VRC PRO ® Privacy Policy
v1.0 September 2011
Virtual Racing Industries bv, the Netherlands
The VRC PRO Privacy Policy explains how Virtual Racing Industries bv ("VRI") protects and safeguards the privacy of the users of its online r/c car racing simulator software (referred to as the "Software"), game related services and web sites (referred to collectively in this Privacy Policy as the "VRC Service"). This Privacy Policy is a part of and incorporated into our VRC Pro end-user agreement ("Agreement"). By using the VRC Service, you are demonstrating your consent to the use of your information as described in this Privacy Policy.
If you have questions regarding this Privacy Policy, you should first contact VRI at support@virtualrc.com.
Personal information collected by the VRC Service
VRI distinguishes 2 types of information that is being
collected depending on your use of the VRC Service:
- non-personally identifiable information
- personally identifiable information.
Non-personally identifiable information
Non-personally identifiable information is information that by itself cannot be used to identify or contact you, such as demographic information (like age, profession or gender). Non-personally identifiable information may also include member IP addresses, browser types, domain names, and other anonymous statistical data involving the use of the VRC Service.
Personally identifiable information
Personally identifiable information is information that identifies you or can be used to identify you or contact you. Such personal information may include your name, address, email address, telephone number and birth date. Birth date information is primarily for eligibility purposes. In all of these cases, we will collect personally identifiable information from you only if you voluntarily submit the information to us. We may also receive personally identifiable information about you from third parties providing credit and debit card authorization and fraud screening services as part of your use of such service. Unless you give us permission to do so, we will not sell, share, license, trade or rent your personally identifiable information other than as specified in this Privacy Policy.
Where and when is information collected on the VRC Service?
Information you must disclose during registering as a member
During member registration, you will be required to provide us with information (personally identifiable and non-identifiable information) such as name, postal address and email address. We do not ask you to provide billing information. We may also receive personally identifiable information about you from third parties providing credit and debit card authorization and fraud screening services as part of the registration process. This information is necessary for our provision of the VRC Service and is also used to help us understand who uses the VRC Service, to improve the VRC Service, to contact members about the VRC Service and/or for billing purposes.
Information you voluntarily disclose to the VRC Service
In using certain features of the VRC Service, such as member forums, personal messaging, scraps and chats, you may voluntarily make your information available to other users of the VRC Service.
VRI also collects non-personally identifiable information passively using cookies and so called action tags.
“Cookies” are small text files that are placed on your computer in order to identify your web browser and the activities of your computer on the VRC Service and other web sites. In order to use the VRC Service, your web browser must be set to accept cookies. Most web browsers are initially set to accept cookies. Cookies are used to personalize your experience on the VRC Service (such as dynamically generating content on web pages specifically designed for you), to assist you in using the VRC Services (such as saving time by not having to re-enter your name upon each visit to the VRC Service), and to allow us to statistically monitor how you are using the VRC Service to help us improve our online services.
"Action tags," also known as web beacons or gif tags, are a web technology used to help track web site usage information, such as how many times a specific page has been viewed. Action tags are invisible to you, and any portion of the VRC Service, including advertisements, or email sent on our behalf, may contain action tags.
By using cookies and action tags together, VRI may gain valuable information to improve the VRC Service. VRI does not disclose any of your personally identifiable information to our advertising partners.
Finally, you should be aware that partners, sponsors, advertisers and other third parties may also use their own cookies or action tags when you click on their advertisement or link to their web sites or Services on or from the VRC Service. This Privacy Policy does not govern the use by such third-party web sites or services or providers of third-party advertising.
Internet log files
VRI collects non-personally identifiable information through the Internet log files, which record data such as member IP addresses, browser types, domain names, and other anonymous statistical data involving the use of the VRC Service. This information may be used to analyze trends, to administer the VRC Service, to monitor the use of the VRC Service, and to gather general demographic information. VRI may link this information to personally identifiable information for these and other purposes such as personalizing your experience on the VRC Service and evaluating our services in general.
Software log files
VRI collects non-personally identifiable information through Software log files which record data from on- and off-line sessions such as component usage, exposure time, track id, lap times, positions, pit stop, refueling, adjustments, repairs, driving incidents, pit table configurations and other anonymous statistical data involving the use of the Software. This information will be used to generate race results, diagrams and diagram markers, to generate statistical data for analysis and commercial usage, and commercial information relevant to our partners, affiliates and advertisers. Personal identifiable racing data information may be published on the VRC Websites. VRI may use all or part of the non-identifiable software log file data to promote the Service to their partners and advertisers.
Minor children policy
Virtual RC Racing is a simulation of radio controlled model car racing. Radio controlled model cars are widely used and played by children under 13 year of age. The Software can therefore be played by persons from the age of 7. The VRC Service (software and web services combined) is not designed for or directed to children under the age of 13 although with parental guidance children from the age of 7 could use our Software as a training tool. We strongly advise children of under 13 years of age not to engage in any community services. VRI is committed to protecting the privacy of children. We do not collect personally identifiable information from any person we actually know is under the age of 13.
Also, in order to become a member of the VRC Service, you must be an adult according to the laws of the jurisdiction (i.e., state or country, as the case may be) in which you reside. If you are not an adult, if you wish to use the VRC Service you must have a parent or guardian enroll to use the VRC Service on your behalf. If you authorize a minor child for whom you are a parent or guardian to use the account you create to use the VRC Service, you should not provide us with any personally identifiable information about such child. As a parent or guardian you are responsible to monitor and guide the contributions of the minor child to the VRC websites.
Laws and Legal Rights
We may disclose your information (including personally identifiable information) if we believe in good faith that we are required to do so in order to comply with an applicable statute, regulation, rule or law, a subpoena, a search warrant, a court or regulatory order, or other valid legal process. We may disclose personally identifiable information in special circumstances when we have reason to believe that disclosing this information is necessary to identify, contact or bring legal action against someone who may be violating the VRC Agreement terms, or to protect the safety and/or security of our members, VRI or the general public.
Third Parties Generally
We will not provide your email address to third parties for such third parties to contact you about their products, services, information and news that may be of interest to you.
We may provide to third parties information about you that does not allow you to be identified or contacted, including where such information is combined with similar information of other members of the VRC Service. For example, we might inform third parties regarding the number of unique members who visit the VRC Service, the demographic breakdown of our enrolled members of the VRC Service, the products and/or services purchased using the VRC Service, the products selected and used with the Software including exposure time, and the vendors of such products and services. The third parties to which we may provide this information may include potential or actual advertisers, providers of advertising products or services (including vendors and web site tracking services), commercial partners, sponsors, affiliates, licensees, researchers and other similar parties.
Outside Contractors
VRI may employ independent contractors, vendors and suppliers (collectively, "Outside Contractors") to provide specific services and products related to the VRC Service, such as hosting and maintaining the VRC Service, providing credit card processing and fraud screening, and developing applications for the VRC Service and e-mail services. In the course of providing products or services to us, these Outside Contractors may sometimes require and have limited access to information collected on the VRC Service, including your personally identifiable information. We also require that these contractors (1) protect the privacy of your personally identifiable information consistent with this VRC Pro Privacy Policy, and (2) not use or disclose your personally identifiable information for any purpose other than providing us with the products or services for which we contracted.
VRC PRO Partners
In addition, through the VRC Service, you may be given the opportunity to purchase (or to obtain more information regarding) certain content, products or services that are offered by parties other than us (collectively, "Partners"). We will attempt to make it clear to you when you are dealing with a Partner by opening a new browser or otherwise notifying you that you are leaving the VRC Service. For example, if you select a clickable 3D object in the Software and decide to click on the web link provided, then you are likely on, or about to enter, a web site hosted or operated by a person or company other than us. Partners may request that you submit certain information to them in order to purchase their products or services or to obtain additional information from them. By submitting the requested information, you affirmatively consent to have that information shared with the Partner. This information is used by the Partner and may be subject to a different privacy policy. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of Partners. We encourage you to be aware when the VRC Service links to Partners’ web sites and to read the privacy policies or statements of each and every Partner web site. This Privacy Policy applies solely to information collected by the VRC Service.
Sale of Business
As with any business, your personal information is also an asset of VRI and will become part of our normal business records. As such, we reserve the right to transfer information to a third party in the event of a sale, merger or other transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of VRI or the line of business that the VRC Service falls under.
By using the VRC Service, you signify your acceptance of this privacy policy. If you do not agree to this privacy policy, you should not use the VRC Service. Your continued use of the VRC Service following the posting of changes to this privacy policy will mean that you accept those changes.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Q: Will other members of the VRC Service have access to my information?
A: In order to discourage misuse of the VRC Service, except in extraordinary circumstances as agreed to by VRI in its sole discretion, all members of the VRC Service will be identified to other members of the VRC Service by their real names (or variations of their names, such as their names followed by a numeral), not by user names, aliases or other similar devices. By using the VRC Service you consent to the display of your real name to other members.
Also, if you voluntarily make your information available when using certain features of the VRC Service, such as member forums, message boards, and chats, this information will be accessible to other members of the VRC Service. Additionally, when posting race results, we may include certain geographical information about the listed members, such as what countries, states, provinces and/or cities the members are located in. With this information, other members of the VRC Service could use publicly available resources to discover additional personally identifiable information about you, such as your address and phone number. Except as described in this Privacy Policy, we will not disclose your personally identifiable information to other members of the VRC Service.
Members of the VRC Service are free to contact each other using specially designed social network features on VRC Websites and may exchange personal identifiable information on a voluntary basis among each other, for which VRI does not bear any responsibility.
Q: What does VRI do with the information it collects?
A: In general, VRI uses the information collected on the VRC Service to provide the VRC Service to you and process your transactions, to help VRI understand who uses the VRC Service, to improve the VRC Service, and to contact you for customer service and billing purposes.
VRI may use your information to send you a welcoming email that may confirm your name and password. VRI may also send you electronic newsletters, contact you about VRI products, activities, services, information and news that may be of interest to you, provide you with other marketing materials, and provide you with targeted feedback. If you no longer desire to receive these communications, we will provide you with the option to “opt out.” In addition, if you identify yourself to us by sending us an email with questions or comments, we may use your information (including personally identifiable information) to respond to your questions or comments, and we may file your questions or comments for future reference. We may also use the information collected to send you important service announcements and updates regarding the VRC Service or, if you are a member, about your billing account status. You will not be able to unsubscribe from these service announcements and updates as they contain important information relevant to your use of the VRC Service.
VRI may also use the information gathered on the VRC Service to perform statistical analysis of member behavior and/or to evaluate and improve our VRC Services. We may link some of this information to personally identifiable information for internal purposes only or to improve your experience with the VRC Service.
Q: Does VRI collect and store billing information?
A: VRI does NOT collect and store credit card billing information on its servers. All PayPal and credit card transaction services are provided by PayPal and/or other third party payment service providers and processors, and are executed under their supervision and responsibility, on their own servers and using their own specific software services. VRI bears nor accepts any legal responsibility for the security of these services.
Q: When does VRI disclose information to third parties?
A: Except as set forth in this Privacy Policy or as specifically authorized by you, we will not disclose any personal identifiable information we gather from you on the VRC Service.
Q:Does the VRC Pro Privacy Policy apply when I link to other websites from within the VRC Service?
A: The VRC Service contains links to web sites not owned or operated by VRI (for example, if you "click" on a banner advertisement in the VRC Service or on a commercial object in the Software, you will likely be taken off the VRC Service). However, please be aware that we are not responsible for the privacy practices of such web sites. We encourage you to be aware when the VRC Service links to other web sites and to read the privacy policies or statements of each and every web site. This Privacy Policy applies solely to information collected by the VRC Service.
Q: Is the information collected on the VRC Service secure?
A: We want your information (including personally identifiable information) to remain as secure as possible. We strive to provide secure transmission of your information from your computer to our servers through industry-standard techniques. To help ensure the integrity and privacy of the personally identifiable information you provide to us via the Internet at the time you elect to become an enrolled member or subscribe to our VRC Services, we use Secured Socket Layer (SSL) encryption technology in transmitting such personally identifiable information over the Internet to our servers. We secure the personally identifiable information you provide on servers located in controlled, secure environments, protected from unauthorized access, use, or alteration. Only employees and contractors who need access to your information to perform a specific task or function are granted access to such information. In addition, all VRI employees and outside contractors must abide by this Privacy Policy and are kept up-to-date on security practices. Any employee or outside contractor who violates this Privacy Policy is subject to disciplinary action, including termination.
Notwithstanding the above commitments to protect your information (including personally identifiable information) from loss, misuse or alteration by third parties, you should be aware that there is always some risk involved in transmitting information over the Internet. There is also some risk that others could find a way to compromise our security systems. As a result, while we strive to protect your information, we cannot ensure or warrant the security and privacy of any information you transmit to us, and you do so at your own risk.
Q: What choices do I have regarding the collection, disclosure and distribution of personally identifiable information?
A: Except as otherwise described in this Privacy Policy, we will only use personally identifiable information for the purposes described above or as otherwise disclosed at the time we request such information from you. You may change your preference and "opt-out" of receiving such communications by changing that option on your VRC World Profile page, following the directions provided in association with the communication, or by contacting support@virtualrc.com.
Q: Can I update or correct my personally identifiable information?
A: You can update certain parts of your personal identifiable data in your Profile page on the VRC Website. Your name and country can only be changed upon request and under certain conditions to prevent account transfer. Address data can be maintained by yourself. Changing your e-mail address is subject to a verification process to verify that the e-mail address is unique in the VRI database and that it belongs to you.
You have the right to request the restriction of certain uses and disclosures of personally identifiable information as follows. You can contact us in order to (1) update or correct your personally identifiable information, (2) change your preferences with respect to communications and other information you receive from us, or (3) delete the personally identifiable information maintained about you on our systems (subject to the following paragraph), by accessing your Profile page or contacting support@virtualrc.com. Such updates, corrections, changes and deletions will not have an effect on other information that we maintain, or information that we have provided to third-parties in accordance with this Privacy Policy prior to such update, correction, change or deletion.
You should be aware that it is not technologically possible to remove each and every record of the information you have provided to us from our system. The need to back-up our systems to protect information from inadvertent loss means that a copy of your personally identifiable information may exist in a non-erasable form that will be difficult or impossible for us to locate. We promise that promptly after receiving your request, all personally identifiable information stored in databases we actively use and other readily searchable media will be updated, corrected, changed or deleted, as appropriate, as soon as reasonably practicable.
Q: How will I know if there are any changes to this privacy policy?
A:You should be aware that we may revise this Privacy Policy at any time and that such revisions may result in additional uses or disclosures of your personally identifiable information. If we decide to change this Privacy Policy, we will post those changes on the VRC Service so you are always aware of what information we collect, how we use it, and under circumstances, if any, we disclose it. We may also make non-significant changes to this Privacy Policy that generally will not affect our use of your personally identifiable information. If you do not agree to the terms of any revisions of this Privacy Policy, you should discontinue use the VRC Service. If you continue to use the VRC Service after this Privacy Policy is revised, you are demonstrating your consent to the revised Privacy Policy. As a result, you should frequently review this Privacy Policy for any revisions.
Q: Who do I contact if I have any privacy questions?
A: If you have any questions or comments about our Privacy Policy or feel that we are not abiding by the terms of our posted Privacy Policy, please contact our Customer care dept. in any of the following ways:
By e-mail:
privacy@virtualrc.com
By postal mail or courier:
Customer Care – Privacy Policy Issues
Virtual Racing Industries bv
PO Box 165
2100 AD Heemstede
The Netherlands
Telephone: +31 23 5470258
