Skip to content

 

Network Certification

Akonix Systems is licensed to intercept and re-direct IM traffic on the AOL Instant Messenger™, MSN® Messenger, Windows Live Messenger™ and Yahoo! Messenger™ networks for the purpose of inspecting for content, malicious web addresses, viruses and other malware, and for archiving to electronic messaging archival systems.  AOL, Microsoft, and Yahoo! all provide this licensing as a component of their certification programs.  Each certification program is a contractual agreement entered into between Akonix and the respective IM network provider as the result of rigorous technology testing and business evaluation.

Companies who purchase products from unlicensed vendors risk legal action from the networks to protect their licensing agreements.  The use of an uncertified product to intercept and re-direct IM traffic on these networks is a violation of the license agreements and terms of use agreed to by any IM user that has clicked the "I Agree" box during the download and installation of each respective client application, regardless of whether or not these clients were supplied or sanctioned by the corporate IT department.  Companies are liable for the use of their networks and computers by their employees, even when employees have installed their own software or modified their computers.

This does not represent counsel or legal advice from Akonix.  The information above and the links to websites below are presented for informational purposes only.

Specific AOL Instant Messenger Terms of Service

http://www.aim.com/tos/tos.adp

Restrictions on Access to or Use of AIM Products
You may access AIM Products only through the interfaces and protocols provided or authorized by AOL. You agree that you will not access AIM Products through unauthorized means, such as unlicensed software clients, and that you will only use AIM Products in conjunction with AOL authorized products and components.

Certified Application Partner Program (CAPP)
http://www.aimatwork.com/ams/

The Certified AIMŪ Application Program establishes a business and technology relationship between American Online, Inc. and leading software vendors and integrators. As part of this relationship, the parties work together to both build the next-generation of presence-enabled applications and to enable authorized connections to the AIM Network. Authorizing use of the AIM Network helps to preserve network integrity and protect user privacy. In addition this partner program ensures that AIM presence and integration in partner products will be fully supported by AOL.

Specific MSN Messenger Terms of Service

http://privacy.msn.com/tou

4. How You May Not Use the Service.

In using the service, you may not:

  • use any unauthorized third party software or service to access the Microsoft instant messaging network (currently known as the .NET Messenger service)
  • use any unauthorized means to modify or reroute, or attempt to modify or reroute, the service

http://messenger.msn.com/Help/Authorized.aspx

Any 3rd party software clients, services or applications not listed below are not authorized by Microsoft to connect to the .NET Messenger Service. Note that connecting the clients, services or applications listed below to the .NET Messenger Service may require a separate service agreement with Microsoft.

Specific Yahoo! Messenger Terms of Service

http://info.yahoo.com/legal/us/yahoo/utos/utos-173.html  

You are responsible for obtaining access to the Service, and that access may involve third-party fees (such as Internet service provider or airtime charges). You are responsible for those fees, including those fees associated with the display or delivery of advertisements.

You agree not to access the Service by any means other than through the interface that is provided by Yahoo! for use in accessing the Service.

http://messenger.yahoo.com/partners.php

Yahoo! works with selected technology companies to enable advanced instant messaging (IM) solutions and provide connectivity to different services and applications. Only Yahoo! and authorized Yahoo! Messenger partners can offer sanctioned access to the Yahoo! Messenger network.