A SINGLE USE OF THE CoastalGuide REPORTS---
Should you choose to use the ICW-NET's CoastalGuide Reports as a source of contact information related to your organization or business (the reports are OPTIONAL), there are strict limitations on how you may use the information contained in the reports. Unless specifically exempted in writing, these terms apply to anyone using the reports, including, but not limited to, chambers of commerce, convention & visitors bureaus, tourism development authorities, historical associations, downtown associations, etc. The guidelines are constantly evolving, but they always have these general goals:
- Visitor contact information is privileged information and must be treated as such.
- Visitors to the CoastalGuide sites must receive information pertinent to their requests.
- The copyrights and intellectual property rights of ICW-NET, LLC are protected. This includes all visitor information collected by CoastalGuide websites. When using this information in any way, CoastalGuide.com must be credited as the source.
Single Use License Terms
All reports are distributed under the copyright of ICW-NET, LLC. Use of the report indicates acceptance of these terms. You are also reminded that you are ALREADY subject to a rising number of state, federal, and international laws regarding individual privacy issues. Federal law [ US Code Title 47, Section 227(b)(1)(c) ] makes it illegal (up to $500 for EACH violation) to send unsolicited ads via fax or email. This and other statutes are particularly focused on unsolicited use of fax, phone, and -increasingly- email. You may have used direct mail marketing campaigns previously. Regulations for use of direct mail are generally more liberal, and you should not assume that other methods of contact are viewed equally under the law. Improper use, such as "spamming," will result in a suspension or termination of the report.
- You may CONTACT A VISITOR ONLY ONCE unless and until they specifically request more information from you. Also, the use of any automated, unmanned reply systems or ''autoresponders'' is not allowed. (Autoresponders do not work with the reports, since the reply address is that of the CoastalGuide server.) Also, if a visitor requests that their information be deleted from your contact list, you must promptly ABSOLUTELY, COMPLETELY, 100% comply with their wishes.
- You may contact a visitor only if your organization or business has a service or product which directly relates to his request. The more it relates, the better! That's the entire PURPOSE of the reports. However, you must be realistic. For example, on the Tourism Reports:
- A tour service would be legitimately responding to a request that asked for "Accommodations," "Restaurants," & "Things To Do." A tour is something "to do."
- A T-Shirt shop could properly respond to a request that asked for "Shopping," "Restaurants," & "Camping." An argument might be made that shopping in local shops could also be classified as a "Things To Do" --that would not be acceptable, as shopping has it's own category.
- You may not database the names, addresses, phone numbers, fax numbers, email addresses, or other personal information for any type of future contact, such as phone surveys, conversion studies, special seasonal promotions, or mailing lists. Databasing of information that is not personally identifiable, i.e., NO name, street address, email, phone, etc., is permissible when used to study general trends, demographics, conversion rates, or other similar types of broad statistical analysis. All such analytical studies produced by your business or organization are to be for your internal use only.
- Your organization or business must be physically located WITHIN the region the visitor indicated. This can still be a HUGE geographic area, so be realistic. It is extremely unlikely that someone submitting a general request will drive 100 miles away from their primary destination to visit a gift shop. However, if they had indicated in the comment box that they were avid collectors of "fuzzy widgets" and your shop had a huge selection of those wonderful gizmos, then you would be responding to their direct interests. Advice: Read the comments in each visitor's request!
- You may not resell, relay, copy, forward, or redistribute by electronic, print, or by any other method, any portion of a CoastalGuide report to any third party --including, but not limited to-- membership, print or electronic mailing list vendors, magazine subscription services, government entities, business associates, relatives, and personal acquaintances.
- Any such studies or analytical reports produced are for internal use only, and may not be loaned, resold, relayed, copied, forwarded, or redistributed by electronic, print, or by any other method, to any third party.
- Any and all reports --written, electronic, or verbal-- made to membership, directors, boards, commissioners, legislators, etc., must specifically list the CoastalGuide.com as the original source of the contact information. CoastalGuide statistics are to be a separate line item, and not grouped or included with other contact resources. Of course, it may be included in sub-totals and grand totals. Whenever possible, a brief explanation of your organization's affiliation with the CoastalGuide.com network should be included.
ICW-NET, LLC does use volunteer and/or paid personnel as ''spotters.'' They submit requests randomly, then record and report responses.
Why all of the above?.......
The growth of the web and the CoastalGuide have been relentless. When this all started in 1995, only a small percentage of our visitors even listed an email address, and an even smaller number of our communities and sponsors had the ability to respond by email. The main means of communication, once contact was made, were STILL mail and phone. We even listed a disclaimer that said not to expect any email replies. Then, an email reply was almost a novelty --in some cases, a miracle (if you only knew). There was little or no concern about consumer privacy on the web because there were NO real consumers, just lookers. And, when one heard the word "Spam" they still first thought of a canned meat product. Now, the opposite is true on every count.
This policy update is to hold our course in a rapidly changing environment.
To apply for a license to provide information to CoastalGuide visitors, please submit our form.
Also see:
Privacy Issues: Email ~ Web Forms ~ Cookies |
