1. INTRODUCTION

PlayMatesNet reserves the right at all times to prohibit activities that may damage its commercial reputation and goodwill, or that of its participating affiliates. PlayMatesNet is committed to being a responsible network citizen, and protecting the usefulness and enjoyment of the Internet for our participating members. The provisions of this policy are intended as guidelines and are not meant to be exhaustive. As such, all conduct that violates law, regulation, or the accepted norms of the Internet community, whether or not expressly mentioned in this Policy, is prohibited.

This Acceptable Use Policy outlines our policies on email and network abuse, and is intended to help enhance the use of our services by preventing unacceptable direct or indirect use of our website and commercial infrastructure capabilities. All recipients of PlayMatesNet Internet based services must comply with this AUP.

We support the free flow of information and ideas over the Internet, and do not actively monitor the activities of Members except as they pertain to the Services under normal circumstances. All PlayMatesNet Participants and Members shall be obligated to ensure that third parties conducting activities on their behalf shall adhere to the requirement of this AUP.

In the event of a breach of this AUP Policy by PlayMatesNet Participants, Members or persons conducting activities on their behalf, this shall be deemed to constitute violations of our terms of service agreement, which may result in the loss of all or a portion of the Services.

2. VIOLATIONS OF ACCEPTABLE USE POLICY

The following constitute violations of this AUP:

1. Illegal use. Using the Services to transmit any material or content, or conduct or assist in the conduct of any activities (by email, uploading or otherwise) that, intentionally or unintentionally, violates any applicable local, provincial, state, national or international law, or any rules or regulations promulgated there under.
   
2. Harm to minors. Using the Services to access, contact, identify or interact with, or attempt to do so, or otherwise harm, or attempt to harm, minors in any way.
3. Threats. Using the Services to transmit any material (by email, uploading or otherwise) that threatens or encourages bodily harm or destruction of property.
4. Harassment. Using the Services to transmit any material (by email, uploading or otherwise) that harasses another.
5. Fraudulent activity. Using the Services to make fraudulent offers to sell or buy products, items, or services or to advance any type of financial scam such as "pyramid schemes," "Ponzi schemes," and "chain letters."
6. Forgery or impersonation. Adding, removing or modifying identifying network header information in an effort to deceive or mislead is prohibited. Attempting to impersonate any person or company by using forged headers or other identifying information is prohibited.
7. Improper Use of Facilities. Using PlayMatesNet resources in a manner not authorized by its administrators is strictly forbidden. This includes access of information for improper purposes, or transmitting mail to Members contrary to PlayMatesNet policies or the PlayMatesNet Participant service agreements.
8. Unsolicited commercial email/Unsolicited bulk email. Using PlayMatesNet resources or the Services to transmit any unsolicited commercial email or unsolicited bulk email. Activities that have the effect of facilitating unsolicited commercial email or unsolicited bulk email whether or not that email is commercial in nature, are prohibited.
9. Unauthorized access Using the Services to access, or to attempt to access, the accounts of others, or to penetrate, or attempt to penetrate, security measures of PlayMatesNet or another entity's computer software or hardware, electronic communications system, or telecommunications system, whether or not the intrusion results in the corruption or loss of data.
10. Copyright or trademark infringement Using the Services to transmit or assist in the transmission of any material (by email, uploading or otherwise) that infringes any copyright, trademark, patent, trade secret, or other proprietary rights of any third party, including, but not limited to, the unauthorized copying of copyrighted material, the digitization and distribution of photographs from magazines, books, or other copyrighted sources, and the unauthorized transmittal of copyrighted software.
11. Collection of personal data Using the Services to collect, or attempt to collect, personal information about Members or other third parties without their knowledge or express consent. PlayMatesNet Participants will not harvest or collect personal information about their Members or other PlayMatesNet Participants' Members, whether or not for commercial purposes, without their express consent.
12. No interference. Interfering with or disrupting the Services or the servers or other networks connected to or supported by the Services or site. No party will distribute or in any manner originate, disseminate, email or otherwise transmit any material that contains software viruses or any other computer code, files or programs designed to modify, interfere with, interrupt, destroy or limit the functionality of any computer software or hardware or telecommunications equipment (whether on a temporary or permanent basis, and whether in a destructive or benign manner). Such activities shall be deemed to include the addition of a "favorite" to a Member's browser, or any other like modification of the browser settings or functionality.
13. Network disruptions and unfriendly activity. Using the Services for any activity which adversely affects the ability of other people or systems to use PlayMatesNet Services or the Internet. This includes "denial of service" ("DoS") attacks. Interference with or disruption of other networks, network services, administration services or network equipment is strictly prohibited.

3. REPORTING VIOLATIONS OF PlayMatesNet AUP

PlayMatesNet requests that anyone who believes that there is a violation of this AUP or Email Policy direct the information to Director-Abuse Department, at: $config{'admin_address'} If available, please provide the following information:

• The IP address used to commit the alleged violation;
• The date and time of the alleged violation, including the time zone or offset from GMT; and
• Evidence of the alleged violation

• issue warnings: written or verbal;
• fine the PlayMatesNet Participant or Member, with fines increasing with each subsequent breach;
• suspend the PlayMatesNet Participant's or Member's account;
• terminate the PlayMatesNet Participant's or Member's account;
• bill the PlayMatesNet Participant or Member for administrative and services costs and/or reactivation charges; or
• bring legal action to enjoin violations and/or to collect damages, if any, caused by violations.

Also, violation of this AUP Policy may result in criminal and civil liability.

4. DISCIPLINARY ACTION PlayMatesNet reserves the right to sanction / discipline members of violating PlayMatesNet Acceptable Use Policy with the following actions:

• First Offense: email and snail mail written warning.
• Second Offense: email and snail mail written warning and 30 day suspension.
• Third Offense: email and snail mail written warning and permanent suspension from using PlayMatesNet services.

5. CODE OF CONDUCT As part of our commitment to make PlayMatesNet a great place to meet and interact with others globally, you hereby agree to abide by our code of conduct. Your conformity to these guidelines in all of your activities ensures a positive experience for all participants. PlayMatesNet is not responsible for the content. We reserve the right to terminate your access to any PlayMatesNet service or delete content, without notice, found to be in violation of the code of conduct and the Acceptable Use Policy. PlayMatesNet is designed for personal use only (i.e. non-commercial activities), by individual members 18 years of age or older.

BE A COURTEOUS USER!

Please treat all other online participants with respect and do not use PlayMatesNet to threaten, harass, stalk, or abuse other users.
PlayMatesNet reserves the right to remove user-created services and content that advocate or encourage expressions of violence, bigotry, racism, hatred, obscenity, or profanity and anything else we deem unfit or unsuitable for publication from the website.
Impersonating a PlayMatesNet employee, agent, manager, host or another user is forbidden.
Do not use PlayMatesNet to spam others. Spam includes sending identical and irrelevant or unsolicited submissions to many different users, and includes misrepresenting the source of anything you post.
Mandatory Rules & Regulations
PlayMatesNet does not allow behavior or content related to illegal activities. You cannot use PlayMatesNet services to publish, post, distribute or disseminate defamatory, infringing, obscene or other unlawful material or discussion. This includes, but is not limited to, child pornography, bestiality, incest, illegal drugs, software piracy, and harassment.
You may not use PlayMatesNet for the purpose of linking to external sites that violate this code of conduct.
Do not post or promote any materials that could harm or disrupt another user’s computer or would allow others to inappropriately access software or web sites.
In addition to upholding this code of conduct, you are responsible for adhering to all local and national laws that pertain to your location.

PROTECTION, PRIVACY & PROPERTY

6 REVISIONS TO THIS ACCEPTABLE USE POLICY

PlayMatesNet reserves the right to revise, amend, or modify this AUP Policy, our Internet Service Agreement and our other policies and agreements at any time and in any manner. Notice of any revision, amendment, or modification will be posted on our website, and shall be deemed to be effective upon such posting (without the requirement to bring the existence of a change or the content of the specific changes to the attention of the PlayMatesNet Participants or the Members). If you have any questions about the PlayMatesNet AUP or the Email Policy, do not hesitate to contact us via email, at:

7. DISCLAIMER

This website, its owners, its staff, its presence provider and all persons and businesses affiliated with this website are not liable for any damages resulting from use of this website or meeting people through it.

Users are warned to be careful when giving out personal information such as real names, telephone numbers, and addresses.

It is advisable to use a free email account such as those provided by Yahoo or HotMail for initial contacts with persons you locate here, or as a contact address for yourself if you are listing. Additionally, if you decide to meet any of these persons face to face, be intelligent: meet in a very public place, don't go anyplace to meet a person that you are not very familiar with the area and location, and above all, make sure that you have transportation home.

This website ONLY provides a method for its members to find other persons seeking friendship or relationships, and does not research the persons joining it for any reasons including suitability, stability, safety, or sanity. It is the responsibility of each user of the site to investigate the persons whom they choose to have contact with as a result of registering on or browsing through this website.

By registering on this site or contacting any person registered on this site, you acknowledge this and agree to hold this site, its owners, its webhost, and any other persons and businesses affiliated with this site blameless for any damages that may result from your use of the site.