Website User Policies, Terms and Conditions

Frederick County Government Website User Terms and Conditions

 
1. General Disclaimer:  Frederick County, Maryland's website is designed for informational and educational purposes only. Frederick County, Maryland shall not be liable for any errors in the content, or for any action taken in reliance thereon. 

External Link Disclaimer:  Some of the links on this site lead to resources outside the County’s website. The presence of these links should not be taken as an endorsement by the County of these sites or their content. The existence of these links should not be interpreted as County sanction, approval or authorization of the information on, or the information that is obtainable through these other homepages. The County makes no guarantee or warranty concerning the content or accuracy of any material on any links.

2. Privacy Statement 

Frederick County is committed to preserving your trust and confidence. That is why we want you to understand how we handle information we learn about you from your visit to this website, what measures we take to safeguard that information and our commitment to data security.  Because your privacy is important, Frederick County will not sell, rent or trade your personal information on this site as outlined in this Privacy Policy.

3. Privacy Policy

We do not disclose, sell, share or trade any information from our website. Any information recorded from your electronic message is used solely to respond/fulfill your online request.

4. Use of Website Material

Subject to the Frederick County Privacy Policy, your substantive communications and materials transmitted to us, such as data, questions, comments or suggestions are considered non-confidential and non-proprietary. Your transmission to Frederick County grants the County a perpetual non-exclusive license to reproduce, modify, and publish such communications and materials in whole or part for any purpose.
 
5. IP Addresses
Frederick County uses IP addresses (random numbers assigned to individual computers) to help diagnose problems with our servers, administer our website, and track content preferences and traffic patterns.  This information helps us to improve and update our site.  

6. Security Links
 
The security of the information you provide to Frederick County is important.   We will make every reasonable effort to protect your data from loss, misuse, unauthorized access or disclosure, or alteration.  However, Frederick County's site includes links to other sites, and when you choose to visit those sites, we are not responsible for their privacy policies or how they treat user information.
 
7. Copyrights

The information and content of the Frederick County website is copyright protected unless otherwise noted. All rights are reserved. Permission is granted to use the contents of the Frederick County website and to copy electronically or to print contents from the website for the sole purpose of sharing information on the Frederick County website on the condition that the sharing of information is without cost to the recipients and that the information is shared exactly as presented on the Frederick County website, without modification. Distribution or replication in any other form or for any other purpose, including but not limited to any for-profit commercial purpose or use, and any modification whatsoever, area strictly prohibited without prior written consent of Frederick County. You may download or print a copy of any portion of the Frederick County website solely for your personal, non-commercial use, provided you do not remove any trademark, copyright from contents.

 

NOTICE:  Use of Content

Permission to use the content, information or documents from the County site is granted, provided that:

A copyright notice appears in all copies and that both the copyright notice and this permission notice appear,

Use of such documents from the County site is for informational and non-commercial or personal use only and will not be copied or posted on any network computer or broadcast in any media, and

No modifications of any documents are made.  Use for any other purpose is expressly prohibited by law, and may result in severe civil and criminal penalties.

Violators will be prosecuted to the maximum extent possible. Documents specified above do not include the design or layout of the County site or any other Frederick County Government owned, operated, licensed or controlled site. Elements of government websites are protected by trade dress, trademark, unfair competition, and other laws and may not be copied or imitated in whole or in part.  No logo, graphic, sound or image from any Frederick County Government website may be copied or e-transmitted unless expressly permitted by Frederick County Government.

8. User Conduct

You are prohibited from transmitting any unlawful, threatening, libelous, defamatory, obscene, scandalous, inflammatory, harassing, pornographic, or any material that could constitute or encourage conduct that would be considered a criminal offense, give rise to civil liability, or otherwise violate any law. You further agree not to upload, post, e-mail or otherwise transmit any confidential information, trade secrets, "junk mail," "spam," "chain letters," "pyramid schemes," any other form of solicitation, or software viruses.

9. Use of Images

Your use of the images of people or places displayed on the Frederick County website is prohibited unless specifically permitted by these General User Terms and Conditions. Any unauthorized use of the images may violate copyright, trademark, and privacy laws or regulations.

10. Trademarks

The trademarks, logos, and service marks of Frederick County and those displayed on the Frederick County website are protected trademarks of Frederick County, Maryland. You may not use the trademarks, logos, or service marks of Frederick County, Maryland without the written permission of Frederick County, Maryland. Any use of the trademarks, logos, or service marks without the prior written permission of Frederick County, Maryland is strictly prohibited and may be subject to civil sanction and/or criminal prosecution.

11. Links

This website is an information and service channel paid for by the citizens of Frederick County, Maryland. It is not a public forum. Links to other sites from this site are provided solely at the discretion of Frederick County.

Links are provided to the following categories of external sites and must meet the criteria established herein:

Other government entities, including local, state and federal government sites, or sites operated by agencies or departments of any of those entities;

Sites operated by nonprofit or not-for-profit agencies or departments with which the County has an established statutory, participatory or supportive relationship;

Sites operated by nonprofit, not-for-profit or for-profit agencies or entities who provide community-based services including health care, child care, elder care or other social services; or

Commercial sites and community-based service providers with which the County has a direct working relationship that further a specific mission of the County.

The location of any link established within this website is at the discretion of Frederick County. Frederick County does not require that reciprocal links be established by the requesting entity. Links may be requested by email to webmaster.

Any link to the Frederick County website must not imply that the County is endorsing the linking site or its products and must not misrepresent its relationship with the County. The linking site must not present false information about County services, or use the County logo, seal or flag on its website.  The linking website must not contain content that could be construed as distasteful, offensive or controversial and should only contain appropriate content.

This site may contain links to other sites on the Internet that are operated by parties other than Frederick County and the County is not responsible for the content of any such external site, or for the availability of the site.  If you have questions or concerns regarding the content of any of these external sites, you should contact the site administrator.

12. Modifications of County Website

Frederick County, Maryland reserves the right at any time to modify or discontinue, temporarily or permanently, the Frederick County website or any part thereof with or without notice for any reason or no reason. You agree that Frederick County, Maryland shall not be liable to you or any third party for any modification, suspension or discontinuance of the Frederick County website.

13. Warranty and Disclaimer

General

This is a Frederick County computer system, offered as a public service. Government personnel and the general public may use this system to review and retrieve publicly available government information. Anyone using this system expressly consents to administrative monitoring. System administrators may provide to appropriate law enforcement officials evidence of possible criminal activity identified during such monitoring. If you do not wish to consent to monitoring, exit this system now.

Disclaimer of Liability

Frederick County attempts to offer the most current information possible. However, unintentional errors in information may occur. Frederick County disclaims any responsibility for errors and/or for the accuracy of the information that may be contained on Frederick County Web pages. Frederick County also reserves the right to make changes to any and all of the site at any time without notice.

The information and data included on Frederick County servers have been compiled by County staff from a variety of sources, and are subject to change without notice. Frederick County makes no warranties or representations regarding the quality, content, completeness, accuracy or adequacy of such information and data. In any situation where the official printed publications of Frederick County differ from the text contained in this system, the official printed documents take precedence and control.

If misleading, inaccurate or otherwise inappropriate information is brought to our attention, a reasonable effort will be made to correct or remove it. Such concerns should be addressed to the County Webmaster.

Disclaimer of Reliability

Frederick County makes no representations or warranties regarding the condition or functionality of this website, its suitability for use, or that this web service will be uninterrupted or error-free.

Disclaimer of Damages

By using the Frederick County Web pages, you assume all risks associated with the use of this site including any risk of your computer, software or data being damaged by any virus, software, or any other file which might be transmitted or activated via a Frederick County Web page or your access to it. Frederick County shall not be liable for any damages, including special, incidental, or consequential damages, and including, without limitation, lost revenues or lost profits, resulting from the use or misuse of the information contained in Frederick County Web pages.

Disclaimer of Endorsement

Reference herein to any specific commercial products, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by Frederick County. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not state or reflect those of Frederick County, and shall not be used for advertising or product endorsement purposes.

Termination

Frederick County, in its sole discretion, may terminate your subscription from a subscription list without prior notice, and Frederick County may terminate your use of the County website should you violate or act inconsistently with these General User Terms and Conditions. Further, you agree that Frederick County, Maryland shall not be liable to you or any third party for such termination of your subscription or your access to the County website.

14. Accessibility Statement

Section 508 Standard of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (29 U.S.C. 794d) requires Federal agencies to develop, procure, maintain, or use electronic and information technology, to enable individuals with disabilities to have access and use of information and data that is comparable to the access and use by those who are not individuals with disabilities, unless an undue burden would be imposed on the agency. Although not required to do so by regulation or law, Frederick County wishes to serve its citizens who use assistive technology or who may have other needs, which may be served through Section 508 design principles. 

The County strives to keep the website in basic compliance with Section 508. Site users who have difficulty using this site are invited to contact Webmaster describing the problem and location on the site.

15. Additional Information
 
Frederick County reserves the right to alter our Privacy Policy as business needs require.  Any changes will be posted to our website.  This statement and the policies outlined herein are not intended to and do not give any contractual or other legal rights.