The Bottlenose Rules
Our
goal is to provide a service that allows you to discover and receive content
from sources that interest you as well as to share your content with others. We
respect the ownership of the content that users share and each user is responsible
for the content he or she provides. Because of these principles, we do not
actively monitor user's content and will not censor user content, except in
limited circumstances described below.
Content
Boundaries and Use of Bottlenose
In
order to provide the Bottlenose service and the ability to communicate and stay
connected with others, there are some limitations on the type of content that
can be published with Bottlenose. These limitations comply with legal
requirements and make Bottlenose a better experience for all. We may need to
change these rules from time to time and reserve the right to do so. Please
check back here to see the latest.
- Impersonation: You may not impersonate others
through the Bottlenose service in a manner that does or is intended to
mislead, confuse, or deceive others
- Trademark: We reserve the right to reclaim
user names on behalf of businesses or individuals that hold legal claim or
trademark on those user names. Accounts using business names and/or logos
to mislead others will be permanently suspended.
- Privacy: You may not publish or post
other people's private and confidential information, such as credit card
numbers, street address or Social Security/National Identity numbers,
without their express authorization and permission.
- Violence and Threats: You may not publish or post
direct, specific threats of violence against others.
- Copyright: We will respond to clear and
complete notices of alleged copyright infringement. Our copyright procedures
are set forth in the Terms of Service.
- Unlawful Use: You may not use our service for
any unlawful purposes or in furtherance of illegal activities.
International users agree to comply with all local laws regarding online
conduct and acceptable content.
- Misuse of Bottlenose Badges: You may not use a Verified
Account badge or Promoted Products badge unless it is provided by Bottlenose.
Accounts using these badges as part of profile pictures, background
images, or in a way that falsely implies affiliation with Bottlenose will
be suspended.
Spam
and Abuse
Bottlenose
strives to protect its users from spam and abuse. Technical abuse and user
abuse is not tolerated on Bottlenose.com, and will result in permanent
suspension. Any accounts engaging in the activities specified below are subject
to permanent suspension.
- Serial Accounts: You may not create serial
accounts for disruptive or abusive purposes, or with overlapping use
cases. Mass account creation may result in suspension of all related
accounts. Please note that any violation of the Bottlenose Rules is cause
for permanent suspension of all accounts.
- Username Squatting: You may not engage in username
squatting. Accounts that are inactive for more than 6 months may also be
removed without further notice. Some of the factors that we take into
account when determining what conduct is considered to be username
squatting are:
- the number of accounts created
- creating accounts for the purpose of
preventing others from using those account names
- creating accounts for the purpose of
selling those accounts
- using feeds of third-party content to
update and maintain accounts under the names of those third parties
- Invitation spam: You may not use Bottlenose.com's address book contact import to send
repeat, mass invitations.
- Selling user names: Unless you have been specifically
permitted to do so in a separate agreement with Bottlenose, you agree that
you will not reproduce, duplicate, copy, sell, trade or resell the
Services for any purpose, where "Services" is defined as
follows: Your use of Bottlenose's products, services and web sites
(referred to collectively as the "Services" in this document and excluding
any services provided to you by Bottlenose under a separate written
agreement) is subject to the terms of a legal agreement between you and Bottlenose.
- Malware/Phishing: You may not publish or link to
malicious content intended to damage or disrupt another user's browser or
computer or to compromise a user's privacy.
- Spam: You may not use the Bottlenose
service for the purpose of spamming anyone. What constitutes "spamming"
will evolve as we respond to new tricks and tactics by spammers. Some of
the factors that we take into account when determining what conduct is
considered to be spamming are:
- If you have followed a large
amount of users in a short amount of time;
- If you have followed and unfollowed people in a short time period,
particularly by automated means (aggressive follower churn);
- If you repeatedly follow and unfollow people, whether to build followers or to
garner more attention for your profile;
- If you have a small number of
followers compared to the amount of people you are following;
- If your updates consist mainly of
links, and not personal updates;
- If you post misleading links;
- If a large number of people are
blocking you;
- The number of spam complaints
that have been filed against you;
- If you post duplicate content
over multiple accounts or multiple duplicate updates on one account;
- If you post multiple unrelated
updates to a topic using #;
- If you post multiple unrelated
updates to a trending or popular topic;
- If you send large numbers of
duplicate @replies or mentions;
- If you send large numbers of
unsolicited @replies or mentions in an attempt to spam a service or link;
- If you add a large number of
unrelated users to lists in an attempt to spam a service or link;
- If you repeatedly post other
users' messages as your own;
- If you have attempted to
"sell" followers, particularly through tactics considered
aggressive following or follower churn;
- Creating or purchasing accounts
in order to gain followers;
- Using or promoting third-party
sites that claim to get you more followers (such as follower trains,
sites promising "more followers fast," or any other site that
offers to automatically add followers to your account);
- Pornography: You may not use obscene or
pornographic images in either your profile picture or user background
Your
account may be suspended for Terms of Service violations if any of the above is
true. Accounts created to replace suspended accounts will be permanently
suspended.
Accounts
engaging in any of these behaviors may be investigated for abuse. Accounts
under investigation may be removed from Search for quality. Bottlenose reserves
the right to immediately terminate your account without further notice in the
event that, in its judgment, you violate these Rules or the Terms of Service.