OSTG | Open Source Technology Group

OSTG, Inc., comprised of the Internet sites ostg.com, slashdot.org, sourceforge.net, freshmeat.net, thinkgeek.com, itmanagersjournal.com, slashcode.com, linux.com, animationfactory.com, gifworks.com, mediabuilder.com, postcardmaker.com, 3dtextmaker.com, NewsForge.com, geocrawler.com and devchannel.org (the "OSTG Sites"), is committed to protecting the privacy of users of the OSTG Sites. At OSTG, we intend to give you as much control as possible over your personal information, including registration data. As part of the normal operation of the OSTG Sites, we collect information from you. This Privacy Statement describes the information we collect about you and how that information may be used.

OSTG will track the domains from which people visit the OSTG Sites in order to gain aggregate data that may be analyzed for trends and statistics. Subject to the provisions of this Privacy Statement, OSTG may use accumulated aggregate data for several purposes including, but not limited to, marketing analysis, evaluation of OSTG's services, and business planning.

Currently, OSTG uses personal information as a basis for notifications to users, and in order to implement the Terms and Conditions of Use governing the OSTG Sites (the "Terms"). Generally, the user names, email addresses, and any additional information that a user may choose to post are publicly available on the OSTG Sites. When users voluntarily and publicly disclose personal information that may contain Registration Data, as defined in the Terms, or otherwise post personal information in conjunction with content subject to a license, such personal information necessarily will be disclosed subject to the terms of the applicable license. An example of such a disclosure includes, but is not limited to, a user's disclosure of personal information as part of a message posted to a public message forum, or a publicly-released software application.

OSTG may conduct surveys or other studies of its user base and usage for marketing and planning purposes. Participation in such surveys is at the user's option, but OSTG does reserve the right to conduct mandatory surveys in the future. With respect to information collected from such surveys or studies, and in the event that responses are to be publicly disclosed, users will be notified at the time they take the survey and OSTG will disclose only aggregate information regarding its users and not personal information identifying any specific individual. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in cases where surveys allow users to submit written comments, and where OSTG advises users of the possibility of such disclosure at the time they take the survey, OSTG reserves the right to disclose text information provided by any user through such a survey, provided that no personal information identifying that user is disclosed. Circumstances under which OSTG would publicly disclose aggregate information include, but are not limited to, sharing survey results with the site population, providing data to OSTG advertisers on user preferences and/or demographics, business planning, and publicizing overall usage data in press communications.

OSTG employs "cookies" to provide users with tailored information. A "cookie" is an element of data that a website, when visited by a user, sends to that user's browser which, in turn, may store that element on the user's hard drive or memory. OSTG uses cookies to better serve users of our OSTG Sites; any cookies sent by OSTG will be marked so that they will be accessible only by OSTG Sites subject to this Privacy Statement. However, at his or her option and at his or her sole expense and responsibility, any user may block or delete our cookies from his or her hard drive. However, by disabling cookies, certain site features and functionality may no longer work properly, or at all.

In order to implement or enforce the Terms, OSTG may use user-provided e-mail addresses to contact users on an individual basis. At no time, unless such disclosure is required by law, a governmental agency, or specifically authorized by the user, will OSTG disclose individual user personal information to unrelated third parties that is not publicly available.

The OSTG Sites contain links to other websites, whether owned or controlled by OSTG affiliates, or unrelated third parties. Please note that the privacy policies of these sites may differ from those of the OSTG Sites. OSTG is not responsible for the privacy policies and practices of any linked website. We encourage you to read the privacy statement of any website you may visit.

Users may "opt-in" to receive site notifications, newsletters, or other information via email. Users may remove themselves from such services at their discretion. Any email sent to an "opt-in" list will include directions for how a user may remove himself or herself from the list, or a URL where the user may find such directions.

In some cases, users' personal information may be publicly available through a user's profile display. In such cases, users have the option to opt out of publicly displaying their personal information, including e-mail addresses. Users may also enlist this technique when posing comments on certain OSTG Sites. In cases where site profiles allow users to display optional information publicly, such entry and display is at the user's discretion and may be changed at any time by the user.

In some cases, users may have the opportunity to use an OSTG Site to send electronic mail to another user or email list. In such cases, a user's valid email address and real name will be included with such messages. In order to prevent abuse, users may not opt-out of such a display, but may choose to refrain from using such OSTG Site to transmit an email message.

On certain OSTG Sites, users can view their data on their personal profile page. When technically feasible, users are permitted to update their personal information directly through OSTG. When such updating service is not technically feasible, OSTG will make reasonable efforts to assist users in updating their personal information.

To secure site integrity, OSTG employs measures, including but not limited to security audits, use of encryption tools and software, and other reasonable security measures and procedures.

Internal access to users' private and nonpublic personal information is restricted to site administrators and individuals on a need-to-know basis.

In the event that OSTG becomes aware that site security is compromised or nonpublic user information has been disclosed to unrelated third parties as a result of external activity, including but not limited to external security attacks, OSTG shall take reasonable measures which it deems appropriate, including but not limited to internal investigation and reporting, and notification to and cooperation with law enforcement authorities, notwithstanding other provisions of this Privacy Statement.

If OSTG becomes aware that a user's personal information provided to OSTG has been disclosed in a manner not in accordance with this Privacy Statement, OSTG shall make reasonable efforts to notify the affected user, as soon as reasonably possible and as permitted by law, of what information has been disclosed, to the extent that OSTG knows this information.

While this Privacy Statement expresses OSTG's standards for maintenance of private data, it is not in a position to guarantee that the standards will always be met. There may be factors beyond OSTG's control (e.g., "script kiddies", "crackers and other malcontents") that may result in disclosure of data. As a consequence, OSTG disclaims any warranties or representations relating to maintenance or nondisclosure of private information.