Acceptable Use Policy

Introduction

IDV has published this Acceptable Use Policy as part of our overall effort to provide high quality, reliable service to our customers; protect the privacy and security of our customers, systems and networks; encourage responsible use of IDV's and other providers' resources; and comply with applicable law. This Policy describes the types of uses of the IDV Services which are contrary to our objectives and which are, therefore prohibited. IDV may in its sole discretion determine whether a use of the IDV Services is a violation of this Policy. While it is not IDV's intent to monitor, control or censor use of the IDV Services, when we become aware of a violation of this Policy, we may take such action as we deem appropriate to address the violation, as discussed below.

This Policy applies to all customers of IDV Services, and to all other users of the IDV Services. This Policy supplements, but does not supersede, the contracts that customers have with IDV. If a contract restricts a use of the IDV Services that is not addressed in this Policy, the contract will govern with respect to such use.

Because IDV has no control over reference sites and information located on the world wide web, we make no guarantee as to such sites and information, including the accuracy, currency, content or quality of any such sites and information and we assume no responsibility for Customer access to unintended or objectionable content. Furthermore, because some content on the Internet consists of material that is adult-oriented or otherwise objectionable to some people, the results of your Internet queries may automatically and unintentionally generate links or references to objectionable material. We make no claim that such surprises might not occur. Because IDV does not monitor or censor the Internet, IDV does not accept any responsibility for injury to its Customers that results from inaccurate, unsuitable or offensive Internet communications.

In addition IDV does not review, edit, censor or take responsibility for any information that its Customers or their users may create. Due to the fact that information Customers create or disseminate is carried over IDV's or IDV's third party providers' facilities and may reach a large number of people, including both Customers and non-Customers, Customers' postings to the Internet may affect other Customers and may harm IDV's goodwill, business reputation and operations. For these reasons, Customers violate IDV's Policy and their contract with IDV when they, their affiliates or subsidiaries or their respective users engage in the following activities:

Posting a single message, or messages similar in content, to more than five online forums or newsgroups. Posting messages to online forums or newsgroups that violate the rules of the forum or newsgroups.
Collecting the responses from unsolicited email. Sending any unsolicited email that could be expected, in IDV's discretion, to provoke complaints. Sending email with charity requests, petitions for signatures, or any chain mail related materials. Sending unsolicited email without identifying in the email a clear and easy means to be excluded from receiving additional email from the originator of the email. Sending email that does not accurately identify the sender, the sender's return address and the email address of origin. Illegal/Criminal Activity, Criminal or civil violations of state, federal or international laws, regulations or other government requirements. Such violations could include theft or infringement of copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets or other types of intellectual property; fraud; forgery; theft or misappropriation of funds, credit cards or personal information; and threats of physical harm or harassment.

Distribution and/or Transmission of Obscene or Indecent Speech or Materials, Distribution of offensive materials, including obscene, pornographic, indecent and hateful materials.

Defamation, Distribution of defamatory or libelous materials.

Illegal/Unauthorized Access to Other Computers or Networks, Illegal or unauthorized attempts, whether or not successful, to violate the security of a network, service or other system. Examples of prohibited activities include hacking, cracking into, monitoring, or using systems without authorization; scanning ports; conducting denial of service attacks; forging of any TCP-IP packet header or any part of the header information in an email or news grouping posting; and distributing Internet viruses, worms, Trojan horses and other harmful software.

Any other activities that IDV determines to be harmful to its Customers, operations or reputation, including any activities that restrict or inhibit any other user from using or enjoying the IDV Services or the Internet.

The above descriptions are guidelines and are not intended to be exhaustive.

Responsibility for complying with the Acceptable Use Policy rests with the Customer. IDV will not, as an ordinary practice, monitor the communications of its Customers to ensure that they comply with IDV's policy or with applicable law. When IDV becomes aware of harmful communications, however, it may take any of a variety actions. IDV, without notice, may remove information that violates it policies, implement screening software designed to block offending transmissions, suspend service, or take any other action it deems appropriate, including termination of a Customer's contract with IDV.

IDV cannot take any responsibility for the security of communications transmitted over IDV's facilities. IDV will comply fully, however, with all applicable laws concerning the privacy of its Customers' on-line communications. IDV will not intentionally monitor or disclose any private electronic mail messages sent or received by its Customers unless required to do so by law. IDV may, however, monitor its service electronically to determine that its facilities are operating satisfactorily. Also, IDV may be required to disclose information transmitted through its facilities in order to comply with court orders, statutes, regulations or governmental requests. Finally, IDV may disclose information transmitted over its facilities where necessary to protect IDV and its Customers from harm, or where such disclosure is necessary to the proper operation of the system.

Any party seeking to report any violations of IDV's policy may contact via email: abuse@idv.net.

IDV may modify this policy at any time. Such modification will be effective when posted to the IDV web site.