Acceptable Use Policy

Effective Date: Updated 7 June 2023

This Acceptable Use Policy (the “Policy”) outlines the acceptable use of services provided by The First Step  (“we,” “us,” or “our”) to our clients (referred to as “you” or “your”) in relation to your use of our website hosting, website design, domain registration and hosting, SEO, website speedup, and related services. By engaging with our services, you agree to comply with this Policy.

1. Prohibited Activities

1.1. Illegal Use: You must not use our services for any illegal activities, including but not limited to, copyright infringement, unauthorized access to computer systems, distribution of malware or viruses, hacking, phishing, or any other activity that violates applicable laws and regulations.

1.2. Spamming: You are strictly prohibited from engaging in any form of spamming, such as unsolicited email marketing, bulk messaging, or any other activity aimed at promoting your website or services through unauthorized or unsolicited communications.

1.3. Misrepresentation: You must not use our services to engage in any fraudulent or deceptive activities, including misrepresenting your identity, providing false information, or impersonating any individual or entity.

1.4. Harmful Content: You may not use our services to publish, transmit, or store any content that is defamatory, offensive, obscene, hateful, threatening, or promotes violence, discrimination, or any form of illegal or harmful behavior.

1.5. Resource Abuse: You must not engage in activities that result in excessive consumption of server resources, including but not limited to, overloading the server, running resource-intensive scripts or programs, or engaging in activities that negatively impact the performance and stability of our services.

2. Website Content and Design

2.1. Legal Compliance: You are responsible for ensuring that the content displayed on your website complies with all applicable laws, regulations, and industry standards. This includes but is not limited to copyright, trademark, and intellectual property rights.

2.2. Third-Party Content: If you include any third-party content on your website, such as images, videos, or text, you must have the necessary rights and permissions to use such content. You are solely responsible for any copyright infringement or legal issues arising from the use of third-party content.

2.3. Website Security: You are responsible for implementing appropriate security measures to protect your website and any user data collected. This includes using strong passwords, keeping software and plugins up to date, and regularly monitoring for potential vulnerabilities.

3. Service Usage and Billing

3.1. Fair Usage: You agree to use our services in a reasonable and responsible manner. Excessive use of server resources or activities that negatively impact the performance of our services may result in suspension or termination of your account.

3.2. Payment and Billing: You are responsible for the timely payment of any fees or charges associated with our services. Failure to pay may result in the suspension or termination of your account.

4. Compliance and Enforcement

4.1. Investigations: We reserve the right to investigate any reported or suspected violations of this Policy. If necessary, we may suspend or terminate your account or take legal action to enforce this Policy or protect our services, clients, or the general public.

4.2. Reporting: If you become aware of any unauthorized or abusive use of our services or any violation of this Policy, you must promptly report it to us.

5. Modifications to the Policy

We may revise this Acceptable Use Policy from time to time to ensure its accuracy and relevance. The most current version will be available on our website, and your continued use of our services constitutes your acceptance of any changes made to this Policy.

By using our services, you acknowledge that it is your responsibility to review and comply with the most recent version of this Acceptable Use Policy, and failure to do so may result in the suspension or termination of your account.

Further more, any additional hosting Acceptable Use Policies on Xneelo website are implied here as we lease our server space from Xneelo and resell these services to our clients. Please view their policy here: https://xneelo.co.za/legal/acceptable-use-policy/