Court Order & Subpoena Policy
Applies to: All Hostonce customers, legal authorities, and requesting parties
Hostonce is committed to protecting customer privacy while complying with applicable laws.
This Policy describes how Hostonce handles subpoenas, court orders, governmental requests, preservation demands, and other compulsory legal processes.
Hostonce will only disclose customer information when legally required to do so and after reviewing the validity and scope of the request.
1. How to Submit Legal Requests
Hostonce accepts properly issued U.S. legal process, including:
- Subpoenas
- Court orders
- Warrants
- Preservation requests under 18 U.S.C. § 2703(f)
- Administrative, regulatory, or law enforcement requests
Mailing Address for Service of Process
Hostonce
651 N Broad St, Suite 206
Middletown, Delaware 19709
United States
Service by Email
Hostonce may, at its discretion, accept legal service electronically.
Email: [email protected]
Hostonce does not accept legal service through customer support tickets, chat, or social media channels.
2. Jurisdictional Considerations
Hostonce is a U.S.-based company headquartered in Delaware.
Accordingly:
- U.S. legal process is required for disclosure of customer data.
- Foreign government agencies must provide one of the following:
- U.S. court-issued process through MLAT (Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty), or
- A request routed through a competent U.S. authority per applicable treaties and international cooperation laws.
Hostonce may voluntarily disclose non-content data to foreign authorities where legally permitted and appropriate, but content data requires proper U.S. legal process.
3. How Hostonce Reviews Legal Requests
Hostonce evaluates each request to ensure:
- It is valid and legally enforceable
- It complies with applicable U.S. federal or state laws
- It identifies specific accounts, domains, or data
- It is not overly broad, unreasonable, or unsupported by legal authority
Hostonce may:
- Narrow the scope of an overly broad request
- Reject invalid or improperly served requests
- Request clarification prior to producing any data
- Challenge legal demands that infringe on user rights, exceed jurisdiction, or conflict with U.S. law
4. Types of Information That May Be Disclosed
The type of information Hostonce may disclose depends on the form of legal process:
(a) Basic Subscriber Information
Typically available with a valid subpoena:
- Registrant / Account holder name
- Organization name (if provided)
- Email address
- Phone number
- Billing contact details
- Domain registration data
- IP logs or login timestamps (where available)
(b) Non-Content Server or Usage Logs
Generally available only with a court order:
- Access logs
- IP assignment history
- DNS or service metadata
(c) Content Data (Hosting Content, Files, Emails)
Hostonce will only disclose "content" information in response to a search warrant issued by a U.S. court based on probable cause.
(d) Information Not Collected
Hostonce does not store or log:
- Customer plaintext passwords
- Full historical content backups for all services
- Deleted data beyond retention periods
- Third-party application data not hosted by Hostonce
If we do not possess the requested data, we will inform the requester.
5. Customer Notification
Hostonce generally notifies customers when their data is the subject of a legal request unless:
- The request explicitly prohibits notification (e.g., gag order, 18 U.S.C. § 2705(b))
- Notification is otherwise legally restricted
- There is an imminent risk to life, safety, or security
- The request is part of an ongoing criminal investigation
If legally permitted, Hostonce may delay notification until it is safe and lawful to do so.
6. Emergency Disclosure Requests
Law enforcement may submit emergency requests where there is an immediate threat to life or serious physical harm.
- These requests are reviewed 24/7.
- Hostonce may disclose limited information when legally permitted and necessary to address the emergency.
Such requests must be formally documented and reviewed for legitimacy.
7. Preservation Requests (18 U.S.C. § 2703(f))
Hostonce complies with lawful data preservation demands submitted by U.S. authorities.
- Data is preserved for up to 90 days, with one extension where properly requested.
- Preservation does not include disclosure; it only prevents data deletion.
- A valid legal process must still follow for actual release of data.
8. Fees for Compliance
Hostonce may charge reasonable fees for:
- Extensive data retrieval
- Research or restoration of archived logs
- Expert testimony, declarations, or certifications
- Complex or time-consuming legal processing
Fee schedules are available upon request.
9. Important Limitations
- Hostonce does not provide legal advice to customers or requesting parties.
- Hostonce may refuse to comply with requests that:
- Lack proper jurisdiction
- Are not lawfully served
- Are overly broad or seek unrelated user data
- Violate privacy laws or user rights
10. Contact Information for Legal Requests
All legal correspondence must be sent to:
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.hostonce.com
Postal Address:
Hostonce
651 N Broad St, Suite 206
Middletown, Delaware 19709
United States
11. Questions
For questions about this policy (not for submitting legal documents), contact: [email protected]
