Acceptable Use Policy, Dukene

1. Introduction

This Acceptable Use Policy outlines the rules and guidelines for using Dukene services responsibly and legally.

This Acceptable Use Policy ("Policy") governs your use of Dukene's platform, services, and features.
By using Dukene, you agree to comply with this Policy and our Terms of Service.
Violation of this Policy may result in suspension or termination of your account, removal of content, and legal action.
We reserve the right to investigate and take appropriate action against anyone who violates this Policy.
This Policy applies to all users, including merchants, affiliates, and customers.

2. Prohibited Products and Services

You may not sell or promote illegal, dangerous, or prohibited products and services on Dukene.

**Illegal Goods**: You may not sell any products or services that are illegal under Kenyan law or international law.
**Counterfeit Items**: Selling fake, replica, or counterfeit goods is strictly prohibited.
**Weapons and Explosives**: Firearms, ammunition, explosives, and other dangerous weapons are not allowed.
**Drugs and Controlled Substances**: Illegal drugs, prescription medications without proper authorization, and drug paraphernalia are prohibited.
**Tobacco and Vaping**: Sale of tobacco products, e-cigarettes, and vaping products may be restricted or prohibited.
**Adult Content**: Pornography, adult services, and sexually explicit materials are not permitted.
**Stolen Goods**: You may not sell stolen property or goods obtained through illegal means.
**Endangered Species**: Products made from endangered or protected species are prohibited.
**Hazardous Materials**: Toxic, flammable, or hazardous materials that pose safety risks are not allowed.
**Pyramid Schemes**: Multi-level marketing schemes, pyramid schemes, and get-rich-quick scams are prohibited.

3. Prohibited Activities

Certain activities are not allowed on Dukene, including fraud, spam, harassment, and illegal conduct.

**Fraud and Deception**: You may not engage in fraudulent activities, false advertising, or deceptive practices.
**Spam and Unsolicited Messages**: Sending spam, unsolicited commercial messages, or bulk messages is prohibited.
**Harassment and Abuse**: Harassing, threatening, or abusing other users, customers, or Dukene staff is not tolerated.
**Impersonation**: You may not impersonate another person, business, or entity.
**Intellectual Property Infringement**: Violating copyrights, trademarks, patents, or other intellectual property rights is prohibited.
**Hacking and Security Breaches**: Attempting to hack, breach security, or access unauthorized areas of the platform is forbidden.
**Data Scraping**: Automated scraping, crawling, or harvesting of data from Dukene is not allowed without permission.
**Malware and Viruses**: Uploading or distributing malware, viruses, or malicious code is strictly prohibited.
**Account Sharing**: Sharing your account credentials or allowing unauthorized access to your account is not permitted.
**Manipulation**: Manipulating reviews, ratings, or search results is prohibited.

4. Content Guidelines

All content you upload must be appropriate, legal, and comply with our community standards.

**Accurate Information**: Product descriptions, images, and information must be accurate and truthful.
**Appropriate Content**: Content must not be offensive, hateful, violent, or discriminatory.
**No Hate Speech**: Content promoting hate, violence, or discrimination based on race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or other protected characteristics is prohibited.
**No Misinformation**: Spreading false information, conspiracy theories, or health misinformation is not allowed.
**Respectful Communication**: All communications with customers and other users must be respectful and professional.
**No Graphic Violence**: Images or content depicting graphic violence, gore, or cruelty are not permitted.
**Child Safety**: Content that exploits, endangers, or sexualizes minors is strictly forbidden and will be reported to authorities.
**Privacy Respect**: You must respect the privacy of others and not share personal information without consent.

5. WhatsApp Usage Guidelines

When using WhatsApp integration, you must comply with WhatsApp's policies and best practices.

You must comply with WhatsApp Business Policy and Terms of Service at all times.
Obtain explicit consent from customers before sending WhatsApp messages.
Do not send spam, unsolicited messages, or excessive promotional content.
Respond to customer inquiries promptly and professionally.
Do not use WhatsApp for illegal activities or prohibited content.
Respect customer privacy and do not share their contact information.
Do not use automated bots or scripts that violate WhatsApp's policies.
Provide clear opt-out options for customers who no longer wish to receive messages.

6. Payment and Transaction Compliance

You must handle payments and transactions honestly and in compliance with all applicable laws.

Process payments honestly and accurately. Do not overcharge or engage in deceptive pricing.
Comply with all payment processing rules and regulations, including M-Pesa terms of service.
Do not process payments for prohibited products or services.
Prevent and report fraudulent transactions and chargebacks.
Maintain accurate financial records and comply with tax obligations.
Do not engage in money laundering or other financial crimes.
Honor refund and return policies as stated to customers.
Do not manipulate or circumvent payment systems.

7. Customer Data and Privacy

You must protect customer data and comply with data protection laws.

Comply with all applicable data protection laws, including the Kenya Data Protection Act and GDPR.
Collect only the customer data necessary for your business purposes.
Obtain proper consent before collecting or processing customer data.
Implement appropriate security measures to protect customer data.
Do not sell, share, or misuse customer data.
Provide customers with access to their data and honor deletion requests.
Notify customers and Dukene immediately in case of a data breach.
Use customer data only for legitimate business purposes.

8. Affiliate Marketing Conduct

Affiliates must promote Dukene and merchant products honestly and ethically.

Promote products and services honestly and accurately.
Do not make false or exaggerated claims about products or earnings.
Comply with all advertising and marketing laws and regulations.
Disclose your affiliate relationship when promoting products.
Do not engage in fraudulent activities, including fake referrals or self-referrals.
Do not use spam, misleading ads, or deceptive marketing tactics.
Respect intellectual property rights when creating promotional content.
Do not promote prohibited products or services.

9. Intellectual Property Rights

Respect intellectual property rights and do not infringe on copyrights, trademarks, or patents.

Only upload content that you own or have the right to use.
Do not use copyrighted images, text, or other materials without permission.
Respect trademarks and do not use brand names or logos without authorization.
Do not sell counterfeit or replica products.
If you believe your intellectual property rights have been violated, contact us immediately.
We will respond to valid DMCA takedown notices and remove infringing content.
Repeat infringers will have their accounts terminated.

10. Reporting Violations

If you see content or activity that violates this Policy, please report it to us.

If you encounter content or activity that violates this Acceptable Use Policy, please report it to us immediately.
You can report violations through our Support Center, by email at abuse@dukene.co.ke, or through the reporting feature on the platform.
Provide as much detail as possible, including screenshots, links, and descriptions of the violation.
We will investigate all reports and take appropriate action.
Reports are confidential, and we will not disclose your identity to the reported party.
False or malicious reports may result in action against your account.

11. Enforcement and Consequences

Violations of this Policy may result in warnings, content removal, account suspension, or legal action.

We reserve the right to investigate any suspected violations of this Policy.
Depending on the severity of the violation, we may issue a warning, remove content, suspend your account, or terminate your account permanently.
Serious violations may be reported to law enforcement authorities.
We may withhold payments or commissions if your account is under investigation or has been suspended.
You will be notified of enforcement actions via email, except in cases where immediate action is required for safety or legal reasons.
You may appeal enforcement decisions by contacting our Support team.
Repeated violations will result in permanent account termination.

12. Updates to This Policy

We may update this Acceptable Use Policy from time to time. Continued use constitutes acceptance.

We reserve the right to modify this Acceptable Use Policy at any time.
We will notify you of material changes via email or through the platform.
Changes take effect immediately upon posting unless otherwise stated.
Your continued use of Dukene after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the updated Policy.
We encourage you to review this Policy regularly to stay informed.

Questions or Reports?

If you have questions about this Acceptable Use Policy or need to report a violation, please contact us at abuse@dukene.co.ke or through our Support Center.