Privacy Policy

1.Introduction.

1.1. Effective Date. The effective date of this Privacy Policy is the 1st of November, 2021.

1.2. Purpose. Addison Press, Inc., dba Addison County Independent (“Addison Press, Inc. ” or “Company”) is committed to respecting the privacy rights of subscribers to the Addison Independent newspaper, users of the AddisonIndependent.com website, Addison Press, Inc. marketing services, and our affiliates (herein collectively referred to as the “Service”). Addison Press, Inc. has published this “Privacy Policy” to show its commitment to fair information practices and to the protection of privacy.

1.3. Scope. This Privacy Policy is only applicable to the Service, extending to subscribers and marketing partners of the Addison County Independent and the Brandon Reporter.

1.4. No Permission Without Agreement. By using the Service, you represent and warrant that you have read and understood, and agree to the terms of, this Privacy Policy. If you do not understand or do not agree to be bound by this Privacy Policy, you must immediately cease using or accessing the Service.

2. Updates and Changes to Privacy Policy.

2.1.      Each time you access the Service, the then-current version of this Privacy Policy will apply. Each time you use the Service, we recommend that you check the date of this Privacy Policy in Section 1.1 (Effective Date) and review any changes since the last time you used the Service.

2.2.      Although most changes are likely to be minor, Addison Press, Inc. reserves the right, at any time and without notice, to add to, update, change, or modify this Privacy Policy, simply by posting a new version on this page. Any such addition, update, or change will be effective immediately on posting. Unless Addison Press, Inc. obtains your express consent, any revised Privacy Policy will apply only to information collected after the effective date of the revised Privacy Policy, and not to information collected under any earlier Privacy Policy.

3. Information Collection Practices.

3.1.      Traffic Data. Like most website and mobile application operators, Addison Press, Inc. automatically gathers information that web browsers automatically make available, including: (i) IP addresses; (ii) Internet domain names; (iii) types of devices accessing the Service; and (iv) types of Web browsers accessing the Service (collectively “Traffic Data“). Traffic Data is anonymous information that is not meant to personally identify you.

3.2.      Cookie Policy. “Cookies” are text files that are placed on your computer by websites that you visit or certain emails that you open. Cookies store a string of information on a user’s computer or mobile device, which the user’s web browser provides to the Service automatically each time it interacts with the Service. The purpose of Cookies is to identify the user as a unique user of the Service. Addison Press, Inc. uses two types of Cookies: “first-party cookies” and “third-party cookies.”

3.3.      First Party Cookies. Addison Press, Inc. uses first-party Cookies on the Service, for example the Google Analytics Cookie, for the following purposes: (1) to gather visitor and access information relevant to customizing the Service to your interests; and (2) to store your password so you do not have to re-enter it each time you use the Service.

3.4.      If you do not wish to have first-party Cookies placed on your computer or mobile device, you should set your web browser to refuse Cookies before accessing the Service. However, certain features of the Service may not function properly without the aid of Cookies. If you refuse Cookies, you assume all responsibility for any resulting loss of functionality.

3.5.      Third Party Cookies and Advertising.

3.5.1.   Advertising on Third Party Websites. Addison Press, Inc. may advertise on other Third Party Websites to you after you access the Service. We and third-party marketing partners, including without limitation Google, Inc. (“Google“), may use first party Cookies (such as the Google Analytics cookie), third party Cookies (such as the DoubleClick cookie), and web beacons (such as the Facebook conversion tracking pixel, see https://www.facebook.com/business/a/online-sales/conversion-tracking), including across multiple devices, to inform, optimize, and serve advertisements to you based on your use of the Service. This practice is commonly known as retargeting or remarketing (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Behavioral_retargeting).

3.5.2.   Google Analytics.

3.5.2.1.  Google Analytics is Google’s analytics tool that helps website and app owners to understand how their visitors engage with their properties. It may use a set of cookies to collect information and report website usage statistics without personally identifying individual visitors to Google. Addison Press, Inc. uses Google Analytics on the AddisonIndependent.com website.

3.5.3.   Data Collection by Third Parties. Any of these third parties may place Cookies on your computer or mobile device, use web beacons (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_beacon), and gather IP addresses and log data to collect traffic and activity data to deliver relevant metrics and content.

3.5.4.   Opting Out of Third Party Cookies.

3.5.4.1.   You may customize your Google Cookies preferences or opt out of using Google Cookies on the Google Ads Settings page at http://www.google.com/settings/ads.

3.5.4.2. You may learn about Facebook Cookies and how to customize your preferences at https://www.facebook.com/about/ads.

3.5.4.3.  You may opt out of using other third parties’ Cookies by visiting the Network Advertising Initiative opt-out page at http://www.networkadvertising.org/managing/opt_out.asp. You can also learn more about how to delete or control Cookies at http://www.aboutcookies.org/.

3.6.  Personally Identifiable Information. To use certain features of the Service, you will be asked to provide Addison Press, Inc certain personally identifiable information (“Personal Information”). Personal Information includes the following categories, without limitation: (1) “Contact Data” (such as your name, phone number, mailing address and email address); (2) “Financial Data” (such as your credit/debit card number and expiration date); (3) “Demographic Data” (such as your gender and ZIP code); and/or (4) “Third Party Social Media Account Data” (such as your account information for third party social media accounts when you access the Service in connection to those accounts). In each case, you will be asked to provide Personal Information; the Service will not gather it secretly. You are under no obligation to provide Personal Information, with the caveat that your refusal to do so may prevent you from using certain features of the Service.

3.7.      Specific Information Collected. Addison Press, Inc. collects the following specific items of Personal Information:
3.7.1.   your first and last name
3.7.2.   your address
3.7.3.   your email address
3.7.4.   your telephone number

3.8.      Information You Make Public. The Service may contain features (e.g., email, instant messages, electronic messaging, etc.) that allow you to upload, post, transmit, display, perform, or distribute content, or other information, including your Personal Information. Any information that you choose to disclose by means of such features becomes public information over which Addison Press, Inc. is unable to exercise control. You should exercise caution when deciding to disclose your Personal Information by means of such features, and you agree to assume all responsibility for doing so.

4.Information Use and Disclosure Practices.

4.1.      Traffic Data and Information Gathered Using Cookies. Addison Press, Inc. analyzes Traffic Data and information gathered using Cookies to help better understand who is using the Service and how they are using it. By identifying patterns and trends in usage, Addison Press, Inc. is able to better design the Service to improve your experience, and to serve you more relevant and interesting content or services. From time to time, Addison Press, Inc may release Traffic Data and information gathered using Cookies in the aggregate, such as by publishing circulation data. Addison Press, Inc. does not attempt to link information gathered using Cookies to Personal Information.

4.2.      Personal Information.

4.2.1.   Generally. Addison Press, Inc. uses your Contact Data to send you information about Addison Press’s products and services, and to contact you when necessary in connection with the Service. Addison Press, Inc. uses your Financial Data to verify your qualifications for certain features of the Service and, when necessary, to bill you. Addison Press, Inc. uses your Demographic Data to customize and tailor your experience on the Service. As with Traffic Data and information gathered using Cookies, from time to time Addison Press, Inc. may release Demographic Data in the aggregate, such as by publishing a subscribers and circulation numbers utilizing the Service.

4.2.2.   Disclosure Practices. Except under the following categories of circumstances, Addison Press, Inc. will keep your Personal Information private, and will not share it with third parties.

4.2.2.1.  Disclosure to Marketing Partners. Addison Press, Inc may aggregate data to help our clients better understand the demographics of our target audiences, as well as to support our marketing data products and services.

4.2.2.2.     Disclosure in Connection with Service. Addison Press, Inc. discloses Personal Information to those who help it provide services, including without limitation those who perform technical, administrative, and data processing tasks such as hosting, billing, fulfillment, data storage, and security. If you are an agency client, disclosure of Personal Information may also be made to the agency partner managing your relationship with the Service.

4.2.2.3.            User Content.

4.2.2.3.1.         User Content Defined. “User Content” is any content, material, or information, not including Personal Information, that you submit, upload, and/or post to, or transmit, display, perform, or distribute by means of, the Service, whether in connection with your use of the Service or otherwise. This includes, without limitation, personal photos and videos.

4.2.2.3.2.         License to User Content. As stated in the Terms of Service, by using the Service, you grant Addison Press, Inc., and its officers, directors, employees, agents, affiliates, consultants, representatives, sub licensees, successors, and assigns (collectively, the “Company Parties“) the right to publish your name and any username of yours in connection with the Company Parties’ exercise of their license in and to your User Content. You further waive any claims arising from the Company Parties’ exercise of that right. For additional information, see the section of the Terms of Service titled “User Content”.

4.2.2.4.            By Law or to Protect Rights. Addison Press, Inc. discloses Personal Information when required to do so by law, in response to a subpoena or court order, or when Addison Press, Inc. believes in its sole discretion that disclosure is reasonably necessary to protect the property or rights of Addison Press, Inc, third parties, or the public.

4.2.2.5.            Business Transfers; Bankruptcy. Addison Press, Inc. reserves the right to transfer all Personal Information in its possession to a successor organization in the event of a merger, acquisition, or bankruptcy or other sale of all or a portion of Addison Press Inc.’s assets. Other than to the extent ordered by a bankruptcy or other court, the use and disclosure of all transferred Personal Information will be subject to this Privacy Policy, or to a new privacy policy if you are given notice of that new privacy policy and an opportunity to affirmatively opt out of it. Personal Information submitted or collected after a transfer, however, may be subject to a new privacy policy adopted by Addison Press Inc.’s successor organization.

4.2.2.6.    Unpaid Accounts. If you fail to pay any balance owed in consideration of services, Addison Press, Inc may, as permitted by law, report your Personal Information, including without limitation your unpaid balance, to consumer credit reporting services, collection agencies, and others.

5.      Consent to Receive Electronic Communications From Company.
Without limitation, by registering for the Service and/or by providing your name, email, postal or residential address, and/or phone number through the Service, you hereby expressly consent to receive electronic and other communications from Addison Press, Inc, over the short term and periodically, including email communications, regarding the Service, new product offers, promotions, and other matters. You may opt out of receiving electronic communications at any time by (a) following the unsubscribe instructions contained in each communication; or (b) sending an email to [email protected].

6.       Security of Personal Information.
Addison Press, Inc. takes security seriously. We use commercially reasonable safeguards to protect against the unauthorized access, use, modification, destruction, or disclosure of your Personal Information. However, due to the realities of data security, Addison Press, Inc. is unable to guarantee that any information provided to us will not be accessed, hacked, disclosed, altered, or destroyed by unauthorized parties.

7.       Lost or Stolen Information.
You must promptly notify us if your credit, bank, other financial institution information, username, or password is lost, stolen, or used without permission. In such an event, we will remove that credit card number, bank account information, other financial institution information, username, or password from your account and update our records accordingly.

8.       User Ability to Access, Update, and Correct Personal Information.
Addison Press, Inc. wants your Personal Information to be complete and accurate. As stated in the Terms of Service, by using the Service, you represent and warrant that all information you provide in connection with your use of the Service is current, complete, and accurate, and that you will update that information as needed to maintain its completeness and accuracy. To confirm the completeness and accuracy of, or make changes to, your Personal Information, visit your personal profile. Through your personal profile, you may review and update your Personal Information that we have already collected.

9.      Third Party Websites.
Addison Press, Inc. neither owns nor controls Third Party Websites. Accordingly, Third Party Websites are under no obligation to comply with this Privacy Policy except with respect to Personal Information provided directly to them by Addison Press, Inc. Before visiting or providing Personal Information to Third Party Websites, you should inform yourself of the privacy policies and practices (if any) of those Third Party Websites, and should take those steps necessary to, in your discretion, protect your privacy.

10.    Promotional Activities.
From time to time, Addison Press, Inc. may conduct contests, giveaways, and other promotions (collectively, “Promotional Activities“). Any information submitted in connection with Promotional Activities will be treated in accordance with this Privacy Policy. From time to time, Addison Press, Inc may also ask you to participate in surveys designed to help Addison Press, Inc improve the Service. Any Personal Information provided to Addison Press, Inc. in connection with any survey will be used only in relation to that survey, and will be disclosed to third parties not bound by this Privacy Policy only in aggregated form.

11.      Business Transitions.
In the event Addison Press, Inc. goes through a business transition, including without limitation any merger, acquisition, partnership, business reorganization, debt finance, or sale of company assets, or in the event of an insolvency, bankruptcy, or receivership (together a “Business Transition“), Addison Press, Inc. may use information collected in accordance with this Privacy Policy and subject to its restrictions, as part of any such Business Transition. In such instances, your information can be part of the assets transferred.

12.      Do-Not-Track Disclosure.
Addison Press, Inc. does not respond to “Do Not Track” signals sent by browsers.

General Terms of Service

1. Addison Press, Inc. reserves the right to revise rates, terms and specifications at any time.

2. At its discretion, Addison Press, Inc may edit, reject, alter or refuse any news, marketing or advertising content.

3. Rights of ownership to all news, advertising or marketing content created by Addison Press, Inc belong to Addison Press, Inc.

Agreement Fulfillment – for Advertising/Marketing partners

If client does not fulfill contract terms, including timely payment, any service that has been rendered will be recalculated at the rate earned, and the difference will be billed to the client.

Client Responsibility – for Advertising/Marketing partners

1. The person signing this contract personally guarantees, represents and acknowledges that she/he is the duly authorized agent and representative of the client.

2. The client assumes full responsibility and liability for the content of copy submitted and agrees to indemnify Addison Press, Inc against any demands, claims or liability arising from the distribution of said content.

3. The client shall reimburse Addison Press, Inc in any settlement of claims or in satisfaction of judgments obtained by reason of the distribution of such content together with all expenses incurred in connection therewith, including, but not limited to, attorney’s fees and cost of litigation. In the case of delinquency, client agrees to pay all collection costs, attorney’s fees and court costs incurred in the collection of account.

Agreement Scope

The entire scope of this agreement is contained herein. There are no other provisions, real or implied.