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Business use of Groups.io - requesting clarification of rules

 

(I've read the posts here related to my questions, read the GMF Wiki, and searched the Groups.io Help page for info on this. I also asked Mark via Twitter a week ago but have not received a reply.)

I'm confused about how businesses may and may not use Groups-io.

My intention is to create a group for interested clients and other interested people to discuss topics related to the services I provide. My own posts would include related information and resources from other people and organizations, as well as info on my business's fee-based services and events. My invitation email would make clear that the group is run by my business and that I would be sending info on my services.

Here are the clauses in the Groups.io TOS that don't seem clear to me (bold added):

You agree to not use the Service to:

1. email or otherwise upload any content that

5. (v) constitutes unsolicited or unauthorized advertising, promotional materials, commercial activities and/or...any other form of solicitation;

...
7. advertise or offer to sell or buy any goods or services for any business purpose that is not specifically authorized;

In 1.5, does anyone know how the word "solicitation" is being used and whether the word "unsolicited" refers to everything in that clause? I'm hoping that describing to potential group members the kinds of business emails I would be sending/posting would take those emails outside of the definition.

For 1.7, can anyone point me to the list of business purposes "specifically authorized"? (I do see "Types Of Groups That Aren't Permitted" on the Help page: /static/help#types-of-groups-that-arent-permitted. My group would not fall under any of these.)

I appreciate any help you can give me. Even if you can't give specific answers to my questions, perhaps examples of how businesses have been properly using Groups.io might be helpful.
~ Marcella
 

On Sun, Jan 12, 2020 at 05:53 AM, <sequoia.eyes@...> wrote:
Here are the clauses in the Groups.io TOS that don't seem clear to me (bold added):

You agree to not use the Service to:

1. email or otherwise upload any content that

5. (v) constitutes unsolicited or unauthorized advertising, promotional materials, commercial activities and/or...any other form of solicitation;

...
7. advertise or offer to sell or buy any goods or services for any business purpose that is not specifically authorized;

In 1.5, does anyone know how the word "solicitation" is being used and whether the word "unsolicited" refers to everything in that clause? I'm hoping that describing to potential group members the kinds of business emails I would be sending/posting would take those emails outside of the definition.

For 1.7, can anyone point me to the list of business purposes "specifically authorized"? (I do see "Types Of Groups That Aren't Permitted" on the Help page: /static/help#types-of-groups-that-arent-permitted. My group would not fall under any of these.)

I appreciate any help you can give me. Even if you can't give specific answers to my questions, perhaps examples of how businesses have been properly using Groups.io might be helpful.
Marcella,

The full wording of 5?(v) is: constitutes unsolicited or unauthorized advertising, promotional materials, commercial activities and/or sales, ¡°junk mail,¡± ¡°spam,¡± ¡°chain letters,¡± ¡°pyramid schemes,¡± ¡°contests,¡± ¡°sweepstakes,¡± or any other form of solicitation;

I am not sure about your second quotation (advertising).
/static/tos

Frances
?
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Moving to Groups.io (without easy transfer)


GMF Wiki: (unofficial) Help for members (and would-be members) and group managers
 

On Sun, Jan 12, 2020 at 10:53 AM, <sequoia.eyes@...> wrote:
I appreciate any help you can give me. Even if you can't give specific answers to my questions
None of us here could even guess (I suspect!) what Mark's position on any given use case might be; as "Mr Groups.io" he is the person who decides what is and is not permissible on a case by case basis.

At the very bottom of the Terms page is this sentence: Please contact us at [email protected] to report any violations of these Terms of Service or to pose any questions regarding this Terms of Service or the Service.

(My italics & underlining)

Any guidance that anyone here could provide would have to be so heavily caveated? it would be more or less meaningless.

Chris
 

Chris, thank you very much. I had missed that phrase. I'll take that route.
~Marcella
 

Thank you, Frances. I'm going to pursue Chris's solution.

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