Acceptable Use Policy

This Acceptable Use Policy ("AUP"), also referred to as the Fair Use Policy, applies to all player-owned game server services provided by Shockbyte ("Shockbyte Services"). By using Shockbyte Services, the customer ("Customer") agrees to comply with this AUP.
This AUP sets out rules governing use of the Shockbyte Services to protect our customers, our infrastructure, and the wider internet.

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#1. General Obligations

The Customer shall:

(a) use the Shockbyte Services only in compliance with this AUP, Shockbyte’s Terms of Service, and all applicable laws and regulations;
(b) be responsible for all activity occurring under its accounts, whether authorised or unauthorised;
(c) take all reasonable steps to secure its login details, API keys, and systems that interact with Shockbyte Services; and
(d) ensure that its end users, including players, moderators, or others accessing the Customer’s server, comply with this AUP. Any violation of this AUP by an end user shall be deemed a violation by the Customer.

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#2. Prohibited Use

The Customer shall not use the Shockbyte Services:

(a) for any unlawful, fraudulent, harmful, or abusive purpose;
(b) to create, store, transmit, make available, or otherwise promote child sexual abuse material (CSAM), terrorist content, content that promotes or incites violence or terrorism, or any other illegal or offensive material;
(c) to infringe or misappropriate the intellectual property, privacy, or other rights of any third party, including by hosting or distributing unlicensed software, games, or content;
(d) to transmit viruses, malware, or other harmful code;
(e) to engage in spamming, unsolicited advertising, or bulk messaging;
(f) to conduct denial-of-service (DoS) or distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, port scanning, or intrusive testing of networks or systems;
(g) to mine cryptocurrencies or similar blockchain workloads without Shockbyte’s prior written consent;
(h) in violation of export control, sanctions, or data protection laws;
(i) in any manner that interferes with, degrades, or negatively impacts Shockbyte’s infrastructure or other customers’ use of the Shockbyte Services;
(j) to conduct or attempt penetration testing, vulnerability scanning, or other security assessments of Shockbyte’s systems or infrastructure without prior written consent;
(k) to store files within the Customer’s server that are not actively in use by, or strictly required for, the operation of the game server;
(l) to artificially inflate file sizes for any purpose; or
(m) to store backups within the Customer’s server files. All backups must be managed either through Shockbyte’s backup service, which stores data externally on cloud infrastructure, or by the Customer downloading and maintaining backups on their own computer or through an external storage provider.

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#3. Abuse Handling

#3.1 Reporting

Abuse reports may be submitted to abuse@shockbyte.com or via Shockbyte’s contact page. Shockbyte may also receive reports from third parties, industry groups, or law enforcement.

#3.2 Cooperation

The Customer shall promptly cooperate with Shockbyte in investigating suspected abuse, including providing requested information.

#3.3 Shockbyte Action

Shockbyte may suspend or terminate Customer’s services, in whole or in part, if:
(a) the Customer fails to respond to abuse inquiries in a timely manner;
(b) Shockbyte reasonably determines that a violation of this AUP has occurred;
(c) immediate action is required to mitigate harm, respond to legal obligations, or protect Shockbyte’s systems or customers; or
(d) misuse is detected by Shockbyte’s automated monitoring systems, in which case Shockbyte may take automated remedial action, including suspension, throttling, or removal of non-compliant files.

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#4. Enforcement

#4.1 Investigation

Shockbyte may investigate suspected violations of this AUP. If a breach is found, Shockbyte may remove content, disable or restrict access to resources, suspend or terminate services, or close accounts.

#4.2 No Liability

Shockbyte shall not be liable for suspension, removal, or other enforcement actions taken in good faith under this AUP.

#4.3 Updates

Shockbyte may update this AUP at any time by posting a revised version at shockbyte.com/legal/acceptable-use-policy or by providing notice. Continued use of Shockbyte Services after the effective date of the update constitutes acceptance of the revised AUP.