Terms and rules

Terms & Rules

Rules

updated 3 December 2021.

Members are advised to regularly check here for important changes to the Forum Rules and the Terms of Use

diyAudio is a place for all members of the DIY audio community to learn, share knowledge, and enjoy interacting with others interested in the design and construction of audio components. This privately owned forum does not act in trade or commerce. It reserves the right to limit the behaviour of its members. The rules including but not limited to the following will be enforced in good faith to maintain discussion quality and peer respect.

THE RULES

NOT ALLOWED:

  1. Disruptive behaviour of any sort, including offensive language, trolling, threadjacking, insults, intimidation, harassment or other disrespectful or antisocial behaviour. (Notes 1 & 4)
  2. Discussions of politics, ethnicity, religion, medical or other divisive issues of any sort.
  3. Intentionally posting incorrect or flagrantly dangerous information (Notes 2 & 3).
  4. More than one account per person.
  5. Starting multiple threads on the same subject.
  6. Posting in a language other than English without a translation.
  7. Posting or linking to pornography, illegal download sites, illegal software, or sites unrelated to the topics discussed on this forum.
  8. Posting overtly commercial information or advertising in non-commercial forums. (Note 5) Using the private messaging system or email to make commercial advances is not allowed.
  9. Posts containing material covered by copyright, which are subject to Non-Disclosure Agreement or is otherwise subject to obligations of confidentiality owed to third parties without permission of the respective copyright owner or controller of the confidential information. Requesting such information is also not allowed.
  10. Posting private correspondence or personal information relating to persons of companies other than yourself on the forums without expressed permission of the author or owner.
  11. Posts concerning Moderator’s directives or decisions, including reposting of such actions. Please use the Private Message or Report Post button to contact Moderators if you have comments or questions.
  12. Improper use of the Quote function such as altering the words or meaning of the quote, misquoting or lack of quote attribution. The following are not hard rules, but guidelines to make the forum a better place.
  13. Do be polite. Even when you don’t want to be.
  14. Don’t post in ALL CAPITAL letters.
  15. Don’t quote the entire post just above yours.

IF YOU VIOLATE THE RULES:

You may be given an infraction notice consisting of a number of infraction points and how long they will stick. These are like penalties in sports. If you get too many penalties you will be placed in the “sin bin” (meaning you can’t post and will face other restrictions) and you will be freed when your points expire. Flagrant or ongoing violations may result in permanent banning from this site.

diyAudio is a MODERATED FORUM:

The moderation team has final authority regarding the enforcement and interpretation of the Forum Rules and the conduct of its users. diyAudio reserves the right to terminate any user account that over time have demonstrated a negative impact on the community. The :cop:, :sarge: and :captain: icons are for Moderator use only. Moderators will use them when conducting official forum duties only.

The moderators work as a team to enforce the forum rules. Most moderation actions are reviewed by the team.

Moderators are not usually allowed to edit offending posts; they must delete an entire post if part of it violates the rules.

Some threads become repetitive or conflict prone. The moderation team will, at its discretion, close these threads. Starting a new thread to discuss the same topic is prohibited. Posting material from or about a closed thread is also prohibited.

If you see a post that needs moderator attention or if you just need help, please use the “Report Post” link which you can find by clicking on the poster’s avatar icon. This is the correct and quickest way to get the attention of the moderation team.

Different levels of membership are not a consideration when moderating actions are taken. Insulting, taunting, baiting or harassing a moderator for official decisions online or through private message or e-mail is a very serious offense and will usually result in banning.

Threads or posts about site moderation are not allowed and will be closed and/or deleted. Please handle questions and comments about the site or moderation via the “Report Post” button, PM, or the contact form.

NOTES

1. Trolling is posting inflammatory, extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community which might provoke other users into an emotional response or otherwise disrupt normal on-topic discussion. Threadjacking is the practice of taking over a thread by posting off-topic replies such that the original topic becomes diluted or lost. Off-topic posts, and replies to off-topic posts, can be a positive outcome of discussion, but must either be brief or be moved to another thread. If something interesting does arise that warrants extensive discussion — then start a new thread and link to it.

2. Your safety and the safety of others. While most projects on this site deal with electricity and construction which inherently involve some risk, particularly dangerous topics and procedures should include a warning in the thread that adequately explains these risks. The forum itself is not in the business of vetting projects or posts for safety, accuracy, performance, reliability, function, or fitness for use. If you attempt to make something and it blows up, or turns expensive parts into charcoal, or just doesn’t work the way you were hoping, that’s between you and the person posting the project or idea. The forum is merely a bulletin board which allows anyone to post ideas, criticisms, or discussions. It is up to the individual to make the final determination of how appropriate a project is for them to attempt, based on their own experience.

3. Working on live and non isolated power supplies as well as high voltage equipment carries risk. Much of todays equipment uses power supplies derived from circuitry that is both live at all times and that also has no isolation from the incoming mains supply. This can be lethal to those unfamiliar with this mode of operation. Even probing the circuitry with mains powered test equipment carries an immediate and lethal risk. It is therefore the responsibility of the person working on such equipment to ensure that they are fully conversant with safe working practices which include (but are not limited to) powering both the item being worked on and the test equipment from an isolated supply. Tube/valve circuitry also poses a lethal shock hazard due to the high voltages typically encountered. Again, the person working on such projects should be conversant with safe and good working practices.

4. Foul language: Sure, many of us use foul language in normal conversation without too much thinking, but this forum is about thinking. Over the years this forum has had a strict language code and it seems to have worked well to create a positive atmosphere, where people from different places and cultures feel comfortable. Attempting to circumvent the auto-censor is not allowed.

5. Non-Commercial: The regular forums (being forums not specifically designated for commercial posts) are non-commercial and should have no advertisements or overtly commercial threads or posts. These belong in the appropriate Commercial Sector forums. Commercial entities may have threads and post in the regular forums discussing theory and initial product design. If a project gets close to commercial availability, the topic must be continued in a Commercial Sector thread.

6. Commercial Design Discussion: Discussion of product design considerations may also be discussed by commercial entities in the regular forums, but promotion of specific products is not allowed. Members who want to start commercial threads may do so at no cost in the Vendor’s Bazaar. Those who want more commercial exposure are encouraged to contact the management to discuss terms for obtaining a Manufacturers Forum or Vendor’s Forum in the Commercial Sector. Banners and display advertisements are also available.

7. Commercial Threads: The commercial threads are for private transactions between members and other members or companies. diyAudio.com provides these forums as bulletin boards for the convenience of our members, but makes no warranty nor assumes any responsibility regarding unsatisfactory transactions. Normal diyAudio rules about member conduct apply and will be enforced. Please use the commercial sector bulletin boards at your own risk and using your own judgment.

MARKETPLACE AND VENDORS BAZAAR RULES

These rules apply to any members of our commercial sector as well as anyone promoting anything on diyAudio. Repeated violations of these rules will result in termination of your account and all your threads without hesitation.

  • No promotion or sale of products infringing trademarks, regardless of the country of origin of the trademark.
  • Only one thread per vendor in the Vendors Bazaar
  • No thread “bumping” in the Vendors Bazaar


WEBSITE TERMS of USE

Introduction and General Information

These Terms of Use apply to your use of our website. Before using our website you must agree to these Terms of Use. diyAudio may change these Terms of Use from time to time and by continuing to use our website you accept and agree to be bound by all changes.

This site is created and maintained by diyAudio pty ltd, Australian Company Number 641 498 302 (“diyAudio”). References to “we”, “us” and other parts of speech refer to diyAudio.

diyAudio Pty exists to support the diyAudio site. It does not conduct itself as a ‘for-profit’ company and all revenues are directed to the maintenance of the diyAudio site. Certain trading and other commercial discussion is permitted between members on the Commercial Sector and the Vendor’s Bazaar which are also governed by separate Commercial Sector Rules.

Intellectual Property Rights

All copyright, trade marks, design rights, patents and other intellectual property rights (registered and unregistered) in and on our website and all content (including any applications) located on the site shall remain the sole property of diyAudio or its licensors (which includes other users). You must not:

  • Republish material from our website without prior written consent.
  • Sell or rent material from our website.
  • Redistribute any content from our website, including onto another website.

What we consider acceptable use of our website

You agree to use our website only for lawful purposes, and in a way that does not infringe the rights of, restrict or inhibit anyone else’s use and enjoyment of the website. You agree that prohibited behaviour includes harassing or causing distress or inconvenience to any other user, transmitting obscene or offensive content or disrupting the normal flow of dialogue within our website.

You must not use our website to send unsolicited commercial communications.

You must not use the content on our website for any marketing related purpose without our express written consent.

User Contribution to our website.

By sharing any contribution (including any text, photographs, graphics, video or audio) with diyAudio you agree to grant to diyAudio, free of charge, permission to use the material in any way we want (including modifying and adapting it for operational and editorial reasons).

Copyright of your contribution will remain with you and this permission is not exclusive and you can continue to use the material in any way including allowing others to use it.

In order that diyAudio can use your contribution, you confirm that your contribution is your own original work, is not defamatory and does not infringe any Australian laws, that you have the right to give diyAudio permission to use your contribution.

diyAudio does not undertake to monitor the submission of any user generated content, or the publication of this content on our website.

Limited Warranties

diyAudio is a forum for interested parties engaging in information sharing for non-commercial use. diyAudio does not engage in trade or commerce in the operation of our diyAudio website.

We endeavour to ensure that all content on our website (excluding any user generated content) is correct. To the extent permitted by the applicable law, we disclaim all representations and warranties with respect to our website or any content thereon, either express or implied, including but not limited to any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for any particular purpose; in no event will we be liable for indirect, special, incidental or consequential loss or damage which may arise in respect of the Site, its use, or in respect of other equipment or property, or for loss of profit, business, revenue, goodwill or anticipated savings, even if we have been advised of the possibility of such loss.

Limitations of our Liability

diyAudio will not be liable for any damages or injury that accompany or result from your use of any of our website.

These include (but are not limited to) damages or injury caused by any:

Use of (or inability to use) our website;

Use of (or inability to use) any site to which you hyperlink from our website;

Failure of our website to perform in the manner you expected or desired;

  • Error on our website
  • Omission on our website;
  • Interruption of availability of our website;
  • Defect on our site
  • Delay in operation or transmission of our website;
  • Computer virus or line failure.
  • Please note that we are not liable for any damages, including:
  • Damages intended to compensate someone directly for a loss or injury;
  • Damages reasonably expected to result from a loss or injury (known in legal terms as “consequential damages”);
  • Other miscellaneous damages and expenses resulting directly from a loss or injury (known in legal terms as “incidental damages”);

We are not liable even if we’ve been negligent or if our authorized representative has been advised of the possibility of such damages or both.

Exception: certain state laws may not allow us to limit or exclude liability for these “incidental” or “consequential” damages. If you live in one of those states, the above limitation obviously would not apply which would mean that you might have the right to recover these types of damages.

However, in any event, our liability to you for all losses, damages, injuries, and claims of any and every kind (whether the damages are claimed under the terms of a contract, or claimed to be caused by negligence or other wrongful conduct, or they’re claimed under any other legal theory) will not be greater than the amount you paid if anything to access our site.

Privacy

diyAudio makes every endeavour to respect personal privacy when dealing with personal information. We collect and handle personal information in accord with our privacy policy

Restricted Access, Security and Identification

We have restricted access to certain areas of our website. We may in the future need to restrict access to parts (or all) of our website and reserve full rights to do so. If, at any point, we provide you with a username and password for you to access restricted areas of our website, you must ensure that both your username and password are kept confidential.

We also reserve the right to disable your user account at our sole discretion without explanation.

diyAudio does not require proof of identity to become a member and individuals are entitled to use a handle or pseudonym but within the scope of the following conditions:

  • Whoever you are, you must be over eighteen or have the permission of your parent or guardian to use this site;
  • You must only use one name in member posts – if diyAudio detects multiple user names from any IP address or becomes aware from other sources, all such usernames will be terminated;
  • Likewise, if the same username and password are used by multiple individuals, diyAudio reserves the right to seek explanation or to restrict or terminate use;
  • If you are not truthful in relation to a query regarding identity, diyAudio reserves the right to disable your user account and block future use.

Disputes Handling Procedure

Any complaint or dispute will be referred first to Moderators with experience in and understanding of the aims and values of diyAudio and its user base. Moderators are independent of diyAudio and are not employees.

Moderators have the discretion to delete posts or to terminate threads which in their reasonable opinion conflict with or violate these ToS or the diyAudio Rules.

Miscellaneous

Without prejudice to our other rights under this terms of use, if you fail to abide by these terms of use when using our website, we will take all necessary measures to ensure our protection including, but not limited to, informing relevant third parties such as your employer, school or internet provider about the infringement(s). We will also inform law enforcement on any serious violation.

Revision and change to these Terms of Use

diyAudio may change these terms from time to time and so you should check these terms regularly. Your continued use of our website will be deemed acceptance of the updated or amended terms. If you do not agree to the changes, you should cease using our website immediately.

If any of these terms are determined to be illegal, invalid or otherwise unenforceable by reason of the laws of Australia, then to the extent and within the jurisdiction in which that term is illegal, invalid or unenforceable, it shall be severed and deleted from these terms and the remaining terms shall survive and continue to be binding and enforceable.

Entire Agreement

This terms of use, together with our privacy policy, make the entire agreement between you and us in relation to your use of our website.

Law and Jurisdiction

These Terms and all use of our Site is governed by the laws of the State of Victoria Australia and any questions arising shall be dealt with only by the Australian courts.