Acceptable Use Policy
Company Online's Acceptable Use Policy ("AUP") is provided to give our clients a clear understanding of what Company Online expects of them while using the service. All users of Company Online's Internet services: those who access some of our Services but do not have accounts, as well as those who pay a service fee to subscribe to the Services, must comply with this AUP and our TOS (Terms of Service).
Use of Company Online constitutes acceptance and agreement to Company Online's AUP as well as Company Online's TOS (Terms of Service).
IMPORTANT NOTICE: * All Payments To Company Online are Non-Refundable unless they fall under the 30 Day Money Back Guarantee *
I. We support the uncensored flow of information and ideas over the Internet and do not actively monitor subscriber activity under normal circumstances. Similarly, we do not exercise editorial control over the content of any web site, e-mail transmission, newsgroups, or other material created or accessible over or through the services, except for certain proprietary Web sites. However, in accordance with our TOS (Terms of Service), we may remove any materials that, in our sole discretion, may be illegal, may subject us to liability, or which may violate this AUP. Company Online may cooperate with legal authorities and/or third parties in the investigation of any suspected or alleged crime or civil wrongdoing. Your violation of this AUP may result in the suspension or immediate termination of either your Company Online account or other actions as detailed in Section IV WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE and WITHOUT REFUND.
This document is intended to provide a basic understand of Company Online's Acceptable Use Policy. The following are guidelines for the establishment and enforcement of Company Online's AUP:
Ensure reliable service to our customers
Ensure security and privacy of our systems and network, as well as the networks
and systems of others
Comply with existing laws
Maintain our reputation as a responsible service provider
Encourage responsible use of the Internet and discourage activities which
reduce the usability and value of Internet services
Preserve the value of Internet resources as a conduit for free expression
and exchange of information
Preserve the privacy and security of individual users
Company Online intends to provide its customers access to everything the
Internet has to offer. While the Company Online is firmly committed to the
principles of free speech, certain activities that may be damaging to the
resources of both the Company Online and the Internet and cannot be permitted
under the guise of free speech. The resources of the Company Online and
the Internet are limited, and abuse of these resources by one user has a
negative impact on the entire community.
We do not routinely monitor the activity of accounts except for measurements of system utilization and the preparation of billing records. However, in our efforts to promote good citizenship within the Internet community, we will respond appropriately if we become aware of inappropriate use of our service.
You may not use your dedicated server or co-location server, which Company Online determines, at its sole discretion, to be unlawful, indecent or objectionable. For purposes of this policy, "material" refers to all forms of communications including narrative descriptions, graphics (including photographs, illustrations, images, drawings, and logos), executable programs, video recordings, and audio recordings.
If a Company Online account is used to violate the Acceptable Use Policy or our TOS, we reserve the right to terminate your service without notice. We prefer to advise customers of inappropriate behavior and any necessary corrective action; however, flagrant violations of the Acceptable Use Policy will result in immediate termination of service. Our failure to enforce this policy, for whatever reason, shall not be construed as a waiver of our right to do so at any time.
As a member of our network community, you must use your Internet access responsibly. If you have any questions regarding this policy, please contact us at abuse@company-online.co.uk.
II. VIOLATIONS OF Company Online ACCEPTABLE USE POLICY. Accounts found in violation of Company Online's Acceptable Use Policy will be subject to immediate cancellation without refund. The following constitute violations of this AUP:
Illegal use: Company Online's services may not be used for illegal purposes, or in support of illegal activities. Company Online reserves the right to cooperate with legal authorities and/or injured third parties in the investigation of any suspected crime or civil wrongdoing.
Pornography: It is absolutely forbidden to host pornographic content on Company Online Service accounts. Accounts found hosting this material will be subject to immediate cancellation without refund. If you are unclear if something falls into these catagories or have any questions, please contact us and we can help answer your questions.
Warez/Crakz: It is absolutely forbidden to host illegally hacked/cracked/manipulated software. Illegal software files are NOT permitted on the servers and accounts found hosting this material will be subject to immediate cancellation without refund. If you are unclear if something falls into these catagories or have any questions, please contact us and we can help answer your questions.
Harm to minors: Use of the Company Online service to harm, or attempt to harm, minors in any way, including, but not limited to child pornography, is strictly forbidden. Company Online Service follows a strict ZERO tolerance policy for child pornography and intention to do harm to minors. Authorities will be immediately notified and the offending Company Online account will be subject to immediate termination.
Threats: Use of the Company Online service to transmit any material (by e-mail, uploading, posting or otherwise) that threatens or encourages bodily harm or destruction of property. Authorities will be immediately notified and the offending Company Online account will be subject to immediate termination.
Harassment: Use of the Company Online service to transmit any material (by e-mail, uploading, posting or otherwise) that harasses another.
Fraudulent activity: Use of Company Online service to make fraudulent offers to sell or buy products, items, or services, or to advance any type of financial scam such as "pyramid schemes," "ponzi schemes," and "chain letters."
Forgery or impersonation: Adding, removing or modifying identifying network header information in an effort to deceive or mislead is prohibited. Attempting to impersonate any person by using forged headers or other identifying information is prohibited. The use of anonymous remailers or nicknames does not constitute impersonation.
Unsolicited commercial e-mail / Unsolicited bulk e-mail (SPAM) Use of the Company Online service to transmit any unsolicited commercial or unsolicited bulk e-mail is expressly prohibited. Violations of this type will result in the immediate termination of the offending Company Online account.
E-mail / News Bombing: Malicious intent to impede another person's use of electronic mail services or news will result in the immediate termination of the offending Company Online account.
E-mail / Message Forging: Forging any message header, in part or whole, of any electronic transmission, originating or passing through the Company Online service is in violation of this AUP.
Usenet SPAMing: Company Online has a zero tolerance policy for the use of its network for the posting of messages or commercial advertisements, which violate the rules, regulations, FAQ or charter of any newsgroups or mailing list. Commercial messages that are appropriate under the rules of a newsgroup or mailing list or that are solicited by the recipients are permitted.
Unauthorized access: Use of the Company Online service to access, or to attempt to access, the accounts of others, or to penetrate, or attempt to penetrate, security measures of Company Online's or another entity's computer software or hardware, electronic communications system, or telecommunications system, whether or not the intrusion results in the corruption or loss of data, is expressly prohibited and the offending Company Online account is subject to immediate termination.
Copyright or trademark infringement: Use of the Company Online service to transmit any material (by e-mail, uploading, posting or otherwise) that infringes any copyright, trademark, patent, trade secret or other proprietary rights of any third party, including, but not limited to, the unauthorized copying of copyrighted material, the digitization and distribution of photographs from magazines, books, or other copyrighted sources, and the unauthorized transmittal of copyrighted software (including Warez), and copyright music (to include mp3 distribution).
Collection of personal data: Use of the Company Online service to collect, or attempt to collect, personal information about third parties without their knowledge or consent.
Network disruptions and unfriendly activity: Use of the Company Online service for any activity that affects the ability of other people or systems to use Company Online services or the Internet. This includes "denial of service" (DOS) attacks against another network host or individual user. Interference with or disruption of other network users, services or equipment is prohibited. It is the Member's responsibility to ensure that their network is configured in a secure manner. A Subscriber may not, through action or inaction, allow others to use their network for illegal or inappropriate actions. A Subscriber may not permit their network, through action or inaction, to be configured in such a way that gives a third party the capability to use their network in an illegal or inappropriate manner. Unauthorized entry and/or use of another company and/or individual's computer system will result in immediate account termination. Company Online will not tolerate any subscriber attempting to access the accounts of others, or penetrate security measures of other systems, whether or not the intrusion results in corruption or loss of data.
Fraud: Involves a knowing misrepresentation or misleading statement, writing or activity made with the intent that the person receiving it will act upon it.
Infringement of Copyright, Patent, Trademark, Trade Secret, or Intellectual Property Right: Distribution and/or posting of copyrighted or the aforementioned infringements will not be tolerated.
Distribution of Viruses: Intentional distributions of software that attempts to and/or causes damage, harassment, or annoyance to persons, data, and/or computer systems are prohibited. Such an offense will result in the immediate termination of the offending account.
Inappropriate Use of Software: Use of software or any device that would facilitate a continued connection, i.e. pinging, while using Company Online services could result in suspension service.
Third Party Accountability: Company Online subscribers will be held responsible and accountable for any activity by third parties, using their account that violates guidelines created within the Acceptable Use Policy.
Banned Scripts: All CGI based forums, CGI mail processing scripts (such as formmail.pl or formmail.cgi) and IRC Chat servers/scripts/bots are banned from Company online servers. If you are unclear if something falls into these catagories or have any questions, please contact us and we can help answer your questions. Please note this list can change at any time.
Inaccurate or Unreliable Data: If member deliberately provides inaccurate or unreliable information, or fails to promptly update necessary information, or fails to respond to our email inquiries within five calendar days, such actions shall constitute a breach of this Agreement.
Security
You are responsible for any misuse of your account, even if a friend, family member, guest or employee committed the inappropriate activity. Therefore, you must take steps to ensure that others do not gain unauthorized access to your account. In addition, you may not use your account to breach security of another account or attempt to gain unauthorized access to another network or server.
Your password provides access to your account. It is your responsibility to keep your password secure. Sharing your password and account access with unauthorized users is prohibited. You should take care to prevent others from using your account since you will be held responsible for such use.
Attempting to obtain another user's account password is strictly prohibited, and may result in termination of service.
You must adopt adequate security measures
to prevent or minimize unauthorized use of your account. You may not attempt
to circumvent user authentication or security of any host, network or account.
This includes, but is not limited to, accessing data not intended for you,
logging into or making use of a server or account you are not expressly
authorized to access, or probing the security of other networks. Use or
distribution of tools designed for compromising security is prohibited.
Examples of these tools include, but are not limited to, password guessing
programs, cracking tools or network probing tools.
You may not attempt to interfere with service to any user, host or network
("denial of service attacks"). This includes, but is not limited
to: "flooding" of networks, deliberate attempts to overload a
service, and attempts to "crash" a host.
Users who violate systems or network security may incur criminal or civil
liability. Company Online will cooperate fully with investigations of violations
of systems or network security at other sites, including cooperating with
law enforcement authorities in the investigation of suspected criminal violations.
Failure to protect your account is a violation of the Acceptable Use Policy and grounds for account termination without refund.
Network Performance
Company Online accounts operate on shared resources. Excessive use or abuse of these shared network resources by one customer may have a negative impact on all other customers. Misuse of network resources in a manner that impairs network performance is prohibited by this policy and may result in termination of your account.
III. REPORTING VIOLATIONS OF Company Online
AUP. Company Online requests that anyone who believes that there is a violation
of this AUP direct the information to the Abuse Department at,
abuse@company-online.co.uk.
If available, please provide the following information:
The IP address used to commit the alleged
violation
The date and time of the alleged violation, including the time zone or offset
from GMT
Evidence of the alleged violation
E-mail with full header information provides all of the above, as do system
log files.
Other situations will require different methods of providing the above information.
IV. ACTIONS TAKEN BY Company Online. Company Online may take any one or more of the following actions in response to complaints, violations of the Terms of Service or the Acceptable Use Policy:
Issue written or verbal warnings
Suspend the Member's newsgroup posting privileges
Suspend the Member's account
Terminate the Member's account
Bill the Member for administrative costs and/or reactivation charges
Bring legal action to enjoin violations and/or to collect damages, if any,
caused by violations
Contact by help desk as http://company-online.co.uk/support.htm
V. REVISIONS TO THIS ACCEPTABLE USE POLICY
Company Online reserves the right to revise, amend, or modify this AUP,
our TOS (Terms of Service) and our other policies and agreements at any
time and in any manner. Notice of any revision, amendment, or modification
will be posted in accordance with our TOS (Terms of Service).