Our Privacy Policy
Rhyme & Reason is committed to protecting the privacy of all information we collect from our clients, research participants and visitors to the Rhyme & Reason website (the “Website”). This policy applies to client and personal data that we collect or use in the course of conducting business, and covers client information and research participant data housed at Rhyme & Reason or stored on the Rhyme & Reason network. This policy does not apply to information which we might collect from our employees, job applicants, or independent contractors.
By accessing or browsing our Website, participating in any of our surveys, contacting us on social media, or otherwise providing your data to us, you confirm that you have read and understood this privacy policy.
Information We Collect From or About You
We are a marketing services company. When engaging in market research and analytics activities we collect and process information. We may also collect information in connection with certain ancillary activities, such as when you visit our Website or signup for our newsletters.
In operating our market research and analytics business, most of the information we collect about you (only a small subset of which may be “personal data” or “personally identifiable information” as defined under applicable law) is information you voluntarily disclose to us or our partners in connection with our research studies. Consistent with industry practice, online survey activity is typically conducted on an anonymized or “pseudonymized” basis through the use of randomly assigned identifier codes, so the identity of research participants is not known to us or to the client commissioning the study. Some of our studies take the form of “research forums,” which involve repeated interaction with participants over a defined period of time; in those cases, we would typically have personal data about you (including a means to contact you), but other participants in the study would not have access to this information. Data collected as part of our studies may include respondent demographic data and respondent-supplied opinions on products or brands. For some studies, we may also collect photo, video or audio responses. Research participation is voluntary and participants always have the opportunity to decline involvement or to “opt out” of the research after agreeing to participate, as clearly identified in each survey.
For certain studies, we may obtain information about you (which in some cases may be “personal data” or “personally identifiable information” as defined under applicable law) from our clients, third party vendors, or partners for use in connection with the studies. For some studies, this might be your contact information, so we can send you an invitation to participate in the study.
For certain other studies, we may collect public postings and comments you may have made in connection with product reviews or on social media pages of different companies or brands which may, from time to time, include the “handle” or “username” you used for that posting, and which we obfuscate at time of collection. If you are a client or work for a client, we likely have collected various contact, business, and in some cases financial information about you in the course of our relationship with you or your employer.
We may automatically collect certain information from visitors to our Website, including IP address, device and browser type, date and time of visit, name of the visitor’s Internet service provider, state or country from which the Website were accessed, web pages from which the visitors linked to the Websites, and behavior while on the Websites (e.g., which links were clicked on).
What We Do With Information We Collect
In most instances, we are considered a “processor” under applicable law as to the personal data described above. As a processor, we will process the data in accordance with the instructions provided to us by the controller of that data.
For data collected as part of our research activities, we collect data in, and in connection with, our studies for research purposes only, and our use of that information is limited to that purpose. Research participant information and answers are not used by any entity as an aid for sales. In many cases, this information (which is typically anonymized) is shared with the client commissioning the study pursuant to our contract with that client. In some cases we may need to share personal data with third parties for ancillary services in support of a research project. In these cases, we require the third party to follow all of the same privacy protection regulations as followed by Rhyme & Reason.
As to client data we collect, we do not use the information for any purpose other than to fulfill our obligations to clients. We keep client information secure at all times, and prevent the use and disclosure of it by our employees or any third parties.
Under certain circumstances, we may be required to release personal data in response to a legal request from public authorities including to meet national security or law enforcement requirements, or in response to a subpoena or other legal process.
We may also share data we collect with vendors, contractors and agents, including third-party service providers, that perform services and functions at our direction and on our behalf, but their use of such information is limited to the performance of their duties and is consistent with our purposes for using such information.
In all cases, Rhyme & Reason will take reasonable steps to ensure the personal data is accurate and complete and being used only for the intended purposes. We will not process personal data in a way that is incompatible with the purposes for which it has been collected or subsequently authorized by the individual.
Retention of Personal Data
We keep personal data for no longer than necessary for the purposes for which the personal data is collected or processed. The length of time we retain personal data depends on the purposes for which we collect and use it and/or as required to comply with applicable laws and to establish, exercise or defend our legal rights.
Information Security
We maintain appropriate physical, technical, and administrative measures to help safeguard client and personal data which are consistent with industry standards and practice and in compliance with applicable law. We will take reasonable precautions, consistent with industry standards and practice, to protect personal data from loss, misuse, unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, and destruction.
Children
We operate in compliance with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (“COPPA”), governed by the US Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”). We do not collect, use or disclose information from children under the age of 13 without a statement of permission from a parent or guardian in the manner required by law.
Questions About our Privacy Practices
If you have questions about our Privacy Policy, or how we treat your information, please contact us at (hi@rhymeandreason.com).
Changes to the Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time by posting an amended version of the statement on our Website. Please refer to this policy regularly.