Privacy Statement
BuildTopia Privacy Notice
Buildtopia.com is committed to protecting the privacy of our users' personally
identifiable information. To better protect your privacy, we provide this notice
explaining our online information practices and the choices you can make about the
way your information is used at the site.
What Information We Collect and How We Use It
To enable users to take advantage of the BuildTopia service, we collect certain types
of personally identifiable information from the various participants that interact with our
Web site.
The types of personally identifiable information we collect may include: name, address,
telephone number, e-mail address, company name, trade information, contractor license
information, and credit card information and or bank account number and check routing number.
We use this information to enable the participants involved in the homebuilding process
to coordinate activities, to collaborate on the project, and to facilitate communication
among participants.
We also use participant's personally identifiable information to send billing and
subscription information and other communications about BuildTopia (e.g., information about
product upgrades).
In addition, we use this information to communicate with users, for example, to respond
to comments suggestions or questions. We also may, from time to time, use this information
or disclose it to select third parties to offer participants opportunities to learn about
additional products, programs or services that we believe may be of interest to them. However,
we will not disclose financial information, including credit card information and bank account
information to third parties except where it is in response to legal process or when we
believe in good faith that the law requires it, for example, in response to a court order,
subpoena or a law enforcement agency's request.
Where we use a third-party software to provide the accounting feature of our product,
we require this company to maintain the confidentiality of participant data, and to use
the information only in a manner consistent with this policy. We may, on occasion, share
aggregate accounting information that does not identify particular participants with
third parties.
Library of Subcontractors and Vendors
We maintain a library of subcontractors' and venders' contact data and trade information
which we make available to registered BuildTopia builders and contractors to be used for
bidding purposes.
Non-Personally Identifiable Information
We may collect certain non-personally identifiable information about our users when you
visit many of our web pages such as the type of browser you are using (e.g., Netscape,
Internet Explorer), the type of operating system you are using, (e.g., Windows '98 or Mac
OS) and the domain name of your Internet service provider (e.g., America Online,
Earthlink).
We use the non-personally identifiable information that we collect to improve the design
and content of our site and to enable us to personalize your Internet experience. We also
may use this information in the aggregate to analyze site usage, as well as to offer you
products or services.
We may share aggregate data including participant demographics and certain statistical
information about participants' use of our product, programs, or services. This data
will not individually identify participants. We will collect data by geographic region
and possibly share it with third parties. The data will be used to determine the dollars
worth of a specific good pr service used in a specific region. For example, we may
release to a third party that $2,000,000 of Pella Windows were used in construction
in the Mid-Atlantic Region of the United States in the 1st quarter of 2001. This data
will be used by third parties for marketing research.
Legal Process
We may disclose personally identifiable information in response to legal process or
when we believe in good faith that the law requires it, for example, in response to a
court order, subpoena or a law enforcement agency's request.
Cookies
To enhance your experience with our site, we may use "cookies." Cookies are text files
we place in your computer's browser to store your preferences. Cookies, by themselves,
do not tell us your e-mail address or other personally identifiable information unless
you choose to provide this information to us by, for example, registering at one of our
sites. However, once you choose to furnish the site with personally identifiable
information, this information may be linked to the data stored in the cookie.
We use cookies to understand site usage and to improve the content and offerings on
our sites. We also may, on occasion, use cookies to offer you products, programs, or
services.
Collection of Information by Third Parties and Sponsors
Our site contains links to other Web sites whose information practices may be different
than ours. Users should consult the other sites' privacy notices as we have no control
over information that is submitted to, or collected by, these third parties.
We sometimes may offer promotions, products, programs or services that are sponsored
by or co-branded with identified third parties. By virtue of these special relationships,
these third parties may obtain personally identifiable information that users voluntarily
submit to participate in the BuildTopia offering. We have no control over the
third-party's use of this information.
Homebuilders who use the BuildTopia service may enable outside third parties such
as lenders to access and use some of the information collected through our service.
This privacy notice does not cover these third parties' access to and use of participant
data which is the subject of individual agreements between the homebuilders and outside
third parties.
Security
We have appropriate security measures in place to prevent against unauthorized
access to information that we collect online.
Terms of Use
This privacy policy is part of and is subject to our Terms of Use policy, including
limitations on damages, arbitration of disputes, and application of the law of the state
of Maryland. Please review our User Agreement and Terms of Use at
http://www.buildtopia.com for more information.
Changes to this Privacy Policy
BuildTopia may amend this policy from time to time. If we make any substantial changes
in the way we use your personally identifiable information, we will inform you of such
changes by posting a revised notice at our Web site.
Contact Us
If you have any questions regarding this statement or would like more information on
our privacy practices, please contact us at webmaster@buildtopia.com.
