Policy on the Creation and Management of Discussion Lists

Preamble

The IUCr provides a list-distribution service as a means of stimulating written discussions amongst crystallographers on topics relevant to the IUCr and the field of crystallography. The discussion lists are complementary to the other information services (print and electronic) of the IUCr. The printed quarterly IUCr Newsletter and the electronic web services (http://www.iucr.org/iucr-top/) are provided by the IUCr for the dissemination of information to a very wide and unrestricted circle of subscribers. On the other hand the discussion lists are provided for smaller groups interested in or working together on specific topics. They are ideal for IUCr Commissions, sub-commissions, committees, working groups and other bodies.

Disclaimer

IUCr is not responsible for indecent, untruthful or libellous statements made by list subscribers. The IUCr is not responsible for any views expressed.

Copyright

Material posted to an IUCr discussion list is copyright the International Union of Crystallography.

Access to lists and archives

The IUCr President, General Secretary and Treasurer, and Executive Secretary or any person designated by any one of them has a right of access to any discussion list or archive.

Conflicts and complaints

Any conflict or complaint should be addressed in the first instance to the list owner concerned. Should a conflict or grievance peresist, the problem must be referred to the IUCr's Committee on Electronic Publishing, Dissemination and Storage of Information. The decision of this committee is final.

Implementation information

Full details of the current implementation of the IUCr Discussion Lists may be found at http://www.iucr.org/iucr-top/lists/ .

Duties and responsibilities of the IUCr Committee on Electronic Publishing, Dissemination and Storage of Information (EPC)

• Overall responsibility, reportable to the IUCr Executive Committee, for the functioning of the discussion lists.
• Control of access of users to the discussion e-mails and the archive.
• The duty to ensure that list owners clearly define the topic of a list and that this subject is adhered to.
• The right to remove any message and exclude any subscriber without notice.
• The right to have a list owner moderate a list.
• The right to open or to terminate a distribution list without notice.
• The duty to receive requests for new lists and to approve or reject them.

Duties and responsibilities of the List Manager

• Technical management of the hardware and software used for the functioning of the discussion lists.
• The right to remove any message and exclude any subscriber without notice.

Duties and responsibilities of a List Owner

• The duty to ensure that the subject chosen for the discussion list is adhered to.
• The right to remove any message and exclude any subscriber without notice.
• By requesting to become a list owner, a person accepts the policy as defined in this document and the procedures described in the implementation documentation (http://www.iucr.org/iucr-top/lists/) and is bound by them.
• The responsibility to have a valid and current entry in the World Directory of Crystallographers.
• The right, with the approval of the EPC, to moderate the list.
• The duty to ensure that a list is not used for commercial or advertisement purposes.
• The duty to receive requests for membership of the list and to accept or refuse them.

Duties and responsibilities of a List Subscriber

• Use of decent non-defamatory language
• The obligation not to distribute confidential information by way of a list.
• By requesting to join a list, a person accepts the policy as defined in this document and the procedures described in the implementation documentation (http://www.iucr.org/iucr-top/lists/) and is bound by them.
• The author of an e-mail posting in an IUCr distribution list accepts responsibility for the opinion expressed and the information contained in such a posting.
• A list subscriber is strongly encouraged to have a valid and current entry in the World Directory of Crystallographers.
• The responsibility to post only material falling within the remit of the list.
• The responsibility not to use the list for commercial or advertisement purposes.
• A list subscriber has the right to request that the list owner remove from the archive a message posted by the list subscriber.

This policy document is subject to approval by the IUCr Executive Committee.

IUCr Committee on Electronic Publishing, Dissemination and Storage of Information. Updated 26 January 1998