Privacy Policy
Contents:
- Collecting personal information
- Use of personal information
- Disclosure of personal information
- Comments
IDEA does not sell or release personal information and will never willfully disclose individually identifiable information to any third party without first receiving your permission.
Because your privacy is important to us, IDEA operates according to the following guidelines, and requires any third-party service provider to do the same.
Collecting personal information
IDEA will explicitly notify you when information that personally identifies you or allows us to contact you ("personal information") is needed. This information is typically requested when registering on the website or when requesting a particular service, such as customized information, or access to IDEA Forums. When possible, IDEA will provide a method to make sure that your personal information is correct and current.
In addition to the use of personal information to operate the site, anonymous information is also gathered, which may be used by IDEA or shared with third parties. This is information which does not personally identify you, but which may be helpful for marketing purposes or for improving the services we offer. For example, IDEA might tell its advertisers how many users visited a particular advertisement, and for how long, so they can measure whether the advertisement was effective. This information is also used to determine advertising rates. Typically, the information collected, or traffic data, may entail the use of cookies, IP addresses, or other data used to identify a computer.
Cookies are files stored on your hard drive that contain information about you and your preferences. For example, a cookie might record which pages within the site you visited, to help IDEA customize the view for you the next time you visit.
Only the information that you fill in or otherwise provide can be stored in a cookie. For example, the IDEA site will not have (or be able to record) your e-mail address unless you choose to type it. By allowing the IDEA site to create a cookie, you are not giving IDEA or any other site access to the rest of your computer. Cookies created by visiting the IDEA site can only be read by the IDEA site.
It is standard in the web industry to use "cookies," and many major sites use them to provide useful features for their visitors. "Cookies" themselves do not identify individual users, although they do identify a user's computer.
Most browsers are initially set to accept "cookies." If you'd prefer, you can set yours to refuse "cookies." However, you may not be able to take full advantage of IDEA's website if you do so. For example, a cookie can be set to "remember" your user name and password so that you don't have to log in each time you access a IDEA forum.
Use of personal information
IDEA uses your personal information to provide customized information and services and to inform you of new features, services, and products from IDEA.
The IDEA site uses your personal information to operate the site and to deliver services. For example, if you are using IDEA Forums, a completed password application may be forwarded to IDEA.
The IDEA site and IDEA's service partners use your personal information to operate the site, provide services, and inform you of new features, services, and products from IDEA and its affiliates. IDEA carefully selected other companies to send you information about their products or services that are related to the site's service but are not necessary to its operation (a "secondary use"), only upon your explicit request.
IDEA does not sell personal information. However, IDEA may partner with businesses to provide special services to our members. This type of use of personal information is called a "secondary use" because it is not necessary to the operation of the business or site. For example, a site may offer discount coupons for services or related products. In many cases these discounts would be an added benefit.
If an IDEA site page proposes to make a secondary use of your personal information, you will see instructions on how to decline this service. You may also stop the delivery of future informational or promotional mail from IDEA sites by following the instructions on the mail sent to you.
Disclosure of personal information
IDEA may disclose personal information if required to do so by law or in the good-faith belief that such action is necessary to (a) conform to the edicts of the law or comply with legal process served on IDEA or the site; (b) protect and defend the rights or property of IDEA, the site or the users of IDEA, and (c) act under exigent circumstances to protect the personal safety of users of the IDEA site or the public.
The IDEA site may have several necessary service partners who assist in providing the service or product associated with the site. As part of the operations of the site, these companies may have access to your personal information. These companies may provide routine services, such as credit card processing, or may provide essential elements of the site. Without this relationship the IDEA partner could not provide its service to you. These uses of personal information are primary to the operation of the site and are not considered secondary uses.
These service partners must also adhere to these privacy guidelines, and will not have permission to sell (or make any other use of) your personal information.
Comments
If at any time you believe that the IDEA site has not adhered to these guidelines, please notify IDEA by and we will make reasonable efforts to determine and correct the problem in a timely manner.
IDEA is committed to maintaining its position as a premier electroindustry information resource. As our site continues to develop, we may add new services and features to our website. In the event that these additions affect our Privacy Statement, this document will be updated appropriately.