TOS (Terms of Service) - Elsmar Cove Forum Registration and Use TOS

[Marc]

Elsmar.com Forum TOS and General Rules
Revision Date: 22 April 2010

Registration in the Elsmar.com Quality Assurance and Business Systems Forums is FREE! HOWEVER - I do insist that you abide by the TOS (Terms Of Services), rules and policies detailed herein.

1. PURPOSE

a. The Elsmar.com Quality Assurance and Business Systems Forums (the Forums) is an actively moderated forum focusing on Quality Assurance, Standards and Business Systems topics. People from ALL countries are welcome. The Elsmar Cove Forums are here for all peoples of the world. The free exchange of information between people from all over the world has made the Elsmar Cove Forums the first stop for Quality Assurance and Business Systems information on the internet since January 1996.

b. The Elsmar Cove Forums 'Bulletin Board' is privately owned and operated without any government or other interested party (external) 'behind the scenes' support - financial or otherwise - other than visible standard advertising. As such, I am 'independent' and depend upon your support. I'm just a fella interested in 'quality' issues - not a big corporation.

2. MODERATION of CONTENT

a. The Forums are moderated by a team of volunteers. Although the administrators and moderators of the Forums will attempt to keep all objectionable discussion thread posts, copyrighted material or other objectionable materials and files off of this forum, it is impossible for us to review every individual discussion thread, post and attachment.

b. All discussion thread posts express the views of the post author. The Elsmar.com website owner (Marc Timothy Smith), and the Moderators and Administrators will NOT be held responsible for the content of any message, post or other file attachment such as pictures.

c. All actions Forum Moderators make are the responsibility of Marc Timothy Smith. Forum Moderators are acting as individuals donating their time and help, and as such Marc Timothy Smith takes full responsibility for their actions.

d. Marc Timothy Smith reserves the right to remove, edit, move or close any post and/or discussion thread, file attachment and/or any other content (such as pictures) for any reason without explanation.

3. POSTS by COMPANYS and CONSULTANTS - COMMERCIAL POSTS

a. Spamming the forums with advertisements/self promotion is not allowed. "Self Promotion" in posts is *earned* through participation.

The Rule of Thumb here is that self promotion (aka advertising) is allowed on a case by case basis (prior permission is required) when a person has 150 to 200 posts (minimum) here wherein they help people here. People who are long time Registered Visitors with 500 or more "helping" posts are pretty much free to do some self promotion, but prior permission is requested with regard to any advertising / self promotion. If you are registering solely to sell your services or products, or to promote your company in any way without prior participation, your post(s) may be deleted or edited within minutes and you may be banned from the forum.

a1. If you are registering to sell electronic/electric or other commercial items, your post(s) will be deleted within minutes and you will be banned from the forum.

b. If you are in any way, financially or other wise, 'related' to a product or company under discussion, it is required that you state your relationship. Feel free to respond to questions but let us know if you are 'related'. HOWEVER - We want content in the forums, not just a referral to your web site or products or services. If you want to post an outright advertisement, have a product to sell, a demo or whatever, please call or e-mail Marc Smith to discuss. Advertising Information.

c. Products or services you may be associated with, along with a link to your company's web site, can be detailed in your User Profile. As you interact with the community, folks will naturally look at the profile and see your information. If there's something specific you think your product or service can help with, please give a detailed explanation and then refer people to your profile for information. Please help in the post rather than to just say you have a product which will 'cure all'... A simple statement that your product will solve someone's problem is not sufficient. Your web site url, telephone number, company name and your product can and may be put in your Profile. They are not allowed in posts you make. **If you post a simple "My product will help you" type of post, expect the post to be deleted or heavily edited.

c1. Company logos and/or related graphics may not be put in posts (such as using the BBCode Image Link or any other active link) without requesting and receiving prior approval.

c2. You may not use Company names as a user title and/or in your Signature without requesting and receiving prior approval.

d. You are free to respond to any post about your specific software, service or product for purposes of clarification, to refute what you believe to be incorrect or to otherwise 'correct' what you believe to be misinformation. Just don't make your post into an overt 'advertisement', and please don't post in anger or in an insulting tone. Please use the opportunity to promote yourself through helping, rather than just 'raising a ruckus'.

And remember: If you want to help, the Elsmar Cove forum is always looking for people who will take a few minutes now and again and help answer questions people have that are within their specialty.

4. PROHIBITED USE

a. By agreeing to these rules, you warrant that you will not post any content that is racist, obscene, vulgar, sexually-orientated, hateful, threatening or that violate any laws. The Forums are here to discuss compliance to standards, quality assurance and related issues - not partisan politics, sex or religion. I retain the right to delete, edit, move or close any thread for any reason.

b. The Elsmar Cove Forums owner, Marc Timothy Smith, believes everyone has a right to post their opinions and experiences as long as they are TRUE. Please - No lies and no 'spin'. If you want to 'sing the praises' of a product you use, by all means do so. If the product stinks, let us know. But, be as specific as possible. Just saying something like "...product X sucks..." tells us nothing and your post will probably be deleted.

c. There are non-professional forums available (such as the Coffee Break forum). Please use these for your general interest discussions. These Terms of Service apply there as well.

5. CONTENT and RIGHTS

a. You also agree that you understand that any posts you make, including any attachments to discussion thread posts, are made into 'The Public Domain'. Neither I, nor you, can make any claim of 'Copyright' ownership of any post or attachments herein - even your own. Posting or attaching a file to a post implies your consent to distribution from this site without restriction. These forums are open to everyone on the internet and are meant to be a resource for exchanging ideas and information - not a source of legal problems.

Site Copyright Policy

If you post in the Forums (this includes attachments to any post) you do not have a right to assert copyright claim(s) now or in the future. We don't assert that we own the rights to posted content, including files attachmented to posts, and neither can you. This is a free system and my policy is to NOT be a money grubbing type with lawyers at hand, but rather to be a free resource for folks. If the contents of your posts are 'golden' to you, I suggest you post elsewhere or write a book and sell it. If you post here, your question(s) and any and all answers to questions(s), as well as any file attachments you contribute, are in the public domain. The only exception is in the case of authors of books or articles who post them here, in full or in part, to share with the community. In these cases the copyright holder retains all copyright rights.

b. However, you may not copy any post(s) and/or download post file attachments and distribute, or use, or sell them for profit. Doing so requires the express written consent of the person who posted the post and/or file attached to the post, as well as notification of Marc.

Also see these related copyright policies and discussion threads.

6. REGISTRATION

a. Profile Information: When you register you will be required to enter "How did you find the Elsmar Cove Web Site?" and "What information are you Searching for?" There are no other *Required* Profile fields. Putting 'garbage' characters in Profile fields just to be putting something in is prohibited.

b. Prohibited Forum User Names - See this Policy: Forum User Name - Choosing a forum User Name.

c. Multiple Registrations by a person under different forum user names is not allowed.

7. VISITOR FEEDBACK - FIGHTING, BICKERING, POTENTIAL COPYRIGHT ISSUES, OR ANY OTHER PROBLEMS

a. If you are having a problem, or if you have a question, please Contact Marc.

b. When you see fighting, bickering, potential copyright issues, or any other problems in a discussion thread, note that every post has a 'Report this Post' button in the upper right part of the post. Please use it to report problems. PLEASE - Do not start problems in a discussion thread by trying to 'discipline' someone in a discussion thread. LET THE STAFF HANDLE PROBLEMS.

By using the 'Report this Post' button, the moderators and I are notified of the Report. We will examine the post within 24 hours from receipt of the report if not sooner. If the Report is valid, the post or attachment will be removed and/or amended as required by the specific scenario.

8. ABUSE OF FORUM MESSAGING SYSTEMS - Visitor Messages, PMs (Private Messages - aka Personal Messages), etc.

Private Messaging, Visitor Messaging and other communications outside the main forum is provided to the members of the Elsmar Cove forum as a service intended to enhance the Community experience. The purpose is to allow for discreet conversations to take place between members outside of the main forums. Solicitation, spamming, vulgarity, or harassment of any kind is strictly forbidden. Any member receiving an inappropriate personal message, visitor message, etc. should Report it right away using the 'Report' button in the upper right part of the PM, or the Report Link where there is no button (such as in visitor messages, photo albums, etc.).

PMs (Private Messages) - PM's are only accessible by those who send and receive them (the sender and the recipient(s)). Private Messages are not intended to deprive the Community of valuable information or experiences which could benefit the entire group. Please do not use private messages if the content of the message can be helpful to others.