Privacy and use policy

The Usage Provisions of UDC Usenet-Data-Carrier comprise what we expect of an UDC Usenet-Data-Carrier account user. Here you can see what we consider as misuse of our services and what steps we take when examining cases of reported misuse.

UDC Usenet-Data-Carrier grants its users a large extent of freedom, however, in cases of misuse immediately takes measures up to stoppage of postings or cancellation of the respective account.

By using your UDC Usenet-Data-Carrier account you agree to comply with these provisions and keep yourself informed of their changes, as these provisions can change at any time. These Usage Provisions are part of the further General Business Provisions (GBP) of your UDC Usenet-Data-Carrier account.

Usage Provisions

UDC Usenet-Data-Carrier wishes to offer all its clients the possibility of free use of its services. UDC Usenet-Data-Carrier can therefore limit inappropriate use of flatrate accounts in order to thus provide the best possible service for all clients. An UDC Usenet-Data-Carrier flatrate account does not determine usage standards. If a client is not willing to keep the use of this service within reasonable limits, UDC Usenet-Data-Carrier can cancel, stop or not extend his access. UDC Usenet-Data-Carrier determines what is or is not appropriate use at its own discretion.

UDC Usenet-Data-Carrier accounts are intended exclusively for private use. Joint use of any kind is forbidden. This also includes the following conduct:

Passing on application data to third persons
Simultaneous application at several IP addresses
Connecting over a proxy service
Usage of DNews, NetCache or other cashing systems for multiple accesses

Netiquette and Misconduct

Every newsgroup can be regarded as a separate forum whose regular participants have developed common standards of right and proper conduct within the group. Many groups have drawn up a kind of statute and FAQ that represent the consensus of regular participants of these newsgroups. Before posting to a newsgroup it is advisable to find out what is considered right and proper conduct in this group.

Newsgroups unite people of different origin and belief. When communicating with participants of these groups you should always bare in mind that your postings are read by millions of users all over the world. Therefore please consider the opinions and feelings of everyone who might read your postings and show them the same respect as you anticipate towards yourself.

Posting

When examining implications of inappropriate or offensive postings over our servers UDC Usenet-Data-Carrier follows further mentioned guidelines. Inappropriate or even offending postings can lead to temporary or sustained barring of the account's posting access or to cancellation of the account.

Copyright

In almost every country copyright is protected by law. UDC Usenet-Data-Carrier considers it neither possible nor desirable to control information transmitted over or stored in its system. When you apply for usage of an UDC Usenet-Data-Carrier account you agree not to communicate copyright protected works without prior consent of the copyright owner over our system.

Spam

In the first place regarding dispatch: there are different viewpoints of what spam is. When investigating complaints we repose on the following definitions:

Repeated Postings
Repeated posting of the same article to on or more newsgroups is seen as spam regardless of its contents.
Industrial Postings
Almost no group likes industrial postings. Most groups want no commercial articles. Therefore industrial postings are regarded to be spam.
Promotional Postings
In almost all newsgroups advertising a shop, website or organisation is seen as spam. This usually also applies only to invitations to a "private", "public" or common-use website.

„For sale/Trade“-Groups
Most groups whose names contains „for sale“ serve the purpose of exchanging information between individuals wishing to buy or sell something. Many of these groups are limited to a certain geographic area. Most of these groups do not want postings from shops or articles offered on auction websites like eBay. Bear in mind that your postings can be welcome by newsgroup users of these groups.

Chain letters and Snowball Systems
According to USA law chain letters and snowball systems are illegal. Almost all offers guiding towards "fast money", "fast wealth" and structural sale belong to this category. If you send such kind of postings to newsgroups your account will be cancelled.

Crossposting
Some binary newsgroups, for example certain music groups, support simultaneous postings to more than one group if their content is relevant to all concerned groups. However, most binary groups and most text groups are against any kind of crossposting. Please bear in mind that the posting of one thread can initially be suitable for two newsgroups of a text group but follow-ups in one of the groups can quickly develop into "OffTopic".

Off-Topic-Posting
Almost every newsgroup has one theme or a range of themes of interest, which they cover or discuss. A deliberate disregard of the intended theme is treated as misuse of posting. Off-topic postings in a larger amount or with obvious evil intent lead to immediate cancellation of the account.

Troll-Posting
Troll-posting is deliberate posting of articles that distract other users from the actual theme of the group. In other words: troll-postings are intended to enrage others so that they get engaged in an argument or off-topic discussion. Therefore UDC Usenet-Data-Carrier does not tolerate troll-posting and cancels the service for everyone who uses it in this way.

Changed Headers
Forging header lines in order to screen the original server, feign moderator acceptance of a posting or make an original posting look like a follow-up is a serious offence against our service and leads to immediate cancellation of the account.

Should it be stated that spam was sent over your account you will have to face a removal penalty of 50 USD for each spam posting and the immediate cancellation of your account without notice.

Retention and Completeness

UDC Usenet-Data-Carrier guarantees neither retention nor completeness. Retention and/or completeness data quoted on UDC Usenet-Data-Carrier home pages refer to calculations based on actual data. An increase or decrease of the Usenet posting scope can result in an according increase or decrease of retaining time over UDC Usenet-Data-Carrier without prior notice.

Reporting Misuse

You can report misuse to abuse@usenetdatacarrier.com

We can deal with spam and other cases of misuse only if they have also been transmitted over UDC Usenet-Data-Carrier accounts. In order to follow a report of misuse that must have taken place over our servers, we need complete article header lines.

When we receive a plausible report of misuse concerning an UDC Usenet-Data-Carrier client our employees immediately take according measures, as we wish to ensure that the posting of offensive materials is cut short. This can result in immediate posting stoppage of the concerned account, while concurrently circumstances are being clarified.

If it is clear to our employees that someone has applied for UDC Usenet-Data-Carrier only for the purpose of misuse, access to servers is immediately barred without notice and reimbursement and the account is cancelled.

Our employees examine all complaints. Each of these employees evaluates the posting circumstances, the posting newsgroup and the amount of received complaints about this posting. In certain cases we have to discover if evil intent is behind the misuse. Alongside with other factors our employees evaluate whether the questionable posting is compatible with the kind of service we wish to offer our clients. Our employees strive to come to a friendly arrangement in the first place.

UDC Usenet-Data-Carrier wishes to offer flexible services that meet the requirements of our clients. We wish neither to limit nor censor our clients in any way. Yet, on the other hand, we feel responsible to ensure that appropriate use of our services and newsgroups benefit all participants.

Data Protection Guidelines

The rapid extension of the World Wide Web has brought new problems regarding data protection. UDC Usenet-Data-Carrier respects your data protection rights, and our further set forth guidelines disclose the protection of your private sphere.

Client Data

At first application as well as in the interests of client service UDC Usenet-Data-Carrier asks for certain data. These data enable us to offer high-quality service and support. These data are never passed on to third persons, except in accordance with a valid decree. UDC Usenet-Data-Carrier never sells or leases client lists or other client data.

Usage Data

UDC Usenet-Data-Carrier controls its server structure to such a degree as is necessary to provide high-standard services. Your private online activities are neither controlled nor recorded. We control neither your newsgroup choice nor the contents of your downloads or postings.

Civil Investigation

UDC Usenet-Data-Carrier hands over personal or usage data of a client only by order of a competent court to an investigation officer, lawyer or authorities. The client is informed of a court hearing and has the right to appeal against the handing over of his personal data.

Criminal Investigation

UDC Usenet-Data-Carrier entirely cooperates with executive bodies of the USA. However, before handing over client data UDC Usenet-Data-Carrier has to receive a corresponding legal order. According to the Fourth Amendment of the USA Constitution a legal order is required for search and alienation. Upon an according request of executive bodies UDC Usenet-Data-Carrier confirms the existence of a client's personal data and upon an according request prepares a technical description of the property to be alienated. In case of a police investigation UDC Usenet-Data-Carrier is obliged to inform the respective client of the performance of such an investigation.