FutureM is a multi-event experience created by the Massachusetts Interactive Media Council, Inc. d/b/a Massachusetts Innovation & Technology Exchange ("MITX"). This Privacy Policy is specific to the website for FutureM, www.futurem.org, (the "Site") and the information collected through the Site or by your use of the Site. MITX has its own privacy policy for its website. To view the MITX privacy policy, click http://www.mitx.org/privacy.aspx.

 

A.  Our Commitment to Privacy

 

MITX is committed to your privacy.  MITX obeys all laws and regulations in the United States applicable to our use and disclosure of your information. Except as set forth in this Privacy Policy, we will not trade, sell, or disclose to any third party any form of Personal Information (as defined below) without your consent and we will not disclose or make available any Personal Information to any third parties seeking to market third party products or services without your consent.  MITX has set forth this Privacy Policy to explain to you how we collect and use your information.

 

B.  Acceptance

 

By using the Site, you signify your assent to this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree to any portion of this Privacy Policy, please do not use the Site. Your continued use of the Site following the posting of changes to these terms will mean you accept those changes.

 

C.  How we collect information

 

MITX collects information in three basic ways:

• MITX collects information that you voluntarily provide to become a registered user of the Site, and when you use certain aspects of the Site (e.g., registering to participate in FutureM).
• MITX collects information when you register to participate in FutureM by logging into an account that you already have with certain third-party social networking sites ("SNS") (including, but not limited to, Facebook) via the Site. For example, the Site allows you to register for FutureM using your Facebook account credentials through Facebook Connect. If you are not currently registered as a user of the Site and you choose to sign-in using Facebook, you will first be asked to enter your Facebook credentials and then be given the option to register for FutureM.
• When you browse or use the Site, technological tools, including, without limitation, "Cookies," collect certain information, as explained in the following section.

 

D.  What Information We Collect

 

Personal Information.  The Site enables you to register for a FutureM event, purchase products or services, sign up to receive newsletters in connection with FutureM as well as participate in other features of the Site.  In connection with your use of the Site, MITX collects, at a minimum, the following types of personally identifiable information ("Personal Information") from you:

• Name
• Title
• Company
• Mailing Address
• Email Address
• Telephone number
• Fax number
• Company information (URL, number of employees, business description, etc.)
• Credit/Debit Card Information, such as credit card number, expiration date and billing address

 

If you decide to register for FutureM by logging into a SNS via the Site, you are using the personal information you have already provided to the SNS (such as your "real" name, email address, picture, profile information, biographical information and other information you make publicly available via the SNS) to register for FutureM and create your account on the Site; the information we collect may depend on the privacy settings you have with the SNS, so please consult the SNS' privacy and data practices. For example, by using Facebook Connect, you are allowing MITX to access the personal information in your Facebook account pursuant to the Facebook Terms of Use. 

 

Aggregate Information.  MITX may collect information about you that is not personally identifiable and compile aggregated information about Site visitors.  Examples of this type of information may include your company's industry segment and size website pages viewed, time spent using certain services, demographic data, cookies, and other information which does not specifically identify any one individual. 

 

Information Collected Automatically.  MITX may also automatically collect information about your use of the Site, such as your Internet Protocol (IP) address, the domain from which you access the Internet, the date and time you access the Site, and the Internet address of the website from which you linked directly to the Site.  This information will not be linked to Personal Information. 

 

Cookies and Tracking Devices.  When you view the Site, we may store some information on your computer.  This information will be in the form of a "cookie" or similar file and will help us in many ways.  For example, cookies allow us to tailor the Site to better match your interests and preferences.  With most Internet browsers, you can erase the type of cookies we use from you computer hard drive, block our cookies, or receive a warning before our cookie is stored.  Please refer to your browser instructions or help screen to learn more about these functions, but please note that while you may still use the Site, your actions in connection with such functions may interfere with some of its functionality

 

E.  How We Use the Information We Collect

 

MITX may use the information we collect from you, including, without limitation, Personal Information, in the following ways:

• in connection with MITX's production of an event,
• responding to your inquiry
• processing your purchase or other payments,
• providing you the services or sending you newsletters, and/or
• for informational, marketing and promotional purposes, such as notices about member and sponsor benefits, organizational announcements, and other outbound marketing efforts, which may consist of deals, promotions and other special offers via e-mail or postal mail from time to time, by MITX, its affiliates, marketing partners of MITX and MITX sponsors.

 

Please note that MITX uses credit or debit card information to process payments, including transmitting such information to third parties who assist us with processing payments. This information is encrypted during transmission.  We do not store credit or debit card information in our databases although we may maintain your credit or debit card information temporarily in order to process your payment. After your payment is processed, we dispose of your credit or debit card information in accordance with applicable laws and standards.

 

We use information that is not personally identifiable and aggregate information for the following purposes:

• for data analysis purposes,
• to analyze, enhance and improve the Site, and/or
• to share with marketing partners, sponsors and other third parties. 

 

F.  To Whom We Disclose the Information We Collect

 

Except as stated in this Privacy Policy, or as otherwise stated at the time Personal Information is gathered, we will not disclose your Personal Information to third parties, without your consent.   In some instances, however, we may disclose information about you and other individuals, including Personal Information, as described below:

 

Affiliates, Sponsor and Partners.  We may share your information with our affiliates, including, but not limited to, our strategic business partners and sponsors of FutureM, who may use your information for purposes similar to the purposes for which MITX collects such information.  MITX requires all such companies to comply with the terms of our Privacy Policy.

 

Service Providers.  We may disclose the information we collect to third party vendors, service providers, contractors or agents who perform functions on our behalf.  These third parties have agreed to maintain the confidentiality, security and integrity of Personal Information and to only use such information for the purposes for which they have been engaged by us.

 

Social Networking Sites.  We may share your information with the SNSs that you have used to register for FutureM or for the Site.  These third parties have access to your Personal Information only for this purpose (unless the SNS has received your Personal Information independently of the Service) and not for other purposes. 

 

Business Transfers.  If we are acquired by or merged with another organization, if substantially all of our assets are transferred to another organization, or as part of a bankruptcy proceeding, we may transfer the information we have collected from to the acquiring organization.

 

In Response to Legal Process.  We may also disclose the information we collect from you in order to comply with the law, a judicial proceeding, court order, or other legal process, such as in response to a court order or a subpoena.

 

To Protect MITX and Others.  We also may disclose the information we collect from you where we believe it is necessary to investigate, prevent, or take action regarding illegal activities, suspected fraud, situations involving potential threats to the safety of any person, or violations of our Terms of Use or this Privacy Policy. 

 

Anonymous and Aggregate Information.  We may share anonymous aggregated information about users with third parties for marketing, advertising, research or similar purposes.

 

G.  Public Forums

 

We may make discussion areas, chat rooms, message boards, news groups, other public forums, Twitter feeds and Facebook posts related to FutureM and other interactive features available to users of the Site.  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.  MITX is unable to control such uses of your Personal Information, and by using such features, you assume the risk that the Personal Information provided by you may be viewed and used by third parties.

 

H.  Security

 

The importance of security for all Personal Information associated with our users and members is of utmost concern to us.  MITX has invested and deployed a wide variety of technology and security features to make reasonable efforts to ensure the privacy of information on its network.  In addition, MITX has implemented operations guidelines to ensure privacy is safeguarded throughout its organization.  MITX will continue to revise policies and implement additional security features as new technologies becomes available.  Unfortunately, no data transmission over the Internet can be guaranteed to be secure.  As a result, while we strive to protect your Personal Information, MITX can't ensure or warrant the security of any information you transmit to us or from our Site.  Therefore, you acknowledge that there is a risk that third parties may gain unauthorized access to your information when using or accessing the Site and our network.

 

I.  Children

 

The Site is not directed at individuals under 18 years of age, and MITX does not knowingly solicit or collect any Personal Information from individuals under 18 years of age.  In accordance with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998, if we discover that a child under 13 has provided us with Personal Information, we will remove it from our systems immediately.

 

J.  Links to Other Websites

 

The Site provides links to various other websites.  MITX assumes no responsibility for the information practices of websites you are able to access through the Site.  These links to other websites do not imply affiliation or endorsement of a linked site. Any access to and use of such linked websites is not governed by this Privacy Policy but, instead, is governed by the privacy policies of those third party websites.  We encourage you to be aware when you leave the Site, or surf the Internet, to read the privacy policies of each and every website and service that you visit.  MITX does not assume, and expressly disclaims, any liability for third parties that have been provided with information as permitted by this Privacy Policy or who have collected information as permitted by this Privacy Policy (such as advertisers using third party cookies).

 

K.  How You Can Correct Your Information

 

You can correct factual errors in your Personal Information by sending a request to info@mitx.org to request a correction to the error. To protect your privacy and security, we may take reasonable steps to verify your identity before making corrections.

 

L.  Opt-out Policy

 

If you do not want your Personal Information used by MITX for any marketing purposes, then you may opt-out of such disclosures by calling us by postal mail at One Marina Park Drive, Floor 14, Boston, MA 02210;  by telephone at 617-871-2155; or by email to info@mitx.org.

 

However, we are not responsible for removing your Personal Information from the lists of any third party who has previously been provided your information in accordance with this Privacy Policy.

 

M. United States of America

 

This Site is maintained in the United States of America. By using this Site, you authorize the export of Personal Information to the USA and its storage and use by MITX or its vendors, contractors and partners, anywhere in the world, as specified in this Privacy Policy.

 

N.  Privacy Policy Changes

 

MITX reserves the right, in its discretion, to change, modify, add, or remove portions from this Privacy Policy at any time by posting such changes here. You should review this Privacy Policy regularly for changes, and can easily see if changes have been made by checking the Last Updated date above. However, if at any time in the future we plan to use Personal Information in a way that differs from this Privacy Policy, we will post such changes here and provide you the opportunity to opt-out of such differing uses. Your continued use following the posting of any changes to this Privacy Policy means you accept such changes.

 

O.  How to Contact Us

 

If you have questions or concerns regarding this Privacy Policy, you should contact MITX by postal mail at One Marina Park Drive, Floor 14, Boston, MA 02210;  by telephone at 617-871-2155; or by email to info@mitx.org.