Privacy Policy
IMPROVEMICHIGAN.COM
PRIVACY POLICY
The following privacy policy governs our online collection of information from you. We may collect and store information, personal or otherwise, that you voluntarily supply to us online as part of the Service. We also collect and store information that is generated automatically as users navigate online through the Service.
Please keep in mind that whenever you voluntarily disclose personal information online, for example on message boards, through email, or in chat areas, that information can be collected and used by others besides ImproveMichigan.com. ImproveMichigan.com cannot be responsible for any unauthorized third party use of information that you disclose online.
This Privacy Policy describes ImproveMichigan.com’s use and sharing of personally identifying information (“PII”-- your full name, email address, mailing address, telephone number, driver’s license number, National Identification number, or credit card number) that Members voluntarily provide to ImproveMichigan.com when they register (also known as “Registration PII”). The Term “User” refers to a Visitor or a Member. This Privacy Policy applies to the services offered by ImproveMichigan.com, including any ImproveMichigan.com-branded URL (the “ImproveMichigan.com Website”), music and video embedded players, and any other features, content, or applications offered from time to time by ImproveMichigan.com in connection with the ImproveMichigan.com Website (collectively, the “ImproveMichigan.com Services”). The ImproveMichigan.com Services are hosted in the United States.
We have established this privacy policy to explain to you how your information is protected, collected and used, which may be updated by us from time to time. We will provide notice of materially significant changes to this privacy policy by posting notice on the site.
1. Protecting your privacy. ImproveMichigan.com does not share your information with third parties for marketing purposes. ImproveMichigan.com does not engage in cross-marketing or link-referral programs with other sites. Account information is password-protected. Keep your password safe. People who post on this site, may provide links to third party websites, which may have different privacy practices. ImproveMichigan.com is not responsible for, nor has any control over, the privacy policies of those third party websites, and encourages all users to read the privacy policies of each and every website visited.
2. Data ImproveMichigan.com collects. ImproveMichigan.com sometimes collect your email address, authenticating user accounts, providing subscription email services, etc.
ImproveMichigan.com’s web logs collect standard web log entries for each page served, including your IP address, page URL, and timestamp. Web logs help ImproveMichigan.com to diagnose problems with the ImproveMichigan.com server, to administer the site, and to otherwise provide the ImproveMichigan.com service to you.
3. Data ImproveMichigan.com stores. All classifieds, Real Estate listings, advertisements, etc., are stored in our database. ImproveMichigan.com web logs and other records are stored indefinitely. Although ImproveMichigan.com makes good faith efforts to store the information in a secure operating environment that is not available to the public, ImproveMichigan.com cannot guarantee complete security.
4. Circumstances in which ImproveMichigan.com may release information. ImproveMichigan.com may disclose information about its Users if required to do so by law or in the good faith belief that such disclosure is reasonably necessary to respond to subpoenas, court orders, or other legal process.
The Site administrator may also disclose information about ImproveMichigan.com Users to law enforcement officers or others, in the good faith belief that such disclosure is reasonably necessary to: enforce our Terms of Use; respond to claims that any posting or other content violates the rights of third-parties; or protect the rights, property, or personal safety, its Users or the general public.
The ImproveMichigan.com Website is a general audience site and does not knowingly collect PII from children under 13 years of age. Please refer to the Children's Privacy Statement for ImproveMichigan.com in the Terms and Use section.
From time to time ImproveMichigan.com may modify this Privacy Policy to reflect industry initiatives or changes in the law, our PII collection and use practices, the features of the ImproveMichigan.com Services, or technology, and such modifications shall be effective upon posting by ImproveMichigan.com on the ImproveMichigan.com Website. Your continued use of the ImproveMichigan.com Services after ImproveMichigan.com posts a revised Privacy Policy signifies your acceptance of the revised Privacy Policy. It is therefore important that you review this Privacy Policy regularly to ensure you are updated as to any changes. If ImproveMichigan.com materially changes its practices regarding collection or use of your PII, your PII will continue to be governed by the Policy under which it was collected unless you have been provided notice of, and have not objected to, the change.
COLLECTION AND SUBMISSION OF INFORMATION TO IMPROVEMICHIGAN.COM
This website provides a collection of online resources, including classified ads, Community Events, Autos & Vehciles search, Job Search, Roommate Search, Movies Listing, Real Estate Listings, news articles, Yellow Pages and more (referred to hereafter as "the Service"). By using the Service in any way, you are agreeing to comply with the Terms of Use. In addition, when using particular ImproveMichigan.com services, you agree to abide by any applicable posted guidelines for all services, which may change from time to time. Should you object to any term or condition of the Terms of Use, any guidelines, or any subsequent modifications thereto or become dissatisfied with site in any way, your only recourse is to immediately discontinue use of this website.
You understand that all postings, messages, text, files, images, photos, video, sounds, or other materials ("Content") posted on, transmitted through, or linked from the Service, are the sole responsibility of the person from whom such Content originated. More specifically, you are entirely responsible for each individual item ("Item") of Content that you post, email or otherwise make available via the Service. You understand that ImproveMichigan.com does not control, and is not responsible for Content made available through the Service, and that by using the Service, you may be exposed to Content that is offensive, indecent, inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise objectionable. Furthermore, this site and Content available through the Service may contain links to other websites, which are completely independent of us. We make no representation or warranty as to the accuracy, completeness or authenticity of the information contained in any such site. Your linking to any other webites is at your own risk. You agree that you must evaluate, and bear all risks associated with, the use of any Content, that you may not rely on said Content, and that under no circumstances will ImproveMichigan.com be liable in any way for any Content or for any loss or damage of any kind incurred as a result of the use of any Content posted, emailed or otherwise made available via the Service. You acknowledge that this site does not pre-screen or approve Content, but that ImproveMichigan.com shall have the right (but not the obligation) in its sole discretion to refuse, delete or move any Content that is available via the Service, for violating the letter or spirit of the Terms of Use or for any other reason.
General. When ImproveMichigan.com collects PII from you it is because you are voluntarily submitting data to us in order to register as a Member of ImproveMichigan.com. ImproveMichigan.com may also collect PII from you if you choose to participate in ImproveMichigan.com Services activities like sweepstakes, contests, and surveys, because you want us to furnish you with products, services, newsletters, or information, or in connection with content or suggestions you submit to ImproveMichigan.com for review.
In addition, ImproveMichigan.com collects other non-PII including IP address, age, gender race, country, state, or city of residence, aggregate user data, and browser type. This data is used to manage and improve the ImproveMichigan.com Services, track usage, and for security purposes.
ImproveMichigan.com Members may also choose to provide or store non-PII information in their profiles, including but not limited to date of birth, interests, hobbies, lifestyle choices, groups with whom they are affiliated (schools, companies), videos and/or pictures, private messages, bulletins or personal statements (collectively “Profile Information”). The Profile Information in a Member’s profile is provided at his or her sole discretion.
ImproveMichigan.com Members can change their Registration PII and Profile Information at any time and can control how other Users of site ,Visitors and ImproveMichigan.com communicate with them by controlling their account settings.
Cookies. Cookies are small bits of information that ImproveMichigan.com places on your computer. ImproveMichigan.com uses cookies to identify your Internet browser, store Users’ preferences, and determine whether you have installed the enabling software needed to access certain material on the ImproveMichigan.com Services. Data in cookies may be read to authenticate user sessions or provide services.
Third party advertisements displayed on ImproveMichigan.com Services may also contain cookies set by Internet advertising companies or advertisers (known as “third party cookies”). ImproveMichigan.com does not control these third party cookies and Users of the ImproveMichigan.com Services should check the privacy policy of the Internet advertising company or advertiser to see whether and how it uses cookies. See the “Notice” section below for more information on customized advertising on ImproveMichigan.com. A pixel tag is a tiny image inserted in a webpage and used to record the number and types of views for that page. ImproveMichigan.com may allow third party pixel tags to be present on ImproveMichigan.com Services for purposes of advertising, providing services or data and statistics collection.
You can program your computer to warn you each time a cookie is being sent, block third party cookies or block all cookies. However, by blocking all cookies you may not have access to certain features on the ImproveMichigan.com Services.
NOTICE ABOUT ITS PII COLLECTION PRACTICES
When you voluntarily provide PII to ImproveMichigan.com, we will make sure you are informed about who is collecting the information, how and why the information is being collected and the types of uses ImproveMichigan.com will make of the information to the extent it is being used in a manner that differs from what is allowed pursuant to this Privacy Policy.
Except as described in this Privacy Policy, ImproveMichigan.com will not share your PII with third parties unless you have given ImproveMichigan.com permission to do so (See “Use” below).
ImproveMichigan.com Services may be linked to Internet sites operated by other companies. ImproveMichigan.com Services may also carry advertisements from other companies. ImproveMichigan.com is not responsible for the privacy practices of websites or other services operated by third parties that are linked to or integrated with the ImproveMichigan.com Services or for the privacy practices of third party Internet advertising companies. Once you leave ImproveMichigan.com Services via such a link, access a third party application (such as widgets) or click on an advertisement, you should check the applicable privacy policy of the third party or advertiser site to determine, among other things, how they will handle any PII they collect from you.
ImproveMichigan.com Services may also be linked to sites operated by companies affiliated with ImproveMichigan.com. Users who visit those Affiliated Company sites should still refer to their separate privacy policies and practices, which may differ in some respects from this Privacy Policy.
ImproveMichigan.com may use cookies and similar tools to customize the content and advertising you receive based on the Profile Information you have provided. Profile Information you provide in structured profile fields or questions (multiple choice questions like “Marital Status,” “Education” and “Children”) (“Structured Profile Information”), information you add to open-ended profile fields and questions (essay questions like “About Me,” “Interests” and “Movies”) (“Non-Structured Profile Information”) and other non-PII about you may also be used to customize the online ads you encounter to those we believe are aligned with your interests. For example, based on your music interests we might display an advertisement to make sure you are advised when your favorite band is coming to town. The information used for this feature does not provide your PII or identify you as an individual to third parties.
Some of the advertisements that appear on ImproveMichigan.com Services may also be delivered to you by third party Internet advertising companies. These companies utilize certain technologies to deliver advertisements and marketing messages and to collect non-PII about your visit to or use of ImproveMichigan.com Services, including information about the ads they display, via a cookie placed on your computer that reads your IP address.
Third party applications (such as widgets) created by third party developers may also be available on the ImproveMichigan.com Services. Third party applications are small bits of software, often with interactivity, that can be installed into Members’ profiles or shared with other Users. However, ImproveMichigan.com does not control the third party developers, and cannot dictate their actions. When a Member engages with a third party application, that Member is interacting with the third party developer, not with ImproveMichigan.com. ImproveMichigan.com encourages Members not to provide PII to the third party’s application unless the Member knows the party with whom it is interacting.
USE
ImproveMichigan.com will only use the PII you provide under this Privacy Policy in a manner that is consistent with this Privacy Policy. If ImproveMichigan.com obtains PII from a third party, such as a business partner, our use of that information is also governed by this Privacy Policy.
ImproveMichigan.com employees, agents and contractors must have a business reason to obtain access to your PII. ImproveMichigan.com may share your PII with those who help us manage or provide ImproveMichigan.com Services’ information activities (for example, message board administration, order fulfillment, statistical analyses, data processing), or with outside contractors, agents or sponsors who help us with the administration, judging and prize fulfillment aspects of contests, promotions and sweepstakes.
These outside contractors, agents or sponsors may temporarily store some information on their servers, but they may only use your PII to provide ImproveMichigan.com with a specific service and not for any other purpose. ImproveMichigan.com may also provide your PII to a third party in those instances where you have chosen to receive certain information and have been notified that the fulfillment of such a request requires the sharing of your PII. ImproveMichigan.com also may share your PII with Affiliated Companies if it has a business reason to do so.
As described in “Notice” above, ImproveMichigan.com may customize the advertising and marketing messages you receive on the ImproveMichigan.com Website, or may work with outside companies to do so. Your non-PII and/or Profile Information may be shared with these companies so this customization can be accomplished. ImproveMichigan.com prohibits these companies from sharing your non-PII and/or Profile Information with any third party or from using it for any other purpose. Anonymous click stream, number of page views calculated by pixel tags, and aggregated demographic information may also be shared with ImproveMichigan.com’s advertisers and business partners.
There may be instances when ImproveMichigan.com may access or disclose PII, Profile Information or non-PII without providing you a choice in order to: (i) protect or defend the legal rights or property of ImproveMichigan.com, our Affiliated Companies or their employees, agents and contractors (including enforcement of our agreements); (ii) protect the safety and security of Users of the ImproveMichigan.com Services or members of the public including acting in urgent circumstances; (iii) protect against fraud or for risk management purposes; or (iv) comply with the law or legal process. In addition, if ImproveMichigan.com sells all or part of its business or makes a sale or transfer of all or a material part of its assets or is otherwise involved in a merger or transfer of all or a material part of its business, ImproveMichigan.com may transfer your PII to the party or parties involved in the transaction as part of that transaction.
Your use of the ImproveMichigan.com website or the Service signifies acknowledgement of and agreement to our Privacy Policy. You further acknowledge and agree that ImproveMichigan.com may, in its sole discretion, preserve or disclose your Content, as well as your information, such as email addresses, IP addresses, timestamps, and other user information, if required to do so by law or in the good faith belief that such preservation or disclosure is reasonably necessary to: comply with legal process; enforce the Terms of Use; respond to claims that any Content violates the rights of third-parties; respond to claims that contact information (e.g. phone number, street address) of a third-party has been posted or transmitted without their consent or as a form of harassment; protect the rights, property, or personal safety of ImproveMichigan.com, its users or the general public.
SECURITYImproveMichigan.com uses commercially reasonable administrative, technical, personnel and physical measures to safeguard PII and credit card information in its possession against loss, theft and unauthorized use, disclosure or modification. In addition, ImproveMichigan.com uses reasonable methods to make sure that PII is accurate, up-to-date and appropriately complete.
ACCESS, REMEDIES AND COMPLIANCE: HOW TO ACCESS, CORRECT OR CHANGE YOUR PREFERENCES REGARDING YOUR PII AND HOW TO CONTACT IMPROVEMICHIGAN.COM ABOUT PRIVACY CONCERNS
Whenever possible, ImproveMichigan.com Members may review the Registration PII we maintain about them in our records. We will take reasonable steps to correct any PII a Member informs us is incorrect. If you ask ImproveMichigan.com to stop using your PII, ImproveMichigan.com will honor that request while retaining any record of your PII that is necessary to comply with applicable federal, state or local law.
PRIVACY CONCERNS
You agree not to post, email, or otherwise make available Content:
a) that is unlawful, harmful, threatening, abusive, harassing, defamatory, libelous, invasive of another's privacy, or is harmful to minors in any way;
b) any indecent content
c) that harasses, degrades, intimidates or is hateful toward an individual or group of individuals on the basis of religion, gender, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, age, or disability;
d) that violates the Fair Housing Act by stating, in any notice or ad for the sale or rental of any dwelling, a discriminatory preference based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status or handicap (or violates any state or local law prohibiting discrimination on the basis of these or other characteristics);
e) that violates federal, state, or local equal employment opportunity laws, including but not limited to, stating in any advertisement for employment a preference or requirement based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, or disability.
f) with respect to employers that employ four or more employees, that violates the anti-discrimination provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act, including requiring U.S. citizenship or lawful permanent residency (green card status) as a condition for employment, unless otherwise required in order to comply with law, regulation, executive order, or federal, state, or local government contract.
g) that impersonates any person or entity, including, but not limited to, a ImproveMichigan.com employee, or falsely states or otherwise misrepresents your affiliation with a person or entity (this provision does not apply to Content that constitutes lawful non-deceptive parody of public figures.);
h) that includes personal or identifying information about another person without that person's explicit consent;
i) that is false, deceptive, misleading, deceitful, misinformative, or constitutes "bait and switch";
j) that infringes any patent, trademark, trade secret, copyright or other proprietary rights of any party, or Content that you do not have a right to make available under any law or under contractual or fiduciary relationships;
k) that constitutes or contains "affiliate marketing," "link referral code," "junk mail," "spam," "chain letters," "pyramid schemes," or unsolicited commercial advertisement;
l) that constitutes or contains any form of advertising or solicitation if: posted in areas of the ImproveMichigan.com sites which are not designated for such purposes; or emailed to ImproveMichigan.com users who have not indicated in writing that it is ok to contact them about other services, products or commercial interests.
m) that includes links to commercial services or web sites, except as allowed in "services";
n) that advertises any illegal service or the sale of any items the sale of which is prohibited or restricted by any applicable law.
o) that contains software viruses or any other computer code, files or programs designed to interrupt, destroy or limit the functionality of any computer software or hardware or telecommunications equipment;
p) that disrupts the normal flow of dialogue with an excessive amount of Content (flooding attack) to the Service, or that otherwise negatively affects other users' ability to use the Service;
q) that employs misleading email addresses, or forged headers or otherwise manipulated identifiers in order to disguise the origin of Content transmitted through the Service.
Additionally, you agree not to:
r) contact anyone who has asked not to be contacted;
s) "stalk" or otherwise harass anyone;
t) collect personal data about other users for commercial or unlawful purposes;
u) use automated means, including spiders, robots, crawlers, data mining tools, or the like to download data from the Service - unless expressly permitted by ImproveMichigan.com;
v) post non-local or otherwise irrelevant Content, repeatedly post the same or similar Content or otherwise impose an unreasonable or disproportionately large load on our infrastructure;
w) post the same item or service in more than one classified category or forum, or in more than one metropolitan area;
x) attempt to gain unauthorized access to ImproveMichigan.com's computer systems or engage in any activity that disrupts, diminishes the quality of, interferes with the performance of, or impairs the functionality of, the Service or the ImproveMichigan.com website;
y) use any form of automated device or computer program that enables the submission of postings on ImproveMichigan.com without each posting being manually entered by the author thereof (an "automated posting device"), including without limitation, the use of any such automated posting device to submit postings in bulk, or for automatic submission of postings at regular intervals.