Study Group Digital Communication Guidelines

ISMRM Study Groups
Digital Communication Guidelines

ISMRM Study Groups were created to foster open discussion of professional and scientific work related to various fields of magnetic resonance (in medicine?). To this end, the ISMRM provides resources to manage email-based and other electronic discussion groups for all study groups to promote scientific discussion and engagement. The purpose of this document is to provide guidelines for appropriate use of ISMRM communication resources.

Electronic communications are provided to the study groups by the ISMRM as a service. All study group members in good standing can participate in study group electronic communications. However, each member of the community is responsible for their own actions and postings on the group and must comply with the following Rules of User Conduct. Members that choose not to accept these guidelines, should unsubscribe from electronic study group communications by contacting the Central Office (info@ismrm.org).

Rules of User Conduct

1. Messages posted to a study group email list must be related to scientific and business-related issues of the study group.
2. Do not post:
   • any message, data, information, text or other material (“Content”) that is unlawful, libelous, defamatory, obscene, pornographic, indecent, lewd, harassing, harmful, invasive of privacy or publicity rights, abusive, inflammatory, threatening, offensive, vulgar or otherwise injurious to third parties, or that would constitute or encourage a criminal offense, create any liability or violate any local, state, national, or international law or regulation. Users of the study group email lists may be held individually liable for any communications they send through the group.
   • promotions, links, advertisements or other material promoting non-ISMRM events such as conferences, workshops and webinars that are in conflict with ISMRM related events is strictly prohibited. Promotion of non-ISMRM activities that are of interest to study group members and do not conflict with any ISMRM activity may be acceptable, but should be posted only after review by the Central Office.
   • political messages including links to articles and editorial pieces not pertinent to MR.
   • advertisements of products or services unless such product or service is specifically sponsored (i.e., organized) by the ISMRM or otherwise approved by the ISMRM, and is of direct scientific relevance to the Study Group. This prohibition includes notices of continuing medical education (“CME”) and continuing education (“CE”), or related programs sponsored by any entity other than the ISMRM.
   • commercial messages, including, but not limited to, messages offering or seeking any kind of business relationship (including employment), soliciting contributions or soliciting membership or subscription to any resource not offered by the ISMRM. Please use the ISMRM Career Center for employment related postings. Emails referencing employment related postings in the ISMRM Career Center are acceptable.
   • logos and tag lines used as part of a signature or otherwise included in an email posted to any ISMRM email list should be small and discrete.
   • any content such as charity requests, petitions for signatures, other solicitations of group users, promotional materials, chain letters or letters relating to pyramid schemes, advertising or solicitations for funds, political campaigning, mass mailings, any form of unsolicited commercial or promotional email (spam) or an offering of any non-ISMRM goods, services, schemes or promotions.
   • any harmful content including without limitation, viruses, Trojan horses, worms, time bombs, zombies, cancel bots, or any other computer programming routines that may damage, interfere with, surreptitiously intercept or expropriate any system, program, data or personal information.

Community Etiquette

• Please include a signature tag on all messages. Include your name, affiliation, location, and e-mail address to identify yourself.
• State concisely and clearly the topic of your comments in the subject line. This allows members to respond appropriately and helps search the archives by subject.
• Include only the relevant portions of the original message in your reply. Delete any header information, and put your response before the original posting.
• Only send a message to the entire group when it contains information that benefits the entire Study Group or a subsection of the Study Group.
• Please restrict replies to individual(s) when possible. For example, please send messages such as “thanks for the information” or “me, too” to individuals, not to the entire group. Do this by using your e-mail forwarding option.
• Do not send administrative messages, such as “remove me from the group”, through the group. To unsubscribe from the group, follow the directions at the bottom of any group email message.
• Warn other group subscribers of lengthy messages either in the subject line or at the beginning of the message body with text that says “(long)” or “Long Message”.
• When using an Auto Reply message for times you are out of the office, please be sure to “Create a Rule” (this is easily done with Microsoft Outlook’s Out of Office Assistant) that would prohibit sending the message to the group.
• If you are concerned about a posting, please contact the Central Office who will forward your concerns to the appropriate leadership (info@ismrm.org).

Disclaimer of Warranties & Other Disclaimers

• All materials, information, products and services (“Material”) included in or available through this site may contain inaccuracies or typographical errors. ISMRM makes no representations about the accuracy, reliability, completeness, or timeliness of the Material.
• Changes are periodically made to the group and may be made at any time. ISMRM accepts no responsibility for the opinions and information posted on this site by others.
• Use of Study Group electronic communications is solely at your own risk. ISMRM does not warrant that the group will operate error-free or that the group and its servers are free of computer viruses or other harmful goods. If your use of this group or the Material results in the need for servicing or replacing equipment or data, ISMRM is not responsible for those costs. The Materials are provided on an “as is” basis without any warranties of any kind.
• ISMRM disclaims all warranties to the fullest extent of the law, including the warranty or merchantability, non-infringement of third party rights and the warranty of fitness for particular purpose.
• ISMRM makes no warranties about the accuracy, reliability, completeness or timeliness of the Material, services, graphics and links or that any defects or errors will be corrected.
• Electronic postings by study group members do not represent any official position or opinion of the ISMRM. The ISMRM cannot make claims regarding the nature or appropriateness of the opinions offered by members on the group, or whether they are experienced, professionally licensed, certified or otherwise credentialed. Postings are not intended to either constitute or substitute for in-person, professional medical or clinical advice or consultation on general techniques or specific problems. People who want to utilize any form of MR or any of the methods discussed on the group for any purpose should not rely on the information they attained from the group alone, but should qualify themselves by face-to-face interactive professional training and supervised experience.

Limitation of Liability

• ISMRM will not be liable for any lost profits, indirect, punitive, incidental, special, consequential or any other damages whatsoever resulting from the content of this group or the use of, or inability to use, this group.
• This limitation applies to any alleged liability based on any legal theory including, but not limited to, contract, tort, negligence, warranty or strict liability, even if ISMRM has been advised of the possibility of such damage.
• Because some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages, ISMRM’s liability in such jurisdiction shall be limited to the extent permitted by law.
• ISMRM reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to update or revise this page at any time. Notice of such changes will not be transmitted to anyone and will be located only here. Any revisions will become effective the first day immediately. If you post on the group after notice is received or if you fail to unsubscribe, then you will be deemed to have accepted the revised rules and are bound by them.

Right to Moderate Users

• ISMRM reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to moderate any user, with or without notice, for any reason including, but not limited to, their failure to abide by these terms and conditions of use.

Right to Terminate Access

• ISMRM monitors electronic group postings for inappropriate postings. If notified by a user of this group that misconduct or bias or other behavior not conducive to open discussion has occurred, ISMRM may investigate the allegation and determine in its sole discretion whether to remove or request the removal of the member from the electronic discussion forum.
• ISMRM reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to terminate your access to electronic discussion groups, with or without notice, for any reason including, but not limited to, your failure to abide by these terms and conditions of use.
• Any group member who has been terminated may petition for reinstatement after a waiting period of 12 months. ISMRM shall have sole discretion as to whether reinstatement is permitted, provided no legal action, threatened or real, or other threats or coercion has been brought against ISMRM, the member has not presented himself falsely and he has not re-registered as a member other than himself.
• If you are currently subscribed to this group and do not wish to abide by the terms above, you may unsubscribe by following the instructions at the bottom of all group emails. You will be removed automatically.

Indemnity

• You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless ISMRM, its officers, directors, employees and agents, from and against any claims, actions or demands, including without limitation reasonable legal and accounting fees, alleging or resulting from your use of this group and/or Material or your breach of the terms of this Agreement. ISMRM shall provide notice to you promptly of any such claim, suit, or proceeding and shall assist you, at your expense, in defending any such claim, suit or proceeding.