Network Policies

This page will describe acceptable use, prohibited behaviour, privacy expectations, and network enforcement procedures.

Until this page is completed, do not treat it as a statement of RavenChat policy.

Acceptable Use Policy

1. General

RavenChat is an Internet Relay Chat (IRC) network providing a place for individuals and communities to communicate.

By connecting to RavenChat, users agree to abide by this Acceptable Use Policy (AUP). This policy applies to all users, whether or not they have registered an account.

RavenChat is a privately operated network. Access to the network is a privilege, not a right.

2. User Conduct

Users are expected to conduct themselves responsibly and respect the rights of others.

The following activities are prohibited:

• Harassment, threats, stalking, or targeted abuse of other users.
• Distributing malware, conducting denial-of-service attacks, or attempting to compromise network infrastructure.
• Flooding, unsolicited mass messaging, or other activities that disrupt network operations.
• Impersonating network staff or deliberately misrepresenting one’s authority on the network.
• Using RavenChat to facilitate unlawful activities.
• Attempting to evade network bans or other administrative restrictions.

Disagreements and disputes between users are not ordinarily matters for network administration unless they violate this policy.

3. Account and Nickname Registration

Users may register a maximum of two accounts, with each account permitted to register up to ten nicknames.

Account and nickname registrations are subject to the following rules:

• Registrations are valid for 999 days from their last qualifying activity, subject to the network’s services configuration.
• Nickname registrations that have been unused for 60 consecutive days may be manually dropped by an IRC operator if another user requests the nickname.
• The 60-day period does not result in automatic deletion. An eligible registration may remain in place until its normal expiration.
• Users may not register additional accounts to circumvent registration limits, restrictions, or disciplinary measures.

IRC operators are not obligated to grant requests to release inactive nicknames.

4. Channel Registration

Registered channels are subject to the following rules:

• Channel registrations are valid for 999 days from their last qualifying activity, subject to the network’s services configuration.
• A channel registration that has been unused for 60 consecutive days may be manually dropped by an IRC operator if another user requests the channel.
• Channel registrations are not automatically dropped after 60 days merely because they are inactive.
• IRC operators may consider whether a channel is genuinely abandoned before granting a request to release its registration.

Channel founders are responsible for managing their channels and appointing appropriate channel operators.

5. Channel Management

Channel founders and their appointed operators are generally free to establish and enforce their own channel rules, provided those rules do not conflict with this AUP.

RavenChat network staff will not ordinarily intervene in channel disputes, including disagreements over moderation, bans, or channel rules.

Network staff may intervene where activities threaten network stability, violate this policy, or otherwise require network-wide administrative action.

6. Network Resources

Users must not deliberately interfere with the stability, availability, or performance of RavenChat.

Automated clients, bots, and scripts are permitted provided they do not disrupt network operations or engage in prohibited activities.

Network administrators may impose reasonable technical restrictions to protect network resources.

7. Concurrent Connections

Users are permitted to have a maximum of three concurrent connections to the network at any given time.

Users who exceed this limit are automatically subject to a network ban for a period of one day.

Users who exceed this limit again are subject to an extended network ban.

8. Enforcement

Violations of this policy may result in administrative action, including:

• Warnings or requests to discontinue prohibited conduct.
• Temporary or permanent network bans.
• Suspension or removal of registered accounts, nicknames, or channels.
• Other measures reasonably necessary to protect the network and its users.

RavenChat operators may exercise discretion when enforcing this policy, taking into account the nature and severity of the violation.

9. Appeals

If you wish to appeal a network ban, you may do so in writing by e-mailing admin@ravenchat.net. When requesting an appeal, please include the following details:

• The IP address you were connecting from when you discovered the network ban.
• The date and time you attempted the connection.
• The message ID associated with the network ban.

Note that if your network ban message does not have a message ID, your network ban cannot be appealed.

10. Availability and Responsibility

RavenChat is provided on an as-is, as-available basis.

Network administrators do not guarantee uninterrupted service, permanent retention of registrations, or the preservation of messages and other user data.

Users are responsible for maintaining the security of their accounts and for the activities conducted through them.

11. Policy Changes

RavenChat may revise this Acceptable Use Policy as necessary.

The current version will be published on the RavenChat website. Continued use of the network following publication of changes constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.