Heartland Analyst(“Operator”, “we”, “our”, or “us”)operates www.heartlandanalyst.com (the “Website”), and may operate other websites. It is Operators policy to respect your privacy regarding any information we may collect while operating our websites.

     1. Website Visitors

1.1 Like any other Website, Operator collects non-personally-identifying information of the sort that web browsers and servers typically make available, such as the browser type, language preference, referring site, and the date and time of each visitor request. Operator’spurpose in collecting non-personally identifying information is to better understand how visitors use its website. From time to time, Asia Times may release non-personally-identifying information in the aggregate, e.g., by publishing a report on trends in the usage of its website.

1.2 Operator may also collect potentially personally-identifying information like Internet Protocol (IP) addresses for logged in users and for users leaving comments on atimes.com blogs/sites. We only disclose logged in user and commenter IP addresses under the same circumstances that it uses and discloses personally-identifying information as described below, except that commenter IP addresses and email addresses are visible and disclosed to the administrators of the blog/site where the comment was left.

      2. Gathering of Personally-Identifying Information

2.1 Certain visitors choose to interact, submit their creative work for publication with Operator in ways that require us to gather personally-identifying information. The amount and type of information that we gathers depends on the nature of the interaction. For example, we ask visitors who sign up at Website to provide a username and email address. Those who engage in transactions with Operator are asked to provide additional information, including as necessary the personal and financial information required to process those transactions. In each case, we may collect such information only insofar as is necessary or appropriate to fulfill the purpose of the visitor’s interaction with us. Operator does not disclose personally-identifying information other than as described below. And visitors can always refuse to supply personally-identifying information, with the caveat that it may prevent them from engaging in certain website-related activities.

      3. Aggregated Statistics

3.1 Operator may collect statistics about the behavior of visitors to its websites and display this information publicly or provide it to others. However, we do not disclose personally-identifying information other than as described below.

      4. Protection of Certain Personally-Identifying Information

4.1 Operatordiscloses potentially personally-identifying and personally-identifying information only to those of its employees, contractors and affiliated organizations that (i) need to know that information in order to process it on our behalf or to provide services available at our websites, and (ii) that have agreed not to disclose it to others. Some of those employees, contractors and affiliated organizations may be located outside of your home country; by using theWebsites, you consent to the transfer of such information to them. Operator will not rent or sell potentially personally-identifying and personally-identifying information to anyone. Other than to its employees, contractors and affiliated organizations, as described above, Operator discloses potentially personally-identifying and personally-identifying information only in response to a subpoena, court order or other governmental request, or when we believe in good faith that disclosure is reasonably necessary to protect the property or rights, third parties or the public at large. If you are a registered user of our website and have supplied your email address, we may occasionally send you an email to tell you about new features, newsletters, solicit your feedback, or just keep you up to date with changes and our products. If you send us a request (for example via email or via one of our feedback mechanisms), we reserve the right to publish it in order to help us clarify or respond to your request or to help us support other users. Operator takes all measures reasonably necessary to protect against the unauthorized access, use, alteration or destruction of potentially personally-identifying and personally-identifying information.

      5. Cookies

A cookie is a string of information that a website stores on a visitor’s computer, and that the visitor’s browser provides to the website each time the visitor returns. Operator may use cookies to help us identify and track visitors, their usage of Website, and their website access preferences. Visitors who do not wish to have cookies placed on their computers should set their browsers to refuse cookies before using our Website, with the drawback that certain features may not function properly without the aid of cookies.

      6. Business Transfer

If Operator, or substantially all of its assets, were acquired, or in the unlikely event that Operator goes out of business or enters bankruptcy, user information would be one of the assets that is transferred or acquired by a third party. You acknowledge that such transfers may occur, and that any acquirer of Operator may continue to use your personal information as set forth in this policy.

     7. Ads

Ads appearing on any of our websites may be delivered to users by advertising partners, who may set cookies. These cookies allow the ad server to recognize your computer each time they send you an online advertisement to compile information about you or others who use your computer. This information allows ad networks to, among other things, deliver targeted advertisements that they believe will be of most interest to you. This Privacy Policy covers the use of cookies by Operator and does not cover the use of cookies by any advertisers.

      7. Privacy Policy Changes

Although most changes are likely to be minor, Operator may change its Privacy Policy from time to time, and at our sole discretion. We encourage visitors to frequently check this page for any changes to our Privacy Policy. Your continued use of this site after any change in this Privacy Policy will constitute your acceptance of such change.