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Please read these rules carefully. They outline what we consider is acceptable in both the use of this Site and what is acceptable and unacceptable content for any bulletin boards, discussion forums or comment boards or other interactive features we provide. We may update the rules from time to time, so please read them before posting a contribution.
Your use of our site or services means that you accept, and agree to abide by, these House Rules, which supplement our terms.
This is a site operated by Northcliffe Media Ltd ("We"). We are limited company registered in England and Wales under company number 272225 and have our registered office at 2 Derry St, London W8 5TT. Our VAT number is 243-5711-74.
We welcome your opinions and input. We want our readers to see and understand different points of view. In the case of comments or discussions, try to contribute to the thread, rather than just stating if you agree or disagree. Unless you have a witty one-liner, please explain why you hold your opinion.
On the other hand, if you are contributing facts they must be accurate.
Once your contribution is online, everyone with Internet access can read it. Please make your contribution clear to ensure that it is not misunderstood. You can express a strong opinion but please do not go over the top. Don't forget that you are legally responsible for what you submit. Please consider how your contribution could be received by others - many different types of people of different ages may view it.
Please be polite. Do not use swear words or crude or sexual language. Only English is allowed. Keep your submissions relevant to the story or topic. Do not insult other contributions or discuss the non-appearance or removal of any content on this Site or the suspension or termination of any users. If you would like to discuss the operation of the Site with us, please email us at comments@northcliffemedia.co.uk
We strongly support this site’s community in maintaining high standards of participation. If you consider that a comment does not comply with these rules or our terms please use the relevant Report Abuse facility, located just under the comment in issue. The facility should only be used for serious complaints, not simply because you disagree with something said. Any other abuse should be reported to the email above.
You must not contribute or encourage content which is:
Please respect people's privacy. You are not allowed to submit confidential or private information. For example, you must not upload the telephone number, email address or any other contact details of any person without their permission.
You should not write anything which could prejudice pending or on-going court proceedings of which you are aware. For example, if you have any personal knowledge about someone who has been arrested or charged or being prosecuted for an offence, you must not mention it. If you do, you could be in contempt of court, which is an extremely serious matter.
You must not use our Site for:
We retain the right to remove comments that refer to any sponsorship, petition, campaign or scheme, at our discretion.
You must not pretend to be someone else (e.g. an expert, another user or a member of our team). You must not pretend that you are unconnected to a story or topic, when in fact you are. If you have a personal connection to a story or topic, you should disclose your connection or, where appropriate, not comment at all.
The use of any of our interactive services by a minor is subject to the consent of their parent or guardian. We advise parents who permit their children to use an interactive service that it is important that they communicate with their children about their safety online and they are made aware of the potential risks to them.
You may insert links to websites (URLs). You must not infringe another person's copyright, for example by copying and pasting content from another site and using it as your own comment.
In deciding what is acceptable, please also respect the spirit and tone of these rules and the community.
You must comply with the applicable UK law and that of the country from which you are posting any contribution.
Where we do provide any interactive service, we will provide clear information to you about the kind of service offered, if it is moderated and what form of moderation is used. If we do moderate an interactive service, we will normally provide you with a means of contacting the moderator.
If your comment violates the letter or spirit of these rules or our Terms it may be removed. If we do remove something, we will generally remove whole posts, or where necessary, whole threads (not parts). This means that even if only one sentence is objectionable, the whole contribution will usually be removed (or not published).
If your contribution or a thread is removed, this may be for any number of reasons. Usually, this will be because the contribution breaks these rules or our Terms or is the subject of an abuse report. Sometimes, the contribution may be removed because it is connected to another contribution which is being removed. We hope that you will understand that, once properly notified of a complaint, we may have to remove a contribution for legal reasons.
If your content has been removed, we may email you to let you know or to inform you if you have been suspended or banned from submitting further comments to the Site.
If you are aware that content has been removed, you must not deliberately resubmit the same content.
We reserve the right to suspend or ban your use of the site or its facilities at our sole discretion. Here are some reasons why we might do so:
The length of a suspension or whether we ban you depends on all the circumstances. Bans are generally for extreme cases and repeated serious abuse.
If we suspend or ban your use of the Site or its facilities, you must not attempt to re-register or submit content (e.g. using someone else's account), without our permission.
We also reserve the right to take proceedings against you for breach of our terms or these House Rules and to report the matter to the Police or other appropriate law enforcement agency.
In the case of conflict between these rules and such specific directions/terms and conditions, these rules shall prevail. By participating in any promotion, you are deemed to accept these rules and the specific directions/terms and conditions applicable to the relevant promotion as well as any terms and conditions of any relevant third party.
Written parental/guardian consent is required where a promotion states that participants may be under the age of 18. Entry to any promotion is limited to one entry per person unless otherwise specified.
No responsibility is accepted for entries damaged, lost or mislaid and proof of posting will not be accepted as proof of delivery. No applications will be accepted by agents, in bulk or from third parties.
(a) to disqualify any claimant, competitor or nominee whose conduct is contrary to the spirit of the rules or the intention of the promotion and to declare as void any or all of their claims or entries based on such conduct;
(b) to declare as void any claims or entries resulting from any printing, production and/or distribution errors (including but not limited to any error(s) in the relevant Northcliffe Media title, this website, any game cards and/or other printed materials) or where there has been error(s) in any aspect of the preparation for or conduct of the promotion materially affecting the result of the promotion or the number of claimants or the value of claims;
(c) to add to or to waive any rules on reasonable notice; and/or
(d) to cancel the promotion or any part of it at any stage in the event of circumstances beyond NML's reasonable control.
Game cards or other promotional devices found to be mutilated, illegible, altered, reconstructed, forged or tampered with in any way will also be declared void by the Editors. Photocopies will not be accepted. The promotion may also be declared void should a printing or production error, in connection with the promotion appear in any Northcliffe Media title or on this website.
Promotional items will be fulfilled within 56 working days from the date the order for those promotional items is received.
Last updated 10 June, 2010
Your use of our site or services means that you accept, and agree to abide by, these House Rules, which supplement our terms.
This is a site operated by Northcliffe Media Ltd ("We"). We are limited company registered in England and Wales under company number 272225 and have our registered office at 2 Derry St, London W8 5TT. Our VAT number is 243-5711-74.
Rule 1: We welcome your opinions
We welcome your opinions and input. We want our readers to see and understand different points of view. In the case of comments or discussions, try to contribute to the thread, rather than just stating if you agree or disagree. Unless you have a witty one-liner, please explain why you hold your opinion.
On the other hand, if you are contributing facts they must be accurate.
Rule 2: This is a public forum
Once your contribution is online, everyone with Internet access can read it. Please make your contribution clear to ensure that it is not misunderstood. You can express a strong opinion but please do not go over the top. Don't forget that you are legally responsible for what you submit. Please consider how your contribution could be received by others - many different types of people of different ages may view it.
Rule 3: Language and relevance
Please be polite. Do not use swear words or crude or sexual language. Only English is allowed. Keep your submissions relevant to the story or topic. Do not insult other contributions or discuss the non-appearance or removal of any content on this Site or the suspension or termination of any users. If you would like to discuss the operation of the Site with us, please email us at comments@northcliffemedia.co.uk
Rule 4: Report abuse
We strongly support this site’s community in maintaining high standards of participation. If you consider that a comment does not comply with these rules or our terms please use the relevant Report Abuse facility, located just under the comment in issue. The facility should only be used for serious complaints, not simply because you disagree with something said. Any other abuse should be reported to the email above.
Rule 5: No libel or other abuse
You must not contribute or encourage content which is:
- defamatory, false or misleading;
- insulting, threatening or abusive;
- obscene or of a sexual nature;
- offensive, racist, sexist, homophobic or promote discrimination against any religious or other groups; or
- promotes illegal activity or deception.
Rule 6: Confidentiality, privacy and contempt
Please respect people's privacy. You are not allowed to submit confidential or private information. For example, you must not upload the telephone number, email address or any other contact details of any person without their permission.
You should not write anything which could prejudice pending or on-going court proceedings of which you are aware. For example, if you have any personal knowledge about someone who has been arrested or charged or being prosecuted for an offence, you must not mention it. If you do, you could be in contempt of court, which is an extremely serious matter.
Rule 7: No advertising, spam, solicitation or investigations
You must not use our Site for:
- the promotion of any products, services or chain messages or for any other commercial purpose without our prior consent;
- any fraudulent purpose;
- harming or attempting to harm minors;
- sending or procuring the sending of unsolicited emails ,unauthorised advertising or other communications;
- an investigation e.g. tracing the whereabouts of any person.
We retain the right to remove comments that refer to any sponsorship, petition, campaign or scheme, at our discretion.
Rule 8: No impersonation and proper disclosure
You must not pretend to be someone else (e.g. an expert, another user or a member of our team). You must not pretend that you are unconnected to a story or topic, when in fact you are. If you have a personal connection to a story or topic, you should disclose your connection or, where appropriate, not comment at all.
Rule 9: Protection of Minors
The use of any of our interactive services by a minor is subject to the consent of their parent or guardian. We advise parents who permit their children to use an interactive service that it is important that they communicate with their children about their safety online and they are made aware of the potential risks to them.
Rule 10: Linking and copyright infringement
You may insert links to websites (URLs). You must not infringe another person's copyright, for example by copying and pasting content from another site and using it as your own comment.
Rule 11: Respect the spirit as well as the letter of the House Rules
In deciding what is acceptable, please also respect the spirit and tone of these rules and the community.
Rule 12: Legality
You must comply with the applicable UK law and that of the country from which you are posting any contribution.
Rule 13: Moderation and removal of content
Where we do provide any interactive service, we will provide clear information to you about the kind of service offered, if it is moderated and what form of moderation is used. If we do moderate an interactive service, we will normally provide you with a means of contacting the moderator.
If your comment violates the letter or spirit of these rules or our Terms it may be removed. If we do remove something, we will generally remove whole posts, or where necessary, whole threads (not parts). This means that even if only one sentence is objectionable, the whole contribution will usually be removed (or not published).
If your contribution or a thread is removed, this may be for any number of reasons. Usually, this will be because the contribution breaks these rules or our Terms or is the subject of an abuse report. Sometimes, the contribution may be removed because it is connected to another contribution which is being removed. We hope that you will understand that, once properly notified of a complaint, we may have to remove a contribution for legal reasons.
If your content has been removed, we may email you to let you know or to inform you if you have been suspended or banned from submitting further comments to the Site.
If you are aware that content has been removed, you must not deliberately resubmit the same content.
Rule 14: Suspension and termination
We reserve the right to suspend or ban your use of the site or its facilities at our sole discretion. Here are some reasons why we might do so:
- Breaching these rules or our terms;
- Serious failure to respect the spirit and tone of the community;
- Conduct or comments that demand a disproportionate amount of our time or that abuse our staff.
The length of a suspension or whether we ban you depends on all the circumstances. Bans are generally for extreme cases and repeated serious abuse.
If we suspend or ban your use of the Site or its facilities, you must not attempt to re-register or submit content (e.g. using someone else's account), without our permission.
We also reserve the right to take proceedings against you for breach of our terms or these House Rules and to report the matter to the Police or other appropriate law enforcement agency.
Promotions Rules
Rule 1:
Each promotion is subject to the specific directions and, if applicable, any terms and conditions published for the relevant promotion in the Northcliffe Media title it is published in or on this website.In the case of conflict between these rules and such specific directions/terms and conditions, these rules shall prevail. By participating in any promotion, you are deemed to accept these rules and the specific directions/terms and conditions applicable to the relevant promotion as well as any terms and conditions of any relevant third party.
Rule 2:
Employees and agents of Northcliffe Media Limited ("NML") or any company connected with the production or distribution of a promotion or any of their associated companies are not eligible to take part in the applicable promotion, nor are their relatives or members of their families or households. Unless expressly stated for a particular promotion, promotions are restricted to residents of the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man aged 18 years or over. Proof of eligibility must be provided on request.Written parental/guardian consent is required where a promotion states that participants may be under the age of 18. Entry to any promotion is limited to one entry per person unless otherwise specified.
Rule 3:
Failure to claim a gift, prize or other promotional item by the time or in the manner specified for the particular promotion (or if no time is specified, within 28 days from the promotion closing date) will make any claim invalid and the Editor may re-allocate the prize.No responsibility is accepted for entries damaged, lost or mislaid and proof of posting will not be accepted as proof of delivery. No applications will be accepted by agents, in bulk or from third parties.
Rule 4:
The determination and decision of the editors of the relevant Northcliffe Media title (the "Editors") on all matters shall be final and no promotional correspondence will be entered into. The Editors reserve the right in their reasonable discretion:(a) to disqualify any claimant, competitor or nominee whose conduct is contrary to the spirit of the rules or the intention of the promotion and to declare as void any or all of their claims or entries based on such conduct;
(b) to declare as void any claims or entries resulting from any printing, production and/or distribution errors (including but not limited to any error(s) in the relevant Northcliffe Media title, this website, any game cards and/or other printed materials) or where there has been error(s) in any aspect of the preparation for or conduct of the promotion materially affecting the result of the promotion or the number of claimants or the value of claims;
(c) to add to or to waive any rules on reasonable notice; and/or
(d) to cancel the promotion or any part of it at any stage in the event of circumstances beyond NML's reasonable control.
Rule 5:
Gifts, prizes and other promotional items are not transferable, may not be re-sold and are subject to availability. The Editors reserve the right in their reasonable discretion to substitute any such gift, prize or item with a gift, prize or item of equal value.
Rule 6:
NML and Northcliffe Media’s individual titles accept no liability for any promotion by a third party and such third party is responsible for the fulfilment of its promotion.
Rule 7:
In the event of there being more claims than prizes available in any category and subject to the provisions of rules 4 and 9, the names of the valid claimants will go into a draw for those prizes.
Rule 8:
All entries (including but not limited to entries via game cards/other promotional devices) must be made available if requested for the checking or verification of any claim.
Rule 9:
A promotion, or specific game cards/promotional devices, may be declared as void by the Editors if game cards/promotional devices contain a printing error, or involve a production or distribution error, of any kind. Game cards or other promotional devices found to be mutilated, illegible, altered, reconstructed, forged or tampered with in any way will also be declared void by the Editors. Photocopies will not be accepted. The promotion may also be declared void should a printing or production error, in connection with the promotion appear in any Northcliffe Media title or on this website.
Rule 10:
Publicity may be given to promotion winners and winners' names and images may be published in the relevant Northcliffe Media title and on this website and other website(s) relating to the promotion. Winners must co-operate fully for publicity purposes if so required.
Rule 11:
Winners will be notified within 28 days of the relevant closing date and names of winners of major promotions are available by sending an SAE (marked with the promotion name to the relevant Northcliffe Media titles’ main publishing address, as printed inside the newspaper or on this website up to one month after the closing date.Promotional items will be fulfilled within 56 working days from the date the order for those promotional items is received.
Rule 12:
No purchase of any kind is necessary for free prize draws. Follow the directions and any terms and conditions for the relevant promotion as published in the relevant Northcliffe Media title or on this website.
Rule 13:
Prizes, gifts and other promotional items are as described in the relevant Northcliffe Media title or on this website. Winners/claimants of holidays are responsible for ensuring that they and any partners hold valid passports and any necessary visas or other necessary travel documentation for the trip in question. Unless otherwise stated, insurance and travel to and from airports is excluded. Winners/claimants of vehicle prizes must hold valid driving licences prior to driving.
Last updated 10 June, 2010
