FREAKY PETS PRIVACY POLICY
Last updated: August 26, 2010
Abandon Interactive Entertainment, LLC respects the privacy of its online visitors and recognizes the importance of protecting personally identifiable information when you visit FreakyPets.com, This Privacy Policy is designed to assist you in understanding how we collect, use, and safeguard the personal information you provide to us, and to assist you in making informed decisions when using the Site, and any of our products and services (collectively, the “Services”).
Please note that we have special concerns about the privacy of users who are children under the age of 13, as further addressed in the CHILDREN’S PRIVACY section below.
WHAT INFORMATION IS COLLECTED?
Abandon collects personal information (sometimes referred to as “personally identifiable information”) from its online visitors on a voluntary basis and only in order to create or enhance our relationship with you. We may collect personal information from you and/or your child in connection with your participation in activities like priority lists , forums, sweepstakes, contests, games, surveys, and in connection with chats or bulletin boards, or because you want us to furnish you with Services or information. If you are over the age of 18 we may collect personal information which includes your first and last name, e-mail address, phone number, and mailing address subject to special information collection mechanisms regarding children under 18. If you are 18 or older, you are eligible to purchase Services from us, in which event we may require your billing address and credit card information. If we determine that a child is under 13, the only information we would collect from a child during our registration process is the Screen name, Account Name, password, and parent’s email address.
HOW IS THE INFORMATION COLLECTED?
Abandon collects personally identifiable information via conventional internet forms. In addition, certain sections of the Site may use "cookies." Cookies are very small data files left on your computer by the Site. These files can then be accessed by the Site in the future. Most browsers are automatically set to accept cookies. Most browsers will allow you to erase cookies from your computer hard drive, block acceptance of cookies, or receive a warning before a cookie is stored; you should refer to your browser instructions or “Help” screen to learn more about how to manage cookies. Please note, however, that if you block cookies, some portions of the Site and Services may not function properly. Our cookie does not include any personal information; our cookie allows us to track how long it took a user to load Freaky Pets.
We employ a software technology called clear gifs (a.k.a. Web Beacons/Web Bugs), that help us better manage content on our site by informing us what content is effective. Clear gifs are tiny graphics with a unique identifier, similar in function to cookies, and are used to track the online movements of Web users. In contrast to cookies, which are stored on a user’s computer hard drive, clear gifs are embedded invisibly on Web pages and are about the size of the period at the end of this sentence. We do not tie the information gathered by clear gifs to our customers’ personally identifiable information.
Like most standard websites, we use log files. This includes internet protocol (IP) addresses, browser type, Internet service provider (ISP), referring/exit pages, platform type, date/time stamp, and number of clicks to analyze trends, administer the Site and Services, track user's movement in the aggregate, and gather broad demographic information for aggregate use. IP addresses, etc. are not linked to personally identifiable information.
Abandon does not control cookies in third party ads, and online visitors are encouraged to check the privacy policies of advertisers and/or ad services to learn about their use of cookies and other technology. The ads appearing on the Site may be delivered to you by third-party advertising companies. These companies may use information about your visits to this and other web sites in order to provide advertisements on this site and other sites about goods and services that may be of interest to you. If you would like more information about this practice and to know your choices about not having this information used by these companies, please click here http://www.networkadvertising.org/optout_nonppii.asp.
INFORMATION USAGE AND DISTRIBUTION:
Broadly speaking, we use personal information for purposes of administering our business activities and making available other products and services to our visitors and prospective visitors. Occasionally, we may also use the information we collect to notify you about important changes to our Site and Services and special offers we think you will find valuable. The lists used to send you product and service offers are developed and managed under our standards and those of our service provider, which are designed to safeguard the security and privacy of our visitors' personal information. At no point in time is any personal information for a child under 13 shared with third parties. We may also request your Account Name, Screen Name, Name, Pet Name as well as an email address if a user opens a customer support ticket or accesses our Live Chat with a Customer Service Representative. We collect an email address for the sole purpose of responding directly on a one time basis to a specific inquiry.
Each user is required to go through the account creation process. If we determine that a user is under 13 by the supplied age, a parent’s email address will be needed to continue with the account creation process. A verification email will be sent to the parent’s email address.
Legal Disclaimer
Though we make every effort to preserve user privacy, we may need to disclose personal information of you and/or your child when required by law wherein we have a good-faith belief that such action is necessary to comply with a current judicial proceeding, a court order or legal process served on the Site or its owners.
Aggregate Information (non-personally identifiable)
We share aggregated demographic information with our partners and advertisers. This is not linked to any personally identifiable information.
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Third Party Intermediaries
When and if we collect credit card information from users over 18 to bill users for extra services, we share that personal information with the credit card processing company and/or internet service providers that we use. We use an email service provider to send out emails on our behalf (a third party marketing provider to provide broadcast email services for us). We use Live Chat to assist you if you have support questions or issues. These companies do not retain, share, store or use personally identifiable information for any secondary purposes.
California Privacy Rights Under California Civil Code Section 1798.83
California Civil Code Section 1798.83 permits customers of Abandon who are California residents to request certain information regarding its disclosure of personal information to third parties for their direct marketing purposes. To make such a request, please send an e-mail to support@FreakyPets.com or write us at: Attn: Abandon CA Privacy Rights, Abandon Interactive Entertainment, LLC, 680 Route 211 East, Suite 3B - 308, Middletown, NY 10941, Phone: (212) 246-4445
Business Transactions
In the event that Abandon or the Site is/are sold or transferred, or in the event that substantially all of Abandon’s assets are sold or transferred to a third party, the Site and any personally identifiable information collected by us, will be among the transferred assets. By using the Site, you hereby agree to such transfer or assignment of your personal information collected by Abandon, and you further waive any claims that could be made against us in relation thereto.
DATA SECURITY:
The security of your personal information is important to us. When you enter sensitive information (such as credit card number) on our registration or order forms, we encrypt that information using secure socket layer technology (SSL). We use reasonable administrative, technical, personnel and physical measures to safeguard your personal information in our possession against loss, theft and unauthorized use, disclosure or modification. In addition, we also use reasonable methods to make sure that your personal information is accurate, up-to-date and appropriately complete.
While Abandon takes precautions against possible breaches in its web sites and customer databases, no website or Internet transmission is completely secure. Accordingly, Abandon cannot guarantee that unauthorized access, hacking, data loss, or other breaches will never occur. Your use of the Site and Services is at your own risk. We urge you to take steps to keep your personal information safe by memorizing your password or keeping it in a safe place (separate from your account information), logging out of your user account, and closing your web browser.
OPT-OUT / REMOVAL OF PERSONAL INFORMATION:
If you do not want Abandon to send you e-mail or postal mail about our Site or Services, or if you want to cease use of the Site and Services and have your personal information removed, you can opt-out at the time of registration or at any time thereafter, or request removal at any time, by contacting Abandon by e-mail at support@FreakyPets.com or by mailing a request to: Attn: Freaky Pets Customer Service, Abandon Interactive Entertainment, LLC, 680 Route 211 East, Suite 3B - 308, Middletown, NY 10941, Phone: (212) 246-4445
IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR COMPLAINTS REGARDING OUR COLLECTION OR USAGE OF PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION:
If you have any questions, complaints, or comments regarding our Privacy Policy, please contact Abandon by email at support@FreakyPets.com or by writing to: Attn: Freaky Pets Customer Service, Abandon Interactive Entertainment, LLC, 711 Route 302
Pine Bush, NY 12566. Phone: 212-246-4445.
IF YOU REFUSE TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ONLINE:
Abandon does not require registration or submission of personally identifiable information to obtain basic access to the Site; however, you may not be able to access all areas and functions of the Site or participate in any Services.
Chat
Freaky Pets has two different options for in-game chat. If a child is under 13 the parents will have the option to choose which chat system they would like to have for their child. Phrase Based Chat limits what a user can say based on predefined phrases including greetings, questions and answers. Players using Phrase based chat can see both Phrase Based chat and standard safe chat but can only speak in Phrase Based Chat. Standard Safe Chat allows a user to freely type messages to other players. Every word still goes through a robust chat filter which attempts to block any offensive types of words or phrases. Please note even with the filters on some messages could get through that are offensive to some users.
Free To Play
We ask for birth dates to validate the ages of our guests, including children. If we determine that a child is under 13, the only information we would collect from a child during our registration process is the Screen name, Account Name, password, and parent’s email address. If we determine that a user is under 13 by the age selected, a parent’s email address will be needed to continue with the account creation process. A verification email will be sent to the parent’s email address.
If we determine that someone is over 13, the only information we would collect during our registration process is the Screen name, Account Name, password and email address.
PUBLIC FORUMS:
Abandon may make chat rooms, message boards, news groups, and other community Services available to you on the Site. Please understand that any information that is disclosed in these areas becomes public information. Abandon has no control over its use and you should exercise caution when deciding to disclose your personally identifiable information or any other information about yourself. The information presented in these areas reflects the views of the individual users or hosts and does not necessarily reflect the views of Abandon or any of its affiliates. Users under the age of 13 can view the forums but cannot post to them.
CHILDREN'S PRIVACY:
The Site complies with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). For more information about COPPA and children’s privacy, please visit http://www.coppa.org. When we use the term “parent” below, we mean to include legal guardians.
Children under the age of 13
If you are under the age of 13, please be sure to read this Privacy Policy with your parent and ask questions about things you do not understand. Some areas of the Site may have special rules for children under the age of 13. When you are in those areas, you must follow those rules.
If a child under 13 wants to use the Site with Services requiring registration, the only information we would collect from such child during our registration process is the Screen) name, account name, password, parent's e-mail address, and security question and answer (as a reminder for a forgotten password). We ask for your age to validate the ages of our guests, including children.
If a registrant is determined to be less than 13 years of age as based on the supplied age, we require a parent’s email address to continue the process. A verification email will be sent to the parent’s email address.
Children between the ages of 13 and 18
If you are between the ages of 13 and 18, please be sure to read this Privacy Policy with your parent and get his or her permission before you give us any of your personally identifiable information, before you use any of our message board, instant message or chat features, before you sign up or participate in any Services, and before you buy anything from the Site. Do not post your real name on a web site or message board, and never tell anyone online anything private about yourself or your family, including your phone number and address. Use screen names at all times. If you win a sweepstakes that has a prize, your parent will have to mail or fax us a signed note at the address or fax number listed in the rules for the specific contest that says it was OK for you to enter, and tells us they will accept the prize for you. Some areas of the Site may have special rules for children under the age of 18. When you are in those areas, you must follow those rules
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Information for Parents
Abandon encourages parents to spend time online with their children to become familiar with the types of content available on the internet, including Abandon's online games. Parents should regularly oversee their children's use of e-mail and other online communications and transactional features. Control tools are available from online services and software manufacturers that can help provide a safe online environment for kids.
We do not require a child to disclose more information than is reasonably necessary to participate in a contest, game or other activity or Service as a condition of participation. Parents may request a review or update of the personal information their child submitted to us, the discontinuation of its collection and/or removal of this personal information at any time by sending an e-mail to support@FreakyPets.com which must include the same screen name, password, and e-mail address used during the registration process. To protect the child’s privacy and security, we will take reasonable steps to verify the parent’s identity before granting him or her access to the child’s personal information. Occasionally, we may also use the information we collect to notify you about important changes to our Site and Services and special offers we think you will find valuable. Parents can make changes to their account under the “my account” section on the website. This allows parents to update the email address that is associated with the account as well as change the password. Billing information can also be adjusted through this section of the website.
LINKS TO THIRD PARTY SITES:
The Site may from time to time contain links to third-party web sites. Abandon is not responsible for the privacy practices or the content of such web sites. If you are concerned about the privacy policy of a certain third party, you may contact them directly or visit their individual web sites to learn more about their individual privacy policies.
GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF USE / NOTICE OF CHANGES:
The terms of this Privacy Policy are incorporated into our general Terms of Service. Please review our Terms of Service located at http://FreakyPets.com/EULA_TOS. By using the Site, you signify your assent to this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree to this Privacy Policy, you are not authorized to use the Site or Services. We reserve the right to make changes in this Privacy Policy, provided that we give notice to you of any such changes via e-mail and/or by posting the amended Privacy Policy on the Site. If we make material changes to how we use your personal information we will notify you by here, by means of notice on the home page or by email, if personal information collected from children under age 13, we will notify parents by email in order to obtain verifiable parental consent for the new uses of the child’s Personal Information. Please check back from time to time to ensure you are aware of any such notices of changes in our privacy practices. Your continued use of the Site will signify your acceptance of these changes.
