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Prairienet Policies

Acceptable Use Policy

The Prairienet Community Network is a part of the Graduate School of Library and Information Science at the University of Illinois. We receive our Internet access through the University and are governed by its network security policies. The Campus Information Technologies and Educational Services (CITES) is responsible for network security and monitors network traffic to that end.

1. Never share your password. Prairienet members are responsible for all activity carried out through their account.

2. Anonymous accounts are prohibited on Prairienet. All accounts must carry the real name of the user as verified with proper ID.

3. Prairienet members are requested to act with respect for the values and individuality of other members and the rest of the network community. Behavior which expresses prejudice, harassment, or disdain for personal, intellectual, racial, sexual, or other reasons is bad network citizenship. Remember that many types of harassment are against the law. Prairienet will cooperate fully with the prosecution of any member accused of harassment.

4. It is not acceptable to use Prairienet in ways that interfere with or disrupt users, services, or equipment on Prairienet or any connected system or network. Such interference or disruption includes, but is not limited to: distribution of unsolicited advertising (spam); propagation of computer worms or viruses; and using the network to make unauthorized entry to other computational, information, or communications devices or resources.

5. Unsolicited communication with Prairienet members or Internet users is generally discouraged. This includes, but is not limited to, uninvited IM connections and email. Good judgement should be exercised when sending a message to someone you do not know. Chain mail, or anything resembling chain mail, is specifically forbidden in all circumstances.

6. Prairienet members must observe all applicable copyright laws. Copyrighted materials may not be used on the Web without permission of the copyright owners.

7. Prairienet tries to maintain a "family-friendly" atmosphere. Prairienet members are urged to refrain from obscenity in any public area. Prairienet reserves the right to create public areas which are specifically for the use of youth members, the contents of which will be moderated.

8. Illegal activities are not permitted on Prairienet or using Prairienet resources.

9. When CITES reports a security problem on one of Prairienet's modem lines, we will determine which account was using the line in question and, in keeping with University policy, disable that account without further notice. [More...]

10. Limitations for commercial uses of Prairienet exist, please see our Commercial Use Policy

11. Prairienet reserves the right to suspend or terminate without notice any account, application, or Web site that is interfering with system resources or affecting the quality of services.

Commercial Use Policy

Prairienet is an outreach service of the Graduate School of Library and Information Science at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Prairienet receives its Internet connectivity at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Thus, Prairienet DOES have specific prohibitions on various types of commercial activities, as derived from UIUC policies.

1. All uses must conform with the Prairienet "Acceptable Use Policy" and other Prairienet policy documents.

2. No monetary transactions may take place using the Prairienet system. This includes sending or receiving credit card orders or bank account numbers.

3. For-profit pricing information may not be placed on the Prairienet system. For-profit commercial organizations or enterprises of any sort are specifically not permitted to include pricing information.

4. Not-for-profit enterprises may include pricing information for items and events directly related to their non-profit activities. Individuals placing one-time "for sale" or "wanted" solicitations are specifically exempt from this prohibition.