I will put the HP Blogging Code of Contact as one of our final materials regarding the Corporate Blogging Policies of various companies. We will be updating the WordFrame Blog regularly with similar documents and they will always be in the Corporate Blogging Resources category
Original Document available at:
http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/blogs/codeofconduct.html
______
HP Blogging Code of Conduct
Spanning a range of topics from servers to marketing excellence. HP blogs chronicle the unvarnished thoughts of HP employees. Find out what company leaders, topic experts and guest bloggers think about the technology landscape of today - and tomorrow. Become part of the conversation by reading and sharing your comments with us.
HP blogs are written by a variety of employees at different levels and positions in the company, so you can expect many viewpoints. You can also expect the following:
1. We will strive to have open and honest dialogues with our readers.
2. We will correct inaccurate or misleading postings in a timely manner. We will not delete posts unless they violate our policies. Most changes will be made by adding to posts and we will mark any additions clearly.
3. We will disclose conflicts of interest.
4. Our Standards of Business Conduct will guide what we write about — so there are some topics we won't comment on such as information about financials, HP intellectual property, trade secrets, management changes, lawsuits, shareholder issues, layoffs, and contractual agreements with alliance partners, customers, and suppliers.
5. We will provide links to relevant material available on other blogs and Web sites. We will disclose any sources fully through credits, links and trackbacks unless the source has requested anonymity.
6. We understand that respect goes both ways — we will use good judgment in our posts and respond to you in a respectful manner. In return, we ask the same of you.
7. We trust you will be mindful of the information you share on our blogs — any personally identifiable information you share on a blog can be seen by anyone with access to the blog.
8. We will respect intellectual property rights.
9. We will use good judgment in protecting personal and corporate information and in respecting the privacy of individuals who use our blogs.
Comments:
1. Comments will be reviewed by bloggers before they are posted on our blogs.
2. We will review, post and respond to comments in a timely manner. We welcome constructive criticism. We can't respond to every comment, but will read all of them.
3. We will not post comments that are spam, inappropriate, defamatory, use profanity, or otherwise violate our policies or Terms of Use.
4. Because our blogs focus on material of general interest to all our readers, we ask that you direct customer support inquiries through our traditional customer service channels or use our IT resource center forums. Using these channels will allow you to get your issues to experienced HP support representatives in a timely manner.
5. Our bloggers will not respond to customer support issues and will not post these comments to their blogs.
Showing posts with label examples. Show all posts
Showing posts with label examples. Show all posts
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Corporate Blogging Policies - Blogging Guidelines of Sun Microsystems
Here is the Corporate Blogging Guidelines of Sun Microsystems. I wll try to put as many as possible docs from the ones I have read and used over the years so we can have them in one place and WordFrame Blog be another good reference point too.
Original Document available at:
http://www.tbray.org/ongoing/When/200x/2004/05/02/Policy
_____________________
Sun Blogs
Many of us at Sun are doing work that could change the world. We need to do a better job of telling the world. As of now, you are encouraged to tell the world about your work, without asking permission first (but please do read and follow the advice in this note). Blogging is a good way to do this.
Advice By speaking directly to the world, without benefit of management approval, we are accepting higher risks in the interest of higher rewards. We don't want to micro-manage, but here is some advice.
It's a Two-Way Street The real goal isn't to get everyone at Sun blogging, it's to become part of the industry conversation. So, whether or not you're going to write, and especially if you are, look around and do some reading, so you learn where the conversation is and what people are saying.
If you start writing, remember the Web is all about links; when you see something interesting and relevant, link to it; you'll be doing your readers a service, and you'll also generate links back to you; a win-win.
Don't Tell Secrets Common sense at work here; it's perfectly OK to talk about your work and have a dialog with the community, but it's not OK to publish the recipe for one of our secret sauces. There's an official policy on protecting Sun's proprietary and confidential information, but there are still going to be judgment calls.
If the judgment call is tough-on secrets or one of the other issues discussed here-it's never a bad idea to get management sign-off before you publish.
Be Interesting Writing is hard work. There's no point doing it if people don't read it. Fortunately, if you're writing about a product that a lot of people are using, or are waiting for, and you know what you're talking about, you're probably going to be interesting. And because of the magic of hyperlinking and the Web, if you're interesting, you're going to be popular, at least among the people who understand your specialty.
Another way to be interesting is to expose your personality; almost all of the successful bloggers write about themselves, about families or movies or books or games; or they post pictures. People like to know what kind of a person is writing what they're reading. Once again, balance is called for; a blog is a public place and you should try to avoid embarrassing your readers or the company.
Write What You Know The best way to be interesting, stay out of trouble, and have fun is to write about what you know. If you have a deep understanding of some chunk of Solaris or a hot JSR, it's hard to get into too much trouble, or be boring, talking about the issues and challenges around that.
On the other hand, a Solaris architect who publishes rants on marketing strategy, or whether Java should be open-sourced, has a good chance of being embarrassed by a real expert, or of being boring.
Financial Rules There are all sorts of laws about what we can and can't say, business-wise. Talking about revenue, future product ship dates, roadmaps, or our share price is apt to get you, or the company, or both, into legal trouble.
Quality Matters Use a spell-checker. If you're not design-oriented, ask someone who is whether your blog looks decent, and take their advice on how to improve it.
You don't have to be a great or even a good writer to succeed at this, but you do have to make an effort to be clear, complete, and concise. Of course, "complete" and "concise" are to some degree in conflict; that's just the way life is. There are very few first drafts that can't be shortened, and usually improved in the process.
Think About Consequences The worst thing that can happen is that a Sun sales pro is in a meeting with a hot prospect, and someone on the customer's side pulls out a print-out of your blog and says "This person at Sun says that product sucks."
In general, "XXX sucks" is not only risky but unsubtle. Saying "Netbeans needs to have an easier learning curve for the first-time user" is fine; saying "Visual Development Environments for Java sucks" is just amateurish.
Once again, it's all about judgment: using your weblog to trash or embarrass the company, our customers, or your co-workers, is not only dangerous but stupid.
Disclaimers Many bloggers put a disclaimer on their front page saying who they work for, but that they're not speaking officially. This is good practice, but don't count on it to avoid trouble; it may not have much legal effect.
Tools We're starting to develop tools to make it easy for anyone to start publishing, but if you feel the urge, don't wait for us; there are lots of decent blogging tools and hosts out there.
This site contains blogs written by Sun employees and is governed by company policies, including Sun's Blogging Guidelines. When employees leave Sun, blogs written during their employment normally remain in place here and are subject to the same policies. Sun Alumni are invited to continue blogging on the friends.sun.com/blogs site, where additional terms and conditions apply.
Sun's Blogging Guidelines
Speaking to the world in public has potential risks for you and for Sun and you need to understand
them. Here are the big-picture risks.
Posting the wrong thing on your blog could:
? Lose Sun its right to export technology outside the U.S.
? Get Sun and you in legal trouble with U.S. and other government agencies.
? Lose Sun its trademark on key terms like Java and Solaris.
? Cost us the ability to get patents.
? Cost you your job at Sun.
Most of these risks can be avoided by just being careful and responsible. Here is a summary of the
important rules to follow to avoid getting in trouble. There is an applicable company policy for each of
the items listed. Links to these policies are included in the internal version of this document located at
https://akula.sfbay.sun.com:8443/blogs-admin/ Violation of any applicable company policy may result
in disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment.
Summary of the important rules:
1. Do not disclose or speculate on non-public financial or operational information. The legal
consequences could be swift and severe for you and Sun.
2. Do not disclose non-public technical information (for example, code) without approval. Sun
could instantly lose its right to export its products and technology to most of the world or to
protect its intellectual property.
3. Do not disclose personal information about other individuals.
4. Do not disclose confidential information, Sun's or anyone else's.
5. Do not discuss work-related legal proceedings or controversies, including communications with
Sun attorneys.
6. Always refer to Sun's trademarked names properly. For example, never use a trademark as a
noun, since this could result in a loss of our trademark rights.
7. Do not post others' material, for example photographs, articles, or music, without ensuring
they've granted appropriate permission to do this.
8. Follow Sun's Standards of Business Conduct and uphold Sun's reputation for integrity. In
particular, ensure that your comments about companies and products are truthful, accurate, and
fair and can be substantiated, and avoid disparaging comments about individuals.
Original Document available at:
http://www.tbray.org/ongoing/When/200x/2004/05/02/Policy
_____________________
Sun Blogs
Many of us at Sun are doing work that could change the world. We need to do a better job of telling the world. As of now, you are encouraged to tell the world about your work, without asking permission first (but please do read and follow the advice in this note). Blogging is a good way to do this.
Advice By speaking directly to the world, without benefit of management approval, we are accepting higher risks in the interest of higher rewards. We don't want to micro-manage, but here is some advice.
It's a Two-Way Street The real goal isn't to get everyone at Sun blogging, it's to become part of the industry conversation. So, whether or not you're going to write, and especially if you are, look around and do some reading, so you learn where the conversation is and what people are saying.
If you start writing, remember the Web is all about links; when you see something interesting and relevant, link to it; you'll be doing your readers a service, and you'll also generate links back to you; a win-win.
Don't Tell Secrets Common sense at work here; it's perfectly OK to talk about your work and have a dialog with the community, but it's not OK to publish the recipe for one of our secret sauces. There's an official policy on protecting Sun's proprietary and confidential information, but there are still going to be judgment calls.
If the judgment call is tough-on secrets or one of the other issues discussed here-it's never a bad idea to get management sign-off before you publish.
Be Interesting Writing is hard work. There's no point doing it if people don't read it. Fortunately, if you're writing about a product that a lot of people are using, or are waiting for, and you know what you're talking about, you're probably going to be interesting. And because of the magic of hyperlinking and the Web, if you're interesting, you're going to be popular, at least among the people who understand your specialty.
Another way to be interesting is to expose your personality; almost all of the successful bloggers write about themselves, about families or movies or books or games; or they post pictures. People like to know what kind of a person is writing what they're reading. Once again, balance is called for; a blog is a public place and you should try to avoid embarrassing your readers or the company.
Write What You Know The best way to be interesting, stay out of trouble, and have fun is to write about what you know. If you have a deep understanding of some chunk of Solaris or a hot JSR, it's hard to get into too much trouble, or be boring, talking about the issues and challenges around that.
On the other hand, a Solaris architect who publishes rants on marketing strategy, or whether Java should be open-sourced, has a good chance of being embarrassed by a real expert, or of being boring.
Financial Rules There are all sorts of laws about what we can and can't say, business-wise. Talking about revenue, future product ship dates, roadmaps, or our share price is apt to get you, or the company, or both, into legal trouble.
Quality Matters Use a spell-checker. If you're not design-oriented, ask someone who is whether your blog looks decent, and take their advice on how to improve it.
You don't have to be a great or even a good writer to succeed at this, but you do have to make an effort to be clear, complete, and concise. Of course, "complete" and "concise" are to some degree in conflict; that's just the way life is. There are very few first drafts that can't be shortened, and usually improved in the process.
Think About Consequences The worst thing that can happen is that a Sun sales pro is in a meeting with a hot prospect, and someone on the customer's side pulls out a print-out of your blog and says "This person at Sun says that product sucks."
In general, "XXX sucks" is not only risky but unsubtle. Saying "Netbeans needs to have an easier learning curve for the first-time user" is fine; saying "Visual Development Environments for Java sucks" is just amateurish.
Once again, it's all about judgment: using your weblog to trash or embarrass the company, our customers, or your co-workers, is not only dangerous but stupid.
Disclaimers Many bloggers put a disclaimer on their front page saying who they work for, but that they're not speaking officially. This is good practice, but don't count on it to avoid trouble; it may not have much legal effect.
Tools We're starting to develop tools to make it easy for anyone to start publishing, but if you feel the urge, don't wait for us; there are lots of decent blogging tools and hosts out there.
This site contains blogs written by Sun employees and is governed by company policies, including Sun's Blogging Guidelines. When employees leave Sun, blogs written during their employment normally remain in place here and are subject to the same policies. Sun Alumni are invited to continue blogging on the friends.sun.com/blogs site, where additional terms and conditions apply.
Sun's Blogging Guidelines
Speaking to the world in public has potential risks for you and for Sun and you need to understand
them. Here are the big-picture risks.
Posting the wrong thing on your blog could:
? Lose Sun its right to export technology outside the U.S.
? Get Sun and you in legal trouble with U.S. and other government agencies.
? Lose Sun its trademark on key terms like Java and Solaris.
? Cost us the ability to get patents.
? Cost you your job at Sun.
Most of these risks can be avoided by just being careful and responsible. Here is a summary of the
important rules to follow to avoid getting in trouble. There is an applicable company policy for each of
the items listed. Links to these policies are included in the internal version of this document located at
https://akula.sfbay.sun.com:8443/blogs-admin/ Violation of any applicable company policy may result
in disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment.
Summary of the important rules:
1. Do not disclose or speculate on non-public financial or operational information. The legal
consequences could be swift and severe for you and Sun.
2. Do not disclose non-public technical information (for example, code) without approval. Sun
could instantly lose its right to export its products and technology to most of the world or to
protect its intellectual property.
3. Do not disclose personal information about other individuals.
4. Do not disclose confidential information, Sun's or anyone else's.
5. Do not discuss work-related legal proceedings or controversies, including communications with
Sun attorneys.
6. Always refer to Sun's trademarked names properly. For example, never use a trademark as a
noun, since this could result in a loss of our trademark rights.
7. Do not post others' material, for example photographs, articles, or music, without ensuring
they've granted appropriate permission to do this.
8. Follow Sun's Standards of Business Conduct and uphold Sun's reputation for integrity. In
particular, ensure that your comments about companies and products are truthful, accurate, and
fair and can be substantiated, and avoid disparaging comments about individuals.
Corporate Blogging Policies - BBC GUIDELINES ON EMPLOYEES WEBLOGS AND WEBSITES
The BBC Blogging Guidelines is an interesting document regarding some specific issues connected mainly to the type of the business and industry type in which The BBC is into. We already received a small note from a prospect customer how helpful the materials regarding the corporate policies we posted yesterday on the WordFrame blog are so we are continuing in that direction. Please note that we will be updating this section of our WordFrame blog site constantly.
Original document available on the BBC site:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/guidelines/editorialguidelines/assets/advice/guidelin
esonemployeesweblogsandwebsites.doc
____________________
BBC GUIDELINES ON EMPLOYEES WEBLOGS AND WEBSITES
These Guidelines apply to personal blogs and all other personal webcontent (e.g. personal podcasts). Official BBC content which uses blogging formats must be signed off by the relevant divisional interactive head.
Principles
Blogging is a form of public conversation on the internet, in which BBC people may wish to take part.
When a blogger clearly identifies themselves as a BBC person and/or discusses their work, the BBC expects them to behave well when blogging, and in ways that are consistent with the BBC’s Editorial Values and policies.
Many bloggers, particularly in technical areas, use their personal blogs to discuss their BBC work in ways that benefit the BBC, and add to the “industry conversation”. These guidelines are not intended to restrict this, as long as confidential information is not revealed.
Blogs or websites which do not identify the blogger as a BBC employee, do not discuss the BBC and are purely about personal matters would normally fall outside these guidelines.
These guidelines complement the BBC’s Conflict of Interest guidelines.
Editorial Policy can give advice on these Guidelines.
Guidelines For Bloggers
If you already have a personal blog or website which indicates in any way that you work at the BBC you should tell your manager.
If you want to start blogging, and your blog/website will say that you work for the BBC you should tell your manager.
If your blog makes it clear that you work for the BBC, it should include a simple and visible disclaimer such as “these are my personal views and not those of the BBC”.
Unless there are specific concerns about the nature of your job, you are free to talk about BBC programmes and content on your blog. Consult your manager if in any doubt.
Don’t reveal confidential information. This might include aspects of BBC policy or details of internal BBC discussions. Again, consult your manager if you are unclear about what might be confidential.
You should not use your blogs to attack or abuse colleagues. You should respect the privacy and the feelings of others. Remember that if you break the law on your blog (for example by posting something defamatory), you will be personally responsible.
If you think something on your blog or website gives rise to concerns about a conflict of interest and in particular concerns about impartiality or confidentiality this must be discussed with your manager.
If someone offers to pay you for blogging this could constitute a conflict of interest and you must consult your manager.
If someone from the media or press contacts you about posts on your blog that relate to the BBC you should talk to your manager before responding. The relevant BBC press office must be consulted.
You are allowed to update your personal blog from a BBC computer at work, under the BBC’s Acceptable Use Policy.
Guidelines For Managers
Under these guidelines managers in each area will decide what is appropriate. They should not adopt an unnecessarily restrictive approach. Managers should ensure that any special instructions on blogging are reasonable and explained clearly to staff.
Managers should bear in mind concerns about impartiality, confidentiality, conflicts of interest or commercial sensitivity. In some cases individuals may be dealing with matters which are so sensitive that rules may have to be set on what they can and cannot talk about on their personal blog.
Those involved in editorial or production areas must take particular care to ensure that they do not undermine the integrity or impartiality of the BBC or its output on their blogs. For example those involved in factual areas should not advocate a particular position on high profile controversial subjects relevant to their areas.
Managers can consult the BBC’s Conflicts of Interest Guidelines and the BBC’s Acceptable Use Policy For Internet and Email.
News and Current Affairs
Impartiality is a particular concern for those working in news and current affairs. Nothing should appear on their personal blogs which undermines the integrity or impartiality of the BBC. For example, news and current affairs people should not:
• advocate support for a particular political party
• express views for or against any policy which is a matter of current party political debate
• advocate any particular position on an issue of current public controversy or debate
If news and current affairs people are in doubt they should refer immediately to their line manager.
If news and current affairs people are asked to blog for commercial gain this could constitute a conflict of interest. Managers should consult the Off Air Activities Guidance Note for News and Current Affairs Presenters and Editorial Staff in BBC News, BBC Nations and Regions and BBC Global News.
Original document available on the BBC site:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/guidelines/editorialguidelines/assets/advice/guidelin
esonemployeesweblogsandwebsites.doc
____________________
BBC GUIDELINES ON EMPLOYEES WEBLOGS AND WEBSITES
These Guidelines apply to personal blogs and all other personal webcontent (e.g. personal podcasts). Official BBC content which uses blogging formats must be signed off by the relevant divisional interactive head.
Principles
Blogging is a form of public conversation on the internet, in which BBC people may wish to take part.
When a blogger clearly identifies themselves as a BBC person and/or discusses their work, the BBC expects them to behave well when blogging, and in ways that are consistent with the BBC’s Editorial Values and policies.
Many bloggers, particularly in technical areas, use their personal blogs to discuss their BBC work in ways that benefit the BBC, and add to the “industry conversation”. These guidelines are not intended to restrict this, as long as confidential information is not revealed.
Blogs or websites which do not identify the blogger as a BBC employee, do not discuss the BBC and are purely about personal matters would normally fall outside these guidelines.
These guidelines complement the BBC’s Conflict of Interest guidelines.
Editorial Policy can give advice on these Guidelines.
Guidelines For Bloggers
If you already have a personal blog or website which indicates in any way that you work at the BBC you should tell your manager.
If you want to start blogging, and your blog/website will say that you work for the BBC you should tell your manager.
If your blog makes it clear that you work for the BBC, it should include a simple and visible disclaimer such as “these are my personal views and not those of the BBC”.
Unless there are specific concerns about the nature of your job, you are free to talk about BBC programmes and content on your blog. Consult your manager if in any doubt.
Don’t reveal confidential information. This might include aspects of BBC policy or details of internal BBC discussions. Again, consult your manager if you are unclear about what might be confidential.
You should not use your blogs to attack or abuse colleagues. You should respect the privacy and the feelings of others. Remember that if you break the law on your blog (for example by posting something defamatory), you will be personally responsible.
If you think something on your blog or website gives rise to concerns about a conflict of interest and in particular concerns about impartiality or confidentiality this must be discussed with your manager.
If someone offers to pay you for blogging this could constitute a conflict of interest and you must consult your manager.
If someone from the media or press contacts you about posts on your blog that relate to the BBC you should talk to your manager before responding. The relevant BBC press office must be consulted.
You are allowed to update your personal blog from a BBC computer at work, under the BBC’s Acceptable Use Policy.
Guidelines For Managers
Under these guidelines managers in each area will decide what is appropriate. They should not adopt an unnecessarily restrictive approach. Managers should ensure that any special instructions on blogging are reasonable and explained clearly to staff.
Managers should bear in mind concerns about impartiality, confidentiality, conflicts of interest or commercial sensitivity. In some cases individuals may be dealing with matters which are so sensitive that rules may have to be set on what they can and cannot talk about on their personal blog.
Those involved in editorial or production areas must take particular care to ensure that they do not undermine the integrity or impartiality of the BBC or its output on their blogs. For example those involved in factual areas should not advocate a particular position on high profile controversial subjects relevant to their areas.
Managers can consult the BBC’s Conflicts of Interest Guidelines and the BBC’s Acceptable Use Policy For Internet and Email.
News and Current Affairs
Impartiality is a particular concern for those working in news and current affairs. Nothing should appear on their personal blogs which undermines the integrity or impartiality of the BBC. For example, news and current affairs people should not:
• advocate support for a particular political party
• express views for or against any policy which is a matter of current party political debate
• advocate any particular position on an issue of current public controversy or debate
If news and current affairs people are in doubt they should refer immediately to their line manager.
If news and current affairs people are asked to blog for commercial gain this could constitute a conflict of interest. Managers should consult the Off Air Activities Guidance Note for News and Current Affairs Presenters and Editorial Staff in BBC News, BBC Nations and Regions and BBC Global News.
Corporate Blogging Policies - Groove Weblog Policy
This is the Groove Corporate Blogging Policy. It took us some time to dig it but we really wanted WordFrame blog site to have all the needed materials that can help our customers.
Original Document available at:
http://rayozzie.spaces.live.com/editorial/rayozzie/old/blog/catego
ries/organizations/2002/08/24.html
_________________
Weblog Policy: A number of people at Groove have started blogs, and I'm really trying to encourage more to do the same. The more we live it, the more that we'll learn from it, and the more that we'll learn through it as we're engaged in conversations with our customers. And thus, the sooner that we'll be able to improve our products and services based upon what we learn. Of course, there are many questions that arise when an employer encourages employees to operate more "in the open", and so our counsel, Jeff Seul, has taken a first pass at creating a "blog policy". Check it out.
As an employer, this gives me many things to consider. About a year ago, many of us witnessed as an employee of one company lost his job because he allegedly disparaged the company and some of its employees online. But it doesn't seem appropriate or possible to mandate and codify "reasonable behavior" in a policy. On the other hand, people will be increasingly challeneged to be aware of what they should or shouldn't say online - particularly with regard to intellectual property - and maybe reminding them to be aware of this is a good thing.
Furthermore, consider things like this. Jeff says, "I've added a paragraph about limitation or suspension of website/weblog activity during SEC-mandated quiet periods. You may recall that the SEC postponed Webvan's IPO because it considered certain activity on Webvan's website to be a violation of the pre-IPO quiet period. Although we view employee weblogs as a personal activity, the SEC could potentially impose a cooling-off period on us if it considered employee weblog activity to be sanctioned by the company or something we've turned a blind eye toward. There's a risk that they could view employee weblogs to which we link (or have linked in the past) as company-sanctioned." Fascinating.
Perhaps we can learn from one another: are there any other companies that have done similar things? Can you provide links or stories?
Personal Website and Weblog Guidelines
Some employees who maintain personal websites or weblogs, or who are considering beginning one, have asked about the company�s perspective regarding them. In general, the company views personal websites and weblogs positively, and it respects the right of employees to use them as a medium of self-expression.
If you choose to identify yourself as a company employee or to discuss matters related to the company�s technology or business on your website or weblog, please bear in mind that, although you and we view your website or weblog as a personal project and a medium of personal expression, some readers may nonetheless view you as a de facto spokesperson for the company. In light of this possibility, we ask that you observe the following guidelines:
• Please make it clear to your readers that the views you express are yours alone and that they do not necessarily reflect the views of the company. To help reduce the potential for confusion, we would appreciate it if you put the following notice � or something similar � in a reasonably prominent place on your site (e.g., at the bottom of your �about me� page):
The views expressed on this website/weblog are mine alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of my employer.
If you do put a notice on your site, you needn�t put it on every page, but please use reasonable efforts to draw attention to it � if at all possible, from the home page of your site.
• Take care not to disclose any information that is confidential or proprietary to the company or to any third party that has disclosed information to us. Consult the company�s confidentiality policy for guidance about what constitutes confidential information.
• Please remember that your employment documents give the company certain rights with respect to concepts and developments you produce that are related to the company�s business. Please consult your manager if you have questions about the appropriateness of publishing such concepts or developments related to the company�s business on your site.
• Since your site is a public space, we hope you will be as respectful to the company, our employees, our customers, our partners and affiliates, and others (including our competitors) as the company itself endeavors to be.
• You may provide a link from your site to the company�s website, if you wish. The web design group has created a graphic for links to the company�s site, which you may use for this purpose during the term of your employment (subject to discontinuation in the company�s discretion). Contact a member of the web design group for details. Please do not use other company trademarks on your site or reproduce company material without first obtaining permission.
Finally, please be aware that the company may request that you temporarily confine your website or weblog commentary to topics unrelated to the company (or, in rare cases, that you temporarily suspend your website or weblog activity altogether) if it believes this is necessary or advisable to ensure compliance with securities regulations or other laws.
If you have any questions about these guidelines or any matter related to your site that these guidelines do not address, please direct them to the company's Vice President of Communications or its General Counsel, as appropriate.
Original Document available at:
http://rayozzie.spaces.live.com/editorial/rayozzie/old/blog/catego
ries/organizations/2002/08/24.html
_________________
Weblog Policy: A number of people at Groove have started blogs, and I'm really trying to encourage more to do the same. The more we live it, the more that we'll learn from it, and the more that we'll learn through it as we're engaged in conversations with our customers. And thus, the sooner that we'll be able to improve our products and services based upon what we learn. Of course, there are many questions that arise when an employer encourages employees to operate more "in the open", and so our counsel, Jeff Seul, has taken a first pass at creating a "blog policy". Check it out.
As an employer, this gives me many things to consider. About a year ago, many of us witnessed as an employee of one company lost his job because he allegedly disparaged the company and some of its employees online. But it doesn't seem appropriate or possible to mandate and codify "reasonable behavior" in a policy. On the other hand, people will be increasingly challeneged to be aware of what they should or shouldn't say online - particularly with regard to intellectual property - and maybe reminding them to be aware of this is a good thing.
Furthermore, consider things like this. Jeff says, "I've added a paragraph about limitation or suspension of website/weblog activity during SEC-mandated quiet periods. You may recall that the SEC postponed Webvan's IPO because it considered certain activity on Webvan's website to be a violation of the pre-IPO quiet period. Although we view employee weblogs as a personal activity, the SEC could potentially impose a cooling-off period on us if it considered employee weblog activity to be sanctioned by the company or something we've turned a blind eye toward. There's a risk that they could view employee weblogs to which we link (or have linked in the past) as company-sanctioned." Fascinating.
Perhaps we can learn from one another: are there any other companies that have done similar things? Can you provide links or stories?
Personal Website and Weblog Guidelines
Some employees who maintain personal websites or weblogs, or who are considering beginning one, have asked about the company�s perspective regarding them. In general, the company views personal websites and weblogs positively, and it respects the right of employees to use them as a medium of self-expression.
If you choose to identify yourself as a company employee or to discuss matters related to the company�s technology or business on your website or weblog, please bear in mind that, although you and we view your website or weblog as a personal project and a medium of personal expression, some readers may nonetheless view you as a de facto spokesperson for the company. In light of this possibility, we ask that you observe the following guidelines:
• Please make it clear to your readers that the views you express are yours alone and that they do not necessarily reflect the views of the company. To help reduce the potential for confusion, we would appreciate it if you put the following notice � or something similar � in a reasonably prominent place on your site (e.g., at the bottom of your �about me� page):
The views expressed on this website/weblog are mine alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of my employer.
If you do put a notice on your site, you needn�t put it on every page, but please use reasonable efforts to draw attention to it � if at all possible, from the home page of your site.
• Take care not to disclose any information that is confidential or proprietary to the company or to any third party that has disclosed information to us. Consult the company�s confidentiality policy for guidance about what constitutes confidential information.
• Please remember that your employment documents give the company certain rights with respect to concepts and developments you produce that are related to the company�s business. Please consult your manager if you have questions about the appropriateness of publishing such concepts or developments related to the company�s business on your site.
• Since your site is a public space, we hope you will be as respectful to the company, our employees, our customers, our partners and affiliates, and others (including our competitors) as the company itself endeavors to be.
• You may provide a link from your site to the company�s website, if you wish. The web design group has created a graphic for links to the company�s site, which you may use for this purpose during the term of your employment (subject to discontinuation in the company�s discretion). Contact a member of the web design group for details. Please do not use other company trademarks on your site or reproduce company material without first obtaining permission.
Finally, please be aware that the company may request that you temporarily confine your website or weblog commentary to topics unrelated to the company (or, in rare cases, that you temporarily suspend your website or weblog activity altogether) if it believes this is necessary or advisable to ensure compliance with securities regulations or other laws.
If you have any questions about these guidelines or any matter related to your site that these guidelines do not address, please direct them to the company's Vice President of Communications or its General Counsel, as appropriate.
Corporate Blogging Policies - FOX Interactive Media Forums Rules of Discussion
This material is very interesting and we, at WordFrame, are happy to put it as one of the example Corporate Blogging Policies.
The Original document is on the Fox websites. Here is a direct link to these FOX Rules on one of the sites that you can find these:
http://community.myfoxdc.com/blogs/blogrules.aspx
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FOX Interactive Media Forums Rules of Discussion
You are welcome to post, transmit or submit messages and other materials (to bulletin boards, chat rooms, blogs or other public areas within this Site ("Forums"). In order to keep these Forums enjoyable and suitable for all our users, we ask you to follow the rules listed below. By participating in any of our Forums you are consenting to, and agreeing to abide by, these rules.
1. You agree that you are fully responsible for the content that you post. You agree to limit the content you post to the subject matter for which the Forums are intended. You will not post content that violates the copyright, trademark or other intellectual property rights of any other person. You will not post content that is libelous, an invasion or privacy or publicity rights, defamatory, obscene, profane or indecent, abusive or threatening. You will not post content that constitutes a criminal offense, that gives rise to any civil liability or that otherwise violates any local, state, national or international law.
You will indemnify Fox Interactive Media, Inc. (FIM), its parents and affiliates together with their respective employees, agents, directors, officers and shareholders, from and against any claims, liabilities, damages and expenses (including but not limited to reasonable attorneys' fees) related to or arising out of any content you have posted.
2. You understand and agree that FIM is not responsible for any content posted by you or any other third party. You further understand that FIM does not endorse and has no control over the content posted in the Forums by third parties, and cannot vouch for its accuracy or reliability. You also understand that FIM has no responsibility to monitor the Forums for inappropriate content posted by users. Even if FIM chooses, in its sole discretion, to monitor the Forums, we nonetheless assume no responsibility for the content of the postings. However, FIM reserves the right to prevent you from posting content to the Forums and to edit, restrict or remove your content for any reason at any time.
3. You agree not to post content that contains advertising, is for commercial purposes, or solicits a person to buy or sell products and services or to make donations.
4. You agree that any content you post becomes the property of FIM. You understand and agree that FIM and its parent and affiliated companies may use, publish, copy, sublicense, adapt, edit, distribute, publicly perform, display and delete the content you post as they see fit. This right will terminate at the time you remove such content from the Site. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a back-up or residual copy of the content posted by you to the Site may remain on the FIM servers after you have removed such content from the Site, and FIM retains the rights to those copies.
The Original document is on the Fox websites. Here is a direct link to these FOX Rules on one of the sites that you can find these:
http://community.myfoxdc.com/blogs/blogrules.aspx
_____________
FOX Interactive Media Forums Rules of Discussion
You are welcome to post, transmit or submit messages and other materials (to bulletin boards, chat rooms, blogs or other public areas within this Site ("Forums"). In order to keep these Forums enjoyable and suitable for all our users, we ask you to follow the rules listed below. By participating in any of our Forums you are consenting to, and agreeing to abide by, these rules.
1. You agree that you are fully responsible for the content that you post. You agree to limit the content you post to the subject matter for which the Forums are intended. You will not post content that violates the copyright, trademark or other intellectual property rights of any other person. You will not post content that is libelous, an invasion or privacy or publicity rights, defamatory, obscene, profane or indecent, abusive or threatening. You will not post content that constitutes a criminal offense, that gives rise to any civil liability or that otherwise violates any local, state, national or international law.
You will indemnify Fox Interactive Media, Inc. (FIM), its parents and affiliates together with their respective employees, agents, directors, officers and shareholders, from and against any claims, liabilities, damages and expenses (including but not limited to reasonable attorneys' fees) related to or arising out of any content you have posted.
2. You understand and agree that FIM is not responsible for any content posted by you or any other third party. You further understand that FIM does not endorse and has no control over the content posted in the Forums by third parties, and cannot vouch for its accuracy or reliability. You also understand that FIM has no responsibility to monitor the Forums for inappropriate content posted by users. Even if FIM chooses, in its sole discretion, to monitor the Forums, we nonetheless assume no responsibility for the content of the postings. However, FIM reserves the right to prevent you from posting content to the Forums and to edit, restrict or remove your content for any reason at any time.
3. You agree not to post content that contains advertising, is for commercial purposes, or solicits a person to buy or sell products and services or to make donations.
4. You agree that any content you post becomes the property of FIM. You understand and agree that FIM and its parent and affiliated companies may use, publish, copy, sublicense, adapt, edit, distribute, publicly perform, display and delete the content you post as they see fit. This right will terminate at the time you remove such content from the Site. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a back-up or residual copy of the content posted by you to the Site may remain on the FIM servers after you have removed such content from the Site, and FIM retains the rights to those copies.
Corporate Blogging Policies - Hill & Knowlton blogging policy and guidelines
This is the Corporate Blogging policy of Hill & Knowlton. Please read it carefully as there some elements int his document that are still not available in similar documents originating from much larger enterprises. WordFrame Community platform resource bank will continue to be of any and all the help possible so you guys, can build the proper social networks and social media oriented online systems.
The Original document is created and published by Naill Cook on May 19th, 2005.
Please follow the link if you want to see the original of this document: http://blogs.hillandknowlton.com/blogs/niallcook/archive/2005/05/19/279.aspx
Blogging policies and guidelines
Following a collaborative effort by existing bloggers in our company, we've just had our guidelines for personal weblogs approved and published to all our staff. I'm reproducing the key extracts here for the reference of others. Hill & Knowlton views personal websites and weblogs (blogs) positively. Blogs are powerful tools that are already influencing reputation. They form part of some much wider changes taking place in online media that will increasingly affect our business and our clients’ brands. By experimenting with the medium – personally or on behalf of the company – our staff will learn more and be able to advise our clients better and more credibly. In connection with any blogging, please be mindful of the following:
• Most weblogs publish RSS feeds that others can subscribe to, so remember that others, including your colleagues, may be actively reading what you write.
• Think of what you say in your weblog in the same way as statements you might make to the media, or emails you might send to people you don’t know. If you wouldn’t include it in those, don’t post it on your weblog.
• Never disclose any information – including textual or visual material – that is confidential or proprietary to Hill & Knowlton, or any third party that has disclosed information to us (e.g. clients, journalists, suppliers, etc.). Your existing contract in any case prohibits this.
• There are many things that we cannot mention as a publicly-owned company. Talking about our revenue, future plans, or the WPP share price will get you and Hill & Knowlton in legal trouble, even if it is just your own personal view, and whether or not you directly identify yourself as an employee of Hill & Knowlton.
• You should make it clear that the views you express are yours alone. You may want to use the following form of words on your weblog, weblog posting, or website: The views expressed on this [blog; website] are my own and do not necessarily reflect the views of my employer In addition, we include some advice on best practice:
• Link, link, link The web is all about links. When you find something interesting and relevant, link to it. You’ll be helping your readers, and you’ll generate links back to your blog.
• Be interesting If you write interesting things on your blog, it will be popular. Expose your personality – write about yourself, your family, movies, books and games; post pictures. But remember that your blog is a public place so try to avoid embarrassing your readers or others.
• Check your facts Even though your blog postings will be primarily made up of personal opinion, do your research well and check that your facts are accurate. Make sure you have permission to post any copyrighted items (e.g. images) to your blog, and be careful about posting or linking to items that may contain viruses.
• Write about what you know The best way to be interesting is to write about what you know. If you have a deep understanding of something, talk about the challenges and issues around it. Try not to rant about things you don’t understand, as you’re more likely to get embarrassed by a real expert.
• Quality matters Use a spell-checker and keep things clear and concise. Ask people whether your blog looks good, design-wise, and take their advice to improve it. The most interesting thing about the whole process has not been creating the guidelines themselves, but the connected issues raised by staff such as ghost writing blogs for clients, monitoring and commenting on blogs, pitching stories to bloggers, and blogging on behalf of the company. So with the personal guidelines under our belt, we're making a start on addressing some of these other issues.
Published 19 May 2005 09:30 by Niall Cook
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