• Respect Others: Do not insult, harass, or despise the network or its operators in direct, indirect, or implied ways. If you don't like it here, you don't have to be here—but don't sit and post insults.
• Ask If Unsure: If you are unsure whether something you want to post is acceptable, please ask the Moderator (ChanOp) on duty, or ask in our #help channel.
• No Ban Jumping: If you are banned in a channel and repeatedly "jump" such a ban to reconnect, you may be banned from the entire network. If you repeatedly "jump" a network ban, further action may be taken, including banning you without further warnings.
• No Arguing About Bans: Please do not argue in the chatrooms about yourself or another chatter being under a ban or on the BanOnSight (BOS) or BanOnBadBehavior (BOBB) lists. This is considered a disruption to the chat. You may discuss the situation with an IrcOp by asking in the #Help room or by submitting a ticket on the Support Desk. Admins are the only ones who can assist with G-lines, Z-lines, BOS, and BOBB issues.

Services are set up to support this network and the users here. We have NickServ, ChanServ, HostServ, and MemoServ available. Abuse of the services is not allowed. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Registering multiple nicknames for the purpose of "collecting" so others cannot use them, or to use them for "squatting" (filling up a channel with idle nicknames).
• Registering an excessive number of channels that you are unable to properly administrate, or for the primary purpose of preventing others from registering them, or for trying to cover every possible permutation of a subject, place, or interest. This will be dealt with at the discretion of the network administrators.

This network has a variety of "public" channels administered by network operators. We also allow chatters to open their own "private" channels which they are allowed to moderate themselves and which may be run as restricted access channels or may be open to all network users.

A. Network Channels

• Swearing: As long as it is not in any way abusive or unnecessarily excessive but is innocent in use, it will be allowed in the rooms. However, if deemed abusive to any user in the room, you will be warned and possibly kicked and/or banned.
• Mimic Scripts: "Mimic" scripts or similar behavior is prohibited in Network-administered channels. Mimic scripts are scripts that repeat the same lines that another chatter posts and are considered channel disruption.
• Automated Messages: Please do not use automated messages in the main channels to greet or respond to other chatters or to open a private (query) window with another chatter.

B. Private Channels

• Channel Owner Rules: Private channel owners can set their own rules for their channels, as long as they do not violate the network rules, including who they choose to allow or not allow into their channels.
• Reporting Issues: If users report being subjected to overt racism, or being threatened or abused by Ops in a Private channel, we do look into such complaints and may question the channel owner.
• Moderation: Network ChanOps do not operate/moderate users' channels. It is the channel owner's responsibility to handle issues in their "private" channel.
• Invitations: While you may invite your friends to your private room, please do not "mass invite" or send repeated invitations to the same person, and please do not repeatedly post invitations in our Network Channels or other rooms. Please be considerate of others.
• Advertising: Please do not "advertise" your private channel in other rooms. Sometimes if you ask the moderator, they may allow you to post one announcement in the channel to introduce your room. Just don't keep repeating it or the moderator may consider it as a disruption.

Clones are defined as multiple connections at the same time by the same user. Clones can be on the same IP or a separate IP, but they are "owned" by the same user. Multiple different users sharing an IP due to proximity (being at a cybercafe or living in the same household, for example) are NOT generally considered to be clones.

• All clones are subject to the rules of this network and will not be accorded any special privileges.
• Clones are generally discouraged, but having a single clone or second connection may be permitted.
• Limit: NickServ allows up to three connections, in case of a disconnect. However, if an IP tries to make more than 3 connections at the same time, the server will network ban all connections on that IP.

What one person may feel is harassment, another may see as only teasing, but the determination is usually up to the channel operator/moderator on duty.

Behavior that cannot be dealt with reasonably with the use of ignore commands, behavior that affects multiple chatters in the room, and behavior that is obviously intended to pester, annoy, insult, or disrupt the general flow of activity in the room—whether it is directed at another user/chatter or whether it is directed at the operators/moderators—is usually dealt with as harassment.

This also includes:

• Impersonating staff or other chatters
• Posting people's contact and private info into the channels

Most Quit messages are generally allowed on this network.

• However, if used to post comments that would otherwise violate the AUP if posted in a normal chat situation, any active Ops Team Member can take action, which may include setting an extended ban on the abusive chatter, or blocking all Quit messages for a time.
• Please do not use Quit messages to harass, insult, or post disgusting or rude messages to the network.

ICQ Chat Network does allow chatter-owned bots, as long as they and their owners comply with our Bot Policy. The following rules apply:

• Compliance: Bots must act in accordance with the Acceptable Use Policy, the same as any other user. They can be warned, kicked, and banned if they violate any rules.
• Registration: Both the bot AND the owner must be registered with NickServ. The bot must have a separate account registered with a valid email address.
• Owner Presence: The bot owner must be present in the channel if the bot is in a Public Network Channel.
• Identification: It must be obvious who the owner of the bot is.
• Contactability: The bot owner must be contactable and must respond promptly to network admins.
• Purpose: Every bot must serve a purpose. A bot with no function is considered a filler and is prohibited.
• Limit: No more than FIVE (5) bots in private channels, except for Approved channel bots channels.
• Restricted Areas: Bots are prohibited in network game rooms such as Uno or Trivia rooms.
• Bans: Bans set on a bot's owner (such as Ban On Site) also apply to the bot until the ban expires.

If you allow your child who is 15 or older to use our services, you are agreeing to the Acceptable Use Policy on their behalf as well.

When necessary, these rules and restrictions may be enforced across all of the services we offer, including these message forums, our gallery pages, our helpdesk systems, and any other services we offer now or in the future.

• Violations: May be dealt with in a variety of ways, ranging from warnings up to and including a ban from the network.
• Moderator Discretion: The Moderators (ChanOps, BotOps, or IrcOps/Admins) usually give warnings if you are in danger of violating a channel or network rule, or if you have violated a rule—unless it is of some nature that it is deemed necessary to immediately remove you, OR IF YOU HAVE BEEN REPEATEDLY WARNED IN THE PAST FOR THE SAME OR SIMILAR BEHAVIOR.
• Pay Attention: Please pay attention to Moderators' warnings, whether they just ask you nicely or whether they give you an "official" warning.
• Right to Moderate: While we have the right, but not the obligation, to monitor and moderate the chat rooms and other services here, this is an open network. ICQ Chat Network is not responsible for the content that passes through its servers. This includes, but is not limited to, content and links posted by the users of these services.

If you have a complaint or issue, here's how to get help:

• Visit #Help: Visit the #help channel on the network. There is almost always an active op, Bot Op, or Admin available to assist you.
• Submit a Ticket: Contact the helpdesk at https://www.icqchatting.com/help. Simply open a ticket, and we will reply to you within 24 hours.
• Complaints About Moderators: If your complaint is regarding a Moderator, contact the Chanops Lead or the Chanops Lead Back up. You MUST ensure you have logs to back up your complaint—genuine logs are essential.

This is our Acceptable Use Policy. It is our set of GENERAL guidelines for acceptable use of these services.

• Changes: The particular Rules may change from time to time as the network evolves and as circumstances change.
• Channel Variations: Some channels may be under different particular rules than other channels, depending on whether they are Network-administered channels or Privately-administered channels, whether they are channels geared towards teenagers or our older adult users, etc.
• Updates: We keep updating the ICQ Chat Network Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) to clarify our AUP and provide transparency to our users, as it may be updated at any time.