This is a draft of the MCA-I Privacy Policy is currently under review by the Board of Directors.
Because the Media Communications Association-International (MCA-I is committed to our members’ and visitors’ privacy, it has agreed to disclose its information practices and have its privacy practices reviewed for compliance by TRUSTe.
1. What personally identifiable information MCA-I collects.
2. What personally identifiable information third parties collect through the website.
3. What organization collects the information.
4. How MCA-I uses the information.
5. With whom MCA-I may share user information.
6. What choices are available to users regarding collection, use and distribution of the information.
7. What types of security procedures are in place to protect the loss, misuse or alteration of information under MCA-I control.
8. How users can correct any inaccuracies in the information.
If users have any questions or suggestions regarding our privacy policy, please see contact information on the left column of this webpage.
If they do not receive acknowledgment of their inquiry or their inquiry is not satisfactorily addressed, they should then contact TRUSTe through the
TRUSTe Watchdog Dispute Resolution Process (http://www.truste.org/users/users_watchdog.php). TRUSTe will serve as a liaison with the Web site to resolve users concerns.
Information Collection and Use
Information Collection
MCA-I is the sole owner of the information collected on www.mca-i.org. MCA-I collects information from our users at several different points on our Web site.
Registration
In order to use this Web site, a user must first complete the registration form. During registration a user gives contact information such as name and e-mail address. We use this information to contact the user about services on our site for which the user expresses an interest It is optional for the user to provide demographic information (such as income level and gender), and unique identifiers (such as, user name and password), but encouraged so we can provide a more personalized experience on our site. MCA-I will use this information only to provide information about program or services requested by the user.
Order
We request information from the user on our membership form. A user must provide contact information (such as name, e-mail, and mailing address) and financial information (such as credit card number, expiration date). This information is used for billing purposes and to process memberships. If we have trouble processing an order, the information is used to contact the user.
Information Use
The information we collect is used to provide products and services to our members. We sometimes share information with our commercial members, affiliates, partners or sponsors. so they can provide special benefits, products or services to MCA-I members.
Profile
We store information that we collect through cookies, log files, clear gifs, and/or third parties to create a profile of our members. A profile is stored information that we keep on individual members that details their viewing preferences. Consequently, collected information is tied to the members’ personally identifiable information to provide offers and improve the content of the site for the member. This profile is used to tailor a members’ visit to our Web site, and to direct pertinent marketing promotions to them. We only share member profiles with other members, affiliates, partners or sponsors.
Cookies
A cookie is a piece of data stored on the user’s computer tied to information about the user. [Usage of a cookie is in no way linked to any personally identifiable information while on our site.] We use [both] session ID cookies [and] persistent cookies. For the session ID cookie, once users close the browser, the cookie simply terminates. A persistent cookie is a small text file stored on the user’s hard drive for an extended period of time. Persistent cookies are used only for MCA-I members on restricted areas of the site.
By setting a persistent cookie on our site, members do not have to log in a password more than once, thereby saving time while on our site. If a member rejects the persistent cookie, they may still use our site. The only drawback to this is that theywill be limited in some areas of our site. For example, the member will need to log in to have access to the Member’s Only areas of the web site every time they visit. Persistent cookies enable us to track and target the interests of our members to enhance the experience on our site. See the “Profile” section.
Some of our business partners use cookies on our site (for example, advertisers). However, we have no access to or control over these cookies, once we have given permission for them to set cookies for advertising.
Third Party Advertising
The ads appearing on this Web site are delivered to users by MCA-I and are commercial members, affiliates, partners or sponsors. This privacy statement covers the use of cookies by www.mca-i.org only and does not cover the use of cookies by any commercial members, affiliates, partners or sponsors.
Log Files
Like most standard Web site servers we use log files. This includes internet protocol (IP) addresses, browser type, internet service provider (ISP), referring/exit pages, platform type, date/time stamp, and number of clicks to analyze trends, administer the site, track user’s movement in the aggregate, and gather broad demographic information for aggregate use. IP addresses, etc. are not linked to personally identifiable information.
Communications from the Site
Special Offers and Updates
We send all new members a welcoming e-mail to verify password and user name. Established members will occasionally receive information on products, services, special deals, and a newsletter. Out of respect for the privacy of our users we present the option to not receive these types of communications. Please see the Choice and Opt-out sections.
Newsletter
If a user wishes to subscribe to our newsletter, we ask for contact information such as name and e-mail address. Out of respect for our users privacy we provide a way to opt-out of these communications. Please see the Choice and Opt-out sections.
Service Announcements
On rare occasions it is necessary to send out a strictly service related announcement. For instance, if our service is temporarily suspended for maintenance we might send users an e-mail. Generally, users may not opt-out of these communications, though they can deactivate their account. However, these communications are not promotional in nature. [Users may opt-out of these communications. Please see our Choice and Opt-out section.]
Customer Service
We communicate with users on a regular basis to provide requested services and in regards to issues relating to their account we reply via e-mail or phone, in accordance with the users wishes.
Sharing
Legal Disclaimer
Though we make every effort to preserve user privacy, we may need to disclose personal information when required by law wherein we have a good-faith belief that such action is necessary to comply with a current judicial proceeding, a court order or legal process served on our Web site.
Aggregate Information (non-personally identifiable)
We share aggregated demographic information with our commercial members, affiliates, partners or sponsors. This is not linked to any personally identifiable information.
These are the instances in which we will share members’ personal information:
We Share Personal Information with commercial members, affiliates, partners or sponsors. These companies have paid MCA-I either membership dues or a fee to gain access to our members’ information in order to provide products, services or benefits to MCA-I members. Requests of this nature are limited and the software allows a member to opt-out of electronic contact.
Third Party Intermediaries
We use a credit card processing company to bill users for goods and services. These companies do not retain, share, store or use personally identifiable information for any secondary purposes.
Business Transitions
In the event MCA-I goes through a business transition, such as a merger, being acquired by another company, or selling a portion of its assets, users’ personal information will, in most instances, be part of the assets transferred. Users will be notified via [e-mail] [prominent notice on our Web site for 30 days] prior to a change of ownership or control of their personal information. If as a result of the business transition, the users’ personally identifiable information will be used in a manner different from that stated at the time of collection they will be given choice consistent with our notification of changes section.
Choice/Opt-out
Our users are given the opportunity to ‘opt-out’ of having their information used for purposes not directly related to our site at the point where we ask for information. For example, our order form has an ‘opt-out’ mechanism so users who buy a product from us, but don’t want any marketing material, can keep their e-mail address off of our lists.
Users who no longer wish to receive our newsletter and promotional communications may opt-out of receiving these communications by replying to unsubscribe in the subject line in the e-mail or e-mail us at membership@mca-i.org.
Links
This Web site contains links to other sites. Please be aware that we, MCA-I, are not responsible for the privacy practices of such other sites. We encourage our users to be aware when they leave our site and to read the privacy statements of each and every Web site that collects personally identifiable information. This privacy statement applies solely to information collected by this Web site.
Surveys
From time-to-time our site requests information from visitors and/or members via surveys. Participation in these surveys is completely voluntary and the user therefore has a choice whether or not to disclose this information. The requested information typically includes contact information (such as name and shipping address), and demographic information (such as zip code). Contact information will be used [shared with the contest [survey] sponsors] to notify the winners and award prizes. [Anonymous] Survey information will be used for purposes of monitoring or improving the use and satisfaction of this site. Users’ personally identifiable information is not shared with third parties unless we give prior notice and choice. Though we may use an intermediary to conduct these surveys or contests, they may not use users’ personally identifiable information for any secondary purposes.
Security
This Web site takes every precaution to protect our users’ information. When users submit sensitive information via the Web site, their information is protected both online and off-line.
When our registration/order form asks users to enter sensitive information (such as credit card number and/or social security number), that information is encrypted and is protected with the best encryption software in the industry - SSL. While on a secure page, such as our order form, the lock icon on the bottom of Web browsers such as Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Internet Explorer becomes locked, as opposed to unlocked, or open, when users are just ‘surfing’.
If users have any questions about the security at our Web site, send an e-mail to info@mca-i.org
Correcting/Updating/Deleting/Deactivating Personal Information
If a user’s personally identifiable information changes (such as zip code, phone, e-mail or postal address), or if a user no longer desires our service, we provide a way to correct, update or delete/deactivate users’ personally identifiable information. This can usually be done by the site user or by e-mailing our membership@mca-i.org.
Notification of Changes
If we decide to change our privacy policy, we will post those changes to this privacy statement, the homepage, and other places we deem appropriate so our users are always aware of what information we collect, how we use it, and under what circumstances, if any, we disclose it. We will use information in accordance with the privacy policy under which the information was collected.
If, however, we are going to use users’ personally identifiable information in a manner different from that stated at the time of collection we will notify users via e-mail. Users will have a choice as to whether or not we use their information in this different manner. However, if users have opted out of all communication with the site, or deleted/deactivated their account, then they will not be contacted, nor will their personal information be used in this new manner. In addition, if we make any material changes in our privacy practices that do not affect user information already stored in our database, we will post a prominent notice on our Web site notifying users of the change. In some cases where we post a notice we will also e-mail users, who have opted to receive communications from us, notifying them of the changes in our privacy practices.
Contact Information
If users have any questions or suggestions regarding our privacy policy, please see contact information on the left column of this webpage.
