Privacy Policy Changes

Clarifications

The use of Secure Socket Layer ("SSL") within the service has been further clarified.

Expanded Synchronization Functionality

We've expanded the Plaxo service's sync capabilities to include sync with third party web applications like GMail, Yahoo! Mail, Hotmail and a growing list of additional end points. To sync with many of those third party services you need to provide Plaxo with your password to those service. As a result, the definition of "Your Account Information" has been expanded to cover these passwords for third party services; it has also been expanded to cover profile information such as photos or physical location.

Password Renewal Process Changed

The process to recover from a lost or forgotten password has changed. The new lost password wizard sends a confirmation e-mail to a member's registered e-mail address; this e-mail will contain a link to a secure page where the member can reset their password.

Clarifications

Different sections of the Privacy Policy have been expanded to further clarify their intent.

• We clarified the use of aggregated and anonymous demographic information with our business partners for such purposes as spam and fraud prevention. However, no such information will be linked directly to your personally identifiable information. You may elect not to have Your Information used for such purposes.
• We may use Your Information (which is, collectively, your account information, your contact list and PIM information) to better provide you with personalized content programming, instructions and services, for license reporting, to better undestand our product usage on an aggregated basis, to verify access rights, to provide you with information about Plaxo and to allow you to purchase and use Plaxo.
• We clarified that this Privacy Policy also applies to data from people using our services through third parties integrating Plaxo functionality through our application programmer interfaces ("APIs") or otherwise.
• We clarified the Rights of Others (Your Contact List) who may fail to recognize you as a known contact and what actions Plaxo may take.

New Privacy Permission Setting

The Privacy Policy was updated to reflect the new Plaxo Card Privacy settings of Members, Contacts, and Private.

• The "Members" privacy setting was previously referred to as Public, but renamed to "Members" to better reflect who the Plaxo card is shared with.
• # The "Contacts" privacy setting is a new which allows the member to only share their Plaxo Card to people in their address book.
• The "Private" privacy setting remains unchanged.

Plaxo's Privacy Principles Section

Right up front, we've put in plain English, the main principles that govern Plaxo's Privacy Policy. These should address and answer the biggest questions people have regarding how their information is used and what rights they have over their information. Added:

• Your Information is your own and you decide who will have access to it.
• You maintain ownership rights to Your Information, even if there is a business transition or policy change.
• You may add, delete, or modify Your Information at any time.
• Plaxo will not update or modify Your Information without your permission.
• Plaxo will not sell, exchange, or otherwise share Your Information with third parties, unless required by law or in accordance with your instructions.
• Plaxo does not send spam, maintain spam mailing lists, or support the activities of spammers.

Your Information now includes Your PIM Information

With the release of Plaxo 2.0, Plaxo now provides you the ability to manage your PIM Information including Notes, Tasks and Calendar information.

Managing your Plaxo Cards

Based on user feedback, we've provided a greater explanation on how to manage the permissions to your Plaxo Cards.

Version History and Change Log information

We now maintain a history and change log so you can determine when and how the privacy policy has changed.

Details on how Opt-out Users information is handled by Plaxo

Based on user feedback, we now explicitly state how we use the information collected for opt-out users. Basically, if you register to our out-out list, your opt-out information will only be used to honor your opt-out request and will not be shared with any third party.

Backups retention period

Based on user feedback, we now detail how long your information is maintained within backups (30 days).

Safe Harbor Principles and EU Directive section

We now outline that Plaxo is a participant in the Safe Habor program and that we have certified to the Safe Harbor Privacy Priciples agreed upon by the US and the EU.

30 Day Effective Notification Period for Changes to the Privacy Policy

Based on user feedback, we now specify that any substantive changes to the Plaxo Privacy Policy will be posted 30 days to taking effect.

Clarification to Limited Data Sharing with Third Parties

We've always stated our principle that you we will only share your information with third parties in accordance with your instructions and permission. Based on user feedback, we restated this principle within this section and specified that information may be shared with a third party credit card processing company to bill members for premium services, if ordered. This business partner does not retain, share, or store any personally identifiable information except to provide this service and is bound by a strict confidentiality agreement.

In addition, we continue to state that we may need to disclose your information when required by law, but we've added to the Privacy Policy that we will notify you of such action where reasonable and permitted by law.

Contacting Plaxo members on the behalf of Update Request Recipients

In order to protect the privacy of Update Request recipients (member or non-member), we continue to offer the courtesy to these individuals of contacting the Plaxo member on their behalf. The Privacy Policy now explicitly outlines what we may communicate to the member on the behalf of the individual including a request to be removed from the members address book, if desired.

Change of Ownership of Other Business Transition section

Now in its own clearly labeled section, the Privacy Policy discusses in plain English what will happen in the case of a business transition, merger, or acquisition of Plaxo. Previously, this information was covered in two separate sections of the Privacy Policy, making it difficult to follow.

Member Communications

Members have always had the ability to opt-out from receiving additional information on Plaxo products, services, news and events, but certain non-promotional notifications may not be opted-out. Based on user feedback, we now specify which non-promotional notifications members may not opt-out from receiving. These notifications include changes to the Privacy Policy and/or Terms of Service agreement, and planned service suspensions and outages.

Rights to Your Information

The Privacy Policy now states that you rentain the rights to access, correct, update and/or delete Your Information at any time, even in the event of a business transition.

The Privacy Policy also specifies what happens when your account is deleted. Your account immediately becomes inaccessible, and all of your information within the account is removed from our systems.