It is very important that you (and your parents, if you're under 18) review the following rules so that you know what you can and cannot do on The Softwire’s Rings of Orbis website. By using this site, you and your parents agree to abide by the following terms and conditions:

The following basic rules must be followed:

1. The accounts, activities, items, chits, characters, locations, games and knud-niks are for you to play with while on the site. Except as permitted by the functionality of this site, you can't sell them (for money or Chits), give them to anyone, trade them for anything (including Chits), or pretend you made them. You can display our pictures on your own personal web pages for your personal noncommercial use ONLY as long as you write either "Copyright 2006 Redbear Films, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Used With Permission" or "© 2006 Redbear Films, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Used With Permission" on EVERY page with our pictures and/or text and you link directly to us. By the way, this means that you can't sell ads, barter for stuff, offer your services, or otherwise earn money, Rings of Orbis items, or Chits either on web pages that contain our pictures and other Materials, or by using our pictures or other Materials, such as by offering to make Rings of Orbis banners or backgrounds for others.

If there is anything you are unsure of about this, please contact us and we will do our best to give you a quick answer.

2. All citizen names, shop names, broods, content on the message boards, Screen Scrolls, Ring Messages (except Warnings!), come straight from other Rings of Orbis' users, not from someone at Rings of Orbis.com. If you see anything mean or nasty on the site, or anyone sends you anything that makes you uncomfortable or asks for your password or personal information (such as your name, address or phone number), please let us know immediately so that we can handle it right away! However, reporting false abuse or inappropriate feedback will not be tolerated and will likely result in a frozen account.

3. All user content and communications on the Rings of Orbis site is filtered and monitored. So that everyone has a good time, you understand and agree that you will not post or send through the site any words, images or links containing or relating to:

i. profanity, obscenities ("swear words"), sexual content (express or implied, including inappropriate acts with or by your Citizens or knud-niks for "real" or in role play).
ii. dating requests or offers for yourself, other people, or your Citizen or knud-niks.
iii. attacks, comments, or opinions about other people or things that slander, defame, threaten, insult or harass another person.
iv. gangs, gang-slang, or the promotion of gangs.
v. chat rooms or links to sites with chat rooms.
vi. promotions offering prizes of any sort (including contests, raffles, lotteries, chain letters or any kind of giveaway)
vii. materials created by someone else without their express written permission.
viii. information that might identify another user (including posting a link to your personal guest book)
ix. material regarding political, social, or religious views or opinions.
x. links to or advertisements for third party commercial Web sites
xi. Citizen or knud-nik names, account usernames, store fronts, or any descriptions or names that would be considered inappropriate under our Terms and Conditions.
xii. "cheats" or "hacks", or information or links to sites claiming to have these.
xiii. requests for user passwords.
xiv. requests for money by using your Citizen, knud-nik, chits or any other Rings of Orbis property on third party sites or your personal websites. This includes Ebay.
xv. scams of any kind (including requests to users to change their email address).
xvi. "spamming" (repeatedly posting the same message) or "party boards".
xvii. anything that suggests it's from a member of the Rings of Orbis staff.
xviii. trying to test Rings of Orbis' message filters (or encouraging others to do so).
xix. other information that Rings of orbis deems, in its sole discretion, to be inappropriate for this site.

BEWARE: If you do any of the above we may freeze your account permanently or suspend you from using your account for up to 72 hours. Please note that depending on your account history and the type of infraction, you may be frozen or suspended for breaking the rules and that you WILL be frozen for multiple infractions.

4. Do not create any new Rings of Orbis Citizens or accounts if you are not going to take care of them. You cannot have multiple accounts just to get more chits or items. You are only allowed a maximum of two (2) accounts and can earn Chits with only one (1) account. Users who break this rule can have all of their accounts frozen. Do not use your other accounts to attempt to gain an unfair advantage over other users by restocking, gaining trophies, etc.

5. If you cheat on Rings of Orbis games or use cheat programs, including non-Rings of Orbis software or programs, to play the games we will freeze your account. In addition, Rings of Orbis may freeze any other account that has directly or indirectly benefited from the use of such programs.

6. If you write something that catches our eye on a message board, in an email or Ring mail, we might want to use it on the site or elsewhere when talking about the site. If you're under age 18, remember to ALWAYS check with your parents before you send anything to us or post anything on the site! By sending in your content and comments, you (and your parents) are agreeing that it's okay to repeat on the site and elsewhere what you say, and it's even all right for us to use it in an ad. So, this means we can use it in any way we want, anywhere, until the end of time.

7. You understand that, as part of playing on the ringsoforbis.com site, you will receive e-mail from Rings of Orbis that lets you know when certain events happen with your Citizen, your bid wins at the auction, etc. You also agree that occasionally Rings of Orbis.com can send you special offers that you are under no obligation to accept. An example would be an announcement of the release of The Softwire novel.

8. Attempting to gain access to someone else's account and/or account information, or trying to get other people's passwords is STRICTLY FORBIDDEN. Your account (Citizens, knud-niks, shops, etc.) will be deleted and you will be permanently banned from the site.

9. Remember, this is a free website and we reserve the right to prohibit the use of the site to any user at any time.

DISCLAIMER AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY THIS SITE AND ALL MATERIALS CONTAINED ON IT ARE DISTRIBUTED AND TRANSMITTED ON AN "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" BASIS, WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMISSIBLE UNDER APPLICABLE LAW, RINGS OF ORBIS AND ITS OWNER REDBEAR FILMS DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. RINGS OF ORBIS AND ITS OWNER REDBEAR FILMS DOES NOT WARRANT THAT THE FUNCTIONS CONTAINED IN THE SITE OR MATERIALS WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED OR ERROR-FREE, THAT DEFECTS WILL BE CORRECTED, OR THAT THIS SITE OR THE SERVERS THAT MAKES IT AVAILABLE ARE FREE OF VIRUSES OR OTHER HARMFUL COMPONENTS. RINGS OF ORBIS AND ITS OWNER REDBEAR FILMS DOES NOT WARRANT OR MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS REGARDING THE USE OR THE RESULTS OF THE USE OF THE MATERIALS IN THIS SITE WITH REGARD TO THEIR CORRECTNESS, ACCURACY, RELIABILITY, OR OTHERWISE. THE ENTIRE RISK AS TO THE QUALITY, ACCURACY, ADEQUACY, COMPLETENESS, CORRECTNESS AND VALIDITY OF ANY MATERIAL RESTS WITH YOU. YOU, THE USER, ASSUMES THE COMPLETE COST OF ALL NECESSARY SERVICING, REPAIR, OR CORRECTION. APPLICABLE LAW MAY NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OF IMPLIED WARRANTIES, SO THE ABOVE EXCLUSION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.
TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMISSIBLE PURSUANT TO APPLICABLE LAW, RINGS OF ORBIS AND ITS OWNER REDBEAR FILMS, ITS AFFILIATES, AND THEIR RESPECTIVE OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, LICENSORS, REPRESENTATIVES, AND THIRD PARTY PROVIDERS TO THE SITE WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR DAMAGES OF ANY KIND INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, COMPENSATORY, CONSEQUENTIAL, INCIDENTAL, INDIRECT, SPECIAL OR SIMILAR DAMAGES, THAT MAY RESULT FROM THE USE OF, OR THE INABILITY TO USE, THE MATERIALS CONTAINED ON THIS SITE, WHETHER THE MATERIAL IS PROVIDED OR OTHERWISE SUPPLIED BY RINGS OF ORBIS OR ANY THIRD PARTY.

NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING, IN NO EVENT SHALL RINGS OF ORBIS AND ITS OWNER REDBEAR FILMS HAVE ANY LIABILITY TO YOU FOR ANY CLAIMS, DAMAGES, LOSSES, AND CAUSES OF ACTION (WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) EXCEEDING THE AMOUNT PAID BY YOU, IF ANY, FOR ACCESSING THIS SITE.
THIRD PARTY HYPERLINKS The appearance of external hyperlinks and/or other materials generated by third parties does not constitute an endorsement by RINGS OF ORBIS AND ITS OWNER REDBEAR FILMS, its subsidiaries and affiliates, of the opinions or views expressed by these third party web sites. RINGS OF ORBIS AND ITS OWNER REDBEAR FILMS explicitly disclaims any responsibility for the accuracy, content, availability, currency, completeness or quality of the content contained at these sites. Further, RINGS OF ORBIS AND ITS OWNER REDBEAR FILMS is not responsible for the quality or delivery of the products or services offered, accessed, obtained by or advertised at such sites. As such, neither RINGS OF ORBIS AND ITS OWNER REDBEAR FILMS nor its subsidiaries and affiliates are responsible for any errors or omissions or for the results obtained from the use of such information contained in these sites.

RINGS OF ORBIS AND ITS OWNER REDBEAR FILMS encourages discretion when browsing the Internet using anyone's service. Because some sites employ automated search results or otherwise link you to sites containing information that may be deemed inappropriate or offensive, RINGS OF ORBIS AND ITS OWNER REDBEAR FILMS cannot be held responsible for the accuracy, copyright compliance, legality, or decency of material contained in third-party sites, and you hereby irrevocably waive any claim against us with respect to such sites. Thus, under no circumstances will RINGS OF ORBIS AND ITS OWNER REDBEAR FILMS be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental or special loss or other damage, whether arising from negligence, breach of contract, defamation, infringement of copyright or other intellectual property rights, caused by the exhibition, distribution or exploitation of any information or content contained within these third party hyperlinked sites.

RINGS OF ORBIS AND ITS OWNER REDBEAR FILMS cannot ensure that you will be satisfied with any products or services that you obtain from a third-party site that links to or from RINGS OF ORBIS AND ITS OWNER REDBEAR FILMS, since such sites are owned and operated by third parties. RINGS OF ORBIS AND ITS OWNER REDBEAR FILMS does not endorse any of the merchandise or services, nor has RINGS OF ORBIS AND ITS OWNER REDBEAR FILMS taken any steps to confirm the accuracy or reliability of any of the information contained on such third-party sites. RINGS OF ORBIS AND ITS OWNER REDBEAR FILMS does not make any representations or warranties as to the security of any information (including without limitation, credit card and other personal information) you may be required to provide on a third-party site, and you hereby irrevocably waive any claim against RINGS OF ORBIS AND ITS OWNER REDBEAR FILMS with respect to such sites. We strongly encourage you to make whatever investigation you feel necessary or appropriate before proceeding with any online or offline transaction with any of these third parties. RINGS OF ORBIS AND ITS OWNER REDBEAR FILMS never gives or sells e-mail addresses or other personal information supplied by its users to sponsors without permission, provided, however that if a user chooses to "opt-in" (click on a checkbox) for sponsor information, or to register with a sponsor, by doing so he has given permission to RINGS OF ORBIS AND ITS OWNER REDBEAR FILMS to transmit his personal information to that sponsor. Please make sure you review Ring of Orbis Privacy Policy for all details regarding Rings of Orbis use of your personal information.

UNAUTHORIZED LINKS TO SITE The Rings of Orbis allows users to link their site Rings of Orbis-related fan sites to the ringsoforbis.com homepage (http://www.ringsoforbis.com). However, by using this website, you specifically agree not to link to any pages within the ringsoforbis.com site without Ring of Orbis express written approval. If you do not receive such express written approval prior to linking to an internal page on ringsoforbis.com, you hereby consent to an injunction to be entered against you by a court of competent jurisdiction, as provided herein, permanently enjoining you from linking to any internal pages from the ringsoforbis.com site.
DENIAL OF ACCESS Rings of Orbis, for any reason and at its sole discretion, may decide that any person shall be denied access to any part of the ringsoforbis.com site. The sending of an e-mail notice by Rings of Orbis to any e-mail address used by a person who is subject to the denial shall constitute complete and sufficient notice of the denial. By agreeing to these Terms and Conditions, you agree to cease and desist immediately from any attempt to access the site upon issuance of a denial. If you do not cease and desist, you hereby consent to an injunction to be entered against you by a court of competent jurisdiction, as provided herein, permanently enjoining you from attempting to access the ringsoforbis.com site.

INDEMNIFICATION You agree to indemnify, defend and hold harmless RINGS OF ORBIS AND ITS OWNER REDBEAR FILMS, its affiliates, and their respective officers, directors, employees, agents, licensors, representatives, and third party providers to the site from and against all losses, expenses, damages and costs, including reasonable attorneys' fees, resulting from any violation of these Terms and Conditions by you. RINGS OF ORBIS AND ITS OWNER REDBEAR FILMS reserves the right to assume, at its sole expense, the exclusive defense and control of any matter subject to indemnification by you, in which event you will fully cooperate with RINGS OF ORBIS AND ITS OWNER REDBEAR FILMS in asserting any available defenses.

MISCELLANEOUS : You agree not to design, disseminate or use any third party programs designed to change the game play on the site including, but without limitations, programs such as autobuyers, flash game cheats, autofreshers, and snipers. Any use, dissemination or design of such programs is a breach of these Terms you will be responsible for any resulting damages to the ringsoforbis.com. You agree that if you disseminate, design or assist in the design of a third party program that changes the game play on ringsoforbis, you will pay Redbear Films, Inc. liquidated damages in the sum of Fifty Thousand Dollars for each such program as liquidated damages. You agree that if you use such a program on the ringsoforbis.com website, you will pay Redbear Films, Inc. liquidated damages in the sum of Five Hundred Dollars for each time you use a program.

Redbear Films operates and controls the Site from its offices in Los Angeles, California, in the United States of America. RINGS OF ORBIS AND ITS OWNER REDBEAR FILMS makes no representation that the Site is appropriate or available in other locations. Accordingly, those persons who choose to access the Site from other locations do so on their own initiative and are responsible for compliance with local laws, if and to the extent local laws are applicable. Software from this Site is subject to United States export controls. Thus, no software from this Site may be downloaded, exported or re-exported (a) into (or to a national or resident of) Cuba, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Iran, Syria, or any other country to which the United States has embargoed goods; or (b) to anyone on the U.S. Treasury Department's list of Specially Designated Nationals or the U.S. Commerce Department's Table of Deny Orders. By downloading any software, you represent and warrant that you are not located in, under the control of, or a national or resident of, any such country or on any such list.

These Terms and Conditions are effective until terminated by either party. Users may terminate this Agreement by destroying all Materials (including without limitation, all related documentation and all copies and installations thereof, whether made under these Terms and Conditions or otherwise) obtained from this Site (or any other web site or source). The privileges granted to you under this Agreement will terminate immediately and automatically without notice from Rings of Orbis if, in our sole discretion, you fail to comply with any term or provision of these Terms and Conditions. Upon such termination, you must destroy all Materials obtained from this Site (or any other web site or source), and all copies thereof, whether or not made under the terms of this Agreement.
This Agreement contains the entire understanding of you and Rings of Orbis, and supersedes all prior understandings of the parties hereto relating to the subject matter hereof, and cannot be changed or modified except by a writing signed by you and an authorized signatory for RINGS OF ORBIS AND ITS OWNER REDBEAR FILMS. If any provision of this Agreement is found to be illegal or unenforceable, the Agreement will be deemed curtailed to the extent necessary to make it legal and enforceable and will remain, as modified, in full force and effect. This Agreement and all matters or issues collateral thereto will be governed by, construed, and enforced in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of California applicable to contracts executed and performed entirely therein (without regard to any principles of conflict of laws). You hereby agree that any action at law or in equity arising out of or relating to these Terms and Conditions or the site shall be filed only in the state or federal courts located in the County of Los Angeles, in the State of California. Further, you hereby expressly consent and submit to the personal jurisdiction of such courts for the purposes of litigating any such action.