New Network Rules and Policies

[SeniorStaff]

This will also be posted on the updates blog, but here are some new network rules and policies related to applying, building and maintaining your fanlistings that will be going into effect immediately.  If you have any questions regarding these rules, please contact the Senior Staff directly via our contact form.  If you have a question about a specific fanlisting, please contact the appropriate Category staffer where your fanlisting is listed.

BUILDING A FANLISTING

Fanlisting graphics should reflect the subject you are approved for.
Your fanlisting's layout and image codes should feature images that accurately reflect the subject you have been approved for. (For example, if you have been approved for the manga version of a character featured in a movie or a game, your layout should feature manga images of the character, unless you are approved for the other versions of the character as well.) Your image codes should also be clearly marked with the subject you have been approved for. (For example, if you own a series, character or relationship fanlisting, you can not have codes featuring only one character from the series and the word "fan.")

MAINTAINING A FANLISTING

Your fanlisting must be easy to navigate and join.
Fanlistings that are difficult to navigate, have "hidden" links, and require code words will be placed on the Troubles list as this makes it difficult to join and goes against the network philosophy of accepting ALL fans. (This is not the same as fanlistings using Enthusiast or a management script, which asks for the fan to enter a password, or one is generated for them, so that they can change their information securely. The difference is that fans are added regardless of whether or not they choose to use the Enthusiast password feature.)

Each approved subject must have its own join form and members list.
If you have the fanlistings for two or more subjects hosted on the same site, the use of a single join form with a "Favorite" option to allow members to select the subject they are joining for is acceptable, although it is preferable that each subject have its own join form and member list.

APPLYING FOR A FANLISTING

You may have up to 6 fanlistings listed as upcoming at the network at any time, and up to 3 pending applications in one category.
If you already have 6 upcoming fanlistings, any new application you send will be rejected because you may not be approved for anything else until some of them are finished. Once you reach the limit of 3 pending applications in a category, any new applications you send in will be disregarded until the pending applications are either approved or rejected.

To further explain the first rule -- This fits into the 'ambiguous code' rule we have been implementing for awhile. This rule simply clarifies the infraction. If a fanlisting is for a character, it is permissible for the code to simply say FAN. If the fanlisting is for a group, relationship/rivalry, series, etc. the code must have the subject name. (If it is a series name, the code can simply say "series", or an abbreviated form of the series name) This rule also covers fanlisting layout graphics. If the fanlisting subject is ONLY approved at TAFL, only anime/manga graphics are permissible. If the fanlisting is crosslisted, other graphics are fine. If the fanlisting is crosslisted and there are several layout skins available, it is fine as well. (Example #1: I own a Pokemon character fanlisting here at TAFL, but not at TFL. I use game graphics on my fanlisting.) (Example #2: I own a Song fanlisting here at TAFL, but I use manga images in the layout. Exceptions to using manga images for a Song fanlisting is if the song is mentioned in the manga storyline -- ie: Gravitation, Full Moon wo Sagashite.)

Troublecheckers will be looking for these problems on all fanlistings in the next month and the Troubles staffers will send all fanlisting owners with violations a warning to fix the problem.  THIS EMAIL WILL NOT MEAN YOU ARE ON TROUBLES.  You will have a month to fix the problem and any subsequent trouble check will cause the fanlisting to be placed on troubles status if the issue is not fixed.

As stated previously, if you have any questions regarding these new policies, please contact the staffers directly with your inquiries.