A. INTRODUCTION
Welcome to an IFT listserv. In order to provide a responsible service, IFT requires that each person who wishes to avail himself or herself of this service agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. Your continued access to this listserv is conditioned on your continuing to abide by these policies and procedures, by the terms and rules of membership of IFT, and by the IFT Code of Professional Conduct.
If you have any questions about any part of the contract, please let us know. You may reach us as at info@ift.org.
B. LISTSERV POLICIES & PROCEDURES
In order to keep its listservs professional, valuable, and useful for all subscribers, IFT has established policies and procedures. The policies and procedures are as follows:
Please respect other subscribers of the listserv. Please feel free to express yourself, but do not do anything to injure or harm other individuals, organizations, or corporations. Subscribers are expected to exercise both common sense and courtesy in the messages they transmit over the listserv. Please do not use the listserv to defame or disparage a member of IFT or any other person. Defamatory, harassing, sexist, racist, obscene, and other offensive communications are not acceptable forms of communication over the listserv, and could lead to legal liability for those engaging in such improper communications. In particular, if you dislike someone else's ideas, you can attack the ideas, but not the person. Please do not challenge or attack the opinions or information presented by others by "flaming". If you have a differing opinion, please express yourself in a professional manner. Please maintain a civil tone on this listserv at all times.
Do not misrepresent yourself, or in any other way conceal your identity, or post anonymous messages on the listserv.
Do not alter the content, or source of a message that has originated from another person’s computer with the intent to deceive.
Do not use our listserv for conducting any private business or commercial activity without the expressed or written permission of IFT. Commercial activities include, but are not limited to, promotional announcements, product-related press releases, ingredient information, advertising. Should such messages appear on the listserv, IFT will not be held liable either directly or indirectly for damages that result from the use of this information. Such messages should immediately be brought to the attention of IFT.
Do not use our listserv for anything that might be illegal. This listserv may not be used for anything to do with illegal drugs, gambling, pornography, prostitution, child pornography, robbery, spreading computer viruses, cracking into private computer forums, software infringement, trafficking in credit card codes, or other crimes.
Do not use our listserv to communicate with competitors about prices, terms of service or otherwise communicate in a way that may violate the antitrust laws. Listserv communications constitute an ongoing "meeting" of participants; such meetings may involve competitors. The same rules against illegal agreements in restraint of trade that apply at members' meetings also apply to listserv communications. In fact, since listserv communications may be downloaded without the knowledge of the sender(s), users should be both fully informed about the rules of antitrust law regarding communication and agreements among competitors, and act on the listserv in strict conformity with those rules.
Please ensure that the messages you post to this list are appropriate for this list. Please do not engage in discussions on whether a topic is appropriate or inappropriate for this list. Such discussions take up valuable space on the listserv, and distract subscribers away from more meaningful discussions. If inappropriate postings or violations of the listserv are noticed, subscribers should not inform the entire group, but should bring this information to the attention of the listserv administrator.
Do not upload or distribute files subject to trademark, copyright, or other proprietary rights except with the express consent of the owner of the rights (Note that material may be copyrighted even if no copyright notice or "©" symbol appears).
Do not send or propagate messages that contain computer worms, viruses, or components that threaten to interfere with or compromise the integrity of our computer systems, networks or websites. Respect the security of our web site. Do not try to gain access to web site areas private to us, or to other subscribers.
Please use descriptive headings for all messages that you post to the listserv. Please attach at the end of your messages a standard identifier comprising a few lines that identifies you, your affiliation, and appropriate contact numbers (phone, fax, e-mail addresses). Please do not include drawings, pictures, maps, graphics, etc. in the identifier lines since these materials may not be compatible on all systems.
When asking questions please request that individuals reply directly to you. After all the replies have been gathered, you may post a summary to the list. When replying to messages, do not reply to the entire list if a reply is directed at a single individual. Replying to the individual may be more appropriate. Replies of a personal nature should not be sent to the group.
The listserv may not be used to violate any rules of membership in IFT, IFT bylaws, rules and regulations or standards of IFT.
IFT reserves the right to modify or change the rules as it determines from time-to-time in the best interests of IFT
C. MONITORING & ENFORCEMENT
The listserv must be used for business purposes only and in accordance with IFT’s policies and procedures. The listserv is subject to periodic audit and monitoring by IFT staff members and authorized contractors for business and security purposes. IFT may remove members from the listserv for violating this agreement. Such violations may also result in termination of IFT membership.
D. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY & INDEMNITY
The great danger for us, and for all operators of online listservs, is that we might be held accountable for the wrongful actions of our subscribers.
We did not start this listserv to take responsibility for others' actions, and we cannot afford to operate it if we must take that responsibility. Accordingly, all subscribers must accept responsibility for their own acts, and to accept that an act by another subscriber that damages them must not be blamed on us, but on the other subscriber. Therefore, as a condition of participation in the listserv, participants must agree as follows:
You agree that IFT will not be responsible to you for any indirect, consequential, special or punitive damages or losses you may incur in connection with our listserv or any of the data or other materials transmitted through or residing on our listserv, even if IFT has been advised of the possibility of such damage or loss. In addition, you agree to defend and indemnify IFT, its officers, directors, employees, and agents and hold IFT, its officers, directors, employees, and agents harmless from and against any and all claims, proceedings damages, injuries, liabilities losses, costs and expenses (including attorneys fees) relating to any acts or omissions by you or materials or information transmitted by you in connection with our listserv leading wholly or partially to claims against IFT, its officers, directors, employees, or agents or our listserv by other users or third parties.
E. CHOICE OF LAW
Our listserv can be reached by subscribers from all fifty states, and around the world. Each of these places has a different set of laws. Since we cannot keep track of all these laws and their requirements, you agree that the law of our own state and country, the State of Illinois in the United States of America will apply to all matters relating to this Agreement and to our listserv. In addition, you agree and consent that if there is ever any legal action against IFT, the state and federal courts of Cook County, Illinois, USA, will have exclusive jurisdiction and be the exclusive venue for any such legal actions.
F. GENERAL
This agreement is the entire understanding between you and IFT regarding your relationship to our listserv. If either you or we fail to notify the other of any violations of this agreement, this will not mean that you or we cannot notify the other of future violations of any part of this agreement.
G. USER ACKNOWLEDGMENT ACCEPTANCE
I have read and understand the listserv rules and agree to accept these rules and to use the listserv only in compliance with them.
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