| 13 | | Apple's privacy policy covers the collection and use of personal information that may be collected by Apple anytime you interact with Apple, such as when you visit our website, when you purchase Apple products and services, or when you call our sales or support associates. Please take a moment to read the following to learn more about our information practices, including what type of information is gathered, how the information is used and for what purposes, to whom we disclose the information, and how we safeguard your personal information. Your privacy is a priority at Apple, and we go to great lengths to protect it. |
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| 14 | | |
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| 15 | | ### Why we collect personal information |
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| 16 | | |
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| 17 | | Why do we collect your personal information? Because it helps us deliver a superior level of customer service. It enables us to give you convenient access to our products and services and focus on categories of greatest interest to you. In addition, your personal information helps us keep you posted on the latest product announcements, software updates, special offers, and events that you might like to hear about. |
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| | 13 | Apple's Customer Privacy Policy covers the collection, use, and disclosure of personal information that may be collected by Apple anytime you interact with Apple, such as when you visit our website, when you purchase Apple products and services, or when you call our sales or support associates. Please take a moment to read the following to learn more about our information practices, including what type of information is gathered, how the information is used and for what purposes, to whom we disclose the information, and how we safeguard your personal information. Your privacy is a priority at Apple, and we go to great lengths to protect it. |
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| | 14 | |
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| | 15 | ## Why we collect personal information |
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| | 16 | |
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| | 17 | We collect your personal information because it helps us deliver a superior level of customer service. It enables us to give you convenient access to our products and services and focus on categories of greatest interest to you. In addition, your personal information helps us keep you posted on the latest product announcements, software updates, special offers, and events that you might like to hear about. |
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| 21 | | ### What information we collect |
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| 22 | | |
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| 23 | | There are a number of situations in which your personal information may help us give you better service. For example, we may ask for your personal information when you're discussing a service issue on the phone with an associate, downloading a software update, registering for a seminar, participating in an online survey, registering your products, or purchasing a product. At such times, we may collect personal information relevant to the situation, such as your name, mailing address, phone number, email address, and contact preferences; your credit card information and information about the Apple products you own, such as their serial numbers, and date of purchase; and information relating to a support or service issue. We collect information for market research purposes -- such as your occupation and where you use your computer -- to gain a better understanding of our customers and thus provide more valuable service. We also collect information regarding customer activities on our website, .Mac, the iTunes Music Store, and on related websites. This helps us to determine how best to provide useful information to customers and to understand which parts of our websites and Internet services are of most interest to them. |
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| 24 | | |
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| 25 | | The Apple website, as well as Apple services such as .Mac and the iTunes Music Store, allows you to create an "Apple ID" based on your personal information. This convenient service saves you time and allows for easier use of our web services. Here's how it works: You create a personal profile -- providing your name, phone number, email address, and in some cases your mailing address or a credit card number -- and choose a password and password hint (such as the month and day of your birth) for security. The system saves your information and assigns you a personal Apple ID -- in many cases simply your email address, because it's unique and easy to remember. The next time you order from the Apple Store or register a new product, all you need to do is enter your Apple ID and password; the system looks up the information it needs to assist you. In addition, if you update the information associated with your Apple ID it will be available for all your transactions with Apple globally. |
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| 26 | | |
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| 27 | | Apple also enables you to send 'iCards', set up allowances on the iTunes Music Store and purchase and send gift certificates and products, to family members, friends or colleagues. To fulfill your request, Apple may require personal information about the person to whom you are sending the product or service such as their name, physical address, email address, etc. The personal information you provide about that person is used only for the purpose for which it is collected. Apple will not use the information collected to market directly to that person. |
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| 28 | | |
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| 29 | | If you use a bulletin board or chat room on an Apple website you should be aware that any information you share is visible to other users. Personally identifiable information you submit to one of these forums can be read, collected, or used by other individuals to send you unsolicited messages. Apple is not responsible for the personally identifiable information you choose to submit in these forums. |
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| 30 | | |
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| 31 | | ### When we disclose your information |
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| 32 | | |
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| 33 | | Apple takes your privacy very seriously. Be assured that Apple does not sell or rent your contact information to other marketers. To help us provide superior service, your personal information may be shared with legal entities within the Apple group globally who will safeguard it in accordance with Apple's privacy policy. There are also times when it may be advantageous for Apple to make certain personal information about you available to companies that Apple has a strategic relationship with or that perform work for Apple to provide products and services to you on our behalf. These companies may help us process information, extend credit, fulfill customer orders, deliver products to you, manage and enhance customer data, provide customer service, assess your interest in our products and services, or conduct customer research or satisfaction surveys. These companies are also obligated to protect your personal information in accordance with Apple's policies. Without such information being made available, it would be difficult for you to purchase products, have products delivered to you, receive customer service, provide us feedback to improve our products and services, or access certain services, offers, and content on the Apple website. |
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| | 21 | ## What information we collect and how we may use it |
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| | 22 | |
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| | 23 | There are a number of situations in which your personal information may help us give you better products. For example: |
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| | 24 | |
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| | 25 | * We may ask for your personal information when you're discussing a service issue on the phone with an associate, downloading a software update, registering for a seminar, participating in an online survey, registering your products, or purchasing a product. |
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| | 26 | * When you interact with Apple, we may collect personal information relevant to the situation, such as your name, mailing address, phone number, email address, and contact preferences; your credit card information and information about the Apple products you own, such as their serial numbers and date of purchase; and information relating to a support or service issue. |
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| | 27 | * We also collect information for market research purposes -- such as your occupation and where you use your computer -- to gain a better understanding of our customers and thus provide more valuable service. |
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| | 28 | * We collect information regarding customer activities on our websites, .Mac, and the iTunes Store. This helps us to determine how best to provide useful information to customers and to understand which parts of our websites, products, and Internet services are of most interest to them. |
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| | 29 | * We may use personal information to provide products that you have requested as well as for auditing, research, and analysis to improve Apple's products. |
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| | 30 | |
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| | 31 | ### Your Apple ID and related information |
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| | 32 | |
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| | 33 | The Apple website, as well as Apple services such as .Mac and the iTunes Store, allows you to create an "Apple ID" based on your personal information. This convenient service saves you time and allows for easier use of our web services. Here's how it works: You create a personal profile -- providing your name, phone number, email address, and in some cases your mailing address or a credit card number -- and choose a password and password hint (such as the month and day of your birth) for security. The system saves your information and assigns you a personal Apple ID -- in many cases simply your email address, because it's unique and easy to remember. The next time you order from the Apple Store or register a new product, all you need to do is enter your Apple ID and password; the system looks up the information it needs to assist you. In addition, if you update the information associated with your Apple ID it will be available for all your transactions with Apple globally. |
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| | 34 | |
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| | 35 | ### iCards and gift services |
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| | 36 | |
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| | 37 | Apple also enables you to send "iCards", set up allowances on the iTunes Store and purchase and send gift certificates and products, to family members, friends or colleagues. To fulfill your request, Apple may require personal information about the person to whom you are sending the product or service such as their name, physical address, email address, and so on. The personal information you provide about that person is used only for the purpose for which it is collected. Apple will not use the information collected to market directly to that person. |
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| | 38 | |
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| | 39 | ### Publicly displayed information is public |
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| | 40 | |
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| | 41 | If you use a bulletin board or chat room on an Apple website you should be aware that any information you share is visible to other users. Personally identifiable information you submit to one of these forums can be read, collected, or used by other individuals to send you unsolicited messages. Apple is not responsible for the personally identifiable information you choose to submit in these forums. For example, if you choose to make information, which was previously non-public, available by enabling certain user features, Apple will collect that information from your interaction and the information will become publicly available. |
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| | 42 | |
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| | 43 | ## When we disclose your information |
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| | 44 | |
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| | 45 | Apple takes your privacy very seriously. Apple does not sell or rent your contact information to other marketers. |
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| | 46 | |
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| | 47 | ### Within the Apple Group |
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| | 48 | |
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| | 49 | To help us provide superior service, your personal information may be shared with legal entities within the Apple group globally who will take steps to safeguard it in accordance with Apple's privacy policy. |
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| | 50 | |
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| | 51 | ### With our service providers, vendors, and strategic partners |
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| | 52 | |
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| | 53 | There are also times when it may be advantageous for Apple to make certain personal information about you available to companies that Apple has a strategic relationship with or that perform work for Apple to provide products and services to you on our behalf. These companies may help us process information, extend credit, fulfill customer orders, deliver products to you, manage and enhance customer data, provide customer service, assess your interest in our products and services, or conduct customer research or satisfaction surveys. These companies are also obligated to protect your personal information in accordance with Apple's policies, except if we inform you otherwise at the time of collection. For example, when you purchase and activate your iPhone, you authorize Apple and its carrier to exchange the information that you provide during the activation process to carry out service. If you are approved for service, your account will be governed by Apple and its carrier's respective privacy policies. Without such information being made available, it would be difficult for you to purchase products, have products delivered to you, receive customer service, provide us feedback to improve our products and services, or access certain services, offers, and content on the Apple website. |
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| 53 | | For example, knowing your first name lets us welcome you with a greeting the next time you visit the Apple Store. Information such as your country and language -- and if you're an educator, your school -- helps us provide a more useful online shopping experience. And your contact information, product serial numbers, and information about your computer helps us register your products, personalize Mac OS X, and set up your Internet Service and .Mac accounts and provide you with customer service. |
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| 54 | | |
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| 55 | | If, however, you prefer not to enable cookies, please go to [ www.apple.com/legal/privacy/aboutcookies.html ]( |
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| 56 | | |
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| 57 | | As is true of most Web sites, we gather certain information automatically and store it in log files. This information includes internet protocol (IP) addresses, browser type, internet service provider (ISP), referring/exit pages, operating system, date/time stamp, and clickstream data. |
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| | 77 | For example, knowing your first name lets us welcome you with a greeting the next time you visit the Apple Store. Information such as your country and language -- and if you're an educator, your school -- helps us provide a more useful online shopping experience. And your contact information, product serial numbers, and information about your computer helps us register your products, personalize Mac OS X, and set up your Internet service and .Mac accounts and provide you with customer service. |
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| | 78 | |
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| | 79 | If, however, you prefer not to enable cookies, please go to [ www.apple.com/legal/privacy/aboutcookies.html ](http://www.apple.com/legal/privacy/aboutcookies.html) , which explains step by step how you can disable cookies. Please note that certain features of the Apple website will not be available once cookies are disabled. |
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| | 80 | |
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| | 81 | As is true of most websites, we gather certain information automatically and store it in log files. This information includes Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, browser type, Internet Service Provider (ISP), referring/exit pages, operating system, date/time stamp, and clickstream data. |
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| 65 | | Pixel tags also enable us to send email messages in a format customers can read. And they tell us whether emails have been opened to assure that we're only sending messages that are of interest to our customers. We store all of this information in a secure database located in Cupertino, California, in the United States. |
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| 66 | | |
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| 67 | | ### Our companywide commitment to your privacy |
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| 68 | | |
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| 69 | | As we said, Apple takes protecting your privacy very seriously. To make sure your personal information is secure, we communicate these guidelines to Apple employees and strictly enforce privacy safeguards within the company. In addition, Apple supports industry initiatives -- such as the [ Online Privacy Alliance ](http://www.privacyalliance.org) and TRUSTe -- to preserve privacy rights on the Internet and in all aspects of electronic commerce. And we do not knowingly solicit personal information from minors or send them requests for personal information. |
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| 70 | | |
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| 71 | | Apple abides by the safe harbor framework set forth by the U.S. Department of Commerce regarding the collection, use, and retention of personal information collected from the European Union. You'll find more information about the U.S. Department of Commerce [ Safe Harbor Program ](http://www.export.gov/safeharbor/) . Note that personal information regarding individuals who reside in the EU is jointly controlled by Apple Computer International in Cork, Ireland, and by Apple Computer Limited in Uxbridge, United Kingdom. |
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| | 89 | Pixel tags also enable us to send email messages in a format customers can read. And they tell us whether emails have been opened to ensure that we're sending only messages that are of interest to our customers. We store all of this information in a secure database located in Cupertino, California, in the United States. |
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| | 90 | |
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| | 91 | ## Our companywide commitment to your privacy |
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| | 92 | |
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| | 93 | As we said, Apple takes protecting your privacy very seriously. To make sure your personal information is secure, we communicate these guidelines to Apple employees and strictly enforce privacy safeguards within the company. In addition, Apple supports industry initiatives, such as TRUSTe, to preserve privacy rights on the Internet and in all aspects of electronic commerce. |
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| | 94 | |
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| | 95 | ## International users |
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| | 96 | |
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| | 97 | Apple abides by the safe harbor framework set forth by the U.S. Department of Commerce regarding the collection, use, and retention of personal information collected from the European Union. The following link provides more information about the U.S. Department of Commerce Safe Harbor Program. Note that personal information regarding individuals who reside in the EU is jointly controlled by Apple Sales International in Cork, Ireland, and by Apple UK Limited in Uxbridge, United Kingdom. |
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