ACCEPTABLE USE POLICY

1. PURPOSE

This Acceptable Use Policy establishes the standards of conduct expected from all users of the IPK Auctions Platform.

The purpose of this Policy is to:

• protect the integrity of the Platform;
• promote fair participation;
• protect users and stakeholders;
• maintain confidence in auction processes;
• support lawful and responsible use of the Platform.

2. SCOPE

This Policy applies to all persons accessing or using the Platform, including:

• visitors;
• registered users;
• bidders;
• winning bidders;
• sellers;
• partner agencies;
• professional advisers;
• representatives acting on behalf of users.

3. PRINCIPLE OF ACCEPTABLE USE

Users must use the Platform responsibly, lawfully and in a manner consistent with the intended operation of the Platform.

Users must not engage in conduct that could undermine:

• trust in the Platform;
• the integrity of auctions;
• the interests of other users;
• the reputation of IPK.

4. LAWFUL USE

The Platform may only be used for lawful purposes.

Users must comply with

• applicable laws;
• regulatory requirements;
• court orders;
• contractual obligations applicable to them.

Users are solely responsible for ensuring their own compliance with applicable laws.

5. HONEST USE

Users must act honestly in all dealings conducted through the Platform.

Users must not

• make false statements;
• submit misleading information;
• conceal material facts where disclosure is required;
• engage in deceptive conduct.

6. GOOD FAITH

Users must act in good faith when interacting with:

• the Platform;
• IPK personnel;
• sellers;
• bidders;
• partner agencies;
• other users.

Conduct intended to disrupt, manipulate or unfairly influence Platform activities is prohibited.

7. ACCURATE INFORMATION

Users must ensure that information provided through the Platform is accurate, complete and not misleading.

Users must promptly correct information that becomes inaccurate or outdated where such information is relevant to their use of the Platform.

8. ACCOUNT INTEGRITY

Users must maintain the integrity and security of their accounts.

Users must not

• share account credentials;
• permit unauthorised use of accounts;
• create accounts using false identities;
• attempt to access accounts belonging to others.

Each user is responsible for activity conducted through their account unless they have promptly reported unauthorised access.

9. RESPECT FOR OTHER USERS

Users must interact with others in a respectful and professional manner.

Users must not engage in

• harassment;
• intimidation;
• abusive conduct;
• discriminatory behaviour;
• threatening communications;
• conduct likely to cause unnecessary distress or disruption.

10. RESPECT FOR THE PLATFORM

Users must not interfere with the proper operation of the Platform.

Users must not intentionally

• disrupt services;
• overload systems;
• impair functionality;
• undermine security measures;
• damage Platform infrastructure.

11. PROHIBITED CONDUCT

Without limitation, the following conduct is prohibited:

• fraud;
• deception;
• identity misuse;
• unlawful activity;
• manipulation of Platform processes;
• misuse of confidential information;
• circumvention of Platform controls;
• conduct that may damage the integrity of the Platform.

12. FRAUD AND DECEPTION

Users must not engage in any activity that could reasonably be considered fraudulent, dishonest or deceptive.

This includes

• impersonating another person;
• submitting false documentation;
• using stolen payment methods;
• creating misleading impressions;
• attempting to obtain benefits through deception.

IPK may take immediate action where fraudulent activity is suspected.

13. AUCTION MANIPULATION

Users must not engage in any conduct intended to manipulate, distort or improperly influence the outcome of an auction.

Prohibited conduct includes any activity designed to create a false or misleading impression regarding:

• market interest;
• bidding activity;
• bidder participation;
• value perception;
• auction outcomes.

14. COLLUSION

Users must not participate in any agreement, arrangement or understanding intended to improperly influence an auction process.

Prohibited conduct includes arrangements between

• bidders;
• sellers;
• agents;
• representatives;
• third parties.

Collusive behaviour may result in immediate suspension or termination of Platform access.

15. FALSE BIDDING

Users must not place bids that they do not genuinely intend to honour if successful.

Users must not submit bids for the purpose of:

• artificially increasing price levels;
• disrupting an auction;
• influencing other participants;
• creating a misleading impression of demand.

All bids must be made in good faith.

16. SHILL BIDDING

Users must not directly or indirectly participate in shill bidding or any equivalent practice.

Without limitation, prohibited conduct includes

• bidding through associates;
• bidding through connected parties;
• bidding through undisclosed representatives;
• placing bids solely to influence auction behaviour.

IPK may investigate any activity reasonably suspected to constitute shill bidding.

17. IDENTITY MISUSE

Users must not

• impersonate another individual;
• impersonate an organisation;
• use false identities;
• use forged documents;
• misuse another person's information.

Users must only participate using their true identity and authorised credentials.

18. MULTIPLE ACCOUNTS

Users must not create or operate multiple accounts for the purpose of:

• circumventing Platform controls;
• avoiding restrictions;
• influencing auction activity;
• concealing identity;
• obtaining unfair advantages.

IPK may restrict, suspend or merge accounts where appropriate.

19. DATA SCRAPING AND DATA EXTRACTION

Users must not extract, harvest, copy or collect Platform data through automated or systematic means without prior written permission.

Prohibited conduct includes

• scraping;
• data mining;
• database extraction;
• bulk collection of content;
• systematic copying of listings or auction information.

20. AUTOMATED ACCESS

Users must not access or interact with the Platform through unauthorised automated means.

Prohibited activities include

• bots;
• automated bidding tools;
• automated account creation;
• automated data collection systems;
• unauthorised scripts.

Exceptions may only apply where expressly authorised by IPK in writing.

21. SECURITY INTERFERENCE

Users must not attempt to test, probe, compromise or bypass Platform security measures without prior written authorisation.

Prohibited conduct includes

• penetration testing;
• vulnerability scanning;
• credential attacks;
• unauthorised access attempts;
• attempts to bypass authentication systems.

22. CIRCUMVENTION OF PLATFORM CONTROLS

Users must not attempt to circumvent Platform policies, procedures or technical controls.

This includes attempts to avoid

• identity verification requirements;
• payment validation requirements;
• bidding restrictions;
• account controls;
• security measures.

23. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MISUSE

Users must respect intellectual property rights relating to the Platform and its content.

Users must not

• reproduce content without authorisation;
• create derivative databases;
• remove copyright notices;
• misuse trade marks;
• commercially exploit Platform content without permission.

24. INVESTIGATIONS AND COOPERATION

IPK may investigate conduct that it reasonably believes may breach this Policy.

Users agree to cooperate reasonably with investigations relating to:

• suspected fraud;
• security incidents;
• auction manipulation;
• misuse of the Platform;
• breaches of Platform documentation.

Failure to cooperate may itself be taken into account when determining appropriate action.

25. ENFORCEMENT

IPK may take such action as it reasonably considers necessary to enforce this Policy.

Such action may include

• warnings;
• account restrictions;
• suspension of access;
• termination of access;
• removal of content;
• reporting matters to competent authorities.

The action taken shall depend upon the nature and seriousness of the conduct concerned.

26. SUSPENSION

IPK may suspend access to the Platform, user accounts or specific functionalities where it reasonably believes that a user may have breached this Policy.

Suspension may be implemented

• pending investigation;
• for security reasons;
• to protect other users;
• to protect the integrity of auctions;
• to protect the Platform.

Suspension may be temporary or permanent depending on the circumstances.

27. TERMINATION

IPK may terminate a user's access to the Platform where it reasonably determines that:

• a material breach of this Policy has occurred;
• continued access presents unacceptable risks;
• the user has engaged in fraudulent conduct;
• the user has repeatedly breached Platform documentation;
• termination is necessary to protect the Platform or its users.

Termination may occur without prior notice where reasonably necessary.

28. REPORTING ABUSE

Users are encouraged to report conduct that they reasonably believe may:

• breach this Policy;
• compromise Platform security;
• involve fraud;
• involve auction manipulation;
• harm other users.

Reports may be submitted through the official Platform contact channels.

29. INVESTIGATION OUTCOMES

Following an investigation, IPK may determine that:

• no action is required;
• corrective action is appropriate;
• restrictions should be imposed;
• access should be suspended;
• access should be terminated;
• the matter should be referred to third parties or competent authorities.

IPK shall retain discretion regarding appropriate outcomes.

30. NO WAIVER

Failure by IPK to enforce any provision of this Policy on any particular occasion shall not constitute a waiver of its right to enforce that provision or any other provision in the future.

31. CONSUMER RIGHTS

Nothing in this Policy limits or excludes any consumer rights that cannot legally be limited or excluded under applicable law.

Where mandatory consumer protection laws apply, those laws shall prevail over any inconsistent provision of this Policy.

32. COMPLAINTS

Users may submit complaints relating to the application of this Policy through the official complaints channels.

IPK will seek to review complaints within a reasonable period.

33. CHANGES TO THIS POLICY

IPK may amend this Acceptable Use Policy from time to time.

The most recent version will be published on the Platform.

Users should review the current version periodically.

Continued use of the Platform after publication of an updated version may constitute acceptance of the revised Policy.

34. CONTACT DETAILS

35. RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHER DOCUMENTS

This Policy should be read together with:

• the Website Terms of Use;
• the Auction Terms and Conditions;
• the Bidder Participation Agreement;
• the Privacy Policy;
• the remaining Platform documentation.

Where applicable, these documents shall complement one another.

36. FINAL PROVISION

The continued integrity of the Platform depends upon responsible conduct by all users.

By accessing or using the Platform, users agree to act in a manner consistent with this Policy and to support a fair, transparent and secure auction environment.

IPK reserves the right to take reasonable measures necessary to protect the Platform, its users and the integrity of its auction processes.