Version 1.0 - November 2007
This policy (”Policy”) and the practices described in this document apply to all sites owned and operated by HiP Media, LLC (”HiP Media”). By linking to this page or any HiP Media site, other Publishers (as defined herein) agree to adhere to this policy and its contents. HiP Media is not liable for the content or activities of any other Sites which may elect to adhere to this Policy.
HiP Media provides an online content aggregation and advertising display service (the “Service”). A functioning example of the Service is available at http://www.houseblogs.net. We help “Users” find niche content from across the web. We help Internet “Publishers” increase readership for their publication by promoting their recent writing to our site’s Users. We enable “Advertisers” to place advertisements via the Service on one or more sites belonging to Publishers. We enable “Network Operators” to create and manage networks of Publishers and Advertisers using tools we provide. The Service runs on software developed and hosted by HiP Media, its subsidiaries, affiliates and third-party contractors. Please be aware that whenever you voluntarily post public information to the Service or a Publisher’s Site or any other public forums, that information can be accessed by the public and can in turn be used by those people to send you unsolicited communications.
HiP Media recognizes the importance of information privacy. This Privacy Policy describes HiP Media’s practices for gathering, storing, using and disseminating information, as well as some of the steps we take to safeguard that information. We may change this policy from time to time. All changes will be posted to this site, and you are encouraged to periodically check back to this site for any changes to the privacy policy.
We expect Publishers and Network Operators using our Service to comply with the practices described in this policy. This includes either linking to this privacy policy from their own site or maintaining a published privacy policy of their own.
A. INFORMATION COLLECTION
Users can browse certain areas of the Service without telling us who you are or revealing any personal information about yourself. Once you give us your personal information, you are not anonymous to us. For example, your user ID is displayed throughout the Service and is therefore available to the public. If you choose to provide us with personal information, you consent to the transfer and storage of that information to our servers located in the United States.
If you are an Advertiser, Publisher, or Network Operator, HiP Media requests certain information related to your business, your website, and your use of the Service. HiP Media will collect and store this information. HiP Media may collect your email addresses, mailing and billing address and order information, IP address, information about your site, including but not limited to your site’s page impressions, advertising prices and information about your visitors.
To improve and personalize the Service, HiP Media may collect information about your business from third parties and provide this information on your behalf. This information may include, but is not limited to the following: third-party counts of monthly page views, visitor composition, and rankings in various indices. HiP Media may not provide you the option to turn off the presentation of this information.
HiP Media will collect information regarding your activities with respect to the Service. HiP Media will collect any comments you send to us and any information you post to the HiP Media site or on a Publisher site. HiP Media may also collect information through the use of Cookies (see below). HiP Media collects personal information when you: (1) register with HiP Media to become a User, Publisher, or Advertiser, (2) provide comments or submit a problem to HiP Media , (3) request information from HiP Media and provide your name or return contact information, or (4) respond to special offers, contests or surveys. As part of the registration process, you may be asked to provide contact information and other personally identifying information.
B. COOKIES
“Cookies” are small data files that may be downloaded to your computer when you visit a HiP Media site or a Publisher site and permit the HiP Media server to identify your browser whenever you interact with a HiP Media site or with an Publisher site. HiP Media uses cookies to recognize repeat visits by users of its Service and to collect information about its users’ interactions with the Services. These cookies contain identification information that enables us to streamline a user’s experiences using the Services and to report such information to Publishers, Advertisers, and Network Operators. You may set your browser software to reject cookies, but you may not be able to optimize the features of the Services. In some cases, you may not be able to access Services if cookies are disabled.
C. USE AND DISCLOSURE OF PERSONALLY IDENTIFYING INFORMATION
Our primary purpose in collecting personal information is to provide you with a safe, smooth, efficient, and customized experience.
1) If you are a Publisher we may share information about your site, including but not limited to page impressions, site traffic, prices and readership with Advertisers, Publishers, Network Operators, or Users. We will not share personally identifiable information about you with Advertisers without your prior written or electronic consent.
2) If you are a Publisher we may disclose your contact information and email address to Network Operators managing Networks that sell advertising on your behalf.
3) If you are a User we may disclose your contact information and email address to Network Operators managing Metablogs in order to enable them to send you communications regarding the Service.
4) If you are a User we may share aggregated, non-personally identifiable information about you with Publishers or Advertisers, such as the number of users who visit a Publisher site or the number of users who clicked on a particular advertisement. This information does not identify you individually. Further, we encourage you to review the privacy policies of the Publishers that you visit. You should contact Publishers directly and review their privacy policies should you have questions concerning their use of your information such as, for example, communications you may or may not wish to receive. HiP Media may also use information collected through the Service for research regarding the effectiveness of the Site and the marketing, advertising and use of the Service.
5) If you are an Advertiser we may disclose your contact information and email address to Publishers on whose Sites you have placed advertisements.
6) Disclosure for Marketing Purposes. We do not sell or rent your personal information to third parties for their marketing purposes without your prior written or electronic consent.
7) Other Disclosures. HiP Media may disclose your personal information if required to do so by law or if HiP Media has a good faith belief that such disclosure is necessary to protect and/or defend the rights and interests of HiP Media. HiP Media may, as permitted by applicable law, disclose your personally identifiable information to Publishers, Advertisers, Network Operators, or third parties in connection with an investigation of fraud, infringement, piracy, or other unlawful activity and you expressly authorize HiP Media to make such disclosures. HiP Media reserves the right to transfer personal information to a successor in interest that acquires rights to that information as a result of the sale, merger or transfer of the assets of HiP Media.
Domestic and International Use. All personally identifying information collected by HiP Media may be used in the United States or, if the Service are undertaken by HiP Media for a non-US Publisher, Advertiser, or Network Operator, such information may be transferred to that Publisher, Advertiser, or Network Operator outside of the United States, and through your use of the Service you hereby consent to any such transfer of information outside of your country.
9) Merger or Acquisition. If HiP Media , LLC, is merged, sold or acquired by another entity, personally identifiable information may be transferred to such entity as a part of the merger, sale or acquisition.
D. REVIEW AND MODIFICATIONS TO YOUR PERSONALLY IDENTIFYING INFORMATION.
If you are a Publisher, Advertiser, or Network Operator, you may add, modify or update your email address, name, preferences for the types of notifications you wish to receive from HiP Media, and other information by accessing the “Account” page on the Service. Other personal information may be modified or updated by accessing by contacting HiP Media as set forth in Section H below. HiP Media may retain transactional history in order to document a transaction you may have had with an HiP Media Publisher, Advertiser, or Network Operator. You should contact the Publisher, Advertiser, or Network Operator directly in order to access, modify or update your personal information with them, if any.
We do retain personal information from suspended and closed accounts in order to comply with law, prevent fraud, collect any unpaid fees, resolve disputes, troubleshoot problems, assist with any investigations, enforce our Terms & Conditions, and take other actions otherwise permitted by law.
E. LINKS TO OTHER SITES
As a part of the Service, HiP Media provides links to sites operated by third parties. When linking to another site you should read the privacy policy stated on that site. HiP Media is not responsible for the information collection or privacy practices or the content of those third party sites.
F. INFORMATION SECURITY
HiP Media stores personally identifiable information obtained through registration securely and considers it part of the assets of its business. All information is stored in our secure servers located inside the United States. To prevent unauthorized access, maintain accuracy of information, and ensure the appropriate use of information, HiP Media has put in place industry standard physical, electronic, and managerial procedures to attempt to safeguard and secure the information it collects online. However, information security is a constantly evolving art and science, and no information is completely secure.
Your password is the key to your HiP Media Service accounts. Use unique numbers, letters, and special characters, and do not disclose your HiP Media Service password to anyone, even a HiP Media representative. If you do share your password or your personal information with others, remember that you are responsible for all actions taken in the name of your account. If you lose control of your password, you may lose substantial control over your personal information and may be subject to legally binding actions taken on your behalf. Therefore, if your password has been compromised for any reason, you should immediately notify HiP Media and change your password.
G. CHILDREN
HiP Media uses reasonable efforts not to collect, use or disclose individually identifiable information from children under the age of 13. The Service is not targeted at children, and children may not use the Service. Children should never reveal their addresses, phone numbers, or other personally identifying information to any strangers on the Internet.
H. FURTHER INFORMATION
For further information and terms and conditions, please see our Terms and Conditions.
This service originates from the State of Illinois. HiP Media does not claim that the information on this Site or other Sites owned or operated by HiP Media are appropriate or may be used outside of the United States. Access to the Service by certain persons or in certain countries may not be lawful. If you access the Site from outside the United States, you do so at your own risk and are responsible for compliance with the laws of your applicable jurisdiction.
If you have any questions about anything in this Privacy Policy, or about collection of personally identifiable information, or information generally, please contact HiP Media via help@hip-media.com or PO Box 59183, Chicago, IL 60659, USA.
