Effective Date: April 13, 2008

PLEASE READ THIS PRIVACY POLICY CAREFULLY.
By accessing or otherwise using this www.surveygold.com site, you agree to be bound contractually by this Privacy Policy.

1. Privacy Statement

Collection of Personally Identifiable Information ("PII"). Golden Hills Software, Inc. ("GHS") operates this website. All references to "we", "us", this "website" or this "site" shall be construed to mean GHS. We understand that visitors to this website are concerned about the privacy of information. The following describes our privacy policy regarding information that we collect through this website, including OUR COLLECTION OF PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION THAT MAY PERSONALLY IDENTIFY YOU (which we refer to in this Privacy Policy as "PII").

2. Modification of Privacy Policy

We reserve the right to modify this Privacy Policy at any time, and without prior notice, by posting an amended Privacy Policy that is always accessible by clicking on the "Privacy Policy" link on this site's home page. Your continued use of this site indicates your acceptance of the amended Privacy Policy. You should check the Privacy Policy through this link periodically for modifications by clicking on the link provided near the top of the Privacy Policy for a listing of material modifications and their effective dates. Regarding PII, if any modifications are materially less restrictive on our use or disclosure of the PII previously disclosed by you, we will obtain your consent before implementing such revisions with respect to such information.

3. Collection of Anonymous, Passive Information

We reserve the right to monitor your use of this site. As you navigate through this site, certain anonymous information may be passively collected (that is, gathered without your actively providing the information) using various technologies, such as cookies, Internet tags or web beacons, and navigational data collection (log files, server logs, clickstream). For example, as explained in more detail below, your Internet browser automatically transmits to this site some of this anonymous information, such as the URL of the website you just came from and the Internet Protocol (IP) address and the browser version your computer is currently using. This site may also collect anonymous information from your computer through cookies and Internet tags or web beacons. You may set your browser to notify you when a cookie is sent or to refuse cookies altogether, but certain features of this site might not work without cookies. The following is a listing and a brief explanation of passive information collection methodologies which we may use from time to time to better understand how this site is being used.

3.1. Cookie

A "cookie" is a bit of information that this site sends to your Web browser which helps us remember information about you and your preferences.

3.2. Session Cookie

 "Session" cookies are temporary bits of information that are used to improve navigation, block visitors from providing information where inappropriate (the site "remembers" previous entries of age or country of origin that were outside the specified parameters and blocks subsequent changes), and collect aggregate statistical information on the site. They are erased once you exit your Web browser or otherwise turn off your computer.
 

3.3. Persistent Cookie

"Persistent" cookies are more permanent bits of information that are placed on the hard drive of your computer and stay there unless you delete the cookie. Persistent cookies store information on your computer for a number of purposes, such as retrieving certain information you have previously provided, helping to determine what areas of the site you may find most valuable, and customizing the site based on your preferences on an ongoing basis. Persistent cookies placed by this site in your computer do not hold PII. Specifically, we use persistent cookies only when a SurveyGold web survey author specifies that they want to conduct a web survey that detects and prohibits the submission of multiple responses to the same survey.
 

3.4. Browser Cookie Settings

You can set your browser to accept all cookies, to reject all cookies, or to notify you whenever a cookie is offered so that you can decide each time whether to accept it. To learn more about cookies and how to specify your preferences, please search for "cookie" in the "Help" portion of your browser.

3.5. Internet Protocol (IP) Address

An Internet Protocol (IP) address is a number assigned to your computer by your Internet service provider so you can access the Internet and is generally considered to be non-personally identifiable information, because in most cases an IP address is dynamic (changing each time you connect to the Internet), rather than static (unique to a particular user's computer). The IP address can be used to diagnose problems with a server, report aggregate information, determine the fastest route for your computer to use in connecting to a site, and administer and improve the site.

3.6. Internet Tags

"Internet tags" (also known as Web Beacons, single-pixel GIFs, clear GIFs, invisible GIFs, and 1-by-1 GIFs) are smaller than cookies and tell the Web site server information such as the IP address and browser type related to the visitor's computer. Tags may be placed both on online advertisements that bring people to the site and on different pages of the site. Such tags indicate how many times a page is opened and which information is consulted.

3.7. Navigational Data

"Navigational data" (log files, server logs, and clickstream data) are used for system management, to improve the content of the site, market research purposes, and to communicate information to visitors.

4. Use and Sharing of Anonymous, Passive Information

This site may make full use of passively collected anonymous information through the collection methods described above for our own internal operational purposes, including without limitation the right to use such information to provide better service to site visitors, customize the site based on your preferences, compile and analyze statistics and trends, and otherwise administer and improve this site for your use. We reserve the right to share this information in the same manner as provided below for PII.

5. Use of 3rd Party Cookies; Google Analytics

This site reserves the right to use web analytics services provided by third parties, such as the Google Analytics service by Google, Inc. These services use cookies (sometimes referred to as 3rd party cookies) which are text files placed on your computer, to help us analyze how users use this site. The information generated by the cookie about your use of this site (including your IP address) will be transmitted to and stored by the service provider. The will use this information for the purpose of evaluating your use of this site, compiling reports on website activity for website operators, and providing other services relating to website activity and internet usage. These services may also transfer this information to third parties where required to do so by law, or where such third parties process the information on the service's behalf. These services will not associate your IP address with any other data held by Google. You may refuse the use of cookies by selecting the appropriate settings on your browser; however, please note that if you do this you may not be able to use the full functionality of this site. By using this site, you consent to the processing of data about you by third party analytics services in the manner and for the purposes set out above.

6. Collection of Personally Identifiable Information.

We will ask you when we need to collect PII (defined above). PII which we collect may vary depending on the benefits and/or services you select, and may include one or more of the following categories of information: name, email address, and phone number.

7. Use And Sharing of Personally Identifiable Information and Web Survey Response Data: General Policy.

Except as discussed below, our general policy is that we will use your PII and web survey response data only for the performance of the services or transaction for which it was given, and we will not share, sell, or rent your PII or web survey response data to others. The only exceptions to this general policy: (i) are described in the subsections below, and (ii) if explicitly approved by you through our site. WE WILL NEVER UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES COMBINE PASSIVELY COLLECTED INFORMATION WITH YOUR PII OR WEB SURVEY RESPONSE DATA.

 

7.1. Affiliates

Unless prohibited by law, we may use and share PII within any companies that may legally affiliated with us (such as, for example, any parent, subsidiary, or brother or sister entity) for purposes of providing service and account maintenance, to help us design and improve products and services, and to offer products and services that may be of interest to you.

7.2. Third-Party Service Providers

We may hire other companies to provide services on our behalf. These third-party service providers may include, for example, companies that (i) host, manage, and service our website, web servers, software and systems, (ii) provide business or data processing services, (iii) provide marketing services, (iv) provide payment processing, fulfillment, and/or shipping services, (i) refer you to this site in their capacity as our marketing partner or affiliate, and (vi) provide other new services. We may share or make PII accessible to such third parties; however, all such third parties are required to maintain the confidentiality of PII and are prohibited from using PII for any purpose other than for the services they provide, which may include emails, but only to the extent email is integral to their services.

7.3. In the Event of Merger, Sale, or Bankruptcy

In the event that we are acquired by or merged with a third party entity, we reserve the right, in any of these circumstances, to transfer or assign the information we have collected from our users and web survey response data we have collected on your behalf as part of such merger, acquisition, sale, or other change of control. In the unlikely event of our bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, receivership, or assignment for the benefit of creditors, or the application of laws or equitable principles affecting creditors' rights generally, we may not be able to control how your PII and web survey response data is treated, transferred, or used.

7.4. Legal Process

We reserve the right to share PII and web survey response data with third parties in response to a subpoena, to prevent fraud, to comply with an inquiry by a government agency or other regulator, or as necessary for other legal purposes.

8. Onward Transfer of Personally Identifiable Information Outside Your Country of Residence

Any PII which we may collect on this site may be stored and processed in our servers located in the United States or in any other country in which we, or our affiliates, subsidiaries, or agents maintain facilities. By using this site, you consent to any such transfer of PII outside your country of residence to any such location.

9. Security of Personally Identifiable Information

We follow generally accepted industry standards to protect your PII and other sensitive information. Unfortunately, no data transmission over the Internet or method of data storage can be guaranteed 100% secure. Therefore, while we strive to protect your PII by following generally accepted industry standards, we cannot ensure or warrant the absolute security of any information you transmit to us or archive at this site.

10. Requesting Changes To Personally Identifiable Information

Registered users may request changes to their PII. Contact us for instructions regarding how to request these changes.

11. Email From This Site; Opt-Out Rights

If you supply us with your e-mail address you may receive periodic messages from us with information specific to the site and required for the normal functioning of the site as well as for new products or services or upcoming events. If you prefer not to receive periodic email messages, you may opt-out by following the instructions on the email.

12. Links To Other Sites Including Online Ads

This website may contain links to other websites with whom we have a business relationship. These links may include online advertisements that we deem to be appropriate. The privacy practices of these websites are not covered by our privacy policy, and we are not responsible for the privacy practices or the content of these sites. Additionally, if you register with any of these sites for any purpose or purchase from any of these sites, any information that you provide in the process of registration or purchase, such as your credit card number and other PII, will be transferred to these sites. These sites have separate data collection, data privacy, and data security policies and practices, and we have no responsibility or liability for these independent policies and practices; however, we have entered into agreements with these websites which provide that UNLESS YOU SPECIFICALLY AGREE OTHERWISE (ii) they will use your PII only for the purpose of providing the products or services that you may request, and (ii) they will share your PII only as required to fulfill your request for products or services. You should be careful to review any privacy policies posted on any of these sites before providing information to them.

13. Children’s Online Policy

We are committed to preserving online privacy for all of its website visitors, including children. This site is a general audience site. Consistent with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), we will not knowingly collect any information from, or sell to, children under the age of 13. If you are a parent or guardian who has discovered that your child under the age of 13 has submitted his or her personally identifiable information without your permission or consent, we will remove the information from our active list, at your request. To request the removal of your child's information, please contact our site as provided below under “Contact Us”, and be sure to include in your message the same login information that your child submitted.

14. Email And Other Messages Through This Site; ECPA Notice

This site treats email messages and other electronic messages that are sent through this site and not viewable by others as confidential and private, except as required by law, including without limitation, the Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1986, 18 U.S.C. Sections 2701-2711 (the "ECPA"). The ECPA permits this site's limited ability to intercept and/or disclose electronic messages, for example (i) as necessary to operate our system or to protect our rights or property, (ii) upon legal demand (court orders, warrants, subpoenas), or (iii) where we receive information inadvertently which appears to pertain to the commission of a crime. This site is not considered a "secure communications medium" under the ECPA.

15. USA Patriot Act Notice

The federal USA Patriot Act ("USA Patriot Act") provides generally for the operator of a communication host and law enforcement to be able to monitor any content, upon request of the operator. We anticipate fully complying with all our obligations, and availing ourselves of all our rights, under the USA Patriot Act.

16. Contact Us

If you have any questions regarding this Privacy Policy, please contact us at:

                Golden Hills Software, Inc.
                Attn: Privacy Policy Officer
                6512 Hawkeye Circle
                Colorado Springs, CO, 80919
                Email: webmaster@surveygold.com
                Telephone: 719-660-9888
                Facsimile: 719-623-0137