Acceptable Use Policy
As a provider of web site hosting and other Internet-related services, Blue Ridge Host (“Blue Ridge Host”) 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. Blue Ridge Host respects that the Internet provides a forum for free and open discussion and dissemination of information. However, when there are competing interests at issue, Blue Ridge Host reserves the right to take certain preventive or corrective actions. In order to protect these competing interests, Blue Ridge Host 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 Blue Ridge Host’ 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 Blue Ridge Host 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 Blue Ridge Host cannot monitor or censor the Internet, and will not attempt to do so, Blue Ridge Host 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 Blue Ridge Host 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 and other harmful speech. Also, because the information created is carried over Blue Ridge Host’ network and may reach a large number of people, including both subscribers and non-subscribers of Blue Ridge Host, subscribers’ postings to the Internet may affect other subscribers and may affect Blue Ridge Host’ goodwill, business, reputation or operations. For these reasons, subscribers violate Blue Ridge Host policy and the Service Agreement when they, their customers, affiliates or subsidiaries engage in the following prohibited activities:
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 Blue Ridge Host, but also because it can overload Blue Ridge Host’ network and disrupt service to Blue Ridge Host’ subscribers. Also, maintaining an open SMTP relay is prohibited. When a complaint is received, Blue Ridge Host will investigate and shutdown the account that is SPAMing. A $250 charge for violating this policy will be charged to the person initiating the SPAM. Furthermore Blue Ridge Host reserves the right to prosecute for this violation. A $1.00 charge will be assessed PER EMAIL sent should Blue Ridge Host choose to pursue and prosecute.
Obscene Speech or Materials
Using Blue Ridge Host’ network to advertise, transmit, store, post, display, or otherwise make available child pornography or obscene speech or material is prohibited. Blue Ridge Host 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 Blue Ridge Host’ 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.
Usenet Groups
Blue Ridge Host 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 ponzi schemes, pyramid schemes, fraudulently charging credit cards and pirating software.
Other Activities
Engaging in activities, whether lawful or unlawful, that Blue Ridge Host 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. Blue Ridge Host will not, as an ordinary practice, monitor the communications of its subscribers to ensure that the comply with Blue Ridge Host’ policy or applicable law. However, when Blue Ridge Host becomes aware of harmful activities, it may take any action to stop the harmful activity, including, but not limited to, removal of information, shutting down a web site, implementing screening software designed to block offending transmissions, denying access to the Internet, or any other action deemed appropriate by Blue Ridge Host.
Blue Ridge Host 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. Blue Ridge Host may, however, monitor its service electronically to determine that its facilities are operating satisfactorily. Also, Blue Ridge Host 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. Blue Ridge Host 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, Blue Ridge Host may disclose subscriber information or information transmitted over its network where necessary to protect Blue Ridge Host and others from harm, or where such disclosure is necessary to the proper operation of the system. However, Blue Ridge Host will never sell information to other services or outside companies.
Blue Ridge Host 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 Blue Ridge Host policy. Finally, Blue Ridge Host wishes to emphasize that, in signing the Service Agreement, subscribers indemnify Blue Ridge Host for any violation of the Service Agreement, law or Blue Ridge Host policy resulting in loss to Blue Ridge Host or the bringing of any claim against Blue Ridge Host by any third party. This means that, if Blue Ridge Host 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 Blue Ridge Host, plus costs and reasonable attorney’s fees.
We hope this AUP is helpful in clarifying the obligations of Internet users, including Blue Ridge Host and its subscribers, as responsible members of the Internet. Any complaints about a subscriber’s violation of this AUP should be sent to abuse@blueridgehost.com.