Privacy Policy

Web server activity logs
Like most web servers on the Internet, our servers collect and store all of the information that your web browser sends when it requests a web page, including: the name, domain, and numerical internet address of the "host" computer (typically a computer belonging to your Internet Service Provider and not your personal computer) from which you access the Internet;

• the date and time you accessed our site;
• the Internet address of the web page that you came from;
• the page you requested from our site and the number of characters sent to your computer; and
• the information your web browser software sends as its so-called "User Agent," which typically identifies the browser software and may also indicate the operating system and type of CPU used in your personal computer.

It is not possible for us to determine the actual identity of an individual user from this information.

The logs are periodically summarized and analyzed in order to study site usage over time and to perform other studies to help us improve the site's organization, performance, and usefulness.

Electronic mail
When you send us personal identifying information via e-mail (that is, in a message containing a question or comment, or by filling out a form that e-mails us this information), we use it to respond to your requests. We do not distribute lists of e-mail addresses to any parties outside of Worldwide ERC®.

Unsolicited emails
You also agree that by registering for the Web site, Worldwide ERC® is authorized to use the information to send you unsolicited direct mail advertisements, promotions, and solicitations. We do not distribute lists of e-mail addresses to any parties outside of Worldwide ERC®.

Online surveys
When you voluntarily provide us with personal information as part of an online survey, we use it to perform various quantitative and qualitative analyses to improve customer service and satisfaction. You are under no obligation to participate in such surveys. Non-participation will not inhibit your use of our web site in any way. If you provided the information to us in error, you may request its removal at any time. If the information you provide to us is to be used as part of a published survey, that intended usage will be noted in the request for information; the information you provide will be summarized and analyzed as a part of that survey; and the summary and analysis will be distributed to Worldwide ERC® members and others who are eligible to receive the survey results. We do not provide or distribute the raw data outside of Worldwide ERC® except to collaborators or partners who are participants in preparing the survey. We do not distribute lists of e-mail addresses to any parties outside of Worldwide ERC®.

Ordering products
When you voluntarily provide us with personal information such as name, shipping and billing address, and credit card number when ordering products online, we use the information to fulfill your order. We may forward the information to other computer systems (such as secure electronic commerce servers) to complete the requested transaction. We do not keep a record of credit card numbers, neither do our electronic commerce providers.

Collection and release of gathered information
We want to make it clear that we will not obtain personal identifying information about you when you visit our web sites, unless you choose to provide such information to us. Except in the course of officially authorized law enforcement investigations, or in the event of a suspected attempt to deliberately circumvent our system's security with the intent to gain unauthorized access or to do physical damage (for example, an attack by hackers), we do not attempt to identify individual users or share any information we receive with any parties outside of Worldwide ERC®.

Retention of collected information
Cookies - Some applications may save a "cookie" on your computer's hard disk to provide a temporary history of actions taken. A common example is the tracking of items placed in an online "shopping basket." We do not retain any record of "cookies" beyond what is necessary for running the application.

Web server activity logs - Monthly extracts of the log files are archived and stored off-line at our discretion for an indefinite period of time. Some statistical summaries derived from these data may be retained online or off-line at our discretion for an indefinite period of time.

E-mail - Information collected via e-mail will be retained at our discretion in a directly readable form for as long as necessary to complete our response, and may be incorporated into backup files.

Online surveys - Information collected via online surveys may be maintained at our discretion for an indefinite period of time.

Links to Non-Worldwide ERC® Sites
Links and pointers to non-Worldwide ERC® sites are provided for information only and do not constitute endorsement, express or implied by Worldwide ERC® of the referenced organizations, their suitability, content, products, or services, whether they are governmental, educational, or commercial.

Non-Endorsement of Commercial and Other Non- Worldwide ERC® Products and Services
Hypertext links and other references to non-Worldwide ERC® products and services are provided for information only and do not constitute endorsement or warranty, express or implied, by Worldwide ERC®, as to their suitability, content, usefulness, functioning, completeness, or accuracy.

Copyright and Trademarks
All material published on the Worldwide ERC® Web site is copyrighted.  You are welcome to make a link to any of the Web pages Worldwide ERC® has published on the Internet; however you are not authorized to copy any of our material and insert it in another site, nor publish it in any other manner without our written permission. We do ask that you provide appropriate identification of Worldwide ERC® as the source of information properly used. There is no need to request permission for links. Many Worldwide ERC® acronyms and logos are trademarks or registered trademarks (noted by the ® or ™ designation).

What Information Does Worldwide ERC® Collect?
Most data Worldwide ERC® collects are used only to help Worldwide ERC® better serve its members. It is our general policy to collect and store only personal information that our members and visitors knowingly provide. If our privacy policies change, we will notify users by a special announcement placed on the Web site.

From General Users. Worldwide ERC® does not collect any personal information from users browsing its Web site. Users to the public areas of Worldwide ERC®’s Web site browse anonymously. Only aggregate data -- such as the number of hits per page -- are collected. Aggregate data are only used for internal and marketing purposes and do not provide any personally identifying information.

From Worldwide ERC® Members, Conference Registrants, and Other Customers. To gain access to members-only resources and personalization features on the Worldwide ERC® Web site, members and other users are asked to register and provide some limited information. These data are submitted voluntarily. Worldwide ERC® asks users to provide their name, member number (for members), organization name, business phone, and e-mail. Similar information may be submitted to Worldwide ERC® through membership applications, conference or seminar registration, publication orders, subscriptions, and contest registrations. Additionally, for some emails sent in HTML format by Worldwide ERC® to its members through its listservers and electronic newsletters, Worldwide ERC® will collect specific information regarding what the recipient does with that email. For those e-mails, Worldwide ERC® will monitor whether a recipient subsequently clicks through to links provided in the message. Other information collected through this tracking feature includes: email address of a user, the date and time of the user's "click," a message number, name of the list from which the message was sent, tracking URL number and destination page. Worldwide ERC® uses this information only to enhance its products and distribution of those products to its members. This information is not sold or distributed in any other manner.

How Does Worldwide ERC® Use Data Collected?
Worldwide ERC® uses information voluntarily submitted by members and other customers in the following ways:

Worldwide ERC® Member Services and Products. Generally, Worldwide ERC® and its direct subsidiaries use data collected to improve its own Web content; to respond to visitors' interests, needs and preferences; and to develop new products and services.

Disclosures to Third Parties. Worldwide ERC® also makes member contact information available through the Worldwide ERC® Membership Directory to other members using its Web site and to those who register for its conferences. In addition, Worldwide ERC® incorporates information users provide into hard copies of the Membership Directory that it provides to members and sells to requesters. Worldwide ERC® also makes some of this information available though it’s members-only online Member Network.  On occasion, Worldwide ERC® may also provide limited data to third parties that offer products and services. These limited data include names, job titles, companies and business addresses, but do not include business phone numbers, business fax numbers or e-mail addresses. Users may request Worldwide ERC® to refrain from disclosing the data it collects to third parties on the membership application form, conference registration form or any other form on which they are providing information; an opt-out box will appear on each form on which a user provides information. Alternatively, users may contact Worldwide ERC® at webmaster@erc.org or +1 202 857 0857 to express their preferences if they determine later that they do not wish to have the information shared.

Consent to Use Personal Information -- EU. For the purposes of the Data Protection Act 1998 and the Data Protection Directive 95/46/EC (as may be applicable in your country), you are notified that Worldwide ERC® or its agents must store, host and otherwise process the information (including personal data) supplied by the User when registering for this Web site; and that Worldwide ERC® may send such data outside the European Economic Area for such processing. If you reside in the European Union (or a state which has adopted an implementation of the Data Protection Directive), by registering to use the Web site you indicate your consent that the personal information you have provided may be transferred and stored in countries outside of the EU, including the United States. User also agrees that by registering for the Web site, Worldwide ERC®) is authorized to use the information to send the User unsolicited direct mail advertisements, promotions, and solicitations.

Credit Card Account Information. Worldwide ERC® does not disclose credit card account information provided by its members and customers. When members and customers choose to pay using their credit cards, Worldwide ERC® submits the information needed to obtain payment to the appropriate clearinghouse.

How Does Worldwide ERC® Use Cookies?
Cookies are files that contain information created by a web server that can be stored on a User's hard disk for use either during a particular session ("per-session" cookie) or for future use ("persistent" cookie). Worldwide ERC® uses cookies only to facilitate automated activity, store and track passwords, determine appropriate solicitations, and review navigation patterns. Cookies are not used to disseminate significant information about Users over the Internet or to analyze any information that Users have knowingly or unknowingly provided. When a user registers, the system will ask whether the user approves of the attachment of a cookie. Users may instruct their Internet browsers to opt out of accepting a "persistent" cookie and rather accept only a "per-session" cookie, but will need to login each time they visit the site to enjoy the full benefits. If the user declines the attachment of any cookie, the user may not have access to the full benefits of the website. Registration enables the site to better determine members' interest areas and provide the most relevant information.

What Privacy Issues Arise With Links to Other Sites?
This Web site contains links to other web sites. Worldwide ERC® has no control over and is not responsible for the privacy policies or content of such sites.

What Means of Redress Are Available?
If any User suspects Worldwide ERC® has handled its personal information in a manner that does not comply with this privacy statement, please contact us by e-mailing to webmaster@erc.org or by calling +1 202 857 0857.