Membership requirements
Please note: APEX is a private ethical association and we reserve the right to refuse membership, if the staff feels that our ethics would be compromised in any way we deem unbecoming to the nature of our goals. While we would like to have as many members as we can, APEX realizes that there are those websites that will choose not to follow the ethics that we espouse toward. It is your choice. We feel that as a group of individuals joining together, with the same common purpose, that we can set a standard for all who subscribe to this organization, and unite the web world wide with an accreditation of honesty in ethical practices. A world brotherhood for one common purpose.
APEX is international. Can I have my site in another language?
- It is expected that English is used in the site or that the site contains an English translation.
If I am accepted as an APEX member, can I display the APEX badge on any or all of my web sites?
- No. APEX membership is granted to the web site, not to the webmaster. If you wish to display the APEX badge on more than one web site, you must make a separate application for each additional site.
You are judging ethics but is design taken into account and what will be evaluated?
- The text has to be readable against the background.
- The navigation has to be user friendly.
- A quick and easy way of being contacted by your visitors, users and/or customers is required.
- There should be no broken images and internal links must work.
- Your visitors must not be forced to download plug-ins or other programs in order to be able to view your site.
Do I need a privacy policy, and what information must I include?
- If no personal data of any type is collected, your site must contain a statement that says this.
- Whenever personal data of any type is collected, a privacy policy must be defined in detail, outlining how the site intends to use and display gathered information.
- Whenever cookies are used by the website, this must be stated in the Privacy Policy, describing for what purpose the cookies are used.
- Whenever third-party resources are used (including, but not limited to, guestbooks and forums), a warning must be issued. If the third-party resource deals with personal information differently than your site, this must be stated in your site's Privacy Policy. (For example, "If you are going to sign my guestbook, be aware that this service provider may use your email for marketing purposes") .
- Whenever cookies are used by third-party resources, this must be stated in your site's Privacy Policy.
- Whenever personal data from children below 13 years old is collected, this must be clearly stated in your site's Privacy Policy. Your site must strictly follow and enforce COPPA or similar regulations, whatever is applicable in the country where your site is based.
I accept credit cards, what do I have to state?
- Whenever payments by credit card are accepted, it must be clearly stated if the transaction is being done in a secure location or not.
My site sells goods or information. What do I have to state?
- Whenever the site provides ways of buying any product or service, a fully detailed description of the transaction procedure must be available either onsite or by email request.
- Whenever the site provides information considered of professional scope (eg. medical, law, psychology, financial) credentials must be provided or a clear and visible disclaimer must be present before any information is presented.
I declare that my site is a "child-safe" site. Is that enough?
- If you declare your site as "child-safe", you must have a corresponding PICS label (meta tag) or Content Rating and/or Classification by a certified independent organization and it must be present in the site's entrance page. If used, the PICS label (meta-tag) must at all times reflect accurately the content it describes.
My site has some photographs which might be disturbing to some people what can I do?
- Whenever potentially disturbing material, when included in an artistic, scientific, educational or medical context, is present in the website, content rating using a PICS label (meta-tag) is mandatory. This label (meta-tag) must at all times reflect accurately the content it describes and must be present in the site's entrance page.
- Whenever potentially dangerous material, such as a moderated chat room and online gambling, is present in the website, content rating using a PICS label (meta-tag) is mandatory. This label (meta-tag) must at all times reflect accurately the content it describes and must be present in the site's entrance page.
- Whenever links to websites with potentially disturbing or dangerous material, when included in an artistic, scientific, educational or medical context, are provided in the website, a warning must be issued next to the link itself.
What about copyright?
- If all material on the website is original, the site must contain a copyright statement OR a statement placing all material on the site into the public domain.
- If non-original material is used in the website, the site must contain a copyright notice. This notice must contain a reference to the original source and a clear statement that permission has been granted to use the non-original material. (Saying only that "no copyright infringement is intended" does not meet this requirement).
Do I have to comply with what I state on my site?
- The site must be fully compliant with any single item of any set of rules, criteria, code of conduct, code of ethics, certifications, and/or credentials present in it.
What sites will not be accepted?
APEX will not accept for membership, nor associate with any individual or group of individuals operating a website that has the following or which directly links to websites which have the following, as content:
- Sexually explicit text, images and/or photographs which are not clearly artistic or educational in nature as determined by the current Membership Committee.
- Foul language which is not clearly artistic or educational in nature as determined by the current Membership Committee.
- Text or images which discriminate against a religion, gender, race, political affiliation or any other social, physical or psychological trait or affiliation as determined by the current Membership Committee.
- Illegal activities, textual or visual depictions of illegal activities or incitement to commit illegal acts as determined by the current Membership Committee.
- Text or images of human/or animal abuse which are not clearly artistic or educational in nature as determined by the current Membership Committee.