose;

• You must also agree to comply with any additional guidelines on the MOTD of the server to which you are connected.

By connecting to any Undernet server, you hereby agree to comply with the Acceptable Use Policy as well as the policies of the individual servers, which are stated on each server's Message of the Day ("MOTD"). The Undernet IRC Network greatly appreciates your attention and compliance with these regulations.

2 - DISCLAIMER

You must agree to behave in an ethical manner regarding the use of service from the Undernet. By retaining a connection to any part of the Undernet, you state that you know and are willing to comply and accept these as well as any future terms of service, network policies, and user guidelines.

Furthermore, you agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Undernet, all server hosts and their owners, employees, and agents for any consequences of their actions.

You also agree to abide by all state, provincial, and federal laws governing the use of telecommunications and computers in your respective country. You understand that the Undernet exercises no control whatsoever over the content of the information passing through the Internet.

The Undernet makes no warranties of any kind, whether expressed or implied, for the service it is providing. The Undernet also disclaims any warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

The Undernet will not be responsible for any damage you suffer. This includes loss of data resulting from delays, non-deliveries, mis-deliveries, or service interruptions caused by its own negligence or your errors or omissions. Use of the Undernet IRC Network, or of any information obtained via this service, is at your own risk. The Undernet specifically denies any responsibility for the accuracy or quality of information obtained through its services.

Undernet administrators reserve the right to deny access to and use of the Undernet IRC network and/or any of its other resources, including but not limited to channel services, technical mailing lists, Web-based services, telnet services, and FTP sites, to any user, group, site, or domain without the benefit of prior warning or notification.

3 - CONSEQUENCES FOR VIOLATION

If you violate any rule or regulation stated in this document or on the MOTD of any Undernet server, you will be subject to progressive disciplinary action, including but not limited to denial of access to any Undernet server or the entire network, or legal action where applicable. Denial of access to a particular Undernet server can be made at the server administrator's discretion. Your Internet provider may be denied access to the server or network if you successfully evade a ban.

The Undernet IRC Network is under no circumstances to be used for illegal activities. Observed and verifiable instances may be reported to the appropriate authorities.

Although the Undernet itself is a unmoderated forum, the Undernet administration will cooperate fully with any officially recognized law enforcement body to the best of its capability when required to do so by force of law.

4 - APPEALING A VIOLATION

If you are banned or denied access to an Undernet server or the entire network, you should follow the procedure outlined below. Please note, however, that Undernet server administrators are under no obligation to take any further action if you are denied access.

• If you are K: lined (banned from a specific server), contact the server administration (/admin will display a contact e-mail address) and request the elimination of the ban, explaining how future incidents can be avoided.

• If you are G: lined (banned from the entire network for a particular length of time), contact abuse@undernet.org and request that the ban be lifted, explaining how future incidents can be avoided.

Certain servers limit access to users from foreign countries to encourage users to utilize a server closer to their location. These bans will not be lifted. If your entire site (Internet provider host) is banned from a server, please contact your ISP administrator and ask that they contact the Undernet server administrators themselves.

5 - HELP AND ASSISTANCE

The following section was included in this document to point you in the right direction if you have any questions about this policy or IRC in general:

		user-com@undernet.org	Undernet user problems, questions, and ideas
		help@undernet.org	General IRC help and assistance
		cservice@undernet.org	Channel Service help and assistance
		abuse@undernet.org	Request for ban removal and also to report IRC Operator abuse
		class@undernet.org	Information about online IRC classes offered weekly
		opschool@undernet.org	Information about channel registration classes offered periodically

© 1997-1999 Undernet User Committee
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