PRSA BLOG POLICY TERMS OF USE (TOU)

Welcome to the PRSA professional development (PD) Blog.  The Terms of Use for all PRSA Blogs encourages prudent use of PRSA Blogs, and applies to all users of PRSA Blogs.  Accordingly, please read the following TOU carefully.  When you access and/or use PRSA Blogs, you acknowledge that you have agreed to abide and be bound by the terms and conditions of this TOU.  Please also note that the Public Relations Society of America (”PRSA”) reserves the right to change the PRSA Blog and/or the terms and conditions of this TOU.  Your continued use of the PRSA Blog following any change will be conclusively deemed acceptance of any change to the PRSA Blog and/or to this TOU.  Please review this TOU on a periodic basis.

  1.  RESPONSIBILITY FOR USE.  At all times, you agree to conduct your on-line activities on the PRSA Blog in a professional, responsible, and business-like manner and in accordance with this TOU.  Violation of this TOU may, in addition to breaching the terms of this TOU, entitle PRSA to additional legal remedies.
  2. USER OBLIGATIONS.  By installing, accessing, or using the PRSA Blog, you represent that you are at least eighteen (18) years of age and will, at all times, provide true, accurate, current, and complete information when submitting information or materials on the PRSA Blog.  If you provide any false, inaccurate, untrue, or incomplete information, PRSA reserves the right to terminate your access and use of the PRSA Blog and/or to remove any of your Postings (as defined below) to the PRSA Blog.  In addition, you agree to abide by all applicable local, state, national, and international laws and regulations with respect to your use of the PRSA Blog.  You also acknowledge and agree that use of the Internet and the PRSA Blog are solely at your own risk.  Accordingly, you should understand that the confidentiality of any communication or material transmitted to/from the PRSA Blog over the Internet or other global communication network cannot be guaranteed.  Accordingly, PRSA is not responsible for the security of any information transmitted via the Internet, the accuracy of the information contained on the PRSA Blog, or for the consequences of any reliance on such information.  You must make your own determination as to these issues.
  3. RIGHT TO USE.  The PRSA Blog is provided by PRSA as a resource for you and to further the purposes of PRSA.  Access to and use of the PRSA Blog is therefore limited to discussing matters related to or arising out of the public relations, communications, and marketing industries/professions. You may print and download materials and information from this Site solely in connection with your employment responsibilities and/or for personal use, provided that all hard copies contain all copyright and other applicable notices contained in such materials and information.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, you may not modify, distribute, publish, remove or alter any proprietary notices or labels, transfer, exploit, or otherwise use in any manner not expressly permitted herein the PRSA Blog. 
  4. PROPRIETARY RIGHTS.  All text, graphics, user interfaces, visual interfaces, photographs, sounds, artwork, computer code (including html code), programs, software, products, information, and documentation as well as the design, structure, selection, coordination, expression, “look and feel,” and arrangement of any content contained on or available through the PRSA Blog, unless otherwise indicated, are owned, controlled, and licensed by PRSA and are protected by law including, but not limited to, United States copyright, trade secret, patent, and trademark law, as well as other state, national, and international laws and regulations.  Except as expressly provided herein, PRSA does not grant any express or implied right to you or any other person under any intellectual or proprietary rights.  This Site is Copyright © 2007-2008 [PRSA].  All rights reserved.  PRSA also owns a copyright in the contents of the PRSA Blog as collective work and/or compilation and in the selection, coordination, arrangement, and enhancement of the content of this Site.  Any downloadable or printable programs, information, or materials available through this Site and all copyrights, trade secrets, and know-how related thereto, unless otherwise indicated, are owned by [PRSA].  [PRSA], [ANY OTHER PROMINENT TRADEMARKS TO IDENTIFY] and all other names, logos, and icons identifying PRSA and its programs, products, and services are proprietary trademarks of PRSA, and any use of such marks without the express written permission of PRSA is strictly prohibited. 
  5. ENFORCING SECURITY.  You should be aware that the PRSA Blog is a resource of PRSA.  You therefore have no proprietary interest and no reasonable expectation of privacy while using the PRSA Blog.  PRSA considers electronic transmissions and communications made through the PRSA Blog as PRSA’s own records, and PRSA may therefore obtain access to, intercept, disclose, and review those transmissions at any time.  Moreover, actual or attempted unauthorized use of the PRSA Blog may violate PRSA’s employment policies and/or result in criminal and/or civil prosecution, including, without limitation, punishment under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act of 1986.  PRSA also reserves the right to view, monitor, and record activity on the PRSA Blog without notice or permission from you.  Any information obtained by monitoring, reviewing, or recording is subject to review by law enforcement organizations in connection with investigation or prosecution of possible criminal activity on the PRSA Blog.  PRSA will also comply with all court orders involving requests for such information.  In addition to the foregoing, PRSA reserves the right to at any time, and without notice, to modify, suspend, terminate, or interrupt operation of or access to the PRSA Blog, or any portion of the PRSA Blog, for any reason.
  6. POSTINGS.  The PRSA Blog provides the opportunity to share knowledge and post other helpful or meaningful information.  By submitting content or information of any type (a “Posting”) to the PRSA Blog or by otherwise using the PRSA Blog to transmit or display a Posting, you automatically grant PRSA a royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable, non-exclusive right and license to use, reproduce, modify, publish, translate, create derivative works from, distribute, transmit, perform, and display such content or information (in whole or in part) worldwide and/or to incorporate into other works in any form, media, or technology now known or later developed for the full term of any rights that may exist in such content or information.  You also acknowledge that such submissions are non-confidential for all purposes.  Moreover, you agree that by using the PRSA Blog you will not post or transmit any of the following materials on the PRSA Blog:
  • anything, which interferes with or disrupts the PRSA Blog or the operation thereof;
  • statements or material that defames, harasses, abuses, stalks, threatens, or in any way infringes on the rights of others;
  • unauthorized copyrighted materials or any other material that infringes on the intellectual property rights, trade secrets, or privacy of another;
  • statements or material that violates other contractual or fiduciary rights, duties, or agreements
  • statements or material that encourages criminal conduct or that would give rise to civil liability or otherwise violates any law or regulation in any jurisdiction;
  • statements or material that contains vulgar, obscene, profane, or otherwise objectionable language or images that typically would not be considered socially or professionally responsible or appropriate in person;
  • statements or material that impersonates any other person or entity, whether actual or fictitious, including employees and representatives of PRSA;
  • anything that violates the privacy or publicity rights of any other person;
  • statements or material that are off-topic, irrelevant, or inappropriate for the purposes of the PRSA Blog;
  • statements or material that constitutes junk mail, spam, or unauthorized advertising or promotional materials; and
  • files that contain malicious code, viruses, corrupted files, or any other similar software or programs that may damage the operation of another’s computer, network, or this Site.

As the PRSA Blog is generally public, the user experience is enhanced if you follow these guidelines.  Please also use netiquette.  Please be succinct and stay on topic.  Please remember to respect others and their opinions.  PRSA encourages open and sincere communication, but urges all users to remember that PRSA Blog is intended to be a resource for all.

7. NO PRE-SCREENING OF POSTINGS.  PRSA is not responsible for screening, policing, editing, or monitoring your or another user’s Postings and encourages all of its users to use reasonable discretion and caution in evaluating or reviewing any Posting.  Moreover, and except as provided below with respect to PRSA’s right and ability to delete or remove a Posting (or any part thereof), PRSA does not endorse, oppose, or edit any opinion or information provided by you or another user and does not make any representation with respect to, nor does it endorse the accuracy, completeness, timeliness, or reliability of any advice, opinion, statement, or other material displayed, uploaded, or distributed by you or any other user.  Nevertheless, PRSA reserves the right to delete or take other action with respect to Postings (or parts thereof) that PRSA believes in good faith violate this TOU and/or are potentially unlawful, or are contrary to the stated purpose of the PRSA Blog.  If you violate this TOU, PRSA may, in its sole discretion, delete the unacceptable content from your Posting, remove or delete the Posting in its entirety, issue you a warning, and/or terminate your use of the PRSA Blog.  Moreover, it is a policy of PRSA to take appropriate actions under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act and other applicable intellectual property laws.  If you become aware of Postings that violate these rules regarding acceptable behavior or content, you may contact PRSA as identified below. 

8. LINKS TO OTHER SITES.  PRSA, in its sole discretion, or other end users may provide links to other sites on the World Wide Web for your convenience in locating related information, products, and services.  These sites have not necessarily been reviewed by PRSA and are maintained by third parties over which PRSA exercises no control.  Accordingly, PRSA expressly disclaims any responsibility for the content, the materials, the accuracy of the information, and/or quality of the products or services provided by, available through, or advertised on these third party web sites.  Moreover, these links do not imply an endorsement by PRSA with respect to any third party or any web site or the products or services provided by any third party.

9. DISCLAIMER.  THE PRSA BLOG IS PROVIDED ON AN “AS-IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE” BASIS AND MAY INCLUDE ERRORS, OMISSIONS, OR OTHER INACCURACIES.  MOREOVER, PRSA MAY MAKE MODIFICATIONS AND/OR CHANGES TO THE PRSA BLOG AT ANY TIME AND FOR ANY REASON.  PRSA MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES ABOUT THE SUITABILITY, COMPLETENESS, TIMELINESS, RELIABILTY, LEGALITY, OR ACCURACY OF THE PRSA BLOG OR ANY INFORMATION, SERVICES, PROGRAMS, PRODUCTS, AND MATERIALS IDENTIFIED OR DISCUSSED ON THE PRSA BLOG FOR ANY PURPOSE AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OR NON-INFRINGEMENT.

10. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY.  IN NO EVENT SHALL PRSA BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, PUNITIVE, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF OR IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH THE USE OF THE PRSA BLOG OR WITH THE DELAY OR INABILITY TO USE THE PRSA BLOG, OR FOR ANY INFORMATION, SERVICES, PROGRAMS, PRODUCTS, AND MATERIALS AVAILABLE THROUGH OR IDENTIFIED ON THE PRSA BLOG, WHETHER BASED IN CONTRACT, TORT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR OTHERWISE, EVEN IF YOU HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. 

11. GOVERNING LAW.  This TOU has been made in and will be construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York as applied to agreements entered into and completely performed in the State of New York.  A printed version of this TOU and of any related notice given in electronic form shall be admissible in judicial or administrative proceedings based upon or relating to this TOU to the same extent and subject to the same conditions as other business documents and records originally generated and maintained in printed form. 

12. CONTACT INFORMATION.  If you have questions regarding this TOU and/or the PRSA Blog, please contact jasu.sims@prsa.org.

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