Acceptable Use Policy
Revision date: 3/12/2017
As a provider of web site hosting and other Internet-related services, Clark-Ritchotte Communications, LLC. offers its customer (also known as “Subscribers”) and their customers and users the means to acquire and disseminate a wealth of public, private, commercial and non-commercial information. Clark-Ritchotte Communications, LLC. respects that the Internet provides a forum for free and open discussion and dissemination of information. However, when there are competing interests at issue, Clark-Ritchotte Communications, LLC. reserves the right to take certain preventive or corrective actions. In order to protect these competing interests, Clark-Ritchotte Communications, LLC. has developed an Acceptable Use Policy (“AUP”), which supplements and explains certain terms of each customer’s respective service agreement, and is intended as a guide to the customer’s rights and obligations when using Clark-Ritchotte Communications, LLC.’ services. This AUP will be revised from time to time.
One important aspect of the Internet is that no one party owns or controls it. This fact accounts for much of the Internet’s openness and value, but it also places a high premium on the judgment and responsibility of those who use it, both in the information they acquire and in the information they disseminate to others. When subscribers obtain information through the Internet, they must keep in mind that Clark-Ritchotte Communications, LLC. cannot monitor, verify, warrant or vouch for the accuracy and quality of the information they acquire. For this reason, the subscriber must exercise his or her best judgment in relying on information obtained from the Internet, and also should be aware that some material posted to the Internet may be sexually explicit or otherwise offensive. Because Clark-Ritchotte Communications, LLC. cannot monitor or censor the Internet, and will not attempt to do so, Clark-Ritchotte Communications, LLC. cannot accept any responsibility for injury to its subscribers resulting from inaccurate, unsuitable, offensive or illegal Internet communications.
When subscribers disseminate information from the Internet, they must keep in mind that Clark-Ritchotte Communications, LLC. does not review, edit, censor or take responsibility for any information its subscribers may create. When users place information on the Internet, they have the same liability as other authors for copyright infringement, defamation
Spamming:
Sending unsolicited bulk and/or commercial information over the Internet. It is not only harmful because of its negative impact on consumer attitudes toward Clark-Ritchotte Communications, LLC., but also because it can overload Clark-Ritchotte Communications, LLC.’ network and disrupt service to Clark-Ritchotte Communications, LLC.’ subscribers. Also, maintaining an open SMTP relay is prohibited. When a complaint is received, Clark-Ritchotte Communications, LLC. will investigate and
Audio/Video Streaming:
Audio/Video Streaming is not hosting friendly. As such, Clark-Ritchotte Communications, LLC. does not allow any streaming of audio or video content. Offending accounts will be suspended without noticed or terminated.
Adult-Oriented Content:
Clark-Ritchotte Communications, LLC. does not allow adult content and will suspend/terminate any offending account.
Large File Policy:
Clark-Ritchotte Communications, LLC. is not for file hosting and distribution – as such, customers may not host any files larger than 50MB in size that
Obscene Speech or Materials:
Using Clark-Ritchotte Communications, LLC.’ network to advertise, transmit, store, post, display, or otherwise make available child pornography or obscene speech or material is prohibited. Clark-Ritchotte Communications, LLC. is required by law to notify law enforcement agencies when it becomes aware of the presence of child pornography on or being transmitted through its network.
Defamatory or Abusive Language:
Using Clark-Ritchotte Communications, LLC.’ network as a means to transmit or post negative, defamatory, harassing, abusive or threatening language.
Forging of Headers:
Forging or misrepresenting message headers, whether in whole or in part, to mask the originator of the message.
Illegal or Unauthorized Access to Other Computers or Networks:
Accessing, illegally or without authorization, computers, accounts or networks belonging to another party, or attempting to penetrate security measures of another individual’s system (often known as “hacking”). Also, any activity that may be used as a precursor to an attempted system penetration (i.e., port scan, stealth scan or other information-gathering activity).
Distribution of Internet Viruses, Worms, Trojan Horses or Other Destructive Activities:
Distributing information regarding the creation of and sending Internet viruses, worms, Trojan horses, pinging, flooding, mail bombing or denial of service attacks. Also, activities that disrupt the use of or interfere with the ability of others to effectively use the network or any connected network, system, service or equipment.
Facilitation a Violation of this AUP:
Advertising, transmitting or otherwise making available any software, program, product or service that is designed to violate this AUP, which includes the facilitation of the means to spam, initiation of pinging, flooding, mail bombing, denial of service attacks and piracy of software.
Export Control Violations:
Exporting encryption software over the Internet or otherwise, to points outside the United States.
Usenet Groups:
Clark-Ritchotte Communications, LLC. reserves the right not to accept postings from newsgroups where we have actual knowledge that the content of the newsgroup violates the AUP.
Other Illegal Activities:
Engaging in activities that are determined to be illegal, including, but not limited to, advertising, transmitting or otherwise making available
Other Activities:
Engaging in activities, whether lawful or unlawful, that Clark-Ritchotte Communications, LLC. determines to be harmful to its subscribers, operations, reputation, goodwill or customer relations.
As we have pointed out, the responsibility for avoiding harmful activities just described rests primarily with the subscriber. Clark-Ritchotte Communications, LLC. will not, as an ordinary practice, monitor the communications of its subscribers to ensure that
Clark-Ritchotte Communications, LLC. is also aware that many of its subscribers are themselves providers of Internet services, and that information reaching Clark-Ritchotte Communications, LLC.’ facilities from those subscribers may have originated from a customer of the subscriber or from another third party. Clark-Ritchotte Communications, LLC. does not require its subscribers who offer Internet services to monitor or censor transmissions or web sites created by customers of its subscribers. Clark-Ritchotte Communications, LLC. reserves the right to directly take action against a customer of its subscribers. Also, Clark-Ritchotte Communications, LLC. may take action against the Clark-Ritchotte Communications, LLC.’ subscriber because of activities of a customer of the subscriber, even though the action may affect other customers of the subscriber. Similarly, Clark-Ritchotte Communications, LLC. anticipates that subscribers who offer Internet services will cooperate with Clark-Ritchotte Communications, LLC. in any corrective or preventive action that Clark-Ritchotte Communications, LLC. deems necessary. Failure to cooperate with such corrective or preventive measures is a violation of Clark-Ritchotte Communications, LLC. policy.
Clark-Ritchotte Communications, LLC. will not intentionally monitor private electronic mail messages sent or receive by its subscribers, unless required to do so by law, governmental authority or when public safety is at stake. Clark-Ritchotte Communications, LLC. may, however, monitor its service electronically to determine that its facilities are operating satisfactorily. Also, Clark-Ritchotte Communications, LLC. may disclose information, including, but not limited to, information concerning a subscriber, a transmission made using our network, or a web site, in order to comply with a court order, subpoena, summons, discovery request, warrant, statute, regulation or governmental request. Clark-Ritchotte Communications, LLC. assumes not obligation to inform the subscriber that subscriber information has been provided and, in some cases, may be prohibited by law from giving such notice. Finally, Clark-Ritchotte Communications, LLC. may disclose subscriber information or information transmitted over its network where necessary to protect Clark-Ritchotte Communications, LLC. and others from harm, or where such disclosure is necessary to the proper operation of the system. However, Clark-Ritchotte Communications, LLC. will never sell information to other services or outside companies.
Clark-Ritchotte Communications, LLC. expects that its subscribers who provide Internet services to others will comply fully with all applicable laws concerning the privacy of online communications. A subscriber’s failure to comply with those laws will violate Clark-Ritchotte Communications, LLC. policy. Finally, Clark-Ritchotte Communications, LLC. wishes to emphasize that, in signing the Service Agreement, subscribers indemnify Clark-Ritchotte Communications, LLC. for any violation of the Service Agreement, law or Clark-Ritchotte Communications, LLC. policy resulting in loss to Clark-Ritchotte Communications, LLC. or the bringing of any claim against Clark-Ritchotte Communications, LLC. by any third party. This means that, if Clark-Ritchotte Communications, LLC. is sued because of a subscriber’s or customer of a subscriber’s activity, the subscriber will be responsible for payment of any damages awarded against Clark-Ritchotte Communications, LLC., plus costs and reasonable attorney’s fees.
We hope this AUP is helpful in clarifying the obligations of Internet users, including Clark-Ritchotte Communications, LLC. and its subscribers, as responsible members of the Internet. Any complaints about a subscriber’s violation of this AUP should be sent to [email protected].