Getting started (5)

Before You Start
Welcome to China Intellectual Property Law（hereinafter referred to as "CIPL"）

All Users, including Speakers and Members of this Website, before accessing any potion of this Website, must agree with our Terms & Conditions.

How do I create a CIPL Account?
We have adopted the registered way of inviting, so as to ensure the member's quality.

A new user will be auto-approved as member of a group when they supply a group code at registration. You may combine this feature with the usual use of groups in the registration form. Users may also visit the "Use group code" page to join a group using a code.

Once you've finished registering, you'll receive a verification email. Click the link in that email to complete the verification process.

What is CIPL Groups
You may meet others who are interested in the same topic as you regarding business law in China via creating your specific group and make a difference together.

What is the CIPL Forum
It's a community of people interested in business law in China and for discussion of topics around your interested areas.

What is the CIPL Blog
You could host your own blog and publish articles on your favorite topics. Or, post comments on others' notable blogs.

Reading and Posting (2)

Can I edit my own posts?
If you have registered, you will be able to edit and delete your posts. Note that the administrator can disable this ability as he desires. Your ability to edit your posts may also be time-limited, depending on how the administrator has set up the forum.

To edit or delete your posts, click the "Edit" button by the post you want to edit. If your post was the first in the thread, then deleting the post may result in the removal of the entire thread.

How do I create and vote in polls?
You may notice that some threads on this forum also include a section where you can vote on an issue or question. These threads are called 'polls' and this is how to create them:

Creating a new poll

When you post a new thread, you may have the option to also create a poll.

This function allows you to ask a question and specify a number of possible responses. Other members will then be able to vote for the response they wish, and the results of the voting will be displayed in the thread.

An example poll might be:

User Maintenance (4)

I lost my password, what can I do?
If you forget your password, you can click on the 'Forgotten Your Password' link on any page that requires you to fill in your password.

This will bring up a page where you should enter your registered email address, and an email will be sent to that address instantly, with instructions for resetting your password.

What is the signature for?
After you have registered, you may set your signature. This is a piece of text that you would like to be inserted at the end of all your posts, a little like having headed note paper.

If the administrator has enabled signatures, then you will have the option to include your signature on any posts you make. If you have specified a signature, then the forum will automatically append your signature to any messages you post. You can disable signatures on a per-post basis by un-ticking the 'Show Signature' checkbox when you compose your message.

Why should I register?
In order to fully utilize the abilities of this system, the administrator will probably require that you register as a member. Registration is free, and allows you to do the following:

Post new threads
Reply to other peoples' threads
Edit your posts
Receive email notification of replies to posts and threads you specify
Send private messages to other members
Enter events in the calendar
Set up a 'buddy-list' to quickly see which of your friends are currently online

How can I change the information in my profile?
It is your responsibility to keep the information in your profile up-to-date. You should especially ensure that your email address is kept current. You can alter any of the fields in your profile, except your username. Once you have registered your username, it becomes yours for life. In extreme circumstances, you may request that the administrator change your username, but he or she will require a very good reason to do so.

General Usage (1)

How do I use the calendar?
The member list contains a complete list of all the registered members of this forum. You can view the member list ordered alphabetically by username, by the date that the member joined the forum, or by the number of posts the members have made.

The member list also has a "search function", which allows you to quickly locate members according to categories you specify, such as searching for all members who have joined in the past week etc.