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This Privacy Statement applies to Harvard University Office of Technology Development

At Harvard University's Office of Technology Development we believe the confidentiality and protection of visitor information is one of our fundamental responsibilities. While information is critical to providing quality service, we recognize that one of our most important assets is our visitor’s trust. We maintain physical, electronic and procedural safeguards that comply with federal standards protecting against any misuse of customer information.

Introduction

Harvard University's Office of Technology Development ("OTD") respects the privacy of customers and visitors to its website. This Privacy Statement sets forth OTD's policy regarding the collection, storage, access and use of personally identifiable information that is collected on this website (the "Site"). By visiting otd.harvard.edu, you are accepting the practices described in this Privacy Statement and our Terms of Use.

Collected Information

Generally, you can visit otd.harvard.edu without revealing any personal information. OTD usually asks visitors for personal data only when it is needed to provide services that visitors have asked OTD to provide or to respond to information requests. The Site allows customers to access information about OTD and its products and/or services. OTD may collect certain information from visitors during this process such as name, IP Address, physical address, affiliation, telephone number, and email address. In addition, OTD may collect information as you navigate through the Site or conduct transactions.

OTD may from time to time ask visitors to provide demographic or personal preference data. If visitors elect to provide such data, we may use it to analyze the characteristics of visitors to our web site. OTD may also use it to customize the specific information we provide to visitors or to tailor specific information to better meet visitors' needs. OTD may also share information with other companies it controls or may be affiliated with. From time to time, OTD may share with third parties aggregate non-personal information regarding users of the Site. We may also maintain records of the movements of visitors anonymously, by aggregating information on what pages visitors have accessed and other information volunteered by the visitor, such as survey or contact information.

OTD may share your personally identifiable information with third parties that assist us in providing our services, carry out your requests, or provide other information about their services that we believe may be of interest to you.

We may also use your personal information to prevent harm or injury, to prevent fraud, to protect our legal interests, to comply with our response to requests from law enforcement authorities or to comply with applicable laws.

IP Addresses and Use of Cookies

When you view our website, your computer's IP address is visible to us. An IP address is a number automatically assigned to your computer whenever you are connected to the Internet. OTD will only use your computer's IP addresses when you sign up for OTD services or to diagnose problems with our server.

When you view one of our websites, we may store some information known as a "cookie" on your computer. A "cookie" is a small piece of information sent by a web server that is stored in your computer's web browser so that it can later be read back from the browser. OTD may use cookies to improve the functionality of this Site, to make user login easier, to track transactions that take place on this Site, to assist us with our marketing, to preserve ordering information between user sessions, and to help us recognize and better serve you when you return. You may disable the cookie feature in your browser and erase cookies previously placed on your computer; however, doing so will require you to re-enter certain information because this information will be lost after you terminate your session on this Site.

Google Analytics

OTD uses Google Analytics software to perform site usage analytics. Google Analytics collects anonymous information from users to help OTD track Site usage and referrals from other websites. These data are used primarily to optimize the website experience for our visitors, but we may use the data as well to assist us in our marketing of the Site.

Information collected and processed by OTD includes the user’s IP address, network location, and geographic location. Google Analytics acquires all its information directly from the user, by installing a cookie (see above) on javascript-enabled computers. The Site does not share any information it collects with Google, and Google does not collect any personal identifying information such as names, contact information, social security numbers or financial information.

Your Consent

By visiting our web site, you consent to the collection and use of the information as described in this Privacy Statement. Your visit and any dispute over privacy are subject to this Privacy Statement and application of the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, including limitations on damages or arbitration of disputes. If you receive OTD email messages and you would like to opt out of the service, you can contact us here.

OTD will post any changes to this Privacy Statement on this page so that visitors are always aware of what information we collect, how we use it, and under what circumstances we disclose it.

Disclaimer; Limitation on Liability

TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, OTD, ITS AFFILIATES, AND EACH OF THEIR LICENSORS AND SUBCONTRACTORS, DISCLAIM ANY AND ALL WARRANTIES REGARDING CONNECTION TO, COMPATIBILITY WITH, TRANSMISSION OVER, OR RESULTS OF USE OF, ANY NETWORK CONNECTION OR FACILITIES PROVIDED (OR NOT PROVIDED) THROUGH THIS WEBSITE. YOU ACKNOWLEDGE AND AGREE THAT YOU ARE SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR DETERMINING YOUR OWN COMPUTER SYSTEM AND NETWORK COMMUNICATION REQUIREMENTS. THE SOFTWARE AND INTERNET TRANSMISSION ARE INHERENTLY COMPLEX AND MAY NOT BE COMPLETELY FREE OF ERRORS. YOU EXPRESSLY AGREE THAT THE USE OF THIS WEBSITE, THE SOFTWARE AND THE INTERNET ARE AT YOUR SOLE RISK.

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, YOU AGREE THAT OTD, ANY PARENT AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES, AND ANY AFFILIATES, SHALL NOT BE LIABLE IN CONNECTION WITH THIS WEBSITE (INCLUDING THE USE OR INABILITY TO USE THIS WEBSITE), FOR DIRECT, COMPENSATORY, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, LOSS OF DATA, INCOME OR PROFIT, LOSS OF OR DAMAGE TO PROPERTY AND/OR CLAIMS OF THIRD PARTIES, EVEN IF THEY (OR ANY OF THEM) HAS BEEN ADVISED AS TO THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. YOU AGREE THAT OTD, ITS PARENT AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES, AND ITS AFFILIATES, ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE OR LIABLE FOR ANY THREATENING, DEFAMATORY, VULGAR, OBSCENE OR OFFENSIVE OR ILLEGAL CONDUCT OR SPEECH OF ANY OTHER PARTY, OR ANY INFRINGEMENT OR VIOLATION OF ANOTHER'S RIGHTS BY ANY OTHER PARTY. ANY LIABILITY OF OTD, ITS PARENT OR ITS SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES, OR AFFILIATES, FOR DAMAGES, LOSSES AND/OR CAUSES OF ACTION, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, EITHER JOINTLY OR SEVERALLY, SHALL BE LIMITED T THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT OF FEES PAID BY YOU TO OTD, AS APPLICABLE, IN THE SIX (6) MONTHS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT GIVING RISE TO THE CLAIM FOR DAMAGES. NO ACTION, REGARDLESS OF FORM, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS PRIVACY POLICY MAY BE BROUGHT MORE THAN ONE YEAR AFTER THE CAUSE OF ACTION AROSE.

Users Located in the European Economic Area

If you are located in the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, or Norway (the “European Economic Area”), please review additional information about ways that certain Harvard University Schools, Centers, units and controlled entities, including this website, may collect, use, and share information about you.

Contact Information

If you have questions regarding this Privacy Statement or believe we have not adhered to its principles, please notify us by contacting us here.