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Acceptable User Policy (AUP)

Last updated: February 21th, 2010

By connecting any WhatNET service, including, but not limited to, WhatNET IRC servers, and the WhatNET web server, you agree to and are bound by the provisions of this document.

You are also bound by the rules in the MOTD (Message of the Day) of the server you are using. In the event that an MOTD contradicts this AUP, the AUP overrides the MOTD. You may view the MOTD for your server by typing /motd from IRC.

Rules:

  1. You may not abuse WhatNET resources. This includes but is not limited to: Denial of Service attacks, mass messaging, mass inviting using Channel Services, Mass inviting using the /invite command, flooding, clone bot attacks, violating the maximum connection rule, or gaining unauthorized access to any machine which runs a service for WhatNET.
  2. You may have no more than 3 connections network wide per user@host. This host must be genuine, and resolve correctly. It does not have to resolve in a reverse fashion (IP to hostname) but it must not be faked. This also goes for the user name in your IRC address.
  3. Unsolicited advertising of products, services, personal channels, or other networks is prohibited on WhatNET. Mass-advertising on multiple channels may warrant a G-line. Mass advertising on other networks on behalf of WhatNET or any WhatNET related channel is likewise prohibited. Spamming for WhatNET on other networks may result in your channel being suspended or other appropriate disciplinary action at the discretion of WhatNET staff.

    4. Disciplinary Actions:

    By violating the AUP or any rule set within a MOTD, WhatNET may revoke your privileges to access network resources, including, but not restricted to, the WhatNET IRC network, the WhatNET website, WhatNET Services, and WhatNET mailing lists.

    If you intentionally evade restrictions placed on your connection, WhatNET reserves the right to ban your entire ISP (Internet Service Provider), which will prevent any user from your site from accessing our network. This also applies for restrictions placed upon you by a channel operator, in which we reserve the right to restrict your connection to the network if you persist.

    WhatNET will cooperate fully with all legally recognized law enforcement agencies in the event that a crime is committed within our network.

    To appeal restrictions placed on your connection, you may e-mail abuse@WhatNET.org. Please state your case clearly. In the event that you have broken this AUP or the rules of an individual server as detailed in the MOTD, you must clearly demonstrate that you understand the rule you have broken, and you must convince us that the abuse will not happen again.

    Disclaimers:

    By connecting to any WhatNET IRC server, you agree not to bring any legal action against the server administrators, IRC operators, or any user representing the WhatNET IRC network.

    WhatNET IRC Staff members reserve the right to interpret this Acceptable Use Policy in the event there is any judgment calls to be made pertaining to a situation or event which may not be spelled out completely in this document. WhatNET does not monitor content for any reason. By connecting to any WhatNET IRC server, you recognize and accept that some content may be considered offensive and inappropriate to some people and that WhatNET cannot be held legally responsible for any emotional damage that you may incur. Parents, please monitor how your children spend their time on-line. The Internet is not your home, and you cannot release your children onto it and expect that the rest of the world possesses your judgment or sense of propriety. No time spent in a chat room is worth as much as the time you spend with your children. WhatNET reserves the right to deny use of or access to any resource it provides, including but not restricted to access to the WhatNET IRC Network, its mailing lists, its website or its channel and IRC operator services. File sharing channels are prohibited from registering with WhatNET channel services; WhatNET passes no ethical judgment on file sharing, but we do not condone use of our resources as a proxy service purely for trading. There are a number of IRC networks devoted to this activity, and we respectfully urge users to consider these as alternatives.