Privacy Policy

Last updated: May 10, 2012

1. Introduction

This Privacy Policy is an integral part of the Terms of Use which govern your use of this Site. If 3M makes a material change to this Privacy Policy, it will provide notice of those changes by updating the “Last updated” date set forth above. 3M recommends that you review this Privacy Policy each time you visit the Site to see if it has been updated since your last visit.

Please note that this Privacy Policy is specifically applicable to this Site, and that the privacy policy found at 3m.com is not applicable to this Site

2. Identification of Readers and Authors

A. Readers

If you are simply reading the information that is accessible at this Site, and you are not logged-in (see Log-in below) no information is being collected about you other than what is collected by the server log of a web site in general—typically your IP address, the name of your operating system (such as Macintosh® or Windows®) and the name and version of your browser (such as Internet Explorer® or Firefox®). The information 3M receives depends on the settings on your web browser. Please check your browser if you want to learn what information your browser sends or how to change your settings. The Site will also set a temporary session cookie. Please review the provision concerning “cookies” below.

B. Log-in, Passwords

If you have registered to use this Site you will be allowed to create a password to log-in to the Site. You should select a strong password and maintain its secrecy because any activity at this Site involving the use of your password will be deemed attributable to you. If you believe that the secrecy of your password has been compromised you should Contact Us immediately. By logging in to the Site, you will be able to post Comments utilizing your real name or a pseudonym that you have chosen. You will also be able to review, correct and update the information that you provided to us when you registered to use the Site. The log in procedure will also help 3M to investigate and track down violations of the Terms of Use and other abusive behavior relating to the use of this Site.

C. Cookies

3M may obtain information about you by installing a cookie on your computer’s hard drive. A session cookie is used to tag your computer with a computer-generated, unique identifier when you access this Site. A session cookie does not identify you personally and expires after you close your browser. 3M uses additional cookies to collect statistical information about the ways visitors use this Site – which pages they visit, which links they use, and how long they stay on each page. 3M analyzes this information in statistical form to better understand visitors’ interests and needs to improve the content and functionality of our sites.

More cookies may be set when you log in to avoid typing in your user name (or optionally password) on your next visit. You may clear these cookies after use if you are using a public machine and do not wish to expose your username to future users of the machine. (if so, clear the browser cache as well.)

If you do not wish to receive cookies, you may set your browser to reject cookies or to alert you when a cookie is placed on your computer. Although you are not required to accept cookies when you visit this Site, you cannot log in without accepting the session cookie.

3. Personally-Identifiable Information

A. Security

Any personal information that you provide to 3M will generally be stored in 3M databases or databases maintained by our service providers located in the United States. 3M maintains reasonable safeguards to protect the confidentiality, security and integrity of your personal information. Although 3M uses security measures to help protect your personal information against unauthorized disclosure, misuse or alteration, as is the case with all computer networks linked to the Internet, 3M cannot guarantee the security of information provided over the Internet and will not be responsible for breaches of security beyond its reasonable control.

B. Disclosure to Third Parties

3M may disclose your personal information to third parties hired to perform support services for 3M relating to this Site. Any such third parties will be required to use the personal information 3M shares with them only to perform services on 3M’s behalf and to treat your personal information as strictly confidential. In certain, limited circumstances 3M may share or transfer personal information to unrelated third parties. By way of non-exclusive example, 3M may provide personal information to a third party (i) at your request; (ii) to comply with a legal requirement or court order; (iii) to investigate a possible crime (such as identity theft), a violation of the Terms of Use, or abusive behavior relating to the use of this Site; and (iv) in connection with the sale, purchase, merger, reorganization, liquidation or dissolution of 3M or a 3M business unit.

C. Links

Before you provide any personal information to a web site that you may visit based upon a link from this Site, 3M recommends that you carefully review that web site’s privacy policy.

4. E-mail and Mailing Lists

A. Mailing Lists

You may subscribe to the Site’s announcement mailing list to receive outgoing emails from the Site regarding updates. The announcement mailing list does not receive incoming emails. The email addresses in this announcement mailing list are not public.

B. Information email addresses

When you contact us through the “Contact Us” link on the Site, an e-mail is generated. A team of subject matter experts (SMEs) from 3M may view and answer the e-mail. E-mail sent to the 3M system is not publicly visible but is visible to this group of SMEs. The SME team may discuss the contents of your e-mail with other contributors in order to best answer your query.

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