Legal · Community Standards

Acceptable Use Policy

This policy outlines the rules and standards that govern how you may use the Developers Stack platform, keeping our community safe and productive for every learner and educator.

Effective: June 5, 2025Last Updated: June 5, 2025

Overview

This Acceptable Use Policy ("AUP") governs your access to and use of the Developers Stack platform, including all associated websites, mobile applications, APIs, and services (collectively, the "Platform"). By accessing or using the Platform, you agree to comply with this AUP in addition to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Developers Stack is committed to maintaining an inclusive, respectful, and high-quality learning environment. This policy exists to protect our learners, instructors, institutional partners, and the integrity of the educational content on our Platform.

This AUP applies to all users regardless of subscription tier, including free users, Pro subscribers, institutional accounts, and instructors. Violations may result in suspension or permanent termination of access.

Permitted Uses

You are expressly permitted to use the Developers Stack Platform for the following lawful and educational purposes:

Accessing enrolled course content for personal educational purposes.

Participating in community forums, study groups, and peer collaboration with respectful conduct.

Downloading course materials explicitly marked for offline use, for personal study only.

Sharing your earned certificates and credentials on professional networks like LinkedIn.

Building on project-based learning assignments for your professional portfolio.

Instructors publishing original educational content that complies with our content standards.

Prohibited Conduct

The following activities are strictly prohibited on the Developers Stack Platform. This list is illustrative, not exhaustive — Developers Stack reserves the right to determine whether conduct not listed below violates the spirit of this policy.

Impersonation

Impersonating any person, entity, or Developers Stack staff member, or misrepresenting your affiliation with any organisation.

System Interference

Attempting to probe, scan, or test vulnerabilities of the platform, or circumscribe any security or authentication measures.

Automated Scraping

Using bots, crawlers, scrapers, or automated tools to extract content, data, or course materials without prior written consent.

IP Infringement

Uploading, sharing, or distributing course materials, videos, or assessments in violation of intellectual property rights.

Harassment

Engaging in harassment, bullying, threatening, stalking, or abusive conduct toward any learner, instructor, or Developers Stack employee.

Malicious Code

Distributing malware, spyware, viruses, Trojan horses, or any other harmful or disruptive software through our platform.

Unauthorized Commerce

Selling, reselling, or commercially exploiting access to courses, accounts, or platform features without written authorisation.

Exam Fraud

Cheating on assessments, sharing exam answers, impersonating others during proctored sessions, or falsifying credentials.

Content Standards

All content submitted, uploaded, or shared on Developers Stack — including course materials, forum posts, comments, profile information, and project submissions — must meet the following standards:

Content must be accurate, lawful, and relevant to educational purposes.
Content must not contain nudity, sexually explicit material, or graphic violence.
Content must not promote hate speech, discrimination, or violence based on protected characteristics.
Instructor course content must not infringe third-party intellectual property rights.
Marketing or promotional content unrelated to educational offerings is prohibited.
Content that facilitates or encourages illegal activities will be removed immediately.

Account Responsibilities

You are solely responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials and for all activities that occur under your account. You agree to:

Provide accurate and complete registration information and keep it updated.
Notify Developers Stack immediately at security@developersstack.com of any unauthorised use of your account.
Not share, transfer, or sell your account credentials to any third party.
Not create multiple accounts to circumvent bans, suspensions, or course limitations.
Use strong, unique passwords and enable two-factor authentication where available.

Instructor Obligations

Instructors publishing content on Developers Stack are subject to additional obligations. In addition to all learner obligations above, instructors must:

Ensure all course content is original or properly licensed for educational redistribution.
Accurately describe course content, outcomes, prerequisites, and skill level.
Respond to student questions and feedback within a reasonable timeframe.
Not redirect students to competing platforms or solicit off-platform transactions.
Disclose any material sponsorships, affiliate relationships, or conflicts of interest.
Comply with Developers Stack's Instructor Content Guidelines, incorporated herein by reference.

AI Tools & Academic Integrity

Developers Stack provides AI-powered learning tools to enhance your education. Use of these tools is subject to the following guidelines:

Permitted: Using AI tools to understand concepts, get feedback on your work, brainstorm ideas, and accelerate your learning.

Prohibited: Using AI tools to complete assessments, exams, or graded projects where your own work is required, without explicit instructor permission.

Prohibited: Attempting to manipulate, jailbreak, or misuse Developers Stack's AI systems in ways that violate this AUP or our Terms of Service.

Institutions and instructors may impose stricter academic integrity requirements within their courses. Such requirements supplement, and do not replace, this policy.

Enforcement & Consequences

Developers Stack takes violations of this AUP seriously. We reserve the right to take any of the following actions, at our sole discretion, in response to suspected or confirmed violations:

Warning

Formal warning issued for first-time or minor violations.

Suspension

Temporary account suspension pending investigation.

Content Removal

Immediate removal of offending content or courses.

Termination

Permanent account termination for severe or repeat violations.

Developers Stack will not provide refunds for accounts terminated due to AUP violations. We may also refer violations to law enforcement where appropriate and required by law.

Reporting Violations

If you witness behaviour that violates this Acceptable Use Policy, we encourage you to report it. Your reports help us maintain a safe and productive learning environment for everyone.

In-Platform Reporting: Use the "Report" button available on all content, profiles, and forum posts.

Email: abuse@developersstack.com — for urgent or serious violations.

Institutional Admins: Contact your institution's Developers Stack administrator for institutional account issues.

We review all reports and will take action as appropriate. While we cannot guarantee a response to every report, we take each one seriously. Reports submitted in bad faith may themselves constitute a violation of this AUP.

Policy Updates

Developers Stack may update this Acceptable Use Policy at any time to reflect changes in our platform, applicable law, or community needs. We will provide reasonable notice of material changes by:

Posting the updated policy on this page with a revised effective date.
Sending an email notification to registered users for material changes.
Displaying an in-app banner notification for 30 days following material updates.

Your continued use of the Platform after the effective date of any update constitutes acceptance of the revised policy. If you do not agree to the updated terms, you must discontinue use of the Platform.

Questions about this policy? Contact us at legal@developersstack.com.