The Knowledge Network is a service provided by ICMA, the Alliance for Innovation, and participating partner organizations. Collectively these are referred to as The Knowledge Network Partners. The Knowledge network is provided solely for the purpose of sharing information relating to local government. By accessing and/or participating in the Knowledge Network, you agree to be bound by and to warrant full compliance with the Knowledge Network Terms of Use, as further delineated below. Any violation of these Terms of Use may result in the revocation of your participation privileges, with or without prior notice. You should be aware that you can be held legally accountable for your postings.

We aren’t responsible for the information users post.

The Knowledge Network Partners accept no responsibility for the statements, information and materials posted by users, and hereby disclaim all warranties with respect to statements, information and materials posted in such questions, answers, group activities or other discussions, whether by The Knowledge Network Partners or by third-parties, including warranties of accuracy, completeness, merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. In no event shall The Knowledge Network Partners be liable for any damages, including special, indirect or consequential damages, arising from or in connection with any statements, information or materials posted in the Knowledge Network.

The functionality will change over time.

The Knowledge Network Partners reserve the right to add, modify, or remove any of the Knowledge Network functionality.

“People with expertise” are self-identified.

The Knowledge Network allows users to identify themselves as having expertise in various local government topics. The Knowledge Network Partners are not responsible for assessing the qualification of people who self-identify as having expertise; however, the Knowledge Network Partners reserve the right to remove a self-identified expert in the event of complaints from users.

Be respectful. Your postings are part of your professional reputation.

It shouldn’t be necessary to say it, but you are prohibited from posting any defamatory, abusive, terrorizing, profane, threatening, offensive, obscene, sexually explicit or illegal statements, information or materials. You are prohibited from using the Knowledge Network to impersonate any person, or to communicate under a false name or one you are not authorized to use.

Don’t post copyrighted material. When you post, you grant the right to publish.

When you post original expressions that could be subject to copyright, you own this material and may reuse it as you wish. By posting any statements, information, or material, you warrant and represent that you hold the property rights, including any copyrights, with respect to such statement, information or material, or that you have obtained the necessary permission from the holder to post the material. When you post material in The Knowledge Network, you grant The Knowledge Network Partners a nonexclusive, perpetual, and irrevocable, fully paid up, worldwide license to display, copy, publish, distribute, transmit, print, make derivative works from, and use any statement, information, or material that you post. The Knowledge Network Partners will use reasonable efforts to protect content that has been posted to a limited audience such as a Knowledge Network Group. The Knowledge Network Partners will not re-publish such content to a broader audience without express permission of the content owner. 

Don’t use the system to promote your products or services or for commercial purposes.

All postings must be informational in nature and for informational purposes only. We recognize that consultants and representatives of companies that offer services to local governments have knowledge to contribute to the community; however, overt promotion of products and services by users is prohibited. Commercial use or any other unauthorized use is prohibited.

The Knowledge Network Partners may engage corporate sponsors.

The Knowledge Network Partners reserve the right to engage corporate sponsors to underwrite the cost of the Knowledge Network. Sponsored content will be indentified as such.

We don’t monitor everything, but we reserve the right to remove inappropriate material.

The Knowledge Network Partners do not constantly monitor the Knowledge Network and do not undertake editorial control of postings; however, The Knowledge Network Partners reserve the right to take immediate action without notice on any posting that, in the sole opinion of The Knowledge Network Partners, is inappropriate or violates the terms and conditions of this Use Policy and to restrict, suspend, or exclude any individual from further use of the Knowledge Network.

Indemnity

As a condition of use of the Knowledge Network, you agree to indemnify The Knowledge Network Partners, their directors, officers, employees, agents, and subcontractors from and against any and all liabilities, expenses, including attorneys’ fees, and damages arising out of claims resulting from your use of the Knowledge Network, including without limitation any claims alleging facts that if true would constitute a breach by you of these terms of use.

Disclaimer

The content and features of the Knowledge Network are provided “as is” and without representations or warranties of any kind, either express or implied, including but not limited to, warranties of accuracy, reliability, merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and/or noninfringement. The Knowledge Network Partners do not represent or warrant that any such features will operate in an uninterrupted or error-free fashion, that defects will be corrected, or that the Internet site or the server are free of viruses or other harmful components.
In no event shall The Knowledge Network Partners be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages, including without limitation lost profits and cost of procurement of substitute products, arising out of your use or inability to use any content or features of the Knowledge Network or of external links, even if The Knowledge Network Partners have been advised of the possibility of such damages.

Governing Law

This agreement is governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the District of Columbia without giving effect to any principles of conflicts of laws. If any provision of this agreement shall be unlawful, void, or unenforceable, then that provision shall be deemed severable from this agreement and shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the remaining provisions.

Changes in Terms

ICMA and the Alliance for Innovation reserve the right to change these terms at any time. The Knowledge Network Partners will notify users of changes in these terms. Your continued use of the Knowledge Network constitutes your acceptance of any such changes.

Privacy Policy

To learn how your information is used and how you can set your privacy and communication preferences, see the Privacy Policy.

COPYRIGHT © 2012 INTERNATIONAL CITY/COUNTY MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION (ICMA) AND THE ALLIANCE FOR INNOVATION. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.