Acceptable Use Policy
Electronic Mail
(E-Mail)
1. Introduction
Electronic
mail (email) is a highly efficient form of modern communication media.
Used
appropriately, email provides people with a means to communicate across
different time zones and country borders, thus facilitating social and business
contact.
However,
this convenience also tempts users to experiment or take advantage of this
media, resulting in email of unwelcome types (collectively known, along with
other unwelcome activity, as Net Abuse).
It
is not the intent of MicroThin to judge the merit of email content.
MicroThin
may alert the legal authorities to content which may be illegal or which relate
to criminal offences such as fraud if such content is brought to MicroThin
Industry’s attention.
Customers
are ultimately responsible for all emails originating from their Accounts even
though they may not be the actual sender.
In
order to maintain email service levels and Customer satisfaction, certain
activities will result in action being taken by MicroThin as described in
Section 3 of this document.
MicroThin
reserves the right to change this Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) for email
services at its sole discretion and without prior notice.
Any
decision made by MicroThin in relation to this service shall be final on all
matters.
2. What Constitutes Net Abuse?
Net
Abuse is an abuse of Internet services and not necessarily abuse on the
Internet.
An
act which interferes with the Net-use of an individual or group of individuals
in some specific way qualifies as Net Abuse.
Net
Abuse also includes activities which are illegal or dishonest. Under the terms
of this AUP, Net Abuse includes, but is not limited to, the following:
Chain Letters and Ponzi
Pyramid-Selling Schemes
Such messages work in much the same way as the conventional postal version.
The
most common example of this in email is the infamous
"MAKE-MONEY-FAST" scam.
In
addition to being a waste of resources, such messages are illegal in certain
countries.
Unsolicited Commercial Email (UCE)
Unsolicited Commercial Email is advertising material received by email without
the recipient either requesting such information or otherwise expressing an
interest in the material advertised. Many Internet users use a dial-up
connection and pay for their online and telephone time. It costs them money to
receive email. Receipt of unsolicited commercial advertising therefore costs
them money and is particularly unwelcome.
It should be noted that a user has not expressed an interest by the mere act of
posting a news article in any particular newsgroup, unless a specific request
for information to be emailed to them has been made.
Sending unsolicited (ie. unwanted) mails to a large list of recipients (guideline:
100 names) which provokes complaints from the recipients is considered as UCE.
Unsolicited Bulk Email (UBE)
Similar to the UCE but such email does not attempt to sell anything. Its
purpose is usually to annoy.
Forged Headers and/or Addresses
Forging
headers or messages means sending mail such that it appears to originate from
another user or machine, or a non-existent machine.
It is also forgery to arrange for any replies to any mail to be sent to some
other user or machine.
However, in either case, if prior permission has been granted to you by the
other user or the administrators of the other machine, then there is no
problem.
MicroThin takes a serious view when an identity is forged and may terminate the
Account on the first offence without warning.
Mail Bombing
Mail bombing is the sending of multiple emails, or one large email, with the
sole intent of annoying and/or seeking revenge on a fellow Internet user.
It
is wasteful of shared Internet resources as well as serving no value to the
recipient.
Denial of Service Attacks
Denial of Service is any activity designed to prevent a specific host on the
Internet making full and effective use of its facilities.
This
includes, but is not limited to:
(a) Mail bombing an address in such a way so as to make
Internet access impossible, difficult, or costly.
(b) Opening an excessive number of mail connections to the same
host.
(c) Intentionally sending email designed to damage the
receiver's systems when interpreted; for example, sending malicious programs or
viruses attached to an email.
(d) Using a smarthost or SMTP relay
without authorisation to do so.
Due
to the destructive nature of these activities, MicroThin may choose to
terminate the Account on the first offence without warning and/or seek
compensation from the perpetrator via legal proceedings to recover financial
losses.
Mailing List Subscriptions
You must not subscribe anyone to a mailing list or similar service without
his/her permission.
Illegal Content
MicroThin will cooperate with the legal authorities should any illegal activity
occur using MicroThin Industry’s email services.
Breach of Copyright or Intellectual Property Rights
You must not send copyrighted material or material over which subsisting
intellectual property rights exist via email unless with express permission
from the owner to do so.
Administrator's Email
All
Customers are required to accept and read email addressed from
support@microthin.com.au and to respond to the email should a reply be
requested. Mail sent from the Support Manager must not be "bounced"
or ignored.
3. What MicroThin will do?
All
abuse cases involving MicroThin Customers will be investigated. In order for
investigations to proceed, a Support Centre staff may contact the Customer and
the Customer should cooperate by responding to the email, phone call, or fax.
MicroThin
may at its discretion suspend/terminate an Account should the Customer fail to
respond within the grace period given by the Support Centre staff.
All
Support mails shall come from support@microthin.com.au.
MicroThin
may carry out the following action and any other measures deemed necessary upon
completing an investigation:
Suspension of Account
The offending Account is suspended and access will not be available.
The
Customer will be contacted by a member of the Technical/Customer Support team
and given notice.
The
Customer may also take the initiative to contact a member of the Support Centre
when the Account is suspended.
The Customer is required
to write to:
Technical Services Manager
c/o
MicroThin
P.O.Box 3083
KIRRAWEE NSW 2232
or
send a fax to fax number: 02 9545 5848 providing an explanation and assurance
of no further breaches of the Terms and Conditions of Use and Acceptable Use
Policies from the Account. MicroThin may take further action should the
Customer fail to furnish an explanation within the given grace period.
NOTE: In no circumstances will any refund be made for the period during which
the Account is suspended under this AUP.
Termination of Account
If is found that an offending Account is to be in breach of this AUP, a formal
notification of termination will be served on the Customer.
NOTE: No refund of monies paid for the Account will be made, except as
specified in the Terms and Conditions of Use.
MicroThin Industries Pty Ltd - ACN:
Phone: - 02 9545 5844, Fax: - 02 9545 5848, Email: -
support@microthin.com.au