Privacy Policy
Privacy Policy
Last Update: January 3, 2012
Paladin Internet Properties, Inc. (Paladin), doing business as Investor Watchdog (Watchdog) and Paladin Registry (Registry), is committed to protecting the privacy of investors and financial professionals (collectively Users) who use our tools and services. This Privacy Policy explains the type of information that is collected and how it is used by Paladin.
Paladin is a licensee of the TRUSTe Privacy Program. TRUSTe is an independent, non-profit organization whose mission is to build user’s trust and confidence in the Internet by promoting the use of fair information practices. This privacy policy covers all Paladin websites. Because we want to demonstrate our commitment to your privacy, we have agreed to disclose our information practices and have our privacy practices reviewed for compliance by TRUSTe.
If you have questions or concerns regarding this policy, you should first contact Paladin info@paladinregistry.com. If you do not receive acknowledgement of your inquiry or your inquiry has not been satisfactorily addressed, you should contact TRUSTe at http://www.truste.org/consumers/watchdog_complaint.php. TRUSTe will serve as a liaison with the Paladin to resolve your concerns.
1. Confidentiality
Paladin will not disclose any personally identifiable information about individual users, except as specified in this Privacy Policy. With the few exceptions that are explained here, we do not give, rent, lend, or sell individual information. We would only disclose personally identifiable information in the following instances: (i) with investors' and advisors' consent; (ii) if we are required to by applicable law, or in response to legal process to protect the rights or property of Paladin, or to protect the safety of Paladin, investors, advisors, and others; and (iii) with certain contractors of Paladin who have entered into confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements with Paladin.
2. Security
Paladin is committed to protecting the personal information of users. We store information provided by users on our secure servers and information provided to a third-party provider for processing the payment of user service fees is encrypted using SSL technology.
3. Password Protected
Paladin's internal sites are password protected and available to investors who use Paladin tools and services and advisors who are listed on the Registry website and advertise their services on the Watchdog website. Userss should not share their passwords with anyone. Paladin will never ask Users for their passwords in an unsolicited phone call or email. If Users use a computer which is accessible to others, they should remember to log out and close their browser window when leaving a Paladin website.
4. Information Collection and Use
We take the issue of safeguarding your privacy and confidentiality seriously as a User of our tools, services, and information. We exercise great care to ensure that the personally identifiable information Users may provide to us for the purposes set forth below is kept confidential. Our policy is to collect the minimum amount of information we need to provide tools, information, and services to Users. In addition, we collect IP addresses for our sites' security and to provide us with information regarding the Users of the sites to help us improve the sites' performance and services.
We collect the following types of personally identifiable information on our websites: Name, e-mail, and phone number. We use a device known as a "cookie." A cookie is a piece of data stored on the User’s hard drive that contains information about a User. There are two types of cookies: persistent cookies and session cookies. Persistent cookies get written to a file called a "cookie jar" on the User’s hard drive and are retrieved every time a site is accessed. Session cookies are similar to persistent cookies except that the information does not get written to the hard drive and disappears when Users close their browser. We do not link the information we store in cookies to any personally identifiable information that Users submit on our sites.
Paladin sites use session cookies. If Users do not accept cookies, they may still use our sites' information, tools, and services; however, some Users will not be able to use the internal, password protected service sections. These sections require a cookie that is set to identify a particular computer to our web servers. This cookie is called a Session ID and consists of a 32-digit sequence of random numbers and letters generated by Paladin web servers each time one of Paladin's sites is called up. This is necessary so Paladin computers can match logged-in Users with their account information. This cookie will be deleted when Users log out or close their browsers.
In addition to cookies, Paladin sites may also use tiny electronic images ("single-pixel GIFs" or "Web beacons"), which allow Paladin to count Users who have visited specific pages or access certain cookies. Paladin may use single-pixel GIFs in the following ways: (i) to count and recognize Users; (ii) to conduct research on behalf of some partners on their websites and for auditing purposes; (iii) to determine aggregate information about Users, including demographic and usage information. In general, any electronic image viewed as part of a web page, including an ad banner, can act as a web beacon. Paladin does not link the information Paladin stores in cookies to any personally identifiable information Users submit while using the tools, services, and information on Paladin sites.
5. Service Providers
Paladin uses third parties to provide Web Hosting, Web Development, and Search Engine Optimization services for Paladin websites. When Users submit data to Paladin for processing, Paladin will share User data, as necessary with the designated third parties so they can provide their specific services. These third parties are prohibited from using Users' personally identifiable information for any other purpose.
6. Use of Personal Information
Paladin collects personal information to provide Users with specialized services that contain relevant content. In addition, Paladin conducts research on investor and advisor demographics, interests, and behavior based on information that is voluntarily provided to Paladin. This information is compiled and analyzed on a generalized basis and is not User specific. Paladin does not share, sell, trade, or rent Users' personal information to third parties for unknown reasons.
7. Direct Mailings/Service-Related Announcements
Paladin sends Users strictly service-related announcements on rare occasions when it is necessary to do so. For instance, if Paladin's service is temporarily suspended for maintenance, Paladin may send Users an email. Generally, Users may not opt-out of these communications, which are usually not promotional in nature. If Users do not wish to receive them, Users have the option of deactivating their accounts. To deactivate a User account, Users must notify Paladin via email (info@paladinregistry.com) or by phone at 916.253.3334. Paladin may also use User email addresses to send Users free special research reports, newsletters, and surveys that provide current information about financial professionals and related commentary. There is an opt-out function on each of the reports and newsletters.
8. Tell a Friend, Family Member or Associate
If Users choose to tell a friend about Paladin's sites, we will ask Users for the User's friend’s name and email address. We will automatically send a User's friend a one-time email inviting him or her to visit the site. Paladin stores this information for the purpose of sending this one-time email and free, informative research reports. A User's friend may contact us at info@paladinregistry.com to request that Paladin remove User's contact information from Paladin's database or use the opt-out function on the research report.
9. Online Reports
Financial Advisors who are listed on Paladin websites may provide disclosures for their credentials, ethics, and business practices so investor Users have online access to the information. Advisors can opt out of Paladin services at anytime by notifying Paladin. Paladin maintains a record of the data that was provided by advisor in the event the advisor wants to be reactivated on a Paladin website.
10. Changes to User's Personal Information
If Advisors want to modify or update personal information, Advisors should login to one of Paladin's internal websites and click on the function that enables them to make these changes. Advisors are able to change User IDs (email addresses), update passwords, select optional programs, update advertisements, and update personal reports.
11. Referral of Advisors
Paladin may provide the names, email addresses and telephone numbers of advisors who seek admittance to the Registry or want to advertise their services on a Paladin website to an affiliated company that produces referrals for financial advisors.
12. Minor’s Privacy
Paladin sites are not intended for use by minors under the age of 18. The site is operated in compliance with the Children’s Online Privacy Act and will not knowingly collect or use personally identifiable information from anyone under the age of 18.
13. General
This Privacy Policy applies to sites that are operated and viewed in the United States of America. Paladin uses its best efforts to protect the privacy of Users; however, Paladin cannot ensure or warrant the security of any information that Users transmit over the Internet, and Users do so at their own risk.
Paladin websites incorporate links to Preferred Providers for the convenience of Users. If Users use these links, each site has its own Privacy Policy and data collection practices. Paladin is not responsible or liable for the policies or practices of other sites, and Paladin does not review the policies or practices of other sites.
14. Legal Disputes
This Privacy Policy will be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of California, excluding that body of laws known as choice of law or conflict of laws. Subject to the provisions of this Section, all disputes, controversies or claims arising out of or relating to this Agreement will be resolved through mandatory binding arbitration conducted in Sacramento, California, before JAMS/ENDISPUTE or its successor ("JAMS") pursuant to the United States Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. Section 1, et seq. (the "Act"); and (iii) this Agreement. The arbitration will be conducted in accordance with the provisions of JAMS's Streamlined Arbitration Rules and Procedures in effect at the time of filing of the demand for arbitration (the "JAMS Rules"), subject to the provisions of this Section. The terms set forth in this Agreement will control in the event of any inconsistency between such terms and the JAMS Rules. The parties will cooperate with JAMS and with each other in promptly selecting a single arbitrator from JAMS's panel of neutrals. If the parties fail to so select an arbitrator within thirty (30) days following the date of either party's notice of demand to conduct arbitration, then JAMS will appoint an arbitrator in accordance with the JAMS Rules. The award of the arbitrator will be in writing and will set forth findings of fact and conclusions of law. Judgment on the arbitrator's award will be final and binding upon the parties and may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof. If for any reason JAMS or its successor no longer is in business, then the arbitration shall be conducted in accordance with the commercial arbitration rules of the American Arbitration Association. The arbitrator's fees will be shared equally by the parties and each party will initially bear its own costs and attorneys' fees, but the prevailing party shall be reimbursed by the other party for all attorney’s fees, witness fees, and arbitration costs. All papers, documents, or evidence, whether written or oral, filed with or presented in connection with the arbitration proceeding will be deemed by the parties and by the arbitrator to be confidential information of both parties. The arbitrator chosen in accordance with these provisions will not have the power to alter, amend or otherwise affect the terms of these arbitration provisions or the provisions of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Section shall prevent either party from applying for and obtaining from a court a temporary restraining order and/or other injunctive relief.
16. Changes to This Privacy Policy
Paladin reserves the right to modify this Privacy Policy at any time, so please review it frequently. If Paladin makes material changes to this policy, Paladin will notify Users on this website.
To contact Paladin about website privacy issues, to report a violation of Paladin's Privacy Policy, or to discuss any other issue, please contact Paladin at info@paladinregistry.com, call 916.253.3334, or mail us at: Paladin Internet Partners, Inc., 395 S. Highway 65, A-275, Lincoln, CA 95648.