Privacy Policy

Americas Privacy Notice and Acknowledgement Form.

This Privacy Policy was last updated on March 24, 2008.

COCHLEAR AMERICAS ONLINE PRIVACY POLICY

Our Commitment To Privacy
Your privacy is important to us, which is why we have developed this Online Privacy Policy (this “Privacy Policy”) explaining the online information practices of Cochlear Americas and its subsidiaries and affiliates (collectively, "we," "us," “our” and the “Cochlear family of businesses”).  For a list of the members of the Cochlear family of businesses and the websites operated by each, please click here. 

Scope of This Privacy Policy
This Privacy Policy applies only to the “personal information” we collect through the websites that display this Privacy Policy (our “Website(s)”).  “Personal information” means information that identifies you personally, either alone or in combination with other information available to us.  For a list of our Websites, please click here.
This Privacy Policy is a part of and is incorporated into our Cochlear Americas Website Terms of Use.  To review the full Terms of Use, please click here.
 
Your Consent
Please take a few minutes to review our Privacy Policy. By accessing or using our Websites, you are consenting to the collection, use and disclosure of your personal information as set forth in this Privacy Policy.

IF YOU DO NOT CONSENT TO THE COLLECTION, USE AND DISCLOSURE OF YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION AS SET FORTH IN THIS PRIVACY POLICY, YOU MAY NOT USE OUR WEBSITES.

Changes to This Privacy Policy
As we add new Websites (or add new features and functionality to existing Websites), we may need to update or revise this Privacy Policy.  We therefore reserve the right to update or revise this Privacy Policy, at any time and without prior notice, by posting the revised version on our Websites.  These changes will be effective as of the date we post the revised version on our Websites and will apply only to personal information we collect after we have posted the revised version.  Your use of any one of our Websites following any such change constitutes your consent to the terms of the revised Privacy Policy. 
To alert you to changes in this Privacy Policy, we will provide a notice at the top of this page for at least 30 days after the new effective date. 
You may access the current version of this Privacy Policy at any time by clicking on the link marked "Privacy Policy" at the bottom of each page of our Websites.
This Privacy Policy was last updated on March 24, 2008. 

Privacy Notices
This Privacy Policy may be supplemented or amended from time to time by “Privacy Notices” posted on the Web pages on which we collect your personal information.  Generally, Privacy Notices provide details about the personal information we collect on those pages, why we need that information, and choices you may have about the ways we use that information.

Click-Through Agreements
This Privacy Policy may be supplemented or amended by the terms of a “click-through agreement” between you and one or more of us.  For example, when you register to use a password-protected area of one of our Websites, you may be asked to agree to special terms governing your use of that area of the Website.  In such cases, you will be asked to expressly consent to the special terms, for example, by checking a box or clicking a button marked “I agree.”  If the terms of the “click-through agreement” are different than the terms of this Privacy Policy, the terms of the “click-through agreement” will supplement or amend this Privacy Policy, but only with respect to the matters governed by the “click-through agreement.”

What Personal Information Do We Collect from Individuals Who Use Our Websites?
Information You Provide.  We collect the personal information you knowingly and voluntarily provide (about yourself and others) when you use one of our Websites.  The information we collect depends on how you use our Websites.  For example, we may collect credit card information and shipping information if you make a purchase on one of our Websites.
 
Information Sent to Us by Your Web Browser.  We collect information that is sent to us automatically by your Web browser.  This information typically includes the IP address of your Internet service provider, the name and version of your operating system, the name and version of your browser, the date and time of your visit, and the pages you visit.  Generally, we use this information to create statistics that help us improve our Websites and make them more compatible with the technology used by our visitors.

The information provided by your browser does not identify you personally, and we do not link it to information that identifies you personally.  However, we may review our server logs for security purposes, such as detecting intrusions into our network.  If we suspect criminal activity, we may share our server logs – which contain visitors’ IP addresses – with the appropriate investigative authorities who could use that information to trace and identify individuals.
Cookies and Similar Technologies.  We use “cookies” and other Web technologies to collect information and support certain features of our Websites.  For example, we use these technologies to:
– Collect information about the ways visitors use our Websites – which pages they visit, which links they use, and how long they stay on each page;
– To support the features and functionality of our Websites – for example, to save you the trouble of reentering information already in our database or to prompt the setting you established on previous visits to a particular Website; and
– To personalize your experience when you use our Websites.

Generally, the information we collect using these Web technologies does not identify your personally, however, it may be linked to information that does identify you personally, such as the information you provide when you make a purchase or register on one of our Websites.
If you do not wish to receive cookies, you may set your browser to reject cookies or to alert you when a cookie is placed on your computer.  You may also delete our cookies as soon as you leave our Websites.  Although you are not required to accept our cookies when you visit our Websites, if you set your browser to reject cookies, you will not be able to use all of the features and functionality of our Websites.

How Does Cochlear Use Your Personal Information?
– To provide the products, information and services you request;
– For security, credit or fraud prevention purposes;
– To provide you with effective customer service;
– To provide you with a personalized experience when you use our Websites;
– To create a profile from the dealings we have with you to help understand what information you might be interested in receiving from us;
– To contact you with special offers and other information we believe will be of interest to you;
– To contact you with information and notices related to your use of our Websites;
– To invite you to participate in surveys and provide feedback to us;
– To improve the content, functionality and usability of our Websites;
– To improve our products and services and develop new products and services;
– To improve our marketing and promotional efforts;
– To support and improve the use of our products and services, including hearing assistance devices (for example, to enable fitting, activation, maintenance, management and medical liaison regarding the device) and to service any customer warranty rights;
– To maintain a distribution record of Cochlear products; and
– As set forth in any Privacy Notice or “click-through agreement” between you and us.

How Does Cochlear Disclose Personal Information?
Within the Cochlear Family of Businesses.  We may share personal information within the Cochlear family of businesses.  Each member of the Cochlear family of businesses will use and share your personal information only as set forth in this Privacy Policy.

Our Service Providers.  We share personal information with companies and organizations that perform services on our behalf, for example, companies that provide website support services to us or that help us market our products and services.  Our service providers are required by contract to protect the confidentiality of the personal information we share with them and to use it only to provide services on our behalf.

Health Care Providers.  We may share your personal information with health care providers, if we first obtain your consent.
Business Transfers.  Your personal information may be transferred to a company that has acquired the stock or assets of a member of the Cochlear family of businesses or one of our operating divisions, for example, as the result of a sale, merger, reorganization or liquidation.  If such a transfer occurs, the acquiring company’s use of your personal information will still be subject to this Privacy Policy and the privacy preferences you’ve expressed to us. 

Protection of Our Site and Others.  We may disclose personal information when we, in good faith, believe disclosure is appropriate to comply with the law (or a court order or subpoena); to prevent or investigate a possible crime, such as fraud or identity theft; to enforce or apply our Terms of Use or other agreements; to protect the rights, property or safety of the Cochlear family of businesses, our users or others.

As Described in a Privacy Notice or Click-Through Agreement.  We reserve the right to use disclose your personal information as described in any Privacy Notice posted on the Web page where you provide that information or as provided in any “click-through” agreement between you and us.

Your Content.  Some of our Websites permit users to post, upload, transmit through or otherwise make available (“post”) text, photographs, images, illustrations, graphics, audio, video and audio-video clips, or other materials (“Content”) on or through the Website.  Your Content is your personal information.  If you post it on or through one of our Websites, it will be used for the purposes for which it was posted (and, therefore, may be made available to other users or the general public) and in accordance with our Terms of Use.

Links to Third-Party Websites
Our Websites may contain links to third-party websites that we do not control.  This Privacy Policy does not apply to personal information collected on third-party websites.  We are not responsible or liable for, and do not endorse, the data privacy practices or the content of any third-party websites.

Security
While we endeavour to maintain appropriate measures to protect the security, confidentiality and integrity of your personal information, we cannot guarantee the security of personal information transmitted over the Internet and urge users to take every precaution to protect personal information while using the Internet.  Please bear this in mind particularly if you are providing information which is sensitive or particularly private.

SSL Protection. When you log in or begin the checkout process within our Websites, we require that a secure connection between your computer and our server be established.  We use a technology called Secure Socket Layers (SSL), an encryption technology that works with most browsers.  A secure connection is maintained until you leave the secure area of the Website.  Although we use SSL encryption to safeguard the confidentiality of personal information as it travels over the Internet, "perfect security" does not exist on the Internet and we can not guarantee the safety of transmitting personal information over the Internet.   

Password Protection.  Certain areas of our Websites are password protected.  You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your passwords.  We have the right to assume that anyone accessing our Websites using a password assigned to you has the right to do so.  You will be solely responsible for the activities of anyone accessing our Websites using a password assigned to you, even if the individual is not, in fact authorized by you.  If you have reason to believe that your password has been compromised or used without authorization, you must promptly change it using the functionality provided on the applicable Website and notify us at support-cam@cochlear.com.

Children's Privacy
Our Websites are not directed nor targeted to children under the age of 13.  We do not use our Websites to knowingly solicit personal information from or market to children under the age of 13.

Your Choices
We respect your right to make choices about the ways we collect, use and disclose your personal information.  In most cases, however, we will ask you to indicate your choices at the time we collect your personal information.  In addition, some of our Websites contain areas where you can access and update your privacy preferences.  You may also contact us at privacy@cochlear.com at any time if you do not wish to receive promotional communications from us.

Accessing, Updating and Correcting Personal Information
Some of our Websites provide password protected areas where you may review and update your personal information and privacy preference.  In addition. you may contact us and ask us what personal information we have collected about you through our Websites.  We will respond to you within a reasonable time.  Generally, we will try to comply with your request, although there may be some exceptions, for example, if there would be an unreasonable impact on other peoples’ privacy or  to avoid prejudicing an investigation of unlawful activity.  We reserve the right to charge a reasonable fee under appropriate circumstances and as permitted by law.
You may request correction of any factual errors in the personal information we hold about you by e-mailing us at privacy@cochlear.com.  We may need to flag your records with a suitable explanation rather than change or delete the information. 

To protect your privacy and security, we will take reasonable steps to verify your identity before providing you with your details or correcting/adding notes to our records.

Where Will Your Personal Information be Processed? 
Our Websites are currently hosted on servers located within the United States, but the locations of our servers may change from time to time.  Your personal information may be stored on servers located within the United States or in another country.  In addition, we may transfer your personal information to our service providers, product manufacturers, licensors, suppliers, and others located in the United States or another country for the purposes described in this Privacy Policy.  Different countries have different privacy laws and requirements.  Please know, however, that no matter where your personal information is collected, used, transferred or stored, if it was collected through this Privacy Policy, it will be protected by the terms of this Privacy Policy and any Privacy Notices or “click-through agreements” that apply to you.

BY SUBMITTING YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION TO US THROUGH OUR SITES, YOU ARE CONSENTING TO THE PROCESSING OF YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION IN THE UNITED STATES OR ANY IN OTHER COUNTRY IN THE WORLD.   

Contact Us
Should you wish to access your information, change your contact preferences, or if you require any further information about this Privacy Policy, or have concerns about how we handle your personal information, please email privacy@cochlear.com, call 1-800-523-5798 or write to us at:
Cochlear Americas
Attn: Privacy Officer
13059 E. Peakview Avenue
Centennial, CO 80111 USA
Fax No. 1-866-922-7912