Notices

Using the noticeboard

The noticeboard is provided as a service to members of the OU community and we want to operate it with as light a touch as possible. Our aim is to enable you to post:
• For sale: advertise to other members of the OU community items you are selling (eg books, household items, cars, your house, etc Please note you may not sell OU restricted materials such as software)
• Help me: ask members of the community for help, advice and recommendations (eg lift shares, recommendations for local services)
• Notices: tell the community about events and activities you are involved with (eg voluntary groups and events, OU and OUSA groups and events, a book you’ve authored, etc.  You may also use this section to tell the community about accommodation or a holiday home available for rent, as long as you are not running these as a business).

However, in case of doubt or dispute, here are the formal terms and conditions:
1. Publication of a notice does not imply university approval or recognition of goods advertised - the university holds no liability for the working order and conditions of goods.
2. The university reserves the right to remove material which is inappropriate in relation to the OU Computing Code of Conduct or terms and conditions of using this noticeboard.
3. The contact in all notices must be a member of the OU community. You are responsible for all actions carried out under your username.
4. Promoting of commercial services, or selling goods commercially or on behalf of a (commercial) third party is not permitted. We reserve the right to remove such items without notice. Some examples to clarify:
• Can I advertise my holiday flat in Greece?  Yes
• Can I sell my mum’s sofa? Yes, though see point 3 above.
• Can I advertise my husband/friend's business? No, though you can make a personal reply to an individual if they ask for a recommendation.
• Can I recommend a great hairdresser, garage etc? No, though if someone asks for a recommendation you can send a personal reply to that individual.
5. There are few regulations regarding items for sale (though see item 4 above). There are, however, notable exceptions including alcohol, tobacco, baby formula and animals. Please note you may not sell OU restricted materials such as software.
6. Notices must be legal, decent, honest and truthful.
7. In the interests of fair play for all you should only edit your notice for genuine reasons, e.g. when reducing a price, and not to bump it up to the top of the list. Noticeboard editors reserve the right to delete notices which are repeatedly republished without a significant change in content.
8. Do not post thank you messages to the notice board.
9. As a courtesy to others, please delete your notice once your item has been sold, you have received the response you were looking for, or the event has taken place.
Please note that the noticeboard editors may remove any notice that, in their opinion, may offend other members of the OU community, or which runs counter to the spirit in which the service is offered. Their decision in such matters is final.
Contact the Platform noticeboard team by email platform@open.ac.uk:
● General enquiries about notices
● If you find an item on the noticeboard offensive
● If you’re unsure whether your intended notice is acceptable and would like some advice