Spotlight Market Research Privacy Policy
Updated July 2024
Spotlight Research is committed to protecting the privacy of all our participants/audience members and clients. This relates to any contact information, confidential project materials, data collected during participant screening, and research data results collected from participant participation.
The use of our website or your participation in any research studies, indicates your acknowledgement to the terms and conditions of this Privacy Policy. If you have any questions regarding our Privacy Policy, please feel free to reach out to us on the “Reach Out” page of our website.
Audience Members / Research Participants
Spotlight Research’s primary focus, within the Market Research industry, is to screen and schedule interested participants into paid research studies in order to collect opinions and data for our clients.
By registering into our Audience Panel, your information will not be sold or offered to any third parties for direct marketing/sales attempts. Your information will be used for purposes that only pertain to market research studies. Filling out a complete profile when registering will only assist Spotlight Research in inviting you to more fitting and relevant research studies. Spotlight will use your email address and phone number provided to contact you regarding paid research studies that might be relevant to you. The screening process then is essential in determining eligibility. The contact information you provide will not be entered into any “Newsletter” or mailing group within or outside of Spotlight Research. Spotlight may occasionally email you requesting to update your profile so that we may have the most up-to-date and accurate information. If you choose to be removed from the Audience Panel, requests can be made at any time via “Opt-Out” link on the Spotlight Research website, via phone 1-800-217-5660, or via email communication at info@spotlightmarketresearch.com.
Screening data to determine participation eligibility is kept confidential and only shared with the sponsor (client) of the research. Screening questionnaires are a mandatory procedure before being officially invited to participate with compensation. You may opt out of a screening questionnaire at any time, but it may affect your eligibility to participate as we target to get a balanced sample for all research. Screening questions generally include (but are not limited to) demographics such as age, gender, zip code, marital status, employment status, ethnicity, education level, and income.
California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA)
The Information We “Sell” and Disclose
The intentions of the Act are to provide California residents with the right to:
1. Know what personal data is being collected about them.
2. Know whether their personal data is sold or disclosed and to whom.
3. Say no to the sale of personal data.
4. Access their personal data.
5. Request a business to delete any personal information about a consumer collected from that consumer.
6. Not be discriminated against for exercising their privacy rights.
Spotlight Research is not in the business of selling personal data and contact information to third parties for solicitation purposes. The only time we sell personal data, is the data that you as a participant / audience member have agreed to when participating in a research study. The information that has typically been shared with our clients are demographics, screening data, and data pertaining to the research study (such as ratings, open ended answers that were recorded, materials such as photos/assignments you have completed, and etc.). Spotlight Research does not typically share contact information such as last names, addresses, emails, or phone numbers with clients/research hosts unless otherwise specified on a per project basis.
Your rights as a California Resident
If you are a California resident and would like to exercise your right to delete, say no to the sale of personal data, or know what personal data is being collected about you, you may do so by clicking and filling out the form on the bottom of the “Join our Audience” page: https://spotlightmarketresearch.com/join-our-audience/. We will ask you to verify your identity so that we may properly access your data and request.
Data and Information Security
In order to ensure proper safeguarding of all our clients and audience members/research participants, Spotlight Research uses up-to-date electronic software and 256-bit encryption tools for any data. Generally, the internet isn’t a perfectly safe place. In the event there is any type of data breach, Spotlight will take the most appropriate measures to investigate and inform anyone that might have been affected. Nevertheless, we do not and will never ask/store the following information:
- Social Security Number
- Credit/Debit Card Number
- Bank Account Information
Third Parties & Other Ways We May Have Contacted You
At times, Spotlight Research works with third parties to obtain contact information (outside of the Audience Panel) or have third parties assist in recruiting/reaching out to participants. Spotlight only works with reputable third parties that follow and implement strict Privacy/Data procedures.
Contact Us
18907 Nordhoff St., Suite 28
Northridge CA, 91324
Phone: 1-800-217-5660
info@spotlightmarketresearch.com
Website Visitors
Like most website operators, Spotlight Research collects non-personally-identifying information of the sort that web browsers and servers typically make available, such as the browser type, language preference, referring site, and the date and time of each visitor request. Spotlight Research’s purpose in collecting non-personally identifying information is to better understand how Spotlight Research’s visitors use its website.
Spotlight Research also collects potentially personally-identifying information like Internet Protocol (IP) addresses for logged in users and for users leaving comments on spotlightmarketresearch.com blogs/sites. Spotlight Research only discloses logged in user and commenter IP addresses under the same circumstances that it uses and discloses personally-identifying information as described below, except that commenter IP addresses and email addresses are visible and disclosed to the administrators of the blog/site where the comment was left.
Gathering of Personally-Identifying Information
Certain visitors to Spotlight Research’s websites choose to interact with Spotlight Research in ways that require Spotlight Research to gather personally-identifying information. The amount and type of information that Spotlight Research gathers depends on the nature of the interaction. For example, we ask visitors who sign up at spotlightmarketresearch.com to provide a username and email address. Those who engage in transactions with Spotlight Research are asked to provide additional information, including as necessary the personal and financial information required to process those transactions. In each case, Spotlight Research collects such information only insofar as is necessary or appropriate to fulfill the purpose of the visitor’s interaction with Spotlight Research. Spotlight Research does not disclose personally-identifying information other than as described below. And visitors can always refuse to supply personally-identifying information, with the caveat that it may prevent them from engaging in certain website-related activities.
Phone numbers (considered personal information) collected for SMS consent will not be shared with third parties or affiliates for marketing purposes.
Protection of Certain Personally-Identifying Information
Spotlight Research discloses potentially personally-identifying and personally-identifying information only to those of its employees, contractors and affiliated organizations that (i) need to know that information in order to process it on Spotlight Research’s behalf or to provide services available at Spotlight Research’s websites, and (ii) that have agreed not to disclose it to others. Some of those employees, contractors and affiliated organizations may be located outside of your home country; by using Spotlight Research’s websites, you consent to the transfer of such information to them. Spotlight Research will not rent or sell potentially personally-identifying and personally-identifying information to anyone. Other than to its employees, contractors and affiliated organizations, as described above, Spotlight Research discloses potentially personally-identifying and personally-identifying information only in response to a subpoena, court order or other governmental request, or when Spotlight Research believes in good faith that disclosure is reasonably necessary to protect the property or rights of Spotlight Research, third parties or the public at large. If you are a registered user of an Spotlight Research website and have supplied your email address, Spotlight Research may occasionally send you an email to tell you about new features, solicit your feedback, or just keep you up to date with what’s going on with Spotlight Research and our products. If you send us a request (for example via email or via one of our feedback mechanisms), we reserve the right to publish it in order to help us clarify or respond to your request or to help us support other users. Spotlight Research takes all measures reasonably necessary to protect against the unauthorized access, use, alteration or destruction of potentially personally-identifying and personally-identifying information.
Cookies
A cookie is a string of information that a website stores on a visitor’s computer, and that the visitor’s browser provides to the website each time the visitor returns. Spotlight Research uses cookies to help Spotlight Research identify and track visitors, their usage of Spotlight Research website, and their website access preferences. Spotlight Research visitors who do not wish to have cookies placed on their computers should set their browsers to refuse cookies before using Spotlight Research’s websites, with the drawback that certain features of Spotlight Research’s websites may not function properly without the aid of cookies.
Business Transfers
If Spotlight Research, or substantially all of its assets, were acquired, or in the unlikely event that Spotlight Research goes out of business or enters bankruptcy, user information would be one of the assets that is transferred or acquired by a third party. You acknowledge that such transfers may occur, and that any acquirer of Spotlight Research may continue to use your personal information as set forth in this policy.
Privacy Policy Changes
Although most changes are likely to be minor, Spotlight Research may change its Privacy Policy from time to time, and in Spotlight Research’s sole discretion. Spotlight Research encourages visitors to frequently check this page for any changes to its Privacy Policy. If you have a spotlightmarketresearch.com account, you might also receive an alert informing you of these changes. Your continued use of this site after any change in this Privacy Policy will constitute your acceptance of such change.
Terms of Service:
The following terms and conditions govern all use of the spotlightmarketresearch.com website and all content, services and products available at or through the website (taken together, the Website). The Website is owned and operated by Spotlight Market Research (“Spotlight Research”). The Website is offered subject to your acceptance without modification of all of the terms and conditions contained herein and all other operating rules, policies (including, without limitation, Spotlight Research’s Privacy Policy) and procedures that may be published from time to time on this Site by Spotlight Research (collectively, the “Agreement”).
Please read this Agreement carefully before accessing or using the Website. By accessing or using any part of the web site, you agree to become bound by the terms and conditions of this agreement. If you do not agree to all the terms and conditions of this agreement, then you may not access the Website or use any services. If these terms and conditions are considered an offer by Spotlight Research, acceptance is expressly limited to these terms. The Website is available only to individuals who are at least 13 years old.
Responsibility of Website Visitors. Spotlight Research has not reviewed, and cannot review, all of the material, including computer software, posted to the Website, and cannot therefore be responsible for that material’s content, use or effects. By operating the Website, Spotlight Research does not represent or imply that it endorses the material there posted, or that it believes such material to be accurate, useful or non-harmful. You are responsible for taking precautions as necessary to protect yourself and your computer systems from viruses, worms, Trojan horses, and other harmful or destructive content. The Website may contain content that is offensive, indecent, or otherwise objectionable, as well as content containing technical inaccuracies, typographical mistakes, and other errors. The Website may also contain material that violates the privacy or publicity rights, or infringes the intellectual property and other proprietary rights, of third parties, or the downloading, copying or use of which is subject to additional terms and conditions, stated or unstated. Spotlight Research disclaims any responsibility for any harm resulting from the use by visitors of the Website, or from any downloading by those visitors of content there posted.
Intellectual Property
This Agreement does not transfer from Spotlight Research to you any Spotlight Research or third party intellectual property, and all right, title and interest in and to such property will remain (as between the parties) solely with Spotlight Research. Spotlight Research, spotlightmarketresearch.com, the spotlightmarketresearch.com logo, and all other trademarks, service marks, graphics and logos used in connection with spotlightmarketresearch.com, or the Website are trademarks or registered trademarks of Spotlight Research or Spotlight Research’s licensors. Other trademarks, service marks, graphics and logos used in connection with the Website may be the trademarks of other third parties. Your use of the Website grants you no right or license to reproduce or otherwise use any Spotlight Research or third-party trademarks.
Changes
Spotlight Research reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to modify or replace any part of this Agreement. It is your responsibility to check this Agreement periodically for changes. Your continued use of or access to the Website following the posting of any changes to this Agreement constitutes acceptance of those changes. Spotlight Research may also, in the future, offer new services and/or features through the Website (including, the release of new tools and resources). Such new features and/or services shall be subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
Termination
Spotlight Research may terminate your access to all or any part of the Website at any time, with or without cause, with or without notice, effective immediately. If you wish to terminate this Agreement or your spotlightmarketresearch.com account (if you have one), you may simply discontinue using the Website. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if you have a paid services account, such account can only be terminated by Spotlight Research if you materially breach this Agreement and fail to cure such breach within thirty (30) days from Spotlight Research’s notice to you thereof; provided that, Spotlight Research can terminate the Website immediately as part of a general shut down of our service. All provisions of this Agreement which by their nature should survive termination shall survive termination, including, without limitation, ownership provisions, warranty disclaimers, indemnity and limitations of liability.
Disclaimer of Warranties. The Website is provided “as is”. Spotlight Research and its suppliers and licensors hereby disclaim all warranties of any kind, express or implied, including, without limitation, the warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose and non-infringement. Neither Spotlight Research nor its suppliers and licensors, makes any warranty that the Website will be error free or that access thereto will be continuous or uninterrupted. You understand that you download from, or otherwise obtain content or services through, the Website at your own discretion and risk
Limitation of Liability
In no event will Spotlight Research, or its suppliers or licensors, be liable with respect to any subject matter of this agreement under any contract, negligence, strict liability or other legal or equitable theory for: (i) any special, incidental or consequential damages; (ii) the cost of procurement for substitute products or services; (iii) for interruption of use or loss or corruption of data; or (iv) for any amounts that exceed the fees paid by you to Spotlight Research under this agreement during the twelve (12) month period prior to the cause of action. Spotlight Research shall have no liability for any failure or delay due to matters beyond their reasonable control. The foregoing shall not apply to the extent prohibited by applicable law.
General Representation and Warranty. You represent and warrant that (i) your use of the Website will be in strict accordance with the Spotlight Research Privacy Policy, with this Agreement and with all applicable laws and regulations (including without limitation any local laws or regulations in your country, state, city, or other governmental area, regarding online conduct and acceptable content, and including all applicable laws regarding the transmission of technical data exported from the United States or the country in which you reside) and (ii) your use of the Website will not infringe or misappropriate the intellectual property rights of any third party.
Miscellaneous
This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between Spotlight Research and you concerning the subject matter hereof, and they may only be modified by a written amendment signed by an authorized executive of Spotlight Research, or by the posting by Spotlight Research of a revised version. Except to the extent applicable law, if any, provides otherwise, this Agreement, any access to or use of the Website will be governed by the laws of the California, U.S.A, excluding its conflict of law provisions, and the proper venue for any disputes arising out of or relating to any of the same will be the state and federal courts located in Los Angeles County, California. Except for claims for injunctive or equitable relief or claims regarding intellectual property rights (which may be brought in any competent court without the posting of a bond), any dispute arising under this Agreement shall be finally settled in accordance with the Comprehensive Arbitration Rules of the Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Service, Inc. (“JAMS”) by three arbitrators appointed in accordance with such Rules. The arbitration shall take place in Los Angeles, California, in the English language and the arbitral decision may be enforced in any court. The prevailing party in any action or proceeding to enforce this Agreement shall be entitled to costs and attorneys’ fees. If any part of this Agreement is held invalid or unenforceable, that part will be construed to reflect the parties’ original intent, and the remaining portions will remain in full force and effect. A waiver by either party of any term or condition of this Agreement or any breach thereof, in any one instance, will not waive such term or condition or any subsequent breach thereof. You may assign your rights under this Agreement to any party that consents to, and agrees to be bound by, its terms and conditions; Spotlight Research may assign its rights under this Agreement without condition. This Agreement will be binding upon and will inure to the benefit of the parties, their successors and permitted assigns.