Privacy Policy
Privacy Policy for www.smete.org
SMETE.ORG has created this privacy policy in order to demonstrate our firm commitment to privacy. The following discloses our information gathering and dissemination practices for this web site: www.smete.org.
You may also view our W3C Platform for Privacy Preferences (P3P) compliant privacy policy.
SMETE.ORG gathers three types of information about users: data that users provide through user registration, tracking information derived from use of the system and standard web server usage log information. Such information enables us to better tailor our content to readers' needs and to help us better understand our users.
Currently, the only situation in which SMETE.ORG divulges information about an individual user to a third party is to inform authors of materials within SMETE.ORG about usage and downloads of their items -- and then, only with the user's express consent.
This site contains links to other sites. SMETE.ORG is not responsible for the privacy practices or the content of such Web sites.
Usage Tracking
SMETE.ORG tracks user traffic patterns throughout our site through standard web server logs and through an extended usage tracking system. We use your IP address to help diagnose problems with our server, and to administer our Web site. SMETE.ORG logs the user's domain name, browser type, and MIME type by reading this information from the browser string (information contained in every user's browser). At this time we anticipate using this information in aggregate to develop overall usage statistics.
SMETE.ORG has developed an extended usage tracking system that logs all actions within SMETE.ORG. We examine search queries, results of queries, downloads, etc. to better understand our users. At this time we anticipate using this information in aggregate to understand usage pattern, search patterns, and to inform cataloging efforts.
If a user registers to access a "service," we have the ability to correlate the user's actions with data about the individual user. We do this in order to provide better service to our users and to better understand our users.
User Registration
There are multiple levels of "user" within SMETE.ORG. Each of which requires progressively more information. Our site's registration form requires users to give us contact information (like their name and email address). The customer's contact information is used to contact the user when necessary. Users may opt-out of receiving future mailings; see the choice/opt-out section below.
To access a "service" the user is required to register and supply a username (we use a valid email address as a username), password, first name and last name. The user may optionally provide phone, fax, institution, address, personal URL, and image URL. The first name, phone, fax, institution and address optional fields allow SMETE.ORG to contact the user. At this time we do not anticipate providing this information to third parties. The personal URL and image URL will be displayed in some of the "services" to allow the user to personalize comments, etc.
To "Add a Comment", the user is required to be registered. However, the user may choose to use nickname/handle that will be displayed with the comment in place of their real contact info.
To "catalog" courseware within SMETE.ORG the user is required to register and supply a username (we use a valid email address as a username), last name, first name, and phone number. The user is then sent a password via email to the username (email address). We do this in order to verify the ability to contact the submitter of the courseware in case of problems. The user may optionally enter additional information. This information may be shared with a third party. At this time we only anticipate providing this information to a third party if there is a question as to whether the submitter was empowered to submit the courseware to SMETE.ORG.
Public Forums
This site makes chat rooms, forums, message boards, and/or news groups available to its users. Please remember that any information that is disclosed in these areas becomes public information and you should exercise caution when deciding to disclose your personal information.
Use of the information
SMETE.ORG uses any information given by our users to enhance their experience in our network of sites, whether to provide interactive or personalized elements on the sites or to better prepare future content based on the interests of our users.
Choice/Opt-Out
SMETE.ORG gives users options wherever necessary and practical. Such choices include:
- Opting not to receive our electronic newsletters when registering
- Opting not to provide certain personal information when registering (except as described above)
- Opting not to participate in certain interactive areas, which completely alleviates the need for any information from our users
This site allows users to send email to webmaster@smete.org to mark their information in our database so as to not receive future electronic newsletters or to no longer receive our service (to be marked as inactive).
Correct/Update
This site gives users the following options for changing and mod
ifying information previously provided.
Contacting the Web Site
If you have any questions about this privacy policy, the
practices of this site, or your dealings with this Web Site, you can contact:
SMETE.ORG
3115 Etcheverry Hall
Berkeley, CA 94720-1750
webmaster@smete.org
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