Acceptable use, in plain language

An acceptable use policy exists because Worldstream Services run on shared infrastructure, network capacity, and IP address space that other customers depend on too. This page is a plain-language summary of the real policy, not the binding text. The Acceptable Use Policy PDF at worldstream.com/en/legal ↗ is the binding version, so read that before you rely on any specific clause.

What you can't do

The AUP lists eight prohibited activities:

• Illegal activity: using the service for anything that breaks the law, including illegal pornography, incitement to hate or violence, terrorism, phishing, and DDoS attacks.
• Malicious content: storing, transmitting, or distributing viruses, malware, or harmful code, or content that facilitates illegal activity by others.
• Access control circumvention: trying to gain or keep unauthorised access to networks, systems, or data that aren't yours.
• IP infringement: infringing copyrights, trademarks, patents, or other intellectual property rights.
• Unsolicited communications: sending unsolicited bulk email or other unsolicited messages.
• Data protection breaches: illegally processing, collecting, storing, or distributing personal information.
• Sustained cryptographic computation: cryptocurrency mining, Proof of Work verification, or large-scale automated smart contract execution. Proof of Stake activity (staking, block validation, transaction confirmation) is not restricted by this clause.
• Resource protection: using the service in a way likely to overload or crash Worldstream's systems.

Worldstream decides, at its own discretion, whether a specific activity falls under these prohibitions.

Security is a shared responsibility

Worldstream maintains its own security policy and certifications. You're responsible for reasonable security measures on your side: protecting account passwords and files, and for the security and actions of any additional users on your account. Notify Worldstream promptly if you suspect unauthorised use of or access to your account.

Content and resource usage

You're free to use the service for any legitimate purpose, and you're responsible for everything stored, transmitted, or distributed through your account. Any media streaming through Worldstream Services needs the appropriate licences from the relevant rights holders. Resource usage should stay typical of what you've contracted for and shouldn't negatively affect other customers, Worldstream can suspend or terminate service if your usage has an unwarranted adverse impact on system performance for others.

Monitoring and enforcement

Worldstream doesn't actively monitor or moderate how you use the service, but it does monitor operations and can investigate a suspected AUP violation. A suspected violation can lead to suspension; repeated or serious violations can lead to termination, plus a possible compensation claim. Worldstream may involve relevant authorities where appropriate.

When Worldstream restricts a service over a suspected or confirmed violation, whether that's suspension, termination, or restricting access to specific content, it will give you a clear, specific statement of reasons, except where disclosing details would risk letting you work around the enforcement action, compromise security, or breach a legal obligation.

Service levels don't apply during a breach: The AUP states that no service levels apply to any service for the period Customer is in breach of this policy. See How abuse notifications work for what actually happens when a report comes in.

Abuse reports

For reports that aren't about intellectual property infringement, Worldstream analyses what it receives. If a report gives Worldstream actual knowledge of illegal activity or illegal content, it acts to remove or disable access to that content, otherwise, it refers the reporter to the relevant authorities. Worldstream notifies you if your content is removed or disabled as a result of an abuse report, unless the law prohibits that notification. See How abuse notifications work for the full reporting process and evidence requirements.

Policy ownership

Worldstream's Directors own this policy, and it's reviewed and updated at least once a year.