I. ArthritisLife.net Privacy Policy

Arthritis Life (“AL”) publishes health and fitness information for educational purposes via its website located at ArthritisLife.net (“Website”). In this Privacy Policy all references to AL will mean ArthritisLife.net and its parent, subsidiary and affiliated companies.

II. Intended Audience

The Website provides free access to articles that address health and fitness topics in various categories such as Diet & Weight Loss, Exercise & Fitness, Diseases & Conditions, Nutrition & Supplements, Women’s Health, Men’s Health, Senior’s Health and Children’s Health. It also offers health-related products and a public discussion forum where users may post questions and receive responses from AL or a third-party information provider. The Website also offers users the opportunity to create a private AL membership account that enables users to access additional information and services. AL may from time to time change or remove Website content, categories and services in its sole discretion. Although the Website may offer information about children’s health, it is designed for use by adults only. Parents may use the Website to obtain information that may be relevant to their child’s health condition. Parents who create or allow their child to create a Website membership account will be solely responsible for supervising their child’s use of the Website.

III. Scope of Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy applies to the Website. All user information acquired by AL from Website users will be covered by this Privacy Policy, with the following exceptions:

A. User suggestions to improve products or services, business ideas, concepts, models, inventions and similar information (“Business Information”) offered to AL will not be covered by this Privacy Policy, and all Business Information that AL may receive from any user will be deemed publicly disclosed unless AL signs and returns a written non-disclosure agreement with the specific user prior to the user’s submission of the Business Information.

B. Any information, whether NPI, PI, or PHI, that a user shares or otherwise discloses in a public chat room, message board, instant message exchange, blog, personal webpage, or similar public forum, whether via the Website, online service, or otherwise, will be deemed publicly disclosed information (“PDI”). AL may handle and use all PDI as freely available public information which is outside the scope of any limitations described in this Privacy Policy.

IV. Duration of Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy will apply to all information collected while the Privacy Policy is posted on the Website. AL may modify and update the Privacy Policy from time-to-time by posting a revised Privacy Policy to the Website. Users who do not agree with any modified or updated Privacy Policy should promptly stop using the Website. AL strongly recommends that all users regularly check the Website for any modifications to the Privacy Policy. Modifications and updates to the Privacy Policy will take effect upon posting to the Website and will apply to all information, past and future, collected via the Website. Those who have used the Website prior to a particular Privacy Policy modification or update and who object to the modification or update should promptly send AL written notice of their objection. Prior users who use the Website after a revised Privacy Policy is posted will be deemed to have agreed to the revised Privacy Policy.

V. Categories of Information

Depending on the user’s interaction with the Website, AL may collect user information that falls into the following categories: Non-Personal Information, Personal Information, and Personal Health Information.

Non-Personal Information (“NPI”) is information that is not associated with a specific user and that does not enable AL or others to identify a specific user. For example, a user’s age, gender, city and state of residence, when not associated with any other information that could help identify the user, like street address or telephone number. NPI may be collected when users visit the public portion of the Website without registering as a member.

Personal Information (“PI”) is information that identifies you as a unique person. For example, your first and last name associated with your street, city, state and zip code or telephone number or email address or other information that identifies you personally. PI is collected when users voluntarily register to be a member of the Website and may be collected when a user sends an email inquiry to AL via the Website or otherwise.

Personal Health Information (“PHI”) is Personal Information coupled with information about your personal health such as a particular disease or other health condition. It is collected when users voluntarily provide both PI and their personal health information via the Website or otherwise.

VI. Accuracy and Currency of Information

You are responsible for the accuracy of all PI and PHI that you submit to AL, whether via the Website or otherwise. AL is not responsible for verifying the accuracy or currency of your PI or PHI. You understand that any information and/or services offered via the Website relevant to your personal situation may be based upon your PI and/or PHI, and that your PI may also become important for AL to contact you. Therefore, it is important for your PI and PHI to be accurate and current. It is particularly important for your email address to be current because AL will use email as its primary means of communicating with Website members and other users who have voluntarily provided PI to AL.

VII. Information Collection Methods

User information may be collected in various ways. NPI may be collected via web-based technologies that track computer usage. For example, every computer that accesses the Website will be assigned an electronic file with a unique code or identifier often referred to as a “cookie” unless the user’s browser has been configured to block this type of activity. Cookies and other technologies may be used to collect information about each user’s navigational activities and selection of advertisements, sponsored links, and other similar NPI. PI and PHI may be collected via the Website’s membership registration process, user emails, and other similar means when a user voluntarily provides it. PI and PHI is not collected via the Website unless the user voluntarily submits it to AL.

VIII. Use of Information

AL will not share PI or PHI with any third-parties without the user’s consent with the following exceptions: (i) AL may have to make incidental disclosures to third-party vendors who are providing technical or other services to or on behalf of AL, including web hosting, software and hardware maintenance service providers (however AL will endeavor to have all vendors sign appropriate confidentiality agreements in these circumstances); (ii) when compelled by legal requirements such as a court order, subpoena, search warrant, applicable law or the like; and (iii) under special circumstances that may involve a health or other physical threat to you or others or to protect, defend or otherwise assert legal rights.

IX. Third-Party Advertisements and Links

AL may display third-party advertisements and sponsored links on the Website. AL cannot control how other websites may collect and use your information, and will not be responsible for the conduct or practices used by third-party advertisers or sponsors. AL recommends that you promptly review the privacy policy on each website you encounter via an advertisement or link on AL’s website.

X. Updating and Removing Your PI and PHI

You may update your PI and PHI via the Website. If you have a complaint or other issue, please contact AL initially via our Customer Support link.

Upon receipt of your written specific request, AL will delete your PI and PHI from its databases, and, to the extent reasonably possible, from its backup media. AL will have no obligation to store your PI or PHI for any duration of time after termination of your Website membership. Absent your written instruction to the contrary, AL may, in its discretion, retain and use your PI and PHI after termination of your membership.

XI. Third Party Advertising

We use third-party advertising companies to serve ads when you visit our Website. These companies may use information (not including your name, address, email address, or telephone number) about your visits to this and other Web sites in order to provide advertisements about goods and services of interest to you. If you would like more information about this practice and to know your choices about not having this information used by these companies.