GuideSpark Privacy Policy

Welcome to the GuideSpark, Inc. (“GuideSpark” or “We”) online education software services, GuideSpark web site, as well as any other web sites, subdomains, or services owned or controlled by GuideSpark, Inc. (collectively, the “GuideSpark Services”). GuideSpark values the privacy of our Users, customers, members, and others who visit and use the GuideSpark Services (collectively or individually, “You” or “Users”).

This Privacy Notice describes what information we gather from you, how we use that information, and what we do to protect it. By using the GuideSpark Services, you expressly consent to the information handling practices described in this notice

Please be aware that any personally identifiable or other professional information that you voluntarily choose to have displayed publicly on the GuideSpark Services – including your username, alias, or ID – becomes publicly available information and may be collected and used by others without restriction.

This Privacy Notice is incorporated into and is subject to the GuideSpark Terms of Service. Your use of the GuideSpark Services and any personal or professional information you provide on the GuideSpark Services are subject to the terms of this Privacy Notice and GuideSpark’s Terms of Service.

The Information GuideSpark Collects:

Subscriber-provided Information: You may provide to GuideSpark what is generally called “personally identifiable” information (such as your name, email address, postal mailing address, home/mobile telephone number, credit card number and billing information) if you subscribe to the GuideSpark Services, or otherwise purchase or download certain products or information or use other features on the GuideSpark Services. You may also provide to GuideSpark certain professional information such are your title, organization’s name, organization’s address, and the information of various employees or contractors. You may also provide certain personal information to GuideSpark when you post a comment or rating, provide a lesson review, respond to a survey, use an educational tool, contact GuideSpark partners for personal assistance, or participate in a poll.
“Cookies” Information: When you visit the GuideSpark Services, we may send one or more cookies – small text files containing a string of alphanumeric characters – to your computer. GuideSpark may use both session cookies and persistent cookies. A session cookie disappears after you close your browser. A persistent cookie remains after you close your browser and may be used by your browser on subsequent visits to the GuideSpark Services. Persistent cookies can be removed. Please review your web browser “Help” file to learn the proper way to modify your cookie settings.
“Automatically Collected” Information: When you visit or use the GuideSpark Services we may automatically record certain information from your web browser or system by using different types of technology. This “automatically collected” information may include Internet Protocol address (“IP Address”), web browser type, the web pages or sites that you visit just before or just after the GuideSpark Services, the pages you view on the GuideSpark Services, and the dates and times that you visit the GuideSpark Services.

The Way GuideSpark Uses Information:

GuideSpark uses the information you provide or that we collect to operate, maintain, enhance, and provide all of the features and services found on the GuideSpark Services.
GuideSpark reserves the right to use your email address, without further consent, for administrative purposes such as notifying you of major updates to the GuideSpark Services, for customer service purposes, or to address copyright infringement issues.
GuideSpark may use information that you provide or that we collect in an aggregate form for research purposes. No “personally identifiable” information (such as your name, email address, postal mailing address, home/mobile telephone number, credit card number and billing information) will be included in reports generated from this research.
GuideSpark uses all of the information that we collect to understand the usage trends and preferences of our Users, to improve the way the GuideSpark Services work and look, and to create new features and functionality.
GuideSpark may use “automatically collected” information and “cookies” information to: (a) determine user-specific access privileges and remember your information so that you will not have to re-enter it during your visit or the next time you visit the GuideSpark Services; (b) provide customized third-party content, and information; (c) create course recommendations; (d) monitor aggregate site usage metrics such as total number of visitors and pages viewed; and (e) track your progress through online lessons, tools, polls, ratings, message boards, surveys and other educational features we may provide.
GuideSpark will not use your email address or other personally identifiable information to send promotional or marketing messages without your consent or except as part of a specific program or feature for which you will have the ability to opt-in.

When GuideSpark Discloses Information:

GuideSpark does not share your personally identifiable information with other third-party organizations for their marketing or promotional uses without your express consent.
Companies and Users that license the GuideSpark services (individually “Subscriber Companies” and “Subscriber Users,” respectively; collectively “Subscribers”) use the GuideSpark site to view online education materials and interact with the complete set of GuideSpark educational tools and services. Usage by Subscriber Users is tracked individually, and GuideSpark makes such information, along with other information provided by Subscriber Users, available only to the corresponding Subscriber Companies. GuideSpark is not responsible for the information practices of Subscriber Companies. GuideSpark also uses information gathered from Users in aggregated form for GuideSpark’s billing purposes.
GuideSpark may aggregate information provided by Subscribers and disclose such data, only in the aggregate and in a manner that is not personally identifiable , to Users for purposes of comparing their personal situation to the broader community. Such information does not identify Subscribers individually.
GuideSpark may use information provided by, and gathered from, Subscribers and Users in the aggregate for informational research purposes. This information will not include any personally identifiable information and may be shared with GuideSpark prospects, partners, press, research companies and other affiliated companies. This information also may be used for GuideSpark marketing and promotional uses. Such information does not identify Subscribers or Users individually.
External service providers will not be given your personal information without your permission. There are services that may require personal information, such as a personal financial education session. If you choose to use these separate products or services, disclose information to the providers, and/or grant them permission to collect information about you, then their use of your information is governed by their privacy policy.
We may disclose Subscriber information to affiliated companies or other businesses or persons to: provide web site hosting, maintenance, and security services; fulfill orders; conduct data analysis and create forecasts and reports; offer certain functionality; and assist GuideSpark in improving the GuideSpark Services and creating new services features. We require that these parties process such information in compliance with this Privacy Notice, we authorize only a limited use of such information, and we require these parties to use reasonable confidentiality measures.
GuideSpark may also disclose Subscriber information if required to do so by law or in the good-faith belief that such action is necessary to comply with state and federal laws (such as U.S. Copyright law) or respond to a court order, judicial or other government subpoena, or warrant. In some cases, we may make such disclosures without providing notice to Users.
GuideSpark also reserves the right to disclose Subscriber information that we believe, in good faith, is appropriate or necessary to take precautions against liability; protect GuideSpark from fraudulent, abusive, or unlawful uses; to investigate and defend ourselves against any third-party claims or allegations; to assist government enforcement agencies; to protect the security or integrity of the GuideSpark Services; or to protect the rights, property, or personal safety of GuideSpark our Users, or others.

Your Choices:

You may, of course, decline to share your personally-identifiable, professional or personal information with GuideSpark, in which case GuideSpark will not be able to provide to you all of the GuideSpark Services. You may update, correct, or delete your profile information and preferences at any time by going to the account section of the GuideSpark Services.

To protect your privacy and security, we take reasonable steps to verify your identity before granting you account access or making corrections to your information. You are responsible for maintaining the secrecy of your unique password and account information at all times.

Our Commitment to Data Security:

GuideSpark uses commercially reasonable physical, managerial, and technical safeguards to preserve the integrity and security of your personal information. We cannot, however, ensure or warrant the security of any information you transmit to GuideSpark, and you do so at your own risk. Once we receive your transmission of information, GuideSpark makes commercially reasonable efforts to ensure the security of our systems. However, please note that this is not a guarantee or warrant that such information may not be accessed, disclosed, altered, or destroyed by breach of any of our physical, technical, or managerial safeguards.

If GuideSpark learns of a security systems breach, then we may attempt to notify you electronically so that you can take appropriate protective steps. GuideSpark may post a notice on the GuideSpark Services if a security breach occurs. Depending on where you live, you may have a legal right to receive notice of a security breach in writing. To receive a free written notice of a security breach you should notify us at support@guidespark.com.

International Visitors:

For those of you visiting us from the European Economic Area or other non-U.S. territories, please note that any data you enter into the GuideSpark Services will be transferred outside the European Economic Area or such other territory for use by GuideSpark and its affiliates for any of the purposes described herein. In addition, because GuideSpark operates globally, we make information we gather available to our worldwide business units and affiliates. By providing any data on the GuideSpark Services you hereby expressly consent to such transfers.

In the Event of Merger or Sale:

In the event that GuideSpark is acquired by or merged with a third-party entity, we reserve the right, in any of these circumstances, to transfer or assign the information that we have collected from Users as part of such merger, acquisition, sale, or other change of control.

Changes and Updates to this Privacy Notice:

This Privacy Notice may be revised periodically without further notice to you and this will be reflected by a “last modified” date below. Please revisit this page to stay aware of any changes. In general, we only use your personal information in the manner described in the Privacy Notice in effect when we received that personal information. Your continued use of the GuideSpark Services constitutes your agreement to this Privacy Notice and any future revisions.

For revisions to this Privacy Notice that may be materially less restrictive on our use or disclosure of personal information you have provided to us, we will make reasonable efforts to notify you and obtain your consent before implementing such revisions with respect to such information.

Effective Date, Date Last Modified:

This Privacy Notice is effective as of August 20, 2009.

The GuideSpark Contact Information:

Please contact GuideSpark with any questions or comments about this Privacy Notice, your personal information, our third-party disclosure practices, or your consent choices at: 2053 Grant Road, #304, Los Altos, CA 94024 and email: support@guidespark.com. We will respond to your inquiry within 30 days of its receipt.