Privacy Statement

This privacy statement discloses the privacy practices for Pencilboard.Net. "Pencilboard.Net", "site", or "web site" refers to all systems related to Pencilboard.Net's services in its entirety, unless otherwise indicated. This privacy statement pertains only to our Web site and does not guarantee the practices of our affiliates or other third parties.

Information Collection and Use

Pencilboard.Net is the sole owner of the information collected on this site. Pencilboard.Net collects information from our users at several different points on our web site. We will not sell, share, or rent this information to others in ways different from what is disclosed in this statement, except under directions to disclose such information issued by a certified legal authority or representative of state, such as a judge or federal law enforcement agency, as is needed.  Use of Pencilboard.Net, its services, and its information is governed by the laws of the State of California.

Accounts

In order to contribute to this web site or perform other advanced operations, a users must first complete a form to signup with an account. During completion of these forms, a user is required to give their contact information (such as name and email address). This information is processed via an automated system where no interaction with the site administrators or owners is necessary. The information is stored in a database that is not accessbile to the public. This information will not be used for anything except to associate contributions with an individual in a manner that does not disclose personally identifiable information to the public and to enforce site guidelines and policies.

Passwords

In order to process account signup and login services, users who wish to login or signup for an account will be required to submit a password that will be associated with an account profile and used to authenticate users who login with a particular login name. Passwords are not sent via Secure Socket Layers (SSL) and are therefore potentially visible to individuals for whom the information is not intended. It is encouraged that users not use a password that if stolen would compromise the user in any way other than to compromise their account with Pencilboard.Net. Passwords are stored in a secure database on the web site in a NBS DES one-way encrypted form and are not reverse engineerable, even by site owners or administrators.

Cookies

A cookie is a piece of data stored on the user's hard drive containing information about the user and/or their current browser session. Pencilboard.Net uses cookies to allow users to have a custmized web experience with us. The cookie stored by Pencilboard.Net stores the current browser session ID which is used to identify users during login, manage their account profile, and interact with the site. The data associated with that session is not located on the user's computer but is stored on the server in a location that is not accessible to the public. Therefore, personal data such as passwords, email addresses, and account names are not stored anywhere on the client computer or in an area that is accessible. Pencilboard.Net cannot give the same assurance, nor be held responsible for cookies that may be employed by third party affiliates by means such as banners which may be placed on our site.

Notification of Contributions

We send users who contribute to the site notification of the status (accepted or rejected) of their contributions via email. Users who contribute multiple entries will receive a digest of all their entries that were accepted or rejected. In the future, Pencilboard.Net may allow users to opt out of this notification through the account profile page.

Feedback

In order to send feedback about the site, or report an error, a user must first complete forms that perform these respective tasks. During completion of these forms, users who do not have an account with Pencilboard.Net will be required to give their contact information (such as name and email address). Users who do have an account are encouraged to login in order to have feedback associated with the contact information contained in their account profile. This information is used to contact the user about the services on our site for which they have expressed interest or concern, or in the event that the guidelines or policies that govern the use of specific portions of the site are not followed.

Log Files

We use IP addresses to analyze trends, administer the site, track user's movement, and gather broad demographic information for aggregate use.  IP addresses may be linked to personally identifiable information only when users send feedback, report errors, or in cases when guidelines and policies that govern specific portions of the site are not followed.

Sharing

We may share aggregate demographic information with third parties or the general public. This is not linked to any personal information that can identify any individual person.

Links

This web site may contain links to other sites. Please be aware that we at Pencilboard.Net are not responsible for the privacy practices of such other sites. We encourage our users to be aware when they leave our site and to read the privacy statements of each and every web site that collects personally identifiable information. This privacy statement applies solely to information collected by this Web site.

Surveys & Contests

From time-to-time our site may request information from users via surveys or contests. Participation in these surveys or contests is completely voluntary and the user therefore has a choice whether or not to disclose this information. Information requested may include contact information (such as name and email address), and demographic information (such as zip code, age level). Contact information will be used to notify the winners and award prizes. Survey information will be used for purposes of monitoring or improving the use and satisfaction of this site.

Security

This web site takes every precaution to protect our users' information. If you have any questions about the security at our web site, you can send feedback via the comment form we have on our site.

Notification of Changes

If we decide to change our privacy policy, we may post those changes on our web site home page so our users are always aware of what information we collect, how we use it, and under what circumstances, if any, we disclose it. If at any point we would like to use personally identifiable information in a manner different from that stated at the time it was collected, we will notify users by way of an email. Users will have a choice as to whether or not we use their information in this different manner. We will use information in accordance with the privacy policy under which the information was collected.

Pencilboard.Net is a member of the TRUSTe Privacy Partnership and encourages all users to be educated about privacy issues on the Internet.