Privacy Policy

At Docs In Progress (“we”, “us”, “our”) we value your support and respect your privacy rights.  As a demonstration of our commitment to protecting your rights, we created this privacy policy (“Privacy Policy”) to explain how we treat the information collected and received from your use of our website, http://www.docsinprogress.org and our social media pages (all Collectively known as “Websites”)  This Privacy Policy applies only to the Websites, and we are not responsible for the practices of persons, companies, or websites that Docs In Progress does not control, manage, or employ.  Except as set forth in this Privacy Policy and our Terms of Use Agreement (“Terms of Use”) and other published guidelines, we do not release personal information about our users without their permission.   

What Information this Privacy Policy Covers 

Most of our Websites’ functionality can be used without revealing any personal information, though for some specific features or services personal information may be required. If you do not use these specific features or services on the Website, then the only information we collect will be “Non-Personal Information” (i.e., information that is not traceable back to you and cannot be used to identify you). Non-Personal Information includes information such as the web pages that you have viewed. In order to access certain features and benefits on our Website, you may need to submit “Personally Identifiable Information” (i.e., information that can be traced back to you). Personally Identifiable Information can include information such as your name, home address, telephone number, and email address. You are responsible for ensuring the accuracy of the Personally Identifiable Information you submit to Docs In Progress. Inaccurate information may affect your ability to use the Websites, the information you receive when using the Websites, and our ability to contact you. For example, your email address should be kept current because that is one of the primary manners in which we communicate with you. 

When you sign up on the Site or send a message on the Site, your personally identifiable information, including your email, will automatically be added to our mailing list.

What You Consent to by Using Our Websites 

Please understand that by submitting any Personally Identifiable Information to us, and/or by using our Websites, you consent and agree that we may collect, use, and disclose such Personally Identifiable Information in accordance with this Privacy Policy and our Terms of Use, and as permitted or required by law. If you do not agree with these terms, then please do not provide any Personally Identifiable Information to us. If you refuse or withdraw your consent, or if you choose not to provide us with any required Personally Identifiable Information, we may not be able to provide you with the products or services that can be offered on our Websites. 

What Information We Collect 

We gather two types of information about users through the Websites: 

1. Non-Personal Information. When users come to our Websites, we may track, collect and aggregate Non-Personal Information indicating, among other things, which pages of our Website were visited, the order in which they were visited, and which hyperlinks were “clicked.” Collecting such information may involve logging the IP address, operating system and browser software used by each user of the Websites. Although such information is not Personally Identifiable Information, we may be able to determine from an IP address a user’s Internet Service Provider and the geographic location of his or her point of connectivity.  

We also use or may use Cookies to help us determine, without limitation, the type of content and sites to which a user of our Websites links, the length of time each user spends at any particular area of our Websites, and the specific functionalities that users choose to use.  Essentially, Cookies are a user’s identification card for the Docs In Progress servers.  Cookies allow Docs In Progress to serve you better and more efficiently, and to personalize your experience at our Websites.  Cookies are not used to retain Personally Identifiable Information.   

You should be able to control how and whether Cookies will be accepted by your web browser.  Most browsers offer instructions on how to reset the browser to reject Cookies in the "Help" section of the toolbar.  If you reject our Cookies, certain of the functions and conveniences of this Websites may not work properly, but you do not have to accept our Cookies in order to productively use many functionalities of the Websites. 

2. Personally Identifiable Information. We collect Personally Identifiable Information that you provide to us when you sign-up for our mailing list, join our Docs Insiders Program, register for a program, make a donation to Docs In Progress or one of our fiscal sponsorees, apply for a job/internship/volunteer opportunity, follow us on social media, comment on blog posts, or access a part of our website which asks for your contact information. Among other things, we may use the Personally Identifiable Information that you provide to respond to your questions, provide you the specific programs or services you select, send you donation acknowledgments, send you e-mail or social media updates, or inform you of significant changes to this Privacy Policy. 

a. Updates. Docs In Progress may offer you the ability to receive updates, such as newsletters, press releases, or upcoming program offerings either via email or another subscription service such as Facebook or Twitter. In order to subscribe to these services, you may be required to provide us with Personally Identifiable Information such as your name, email address and zip code. You have the option to opt out of updates at any time by changing your subscription.

b. Donations. When making donations on our Websites, you are required to provide Personally Identifiable Information such as your name, address, Billing Information and email address. We do not have access to credit card information you may provide the merchant account which handles these transactions.

c.  Forums. Docs In Progress may offer various public forums on the Websites (collectively, the “Forums”) such as a blog, video channels, and listservs. In order to participate in the Forums, you may be required to register with us and/or provide us with Personally Identifiable Information such as your name and email address.

d. Work with Docs In Progress.  In order to work with Docs In Progress as an employee, contractor, board member, intern, or volunteer,  you are required to provide us with Personally Identifiable Information such as your name, address, phone number, email address and resume. In order to be considered for a position, you are required to complete an on-line form which provides us with Personally Identifiable Information, such as your name, email address and city/state of residence.

f.  Participation in Contests, Sweepstakes, and Other Promotions. From time to time, Docs In Progress may offer you the opportunity to participate in a contest, sweepstakes, or other promotion on or through the Websites. If you desire to participate in any such contest, sweepstakes, or other promotion, you will be asked to provide us with certain information necessary to conduct such contest, sweepstakes, or other promotion. This information may include, among other things, your name, age, mailing address, email address, and phone number. 

g.  Communications with Docs In Progress. We may receive Personally Identifiable Information when you send us an email message or otherwise contact us.

How We Use the Information 

Please take some time to familiarize yourself with the different ways Docs In Progress uses the information that we gather. 

1. Non-Personal Information.  We use Non-Personal Information in aggregate form to build higher quality, more useful services by performing statistical analyses of the collective characteristics and behavior of our users, and by measuring demographics and interests regarding specific areas of our Website.

2.  Personally Identifiable Information.  This Privacy Policy serves as notice that we collect Personally Identifiable Information in the manners described herein. Except as set forth in this Privacy Policy or as specifically agreed to by you, Docs In Progress will not disclose any Personally Identifiable Information we gather from you on the Website. In addition to the other uses set forth in this Privacy Policy, we may disclose and otherwise use Personally Identifiable Information as described below.

a. Updates.  We use Personally Identifiable Information collected when you sign-up for our mailing list at an event or through the website to be able to send you information about programs and activities of interest to documentary filmmakers, industry, and others interested in the work of Docs In Progress. We may also archive this information and/or use it for future communications with you. While we may incorporate paid advertising into updates or our website, we do NOT sell or share our contact list with entities outside of Docs In Progress. Every update allows users to opt-out of updates at any time.

b. Forums.  We use Personally Identifiable Information collected during your use of the Forums to facilitate your use of the Forums.  In addition we may publish this information either on the Websites and/or in other publications.  We may also archive this information and/or use it for future communications with you and/or your designee(s).

c. Donations.  We use Personally Identifiable Information collected when you make a donation on our Websites to process your donation (either directly or though our providers), and we may also archive this information and/or use it for future communications with you. For donations made directly to Docs In Progress or to one of our fiscal sponsorees, you will have the option to keep your name, donation amount, and/or contact information anonymous in all records except our internal financial records.

d. Work for Docs In Progress.  We use Personally Identifiable Information collected when you apply for a job, contract opportunity, internship, volunteer opportunity, or board service to respond to your application. We may also archive this information and/or use it for future communications with you.

f. Communications with Docs In Progress.  When you send us an email message or otherwise contact us, we may use the information provided by you to respond to your communication and/or as described in this Privacy Policy. We may also archive this information and/or use it for future communications with you.

g. Participation in Contests, Sweepstakes and Other Promotions. We use the Personally Identifiable Information that we collect from you when you participate in a contest, sweepstakes, or other promotion through the Websites for processing purposes. Also, we may archive this information and/or use it for future communications with you. 

h. Disclosure to Docs In Progress Operations and Maintenance Contractors. Our operations and maintenance contractors sometimes have limited access to your Personally Identifiable Information in the course of providing products or services to us.  These contractors may include vendors and suppliers that provide us with technology, services, and/or content related to the operation and maintenance of the Website.  Access to your Personally Identifiable Information by these contractors is limited to the information reasonably necessary for the contractor to perform its limited function for us. 

i.  Government Authorities, Legal Rights and Actions. Docs In Progress may share your Personally Identifiable Information with various government authorities in response to subpoenas, court orders, or other legal process; to establish or exercise our legal rights or to protect our property; to defend against legal claims; or as otherwise required by law. In such cases we reserve the right to raise or waive any legal objection or right available to us. We also may share your Personally Identifiable Information when we believe it is appropriate to investigate, prevent, or take action regarding illegal or suspected illegal activities; to protect and defend the rights, property, or safety of Docs In Progress, the Websites, our users, customers, or others; and in connection with our Terms of Use and other agreements.

External Links  

For your convenience we may provide links to websites operated by companies other than Docs In Progress (“Third Party Sites”) that we believe may be of interest to you. We do not disclose your Personally Identifiable Information to these Third Party Sites without obtaining your consent. We do not endorse and are not responsible for the privacy practices of these Third Party Sites. If you choose to link to one of these Third Party Sites, you should review the privacy policy posted on the other website to understand how that Third Party Site collects and uses your Personally Identifiable Information. 

Confidentiality & Security of Personally Identifiable Information  

We consider the confidentiality and security of your information to be of the utmost importance.  We will keep your Personally Identifiable Information private and will not share it with third parties, except as otherwise provided in this Privacy Policy, or unless we have good faith belief that such disclosure is necessary in special cases, such as a physical threat to you or others.  Docs In Progress takes reasonable measures to protect your Personally Identifiable Information from disclosure to or access by third parties. Please note that we do not guarantee the security of Personally Identifiable Information, and there is some risk that an unauthorized third party may find a way to circumvent our security systems or that transmissions of your information over the internet will be intercepted. 

Updating or Deleting Your Personally Identifiable Information 

We maintain a procedure in order to help you confirm that your Personally Identifiable Information remains correct and up-to-date or choose whether or not you wish to receive material from us or some of our partners.   

At any time, you may modify your monthly donation details by clicking on the “Change Subscription Info” link and modifying the applicable information. You may also unsubscribe from certain email communications by clicking on the “Unsubscribe” link in those emails.  Keep in mind, however, that there will be residual information that will remain within our databases, access logs and other records, which may or may not contain your Personally Identifiable Information.  

If you have any privacy-related questions or unresolved problems, you may contact Docs In Progress using the information provided below.  

Changing Our Privacy Policy 

Please note that we review our privacy practices from time to time, and that these practices are subject to change.  Any change, update, or modification will be effective immediately upon posting on our Websites.  We will notify you of any material change to this Privacy Policy by posting a notice on our Website’s homepage for a reasonable period of time following such update, and by changing the effective date (located at the bottom of this page).  Be sure to return to this page periodically to ensure familiarity with the most current version of this Privacy Policy. 

International Users  

Our Websites are hosted in the United States and are intended for and directed to users in the United States. If you access the Websites from any region or country with laws or regulations governing personal data collection, use, and disclosure, that differ from United States laws, please be advised that through your continued use of the Websites, which is governed by U.S. law, this Privacy Policy, and our Terms of Use, you are transferring your personal information to the United States and you consent to that transfer.   

Protecting Children’s Privacy  

Docs In Progress strongly believes in protecting the privacy of children. In line with this belief, we do not knowingly collect or maintain Personally Identifiable Information on our Websites from persons under 13 years of age without verified parental consent (such as registration for our youth programs). We will take appropriate steps to delete any Personally Identifiable Information of persons less than 13 years of age that has been collected on our Website without verified parental consent upon learning of the existence of such Personally Identifiable Information.  

Maryland State Privacy Laws

Maryland has several laws that work to protect online privacy. For example, the Maryland Consumer Protection Act (http://www.peoples-law.org/node/508) protects consumers from unfair and deceptive acts and practices, whether they occur online or offline. This law generally prevents companies from hiding important facts or falsely representing the facts related to consumer goods, services, property, or credit in Maryland. If you think someone is violating your rights under this law, you can call the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division Hotline at (410) 528-8662 or 1 (888) 743-0023. You may file a complaint at https://www.oag.state.md.us/Consumer/complaint.htm. If you have been damaged, you also have the right to sue the company that violated your legal rights in court. Maryland law also requires that certain sensitive personal identifying information, such as your Social Security number, must be kept securely. The Maryland Personal Information Protect Act (https://www.oag.state.md.us/idtheft/businessGL.htm) requires that this information must be reasonably protected. This law also provides guidelines for letting you know if there has been a "data security breach," which means that your information was exposed to someone without permission to see it.

Contacting Docs In Progress 

If you have any questions, comments or complaints about this Privacy Policy or our Websites, please contact us:  

Docs In Progress

801 Wayne Avenue

Silver Spring, MD 20910

By email:  contact AT docsinprogress DOT org

Revised  May 17, 2018