The Spamhaus Project

DNSBL Fair Use Policy

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Terms of Use

Terms of Use

These Terms of Use (“Terms”) set out important information about the Spamhaus DNSBL Public Mirrors (SBL, XBL, PBL, DBL or ZEN). Please read it carefully as it affects your rights and liabilities under the law. If you do not agree with these Terms, please do not use the DNSBL Public Mirrors. By using the DNSBL Public Mirrors you agree to be bound by these Terms.

THE DNSBL PUBLIC MIRRORS ARE PROVIDED FREE OF CHARGE SUBJECT TO THE FAIR USE PRINCIPLES SET OUT IN THESE TERMS. SPAMHAUS RESERVES THE RIGHT IN ITS ABSOLUTE DISCRETION TO RESTRICT, REVOKE OR PREVENT ACCESS TO THE DNSBL PUBLIC MIRRORS WITHOUT NOTICE WHERE IN ITS REASONABLE OPINION THE FAIR USE PRINCIPLES ARE NOT RESPECTED.

1. Fair use principles

1.1 You are not automatically entitled to the use of Spamhaus’ DNSBL Public Mirrors. Use of the DNSBL Public Mirrors via DNS queries to our public DNSBL servers is free of charge provided you meet all of the following criteria:

1.1.1 The DNSBL Public Mirror is provided free of charge for non-commercial use by small and medium sized organisations.

1.1.2 Your DNSBL Public Mirror query volume must not exceed volumes reasonably expected in circumstances of non-commercial use.

1.1.3 The network originating the DNS Query must be identifiable. This means you must query the Spamhaus DNSBL Public Mirrors from a recursive resolver run on your own network or from a public resolver which supports ECS.

1.1.4 Queries originating from large shared hosting environments are not accepted. As a workaround, please apply for a free Datafeed Query Key from Spamhaus Technology. A private DNS server with a correct, attributable host name can also be used.

2. Commercial use

Use of the DNSBL Public Mirrors by companies, organizations, individuals and networks with email traffic likely to breach or exceed the fair use principles set out above, or by ISPs or commercial spam filter services, will require a subscription to our Datafeed Service, a service designed for users with professional DNSBL requirements.

3. Accuracy

We cannot promise that the DNSBL Public Mirrors will be fault-free. If a fault occurs we will attempt to correct the fault as soon as we can.

4. Liability

The DNSBL Public Mirrors are provided to certain non-commercial user’s free-of-charge and subject to the principles of fair use. Accordingly you agree that we shall have no liability to you for any losses to you caused by your use of the DNSBL Public Mirrors. This section 4 shall not limit or affect our liability if something we do negligently causes death or personal injury.

Using DROP? Check the Spamhaus DROP Fair Use Policy.