Conditions of Use


The ABC expects and welcomes contributions that stimulate debate and discussion or that reflect the diverse range of perspectives, experiences and imaginations of its audiences. While encouraging vigorous debate and critique, we expect all participants to treat each other with respect and courtesy.

While the ABC aims to provide balanced coverage of issues in the content we produce, commission or acquire, user contributions to interactive services reflect the views of the participants. From time to time, one particular side of the debate may dominate views expressed. This simply reflects the natural flow of contributions we receive. The ABC endeavours to give all users a fair opportunity to participate.

The ABC does not endorse the views or material contained in users' contributions.

You may contribute to ABC Online Community and interactive services subject to the following terms and conditions. These conditions apply to any content contributed in any format to any platforms hosted or facilitated by the ABC. The ABC may change the Conditions of Use from time to time, at the ABC's sole discretion.

1. Registration and Login Names

1.1 In order to submit content or to utilise certain ABC services, you may be required to apply for registration to establish an account with the ABC.

1.2 The ABC generally recommends that applicants register online using a pen name or pseudonym as their login name (not their real name). You should be aware that your posted comments or other submissions can remain online indefinitely and may be found through search engines or online archives. Users must not impersonate another living person or registered user.

1.3 When registering, a genuine email address must be provided. In some cases, you may be asked to provide your real name or other identifying or contact details, such as where content is submitted for use in an ABC News story or an event is submitted to an ABC Events Diary.

1.4 In general, consent is required from a parent or guardian before a child can register with, or submit content to, an ABC interactive service that is designed for or likely to appeal to young children.

1.5 The ABC may refuse registration of users whose suggested login names are considered inappropriate. Grounds for refusal may include:

1.5.1 offensive content;
1.5.2 obscenity;
1.5.3 abuse;
1.5.4 defamatory content;
1.5.5 contempt;
1.5.6 incitement;
1.5.7 copyright infringement;
1.5.8 brand names or registered trademarks;
1.5.9 company or organisation names;
1.5.10 names of high-profile or public figures; or
1.5.11 names promoting political, religious, social or economic issues.

1.6 The ABC reserves the right to refuse suggested login names at its sole discretion.

1.7 The ABC will not accept any registration that the ABC suspects is being made by or on behalf of a member who has been suspended for repeated violation of these conditions of use.

2. Passwords and Security

2.1 As a registered user of the ABC's interactive services, you may receive or establish one or more passwords. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality and security of your password(s).

2.2 Accordingly, you understand and agree you are fully responsible for all actions and submissions made from your account.

2.3 If you become aware of any unauthorised use of your account, you should notify the ABC immediately.

3. Termination of Account

3.1 You can close your account with the ABC at any time by unsubscribing, where that option is available to you, or by notifying the ABC. You should note, however, that your contributions may still be available on the ABC interactive service after your account has been closed.

3.2 If the ABC reasonably believes you have breached these Conditions of Use, the ABC reserves the right to restrict access to or terminate your account, with or without notice, and without any liability to you.

4. User Participation

4.1 Children's contributions should be supervised by an adult.

4.2 You may be held legally responsible for the content you submit to the ABC's interactive services.

4.3 All material published on the ABC's interactive services is at the ABC's sole discretion.

4.4 Your contribution may be edited, removed or not published if the ABC considers it to be:

4.4.1 defamatory, or otherwise unlawful or that it violates laws regarding harassment, discrimination, racial vilification, privacy or contempt;

4.4.2 intentionally false or misleading;

4.4.3 an infringement of intellectual property rights or copyright. See below for further information on copyright;

4.4.4 abusive, offensive or obscene;

4.4.5 inappropriate, off topic, repetitive or vexatious. For example the ABC reserves the right to reject contributions that have been widely canvassed in the forum. It also reserves the right to reject contributions from participants who seek to dominate the discussion;

4.4.6 compromising the privacy of yourself, other contributors or of ABC staff, or containing inappropriate personal information;

4.4.7 seeking to endorse commercial products or activities or to unduly promote commercial products or services;

4.4.8 seeking to directly solicit donations;

4.4.9 deliberate provocation of other community members;

4.4.10 a posting on behalf of a suspended member. This may lead to you also having your membership locked or terminated.

4.5 The ABC reserves the right to archive and republish all contributions to its interactive services across all platforms.

4.6 The ABC reserves the right to use contributions for internal training purposes.

4.7 Participation conditions may vary across ABC interactive services. Specific guidelines can be found on the front page of each.

4.8 Repeated breaches of these Conditions of Use may cause the ABC to complain to the Internet Service Provider of the person responsible, and in very serious cases, initiate legal action.

5. Linking

5.1 The ABC publishes links to external sites at its sole discretion, including links posted by users subject to the moderation statement of any interactive service.

5.2 The ABC is not responsible for, and does not endorse, the content on external sites.

5.3 The ABC reserves the right to remove user-posted links for any reason, at any time, with or without notice to the user. Links may be deleted where, for instance, they are not editorially justified or are unsuitable for the likely audience.

6.1 Material published on the internet is protected by the same laws of copyright which apply to books, videos and music.

6.2 The right to "copy" always remains with the owner of the material. Unless expressly stated otherwise, you are not permitted to copy or republish anything you find on the internet without the copyright owner's permission.

6.3 If you wish to refer to material on someone else's website we recommend you include an attribution in your message.

6.4 Under Australian copyright law, limited quotation is permissible in the context of genuine review and criticism. However this does not permit extensive quoting of song lyrics etc.

Note:You are welcome to quote content from other ABC online sites and interactive services within your contributions, however we ask that you attribute the URL of the ABC page where you found the quote or picture or sound.

6.5 When you submit content, in any format, you acknowledge that you have all necessary rights, including copyright, in the material that you are contributing to the ABC interactive services. You agree that the ABC may use the material online and in whatever other ways the ABC chooses, now and in the future.

7. Comments and Complaints

7.1 Contributions made to interactive services will not be treated as program or service complaints. The ABC has a variety of complaint handling mechanisms available to members of the audience who wish to complain about ABC programming material. Details about how to lodge a complaint can be found at http://www.abc.net.au/corp/audience/complaints_how.htm.

7.2 Comments and suggestions about the content and management of particular interactive services can be made on the particular interactive service or via the email contact form at http://www.abc.net.au/contact/contactabc.htm by selecting 'ABC Online' as the recipient.


This page last updated: 19 February 2009
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