Code of Conduct

E-Group Rules & Etiquette

Thank you for being part of our community. To ensure the best possible experience for all members, we have established some basic guidelines for participation.

By joining and using this community, you agree that you have read and will follow these rules and guidelines. You also agree to reserve discussions and shared files and content that is best suited to the specific community. This is a great place in which to solicit the advice of your peers, benefit from their experience, and participate in an ongoing conversations.

Please take a moment to acquaint yourself with these important guidelines. In order to preserve a climate that encourages both civil and fruitful dialogue, we reserve the right to suspend or terminate membership in this community for anyone who violate these rules.

Any questions should be directed to us via the "Contact Us" link on this site.

The Rules

  • Don't challenge or attack others. Discussions and comments are meant to stimulate conversation, not to create contention. Let others have their say, just as you have yours. 

  • Don't post commercial messages on any discussion list, resource library entry, or other area where others might see it. Contact people directly with product and service information if you believe it would help them.

  • Use caution when discussing products. Information posted on lists and in libraries is available for all to see, and comments are subject to libel, slander, and antitrust laws. 

  • All defamatory, abusive, profane, threatening, offensive, or illegal materials are strictly prohibited. Do not post anything that you would not want the world to see or that you would not want anyone to know came from you. 

  • Please note carefully all items listed in the disclaimer and legal rules below, particularly regarding the copyright ownership of information posted. 

  • Remember that other participants have the right to reproduce postings to this site unless you specify otherwise. 

  • Post your message or documents only to the most appropriate lists or libraries. Do not spam several lists or libraries with the same message.

  • All messages must add to the body of knowledge. We reserve the right to reject any message for any reason.

Discussion Group Etiquette

  • Include a signature tag on all messages. Include your name, affiliation, location. 

  • In the subject line, state concisely and clearly the topic of your comments. This allows members to respond more appropriately to your posting and makes it easier for members to search the archives by subject. 

  • Include only the relevant portions of the original message in your reply. Delete any header information, and put your response before the original posting. 

  • Only send a message to the entire list when it contains information that everyone can benefit from. 

  • Send messages such as "thanks for the information" or "me, too" to individuals, not to the entire list. Do this by using the "Reply to Sender" link to the left of every message.

  • Do not post administrative messages, such as “remove me from the list”, instead, use the web interface to change your settings or to remove yourself from a list.

Idealliance Intellectual Property Policy
Approved by Board of Directors Meeting #9, July 16, 2002 and amended Board Meeting February 2004, Board Meeting #23 (December 2004), Board Meeting 2011 (May 2011), and Board Meeting 2014

Summary: The Idealliance IP Policy seeks to protect those contributing to our efforts as well as those of the Association when it publishes its work. If you are contributing information to which you hold intellectual property claims such as a patent or copyright, please inform Idealliance so we can work with you to best determine how your contributions can be included within our published work. See full policy.

Antitrust Policy
Approved by Board of Directors by ballot, February 4, 2002, and revised 2014

Summary: As associations of competitors, trade associations must be vigilant to ensure that state and federal antitrust laws are respected. The general improvement of the industry benefits the public. This is why Congress granted the privilege of tax-exempt status to trade associations. Our focus must be the general improvement of our industry. We must refrain from actions, which either may suppress competition among members or give members a competitive advantage over non-members. See full policy.

The Legal Stuff

This site is provided as a service for the members of IdeallianceIdealliance is not responsible for the opinions and information posted on this site by others. We disclaim all warranties with regard to information posted on this site, whether posted by Idealliance or any third party; this disclaimer includes all implied warranties of merchantability and fitness. In no event shall Idealliance be liable for any special, indirect, or consequential damages or any damages whatsoever resulting from loss of use, data, or profits, arising out of or in connection with the use or performance of any information posted on this site.

Do not post any defamatory, abusive, profane, threatening, offensive, or illegal materials. Do not post any information or other material protected by copyright without the permission of the copyright owner. By posting material, the posting party warrants and represents that he or she owns the copyright with respect to such material or has received permission from the copyright owner. In addition, the posting party grants Idealliance and users of this site the nonexclusive right and license to display, copy, publish, distribute, transmit, print, and use such information or other material.

Messages should not be posted if they encourage or facilitate members to arrive at any agreement that either expressly or impliedly leads to price fixing, a boycott of another's business, or other conduct intended to illegally restrict free trade. Messages that encourage or facilitate an agreement about the following subjects are inappropriate: prices, discounts, or terms or conditions of sale; salaries; profits, profit margins, or cost data; market shares, sales territories, or markets; allocation of customers or territories; or selection, rejection, or termination of customers or suppliers.

Idealliance does not actively monitor the site for inappropriate postings and does not on its own undertake editorial control of postings. However, in the event that any inappropriate posting is brought to the attention of Idealliance we will take all appropriate action.

Idealliance reserves the right to terminate access to any user who does not abide by these guidelines.