Discussion Board Registration Agreement August 2005

1. Purpose

• 1.1 The purpose of the MS Society discussion system is to provide a safe forum for people affected by multiple sclerosis (MS) to share experiences and help each other cope with the challenges of living with MS.
• 1.2 The MS Society does not, nor could it be expected to, pre-check the content posted via the discussion system and, as such, does not guarantee and makes no representations as to the accuracy, integrity timeliness or quality of such content.
• 1.3 The discussion system, and website in general, is not a substitute to professional advice. You should consult your doctor, or other relevant professional, before making any decisions that could affect you or others.

2. Conduct of users

• 2.1 Participation in, and use of, all areas of the site is at the user's own risk.
• 2.2 All views and information, whether publicly posted or privately transmitted are individual and not the views, policy or advice of the MS Society. You understand and acknowledge that content is the sole responsibility of the person from which such content originated.
• 2.3 Any reference to third party organisations, their product/s or service/s does not imply endorsement by the MS Society. The MS Society aims to remove such references but has no obligation to do this.
• 2.4 The use of the message boards for gathering information for surveys and research studies, or similar, is prohibited unless prior permission has been given by the MS Society.
• 2.5 In accordance with the Home Office good practice guide for child protection on the internet, users of this system must be 16 or over, or supervised by an adult if younger than 16.
• 2.6 You agree not to participate in mischievous or malicious behaviour which causes damage or may cause damage to the MS Society or this site or any of the computer systems on which this site resides.
• 2.7 By using this site you agree to these terms and conditions. If you do not agree to these terms and conditions the MS Society reserves the right to prohibit you from using the site.

3. Postings and messages

• 3.1 Content that is posted to the MS Society discussion system or otherwise included in its private messaging systems, including your choice of public name or id, must follow these conditions. v3.2 Messages must not be obscene, defamatory or libellous, vulgar, sexually orientated, hateful, threatening, or in violation of any laws or good morals and practice. You hereby undertake to indemnify and hold harmless the MS Society against all costs and expenses from any such actions by you.
• 3.3 Messages containing contact details (web addresses, emails, phone numbers, fax numbers or postal addresses) are not allowed except with the prior written consent of the MS Society.
• 3.4 Messages must not contain advertisements or references to products or services except with the prior written consent of the MS Society.
• 3.5 Messages must not be excessively repeated intentionally.
• 3.6 Messages must not infringe or violate another party's rights (including, but not limited to, intellectual property rights, and rights of privacy and publicity).
• 3.7 By submitting information to the discussion boards, you grant the MS Society a non-exclusive worldwide royalty-free perpetual non-revocable licence to use, distribute, adapt, modify, display, reproduce and transmit such information in any and all media in the manner in whole or in part without any duty to account to you. You also grant the MS Society the right to grant licences to users of the Website to view and copy such information for personal use.
• 3.8 The MS Society may from time to time edit or remove posts that are contrary to these terms and conditions or not constructive to the overall purpose and mission of the MS Society or create a distraction to that purpose and mission.
• 3.9 You agree not to transmit any chain letters, spam, or junk messages to other users.
• 3.10 You must not send unsolicited messages for the purpose of 'advertising' a product or service.
• 3.11 You agree to respect the privacy and wishes of those users who you have been privately messaging. You must not pass on details to third parties (except the MS Society) without permission.
• 3.12 By sending or receiving a private message you consent to them being viewed by the MS Society where the MS Society have been notified of a problem or a breach of these terms and conditions.

4. Moderation and Banning

• 4.1 The MS Society has the right, but no obligation, to remove, edit, move or close any message or group of messages for any reason.
• 4.2 The MS Society are not obliged to enter into any correspondence regarding the moderation of content on the MS Society website and discussion system.
• 4.3 The MS Society has the right to modify or delete any or all information relating to a user, including deletion of that user's account, without prior notice or reason.
• 4.4 Any removal or banning of a visitor from anywhere within the MS Society website is binding and the decision is final, and no correspondence will be entered into nor will the MS Society be obliged to explain such banning.
• 4.5 In cases of dispute, the decision of the Chief Executive of the MS Society shall be final.

5. Privacy and Data Protection

• 5.1 We do not collect any personal information about you, unless you choose to provide it. We will never share this information with a third party, or advertiser, except where you have given permission.
• 5.2 Cookies are used to assist the functionality of the website only, personal data is not collected via cookies.
• 5.3 From time to time the MS Society may contact you for administration purposes.

6. Notice

• 6.1 Where a breach of these terms and conditions occurs the MS Society reserves the right to take such action as it sees fit.
• 6.2 When you link to other organisations via the MS Society website, you then are subject to the rules and privacy laws of that organisations' site.
• 6.3 This agreement shall be governed in accordance with the laws of England.
• 6.4 The terms and conditions of this agreement are subject to change by the MS Society at any time, the MS Society will aim to make users aware of any significant changes. Any user's use of this site following changes shall indicate the user's acceptance of the new agreement.

7. Exclusion of liability

• 7.1 The MS Society hereby excludes all and any losses, liabilities, claims, damages, expenses or costs (whether as a consequence of its negligence or otherwise) arising in connection with:
  • your use or inability to use the Site;
  • any unauthorised access to or alterations of information provided by you;
  • your use of any third party websites (including without limitation those that may be connected by hyperlink to the Site);
  • any arrangements entered into with any third party in connection with any information provided by or in connection with the Site;
  • the inaccuracy, incompleteness or tardiness of any information supplied through the service
  other than, in each case, any liability in respect of death or personal injury.

8. Definitions

• 8.1 "this site" refers to all Internet pages in the mssociety.org.uk domain;
• 8.2 "MS Society" includes to any person or organisation involved in any part of the design, development, response-handling, marketing, promotion or other similar aspects of this site;
• 8.3 "user" refers to any person viewing or interacting with this site, including "you";
• 8.4 "content" refers to any text, photograph or other image presented on this site to users by either the MS Society or users.