I. Overview Of Our Privacy Policy
A. Our Commitment to Privacy
1. GenerallyWe recognize the importance of privacy to You and the other users of the SMC3.com web site (the "Web Site"). We also recognize the potential sensitivity of information that You may provide during your placement of online orders for software licenses ("Licensees") via the Web Site and/or during your sign-up for other services and memberships that we offer ("Members"). We are committed to protecting Your privacy and promise to maintain any personal information You provide in the manner detailed in this Privacy Policy. We are also committed to ensuring that Web Site users are aware of the ways in which We maintain and use user-provided information. Notice of Our Privacy Policy (including a link directly to the policy) appears on the Web Site home page and on each page at which a user or Member is asked to input personal information.
2. Who Are "We"?
As used in this privacy agreement, "We" includes Southern Motor Carriers Rate Conference, Inc. doing business as "SMC³ " (hereinafter "SMC") and its employees, agents, and personnel, as well as any third-party vendors SMC hires to assist in the administration of the Web Site, the processing or handling of customer orders and/or memberships, and/or any related tasks. These vendors are required to maintain the confidentiality of the user information to which they become privy and to otherwise abide by the terms of this Privacy Policy. These vendors are prohibited from using the user information for any other purpose.
B. Our Commitment To Data Security
To prevent unauthorized access to the Web Site or any portion thereof, maintain data accuracy, and ensure the correct use of information, We have enacted commercially-reasonable physical, electronic and managerial procedures to safeguard and secure, during transmission and storage, the information We collect online.
C. Special Note Regarding Web Site Use By Children
This Web Site is neither directed to nor designed for use by children – i.e., anyone under eighteen years old. Children may not make purchases via the Web Site or otherwise provide membership information.
D. Changes To This Privacy Policy
SMC may, from time to time, modify this Privacy Policy. In the event of any material change, addition, or deletion to the Privacy Policy, SMC will provide via e-mail (at the e-mail contact address You previously provided) seven (7) days’ prior notice of the modification to all Licensees and Members. It is Your responsibility to ensure that the e-mail address appearing in Your Member profile is correct. Otherwise, You will not receive notice of the modifications and will lose Your below described opportunity to opt out of the changes. Should You not wish to be bound by the modified Privacy Policy, You must cancel Your Membership, if You have one, and must refrain from further use of the Web Site. If You are not a Member (even if You are a repeat customer), You are bound by the Privacy Policy in effect at the time of each separate access to or use of the Web Site.
II. Information We Collect And How We Use It
The only personally identifying information we collect occurs in relation to Your sign-up for Membership and/or during Your use of the Web Site to purchase a software license from SMC. We do accept credit card orders via the telephone and via e-mails. We will safeguard any such information transmitted through those means with the same commitment to security and on the same terms as are otherwise set forth herein in relation to other confidential information communicated through the Web Site.
Our primary goal in collecting personal information about Our Members is to provide a quick, easy-to-use, customized Web Site experience for them. Non-Members may, of course, also use the Web Site to learn more about SMC, to license and download software, to reach linked-to sites, and for other limited purposes. In relation to the Membership sign-up process, new Members are asked to provide certain items of personally-identifying information.
We may use non-personally identifying information You provide to generate statistical information concerning Web Site use (e.g., that there are over x number of users in a given state, that x% of the Web Site users are repeat customers, etc.) We may disclose this statistical information to third parties.
We may also use the information You provide to contact You as is otherwise described herein.
III. Communications You May Receive From Us
You will be contacted by SMC on the basis of personally-identifying information You provide during the purchase process only in the event that such contact is required: (1) in relation to notices, updates, or other information pertaining to software You have licensed from Us; (2) as is or may be otherwise required by law; and/or (3) as is expressly and affirmatively agreed to by You via any "opt-in" request You may make to receive additional promotional and marketing messages from SMC. Permissible contact does not include unsolicited promotional or marketing messages from SMC.
Administrative communications in relation to software licenses You purchase from SMC and/or Your membership at the Web Site include the following: (1) an order or membership confirmation sent to the e-mail address you provide; (2) in some instances, a shipping confirmation sent to the e-mail address you provide; (3) contact via any reasonable means in the event you license software from SMC that requires consultation with SMC; and (4) any related or similar communications necessary to complete and fulfill your order.
IV. Other Privacy Issues
A. Third-Party Links In The Web Site
We may provide via the Web Site, links to other World Wide Web sites. You should review the relevant disclaimer in the Web Site Terms of Service concerning third-party advertisements and links.
B. Cookies
1. What Are "Cookies"?
Some web sites use "cookies" to enhance the Web Site experience. A cookie is a text file (think of it as a small piece of information) that a web site stores on your PC and can later retrieve. Cookies typically contain user-related information such as preferences, status, settings, etc. The purpose of most cookies is to make use of the Internet easier and quicker. The cookie cannot be read by a web site other than the one that set the cookie. Most cookies last only through a single session, or visit. None will contain information that will enable anyone to contact You. Most browsers allow the user to a choose setting that allows the use of cookies, that provides notice to the user when cookies are being stored, and/or that refuses all cookies.
2. How Do We Use Them?
We use Cookies at the Web Site to store information that You have previously entered to make Your subsequent visit quicker, more efficient, and more useful to You. We will never store executable files on Your computer.
C. IP Addresses
1. What Is An "IP Address"?
An IP Address is a unique identifying number that is automatically assigned to any computer connected to the Internet. Depending on the nature of Your Internet connection, the IP may change each time You connect or may always be the same number for that computer.
2. How Do We Use Your IP Address?
We reserve the right to log IP Addresses for system administration, security, statistical analysis, demographic analysis of Web Site use, and other such functions.
D. Public Forums
To the extent that the Web Site makes forums, message boards and/or news groups available to users and/or Members, please remember that any information that is disclosed in these areas becomes public information. You should exercise caution in disclosing personally identifying information there or in any other public section of the Internet.
E. Communications To Us
Comments, suggestions, or other communications sent by You to Us are deemed to be non-confidential. We have no obligations of any kinds in relation to such comments, suggestions, or communications and are free to use or distribute them in any way, including in relation to the administration, update, or improvement of the Web Site, without compensation to the author, sender, or any other party.
Last Material Revision: August 21, 2001.
If you have any questions about SMC's Internet Privacy Policy, please contact us via e-mail.