Web sites that do not meet the guidelines, will not be allowed to display the iCop™ seal!

These guidelines may be adjusted from time to time, as needed. Current iCop™ members will have 30 days following notification of changes to either comply, or remove the iCop™ seal(s) from their web sites.

No changes will be made that reflect anything other than the highest ethical standards for iCop™ membership.


1)  The standards of professionalism as evidenced by correct spelling, grammar, punctuation and correct use of words.

2)  The iCop Member must own both the company and the domain name of any web site displaying the iCop Seal.

3)  Full contact information including a physical address.  However, if for any reason, you do not believe it is safe for you to list your physical address on your web site, you may use a Mail Box Number - but only if you clearly state that the address is a "Mailing Address."

4)  Telephone number and available hours for contact.

5) Payment options should be appropriate for the industry and should include secure online credit card and bank debit card transactions.

6)  All online payment options must be provided through secure transactions.  This requirement is waived for those companies which do not actually sell products or services through the web site.

7) A full and formal Privacy Statement - This statement must include pertinent facts such as no selling of visitor names or email addresses, no unsolicited email, security options, etc.  If you do not have a formal Privacy Statement, feel free to use iCop's as a template, editing in your own information.


** IMPORTANT !

Any iCop™ member who participates in the sale of the personal information of visitors or customers, to build the contact lists of third parties, will have their iCop seal privledges revoked immediately and without recourse.

(We are not concerned with the legality of the sale of contact lists, but with the ethical protection and security of all customers' personal information.)

Companies whose web sites promote pornography, nudity, sexually explicit material of any kind, hard-core profanity, violence, discrimination based on race, sex, religion, nationality, disability, sexual orientation, or age, illegal activities, or which violate intellectual property rights are automatically barred from using the iCop seal.  All web site owners must comply with local laws pertinent to their geographical area.

All iCop™ members displaying the iCop™ seal on their web sites must operate their businesses within the guidelines of the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC), since anyone doing business in the USA must adhere to these regulations.  iCop™ members will also maintain strict professional courtesy toward customers and the general online public, at all times.

At the sole discretion of iCop, no applicant will be accepted who sells, participates in any affiliate program which sells, or supports in any way, any questionable and/or unethical online business practice.  This includes, but is not limited to, marketing courses teaching how to use "spam" - any product designed to collect email addresses from the Web without permission - any program which does not protect the privacy rights of participants - and any product or service which invades the privacy of others.

Any iCop™ member who participates in the use of "spam" (Unsolicited Commercial Email UCE) - in any way - will have their iCop seal privileges revoked immediately and without recourse.

No business that participates in the use of predatory advertising methods will be accepted for use of the iCop™ seal.  Predatory advertising is defined as any method that creates or changes links or banners on web sites without the expressed permission of that web site owner.  Participation in predatory advertising programs will be cause for iCop seal privileges to be revoked immediately and without recourse.

All web sites submitted for iCop™ seal approval must be written entirely in English.

No responsibility or liability is taken/accepted by iCop for anything arising from the rejection of any application for use of the seal, for any reason.

Per our published Terms of Use, unauthorized use of the iCop™ Seal is subject to a $5,000 fine, which will be collected by whatever legal means necessary!