JANET : Acceptable Usage Policy, (AUP), for the Robert Gordon University
- The University is a legitimate User Organisation of the Joint Academic Network, (JANET) paying annual charges for the services. It uses the JANET network in the support of teaching, learning and research and to interwork with other User Organisations and others attached to JANET and to other networks reachable via interworking agreements operated by the United Kingdom Educational and Research Network Association, (UKERNA).
- Only legitimate members of the University staff and students may use the JANET services and must be identifiable by appropriate user name and password. Individual usage must conform with the University usage as given in paper 1.
- Usage of the JANET services indicates acceptance of the AUP and of the responsibilities and obligations contained.
- JANET may not be used for any of the following:
a) the creation or transmission (other than for properly supervised and lawful research purposes) of any offensive, obscene or indecent images, data or other material, or any data capable of being resolved into obscence or indecent images or material;
b) the creation or transmission of material which is designed to or likely to cause annoyance, inconvenience or needless anxiety;
c) the creation or transmission of defamatory material;
d) the transmission of material such that this infringes the copyright of another person;
e) the transmission of unsolicited commercial or advertising material either to other User Organisations, or to organisations connected to other networks, save where that material is embedded within, or is otherwise part of, a service to which the member of the User Organisation has chosen to subscribe;
f) deliberate unauthorised access to facilities or services accessible via JANET;
g)deliberate activities with any of the following characteristics:
Wasting staff effort or networked resources, including time on end systems accessible via JANET and the effort of staff involved in the support of those system;
Corrupting or destroying other users' data;
Violating the privacy of other users;
Disrupting the work of the other users;
Using JANET in away that denies service to other users (for example, deliberate or reckless overloading of access links or of switching equipment);
Continuing to use an item of networking software or hardware after UKERNA has requested that use cease because it is causing disruption to the correct functioning of JANET;
Other misuse of JANET or networked resources, such as the introduction of "viruses" - It is not permitted to provide access to JANET to third parties without obtaining, through the University, the prior permission of UKERNA. Exceptionally access may be allowed to JANET to visitors or for demonstration purposes provided that no charge is made.
- The JISC has resale schemes whereby certain types of User Organisation may sell on JANET services under defined circumstances. Details may be obtained from UKERNA.
- It is acceptable for a User Organisation connected to JANET to extend access to others on a limited basis, provided no charge is made for such access. For example, it is acceptable that a visitor to the Organisation be permitted to gain access to JANET for the purpose of maintaining contact with his or her home organisation. It is intended that such use be regulated by the User Organisation in the same manner as it would regulate occasional use by third parties of its other facilities, such as its telephone and IT support systems.
- A third party, where an individual, means someone who is not acting as a member of the User Organisation. Where it applies to a separate organisation, this is defined to be any organisation that is in law a separate entity to the User Organisation.
- It is the responsibility of the IT Services Department, acting for the University to ensure compliance with the AUP and breaches of this may be treated as a disciplinary offence with IT Services responsible for investigating any alleged breach of AUP.
- Where necessary, service may be withdrawn from the User Organisation. This may take one of two forms.
a) An indefinite withdrawal of service, should a violation of these conditions persist after appropriate warnings have been given by UKERNA. Such a withdrawal of service would only be made on the authority of the JISC. Restoration would be made only when the JISC was satisfied that the appropriate steps had been taken at the Organisation involved to ensure acceptable behaviour in future.
b) A suspension of service, should a violation of these conditions cause serious degradation of the service to other users of JANET. Such a suspension would be made on the judgement of UKERNA, and service would be restored when the cause of the degradation of service to others had been removed. - Where violation of these conditions is illegal or unlawful, or results in loss or damage to UKERNA or JANET resources or the resources of third parties accessible via JANET, the matter may be referred for legal action.
- It is preferable for misuse to be prevented by a combination of respons ible attitudes to the use of JANET resources on the part of users and appropriate disciplinary measures taken by their Organisations.
