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This document was last updated on July 8, 2006.
1. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND ACCEPTANCE OF TERMS
Government Data Services ("GDS") is committed to protecting your privacy. This
Privacy Statement sets forth our current privacy practices with regard to the
information we collect when you or your computer interact with our website. By
accessing www.govdataservices.com, you acknowledge and fully understand GDS’s
Privacy Statement and freely consent to the information collection and use
practices described in this Website Privacy Statement.
2. PARTICIPATING MERCHANT POLICIES
Related services and offerings with links from this website, including vendor
sites, have their own privacy statements that can be viewed by clicking on the
corresponding links within each respective website. Online merchants and others
who participate in GDS services are encouraged to participate in industry
privacy initiatives and to take a responsible attitude towards consumer
privacy. However, since we do not have direct control over the policies or
practices of participating merchants and other third parties, we are not
responsible for the privacy practices or contents of those sites. We recommend
and encourage that you always review the privacy policies of merchants and
other third parties before you provide any personal information or complete any
transaction with such parties.
3. INFORMATION WE COLLECT AND HOW WE USE IT
GDS collects certain information from and about its users three ways: directly
from our Web Server logs, the user, and with Cookies.
a. Web Server Logs
When you visit our Website, we may track information to administer the site and
analyze its usage. Examples of information we may track include:
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Your Internet protocol address.
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The kind of browser or computer you use.
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Number of links you click within the site.
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State or country from which you accessed the site.
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Date and time of your visit.
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Name of your Internet service provider.
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Web page you linked to our site from.
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Pages you viewed on the site.
b. Use of Cookies
GDS may use cookies to personalize or enhance your user experience. A cookie is
a small text file that is placed on your hard disk by a Web page server.
Cookies cannot be used to run programs or deliver viruses to your computer.
Cookies are uniquely assigned to you, and can only be read by a Web Server in
the domain that issued the cookie to you.
One of the primary purposes of cookies is to provide a convenience feature to
save you time. For example, if you personalize a web page, or navigate within a
site, a cookie helps the site to recall your specific information on subsequent
visits. Hence, this simplifies the process of delivering relevant content and
eases site navigation by providing and saving your preferences and login
information as well as providing personalized functionality.
GDS reserves the right to share aggregated site statistics with partner
companies, but does not allow other companies to place cookies on our website
unless there is a temporary, overriding customer value (such as merging into
www.govdataservices.com a site that relies on third-party cookies).
You have the ability to accept or decline cookies. Most Web browsers
automatically accept cookies, but you can usually modify your browser setting
to decline cookies. If you reject cookies by changing your browser settings
then be aware that this may disable some of the functionality on our Website.
c. Personal Information Users
Visitors to our website can register to purchase services. When you register,
we will request some personal information such as name, address, email,
telephone number or facsimile number, account number and other relevant
information. If you are purchasing a service, we will request financial
information. Any financial information we collect is used only to bill you for
the services you purchased. If you purchase by credit card, this information
may be forwarded to your credit card provider. For other types of
registrations, we will ask for the relevant information. You may also be asked
to disclose personal information to us so that we can provide assistance and
information to you. For example, such data may be warranted in order to provide
online technical support and troubleshooting.
We will not disclose personally identifiable information we collect from you to
third parties without your permission except to the extent necessary including:
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To fulfill your service requests for services.
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To protect ourselves from liability,
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To respond to legal process or comply with law, or
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In connection with a merger, acquisition, or liquidation of the company.
4. USE OF WEB BEACONS OR GIF FILES
GDS Web pages may contain electronic images known as Web beacons – sometimes
also called single-pixel gifs – that allow GDS to count users who have visited
those pages and to deliver co-branded services. GDS may include Web beacons in
promotional e-mail messages or newsletters in order to determine whether
messages have been opened and acted upon.
Some of these Web beacons may be placed by third party service providers to help
determine the effectiveness of our advertising campaigns or email
communications. These Web beacons may be used by these service providers to
place a persistent cookie on your computer. This allows the service provider to
recognize your computer each time you visit certain pages or emails and compile
anonymous information in relation to those page views, which in turn enables us
and our service providers to learn which advertisements and emails bring you to
our website and how you use the site. GDS prohibits Web beacons from being used
to collect or access your personal information.
5. ACCESSING WEB ACCOUNT INFORMATION
We will provide you with the means to ensure that personally identifiable
information in your web account file is correct and current. You may review
this information by contacting us by sending an email to our support attendant
– support@govdataservices.com.
6. CHANGES TO THIS STATEMENT
GDS has the discretion to occasionally update this privacy statement. When we
do, we will also revise the “updated” date at the top of this Privacy page. We
encourage you to periodically review this privacy statement to stay informed
about how we are helping to protect the personal information we collect. Your
continued use of the service constitutes your agreement to this privacy
statement and any updates.
7. CONTACTING US
If you have questions regarding our Privacy Statement, its implementation,
failure to adhere to this Privacy Statement and/or our general practices,
please contact us by email to support@govdataservices.com or send your comments
to:
GDS
ATTN: Privacy Officer
3200 West Market Street, Suite 102
Akron, OH 44333-3324
GDS will use commercially reasonable efforts to promptly respond and resolve
any problem or question.
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