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GitHub Stars Program Code of Conduct

Last updated: May 13, 2020

GitHub Stars are technology experts who passionately share their knowledge with the community and the Star Award is our way of saying "Thanks!" to outstanding community leaders. However, it’s not enough to be a great technologist that can amplify to the broad community – we also expect that Stars exemplify our values and display community spirit in a positive way by conducting themselves with respect and restraint whenever they engage with others within and outside the Program. Simply put, an individual’s character and leadership truly matter to us.

This Code of Conduct is a summary of GitHub’s minimum expectations is intended to provide individuals considering participation in the Stars Program and the public with the standards we put forth for our community of Stars. GitHub may update this page at any time.

Expectations for Stars (At a Minimum)

  1. No disrespectful behavior. This includes threats, harassment, stalking, abuse, slurs, profanity, personal attacks, sexual remarks or innuendos, physical violence, public speculation about others, and any other behavior that GitHub deems inconsistent with the Stars Program.
  2. No impersonations of a GitHub employee, agent, manager, host, or another user.
  3. No illegal or offensive activities. Stars will not publish, post, distribute, or disseminate defamatory, infringing, obscene, or other unlawful material or discussion. This includes, but is not limited to, child pornography, bestiality, incest, illegal drugs, software piracy, terrorism, discriminatory/racist statements or images and harassment.
  4. Accountability. Stars are fully responsible and liable for anything they say (whether orally or in writing) or do. This includes any actions taken based on advice or information received in online forums or elsewhere, how a Star conducts themselves as a community leader, and interactions with other Stars and the general public.
  5. No libel or slander against GitHub or other persons or entities. Libel includes false statements made in written form, such as statements posted to forums or other publicly accessible websites, electronic mail, or any other printed form.
  6. No confidentiality violations. Stars may get access to certain non-public information during their participation in the Program and are expected to honor their confidentiality obligations with respect to such information.
  7. No plagiarism. Stars may only post their own original work or work that they have written permission to post. If a Star cites another author’s work, Stars are expected to provide any necessary attribution according to the requirements associated with the original author’s work. Learn more about copyright at https://help.github.com/en/github/site-policy/dmca-takedown-policy
  8. No discrimination or harassment. GitHub is committed to providing a harassment-free experience to Program participants regardless of age, ancestry, color, gender identity or expression, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical size, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or technology choices. Harassment is unwelcome verbal, physical or virtual behavior based on the characteristics identified above.
  9. No sexual harassment. Sexual harassment is unwelcome verbal, physical or virtual behavior based on sex and includes gender-based harassment of a person of the same or different gender. Examples of sexual harassment include, but are not limited to:
    • Unwelcome sexual advances
    • Sexual comments or inappropriate gender-based jokes
    • Excessive, unwelcome romantic attention
    • Offering or conditioning an employment benefit or preferential treatment, like a promotion or job assignment, in exchange for sexual favors
    • Unwelcome physical contact
    • Sharing or displaying sexually explicit content
    • Using sexually degrading words

Reporting Conduct Violations

If you become aware of a conduct violation on or offline, you are encouraged to report it to [email protected].

If you are being harassed, notice that someone else is being harassed, or have any other concerns, please contact a member of the Program or event staff immediately.

If you don’t feel comfortable going through one of these channels, you can raise an anonymous concern via the Microsoft Runs on Trust website found at https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/legal/compliance/integrity.

Important Note

The above summary of expectation applies to all Stars and is for informational purposes.

Additional codes of conduct and terms of participation apply to Stars, including but not limited to: