MichNet Acceptable Use Policy
 
February 1, 1993
 
Purpose
 
The purpose of MichNet is given in Article II of Merit Network,
Inc.'s Bylaws which states in part that "... in pursuance of
its mission in instruction, research, and service ... it is the
role of Merit as [the operator of] a high-speed digital
communications network to contribute broadly to educational and
economic development in Michigan, ...".
 
Acceptable Use
 
This statement represents a guide to the acceptable use of
MichNet. Any Member or Affiliate connected to MichNet in order
to use the Michigan statewide network, or any other networks
which are used as a result of their MichNet connection, such as
NSFNET, must comply with this policy and the stated purposes
and Acceptable Use policies of any other networks or hosts
used.
 
Each Member and Affiliate organization is responsible for the
activity of its users and for ensuring that its users are
familiar with the MichNet Acceptable Use Policy or an
equivalent policy. In addition, it is expected that each Member
and Affiliate will maintain and enforce its own Acceptable Use
policies. At a minimum, Merit expects such policies will
include:
 
(1) To respect the privacy of other users; for example, users
    shall not intentionally seek information on, obtain copies of,
    or modify files, other data, or passwords belonging to other
    users, or represent themselves as another user unless
    explicitly authorized to do so by that user.
 
(2) To respect the legal protection provided by copyright and
    license to programs and data.
 
(3) To respect the integrity of computing systems; for example,
    users shall not intentionally develop programs that harass
    other users or infiltrate a computer or computing system and/or
    damage or alter the software components of a computer or
    computing system.
 
The following policies and guidelines will be applied to
determine whether or not a particular use of MichNet is
appropriate:
 
(1) The intent of this policy is to make clear certain uses
    which are consistent with the purposes of MichNet, not to
    exhaustively enumerate all such possible uses.
 
(2) Merit may at any time make determinations that particular
    uses are or are not consistent with the purposes of MichNet.
 
(3) If a use is consistent with the purposes of MichNet, then
    activities in direct support of that use will be considered
    consistent with the purposes of MichNet. For example,
    administrative communications in support of acceptable
    activities will be permitted.
 
(4) Malicious use is not acceptable. Use should be consistent
with guiding ethical statements and accepted community
standards. MichNet may not be used in ways that violate
applicable laws or regulations. Use of MichNet and any attached
network in a manner that precludes or significantly hampers its
use by others is not allowed.
 
(5) Connections which create routing patterns that are
    inconsistent with the effective and shared use of the network
    may not be established.
 
(6) Unsolicited advertising is not acceptable. Advertising is
    permitted on some mailing lists and news groups if the mailing
    list or news group explicitly allows advertising. Announcements
    of new products or services are acceptable.
 
(7) Use of the network for recreational games is not acceptable
    when such use places a heavy load on scarce resources (e.g.,
    dial-in phone lines).
 
Remedial Action
 
When Merit learns of possible inappropriate use, Merit staff
will notify the Member or Affiliate responsible, which must
take immediate remedial action and inform Merit of its action.
In an emergency, in order to prevent further possible
unauthorized activity, Merit may temporarily disconnect that
Member or Affiliate from MichNet. If this is deemed necessary
by Merit staff, every effort will be made to inform the Member
or Affiliate prior to disconnection, and every effort will be
made to re-establish the connection as soon as it is mutually
deemed safe.
 
Any determination of non-acceptable usage serious enough to
require disconnection shall be promptly communicated to every
member of the Merit Board of Directors through an established
means of publication.