[Admin Note] FORUM RULES UPDATE (most commercial links now allowed)

[SuperSleeper]

Hi folks,

After much consultation with our forum staff, Advisory Members and our forum lawyer, we're now "loosening up" a bit on our previous ban against posting commercial links in forum posts.

You can read the entire revised Forum Rules, which are now in effect by either clicking on the "Rules" link at the top of every forum page, or going to the rules directly, here:

http://www.apneaboard.com/forums/Thread-Admin-Note-Apnea-Board-Rules

I would encourage every member to read through the revised rules - they're quite a bit shorter than the previous version.

The major change that we're making now includes allowing members to post most type of commercial links, but for legal purposes, we still have a ban against a small number of mostly DME-type links or links to pages that sell prescription-required items.

To summarize these changes, please refer to the following three points regarding prohibited links that are located within forum posts:

1.  No spam (unsolicited commercial links, or outright advertisements)

2.  No links to any DME-owned or DME-operated websites.   (A "DME" is a Durable Medical Equipment provider who sells CPAP and other medical equipment and supplies)  These types of links are not allowed even if the page is selling a product that does not require a prescription.   For example:  you can't link to a page about a CPAP pillow or a hose cover if the page is on a DME-owned or DME-operated website domain.

3.   No links to any web pages that sell or promote the sale of prescription-required items (including FDA Class II medical devices such as CPAP machines, humidifiers, masks or the individual parts that make up such items).   These types of links are not allowed even if the page is not located on a DME-owned or DME-operated website domain.   For example:  you can't link to a page on eBay.com that is selling a CPAP machine, a CPAP mask, CPAP humidifier, CPAP hose or the individual parts that make up those items.

All other links are allowed.  For more clarification, please refer to the actual Forum Rules. 

If you still have questions concerning individual links, feel free to write to me (SuperSleeper) via Private Message (PM) and in that message, list the actual link you have questions about, and I'd be glad to answer your questions concerning that link.

We hope this will free-up our members a bit by allowing more types of commercial links on the forums.

[SuperSleeper]

Forgot to mention this...

In order to be fair, all prior staff warnings that were issued for simple commercial links* in the past have been revoked in our system and will not be held against any member here. 





* Note:  a "simple commercial link" is a link that is commercial in nature, but does not lead to a DME-owned or DME-operated website, or to a page designed to sell prescription-required items such as CPAP machines, CPAP humidifiers, CPAP masks, CPAP hoses or the individual parts that make up such items.

[SuperSleeper]