PRIVACY POLICY AND USER AGREEMENT

By using theaegis.com Web site service, you hereby agree to be bound by all of the terms and conditions contained in this Member Agreement. Homestead Publishing reserves the right at its discretion to change the terms of this Agreement. Please check this page periodically for changes. Your continued use of theaegis.com after the posting of any change in terms shall constitute your acceptance to be bound by any such changes. This statement and the policies outlined herein are not intended to and do not create any contractual or other legal rights in or on behalf of any party.

This web site is published on a secure server.

1. Gathering information from users

Theaegis.com requires users to register with us and provide certain information, including an e-mail address, in order to gain access to The Aegis online. You may change or update your registration with us by contacting webmaster@theaegis.com.

We also gather individually identifiable information that you provide to us on a voluntary basis in connection with activities other than accessing our online newspaper. For example, information may be gathered from discussion groups and chat rooms, registration for subscription services related to printed editions of the newspaper or from other interactive areas of our site.

2. How we use information we collect

The information you share with us may be used in several ways. We will use your registration and demographic information to deliver targeted editorial or subscription information.

We may use personal information to communicate with you about: your registration and subscription requests and other important information. We may also communicate with you about changes and improvements to theaegis.com. Except as otherwise provided, any personal information theaegis.com might gather from readers will be neither resold nor shared with third parties without an individual's consent.

3. Member submissions and discussion groups

You agree not to use theaegis.com web site, or permit your Account to be used, to send or submit for public posting, distribute or otherwise publish through theaegis.com web site, any content (textual, graphical or otherwise) which (A) is libelous, abusive, obscene, profane, defamatory, inaccurate, sexually explicit, inappropriate for general distribution, threatening or otherwise illegal, (B) promotes, suggests or encourages illegal acts, (C) contains any solicitation of funds or unsolicited "junk" mail, (D) violates any copyright, trademark or other intellectual property laws, including but not limited to the re-posting of any material from other sources, (E) contains any advertisement of goods or services, except in areas specifically designated for such purpose, or (F) violates any other laws of any jurisdiction in which the theaegis.com web site is distributed. Any violation of the foregoing prohibitions may result in the termination of your account and may be referred to law enforcement authorities. Homestead Publishing Co., publisher of theaegis.com, is not responsible for any content submitted by you, through your membership account or by other members or for screening, editing or monitoring such material. Nevertheless, theaegis.com web site reserves the right (but is not obligated) to delete messages or remove users that it, in its sole discretion, deems to be in violation of the terms of this Agreement or otherwise unacceptable. You assume full responsibility for the content of all messages posted by you or through your Account.

You agree to allow theaegis.com to include your computer's unique i.p. address along with your username within any posts you make or have made on theaegis.com discussion groups.

You agree to indemnify, defend and hold Homestead Publishing Co. and all of its affiliates harmless from any claims (including, but not limited to, claims for defamation, trade disparagement, privacy and intellectual property infringement) and damages (including attorneys' fees) arising from any submissions by you or through your account.

4. Links to outside sites posted on theaegis.com

theaegis.com does provide links to web pages which exist outside of theaegis.com's control. These links are intended to enhance our readers' understanding of issues and will open in a new window when clicked.

Be aware that Internet sites accessible through our site may have their own privacy and data collection policies and practices. Homestead Publishing Co. and theaegis.com is not responsible for any actions or policies of such third parties. Users should check the applicable privacy policies of those third parties when providing personally identifiable information through co-branded, affiliated or linked sites.

Finally, you should be aware that if you voluntarily disclose personally identifiable information (e.g., user name, e-mail address, or other messages) on discussion groups or in chat areas of theaegis.com, that information can be collected and used by third parties without our knowledge and may result in unsolicited messages from other individuals or third parties. Such activities are beyond the control of theaegis.com.

5. Limitations on use

Copyright and Restrictions. All information displayed, transmitted or carried on the theaegis.com web site including, but not limited to, directories, news articles, opinions, reviews, text, photographs, images, illustrations, audio clips, video clips, trademarks, service marks and the like (collectively, the "Content") is protected by copyright and other intellectual property laws. The Content is owned by Homestead Publishing Company. You may not modify, publish, transmit, transfer, sell, reproduce, create derivative work from, distribute, repost, perform, display, or in any way commercially exploit any of the Content or infringe upon trademarks or service marks contained in such Content. You agree to abide by all copyright notices and restrictions attached to any Content accessed through theaegis.com web site, not to alter the Content in any way, and not to alter or remove any trademark, copyright or any other notice from copies of the Content.

Permitted Use. You may make a single copy of the Content displayed on theaegis.com web site for personal, noncommercial use only, provided that you do not remove any trademarks, copyright and any other notice contained in such Content. You shall not archive or retain any Content in any form without written permission from Homestead Publishing Company. You may not distribute (including via e-mail or the Internet), or otherwise make available, copies to others, whether or not for payment or other consideration, without written permission from Homestead Publishing Company.

6. Changes in Service

Homestead Publishing Company may modify, suspend, discontinue or restrict the use of any portion of theaegis.com web site, including the availability of any Content feature, at any time and without notice or liability.

7. Children

theaegis.com does not knowingly collect or solicit personally-identifiable information from or about children under the age of 13. If we discover that we have received any information from a child under 13 in violation of this policy, we will delete that information immediately. If you believe theaegis.com has any information from or about anyone under 13, please contact webmaster@theaegis.com.

8. General disclaimer and limitation of liability

theaegis.com web site contains facts, views, opinions, statements and recommendations of third party individuals and organizations, in particular on its discussion groups. Homestead Publishing does not represent or endorse the accuracy, currentness or reliability of any advice, opinion, statement or other information displayed, uploaded or distributed through theaegis.com web site. You acknowledge that any reliance upon any such opinion, advice, statement or information shall be at your sole risk.

Homestead Publishing Company makes no warranty regarding theaegis.com web site or any content, services or products provided through or in connection with theaegis.com web site. Homestead Publishing Company EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION: (A) ANY WARRANTIES AS TO THE AVAILABILITY, ACCURACY, COMPLETENESS OR CONTENT OF INFORMATION, PRODUCTS OR SERVICES WHICH ARE PART OF THEaegis.com wEB SITE; AND (B) WARRANTIES OF FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OR MERCHANTABILITY OR AGAINST INFRINGEMENT. In no event will Homestead Publishing Company, its affiliates, licensors, employees, agents or contractors be liable to you for any damages or losses, including without limitation indirect, consequential, special, incidental or punitive damages resulting from or caused by theaegis.com web site, its public posting discussion groups, its content or any errors or omissions in its content, even if advised of the possibility of such damages.

Any liability of Homestead Publishing Company, its affiliates, licensors, employees, agents or contractors, including without limitation any liability for damages caused or allegedly caused by any failure of performance, error, omission, interruption, deletion, defect, delay in operation or transmission, computer virus, communications line failure, theft or destruction or unauthorized access to, alteration of, or use of records, whether for breach of contract, tortious behavior, negligence, or under any other cause of action, shall be strictly limited to the amount paid to Homestead Publishing Company by or on behalf of you in connection with theaegis.com web site in the 12 months prior to the claimed injury or damage.

9. MISCELLANEOUS

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Maryland, without regard to its conflicts of law provisions.