Last Updated: 03 November 2025
1. BACKGROUND
1.1 This Acceptable Use Policy sets out the terms between you and YPO under which you may access our website www.ypo.co.uk ("the YPO Website"). This policy applies to all users of, and visitors to, the YPO Website.
1.2 Your use of the YPO Website means that you accept, and agree to abide by, all the policies in this Acceptable Use Policy, which supplement our Terms of Website Use.
1.3 WWW.YPO.CO.UK is a site operated by Yorkshire Purchasing Organisation ("YPO"). YPO is a public sector procurement and reseller organisation trading under the name "YPO". It is owned jointly by the founder member authorities who are identified here. YPO's principal place of business is located at 41 Industrial Park, Wakefield, WF2 0XE. The organisation’s VAT Registration Number is 642 7206 51.
2. PROHIBITED USES
2.1 You may use the YPO Website only for lawful purposes. You may not use the YPO Website:
(a) In any way that breaches any applicable local, national or international law or regulation.
(b) In any way that is unlawful or fraudulent, or has any unlawful or fraudulent purpose or effect.
(c) For the purpose of harming or attempting to harm minors in any way.
(d) To send, knowingly receive, upload, download, use or re-use any material which does not comply with our content standards below.
(e) To transmit, or procure the sending of, any unsolicited or unauthorised advertising or promotional material or any other form of similar solicitation (spam).
(f) To knowingly transmit any data, send or upload any material that contains viruses, trojan horses, worms, time-bombs, keystroke loggers, spyware, adware or any other harmful programs or similar computer code designed to adversely affect the operation of any computer software or hardware.
2.2 You also agree:
(a) Not to reproduce, duplicate, copy or re-sell any part of the YPO Website in contravention of the provisions of our terms of website use.
(b) Not to access without authority, interfere with, damage or disrupt:
(i) any part of the YPO Website;
(ii) any equipment or network on which the YPO Website is stored;
(iii) any software used in the provision of the YPO Website; or
(iv) any equipment or network or software owned or used by any third party.
3. INTERACTIVE SERVICES
3.1 YPO may provide interactive services on the YPO Website, including product reviews, social media, competitions and surveys ("Interactive Services").
3.2 Where YPO provides any interactive service, we will provide clear information about the kind of service offered, if it is moderated and what form of moderation is used (human or technical).
3.3 YPO will do its best to assess any possible risks for users from third parties when they use any interactive service provided on the YPO Website, and we will decide in each case whether it is appropriate to use moderation of the relevant service (including what kind of moderation to use) in the light of those risks. However, YPO are under no obligation to oversee, monitor or moderate any interactive service we provide on the YPO Website, and we expressly exclude our liability for any loss or damage arising from the use of any interactive service by a user in contravention of our content standards, whether the service is moderated or not.
3.4 Where we moderate an interactive service, we will normally provide you with a means of contacting the moderator.
4. CONTENT STANDARDS
4.1 These standards apply to any material you contribute to the YPO Website ("Contributions") and to any Interactive Services associated with it.
4.2 You must comply with the spirit of the following standards as well as the letter. The standards apply to each part of any Contribution as well as to its whole.
4.3 Contributions must:
(a) Be accurate (where they state facts).
(b) Be genuinely held (where they state opinions).
(c) Comply with applicable law in the UK and in any country from which they are posted.
4.4 Contributions must not:
(a) Contain defamatory material.
(b) Contain obscene, offensive, hateful or inflammatory material.
(c) Promote sexually explicit material or violence.
(d) Promote discrimination based on race, sex, religion, nationality, disability, sexual orientation or age.
(e) Infringe any copyright, database right or trademark.
(f) Deceive any person or breach any legal duty owed to a third party.
(g) Promote illegal activity.
(h) Threaten, abuse or invade another’s privacy, or cause annoyance, inconvenience or needless anxiety.
(i) Harass, upset, embarrass, alarm or annoy any other person.
(j) Impersonate any person or misrepresent your identity or affiliation.
(k) Give the impression that they emanate from us, if this is not the case.
(l) Advocate, promote or assist any unlawful act such as copyright infringement or computer misuse.
5. SECURITY OBLIGATIONS
5.1 You must keep your account credentials confidential and notify us immediately of any suspected breach or unauthorised access.
6. DATA PROTECTION AND PRIVACY
6.1 YPO processes personal data in compliance with UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018. Please refer to our Privacy Policy for details on how we collect, use, and protect your data.
7. MONITORING AND LOGGING
7.1 We may monitor and log activity on the YPO Website for security and compliance purposes. Logs will be retained in accordance with our retention policy.
8. SUSPENSION AND TERMINATION
8.1 YPO will determine, in its discretion, whether there has been a breach of this policy. Failure to comply may result in:
(a) Immediate, temporary or permanent withdrawal of your right to use the YPO Website.
(b) Removal of any posting or material uploaded by you.
(c) Issue of a warning.
(d) Legal proceedings against you for reimbursement of all costs on an indemnity basis (including, but not limited to, reasonable administrative and legal costs) resulting from the breach.
(e) Further legal action against you.
(f) Disclosure of information to law enforcement authorities.
8.2 YPO exclude liability for actions taken in response to breaches of this acceptable use policy. The responses described in this policy are not limited, and we may take any other action we reasonably deem appropriate.
9. CHANGES TO THIS POLICY
9.1 YPO may revise this acceptable use policy at any time by amending this page. You are expected to check this page from time to time to take notice of any changes we make, as they are legally binding on you. Some of the provisions contained in this acceptable use policy may also be superseded by provisions or notices published elsewhere on the YPO Website.
GOVERNING LAW
This policy is governed by the laws of England and Wales. Disputes shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.