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The Internet
is a vast network composed of interconnected computers. Each computer
has its respective owner who pays to purchase the computer, enhance
it, and maintain it. Individual companies or persons also pay
for their connection to other computers on the Internet in the
form of the fees paid for lines from various telephone companies.
The Internet is not, in any way, a government institution.
In order to
make a complex system like the Internet feasible each company
and/or person connected is expected to show a common level of
respect for the property, namely the computers, of others. Just
as it would not be acceptable for someone to open another person's
front door and walk in without being invited people cannot trespass
against a computer owned by someone else. If they provide a WWW
page for the public to view everyone is of course free to do so,
but that does not infer any other "rights" to their
system. After all, many people have attractive flower beds for
public view but it's not acceptable for someone off the street
to start picking all the roses. It is also not acceptable to call
the person at all times of the day and night, collect,
trying to sell your wares.
The trespass
against the computers of others is a growing problem on the Internet,
especially in the form of unsolicited commercial e-mail. In our
case it is simply impossible for Vaxxine to review every communication
sent from a Vaxxine client to a third party to make sure it doesn't
cross the line. The simple quantity of data would be impossible
to review and privacy is an extremely important
issue to us. However, Vaxxine will do its best to respond to specific
complaints made about the conduct of a Vaxxine Internet client.
Defining what
is, and is not, acceptable on the Internet is also a task which
is not, for the most part, appropriate for Vaxxine. Therefore,
we have tried to define a common set of criteria which can result
in Vaxxine suspending or revoking an Internet account with regard
to this Acceptable Use Policy. In addition to/in lieu of suspending
an account, Vaxxine may choose to suspend or revoke some other
service, such as UNIX shell access, WWW site privilege, CGI development
privilege, etc.
Vaxxine also
reserves the right to take legal action as appropriate. Parents
are also reminded that they may be held accountable for the actions
of their children.
Vaxxine may
take recovery action in any of the following conditions:
- The activity
is an obvious violation of a law of the province of Ontario,
the country of Canada, or an applicable international law/treaty. This
includes, but is not limited to any activity that is considered
obscene, including
the publishing or distribution of child pornography. These
activities are not permitted and will result in immediate action.
Illegal offenses will be reported to authorities and may result
in criminal charges.
- Allowing
the unacceptable use to continue would cause serious emotional
distress for a person.
- Allowing
the unacceptable use to continue could adversely affect Vaxxine's
reputation as an Internet citizen.
- Allowing
the unacceptable use to continue could result in some form of
harm, real or perceived, to Vaxxine's computers or network.
- Allowing
the unacceptable use to continue could result in some form of
harm, real or perceived, to a third party's computers or network.
- Allowing
the unacceptable use to continue may limit another Vaxxine client's
use of their "fair share" of the network resources.
Vaxxine is
free to modify the terms of this Acceptable Use Policy as well
as other policies considering use of its Internet service without
prior notice.
Unacceptable
Uses
In order to
reduce confusion Vaxxine has compiled a list of the most notable
activities that are not an acceptable use of Vaxxine's Internet
service. Note that not every possible transgression has been listed
here and that complaints are handled on a case by case basis.
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