MDL Canada, is committed to protecting the privacy of users of the MDL Canada Sites. At MDL Canada, we intend to give you as much control as possible over your personal information, including registration data. As part of the normal operation of the MDL Canada Sites, we collect information from you. This Privacy Statement describes the information we collect about you and how that information may be used.
Information Gathered through the MDL Canada Sites
MDL Canada will track the domains from which people visit the MDL Canada Sites in order to gain aggregate data that may be analyzed for trends and statistics. Subject to the provisions of this Privacy Statement, MDL Canada may use accumulated aggregate data for several purposes including, but not limited to, marketing analysis, evaluation of MDL Canada's services, and business planning.
Currently, MDL Canada uses personal information as a basis for notifications to users, and in order to implement the Terms and Conditions of Use governing the MDL Canada Sites (the "Terms"). Generally, the usernames, e-mail addresses, and any additional information that a user may choose to post are publicly available on the MDL Canada Sites. When users voluntarily and publicly disclose personal information that may contain Registration Data, as defined in the Terms, or otherwise post personal information in conjunction with content subject to a license, such personal information necessarily will be disclosed subject to the terms of the applicable license. An example of such a disclosure includes, but is not limited to, a user's disclosure of personal information as part of a message posted to a public message forum, or a publicly-released software application.
MDL Canada may conduct surveys or other studies of its user base and usage for marketing and planning purposes. Participation in such surveys is at the user's option, but MDL Canada does reserve the right to conduct mandatory surveys in the future. With respect to information collected from such surveys or studies, and in the event that responses are to be publicly disclosed, users will be notified at the time they take the survey and MDL Canada will disclose only aggregate information regarding its users and not personal information identifying any specific individual. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in cases where surveys allow users to submit written comments, and where MDL Canada advises users of the possibility of such disclosure at the time they take the survey, MDL Canada reserves the right to disclose text information provided by any user through such a survey, provided that no personal information identifying that user is disclosed. Circumstances under which MDL Canada would publicly disclose aggregate information include, but are not limited to, sharing survey results with the site population, providing data to MDL Canada advertisers on user preferences and/or demographics, business planning, and publicizing overall usage data in press communications.
Cookies
MDL Canada employs "cookies" to provide users with tailored information. A "cookie" is an element of data that a Web site, when visited by a user, sends to that user's browser which, in turn, may store that element on the user's hard drive or memory. MDL Canada uses cookies to better serve users of our MDL Canada Sites; any cookies sent by MDL Canada will be marked so that they will be accessible only by MDL Canada Sites subject to this Privacy Statement. However, at his or her option and at his or her sole expense and responsibility, any user may block or delete our cookies from his or her hard drive. However, by disabling cookies, certain site features and functionality may no longer work properly, or at all.
Other Notification
In order to implement or enforce the Terms, MDL Canada may use user-provided e-mail addresses to contact users on an individual basis. At no time, unless such disclosure is required by law, a governmental agency, or specifically authorized by the user, will MDL Canada disclose individual user personal information to unrelated third parties that is not publicly available.
Links with other sites
The MDL Canada Sites contain links to other Web sites, whether owned or controlled by MDL Canada affiliates, or unrelated third parties. Please note that the privacy policies of these sites may differ from those of the MDL Canada Sites. MDL Canada is not responsible for the privacy policies and practices of any linked Web site. We encourage you to read the privacy statement of any Web site you may visit.
Choice
"Opt-in" e-mails: Users may "opt-in" to receive site notifications, newsletters, or other information via e-mail. Users may remove themselves from such services at their discretion. Any e-mail sent to an "opt-in" list will include directions for how a user may remove himself or herself from the list, or a URL where the user may find such directions.
Profile Display
In some cases, users' personal information may be publicly available through a user's profile display. In such cases, users have the option to opt out of publicly displaying their personal information, including e-mail addresses. Users may also enlist this technique when posing comments on certain MDL Canada Sites. In cases where site profiles allow users to display optional information publicly, such entry and display is at the user's discretion and may be changed at any time by the user.
E-mail Display
In some cases, users may have the opportunity to use an MDL Canada Site to send electronic mail to another user or e-mail list. In such cases, a user's valid e-mail address and real name will be included with such messages. In order to prevent abuse, users may not opt-out of such a display, but may choose to refrain from using such MDL Canada Site to transmit an e-mail message.
Access
On certain MDL Canada Sites, users can view their data on their personal profile page. When technically feasible, users are permitted to update their personal information directly through MDL Canada. When such updating service is not technically feasible, MDL Canada will make reasonable efforts to assist users in updating their personal information.
Security
To secure site integrity, MDL Canada employs measures, including but not limited to security audits, use of encryption tools and software, and other reasonable security measures and procedures.
Internal access to users' private and nonpublic personal information is restricted to site administrators and individuals on a need-to-know basis.
Enforcement
In the event that MDL Canada becomes aware that site security is compromised or nonpublic user information has been disclosed to unrelated third parties as a result of external activity, including but not limited to external security attacks, MDL Canada shall take reasonable measures which it deems appropriate, including but not limited to internal investigation and reporting, and notification to and cooperation with law enforcement authorities, notwithstanding other provisions of this Privacy Statement.
If MDL Canada becomes aware that a user's personal information provided to MDL Canada has been disclosed in a manner not in accordance with this Privacy Statement, MDL Canada shall make reasonable efforts to notify the affected user, as soon as reasonably possible and as permitted by law, of what information has been disclosed, to the extent that MDL Canada knows this information.
No Guarantees For Factors Beyond MDL Canada's Control
While this Privacy Statement expresses MDL Canada's standards for maintenance of private data, it is not in a position to guarantee that the standards will always be met. There may be factors beyond MDL Canada's control (e.g., "script kiddies", "crackers and other malcontents") that may result in disclosure of data. As a consequence, MDL Canada disclaims any warranties or representations relating to maintenance or nondisclosure of private information.
