Neiman Marcus 2003 Annual Report Download - page 346

threatened litigation, investigations or subpoenas may require that certain information and records be retained for longer than the law
and the Company's record retention policies require. Accordingly, the Legal Department will issue notices regarding such matters as
they arise and will instruct that certain categories of documents not be discarded until the matter is resolved. It is a violation of law to
conceal, alter or destroy records that are subject to a subpoena or may be evidence in a pending or threatened lawsuit or investigation.
Unless the Legal Department has issued a notice of a pending matter requiring the continued retention of certain documents,
all records in any form are to be permanently discarded at the end of the period set forth in the record retention policy applicable to the
relevant subsidiary or business unit of the Company.
E-MAIL, VOICE MAIL AND THE INTERNET
The Company encourages the use of electronic mail and voice mail because these methods of communication are
efficient and effective. It also encourages the sue of the Internet as a valuable source of information about our vendors,
suppliers, business partners and competitors. However, employees must ensure that electronic mail, voice mail and the
Internet are used appropriately, understand that messages sent or received and data gathered are not private, compose
messages with care and retain them only as long as necessary.
APPROPRIATE USE
E-mail, voice mail and the Internet must be used responsibly and are intended for business purposes only. Although personal
use of electronic communication systems may be understandable and acceptable at times, this is a privilege that the Company reserves
the right to control and monitor.
Under no circumstances may e-mail, voice mail or the Internet be used for any illegal, immoral, or unethical purpose, or for
any other purpose that violates the Code or may lead to liability or cause harm to the Company. The Internet, in particular, also may
not be used for transmitting, retrieving or storing any communications of an obscene, discriminatory, harassing, or otherwise
inappropriate nature. The Company retains the sole right to determine whether or not employees are using these methods of
communication properly.
All files downloaded from the Internet are subject to the limitation of copyright laws and policy. This means that such files
may not be further copied, distributed or forwarded to anyone except as expressly permitted by the copyright owner or with the prior
approval of the Legal Department. The Company's copyright policy is described in the Copyright Compliance section of the Code.
Each outgoing Internet e-mail message is identified as originating with the Company or one of its divisions or subsidiaries.
As a result, like other official communications, e-mail messages sent via the Internet must responsibly represent the Company.
Employees must not post confidential or sensitive Company information on the Internet, including websites, news groups,
chat rooms, and other similar locations. Employees shall not develop or establish websites using the Company's name or any of it's
trademarks without proper authorization.
PRIVACY
All telephone and computer equipment and the data, documents and messages stored on them are the property of the
Company. With the Legal Department's express approval, the Company reserves the right to monitor and review any e-mail or voice
mail messages created, received or maintained on Company property. The Company also reserves the right to review employee use of
the Internet. Employees shall have no expectation of privacy in the use of