Acceptable use policy

"Fair use policy" redirects here. For the concept in copyright law, see Fair use. For the Wikipedia's fair use policy, see Wikipedia:Non-free content.

An acceptable use policy (AUP) (also acceptable usage policy or fair use policy (FUP)) is a set of rules applied by the owner, creator, possessor or administrator of a computer network, website, or service that restricts the ways in which the network, website or system may be used and sets guidelines as to how it should be used.

Terminology

An acceptable use agreement, sometimes also known as an access agreement or a user agreement, defines the responsibilities of users accessing a given system or a given information item.

Common elements of AUP statements

In a handbook for writing AUP documents, the Virginia Department of Education indicate that there are three other areas needing to be addressed in an AUP:

• a statement that the AUP is in compliance with state and national telecommunication rules and regulations
• a statement regarding the need to maintain personal safety and privacy while accessing the Internet
• a statement regarding the need to comply with Fair Use Laws and other copyright regulations while accessing the Internet

See also

• Terms of service
• Lee v. PMSI, Inc., a U.S. District Court Case that found violating an acceptable use policy did not violate the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act.