Code of Conduct

As part of Microsoft's commitment to make MSN a great place to meet and interact with others around the world, you agree to abide by our code of conduct. Your commitment to these guidelines in all of your MSN activities ensures a positive experience for all participants. Specific groups, chats, and other services may have additional guidelines which govern your use, so 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. We reserve the right to terminate your access to any MSN communication service or delete content, without notice, found to be in violation of the code of conduct.

MSN communication services are general purpose web sites and are designed for non-commercial, individual members 13 years of age or older. While we have provided you with the ability to self-rate and categorize user-created areas of MSN communication services, Microsoft reserves the right to change the rating or re-categorize all user-created areas at will and without notice.

Some information you provide or upload to MSN communication services may be stored outside of the country in which you reside.

All activity on MSN (including all MSN.CA communication services) is also governed by the MSN terms of use.

Be a Good Neighbor

• Please treat all other online participants with respect and do not use MSN communication services to threaten, harass, stalk, or abuse other users.
• Microsoft reserves the right to remove user-created services and content that advocate or encourage expressions of violence, bigotry, racism, hatred, obscenity, or profanity.
• We encourage you to create your own interaction services, such as chats, groups, member profiles, etc. User-managers or Microsoft may, at will and without notice, remove postings or ban participants that are deemed objectionable or that violate this code of conduct.
• Impersonating a Microsoft employee, agent, manager, host, or another user is forbidden.
• Do not use MSN communication services 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. Spamming and scrolling in chat rooms are serious violations of online etiquette.
• MSN communication services may be used to provide supplemental information regarding your own business (provided you do not spam to provide this information); however, the communication services are not designed to be used as the primary mechanism for operating your business or providing core information about your business. Any use of the communication services for commercial purposes is solely at your own risk and Microsoft has no liability for such use.

Know the Law

• Microsoft does not allow behavior or content related to illegal activities. You cannot use MSN communication 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 MSN communications services for the purpose of linking 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 laws, rights of privacy or publicity, or any other applicable law unless you own or control the rights thereto or have received all necessary consents. Microsoft is not responsible for any use of material posted by users.
• 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.

Be Responsible

• Microsoft offers you the ability to create multiple communication services (e.g. chats, groups, member profiles, etc.). Microsoft takes no responsibility for the ratings, structure, or content in these areas. The creators or hosts of these user-created areas are required to agree to and uphold this code of conduct before creating their communication service and are liable for all activities and content. We encourage creators/managers to ban from their areas other members who frequently violate this code of conduct.
• MSN communication services are not designed as the primary place to store any materials; you are responsible for creating backups of materials you post to any communication service such as photos, documents and software. Microsoft is not responsible for loss of, access to, deletion, alteration, or restoration of any materials associated with a communication service.
• You are responsible for any actions you may take based on advice or information you receive online. Use your own judgment when evaluating information provided through any communication service, and remember that the information provided could be from people at any age and experience level. The decision to conduct transactions is your own and you should perform your own research prior to making any decisions.

Help Protect Your Children, Privacy and Property

• We caution you against giving out any personally identifiable information (such as social security number, credit card number, name, address, telephone number, driver's license number, password, etc.) online. This information can easily be used for illegal or harmful purposes.
• You are responsible for protecting your computer against interference or viruses that may be encountered on the Internet and MSN communication services. We do not screen, backup, or restore user-created material stored within MSN communication services. We recommend you install a virus protection program on your computer and keep it up to date.
• We encourage parents to join their children as they explore the Internet so that parents can be aware of and help exercise control over the material their children encounter, and to help make sure that their children do not post images of themselves, school records, or any other identifying information that could be used in a harmful manner.

Thanks for following this code of conduct and joining MSN communication services! We reserve the right to amend or change the code of conduct at any time and encourage you to periodically review these guidelines to ensure you are in compliance.

Updated: September 2001