Account Use Policies

Reviewed by Brian White 4/25/2012

The following is the department account policy, including sections on proprietary information, hacking, file sharing and copyrighted materials, who may use an account, and reasonable use of the systems.

UNC Computer Science Account Policy

The Department of Computer Science maintains a computing facility which has as its primary purpose the support of the research and educational missions of the members of the Department.  Computer accounts may be made available to individuals to allow them access to these facilities when such access supports the Department's missions and goals.  The acceptance and use of a Department computer account indicates the user's agreement to observe the following regulations:

Proprietary information

Many of the programs, data files, manual pages, and similar materials used and stored on Department computers are the property of, and proprietary to, the Department, UNC, corporations, and other institutions.  Users agree to treat this information in a proprietary manner.  No such software may be installed, copied, and/or transmitted from any machine to any other machine (with the exception of the transfer of software that takes place as a normal part of the execution of certain programs), or to any form of media, via any means, for any reason without the permission of the department's IT Director.  Software authored by users which does not contain licensed portions, or software in the public domain, is not subject to these same restrictions.

Hacking

The Department provides data access security features including encryption tools, passwords, and file protections.  Attempts to bypass or violate these protection mechanisms will result in the immediate and permanent loss of login privileges.

File sharing and copyrighted materials

Use and installation of file sharing programs such as BitTorrent, Limewire, Kazaa, Grokster, eDonkey, and other programs that provide for sharing copyrighted materials are prohibited on department computer systems.  Using these programs and having illegal copies of copyrighted materials, e.g., mp3 files and movie files, is also a violation of federal and state law and the Honor Code.

Who may use the account

A Department computer account may be used only by the person to whom it was issued.

Reasonable Use

Department computer accounts will be used in ways that are consistent with the goals of the Department.  Commercial use of the Department computing facilities is not permitted.  Use of the facilities for any illegal activity is not permitted.

Questions

If you have questions regarding use of the computer facilities, contact the department's IT Director or send email to help@cs.unc.edu.