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Multiple Sclerosis Discovery Forum Privacy Policy

The Accelerated Cure Project (“ACP”) is committed to respecting the privacy of users who access the Multiple Sclerosis Discovery Forum website (the “Site,” which will include all pages within the http://www.msdiscovery.org website).  This policy will tell you (1) what information is collected when you visit our site or send us an email, and (2) how that information is used.

 

Web Server Logs

When you visit the Site, our web server may record the following information in its server log:

  • your IP Address,
  • your username (if you have logged in as a registered user),
  • the URLs you have requested to access,
  • the dates and methods of requests,
  • the status code of your requests,
  • URLs of pages that referred you to the Site,
  • number of bytes transferred, and
  • your web browser and operating system platform.

 

We use server log information to help diagnose problems with our server and to administer our website by identifying which parts of our Site are most heavily used.  We also use this information to tailor Site content to user needs and to generate aggregate statistical reports.  Unless required by legal process, we do not link IP addresses to any personally identifiable information.  This means that user sessions will be tracked by IP address, but a user’s identity will remain anonymous.

  

Member Registration

MSDF has adopted a member registration option for visitors who want to post content to the Site or access registration-only pages.  To obtain a member registration, you must submit your first name, last name, affiliation, city, country, position, research/clinical interests and email address to MSDF, along with a password that you create for member authentication purposes.  At your option you may submit an image file and additional information related to your professional activities, but this is not required for registration purposes.  The Site will include a profile page open to all viewers that will include your first name, last name, affiliation and research interests.  Members of the Site will view a complete profile including all of the information you provided at registration. Your email will not be displayed on the Site, although members will be able to contact you via a Site-generated email. The Site will publish your first and last name and affiliation alongside any content that you post.  MSDF does not screen its members during the registration process.

 

Google Analytics

The Site uses Google Analytics, a web analytics service provided by Google, Inc. (“Google”).  Google Analytics uses “cookies”, which are text files placed on your computer (described in more detail below), to help a website analyze how users use the site. The information generated by the cookie about your use of the website (including your IP address) will be transmitted to and stored by Google on servers in the United States. Google will use this information for the purpose of evaluating your use of the website, compiling reports on website activity for website operators and providing other services relating to website activity and internet usage.  Google may also transfer this information to third parties where required to do so by law, or where such third parties process the information on Google’s behalf. Google 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 the Site.  By using this Site, you consent to the processing of data about you by Google in the manner and for the purposes set out above.

 

Cookies

Cookies are small text files that are stored on your computer’s hard drive or in your Web browser memory to enable a system (or website) to identify you for purposes of customizing the features of a website, automating data entry functions, improving the functionality of a website or regulating access to particular features.

 

Opting Out of Cookies

You may opt out of Google’s use of certain cookies by visiting the Google advertising opt out page at http://www.google.com/privacy/ads/.  You may also opt out of Teracent’s (an affiliate of Google) use of cookies at http://www.teracent.com/about-us/opt-out/.

 

Alternatively, you may opt out of many vendors’ (including Google) use of cookies by visiting the Network Advertising Initiative opt out page at http://www.networkadvertising.org/managing/opt_out.asp.

 

Email

We will use your email address for the purpose for which you have provided it — i.e., to respond to a message from you or to communicate with you regarding your member account.  In addition, although your email address will not be displayed on the site, members will be able to contact you via a Site-generated email.

 

How to Unsubscribe from MSDF Announcements and How to Terminate Your Member Account

When you submit your email address to the Site during registration, MSDF will ask you whether you want to receive periodic announcements from the Site by email.  Accepting emailed announcements is entirely optional and not a condition of registration, and you may unsubscribe to these announcements at any time by clicking on the “unsubscribe” link at the bottom of the message. 

 

In addition, if you have any questions about your member account, and wish to close it or to discontinue communications from MSDF, please contact us at admin@msdiscovery.org.

   

Disclosure to Third Parties

We will not sell, lend, or disclose to third parties any information collected from visitors, except as disclosed in this Policy or in the event we are required by law to do so.  We may disclose information to our partners, employees, consultants and agents who have a legitimate need to know the information for the purpose of fixing or improving the Site and monitoring and improving the security of our network.  We also reserve the right to disclose this information when special circumstances call for it, such as when disclosure is required by law or court order or when disclosure is, in our sole discretion, necessary to protect our legal rights, including intellectual property rights.

 

Other Websites

This Site may contain links to other web resources, including websites of organizations other than ACP.  The websites to which the Site links may also collect user-identifying information directly from you once you proceed to browse those sites.  We are not responsible for the privacy policies of other sites or businesses to which the Site provides links.  Please visit the relevant sites to review their privacy policies.

 

Data Security

We have in place physical and electronic security procedures to protect the information we collect online.  However, we cannot guarantee the security of our database, nor can we guarantee that the information you supply will not be intercepted while being transmitted to us over the Internet.

 

User IDs and Passwords

If you are a registered member on the Site, your access to your online account is restricted by means of a User ID and Password. Because of the potential for disclosure of personal information, you should not provide your User ID or Password to any unauthorized third party. We will not disclose your account number, User ID or Password to nonaffiliated third parties, unless required to do so by law.

 

You agree that we are authorized to act on instructions received under your User ID and Password. Any grant or transaction entered using your User ID and Password shall be considered duly made by you or your authorized designee. If third parties gain access to your membership information, you will immediately notify us in writing of such access and you will cooperate in defending such access and use.

 

Notification of Changes in the Privacy Policy

We will review our Privacy Policy on a periodic basis, and we may modify our policies as appropriate.  We may also change or update our Privacy Policy if we add new services or features.  If any changes are made, we will make appropriate amendments to this policy and post them at the Site.  We encourage you to review our Privacy Policy on a regular basis.

 

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, the practices of this Site, or your dealings with this Site, you can contact admin@msdiscovery.org.

 

Effective Date

This Privacy Policy is in effect as of April 1, 2012.