Acceptable Use Policy
Revision date: 05/13/21
As a provider of web site hosting and other Internet-related services, Spry Servers, LLC offers its customer (also known as “Subscribers”) and their customers and users the means to acquire and disseminate a wealth of public, private, commercial and non-commercial information. Spry Servers, LLC respects that the internet provides a forum for free and open discussion and dissemination of information. However, when there are competing interests at issue, Spry Servers, LLC reserves the right to take certain preventive or corrective actions. In order to protect these competing interests, Spry Servers, LLC has developed an
Acceptable Use Policy (“AUP”), which supplements and explains certain terms of each customer’s respective service agreement, and is intended as a guide to the customer’s rights and obligations when using Spry Servers, LLC’ services. This AUP will be revised from time to time.
You will be held responsible for all actions performed by your account whether done by you or by others! If server security is compromised, the account holder is responsible for all violations of Spry Servers’ Terms of Service (the “Terms of Service” or "TOS") and this Acceptable Use Policy (this “AUP”), including SPAM, and all disconnect and reconnect fees associated with violations.
One important aspect of the internet is that no one party owns or controls it. This fact accounts for much of the internet’s openness and value, but it also places a high premium on the judgment and responsibility of those who use it, both in the information they acquire and in the information they disseminate to others. When subscribers obtain information through the Internet, they must keep in mind that Spry Servers, LLC cannot monitor, verify, warrant or vouch for the accuracy and quality of the information they acquire. For this reason, the subscriber must exercise his or her best judgment in relying on information obtained from the internet, and also should be aware that some material posted to the internet may be sexually explicit or otherwise offensive. Because Spry Servers, LLC cannot monitor or censor the internet, and will not attempt to do so, Spry Servers, LLC cannot accept any responsibility for injury to its subscribers or the general public, resulting from inaccurate, unsuitable, offensive or illegal internet communications.
The Primary Purpose of Spry Servers is to provide our clients with the resources necessary to bring their internet services online in a reliable, lightning fast, high availability environment which responds quickly to each clients' individual needs.
The client is ultimately responsible for individual server security. Spry Servers disclaims all liability for server content.
When subscribers disseminate information from the internet, they must keep in mind that Spry Servers, LLC does not review, edit, censor or take responsibility for any information its subscribers may create. When users place information on the internet, they have the same liability as other authors for copyright infringement, defamation and other harmful speech. Also, because the information created is carried over Spry Servers, LLC's network and may reach a large number of people, including both subscribers and non-subscribers of Spry Servers, LLC. Subscribers’ postings to the Internet may affect other subscribers and may affect Spry Servers, LLC’s goodwill, business, reputation or operations. For these reasons, subscribers will be in violation of Spry Servers, LLC's policy and the Service Agreement when they, their customers, affiliates or subsidiaries engage in the following prohibited activities:
Network Misuse:
All clients are allowed access to the public and private network; however misuse of the network in any way, including interference, will result in a violation of this AUP. All violations of this AUP shall be subject to review by Spry Servers, and an appropriate course of action shall be taken as determined by Spry Servers, Spry Servers' sole discretion. Proper use of public network must comply with all local, state, and federal laws. Clients assume full liability for all content which they place on the server. Forging any TCP/IP packet header or any part of the header information in any e-mail or newsgroup posting is deemed a violation of this AUP.
Disk-based Crypto Mining
Mining for disk-based cryptocurrencies including, but not limited to "Chia" is strictly prohibited across all our products. (Colocation services are exempt from this policy) If clients are caught mining cryptocurrency with their hard disks or SSDs, their accounts will be immediately terminated without refund. If any damage has occurred to the disks, the customer agrees herein to pay all costs associated with replacement of the disks. Spry Servers reserves the right to debit the customers' credit card or other payment method to recover any damages.
Spamming (General Policies)
Sending unsolicited bulk and/or commercial information over the internet. Any activities of this type, including, but not limited to SPIM, Spam and SPIT, are expressly prohibited. It is not only harmful because of its negative impact on consumer attitudes toward Spry Servers, LLC, but also because it can overload Spry Servers, LLC’s network and disrupt service to Spry Servers, LLC’s subscribers. Additionally, maintaining an open SMTP relay is prohibited.
Spry Servers reserves the right to deny mail delivery from any servers hosted on our network and/or suspend service, if they are believed to be involved in Spam, SPIM or SPIT activities. This includes spam support services such as DNS or spamvertised web sites. Our abuse department will locate abusive servers based on public blacklist monitors, abuse reporting from external networks, and other means. If our abuse department receives a report or otherwise becomes aware of abuse-related activities active on our network, we will identify the server the abuse was initially sent from (via IP and in some cases by domain)
In this event, your account is subject to immediate termination with or without notification, at our discretion. NO refund will be given.
Spry Servers reserves the right to refuse services to any client whose account(s) have been fined or terminated for abuse-related activities. If an IP range or IP address has been blacklisted as a result of excessive abuse reports, Spry Servers reserves the right to issue a fine of $200 and immediately terminate the service.
Spamming Addendum I -
Dedicated servers, colocation, VPS & cloud servers
Compromised servers issued abuse notifications: If our abuse department suspects that abuse reports associated with a client’s server are a result of the server’s security being compromised, our abuse department will offer the following options:
1. At the discretion of our abuse department, we will typically offer the ability to log in to the server and remedy the security compromise while leaving the abusive traffic filtered.
2. Offer an Operating System reinstallation, setting the configuration back to the original state it was provisioned in.
3. If Operating System reinstallation is not accepted as an option, Spry Servers may offer to manually retrieve/repair the files on the server, at a fee to be assessed and paid prior to any work being done.
4. Habitual security compromises that result in abusive traffic being transmitted or received from the server may result in service termination.
If a client wishes to dispute any abuse reports, or any fine assessed in connection with abuse reports or blacklistings, the client must provide Spry Servers with an explanation via our ticketing system within 10 days of the abuse ticket being opened.
Spamming Addendum II -
Shared hosting
When a complaint is received, Spry Servers, LLC will investigate and terminate the offending account. A $100 charge for violating this policy may be charged to the person/account initiating the Spam.
Adult-Oriented Content:
Legal adult content is allowed only on our dedicated servers or Virtual Private Servers. No adult content whatsoever is allowed on shared or reseller hosting.
Obscene Speech or Materials:
Using Spry Servers, LLC’s network to advertise, transmit, store, post, display, or otherwise make available child pornography, beastiality or obscene speech or material is prohibited. Spry Servers, LLC is required morally and by law to notify law enforcement agencies when it becomes aware of the presence of child pornography on or being transmitted through its network.
Defamatory or Abusive Language:
Using Spry Servers, LLC’s network as a means to transmit or post negative, defamatory, harassing, abusive or threatening language.
Sabotage:
Any type of sabotage, regardless of intention, shall be grounds for termination of an account. This includes but is not limited to abuse of the remote reboot system by using it multiple times in a very short amount of time for improper reasons.
Private Backbone Network (Private Tunnel)
Network Security:
Clients are required and obligated to maintain all security on their servers. Any and all additional charges that are incurred due to client lack of monitoring or security are the responsibility of the client.
Monitoring Policy:
Spry Servers does not actively monitor the content on its servers. Dedicated server content will only be reviewed upon complaint. Content that does not violate local, state and federal law or this AUP or the Terms of Service is deemed in compliance and shall remain intact. If content is deemed to be in violation of this AUP or the Terms of Service, it shall be reviewed by Spry Servers, and a course of action shall be taken to correct the problem, which may result in termination of the account or service.
Blacklist Policy:
If any client or any third-party user that is a customer of our client uses Spry Servers services, network, or its physical infrastructure in a manner that causes Spry Servers, or any IP addresses issued by Spry Servers to be “blacklisted” or “blocked”, Spry Servers reserves the right to suspend or terminate services of such client and/or suspend or terminate the access to services, network, and/or its physical infrastructure. Operating Spry Servers service on behalf of, or in connection with or reselling any service to persons or firms listed in the Spamhaus Register of Known Spam Operations database at www.spamhaus.org shall constitute a violation of this AUP.
IP Addresses:
All IPs addresses issued by Spry Servers are the sole property of Spry Servers. Clients retain no ownership rights to any IP addresses issued by Spry Servers. Clients may not transfer IPs from Spry Servers. Any client purchasing over 16 IP addressed in addition to their server may be required to submit ARIN justification forms as well as submit to additional terms depending on the number of IP addresses desired. For more information about IP Addresses, please contact
[email protected].
IRC/Bittorrent/P2P
IRC Usage shall be allowed on dedicated servers unless such usage is abused or creates or enhances any type of problem(s) with Spry Servers’ services or network. It is also deemed a violation of this AUP if it is determined that IRC is the cause or root of a service interruption to other users. Clients may not operate and maintain IRC servers which connect to global IRC networks such as Undernet, EFnet and DALnet. Use of IRC plug-ins, scripts, add-ons, clones or other software designed to disrupt or deny service to other users is prohibited. If a client’s IRC servers are frequently compromised or attract denial of service or distributed denial of service attacks that disrupt or deny service to other clients or users, then Spry Servers may null-route, filter, suspend, or terminate that client’s service. Spry Servers allows the use of both Peer to Peer as well as Bit Torrent, but we do not permit the transfer of illegal content. Use of IRC/Bittorrent/P2P on shared hosting is strictly prohibited.
Violation Claims:
Any Claim of Violation of this AUP that is being submitted by a third party must include the name and contact information of the complaining party, the IP address from which the alleged complaint originated, and a description of the violation. This AUP applies to all users of servers provided by Spry Servers, including without limitation the customers, clients and other users of our clients.
Spry Servers reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to refuse new service to any individual, group, or business. Spry Servers also retains the right to discontinue service for any client for any reason or no reason and at any time, including without limitation for violation of this AUP.
Forging of Headers:
Forging or misrepresenting message headers, whether in whole or in part, to mask the originator of the message.
Illegal or Unauthorized Access to Other Computers or Networks:
Accessing, illegally or without authorization, computers, accounts or networks belonging to another party, or attempting to penetrate security measures of another individual’s system (often known as “hacking”). Also, any activity that may be used as a precursor to an attempted system penetration (i.e., port scan, stealth scan or other information-gathering activity).
Distribution of Internet Viruses, Worms, Trojan Horses or Other Destructive Activities:
Distributing information regarding the creation of and sending Internet viruses, worms, Trojan horses, pinging, flooding, mail bombing or denial of service attacks (DDoS). Also, activities that disrupt the use of or interfere with the ability of others to effectively use the network or any connected network, system, service or equipment.
Facilitation:
Advertising, transmitting or otherwise making available any software, program, product or service that is designed to violate this AUP, which includes the facilitation of the means to spam, initiation of pinging, flooding, mail bombing, denial of service attacks and piracy of software.
Export Control Violations:
Exporting encryption software over the Internet or otherwise, to points outside the United States.
Usenet Groups:
Spry Servers, LLC reserves the right not to accept postings from newsgroups where we have actual knowledge that the content of the newsgroup violates the AUP.
Other Illegal Activities:
Engaging in activities that are determined to be illegal, including, but not limited to, advertising, transmitting or otherwise making available ponzi schemes, pyramid schemes, fraudulently charging credit cards and pirating software.
Other Activities:
Engaging in activities, whether lawful or unlawful, that Spry Servers, LLC determines to be harmful to its subscribers, operations, reputation, goodwill or customer relations. This clause is in regards to our network and your use of our network and services. This does not mean you may not post reviews of our services, positive or negative.
As we have pointed out, the responsibility for avoiding harmful activities just described rests primarily with the subscriber. Spry Servers, LLC will not, as an ordinary practice, monitor the communications of its subscribers to ensure that the comply with Spry Servers, LLC’ policy or applicable law. However, when Spry Servers, LLC becomes aware of harmful activities, it may take any action to stop the harmful activity, including, but not limited to, removal of information, shutting down a web site, implementing screening software designed to block offending transmissions, denying access to the Internet, or any other action deemed appropriate by Spry Servers, LLC.
Spry Servers, LLC is also aware that many of its subscribers are themselves providers of internet services, and that information reaching Spry Servers, LLC’s facilities from those subscribers may have originated from a customer of the subscriber or from another third party. Spry Servers, LLC does not require its subscribers who offer internet services to monitor or censor transmissions or web sites created by customers of its subscribers. Spry Servers, LLC reserves the right to directly take action against a customer of its subscribers. Also, Spry Servers, LLC may take action against the Spry Servers, LLC’s subscriber because of activities of a customer of the subscriber, even though the action may affect other customers of the subscriber. Similarly, Spry Servers, LLC anticipates that subscribers who offer internet services will cooperate with Spry Servers, LLC in any corrective or preventive action that Spry Servers, LLC deems necessary. Failure to cooperate with such corrective or preventive measures is a violation of Spry Servers, LLC’s policy.
Spry Servers, LLC will not intentionally monitor private electronic mail messages sent or receive by its subscribers, unless required to do so by law, governmental authority or when public safety is at stake. Spry Servers, LLC may, however, monitor its service electronically to determine that its facilities are operating satisfactorily. Also, Spry Servers, LLC may disclose information, including, but not limited to, information concerning a subscriber, a transmission made using our network, or a web site, in order to comply with a court order, subpoena, summons, discovery request, warrant, statute, regulation or governmental request. Spry Servers, LLC assumes no obligation to inform the subscriber that subscriber information has been provided and, in some cases, may be prohibited by law from giving such notice. Finally, Spry Servers, LLC may disclose subscriber information or information transmitted over its network where necessary to protect Spry Servers, LLC and others from harm, or where such disclosure is necessary to the proper operation of the system. However, Spry Servers, LLC will never sell information to other services or outside companies.
Spry Servers, LLC expects that its subscribers who provide Internet services to others will comply fully with all applicable laws concerning the privacy of online communications. A subscriber’s failure to comply with those laws will violate Spry Servers, LLC policy. Finally, Spry Servers, LLC wishes to emphasize that, in signing the Service Agreement, subscribers indemnify Spry Servers, LLC for any violation of the Service Agreement, law or Spry Servers, LLC policy resulting in loss to Spry Servers, LLC or the bringing of any claim against Spry Servers, LLC by any third party. This means that, if Spry Servers, LLC is sued because of a subscriber’s or customer of a subscriber’s activity, the subscriber will be responsible for payment of any damages awarded against Spry Servers, LLC, plus costs and reasonable attorney’s fees.
We hope this AUP is helpful in clarifying the obligations of Internet users, including Spry Servers, LLC and its subscribers, as responsible members of the Internet. Any complaints about a subscriber’s violation of this AUP should be sent to
[email protected].
