VitalSource Technologies LLC Cookies Notice
Last updated: June 9, 2020
VitalSource Technologies LLC and our affiliate VST Limited (UK) (collectively, "VitalSource," also "we," "our," and"us") use and allow certain other companies to use certain tracking technologies, including cookies, web beacons, and other similar technologies (collectively, "Cookies") on our services, including any of our desktop applications, mobile applications, websites (such as www.vitalsource.com, bookshelf.vitalsource.com), any VitalSource owned web retail store, our products known as Bookshelf, Bookshelf Online, VitalSource Engagement Dashboard, VitalSource and Bookshelf mobile applications, Intrepid Discover Platform, Intrepid Learn Platform, Acrobatiq Platform, reader software, digital content, other products controlled owned or licensed by VitalSource, and any other products or services that include a link to this Policy (collectively, the "Products").
This notice explains what Cookies are, why we use them and your rights to control our use of them. It is a part of and should be read in conjunction with our Privacy Policy. Please read our Privacy Policy for more information about our privacy practices.
What are Cookies?
Cookies are text files that contain a certain amount of information and are downloaded to your computer or mobile device when you visit a website. They are useful because they allow websites to recognize a user's device. They are then returned to the original website on each subsequent visit or to any other website that recognizes them. For more information about cookies, you can visit www.allaboutcookies.org.
The term "Cookie" is used in this Notice to include all similar techniques and technology, including web beacons and log files. A web beacon is a small graphic image or other web programming code (also known as "clear GIFs" or "pixel tags") that may be included in our web pages and messages.
Types of Information We Collect
Cookies help us learn how our Products are used and improve the Products. Examples of the types of information that we collect through Cookies include:
- The number of website visitors and website views, the pages of Products viewed, the clicks made on the Products, and the total duration of navigation on the Products;
- The name of the page that referred you to our website;
- Whether this is your first time visiting our website;
- Your viewing preferences (e.g. layout, sizing preferences, language etc.);
- Your city and country;
- the type of browser used and your IP address, so that we can identify you during your next visits.
How We Use Cookies
Examples of ways that we use Cookies include:
- To track usage of the Products;
- To control the display of ads, including interest-based ads;
- To determine if you opened our emails;
- To customize elements of the promotional layout and/or content of the pages of our website; and
- To personalize information.
We (or third-party service providers on our behalf) may also use cookies to collect aggregate information about Products on an anonymous basis. We may share such anonymous information with our business partners, advertisers and other third parties for any business purpose.
Types of Cookies We Use on Our Products
We use first-party and third-party Cookies for several reasons. Some Cookies are required for technical reasons in order for our Products to operate, and we refer to these as "essential" or "strictly necessary" Cookies. Other Cookies also enable us to track and target the interests of our users and to enhance the experience on our Products. Third parties also serve Cookies through our Products for advertising, analytics and other purposes. The specific types of first and third-party Cookies served through our Products and the functions they perform are described in more detail below.
First-party Cookies
These cookies are created by VitalSource. They allow you to browse our Products and use their features.
Essential Cookies:
These cookies are strictly necessary to allow you to
move around the Products and use their features. Without
these cookies, we cannot enable the Products to function
on your device. Therefore, these cookies cannot be
disabled.
Functional Cookies
These cookies allow us to remember choices you make
on our Products (such as your preferred language or the
region you are in). To refuse these Cookies, please follow
the instructions below under the section Cookie
Management. Note that by disabling functional cookies, you
may not be able to use some of our features or those
features may not function properly.
Embedded Scripts
An embedded script is programming code that is designed
to collect information about your interactions with the
Products, such as the links you click on. The code is
temporarily downloaded onto your computer or other device,
is active only while you are connected to the Products,
and is deactivated or deleted thereafter.
Analytics Cookies
We use Cookies and other identifiers (such as web
beacons) to see how you use our Products in order to
enhance their performance and develop them according to
the preferences of our customers and visitors. For
example, cookies and web beacons may be used to maintain
consistency across our Products, determine how visitors
use our Products, track errors, and measure the
effectiveness of our promotional campaigns. To refuse
these Cookies, see the section Cookie Management.
Third-Party Cookies
Some of our third-party partners (including advertisers and marketing services companies) may set and access Cookies on your computer as well, or we may do so on their behalf. We do not have control over how these third parties use such cookies and similar technologies or the information derived therefrom, and this Privacy Policy does not cover any use of information that such third parties may have collected from you or the methods used by the third-parties to collect that information. These types of cookies include:
Advertising
Cookies
These Cookies, defined exclusively
by third parties, collect several types of data about
your browsing habits, as well as your preferences for
products and services. This information allows us to
serve you relevant advertisements on our Products. To
refuse these cookies, please follow the instructions
below under the section Cookie Management. Some
advertisements may also contain an icon that you may
click on to find out more about how to manage your
advertising preferences.
Third-Party Functional
Cookies
These Cookies are defined by third
parties who support our Products and allow you to use
useful services and features. To refuse these cookies,
please follow the instructions below under the section
Cookie Management.
Duration of storage of cookies on your device
We use both "session cookies" (which expire once you close your web browser) and "persistent cookies" (which stay on your computer until you delete them).
Cookie Management
Analytics
Users can disable Google Analytics tracking directly from our cookie notification popup in Bookshelf Online.
To learn more about Google Analytics and additional ways to opt-out of Google Analytics for the Web, please visit https://support.google.com/analytics/answer/181881?hl=en.
Disabling Advertising Cookies
Some advertising service providers may be members of the Network Advertising Initiative, which offers a single location to opt-out of ad targeting from member companies. If you opt-out of receiving targeted ads in this manner, you will continue to receive advertising messages after you opt-out, but they will not be tailored based on your usage of the Products or third-party websites. If you would like more information about advertisers’ use of tracking technologies and your options, visit http://www.networkadvertising.org. To learn more about how interest-based information is collected, whether the companies we use are part of an industry network regarding behavioral advertising and to know your choices, visit http://www.aboutads.info. The collection of information via certain ads served to users in Canada may be managed by visiting youradchoices.ca.
Keep in mind an opt-out is cookie-based and only affects the specific device and browser on which the opt-out is applied.
Using Browser Settings
You can disable and/or delete most types of cookies through your browser settings. If you use your browser settings to block all cookies, you may not be able to access parts of our or others’ Products. For information about how to modify the cookies settings on some popular browsers please see the following:
- Apple Safari: http://support.apple.com/kb/PH5042
- Google Chrome: https://support.google.com/chrome/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=95647&p=cpn_cookies
- Microsoft Internet Explorer: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/17442/windows-internet-explorer-delete-manage-cookies
- Mozilla Firefox: http://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/Cookies
Changes to the Cookies Notice
We may revise this Notice from time to time. Changes made will be reflected on this page. Please re-visit this Cookie Notice regularly to stay informed about our use of Cookies. If you have any questions, please contact us as set forth below.
Contact us
If you have questions about the use of Cookies on our Products, please contact privacy@vitalsource.com.