Windows Experts Community Code of Conduct
Updated 2.9.2011
The Windows Experts Community is a collection of forums designed to facilitate discussion, dialogue and interaction among enthusiasts, experts and consumers. We encourage freedom of expression and the open exchange of information and ideas about Windows and related Microsoft products and technologies, and seek to ensure a friendly atmosphere to forum members and visitors to The Windows Experts Community, while protecting the privacy of our members and of others. Please remember to have fun and play nice with the other kids on the playground.
As part of Microsoft's commitment to making this site a great place to discover and share information as well as meet and interact with others around the world, you agree to abide by our Code of Conduct. Your commitment to this Code of Conduct in all , forums, communities, and/or other message or communication facilities (including any contents of any of these services or facilities) designed to enable you to communicate with the public at large or with a group will help to ensure a positive experience for all our users.
Specific forums, threads or areas of the site may also have additional guidelines which govern your use, so please be sure to review them in addition to this Code of Conduct. Microsoft is not responsible for the content or activities in any user-created, non-Microsoft managed Communication Service.
All activity on this site is also governed by the Microsoft Terms of Use. To read the Microsoft Terms of Use, please click here.
Uphold the Code
In helping to make our collaborative services a great place to meet, chat and share knowledge, you must do your part to uphold this Code of Conduct. We encourage members to report abuse or violations of the Code of Conduct to us.
Microsoft also reserves our right to amend or change the Code of Conduct at any time without notice. You agree to periodically review this document to ensure you are doing your part.
Microsoft is not obligated to send users or hosts a warning before deleting any content.
Respect Others
We encourage everyone to treat each other with mutual respect. Do not use the forums to threaten, harass, stalk, or abuse others participating in these services. Microsoft reserves the right to remove posts that advocate or encourage expressions of violence, bigotry, racism, hatred, or profanity.
Don’t threaten, bully, intimidate, or stalk other members. When you disagree, please state your disagreement respectfully, and do not make personal comments or attacks upon the member(s) with whom you disagree. This includes name calling and using profanity.
These forums draw in a wide range of users from a wide variety of backgrounds. Please have patience and respect for users of all levels; seek to help those who are new, or participating in a second language.
Microsoft may remove postings that are deemed inappropriate, offensive or that violate guidelines or this Code of Conduct. Microsoft may also, at its sole discretion, eject or ban any user from their area who behaves in a manner deemed inappropriate, offensive or who violates guidelines or this Code of Conduct.
Don’t impersonate or harass Microsoft employees, moderators, or staff members.
Keep It Legal
Microsoft does not allow any illegal activities. You may not use any forums to publish post, distribute, or disseminate defamatory, infringing, obscene, or any other unlawful material or information, specifically, but not limited to pornography, illegal drugs, software license keys and harassment.
Don’t distribute, post, publish, upload, display, or link to any content (including images, audio, video, software, messages, or text) that is, or could be considered to be, defamatory, obscene, derogatory, inflammatory, malicious, fraudulent, deceptive, or unlawful.
Do not post links to external sites that violate this Code of Conduct.
Do not upload files or post messages that contain photos, music, software or other material protected by intellectual property such as copyrights and trademarks, trade secrets, rights of privacy or publicity or any other applicable law unless you own or control the rights thereto or have received all necessary consents. Do not link to third party websites that contain infringing materials.
Don’t post user names and passwords that facilitate, enable, encourage, or advocate illegal copying or unauthorized distribution of third-party copyrighted material or any other illegal activity.
Don’t post discussions about circumventing or defeating any technical copyright protections such as DRM.
Microsoft is not responsible for any use of anything you say or post.
Do not post any materials (including software and other information) that could harm (or is designed to harm) other users' computers 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.
Be Nice
Microsoft does not tolerate disruptive activity online, such as persistent off-topic comments and postings or statements that incite others to violate this Code of Conduct or participate in illegal activities. Our participants want to chat and post on our collaborative services in a positive environment.
Microsoft does not allow the posting of destructive features, use of computer programs that contain such features, or access to any content that contains destructive features such as: viruses, worms, Trojan horses, or bots for the use of scrolling, showing multiple screens, and other activities that may be disruptive to online communication.
Falsely impersonating a Microsoft employee, agent, manager, host, or any other person is forbidden.
Microsoft reserves the right to ban a user at any time for not being nice.
Don't Spam
Please don't "spam" through our forums, none of our users like it. To spam includes sending identical and irrelevant submissions to many different discussion groups, mailing lists, chats or communities. Usually such postings have nothing to do with the particular topic of the group or are of no real interest to those on the mailing list. To spam also includes misrepresenting the source of anything you say or post. Spamming and scrolling in chat rooms are serious violations of online etiquette.
Spam includes, but is not limited to, the following:
- Excessive off-topic threads
- Nonsensical messages
- Flooding the forum with similar-meaning messages
- Post-count farming
- Unsolicited advertising via private message or e-mail
- Messages without content
- Repeated posting with constant referrals to other websites for no purpose other than the promotion of that website
- Fraudulent activity (pyramid schemes, chain letters, etc.)
- Microsoft reserves the right to ban a user at any time, without notice, from any or all collaborative services for spamming.
Take It Personally and No Commercial Activities
The forums may be used to provide supplemental information regarding your own business (provided you do not use spam to provide this information); however, the forums are not designed to be used as the primary mechanism for operating your business or providing core information about your business. Any use of our forums for commercial purposes is solely at your own risk and Microsoft has no liability for such use.
Accept Responsibility
You are responsible and liable for all your activities while participating in any collaborative services area. Remember, you are responsible for anything you say or post and for protecting your own computer system. You are responsible for protecting your computer against interference or viruses that may be encountered on this site or on the Internet. We recommend you install a virus protection program on your computer.
Microsoft reserves the right to remove at any time, without notice, any content posted to the Windows Experts Community.
Some members may post Internet website links in places such as their profile information, a forum or Wiki entry. Please be advised that Microsoft is not responsible for the content on the websites associated with the links you may view.
Some content and links on the Internet may contain adult content and may not be suitable for children. We encourage parents to join their children as they surf and explore the Internet.
You are responsible for any actions you may take based on advice or information you receive online. Use your own good judgment when evaluating information provided through our forums, remember that the information provided could be from people at any age and experience level.
Protect Your Privacy
We caution you against giving out personally identifiable information (such as social security numbers, credit card numbers, names and addresses, telephone numbers, driver license numbers) to strangers online, which may be used for illegal or harmful purposes.
Don’t give out the personal information of other members.
Don’t attempt to solicit, or collect personally identifiable information of any minor (anyone under 18 years old), including, but not limited to: name, email address, home address, phone number, or the name of their school.
Some personal information you provide to Microsoft may be stored outside of the country in which you reside.
To read the Microsoft Privacy Statement, please see the Privacy Statement relating to the collection and use of your information
TERMINATION AND CANCELLATION
Microsoft reserves the right to immediately terminate or suspend a user for violations. Upon receipt of a complaint that your post contains or links to infringing materials, Microsoft will remove access to the material claimed to be infringing, and Microsoft enforces a policy that provides for the termination in appropriate circumstances of the accounts of subscribers who are repeat infringers.
If you violate this Code of Conduct or the Terms of Service, action may be taken against your account.
If we are notified that you have posted inappropriate content of any kind, it will be removed, and your account may be suspended or terminated. Microsoft is not obligated to send you a warning before these actions occur. Microsoft is not obligated to monitor every post, but we have the right to remove any post or take action against any user.
Microsoft reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to review and remove user-created services and content at will and without notice, and delete postings or ban participants that are deemed objectionable.
If you have questions about this code of conduct, please contact wexperts@microsoft.com.