AltNet — Terms of Service & Acceptable Use.

These Terms govern your use of the AltNet account / registration service at panmox.org (the “Service”) and the AltNet Studio application. By creating an account, registering a .alt name, or running a node, you agree to them.

The operator is Gabriel Wenzel, Prague, Czech Republic (“we”, “us”). Contact and abuse: abuse.report@panmox.org.

1. What AltNet is

AltNet is a peer-to-peer network for hosting websites and files under the .alt namespace. AltNet Studio is the open-source application that connects your computer to that network. There is no central server: content is stored and served by participating nodes (people’s computers). We operate an account / registration service and an always-on bootstrap node, but we do not host or control the content on the network.

2. Eligibility

You must be at least 18 years old and legally able to enter this agreement. You are responsible for everything done under your account.

3. Accounts

• You need an account only to register a .alt name and publish. Running a node and browsing .alt sites need no account.
• Provide a valid email; keep your password secret. You are responsible for activity under your account.
• We may suspend or terminate accounts that violate these Terms (see §7, §8).

4. Acceptable Use — what you may not publish or do

You may not use AltNet to publish, distribute, store, or facilitate:

• Child sexual abuse material (CSAM) or any sexual content involving minors — zero tolerance; reported to authorities.
• Content that infringes copyright, trademarks, or other IP of others.
• Fraud, phishing, scams, or impersonation.
• Malware, ransomware, or content designed to harm devices or networks.
• Threats, harassment, incitement to violence, or terrorist content.
• Content that is illegal where you are, where we operate (Czech Republic / EU), or where it can be reached.
• Attempts to circumvent moderation, the content blocklist, revocations, or to attack the network or other users.

5. Your responsibilities

As a publisher: When you register a .alt name and publish under it, you are the publisher and are solely responsible for that content’s legality. We do not pre-screen the bytes of published content, but we review every name request before approval and act on reports.

As a node operator: Running a node means your computer stores and serves content-addressed pieces of other people’s content. The content is chunked and addressed by hash; you do not see and cannot choose what files you serve. AltNet Studio ships a blocklist of known-bad content hashes (CSAM and similar) that your node refuses to store or serve, and applies signed revocations that purge taken-down content. You can stop being a node at any time from the Node screen.

6. Moderation and notice-and-action

• We review every .alt name request before it goes live.
• Anyone can report a name via the in-app “Report a site” link or by emailing abuse.report@panmox.org. See Notice & Takedown for the formal notice procedure (DMCA and EU DSA).
• We aim to review reports within 72 hours.
• If a report is upheld, the name is revoked: a cryptographically signed deletion record is broadcast so the content’s chunks are purged from nodes across the network, and the name stops resolving.
• We will provide the affected publisher a brief statement of reasons where required by the EU Digital Services Act, and you may appeal (see §8).

7. Three-strikes / repeat infringers

If three .alt names you registered are revoked for abuse, your account is automatically suspended, which blocks login and further publishing. This is our repeat-infringer policy.

8. Suspension, termination, and appeals

We may revoke a name, suspend, or terminate an account that violates these Terms or the law. If you believe a revocation or suspension was a mistake, appeal to abuse.report@panmox.org; we will review in good faith.

9. Open-source software; no warranty

AltNet Studio and the AltNet protocol are free, open-source software licensed under the GNU General Public License v3. The software is provided “AS IS”, without warranty of any kind, to the fullest extent permitted by law. We do not guarantee the network will be available, that content will remain reachable, or that the software is free of defects.

10. Limitation of liability

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, we are not liable for indirect, incidental, or consequential damages, for loss of data, or for content published by users or served by nodes. Nothing in these Terms limits liability that cannot be limited by law (including for death, personal injury, or fraud caused by us). Your mandatory rights as a consumer under Czech and EU law are unaffected.

11. Your indemnity

If you publish content, you agree to indemnify us against claims, damages, and costs arising from that content or your breach of these Terms, to the extent permitted by law.

12. Governing law

These Terms are governed by the laws of the Czech Republic, and the courts of the Czech Republic have jurisdiction, without prejudice to any mandatory consumer-protection rights you have where you live.

13. Changes

We may update these Terms. Material changes will be announced on panmox.org. Continued use after an update means you accept the updated Terms.

14. Contact

abuse.report@panmox.org, or Gabriel Wenzel, Prague, Czech Republic (postal address available on request).