Interpretations & Definitions

The terms highlighted in italics within this privacy policy are defined under the following conditions. These definitions hold the same meaning whether they are used in singular or plural forms.

Definitions

For the purposes of this Privacy Policy:

• Account refers to a unique profile created for you to access my website or specific sections of it.
• Affiliate denotes an entity that has control over, is controlled by, or is under common control with another party, where “control” indicates ownership of 50% or more of the shares, equity interest, or other securities that grant voting rights for the election of directors or other governing authorities.
• Company (referred to as “the Company,” “We,” “I,” “Us,” or “Our” in this Agreement) pertains to www.melissanicholson.com.
• Cookies are small files placed on your computer, mobile device, or any other device by a website, containing information about your browsing history and various other uses.
• Country refers to South Africa.
• Device means any apparatus that can access our website, such as a computer, cellphone, or digital tablet.
• Personal Data is any information that pertains to an identified or identifiable individual.
• Service Provider refers to any natural or legal person who processes data on behalf of the company. This includes third-party companies or individuals engaged by the company to facilitate the website, provide services on behalf of the company, perform website-related services, or assist the company in analyzing website usage.
• Usage Data refers to data collected automatically, either generated by the use of the website or derived from the website’s infrastructure (for instance, the duration of a page visit).
• Website denotes www.melissanicholson.com, accessible via www.melissanicholson.com.

You refers to the individual accessing or using the website, or the company or other legal entity on whose behalf such individual is accessing or using the website, as applicable.

Types of Data Collected:

Personal Data:

When using my website, I may request certain personally identifiable information to help me contact or identify you. This information may include, but is not limited to:

• • Email address
  • First and last name
  • Phone number
  • Address, State, Province, ZIP/Postal code, City
  • Usage Data

Usage Data:

• Automatically collected while you use my website.
• Includes details like your device’s Internet Protocol address (IP address), browser type, browser version, pages visited on my site, visit time and date, duration on pages, unique device identifiers, and other diagnostic data.
• When accessing my website through a mobile device, specific information is gathered automatically, such as the type of mobile device, unique ID of your device, mobile device’s IP address, mobile operating system, mobile Internet browser type, unique device identifiers, and other diagnostic data.
• Information may also be received that your browser sends each time you visit my site or access it via a mobile device.

Tracking Technologies and Cookies:

• I utilize cookies and similar tracking technologies to monitor website activity and store specific information.
• Tracking technologies include beacons, tags, and scripts for data collection, tracking, and website enhancement and analysis.

Technologies used may comprise:

• • Cookies or Browser Cookies: Small files placed on your device. You can set your browser to reject cookies or notify you when they are sent. Not accepting cookies may limit website functionality.
  • Web Beacons: Small electronic files like clear gifs, pixel tags, and single-pixel gifs in certain website sections and emails for user tracking and website statistics.

Types of Cookies:

• Cookies can be categorized as “Persistent” or “Session” cookies. Persistent remain post browsing, while session cookies are deleted after closing the browser.
• I employ both Session and Persistent Cookies for the following purposes:

Necessary / Essential Cookies:

• Type: Session cookies
• Administered by: Me
• Purpose: Essential for website services and features, user authentication, and prevention of account misuse. Without these cookies, requested services cannot be provided.

Cookies Policy / Notice Acceptance Cookies:

• Type: Persistent cookies
• Administered by: Me
• Purpose: Identifying user acceptance of cookie usage on the website.

Functionality Cookies:

• Type: Persistent cookies
• Administered by: Me
• Purpose: Remembering user choices on the website, like login details or language preference, to enhance user experience and avoid repeated entries.

For further details on the cookies I use and your cookie preferences, please refer to my cookies policy or privacy policy’s cookies section.

I may utilize your personal data for the following purposes:

To Provide and Maintain My Website:

• To oversee and analyze website usage while ensuring its optimal functionality.

To Manage Your Account:

• • To handle your registration as a user, granting you access to various features available to registered users.

For Contract Performance:

• • • To create, adhere to, and fulfill any purchase agreements for products, items, or services acquired through the website, or any other agreements with me.

To Contact You:

• • To communicate via email, phone calls, text messages, or other electronic means (including mobile app push notifications) regarding updates or informative content related to functionalities, products, or contracted services, including necessary or reasonable security updates.

To Provide Information:

• • To keep you informed about news, special offers, and general information regarding other goods, services, and events that I provide, which are similar to those you have previously purchased or inquired about, unless you have opted out of such communications.

To Manage Your Requests:

• • To add, adresss and manage any requests or inquiries you direct to me.

For Business Transfers:

• • • To assess or execute a merger, divestiture, restructuring, reorganization, dissolution, or other sale or transfer of some or all of my assets, including personal data related to my service users as part of these transactions.

For Other Purposes:

• • To employ your information for various purposes, such as data analysis, identifying usage trends, assessing the effectiveness of promotional campaigns, and enhancing my services, products, marketing strategies, and overall user experience.

Sharing Your Personal Information:

Your personal information may be shared in the following scenarios:

With Service Providers:

• • To monitor and analyze my services and to contact you.

With Affiliates:

• • • I may share your information with my affiliates, who are required to adhere to this privacy policy. Affiliates include my parent company, subsidiaries, joint venture partners, or other entities under my control.

With Business Partners:

• • • • To provide you with specific products, services, or promotions, your information may be shared with my business partners.

With Other Users:

• • When you disclose personal information or engage in public areas with other users, such information may be accessible to all users and potentially distributed publicly.

With Your Consent:

I may disclose your personal information for any other reason with your explicit consent.

Personal Data Retention

I will keep your personal data only for as long as necessary to achieve the purposes detailed in this privacy policy. Your personal information will be retained and utilized as needed to meet my legal obligations (for example, if I must retain your data to adhere to applicable laws), address disputes, and uphold my legal agreements and policies.

Usage Data Retention

Usage data is stored for internal analysis purposes. This information is typically retained for a shorter duration, unless it is utilized to improve the security or functionality of my website, or if I am legally required to keep it for an extended period.

Your information, including personal data, is handled at the company’s operational offices and any other locations where the involved parties are situated. This indicates that your information may be transferred to and stored on computers outside of your state, province, country, or other governmental jurisdiction, where data protection laws may differ from those in your area. By agreeing to this privacy policy and providing your information, you consent to such transfers. I will take all reasonable measures to ensure that your data is securely managed in line with this privacy policy. No transfer of your personal data will occur to any organization or country unless there are sufficient safeguards in place to protect your data and other personal information.

Business Transactions

If there is a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your personal data may be transferred to the new entity. I will inform you prior to this transfer, at which point your data will be governed by a different privacy policy.

Law Enforcement

The company may need to reveal your personal data if required by law or in response to valid requests from public authorities, such as a court or government agency.

My website is not designed for individuals under the age of 18. I do not intentionally gather personally identifiable information from anyone below this age. If you are a parent or guardian and you become aware that your child has shared personal data with me, please reach out. Should I find that I have collected personal data from someone under 18 without confirmed parental consent, I will take appropriate measures to remove that information from my servers.

If I depend on consent as the legal basis for processing your information and your country mandates parental consent, I may need to secure your parent’s approval before I collect and utilize that information.

My website may have links to external sites that I do not operate. If you click on a link to a third-party site, you will be redirected there. I highly recommend reviewing the privacy policy of each site you visit. I have no control over, nor am I responsible for, the content, privacy policies, or practices of any third-party sites or services.

I may revise my privacy policy from time to time. Any modifications will be published on this page. For significant changes, I will inform you via email and/or through a noticeable announcement on my website prior to the changes taking effect. The “last updated” date at the top of this privacy policy will also be updated accordingly.

I encourage you to periodically check this privacy policy to stay informed about any updates, as changes will take effect once they are posted here.

If you have any inquiries regarding this privacy policy, feel free to reach out to me:

By email: webdesign@melissanicholson.com .