CryptIRC Network Policy

Last revised 30 April 2008

AGREEMENT, BINDING EFFECT, REMEDIES, COUNTERPARTS

• Your use of the CryptIRC network (the "Network") constitutes your agreement to be bound and abide by the following policies and rules.
• If you do not agree to the rules and policies set forth within this document, your sole remedy shall be to discontinue use of the Network.
• This document is supplemented by channel-specific policy documents posted at http://policy.cryptirc.net/.

CHANOP RESPONSIBILITY

• Enforcement of the following rules should primarily be the concern of channel operators, except in cases where channel operators cannot be reasonably expected to enforce such rules.
• Chanops may request IRCop assistance at any time in enforcing channel or network policy.
• IRCops may choose to enforce the following rules at any time.

IRCOP RESPONSIBILITY AND ACCESS

• IRCops, in general, shall only enforce channel policy if requested to do so by channel operators. IRCops may, however, choose to enforce channel policy should it be reasonably determined that such enforcement by channel operators is ineffective at maintaining general network health, or if channel policy is not being enforced by channel management.
• IRCops may access any channel if the IRCop has reasonable belief that such access is necessary to enforce network policy.
• IRCops shall not have permanent channel operator status unless such status is explicitly granted by the channel founder. However, IRCops may temporarily give themselves channel operator status if necessary to enforce channel or network policy.
• Users are encouraged to report any abusive behavior by an IRCop to another IRCop. If CryptIRC determines that the IRCop is acting abusively and in violation of channel and/or network policy, CryptIRC may choose to strip the IRCop of his or her status.

ANONYMITY AND PERSONAL INFORMATION

• Users' identities will remain anonymous only to other users, and not to IRCops.
• Users are strongly encouraged to register their nicknames with NickServ. E-mail address collection is optional.
• The CryptIRC network will keep no logs of channel activity, private messages, and any other personal communication, except as permissible below.
• The CryptIRC network will keep logs of the following for a limited period of time given that such information may be necessary to make decisions to protect the health of the network:
• IP address / hostname from which the user connects to the network
• Nicknames associated with the above IP addresses
• Failed authentication attempts for a registered nick
• Reason for disconnection (quit message, reason for kick or kill, etc)
• CryptIRC cannot prevent and thus makes no claim or guarantee of any sort regarding individual users logging channel activity.
• If a user is banned from the network, CryptIRC will maintain sufficient logs to justify the ban, and such logs will be used in any future reconsideration of the ban.
• IRCops will not reveal users' personal information to any user under any circumstances.
• IRCops may only use and access users' personal information to enforce network policy and ensure the health of the network.
• In the event of legal action against CryptIRC and/or its users, CryptIRC will make reasonable efforts to comply with such actions. CryptIRC offers no guarantee or warranty of any kind of anonymity or protection from any party, and thus encourages users to take whichever precautionary actions they deem necessary to protect their anonymity and identity.

CHANNEL POLICY

• Formalized written channel policy is strongly encouraged for channels of reasonable size. Such policy should be made available to users and to CryptIRC, and should be enforced consistently. The presence of such policy, along with reasonable and consistent enforcement by channel management, will result in a more stable channel and a more enjoyable experience for all involved.
• Copies of all channel policies filed with CryptIRC shall be made available on the CryptIRC website.
• CryptIRC shall provide a sample channel policy, and reserves the right to suggest changes to individual channel policies as submitted to CryptIRC.
• In the event that IRCops are called upon to assist in managing a channel, IRCops will use the channel policy on file with CryptIRC in determining appropriate action. Should no such policy exist on file with CryptIRC, the CryptIRC sample channel policy shall be used by the IRCop in lieu of channel-specific policy in determining appropriate action.
• Channels should be registered with chanserv.
• Channel founders shall be primarily responsible for individual channel policy, selecting channel operators, and so on.
• Should channel management vacate the network, CryptIRC may manage the channel and/or appoint new channel management at its discretion.
• Channel founders and operators are to be aware of network policy, and are strongly encouraged to notify IRCops of any potential trouble.
• In the event of any major disruptive activity, channel founders and delegated operators may be held responsible for failure to enforce channel policy or notify IRCops if such failure causes disruption of the network.
• In the event that CryptIRC determines that a channel is attracting an unusually disruptive userbase, CryptIRC may request that the channel founder and delegated operators make an effort to control their users' behavior. Should such action by the channel management provide unsatisfactory results, CryptIRC may request and enforce the removal of the channel and its userbase from the network.
• Users are encouraged to report any abusive behavior by a channel operator to the channel founder and to an IRCop. If CryptIRC determines that the channel operator is acting abusively and in violation of channel and/or network policy, CryptIRC may choose to strip the channel operator of his or her status.

NETWORK HEALTH

• Users shall not use the network in a manner disruptive to other users.
• Users may be blacklisted for any of the following:
• Excessive channel or network flooding
• Channel ban evasion
• Harassment of other users
• Impersonating other users
• Revealing other users' personal information ("dropping docs")
• Forcibly disconnecting other users from the network
• Excessive nick changes
• Excessive simultaneous connections
• Other abuse as determined by the IRCops

ENFORCEMENT POLICY

• Policy in this section shall be followed when reasonably possible. However, in egregious situations, IRCops may act under their own discretion, and CryptIRC shall review such decisions and actions within a reasonable time frame.
• Any action by individual IRCops shall be reviewed by CryptIRC and will not be permanently enforced until a majority of available IRCops agree on such enforcement.
• IRCops shall consult users with regard to behavior in violation of network policy and give such users a reasonable opportunity to rectify such behavior.
• If the user fails to rectify bahavior in violation of network policy, available IRCops shall consult with each other and may decide to blacklist or otherwise reprimand the user in question.
• CryptIRC shall make a reasonable attempt to inform users of the exact nature of any action taken against them.