ASM Corporate LISTSERV RULES - Updated May 2025

The American Society for Microbiology is pleased to provide email listservs for its members to use as a means for sharing information on topics of interest and benefit to the listserv group as a whole. By participating in an ASM listserv, you are agreeing that you will read and follow these rules. 

1. Keep message contents limited to professional topics. Postings to the groups should only contain questions, comments or information relevant to the group topic and of interest to the entire group.  
2. If you want to question the opinions and information presented by others, do not challenge the original poster through cyberbullying, hostile attacks, insults and similar defamatory comments. If you have a differing opinion, support your opinion or comments and use them to express yourself in a professional manner. Subscribers can learn and benefit from qualified responses to situations or questions.   
3. All postings must be signed with the subscriber's name and e-mail address. If the posting is an announcement, include contact information, such as phone, fax and E-mail address.  
4. Do not post any defamatory, abusive, profane, threatening, offensive, anticompetitive or illegal materials. The ASM does not condone and will not be responsible for any such materials or resulting liability, including antitrust liability.  
5. Do not post any information protected by copyright without the permission of the copyright owner. By sending information via the ASM listserv, the sending party warrants and represents that it owns the copyright to such information or has received permission from the person or entity who owns the copyright to such information. By posting information to the ASM listserv, the posting party grants the ASM and users of the ASM listserv the non-exclusive right and license to display, copy, distribute, transmit, print, and use such information. Subject to the grant of this license, the posting party retains any other rights that the party may have to such information.  
6. Do not post commercial messages, such as promotional announcements, advertising, product-related press releases, or other commercial use. Contact people directly to provide information about products or services that you believe will help them. You may post a message on the listserv asking for information or recommendations for products or services that you need.  
7. Information about professional development activities must be reviewed by ASM staff prior to being shared with a list. Email the relevant ASM staff account, and they will post the information on your behalf or allow you to post if no conflicts exist.:  
   1. Clinical professional development activities or events (that are external to ASM) on the listserv, email clinmicro@asmusa.org.  
   2. Educators’ professional development activities or events, email education@asmusa.org.  
   3. All other types of professional development activities or events, email service@asmusa.org.   
8. Comply with all federal and state privacy laws, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPPA).  
9. For ClinMicroNet only: Do NOT forward any messages to a manufacturer-based colleague.   
10. ASM complies with all antitrust laws and advises all listserv members not to post any content that could violate antitrust laws. Do not post any message content that:  
    1. Discusses fees charged or paid for services  
    2. Discusses prices, discounts, or terms and conditions of sale for any products  
    3. Discusses profits or profit margins or cost data  
    4. Discusses salaries or terms of employment  
    5. Discusses market shares, sales territories or markets  
    6. Encourages or aids allocating market shares, sales territories, customers or markets  
    7. Encourages or aids boycotting of another’s business  
    8. Encourages or aids in an implied or express agreement to fix prices, discounts, terms or conditions of sale, salaries, profits, profit margins or to boycott another’s business or otherwise illegally restrict free trade  
11. Do not send administrative messages, such as remove me from the list, through the listserv. To unsubscribe, please visit https://lists.asm.org/subs and follow instructions to access your account and update your subscription(s). Other administrative correspondence should be directed to service@asmusa.org
12. The ASM does not actively monitor the site for inappropriate postings and does not on its own undertake editorial control of postings. If any inappropriate posting is brought to the ASM's attention, the ASM will take all appropriate action.  
13. The ASM reserves the right to terminate access to any user who does not abide by these rules.  
14. To our members from commercial vendors, federal agencies, or regulatory bodies: We often engage in open, candid discussions about critical issues—sometimes expressing frustration or strong opinions. Please understand that these sentiments are never directed at any individual personally. While the topics may be sensitive to you, your agency, or your company, our conversations reflect real-world challenges and perspectives. You are welcome to listen, participate, and respond. However, these discussions should not be used as grounds for punitive actions against any of our members or their organizations.
15. The ASM is not responsible for the opinions and information posted on these sites by others. The ASM disclaims all warranties with regard to information posted on these sites, whether posted by the ASM or any third party. This disclaimer includes all implied warranties of merchantability and fitness. In no event shall the ASM be liable for any special, indirect, or consequential damages or any damage whatsoever resulting from loss of use, data, or profits, arising out of or in connection with the use or performance of any information posted on this site.