Advertising
You must not post material for commercial purposes - including promotional material or advertising. You may not promote any self-owned business, businesses of friends or any home-based business such as party plans, which may or may not result in your own financial or material gain. You may not use business names as usernames, custom-titles or signatures. Please do not excessively promote a certain product you use, to the point it appears advertising. Please also see Buying & Selling and Businesses for related information.

Businesses, Commercial Entities & Employment
Businesses and commercial entities cannot advertise by posting in the forums (see advertising). Businesses and commercial entities cannot post their own ads on the forums seeking staff. If you wish to advertise a position in the 'pinned' section please contact jenny@essentialbaby.com.au

The Employment Forum can be used by members to advertise positions at their own places of work but it cannot be used to advertise any home-based businesses. Home-based businesses are considered businesses and as such, must pay for advertising (see below).

Please make your signature following these specific rules.

Competitor Sites

Forums and sites based on parenting themes are considered competitor sites. Links to relevant support sites are acceptable, but they will be assessed by Moderators. Do not start discussions on EB relating to matters on other sites, as we do not wish EB concerns to be discussed on other sites.

Defamation

We have a legal obligation to remove any posts that may be defamatory. This basically means that if you say anything that might lower or damage an identifiable person's reputation, it will be removed (regardless of whether or not it is true). Even if you do not name the individual other information may achieve the same result.

You must not identify or comment on any individual doctor, midwife, medical practitioner, hospital, business, organisation or other individual. We also ask that negative comments about a business that may directly or indirectly affect their business not to be posted on the forums. If you post any type of defamatory comment on the site this could result in legal action. Fair comment is allowed but the Moderators may edit or delete posts and threads when they become a legal concern. Please understand we have laws to abide by and our decision is final.

Researchers (Including high school, Uni, TAFE students etc)
Any kind of post containing any kind of formal research questions must be approved by Admin first. This includes, but is not limited to, Community groups, high school, TAFE and University students researching for assignments/essays/projects.

Spamming, Flooding and Cross-posting
No flooding, spamming or cross-posting on the forums - ie. making the same post in multiple areas. If you receive any Spam from another site, business or other member without asking for it please contact a Moderator or Administration as it contravenes the Anti-Spamming Legislation (2003).

Trading, Buying & Selling
There is to be NO trading outside the trade forum. The Trading Area of EB has its own set of rules and is open to members with more than four months history on EB. This is due to an issue we've had with fraud in the past. When applying for access to the Trading Room you will be supplied with the rules.

URLS/Links
- Links to competitor sites, businesses or commercial sites are not permitted in posts, threads, PMs, tickers or signatures. This also includes mention of, or links to home-based businesses such as party plan or an Ebay shop.

- Links to external forums are not permitted in posts, threads, signatures or PMs. This includes links to websites where the subject matter/intention of the site is not clear and links to sites that insult/offend EB members.

- Do not post a link to a site that asks you not to - this is theft.

- Do not post a link to another EB thread with the intention of inciting arguments.

Usernames
When joining please select an appropriate name (eg. 'Babyontheway' will only be suitable for so long!). No profanities. No business names. No names impersonating, stirring or mocking current members.


Votes & Referrals
You may not ask members to vote for a child. Asking members to participate in any competition requiring votes is not permitted. The same applies to competitions or sites that work on a referral system. Asking members to refer you, or join from your referral, is not permitted. These rules also apply to Diaries.

Defamation occurs when published material, identifying a person, conveys a meaning that:

- Lowers/injures the person's reputation
- Leads people to ridicule/avoid/despise that person

Large corporations cannot be defamed, but small companies and not-for-profits can be defamed.

A person may be identified� other than by their name (eg. by relationship, where they work, etc)

Both the client and the person who has posted the offending material can be liable, which must be kept in mind at all times.