NETGAMERS CHANNEL SERVICES COMMITTEE POLICY Status: Version 1.4 Rev: 2006-11-16 The Channel Services Committee (CSC) exists to provide services for the registration of channels, to provide help with the registration and use of nicks and channels and to police this policy. Section 1 - Introduction Section 2 - Divisions Within The CSC Section 3 - CSC Communication Section 4 - Use of Force Section 5 - Official Channels Section 6 - Alliance Channels Section 7 - CSC Rules Section 8 - Complaints Section 9 - Disclaimer ----------------------------- 1) Introduction ----------------------------- The CSC provides a service for the network. By providing this service the CSC will, to the best of their ability: - Provide for the registration of channels and nicknames - Provide a channel service in registered channels for users with registered nicknames - Provide assistance with the use and registration of channels and nicknames However, the CSC will not act in matters concerning: - Channel politics - Unregistered channels - Support for channels which violate network policy - Assistance with matters not pertaining to the functions of the CSC ----------------------------- 2) Divisions Within The CSC ----------------------------- 2.1) CSC Management The CSC Management consists of at least 1 manager, up to 2 assistant managers and up to 4 supervisors, that as a team are responsible for the running and maintenance of the CSC. The primary tasks of Management are: - Member management (promoting, dealing with abuse, etc.) - Policy modifications - General guidance to other divisions and members - Maintaining the official verifies in P - Of secondary importance (but still of some import) are the duties of Administrators and Helpers 2.2) CSC Administrators The Administrators’ main role is to maintain the smooth running of P and registered channels. The primary tasks of Administrators are: - Maintaining the Channel Services by processing applications, deleting inactive accounts, etc. - Helping users with issues that Helpers are unable to - Enforcing the CSC Policy - Training Helpers in the correct ways of dealing with problems - Of secondary importance (but still of some import) are the duties of Helpers 2.3) CSC Helpers The Helpers’ main role is to give assistance to users of the network who are having difficulties in using P or any other part of CService. The primary task of Helpers is: - Helping users with using P and the CService sections of the NetGamers website ----------------------------- 3) CSC Communication ----------------------------- 3.1) CSC Channel(s) - #CService should normally be in +CTcntl mode, however should P be down #CService may be closed with +m and an appropriate topic explaining the situation must be set. - While in #CService, users must refrain from the use of colours, flooding, swearing, and chatting about issues unrelated to the Channel Services. - All Members of staff will not wear alliance tags while opped or voiced in the channel nor discriminate against any user regardless of any personal or game related situations. - The CSC staff must be polite, fair and remain professional at all times. - Non-staff members may help in the channel if there are no ops or voiced staff members, regardless of whether CSC staff are active in the channel. Due to this, use of /msg p VERIFY is advised to ensure that another user is an administrator.[/color=red] - The use of amsg/ame and away scripts is prohibited; breaking this rule will result in being kicked from the channel, with an appropriate reason. - Users may PM opped or voiced members only, unless requested to do otherwise. 3.2) CSC Emails - The email address cservice (at) netgamers.org is available for queries and comments relating to the channel services, website and the CSC, although helping users in #cservice is preferred due to the more immediate response available. - The email address csc (at) netgamers.org is available for complaints about CSC members and their actions in an official capacity. ----------------------------- 4) Use of Force ----------------------------- - CSC members may not use their global access to achieve anything not available by users unless to prevent or halt a breach of CSC policy or if requested by an IRC Operator to do so with a valid reason or it is required in order to perform a CSC duty. - In general CSC members should avoid using their global access if possible. The use of force should be as a last resort and is only available to administrators to carry out a task that is not possible through any other less invasive means. ----------------------------- 5) Official Channels ----------------------------- - Requests for official channels should be directed to the Partner Committee (partners (at) netgamers.org) who will consider the request. - Official channels will be expected to follow the responsibilities outlined in the Official Groups document, and in return will receive the privileges outlined in the same document. - Personal channels do not go under this ruling for *any* officials. These should be registered on www.netgamers.org and are still limited to the maximum number that a regular user is allowed (3). ----------------------------- 6) Alliance Channels ----------------------------- Channels entered included in the Alliance-Nick system are exempt from the normal rules concerning supporters and maximum channel ownership. Alliance-Nicknames and channels owned by an Alliance-Nick are considered to be owned by the alliance as a whole and not by any particular person, and as such, no one person may claim responsibility for the nickname or its channels without agreement from the Planetarion Alliance Liaison. Alliance-Nicknames may own up to 15 alliance channels and up to 30 defence relay channels. Applications for the Alliance-Nickname systems should come from alliance heads and be directed towards the Alliance Liaison. ----------------------------- 7) CSC Rules ----------------------------- - Members of the CSC will act where possible to enforce the rules laid out in this section. 7.1) Registered Nicknames The CSC provides for the registration of unique nicknames by users of the network. If you do not register a nick then you do not own it, and someone else may register, own and use it at any time providing that it is not registered for abusive purposes. By registering a nickname you agree to abide by the CSC Policy. If a nickname is not used for more than 28 days it may be deleted without warning. The following uses of registered nicknames are not allowed: - Using the NOTE module to harass users. - Repeatedly triggering the flood protection in P. - Registering multiple nicks with the intention of trying to avoid using 3 different people in channel registrations. - Avoiding the maximum number of registered channels that may be owned per user by having more than the maximum allowed channels spread over multiple nicks owned by the same person. - Registering a nick with the intention of recovering another user who normally uses the nick and without any intention to use the nick. - Logging into a nick that you do not own. If multiple users normally make use of a nickname assistance will not be rendered to deal with account takeovers. - Causing trouble in any other way not mentioned in this document, including breaching the network rules. 7.2) Registered Channels In order to register a channel an owner and two trusted supporters for the channel must be found. The owner will have level 500 access, supporters will have 499 access and cannot be removed by the channel owner. Supporters and owners may be only changed by a CService Administrator, and only if a channel has been registered for at least two weeks. This time limit may be waived if the channel is registered for a group within a game with fluid membership (eg. a galaxy channel). No user is allowed to own more than 3 registered channels, regardless of whether they are owned by a single nick or spread over a few. The limit applies per user/person, not per nickname, and does not apply to official channels or channels included in the Alliance-Nick system. If a channel is not used for 7 days it may be deleted or given to another user without warning. The following issues connected with registered channels are not allowed: - Using P part/join repeatedly with the intention of annoying channel users. - Using multiple nicks that are owned by the same person for supporters and/or the owner. - Using people who you do not know or have not asked permission or who will not regularly use the channel as supporters. - Registering channel names which could be construed as offensive. - Registering channels you have no genuine want to use or with the purpose of annoying / harassing other users. - Advertising, spamming or performing mass invitations to registered channels. - Causing trouble in any other way not mentioned in this document, including breaching the network rules. Please note that CSC members are not responsible for the activities within a registered channel as long as they comply with the policy, and will not interfere with normal channel workings. It is up to the owner, supporters and any given access by them to deal with the channel as they see fit within the bounds of the network and CSC policy. If you disagree with the actions of an operator or operators within a channel, it is not the responsibility of CSC to resolve your dispute. 7.3) Rule Breaches If the CSC is forced to take action due to a user breaking these rules they may: - Warn the user - Suspend the registered nickname - Delete the registered nickname Steps in this sequence may be omitted if an offence is particularly severe or if you have been previously warned or suspended for similar breaches of rules. The CSC may also suspend or purge a nick at the request of an IRC Operator. This will generally be in the case of a g:line or permanent network ban as the offender will not require the use of their nick while are not on the network. In the case of a rules breach that is covered under both CSC and network rules an IRC Operator or member of CSC may act as detailed in their respective rules documents 7.4) Disagreement with CSC rulings - Should a user disagree with a decision made by a member of the CSC, that decision may be changed by/or with the permission of the aforementioned member, or by a joint decision of the CSC Management. ----------------------------- 8) Complaints ----------------------------- If you wish to complain about a CSC member's actions towards you while they are acting in an official capacity then: -For actions relating to the use of global access (including that available to administrators on the NetGamers website), or the of access in official CSC channels, or for members attitude towards you while in an official capacity mail csc (at) netgamers.org with your complaint and as much supporting evidence as possible. - If the CSC member is also an IRC Operator, and the complaint pertains to their actions as an IRC Operator then it should be addressed under the network's rules and policy, rather than under the CSC's documentation. ----------------------------- 9) Disclaimer ----------------------------- - Policy permits the acting CSC Manager to change policy wherever necessary. Notification of major changes must be sent to the network management as well as the CSC. - In the event of a conflict in policy with another, all P & CSC related issues are covered under this policy. - This policy covers all people on the NetGamers IRC Network without exception. - Should there be a conflict between Network and CSC policies, Network policy has higher authority. Any events related to the Channel Services Committee not specifically covered in this policy will be dealt with in the spirit of the policy, with the intent to help users as far as reasonably possible and with the application of common sense.