A blog is a personal web page and the University is not responsible for any of the content contained in a blog, nor does the University assert any ownership over blog content. There may be some exceptions to this rule, where a blog is being written by University staff for some official purpose, but such exceptions will be individually identified and do not affect the general principle that responsibility and ownership of a blog rest with its author(s).

Even though blogs are personal web pages, the university's acceptable use policy still applies. In particular, this implies that:-

• Users shall not attempt to gain access to, copy, or otherwise make use of any other user’s program or data. This includes acquiring knowledge of any other user’s password. Attempting to interfere with or read private data on another user's blog is a breach of this term.
• Users shall not attempt to gain access to systems management facilities or other facilities not available for general use. This applies to the BlogBuilder software just as it does to every other computing system at Warwick, and in particular it means that inserting code or markup into your posts or comments which breaks the layout of Warwick Blogs outside of your own blog is a breach of the AUP.
• Computing facilities shall not be used to display, print, transmit or store text or images or other data which could be considered offensive such as pornographic, racially abusive or libellous material. The test here is not whether you, or your peers, find content offensive; it is whether such content could be deemed offensive to others. Do not assume that if you find something harmless or amusing, that therefore it must be acceptable to publish.
• Users should be aware of the possibilities for copyright infringement which arise out of the use of a blog; making copyrighted video or audio material available, or reproducing images or text from other sources may be a breach of copyright law and thus illegal. Asking for assistance with (or identifying mechanisms for) file-sharing at Warwick is also unacceptable.
• No one shall make use of the University’s computing facilities to harass any person or group of persons.
• No one shall make any use of the University’s computing facilities to undertake or assist in a criminal act.
• No one shall produce, use or promulgate material which could bring the University, or any part of the University, into disrepute. In particular, this implies that using your blog entirely or largely for advertising purposes, including product links, is not permitted, since it harms our standing with both human readers and with search engines.

If you are in any doubt as to what is implied by these terms and conditions, then it is strongly suggested that you also read the FAQ: "What can't I put on my blog?"

Monitoring of blogs

Blogs are not routinely monitored by the University. This has two implications:-

• If you see something on a blog which you think may breach one of the terms above, or otherwise concerns you, then you should not assume that the University is aware of the problem, and you should use the "Report a problem" button to raise your concern.
• If you are the author of a blog, you should never assume that posting something on your blog is an acceptable way of communicating with the University. Writing on a blog about matters such as financial or study concerns is absolutely not an effective substitute for contacting your personal tutor or an office of the University to discuss your concerns.