Acceptable Use Policy

Revision as of 05:16, 14 July 2008

DareNET is an online community which has been built around an IRC network. Our aim and purpose is to provide a safe, efficient, professional and friendly environment for individuals around the world to communicate. Our professionalism is a key factor to a prosperous future as an online community.

Acceptable Use Policy (AUP)

This is an agreement between you and DareNET. This agreement governs your use of our network, website and services. This agreement may be updated from time to time without notice to you.

In this document, throughout the website and on any correspondence to you, DareNET may be referred to as: 'we,' 'our,' 'us,' 'The DareNET Network,' 'DareNET,' 'DareNET Network,' and 'DareNET IRC Network.' Connection to and use of DareNET is conditional upon acceptance of the terms and conditions outlined below in this Acceptable Use Policy.

In consideration of your use of the Service ('Service'), you represent that you are of legal age (13 and over) to use any DareNET service (see our COPPA document for information) and are not a person barred from receiving services under the laws of your country or applicable jurisdiction.

By connecting to our Network, you are agree to adhere to the following rules:

• No engaging in Denial of service ('DDoS') actions or abuse of our system(s) or resources.
• No network/server/channel ban evasions.
• No faked or altered user@host information.
• No loading of malicious bots onto the network.
• No creating excessive connections (clones) from your connection.
• No flooding of any kind.
• No engaging in denial of service attacks on users or network infrastructure.
• No mass-advertising/inviting.

NOTE: You may only advertise in channels where you are on the userlist (defined as having an access level of at least '1') or with the channel owner's explicit permission. Directly advertising to DareNET users (e.g. via private messages / notice) is strictly prohibited.

Network staff will interpret this AUP if there is any ambiguity as to how it applies to your circumstance or situation.

You also agree to understand that:

• By using the Service, you may be exposed to Content that is offensive, indecent or objectionable. Under no circumstances will DareNET be liable in any way for any such Content including, but not limited to, any errors or omissions in any Content or any loss or damage of any kind incurred as a result of the use of any Content posted, emailed, transmitted or otherwise made available via the Service.
• You acknowledge, consent and agree that the Network Staff may access, preserve and disclose your account information and Content if required to do so by law or in a good faith belief that such access preservation or disclosure is reasonably necessary to:
  • (a) comply with legal process;
  • (b) enforce our Agreement;
  • (c) respond to claims that any Content violates the rights of third-parties;
  • (d) protect the rights, property or personal safety of DareNET, its users or the public.
• DareNET is a PRIVATE network; by using the Service, you agree to indemnify and hold harmless DareNET, its resource providers, Management, officers, operators, administrators and other agents from any and all claims, all legal liability, costs, expenses, judgments, causes of action, attorney fees, litigation and court costs resulting from your use of the Service, whether directly or indirectly, or by any act or omission. This includes any computer-related damage or loss that may result from the use of, or inability to use, the Service.
• We reserve the right to suspend or terminate your account and to refuse any and all current or future use of the Service (or any portion thereof).
• Material made available from our website does not necessarily reflect the views of the Organization nor its Management.
• It is entirely your responsibility to keep your account credentials (for example - NickServ account, website login and so on) safe and secure at all times; under no circumstances should you disclose them to anyone else. You are responsible for all use of the Service accessed via these passwords or personal identifiers including, without limitation, any loss or damages incurred and any breaches of this Agreement, where reasonable care has not been taken to secure your account. If you suspect your account details have been compromised in any way, you are required to alert us immediately.
• Attempting to access or 'take-over' someone else's account or channel in any form is strictly prohibited and will have serious consequences.
• IRC is a free and mostly un-moderated media; therefore, we take no responsibility whatsoever for the opinions expressed or the actions taken by users. Absolutely no warranty is either expressed nor implied.
• No member of Network Staff has the authority to bind DareNET in any legal contract of any kind.

As well as the terms above, you also agree you will NOT:

• Upload, post, e-mail, transmit or otherwise make available any Content that is unlawful, harmful, threatening, abusive, harassing, tortuous, defamatory, vulgar, obscene, libellous, invasive of another's privacy, hateful or racially, ethnically or otherwise objectionable.
• Impersonate any person, position or entity or otherwise misrepresent your affiliation with a person or entity.
• Forge mail headers or otherwise manipulate identifiers in order to disguise the origin of any Content transmitted to our Services.
• Collect or store personal data about users other than is required by your position.
• Reproduce, duplicate, copy, sell, trade, resell or exploit for any commercial purposes, any portion of the Service, use of the Service or access to the Service.

Don't try be a vigilante:

The network has rules for a reason. If you feel that another user has broken the rules, or is otherwise acting in a manner unacceptable to you, you should contact the network staff or either ignore or ban the user as appropriate. Never "retalitate" against a rule breaker or otherwise take matters into your own hands.

Example: This means if your friend, Jack, was keylogged by such a user, don't turn around and try to do something to the user. Instead, have your friend immediately report it to the staff members present in the channel #Support. If you're uncomfortable doing that, you may e-mail abuse[at]darenet.org.

Consequences for Violation

If you violate any rule or regulation stated within this document or in the message of the day (MOTD) of the DareNET server you're connected to, you will be subject to progressive disciplinary action, including, but not limited to, loss of services privileges, denial of access to any DareNET server or the entire network, or legal action where applicable. Denial of access to a particular DareNET 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.

DareNET is under no circumstances to be used for illegal activities. Observed and verifiable instances may be reported to the appropriate authorities. And, although DareNET itself is an unmoderated forum, DareNET's administration will cooperate fully with any officially recognized law enforcement agency to the best of its capability when required to do so by law.

Appealing a Violation

If you are banned or denied access to a DareNET server, service or the entire network, you should follow the procedure outlined below. However, please note, that DareNET's 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 admin (such contact information can be found our server listing page) and request the removal of the ban, explaining how future incidents can be avoided.
• If you are G-lined (banned from the entire network), or would like to appeal some other corrective action (e.g. suspended account/channel), please contact our Abuse Team by e-mailing abuse@darenet.org for further assistance.