Table of Contents
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
and its related companies ("Britannica") recognize the importance
of protecting the privacy of Personal Information collected about
its Users. "Personal Information" includes, but is not limited
to, usage data, along with the name, address, telephone number,
e-mail address, and credit card and salary information of Britannica
Users. Therefore, Britannica does not sell or otherwise disclose
any individually identifiable Personal Information about any User
without an express and informed consent of such User. Nor does
Britannica include in Britannica.com or EB.com any
functionality for performing "reverse searches" to identify Britannica
Users from their e-mail addresses. However, Britannica reserves
the right to analyze and utilize User data in order to more effectively
optimize the User experience and to present certain opportunities
to Users for their benefit. Britannica also reserves the right
to share with its partners and third parties some Personal Information
on the aggregate basis only and provided that such use of Personal
Information does not violate any expectations of privacy of or
agreement with any Britannica User. Britannica has adopted this
Privacy Policy to inform Britannica Users how it does collect,
store, and use Personal Information. Britannica's intent is to
balance its legitimate business interests in collecting and using
Personal Information against the reasonable expectations of privacy
of its Users.
Our Commitment to Privacy.
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. ("Britannica") is committed to respecting
the privacy of visitors to its family of Web sites (collectively,
the "Britannica sites" and each, a "Britannica site") and parties
related to them. Except as otherwise provided, this Privacy Policy
applies to all of the Britannica sites, which include, but are
not limited to, Britannica.com and EB.com. To better
protect your privacy, we provide this notice explaining our online
information practices and the choices you can make about the way
your information is collected and used at this Britannica site.
The Britannica sites are general audience
Web sites, intended for Users of all ages. Personal information
of all Users may be collected, used, and disclosed as described
in this Privacy Policy. This Privacy Policy contains a section
with specific details regarding personal information collected
from children. See "Protection for Children" below.
The Information
We Collect.
To help us achieve our goal of providing the highest quality services,
we collect and apply information from our interactions with visitors
and subscribers (each a "User") to the Britannica sites, as well
as from other parties. Because we respect your privacy, we have
procedures to ensure that your personal information is handled
in a safe, secure, and responsible manner. The information we
receive and collect depends on what a User does when visiting
one of the Britannica sites.
- Your Personal Information.
Britannica recognizes the importance of protecting the privacy
of personal information collected about its Users and other
third parties. In general, our Users are able to visit many
of our Web pages without telling us who they are or revealing
any information about themselves. As discussed under "Usage
Data" below, we may track the Internet domain or "Internet
protocol" addresses from which Users visit us and analyze this
data in the aggregate to determine usage for trends and statistics.
Individual Users will remain anonymous, unless they voluntarily
tell us who they are.
There may be times, however, such as when subscribing to
our services or making purchases from the Britannica Store,
when we ask Users to provide certain Personal Information
about themselves. "Personal Information" may include, but
is not limited to, the name, address, telephone number, e-mail
address, and credit card information of Britannica site Users.
Whether or not a User provides such information is completely
his or her own choice. If a User chooses not to provide the
Personal Information we request, he or she may be unable to
access certain services and content on our Britannica sites
or purchase products from us.
- Demographic Information.
There will also be opportunities for subscribers to provide
us with demographic or profile information regarding their preferences
and interests. This information may include, but is not limited
to, age, gender, household income, level of education completed,
number of children in the household, and personal-interest information.
This demographic information, however, is not required and is
completely optional on a subscriber's part.
- Prospect and Referral Information.
If a User visits Britannica.com and submits an e-mail address to
Britannica but fails to complete the registration process, we may use
such "prospect" information to contact the prospective User from time to time
with Britannica offers and information about new features, new services, and
special discounts we think they may see as valuable. Similarly,
if a User forwards a Britannica e-mail to a friend,
we may use the "referral" information provided to contact the
friend from time to time with Britannica offers and information
about new features, new services, and special discounts we think
the friend may see as valuable. All of our "prospect" and "referral"
communications contain clearly marked opt-out instructions.
The types of personally identifiable information that may be
collected in relation to "prospects" or "referrals" include:
name and e-mail addresses. We do not sell or rent any contact
information for such "prospects" or "referrals."
- Cookies.
To help you personalize your online experience, Britannica uses
"Cookies." "Cookies" are pieces of information that Britannica
transfers to the hard drives of Users for record-keeping purposes.
One of the primary purposes of Cookies is to provide a convenience
feature to save you time. For example, Cookies allow us to recognize
you when you re-enter a Britannica site so that you will not
have to log in each time you visit. Cookies also allow us to
count the number of unique and return visitors who use the Britannica
sites. In addition, Britannica places Cookies with Users visiting
from advertising banners and hyperlinks on other Web sites to
track the success of a particular advertising campaign or marketing
program. Most browsers are initially set up to accept Cookies.
If you prefer, you can reset your browser to notify you when
you've received a Cookie or, alternatively, to refuse to accept
Cookies. It is important to note that you may not be able to
use certain features on a Britannica site if you choose not
to accept Cookies. The use of Cookies is an industry standard
and occurs at most major Web sites.
- Beacons.
We currently contract with several online partners to help manage and
optimize our Internet business and communications. We use the services
of a marketing company to help us measure the effectiveness of our
advertising and how visitors use our site. To do this, we use Web
beacons and cookies provided by our marketing company on this site.
The type of information we collect includes pages visited, search terms,
referrers, campaigns, anonymous user identifier, and anonymous account
identifier. By supplementing our records,
this information helps us learn things like what pages are most
attractive to our visitors, which of our products most interest our
customers, and what kinds of offers our customers like to see. Although
our marketing company logs the information coming from our site on our
behalf, we control how that data may and may not be used. If you do not
want to help us learn how to improve our site, products, offers and
marketing strategy, you can “opt-out” of this website analysis tool
by clicking here.
How We Use the
Information We Collect.
- Personal Information
Britannica uses Personal Information for: allowing Britannica
site Users to obtain an account and to receive communications
they request; making ongoing enhancements to the Britannica
sites; marketing and promotional purposes (for example, offering
Users the opportunity to take advantage of special promotions
for Britannica products and services (See "Subscriber Communications"
and "Offers from Our Business Partners" below)); and
evaluating Web site usage by analyzing and otherwise using Personal
Information and related data in the aggregate, but not with
respect to any individual Britannica site User. In addition,
with respect to Britannica site Users located outside North
America, we may share pertinent Personal Information with our
local subsidiaries. Please click on the following links to review
privacy policies of our local subsidiaries:
UK
Privacy Policy
Australian
Privacy Policy
Britannica does not sell or otherwise disclose any individually
identifiable Personal Information about any Britannica site
User without an express and informed consent of such User.
Nor does Britannica include in any of the Britannica sites
any functionality for performing "reverse searches" to identify
Web site Users from their e-mail addresses. However, as discussed
below, Britannica reserves the right to analyze and utilize
aggregated, not individual, Usage Data in order to more effectively
optimize the User experience and to present certain opportunities
to Users for their benefit. Britannica also reserves the right
to share with its partners and third parties some Personal
Information on an aggregate basis only and provided that such
use of Personal Information does not violate any expectations
of privacy of or agreement with any Britannica site User.
Britannica has adopted this Privacy Policy to inform Britannica
site Users of how it collects, stores, and uses Personal Information.
Britannica's intent is to balance its legitimate business
interests in collecting and using Personal Information in
order to continuously improve Britannica products and services
against the reasonable expectations of privacy of its Users.
- Demographic Information.
In an ongoing effort to improve its services, Britannica may
use aggregated demographic information to draw conclusions about
Users' wishes and preferences. Britannica may also provide demographic
information in the aggregate regarding Britannica site Users
to third parties in connection with Britannica advertising campaigns
and marketing programs; however, no demographic information
relating to any individual Britannica site User is disclosed
without the express consent of such User. In addition, any such
User may withdraw his/her consent at any time by following the
instructions provided under the heading "How to Opt Out,
Correct, Update, or Remove Personal Information" below.
As stated above, submitting such demographic information is
not required and is completely optional on a subscriber's part.
- Prospect and Referral Information.
As discussed above, we may use prospect and referral information
to contact a prospect or referral from time to time with Britannica
offers and information about new features, new services, or
special discounts we think such prospect or referral may see
as valuable. We do not sell or rent any contact information
for such prospects or referrals.
- Usage Data.
We only use Usage Data in the aggregate -- that is, we look
at the data on a collective basis, in summary form, rather than
on an individual basis. This data helps us determine the extent
to which our visitors use certain parts of a Britannica site,
which, in turn, enables us to make the Britannica sites as appealing
as possible. We may also provide statistical "ratings" about
how our visitors collectively use our Web sites to advertisers
and other companies with which we do business ("Business Partners").
We do this so they, too, can understand how often people use
their areas of the Web sites in order for them to provide you
with the best possible experience. These statistical ratings
do not contain any personally identifiable information about
any of our individual Users.
Disclosure
Exceptions.
We will disclose information we maintain when required to do so
by law; for example, in response to a court order or a subpoena.
We also may disclose such information in response to a law enforcement
agency's request.
Subscriber
Communications.
As a benefit of membership, Britannica site subscribers may receive
the following communications from us:
- Communications related to subscription
maintenance activities. These communications may include,
without limitation, notices regarding material changes to Britannica
site policies, service updates, service enhancements, and account
management procedures. Since these communications are necessary
to ensure Britannica provides its subscribers with the highest
quality of services, our subscribers are not permitted to opt
out from receipt of these communications.
- Newsletter Communications. As a benefit
of a Britannica subscription, we may send our Britannica subscribers
our exclusive Britannica Newsletters. These newsletters
are full of useful Britannica content. To unsubscribe to a newsletter,
a User can either (i) follow the instructions at the bottom
of any newsletter or (ii) follow the instructions set forth
below in "How to Opt Out, Correct, Update, or Remove Personal
Information."
- Communications containing information
about Britannica products and services. We may send promotional
e-mails and other outbound communications to Britannica site
subscribers regarding products and services from Britannica.
Any Britannica site subscriber that does not wish to receive
such product and service communications can choose to remove
his or her contact information from our contact list at any
time by (i) following the instructions at the bottom of any
promotional e-mail or (ii) following the instructions set forth
below in "How to Opt Out, Correct, Update, or Remove Personal
Information."
Offers From
Our Business Partners.
Britannica also offers its Users the
opportunity to receive money-saving offers, discounts, and promotions
from our Business Partners. These communications may come from
Britannica or directly from the Business Partners themselves.
This program is conducted strictly on an opt-in basis. In order
to receive or decline the offers, you must follow the clearly
marked instructions on the relevant page. If you leave the box
unchecked, you will not receive any offers. If you do sign up
for the program, but later change your mind, you are free at any
time to opt out by (i) following the clearly marked instructions
at the bottom of any such communication or (ii) following the
instructions set forth below in "How to Opt Out, Correct, Update,
or Remove Personal Information."
Protection
for Children.
Children should always ask parents for
permission before providing any Personal Information to Britannica
or purchasing any products or services from Britannica. Britannica
expressly adheres to all laws and policies related to children's
privacy. Britannica does not knowingly collect or solicit personally
identifying information from or about children under 13, except
as permitted by law. If we discover we have received any information
from a child under 13 in violation of this policy, we will delete
that information immediately. If you believe Britannica has any
information from or about anyone under 13, please contact us in
the manner provided for below.
Our Commitment
to Security.
Britannica only collects information from Britannica site Users
to the extent deemed reasonably necessary to serve its legitimate
business purposes, and it uses state-of-the-art security technology
to ensure the security, integrity, and privacy of all collected
information. In addition, Britannica uses security measures in
connection with the collection and transmission of Britannica
site User information during each Britannica site's registration
process. Nonetheless, Britannica is not responsible for any breach
of its security or for the actions of any third parties that may
obtain any Britannica site User information, including Personal
Information or demographic information.
How to Opt
Out, Correct, Update, or Remove Personal Information.
Users may opt out of certain services or correct, update, or remove
Personal Information that Britannica has collected about them
through any of the means listed below. Please be sure to include
the following information in your correspondence:
- Your e-mail address
- Your first and last name
- The name of the Britannica site to which
the request applies
- The service or section of the site to
which you are registered/subscribed
- Online: Visit our main Help page
at http://corporate.britannica.com/help/and
submit a message to us using our online forms or simply
respond to the pertinent e-mail with the word "unsubscribe"
in the subject line. (Please note: "Unsubscribe" is an automatic
process. We will not respond to these messages.)
- Call us at: (800) 323-1229 (within
the United States), or
(312) 347-7159 (outside the United States)
Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (U.S. Central Time).
- Send a fax to: (312) 294-2104
- Write us at:
Britannica Customer Service, Attn: Removal from Mailing List
331 North La Salle Street
Chicago, IL 60610
Please allow up to six (6) weeks for
your opt-out and other requests to be processed.
Third-Party
Advertising.
The Britannica sites use the services of third parties to present
or target the advertisements, promotions, and other marketing
messages that you may see on any of the Britannica sites' Web
pages and to conduct research about such advertisements, promotions,
and other marketing messages. Our Privacy Policy does not cover
any use of information that such third parties may have collected
from Users or the method used by such third parties to collect
that information (e.g., Cookies).
Links to Other
Web sites.
The Britannica sites each contain links to other Web sites. Britannica
is not responsible for the privacy practices or content of these
third-party Web sites. We urge all Britannica site Users to follow
safe Internet practices: Do not supply personal information to
these Web sites unless you have verified their security and privacy
policies.
Your Consent
and Changes to Privacy Policy.
This Privacy Policy was last changed on June 29, 2005. By using
any one of the Britannica sites, you consent to the collection
and use of your information by Britannica in the manner specified
in this Privacy Policy. Britannica reserves the right to change
or amend this Privacy Policy at any time by posting the revised
Privacy Policy on the Britannica sites. Britannica encourages
each Britannica site User to periodically review this Privacy
Policy to be informed of how we are protecting their information.
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