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INTERNET
USAGE POLICY
This Internet Usage Policy provides guidelines for the use of the Internet
both in relation to company business and to such incidental personal use
as is permitted by company policies. Employees' use of the Internet should
be an appropriate use of company resources including time, equipment,
software, and networks. At all times, the use of the Internet must be
lawful, and in compliance with company policies. Intracoastal Transportation,
Inc recognizes that understanding and using the Internet is critical to
the future success of the company. Thus, subject to the guidelines that
follow, employees are encouraged to use Intracoastal Transportation, Inc
equipment and bandwidth to access the Internet.
Business Purposes and Incidental Personal Use
Intracoastal Transportation, Inc's policy on Business Use of Data and
Software states:
As a general rule, all equipment, systems, services, and software belonging
to Intracoastal Transportation, Inc are for business use only. However,
Intracoastal Transportation, Inc makes an exception for incidental personal
use (see below). Intracoastal Transportation, Inc reserves the right to
audit, access, and disclose all transactions and data (including electronic
mail messages), stored on or in any Intracoastal Transportation, Inc equipment
or furniture, for any purpose. Any illegal or unauthorized use of Intracoastal
Transportation, Inc equipment, systems, services, or software by an employee
may subject the employee to disciplinary action, up to and including legal
action and/or termination of employment. Employees may not access Intracoastal
Transportation, Inc data unless they have an Intracoastal Transportation,
Inc business-related need to do so. Unauthorized modification, destruction,
use, or disclosure of such data is prohibited. Making, acquiring, or using
unauthorized copies of any computer software is not permitted.
For purposes of this policy, ``incidental personal use" includes,
by way of example, typing a personal letter, making a local telephone
call to a friend or family member, sending a personal E-mail message,
accessing the web, etc.; it does not include using Intracoastal Transportation,
Inc equipment to operate a side business. In any event, the primary use
of Intracoastal Transportation, Inc equipment must be for Intracoastal
Transportation, Inc business purposes, and any incidental personal use
must be legal, ethical and appropriate and must not interfere with the
conscientious performance of an employee's Intracoastal Transportation,
Inc duties."
Use of the Internet using Intracoastal Transportation, Inc equipment,
systems and access whether or not on company time is subject to these
guidelines stated in the Code Of Business Ethics including the penalties
for their violation. Employees should remember that these resources are
primarily to be used for company business.
Copyrighted Materials including Audio, Movies,
Software, and Photos
Under the law, a copyright owner has certain exclusive rights including
the right to reproduce the copyrighted work, the right to distribute copies
of the copyrighted work, and the right to publicly display the copyrighted
work. Thus, infringement could occur if Intracoastal Transportation, Inc
employees make copies of a work, make an unauthorized distribution of
a work, or facilitate an unauthorized public display of a work (for instance,
at a trade show). In the case of downloads from the Internet, each such
download is a separate, potentially infringing copy. Distributing a copyrighted
work or putting a copyrighted work on the web for others to see (and,
presumably, download) could also be infringement. Although there are exceptions
or defenses to copyright infringement in some cases, such exceptions and
defenses are difficult to successfully claim. As a general rule, downloading
or distributing photographs, commercial software and beta software, audio,
or videos would not fall under these exceptions or defenses and would
constitute infringement.
Therefore, if employees download, distribute, share, store or use such
materials, they must be certain there is no copyright infringement and
there is full compliance with the law. Failure to comply with this policy
or with applicable law is grounds for disciplinary action up to and including
termination of employment.
Sexually Explicit or Offensive Materials
Accessing, viewing, downloading, exchanging and/or distributing sexually
explicit materials in the workplace:
• involves numerous legal risks,
• constitutes improper use of company resources including employees'
time,
• violates a number of company policies and is prohibited.
Photographs are copyrightable works, and thus reproduction or distribution
of downloaded photographs may infringe the author's rights. Viewing or
storage of sexually explicit materials is a violation of Intracoastal
Transportation, Inc's Anti-Harassment Policy and could be seen by a court
as creating a hostile work environment. For example, while the employee
viewing the material may find it interesting and not offensive, co-workers
or visitors passing by may be offended by it. Under certain circumstances,
an offended employee may have a basis for legal action against Intracoastal
Transportation, Inc. Furthermore, some countries in which Intracoastal
Transportation, Inc does business have laws that render even the mere
possession of some sorts of sexually explicit materials a criminal offense.
For instance, in the United States, mere possession of child pornography
is a felony. And if an employee in Singapore accesses pornographic materials
residing on any Intracoastal Transportation, Inc server, even outside
of Singapore, Intracoastal Transportation, Inc could be in violation of
Singapore law.
Material that falls into the category of sexually explicit or offensive
materials includes, but is not limited to, sexual images and comments,
racial and gender-based slurs or anything that would reasonably be expected
to offend someone based on their disability, age, religion, marital status,
sexual orientation, national origin or any other factor protected by law.
Violations of this policy and/or any applicable law is grounds for disciplinary
action up to and including termination of employment. Employees who are
aware of the misuse of these systems by other employees should immediately
report the misuse to his or her manager or to and HR manager.
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