Privacy Policy for the portal iversity operated by the iversity Learning Solutions GmbH

The iversity Learning Solutions GmbH offers via the website iversity.org a higher education institution-wide platform, which acts as a social network for teachers and students through the Internet (including mobile). The operation of the platform iversity involves the collection and processing of the user’s personal data. Mostly data is concerned, which you uploaded to the platform while using iversity and made available for other users and / or the general public. In some cases iversity Learning Solutions GmbH collects and processes the data for its own specific purposes.

The iversity Learning Solutions GmbH places the greatest value on privacy and data security and respects the provisions of the Federal Data Protection and the Telemedia Acts. In the following sections the iversity Learning Solutions GmbH will explain in detail for what purposes and to which extent personal data is collected and used on the platform. 

By clicking on the checkbox, allocated and marked for this privacy policy, during the registration process you give your consent to iversity for carrying out the data collection and processing operations described in detail below. You can of course withdraw your consent at any time. Please send you withdrawal to the following email address:
datenschutz@iversity.org

The protection of your personal data is an essential concern for iversity. These data protection terms inform you about the way iversity processes your personal data and how you administer and exchange your data with other users. It generally holds true that the user has control over his data and that iversity respects the privacy of its users and does not pass any data on to third parties.

Additionally, you can download the privacy policy as a PDF document.

iversity is a social network for teachers and students on the Internet. First and foremost, you shape the contents displayed on iversity. You create your own profile with information and photos of yourself as well as much other content. You exchange views with other members, write messages to them, provide content for groups or all members and comment on their contents, etc. While doing so, you naturally publish your personal data. Please do provide information about yourself wisely. The iversity Learning Solutions GmbH can and will protect your data via its technology – however please protect yourself by the self-conscious use of the Internet as a medium!

1. Collection and storage of personal data

The iversity Learning Solutions GmbH collects and processes personal information when you register for iversity (see section 1.1). Furthermore, the iversity Learning Solutions GmbH stores to a certain extent data generated by the use of iversity (see section 1.2). Additionally data, which you generate after your registration on iversity, is also stored (see Section 1.3).

1.1. Inventory data

The iversity Learning Solutions GmbH stores the following data obtained during the registration process on the website (hereinafter referred to as "inventory data"):

• first and last name,
• your higher education institution and field of sudies,
• e-mail address, via which you can be reached,
• a password for future access to iversity.

The name is part of your profile, and is therefore visible to other registered users on iversity. Evidently your e-mail address and password remain confidential and cannot be viewed by third parties.

If you use paid services on iversity, for example the paid print-on-demand service offered by the iversity Learning Solutions GmbH, the iversity Learning Solutions GmbH additionally requests and stores the following data:

billing and shipping address (street, house number, postcode and place), depending on the desired method of payment, credit card number or bank account number

The inventory data described earlier is needed by the iversity Learning Solutions GmbH in order to identify you as the contracting party, send you the goods and manage the billing process.

When selecting a payment method, which is handled via a payment provider, you will usually have to provide further data to the respective payment provider. Insofar the privacy policy of the respective payment provider is also applicable. These may include the transfer of data to the iversity Learning Solutions GmbH as part of the transaction.

Your e-mail address will also be used to send you, at reasonable time intervals, an e-mail newsletter, which in addition to the news on activities in your groups will also include news on changes and enhancements to the services offered by the iversity Learning Solutions GmbH. However, you shall always have the option to unsubscribe this newsletter, for example by a simple e-mail to info@iversity.org or by clicking the appropriate link provided in each newsletter.

1.2 Usage Data / Cookies / Web analytics

Moreover, when using iversity the following so-called usage data will be collected:

1.2.1 Logfiles

When websites are visited via iversity.org, access data is submitted by your web browser, which is stored by the iversity Learning Solutions GmbH in the automated log files, known as server logs. These log files contain the following information:

• IP address of the computer
• date, time, status, amount of data transferred and the website from which you came to the requested page (referrer)
• product and version information of the browser (user agent), operating system, language settings.

The IP addresses automatically collected via these log files are anonymized and used if needed, in this anonymous form, for the improvement of iversity and for security reasons, to be able to trace cases of abuse of the service offered by iversity Learning Solutions GmbH. You are entitled to prohibit, at any point in time, this kind of use of the log files via e-mail or by mail.

A compilation of this data with other sources of data, particularly with the personal data of the user, is not performed. The iversity Learning Solutions GmbH, however, reserves the right to inspect existing logs for the last known IP address of the user, in the case of a definite legal offence or contract violation by the user. This serves mainly to protect the users of iversity and the security of user data on iversity.

1.2.2 Cookies

As part of its website the iversity Learning Solutions GmbH uses cookies. Cookies are small files that are stored on your hard disk, and which allow the iversity Learning Solutions GmbH to gain certain pieces of information.

Via a so-called session cookie iversity Learning Solutions GmbH gains on the one hand the session ID of the user, which is a unique cryptographic identifier to authenticate the members. On the other hand, this cookie helps to store form data which is needed across multiple pages. At the end of a session the cookie is removed from the browser.

Another cookie stores the currently selected language by the user, in case it was explicitly selected by the user. At the end of a session the cookie is removed from the browser.

If you want to prevent the use of cookies you can do this by setting up your browser in a way to prevent the acceptance and storage of new cookies. In order to find out how this works with your browser in detail you can for example consult the help function of your browser. However without session cookies and secure cookies you cannot use or can only partially use the services of iversity.org. It is therefore advisable to allow cookies.

1.2.3 Web analytics

a) The iversity Learning Solutions GmbH uses Google Analytics, a web analytics service provided by Google Inc. of 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA ("Google"). Google Analytics also uses cookies (see section 1.2.2) which can analyze your usage of websites. The information generated by the cookie about your use of the website (visit times and referring sources, details on the system configuration and your provider, including a portion of your IP address) is transmitted to a Google server in the U.S. and stored there.

iversity uses Google Analytics to analyze site usage anonymously. Google may also transfer this anonymous information to third parties if required by law or if third parties process this data on Google's behalf. Google will not associate your IP address with any other data held by Google.

By using this site you agree to the processing of your data by Google in the manner and for the purpose as described above. However, you may refuse to accept new cookies by adjusting your browser settings (see above). You may also deactivate Google Analytics by installing a so called browser-add-on, which is provided by Google under the following address: http://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=en.

More information on Google Inc. and Google Analytics can be found here: http://www.google.com. Goofle’s privacy policy can be found here: http://www.google.com/intl/de/privacy/privacy-policy.html.

b) On the landing page and the blog of the website of iversity.org the iversity Learning Solutions GmbH uses plugins of the network facebook.com (eg the "Like Button") owned by Facebook Inc., 1601 S. California Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94304 , USA. Our corresponding sites are marked with the appropriate button. If you open our web sites which include such a plugin, your browser will connect directly to the servers of Facebook. The contents of the plugin originate from Facebook Inc. and are transmitted directly to your browser and displayed accordingly on our site, without us being able to alter the contents of the plugin.

Facebook Inc. may understand from the information transmitted to the server of Facebook Inc., which of our web sites you have visited and associate this information to a Facebook account, if you are registered on Facebook or visited a Facebook page or other pages with Facebook content recently. Also if you want to actively use Facebook plugins (eg press the Like button), the corresponding information from your browser will be directly transmitted to Facebook Inc., without us being able to exert any influence over the process. For detailed information on how and to what extent the Facebook Inc. collects, processes and uses relevant data, please refer to the privacy policies of Facebook Inc., which can be found under www.facebook.com / policy.php. There you can also find information on how to protect your privacy. To prevent Facebook Inc. from collecting information about you during the visit to our website, you can log out of Facebook before visiting our web pages and delete existing cookies from Facebook Inc. from your browser.

c) On the web sites of iversity plugins of the short message service Twitter Inc., 795 Folsom St., Suite 600, San Francisco, CA 94107, USA are used ("tweet" button). When you visit our websites via the corresponding "tweet" button, the plugin establishes a direct connection between your browser and the Twitter servers. Twitter receives the information that you have visited our site using your IP address and may associate this information with your Twitter account. If you klick on the "tweet" button while you are logged into your Twitter account, you can link content on our pages with your Twitter profile. Thus it is possible for Twitter Inc. to associate a visit to our sites with your user account. The iversity Learning Solutions GmbH has no influence on the transmission and processing of any data by Twitter. For more information on data processing at Twitter, please refer to the privacy policy statement on http://twitter.com/privacy. If you want to avoid that Twitter can associate your visit to iversity with your Twitter account, please log out of your Twitter account before visiting iversity.

d) When visiting the blog of iversity the Posterous, Inc., 2973 16th St., 4th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94103, also places a cookie. If you decide to use the blog information on your visit to our website including your IP address is disseminated. The iversity Learning Solutions GmbH has no influence on the transmission and processing of data by Posterous, Inc. For more information, please refer to the the privacy policy statement of Posterous, Inc. on http://posterous.com/privacy.

You at any time object to the data collection, storage and use in accordance with paragraph 1.2.3.

1.3 Content Data

In addition to the inventory and usage data there is also data which is created by you as member in the course of using iversity (hereinafter referred to as "content data"). This includes all the data that you upload yourself voluntarily in your profile (like your photo, CV or details on your previous university / faculty, contact information, etc.) or upload to other locations in your personal space (eg, your texts, publications) or make available elsewhere (eg, news, comments, materials, etc.). iversity Learning Solutions GmbH does not actively collect such data, furthermore it is in your discretion whether or not you provide information and to what extent the information you provide is accessible to certain circle of users.

2. Use of Data

2.1 Inventory data

2.1.1 General use of inventory data

The iversity Learning Solutions GmbH requires and uses your data solely to adhere to its existing contractual relationships with you, that is to manage your user account, to perform potential billing procedures and if necessary to contact you.

2.1.2 Use of your e-mail address

The iversity uses your e-mail address in order to contact you concerning your user account and to send you the editorial newsletter and / or notifications from iversity.org. You shall always have the option to unsubscribe this newsletter at any point time, either by sending us an e-mail or by clicking on the appropriate link provided at the end of each newsletter.

Regarding the fact that the newsletter may contain information about new features of iversity.org, you can object to the use of your e-mail address for the receipt of the newsletter separately. In order to do this, please send an e-mail to: newsletter@iversity.org.

2.1.3 Transmission of inventory data to third parties

The iversity Learning Solutions GmbH does not hand over your inventory data to third parties. Exceptions apply,

when and where it is necessary to enforce existing contractual relationships or any claims we are entitled to,

if the iversity Learning Solutions GmbH is legally obliged or committed in accordance with a court ruling or

when it comes to requests from governmental institutions, particularly law enforcement and regulatory authorities, if and only to the extent necessary to prevent threats to public safety and order and to prosecute crimes.

Iversity is also committed to the scientific exchange. Accordingly, iversity enables selected academic institutions to evaluate public content and anonymized user data from the platform. This anonymous data will be passed on exclusively for non-commercial, scientific purposes to trusted researchers at public institutions.

2.2 Usage data

Via usage data iversity Learning Solutions GmbH gains insights on how iversity is used. Thus iversity Learning Solutions GmbH learns, for example, which pages are the most popular and which the times are when the usage of iversity.org is particularly intense.

The iversity Learning Solutions GmbH uses the results for technical and editorial improvements of the service. The use of Google Analytics, as well as the use of cookies not related to the login process is purely for statistical purposes, by doing this the iversity Learning Solutions GmbH learns, for example, which areas and which content is accessed when and how. This information is used by the iversity Learning Solutions GmbH to make iversity easier to use. Through the statistical findings on the type of browser and operating system employed the iversity Learning Solutions GmbH can also optimize the web design.

The iversity Learning Solutions GmbH does not hand over usage data to third parties.

2.3 Content data

2.3.1 Accessibility of your content

You can publish information about yourself, your interests and other personal relationships on iversity, especially in your profile and other pages which have been designed by you (eg your photos, articles, materials). Technically speaking you transfer personal data via the iversity Learning Solutions GmbH the technical provider of iversity to third parties.

However, you alone decide what kind of information you wish to share to which group of users. Disclosing personal data enables other users and visitors of inversity to get to know you, while giving you the opportunity to get in touch with other users who you are interested in. The iversity Learning Solutions GmbH makes technically available the data you wish to be shared on iversity. The profile you set up may be found via internet search engines. However you have the possibility to restrict the visibility of your profile by altering your privacy settings on iversity and for example restrict access to other registered users of iversity. Under no circumstances will your e-mail address or your password be visible to the open internet public or to other registered users.

2.3.2 Matching

iversity Learning Solutions GmbH matches user’s content on iversity (eg, contributions in groups) with content published by other users. Thus linking of content and people on iversity is facilitated. This so-called "matching" is applied only to content which was explicitly published by the user and is solely intended to make relevant suggestions to you in a professional manner or to facilitate your search for relevant groups, individuals, events and contributions on iversity.

2.3.3 Search functions and activity feeds

Your name is visible for all users of iversity and thus "searchable" on the platform. This means that your profile will appear in the list with search results when a user is searching for other users. It is also possible for users to search for relevant groups, individuals or events, again your profile may appear in these lists.

2.3.4 Crocodoc

The iversity Learning Solutions GmbH uses the App Crocodoc which allows you to include PDF, Word and PowerPoint files in your uploads and to comment on them collaboratively with other members of iversity.org. The app is provided by the company Crocodoc, Boston, Massachusetts 02 101, USA. In order to be able to use Crocodoc, it is necessary to click the button "annotate" and thereby upload the respective document with its embedded information on a server of the company Crocodoc. When you and / or other members edit or comment on the document, in addition to the content your name and the corresponding annotations will be visible for other users of the document. Crocodoc will not process documents and user names in addition to the above nor will it evaluate or share them with third parties.

2.3.5 Dealing with the content data after the termination of the usage agreement

After terminating your usage agreement your profile, including the corresponding content will be deleted. Other content posted by you on iversity.org remains visible, unless deleted by you, however it will be anonymized or pseudonymized (eg, the content is displayed without your name or your photo). This applies to uploaded content, communications and other interactions with users.

3. Links to Other Sites

The websites of iversity may contain links to other websites and services of providers which are not affiliated with iversity Learning Solutions GmbH. After clicking on the links iversity Learning Solutions GmbH has no influence on the processing of personal data which might have been submitted to third parties (such as the IP address or URL that contains the link), since the behavior of third parties is beyond the control of the iversity Learning Solutions GmbH. Therefore for the processing of such personal data by third parties iversity Learning Solutions GmbH shall not be responsible.

4. Information, correction, cancellation, suspension

Upon written demand, electronically or in print form, the iversity Learning Solutions GmbH will inform you on what kind of personal data is stored about you. You can also correct, lock or delete your personal data at any time. To do so, please contact the following address: datenschutz@iversity.org or write to us at the address displayed above. An orderly request must at least contain the following information:

Last name, first name
E-mail Address
Address
Identification by a copy of your passport (valid ID)

If you modify or correct personal information, then the personal information entered earlier is automatically deleted. Therefore the easiest way for you is to alter your records yourself.

The iversity Learning Solutions GmbH points out that deleted or corrected data may be visible for a few days after deletion, because of caching systems and / or the interposition of proxy servers. Due to the obligation of the iversity Learning Solutions GmbH to ensure data availability, it is also possible that deleted or corrected data will be available after the deletion or adjustment for a limited period of time within the backups. This data is neither publicly visible nor processed any further or used in any other way.

Excluded from the deletion is only data needed by the iversity Learning Solutions GmbH to process outstanding tasks or to enforce its rights and entitlements as well as data required by statutory provisions. Such data is however locked.

Should you have further questions about privacy practices on the platform iversity, please contact the Privacy Officer who is happy to help you. Simply write an e-mail to datenschutz@iversity.org. However, please be patient if the question is not answered immediately on the following day.

5. Security

The iversity Learning Solutions GmbH employs technical and organizational security measures to ensure that your personal data is protected against loss, improper alteration or unauthorized access by third parties. In any case, the only authorized persons at iversity Learning Solutions GmbH have access to your personal data, and only insofar as it is necessary for the purposes mentioned above.

6. Change of the notes on data protection

The iversity Learning Solutions GmbH reserves the right to update this privacy policy. In the event of changes you will be informed with reasonable notice and asked for any necessary consent.

September 2011