Web21C SDK: do less achieve more

Web21C SDK Community – Acceptable Usage Policy (AUP)

Introduction

This version of the policy is effective from Friday, 21st September 2007. It supercedes all previous policies issued.

This Acceptable Usage Policy is designed to enable you to have a better understanding of what is and is not acceptable when participating in the Web21C SDK community, whether in the discussion forums, using the SDKs, using our services, using our email and any facility we provide, and to help you get the best out of the Web21C SDK web site, SDKs and services. Complying with this AUP is a contractual requirement and you must ensure you read this AUP and understand how it affects you. We may change the AUP from time to time and will inform you when we do so. To make the most of the guidance contained in the AUP please keep up to date with any changes and look at it on a regular basis. We hope you will find it useful and informative.

Participating in the Web21C SDK community is mostly a matter of common sense and extending courtesy to other participants. The vast majority of participants understand what is appropriate, apply acceptable standards of behaviour and language and will have no difficulties in conforming with this AUP. However, there are times when individuals, or groups, behave in what is considered by the internet community to be an unacceptable way. This is described by the generic term of 'abuse'.

Conduct Whilst Participating in the Web21C SDK Community

Please remember that what is acceptable by one culture may be regarded as offensive by another. Since the internet is worldwide, please take great care to avoid giving offence.

We recognise the right to freedom of expression, but with that right comes a responsibility to respect the feelings of others. It's not necessary to use inflammatory language to express strongly held views.

Abuse

Abuse may be innocent, inadvertent or intentional. It's not always clear which is which, so please remember that the following are NOT allowed:

  • saying anything that would cause annoyance, inconvenience or needless anxiety to other participants
  • advertising products or services
  • using foul language
  • using explicit sexual language or inappropriate behaviour
  • making insulting remarks at other users
  • distributing illegal, indecent or offensive material or any messages that may incite disorder or encourage illegal activities
  • distributing advertisements or junk mail ('spam')
  • uploading material in which you do not own the copyright, without the permission of the owner of the relevant rights
  • uploading files that contain viruses, trojans or other harmful programs

Fair Use

We provide the services for the benefit of customers to make and receive messages and to make telephone calls and participate in conference calls. They are subject to Fair Use so that our customers as a whole are not adversely affected by the actions of a few. Specifically:-

  • We do not deliberately operate our services at a loss and will bar telephone numbers that cause us to do so. We will endeavour to give due notice, but this may not always be possible where the costs are excessive.
  • We may terminate accounts without warning that make use of telephone numbers or number ranges associated, or suspected of being associated with, fraudulent or illegal activities
  • We may terminate accounts that operate, or attempt to operate or communicate with or attempt to communicate with, premium rated numbers, scams, automated diallers, click diallers, or similar schemes
  • The voice services we provide are for the use of verbal communication between parties. They are not intended to be used as a service of last resort, for the reporting of medical or other emergencies, for use with satellite communications, with pagers, faxers, or other data orientated devices

Premium Rated Numbers

The Web21C SDK and services may not be used for making telephone calls to premium rated numbers. We actively bar calls to any telephone number that we perceive to be a premium rated number. This includes, but is not limited to, those regulated by ICSTIS in the UK and equivalent governing bodies elsewhere, Satellite telephones and certain countries and certain mobile telephone networks. This list is not published, is under constant revision and will be changed without notice.

What Action Will BT Take?

Compliance with this Acceptable Use Policy is a mandatory requirement under the Web21C SDK Terms & Conditions for use of the Web21C SDK services. If you fail to comply, your access to the Web21C SDK services may be suspended or terminated. BT will co-operate with other Internet service providers to identify any customers committing abuse or in breach of the Fair Use policy. Any offending material may be removed by BT without prior notice/explanation. If we discover that you've engaged in abusive behaviour or have acted in breach of this AUP we will notify you that your behaviour is unacceptable. Your account(s) may be suspended or terminated. If we find out that you're using our service for illegal purposes, we may involve BT's E-crimes and Investigations team and we may ultimately notify the police. If we receive a Court Order requesting us to reveal your identity to someone complaining that you've used this service in an abusive manner we will do so.

Account Restoration

A suspended account may be restored at BT's sole discretion, upon receipt of a written undertaking by the abuser not to commit any future abuse or breaches of this AUP. All cases are, however, considered by BT on their individual merits.

Complaints About Abuse or a Breach of this AUP

If you need to complain about abuse in the SDK Discussion Forum or wish to inform us of a breach of this AUP you should email as much information as you can, including all the details of the relevant postings (by cutting and pasting) to sdkportal@bt.com

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