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diurnal
06-08-2006, 01:19 PM
Hello all,

Msn Zone is shutting down some of is games. So, we have to move to another software program, namely ZooGames.

Some people say it has privacy and security issues. As for logging in cookies I see no harm in that. Since all programs and sites have some use for cookies. Another issue in the privacy statement is that it logs your IP into its servers. Well I believe if you install any type of software it will log your IP. However, some people(in my spades league) do not like this.

Msn Zone logs your IP as well, but for some reason people are shying away from Zoo Games. Lastly, ZooGames, while your playing, shows what services your running (this was done because it is also used for poker gambling).

Anyway just would like your opionions on ZooGames.

Here its privacy statement:

TheZoo.net - Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy discloses the general privacy practices for The ZOO, LLC.

The ZOO is committed to respecting the privacy rights of visitors to The ZOO's web site. While visiting The ZOO's web site, we may ask you to register and/or provide information that personally identifies you ("Personal Information") for purposes of interacting with the site. To further the protection of your Personal Information, The ZOO has adopted a set of information management guidelines (outlined below) which serve as the basis for our customer and advertiser relationships. These guidelines have been developed with the recognition that Internet technologies are rapidly evolving, and that underlying business models are still not established. Accordingly, guidelines are subject to change. Any such changes will be posted on this page. Please see the Effective Date stated at the conclusion of this Policy.

Information Collected - What are Cookies?
There is a technology called "cookies" which can be used to provide you with tailored information from a web site. A cookie is an element of data that a web site can send to your browser, which may then be stored on your system. This element of data is a piece of text, not a program. The Site can only access the information from a cookie sent by the site. We cannot access other cookies sent by other web sites or the information contained therein. Additionally, we cannot learn your email address or any other information about you through the use of a cookie. The only way we would learn such information is if you specifically submit that information to us, for example, through our registration system.

Why does The ZOO use cookies?
The ZOO uses cookies to track usage of the Site and further customize your experience when you are visiting the Site. By tracking usage, we can best determine what features of the Site best serve the users. We never give out information to others about individual usage. However, we may provide our advertisers with aggregate information about our users, such as "5,000 people viewed your ad today."

May I decline to accept a cookie?
On those pages of the Site that do not require registration, you may decline to accept cookies sent by the Site by selecting an option on your browser to reject cookies. However, some portions of the Site may require registration in order to access those areas. In such case, we ask that you register and provide us with basic information on our registration page. Cookies enable our server to know that you are a registered user; therefore, our registration system requires that you accept the cookies from the Site. Other sites linked to this Site may also send cookies; however we do not control such activities.

What benefits do I receive from cookies?
Overall, the use of cookies helps to give you a customized experience at the Site. Through the use of cookies, we'll know what's working and what's not. That information is then used to keep our Site fresh and relevant to you the user. Cookies also allow you to avoid retyping your user id each time you access the Site, as well as personalize any online services we provide to you.

What happens with the information collected in a cookie?
At times, we use an advertising server developed by a third party to display ads on the Site. Some of these ads may contain cookies that are set by third parties (i.e. advertising agencies or advertising clients). We do not have access to these cookies or any information that they may contain; please contact the advertiser for more information on these cookies.

IP Addresses
The ZOO does log IP addresses and unique computer identifiers for systems administration, security and troubleshooting purposes.

Use of Personal Information
The ZOO may match aggregated user information with third party data. Also, The ZOO discloses aggregated user statistics in order to describe our services to potential advertisers, partners and other third parties, and for other lawful purposes. Additionally, The ZOO will use reasonable efforts to ensure that only our employees with a "need to know" will have access to your information. We do not release personal information about you as an individual to third parties.

It should be noted, however, that this Privacy Policy only addresses the use and dissemination of information that we collect from you. To the extent that you disclose any information to other parties, whether through, for example, message boards, game rooms, personal ads, or the like, or through other web sites throughout the Internet, different policies may apply. Since The ZOO does not control the privacy policies of third parties, you are subject to the privacy customs and policies, if any, of that third party, and The ZOO shall not be responsible for the use or dissemination of your private information by that third party. Therefore, we encourage you to ask questions before you disclose your personal information to others.

Links to Other Materials
If any link is offered connecting you to a third party web site, it is as an accommodation to the respective third party site owner and without charge. Third party sites linked to and from the Site are not necessarily under the control of The ZOO. The ZOO shall have no responsibilities or liabilities whatsoever for the content or privacy practices of any such linked site or any link or linking program at any time. The ZOO does not necessarily endorse companies (or related products or services) to or from which the Site is linked. If you decide to access any of the third party sites linked to the Site, you do so entirely at your own risk. The ZOO hereby disclaims any rights to trademarks, service marks, trade names, logos, copyrights, patents, domain names or other intellectual property interests of third parties.

Effective Date and Changes
This Privacy Policy is effective as of October 12, 2004. The ZOO reserves the right to modify the terms of this policy at any time and in our sole discretion, by posting a change notice to this page. Your continued use of the Site following our posting of a change notice will constitute binding acceptance of those changes.




Thanks,

Mitch

diurnal
06-08-2006, 01:20 PM
USER STATEMENT SAYS THIS:
WHEN YOU INSTALL IT SAYS THIS:

Notice to User-

Installation of the ZooGames Software constitutes your acceptance and acknowledgement of the terms listed herein. This agreement is binding and should be read completely before completing the installation process. This agreement governs the agreement between you ("Installer" or "User"), ZooGames server ("Server"), the ZooGames client ("Client") and all intellectual property contained therein ("Software").

All software, applications, images, and related materials are protected under copyright laws and international copyright treaties.

The Server software runs from a remote computer owned and operated by ZooGames. The User will not have access to the Server software, except through the means provided via the operation of the Client software. User agrees to use the software for its intended purposes according to the terms stated in this agreement. The Client software will be made available to the User, under the terms outlined in this Agreement. The User will identify himself/herself to the Server by logging in with a unique Player Identification Username and Secret Password. It is solely the User's responsibility to safeguard Username and Password.

1. Grant of License - ZooGames grants the User the right to install and run the ZooGames Client software on any computer for which it was designed. The User may only use the Software to connect to the ZooGames Servers.

2. No Warranties - ZooGames does not in any form provide any written or implied warranties or guarantees for this software. All risk for usage of this Software and Related Materials is assumed solely by the User.

3. Usage - User agrees to utilize this software for its intended purposes only and not attempt to tamper with, modify, re-program, or disassemble the software in any way. ZooGames may terminate this agreement at any time if a user violates any terms within or is believed to be in violation of any terms within.

4. Security - User agrees to keep confidential his or her Player Identification or Username and Secret Password. All game play via a Player's Identification and Password shall be assumed to have originated from lawful User and shall be considered valid. Any liability is the responsibility of the User.

5. Limitation of Liability - Under no circumstances, including negligence, shall ZooGames be liable for any direct, indirect, or consequential damages whatsoever including but not limited to the following: damages for loss of business profits, business interruption, loss of business information, or any other loss arising out of the use (or misuse) of the Software.

6. Personal Usage - The software is licensed to the User solely for personal use and any commercial use is strictly prohibited. This software allows game play for both real money or play money depending on the preferences of the User. It is the responsibility of the User to know the gambling laws of their place of residence and use this software in a legal manner. User must certify that they are of at least 18 years of age or the age of majority in their place of residence. ZooGames reserves the right to request age verification.

ZooGames may ammend this Agreement or any part herein at the sole discretion of ZooGames. ZooGames reserves the right to settle any disputes that may arise out of the usage of this software. Under no circumstances does ZooGames, its management, employees, subsidiaries, software developers, or marketing partners assume any responsibility for any damages that may come as a result of use of this software or related materials. User accepts this software in "as is" condition agrees to indemnify and hold harmless ZooGames for any problems or damages, financial or otherwise, that could result from use of this software.

Copyright THE ZOO LLC
All Rights Reserved

diurnal
06-08-2006, 10:16 PM
Hi,

Let me narrow my question down. If you like reading privacy statements, have at it. I know its alot of reading, but if you could just skim over it, it would be good.

I just want to know is this privacy statement any unusual than any other privacy statements?

Again, thanks for your input.

mjc
06-08-2006, 10:34 PM
It is no worse than most other sites of this nature and they are rather up front about the ads and the possiblity of tracking cookies being dropped by the ad servers....