This policy is an addendum to the service agreement between you (Customer) and Rho.net.

Note: this is a temporary version of the usage policy. It came from, er, somewhere else, and is going to be modified substantially!

Customer Acceptable Use Policy

1. Introduction

Rho.net supports the free flow of information and ideas over the Internet. Rho.net does not actively monitor nor does Rho.net exercise editorial control over the content of any Web site, electronic mail transmission, mailing list, newsgroup or other material created or accessible over Rho.net services. However, Rho.net reserves the right to remove any materials that, in Rho.net's sole discretion, are potentially illegal, may subject Rho.net to liability, or violate this Acceptable Use Policy ("Policy"). Your violating this Policy may result in the suspension or cancellation of your Rho.net services.

2. Policy Violations

The following are violations of Rho.net's acceptable use policies:

    2.2. Using Rho.net services for illegal purposes or in support of illegal activities. In accordance with Section 5.2.1 of the Internet Access Agreement, Rho.net reserves the right to cooperate with legal authorities and/or injured third parties in the investigation of any suspected crime or civil wrong. Activities which are prohibited as potentially illegal include, but are not limited to:

      2.2.1. Unauthorized copying of copyrighted material including, but not limited to, digitization and distribution of photographs from magazines, books, or other copyrighted sources, and copyrighted software.

      2.2.2. Exporting software or technical information in violation of U.S. export control laws.

      2.2.3. Posting or emailing of scams such as 'make-money-fast' schemes or 'pyramid/chain' letters.

      2.2.4. Threatening bodily harm or property damage to individuals or groups.

      2.2.5. Making fraudulent offers of products, items, or services originating from your account.

      2.2.6. Attempting to access the accounts of others, or attempting to penetrate security measures of Rho.net's or other entities' systems ("hacking"), whether or not the intrusion results in corruption or loss of data.

      2.2.7. The unauthorized use of a person's name or likeness.

    2.3. Harassing others by 'mail-bombing' or 'news-bombing'. 'Mail-bombing' constitutes sending more than ten (10) similar mail messages to the same email address. 'News bombing' constitutes sending more than 10MB of data to a newsgroup.

      2.3.1. Sending unsolicited electronic mail (email) messages where the recipient objects to the content of the message or to the receipt of the message in general is also prohibited under this Section.

        2.3.1.1. Customers acknowledge that they are expressly prohibited from utilizing Rho.net's service, Rho.net's equipment or any Rho.net email address in connection with the sending of the same or substantially similar unsolicited email message, whether commercial or not, to a large number of recipients. This prohibition extends to the sending of unsolicited mass mailings from another service which in any way implicates the use of Rho.net's service, Rho.net's equipment or any Rho.net email address(es).

        2.3.1.2. A message is unsolicited if it is posted in violation of a USENET or newsgroup charter and /or if it is sent to a recipient who has not requested or invited the message. For purposes of this provision, merely making one's email address accessible to the public shall not constitute a request or invitation to receive messages.

        2.3.1.3. Customer specifically agrees that he/she/it will not utilize the Rho.net service, Rho.net's equipment or any Rho.net email address in connection with the transmission of the same or substantially similar unsolicited message to 50 or more recipients or 15 or more newsgroups in a single day. Customers responsible for these acts may be terminated at Rho.net's discretion. For each day upon which this provision is violated, Customer agrees to pay Rho.net $10.00 per occurrence for an unintentional violation of this provision, but where warranted, such as in the case of an accidental transmission, Rho.net may waive all or part of the applicable charge. In cases of willful violations of this provision, Customer agrees to pay Rho.net $200.00 per occurrence. Rho.net at its sole discretion shall determine whether such a violation was unintentional or willful. Payment by Customer under this provision shall not prevent Rho.net from seeking to obtain other legal remedies against Customer, including other damages or an injunction.

      2.4. Revealing your account password to others or allowing use of your account by others (other than authorized users in your business).

      2.5. Forging any message header, in part or whole, of any electronic transmission, originating or passing through Rho.net services.

      2.6. Distributing viruses to or from Rho.net systems.

      2.7. Use of software or any device that would allow your account to stay logged on while you are not actively using Rho.net services or use the account for the purpose of operating a server of any type. (See section 3 below)

      2.8. Cross-posting advertisements for products, items, or services to ten (10) or more unrelated USENET newsgroups.

      2.9. Posting articles to any USENET or other newsgroup, mailing list or similar forum which are off-topic according to the charter or other public statement of the forum.

      2.10. Disrupting any newsgroup with frivolous, excessively vulgar, or repetitious postings.

      2.11. Posting of binary, or excessively large, unrelated text files to non-binary newsgroups that have specifically requested such material not be posted in the group's FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions), charter or other public statement of the forum that such material not be posted.

      2.12. Installation of "auto-responders", "cancel-bots" or similar automated or manual routines which generate excessive amounts of Net traffic, or disrupt Net newsgroups or email use by others.

      2.13. Engaging in any of the above activities using the service of another provider but channeling such activities through an Rho.net account or re-mailer, or using an Rho.net account as a mail drop for responses.

3. Rho.net Assumes No Liability

Rho.net has no practical ability to restrict all conduct, communications or content which might violate this Policy prior to its transmission on Rho.net's systems, nor can Rho.net ensure prompt removal of any such communications or content after transmission or posting. Accordingly, Rho.net does not assume liability to Customers or others for any failure to enforce the terms of this Policy.

4. Revisions to this Policy

Rho.net reserves the right to modify this Policy at any time. Notice of modifications to this Policy may be given to Customers by posting such changes to the Rho.net homepage (http://www.rho.net), by electronic mail, or by conventional mail.