These Rules and Terms of Use are unabashedly inspired by those so effectively in use at Audio Asylum and a couple of other forums.  

Head-Fi's forums are generally geared for headphone high fidelity enthusiasts, but the several categories of forums within Head-Fi generally allow for discussion of general audio topics and even completely non-headphone / non-audio / non-music topics (in the Members' Lounge forum).  We ask that you please make a concerted effort to post in the appropriate forums.  Use of the Head-Fi forums are subject to the following rules and terms:  

• Head-Fi shall have the right at any time to change or discontinue any aspect or feature of the Head-Fi Web Site and Head-Fi Forums including, but not limited to, user participatory areas, content, hours of availability, and equipment needed for access or use. Such changes, modifications, additions or deletions shall be effective immediately upon notice thereof, which may be given by means including but not limited to, posting in the Head-Fi user participatory areas a revised version of these Rules and Terms of Use or notification by electronic mail. Any use by you of the Head-Fi Web Site, Head-Fi Forums, and/or any other Head-Fi user participatory areas after such notice shall conclusively be deemed to be acceptance by you of such changes, modifications, additions or deletions. You agree to review the terms and conditions of this Head-Fi Posting Rules and Terms of Use periodically to be aware of such revisions.
   
• The Head-Fi Web Site, Head-Fi Forums and any other Head-Fi user participatory areas shall be used for lawful purposes only.  No material shall be posted on or transmitted through the Head-Fi Web Site, Head-Fi Forums and any other Head-Fi user participatory areas, which violates or infringes in any way upon the rights of others, which is unlawful, threatening, abusive, defamatory, invasive of privacy or publicity rights, vulgar, obscene, profane, indecent or otherwise objectionable, which encourages conduct that would constitute a criminal offense, gives rise to civil liability or otherwise violates any law.
   
• "Member of the Trade" includes (but is not limited to) manufacturers; individuals selling items he or she made for more than the cost of parts and/or actual shipping charges; individuals selling items acquired for the primary purpose of resale; individuals performing services (like modifications or any other service) for which the price charged is more than the cost of parts and/or actual shipping charges; dealers; distributors; manufacturer's representatives; importers; magazine and e-zine writers.
   
• "Main Forums" are those forums within Head-Fi not specifically designated as areas for commercial advertising by Members of the Trade.
   
• No Members of the Trade can use his/her business name, postal address, e-mail address, telephone number or URL as part of his/her moniker.  All Members of the Trade must contact the forum administrator at jude@head-fi.org to notify him of an interest in posting before making any posts.  If a forum member who was not previously a Member of the Trade becomes a Member of the Trade, he must notify the forum administrator of the change in status.  After notification of the "Member of the Trade" status, the forum administrator will then add the appropriate tag (Audio Dealer, Manufacturer, Distributor, etc.) to the appropriate profile(s).
   
• A Member of the Trade may not--via the forums, Private Messaging, or Head-Fi's e-mail relay function--volunteer any information about a specific product that he is selling or making, in response to a general request for information about a type of product or in any other discussion in the Main Forums. 
   
• A Member of the Trade may not post announcements, advertisements, sales information or the like about a product he makes or sells in the Main Forums, via Private Messaging, or via Head-Fi's e-mail relay function.
   
• No advertising by Members of the Trade that is not pre-approved by the Head-Fi administrators is allowed in the member forums.  Some sponsors have Branded Sponsor Forums in which they will be allowed to advertise their wares.  There will also be designated areas and forums where sponsors and non-sponsors alike will be able to advertise their wares.  Head-Fi is most definately NOT anti-trade. In fact, trade members are a welcome and vital part of the Head-Fi community.  However, Head-Fi's Main Forums, its Private Messaging System, or its e-mail relay function are not to be used for unsolicited self promotion and advertising of audio products or services.
   
• "DIY-Related Group Buys" are arrangements intended to encourage, through Head-Fi's forums or other Head-Fi resources, multi-unit sales of DIY-related items for the purpose of discounted pricing or other benefits.
   
• "General Group Buys" are arrangements designed to encourage, through Head-Fi's forums or other Head-Fi resources, multi-unit sales of items for the purpose of discounted pricing or other benefits that are not DIY-Related Group Buys.
   
• General Group Buys can not be promoted on Head-Fi's Main Forums, via Head-Fi's Private Messaging, or via Head-Fi's e-mail relay function.  General Group Buys can only be promoted by the Member of the Trade actually selling the item(s) in the Member of the Trade Sponsored Threads Forum.
   
• DIY-Related Group Buys can only be arranged and promoted on Head-Fi's Main Forums by first contacting Head-Fi Moderator JMT or Head-Fi Administrator jude for approval.
   
• Shilling, which is posting about products one is affiliated with under the guise/profile of a non-affiliated person, is extremely frowned upon by the moderators and admins of Head-Fi, and may result in a permanent ban from Head-Fi.
   
• A Member of the Trade may not post negative comments about products/services of competitors.
   
• A Member of the Trade may not review (or make any subjective assessments of) his or her services and/or products he or she manufacturers, represents, sells.
   
• Head-Fi Private Messaging is not to be used for unsolicited advertising.  Using Head-Fi Private Messaging for unsolicited advertising will result in at least a temporary ban of the sender from Head-Fi.
   
• Head-Fi's e-mail relay function is not to be used for unsolicited advertising.  Using Head-Fi's e-mail relay feature for unsolicited advertising will result in at least a temporary ban of the sender from Head-Fi.
   
• Be polite.  We encourage debating -- even heated debating -- in the forums, but avoid defamatory statements, personal attacks, racial slurs, name-calling, and cursing at others in the forums.

  defamatory:  see defame below.

  defame:  1. disgrace; 2. to harm the reputation of by libel or slander.

  libel:  a statement or representation published without just cause and tending to expose another to public contempt.

  slander:  the utterance of false charges or misrepresentations which defame and damage another's reputation.

• Considering that our member base is made up of people from a wide range of ages, from pre-adults to senior citizens -- and also a great variety of cultures, beliefs and social standards -- swearing on the forums is not allowed.  Our general standard is this:  if it would not be allowed on U.S. network primetime television, it will most likely not be allowed on Head-Fi's forums.  If you need further clarification, feel free to contact a moderator.
   
• Do not post copyrighted or trademarked material without first obtaining the express permission to do so by the copyright or trademark holder or a legally authorized agent of the copyright or trademark holder.  In short, this means no posting verbatim copies of copyrighted articles or logos without first obtaining the proper permission to do so.
   
• Do not post the same message to more than one forum.
   
• Use only one username.  Multiple profiles for the same individual are not allowed.
   
• Head-Fi reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to delete posts.  In most cases, the individual who made the deleted post will be notified via e-mail and/or chat and/or private messaging and/or telephone with a reason for the deletion.
   
• Head-Fi reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to edit posts.  In most cases, posts are deleted instead of edited.  In most cases, if a post is edited, the individual who made the post that was edited will be notified via e-mail and/or chat and/or private messaging and/or telephone with a reason for the edit(s).
   
• Head-Fi reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to temporarily or permanently ban any individuals.  In most cases, the individual who was banned will be contacted with a reason for the ban.
   
• Do not post on Head-Fi's forums on behalf of individuals who are banned from Head-Fi.
   
• Head-Fi does not screen posts before they are made available for viewing on the forums, except in the Mall-Fi Forum.
   
• Head-Fi also does not routinely scan every message posted to determine if all posts are in compliance with the Head-Fi Posting Rules and Terms of Use.
   
• Head-Fi does not guarantee the accuracy of information contained in any post made in the Head-Fi Forums and so assumes no legal responsibility for any posts made in Head-Fi.
   
• The content of any post is solely the responsibility of the poster, even if that poster is an administrator and / or moderator of Head-Fi.
   
• Head-Fi will cooperate with any valid subpoena or other legal process in supplying copies of posts and any information Head-Fi has concerning the identity of a poster, to the extent that such information is not already available to anyone who accesses Head-Fi.
   
• Head-Fi makes no claim of authorship or copyright ownership with respect to any post.
   
• Head-Fi reserves the right, in its sole discretion, in the future, to add, remove, change, or modify all or part of these Posting Rules and Terms of Use at any time; it is therefore recommended that you review the Head-Fi Rules and Terms of Use frequently to keep abreast of any changes.