Privacy Policy Summary

We offer this summary to encourage parents to read and understand our Privacy Policy. For fore details, click on the link at the end of each paragraph.

Sesame Workshop has been trusted by parents for more than thirty years to provide safe, entertaining, and reliable products and content. We take this trust very seriously, especially as we expand our online presence. We recognize that families are concerned about privacy and especially about the privacy of their children online. Sesame Workshop, its staff, contractors, and others who help us operate our Web site follow this policy on privacy and fair information practices for online activities of Sesame Workshop Online. Sesame Workshop Online always meets or exceeds the requirements of the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998.

Sesame Workshop will only share an adult's personal information with third parties for such third parties' direct marketing purposes as set forth in this Privacy Policy. You can direct us, at any time, not to continue sharing information with such third parties by sending us an e-mail at privacy@sesameonline.org.

1. Trust, Notice and Security

At Sesame Workshop, we fully disclose our policy about the collection, maintenance, use, disclosure, and security of personal information obtained from users of our online activities. By personal information, we mean a name, address, e-mail address, telephone number, or any other information that can be used to contact an individual. (more)

2. Parental Involvement and Consent

Parental involvement in a child's Sesame Workshop activities is a cornerstone of our approach to the Internet. Sesame Workshop does not currently collect and maintain personal information from children. We will require prior parental consent should we ever collect and maintain personal information from children under the age of 13. (more)

3. Use and Disclosure Limitations

Sesame Workshop uses personal information about its Web site users only in defined and responsible ways. We do not share user information with third parties except when we have told users about the disclosures, when we have prior consent, or when required by law. Please see the "E-Donation Personal Information" section for additional explanation regarding information collected during an online donation. When we do share information with sponsors, we allow users to opt-out of receiving any unsolicited e-mail. (more)

4. Information Collection

Sesame Workshop fully explains its information collection practices. We do not collect personal information from children. We tell adults when information is required and when it is optional. (more)

5. Access to and Correction of Personal Information

Sesame Workshop is committed to maintaining accurate, timely, relevant, and appropriate information about our users. (more)

6. Questions

Sesame Workshop pledges to work with users to answer any questions about our privacy and fair information practices policy or our implementation of the policy. (more)

7. Technical and Other Matters: Cookies, Web Logs, and Advertisers

Sesame Workshop discloses the defined and limited way that our Web site uses cookies, Web logs, and advertising. (more)

Detailed Policy Description

1. Trust, Notice, and Security

At Sesame Workshop, we fully disclose our policy about the collection, maintenance, use, disclosure, and security of personal information obtained from users of our online activities. By personal information, we mean a name, address, e-mail address, telephone number, or any other information that can be used to contact or identify an individual.

Concerns about privacy can be stronger in the online environment. Sesame Workshop promises to follow this privacy and fair information practices policy that we specially designed for our Web site. Parents can trust Sesame Workshop will not misuse any personal information about their children or about themselves.

Sesame Workshop will change over time as we add exciting new features, services, and options. The Internet itself will also change as new capabilities and perhaps new laws emerge. This policy will be updated occasionally. Our philosophy of protecting user information from inappropriate uses and disclosures will not change. We promise to provide appropriate advance notice through the Web site of any change that materially affects the collection, maintenance, use, or disclosure of personal information from children or adults. We will also seek parental consent should we ever decide to collect and maintain personal information from children. Other changes to this privacy policy statement that reflect refinements, improvements, updates, and new features will be made as appropriate and posted as soon as possible. Whenever the privacy policy changes, we will modify the date and version number to reflect that a change was made.

Another important element of trust is security. The security of personal information is a high priority at Sesame Workshop. We maintain this Web site and all associated data with technical, administrative, and physical safeguards appropriate for the type of data in question to protect against loss, unauthorized access, destruction, misuse, modification, and improper disclosure. We follow industry-proven security procedures such as encrypted administrative communication, restricted access to underlying machines, and firewalls at network access points. No computer system or information can ever be fully protected against every possible hazard. Sesame Workshop is committed to providing reasonable and appropriate security controls to protect our Web site and its information against foreseeable hazards.

Sesame Workshop requires that employees and contractors who have access to personal information from the Web site acknowledge in writing that they have read these privacy and fair information practices rules and that they are expected to follow it.

This Web site is operated by Sesame Workshop, located at One Lincoln Plaza, New York, N.Y. 10023. Our telephone number is 212-595-3456. Our E-mail address is privacy@sesameonline.org.

2. Parental Involvement and Consent

Parental involvement in a child's Sesame Workshop activities is a cornerstone of our approach to the Internet.Sesame Workshop does not currently collect and maintain personal information from children under 13, or on an area of our web site that is directed to children under 13. We will require prior parental consent should we ever do so.

Sesame Workshop encourages parents and caregivers to spend time online with children and to collaborate in the learning and fun offered at our Web site. The Internet is a wonderful place to explore as a family. We recommend that an adult accompany children when using content on the Internet.

Our Web site has been designed to delight children and adults alike. We offer parental education and online child safety programs for our audience. We encourage parents to take advantage of these programs to teach their children about online safety and to supervise their children online.

Sesame Workshop recognizes that collecting personal information from visitors to our Web site can be sensitive. Many features do not require disclosure of a name, E-mail address, or other personal information. Some features need personal information in order to work. We want our users to understand what information we collect and how we use it. We also want to provide our users with a choice when possible.

3. Use and Disclosure Limitations

Sesame Workshop uses personal information about its Web site users only in defined and responsible ways. We do not share user information with third parties except when we have told users about the disclosures, when we have prior consent, or when required by law. Please see the "E-Donation Personal Information" section for additional explanation regarding information collected during an online donation. When we do share information with sponsors, we allow users to opt-out of receiving any unsolicited e-mail by following the directions at the end of this Section 3.

Use Policy: When Sesame Workshop gathers personal information from users, we ask for permission first. Personal information is used for activities such as site registration, site membership, online sweepstakes that require notification of winners, newsletter subscriptions, and mailings that describe upcoming products, events, and features.

User Choice: Whenever possible, Sesame Workshop allows users to make choices about how their personal information will be used. For example, if we plan to use your information for Sesame Workshop marketing or advertising purposes, we let you tell us in advance that you do not want to receive any mail about our activities or promotions or about offers from our sponsors or advertisers. For example, when you register for our newsletter, you are asked if you object to our using the information to contact you about new features and content on our Web site.

Disclosure Policy: We do not normally disclose personal information to anyone outside of Sesame Workshop unless we have previously informed users about the disclosures. However, some data may be used from time to time by outside auditors, consultants, and others hired by Sesame Workshop to assist in carrying out financial or operational activities. We permit these uses only when necessary to manage the Web site and its records or for another specific purpose consistent with this privacy policy. All recipients must agree in writing to safeguard personal information, to use it only for an authorized purpose, and to return it or destroy it upon completion of the activity. Please see the "E-Donation Personal Information" section for additional explanation regarding information collected during an online donation.

Sesame Workshop might be required to disclose personal information in response to valid legal process. This includes a search warrant, subpoena, or court order. In this respect, we are no different from any other record keeper. Disclosures may also be appropriate to protect the safety of a child, during emergencies if physical safety is believed to be at risk, to protect the security or integrity of our Web site, or to take precautions against liability. We think that these events are unlikely, but they are possible. We will take reasonable steps to limit the scope of any of these disclosures.

E-Donation Personal Information

In order to process your online donation, Sesame Workshop will require certain personal information including name, address, email address, credit card number and expiration date. We will indicate which information is required and which is optional. All information will be collected in a secure fashion using 128 bit SSL technology. Our service providers are required to maintain the privacy of all Sesame Workshop information that they are in contact with and can only use the information for the purpose that Sesame Workshop has contracted them, for example processing donations or fulfilling thank you gifts.

Sesame Workshop does not sell or exchange email addresses. In addition to the use and disclosure described above, Sesame Workshop may on occasion share names and postal addresses collected from donors with carefully selected organizations for marketing purposes. Sesame Workshop will never share personally identifiable information about children with any organization. If you do not want any personal information shared with other organizations, please send an email to contribute@sesameworkshop.org or call us at 212-875-6119 and we will put you on our do not exchange list.

4. Information Collection

Sesame Workshop fully explains its information collection practices. We do not collect personal information from children. We tell adults when information is required and when it is optional.

Information About Children

Sesame Workshop does not collect personal information from children.

One of our most popular offerings for children does not require personal information. It is Kid City, and its primary feature is Sticker World. In Sticker World, children provide a nickname and password to create their own Web page and to trade stickers with others. The nicknames and passwords are not connected to personal identifiers. Children using the site are effectively anonymous.

Sweepstakes and Contests for Children: We sometimes offer children the opportunity to enter a sweepstakes or contest for a prize through Sticker World or other online activities. Children enter the sweepstakes or contest using screen names only. We do not collect any personal information from children entering sweepstakes and contests.

Winners are notified through messages delivered to their mailbox on the Sesame Workshop Web site. Winners under the age of 18 must then obtain parental approval, and parents must sign an Affidavit of Eligibility & Liability/Publicity Release. When necessary to deliver a prize, delivery information about the winner may be shared with a third party.

Sesame Street Post Office: The Sesame Street Post Office allows a child or other person to receive an e-mail response from a Muppet. A visitor to the Post Office selects a Muppet and asks a question from a fixed set of questions. The visitor provides only the first name and e-mail address of the recipient of the reply. The Post Office is fully automated. It selects a prewritten answer to the question and e-mails the answer. No other e-mails will be sent to the visitor.

Information About Adults

Sweepstakes for Adults: We sometimes offer Members the opportunity to enter a sweepstakes for a prize, such as an Elmopalooza home video. Only Members of the Sesame Workshop can participate, and Members must be age 18 or older. Winners are selected at random. They must provide an address so we can send the prize. If a sweepstakes has an outside sponsor, the E-mail addresses of those who entered may be shared with the sponsor. Sweepstakes entrants can opt-out of receiving any unsolicited direct marketing from a sponsor by following the directions at the end of Section 3 above... When necessary to deliver a prize, delivery information about the winner of a sweepstakes may be shared with a third party.

Newsletters for Parents: Sesame Workshop offers weekly E-mail newsletters for parents. These include our Sesame Workshop Family Newsletter and our Sesame Street Beat newsletter. Newsletter subscribers may receive occasional, unsolicited E-mail from Sesame Workshop describing new online features and content or promotional offers. Subscribers can decline the opportunity to receive this E-mail when they register and can unsubscribe at any time. Baby Workshop: The Baby Workshop offers programming and information for new and expectant parents. Visitors become Members of the Baby Workshop by completing a registration form that requires user name, password, E-mail address, first name, last name, due date/age of child, and zip code. Members may optionally provide additional information about themselves and their family. Visitors may also become Members by signing up for Baby Workshop's free monthly Sesame Beginnings Newsletter. Once registered, Members may update their information at any time. Some information about subscribers to the Baby Workshop and the Sesame Beginnings Newsletter is shared with Baby Workshop sponsors for marketing purposes. Subscribers can request that their personal information not be shared for such purposes by following the directions set forth at the bottom of Section 3 above.

Baby Workshop and the Sesame Beginnings Newsletter are made possible with support from outside sponsors. Registration information for Baby Workshop Members is shared with the sponsors who may use it in the aggregate to make decisions about how to meet the needs of the members. Sponsors may also use e-mail addresses to send occasional, unsolicited E-mail containing promotional announcements. Members can decline the opportunity to receive this E-mail when they join. Members can request that their personal information not be shared for such purposes by following the directions set forth at the bottom of Section 3 above. Sponsors maintain information in accordance with their own privacy policies. Baby Workshop Members may also receive occasional, unsolicited E-mail describing new Workshop online features, content, or promotional offers. Members can separately decline the opportunity to receive this E-mail when they register. Members can also unsubscribe to the Sesame Beginnings Newsletter at any time.

Parents' Advisory Board: Sesame Workshop operates a wholly voluntary Parents' Advisory Board that any Sesame Workshop Member can join. Members of the Parents' Advisory Board are occasionally asked questions via E-mail about upcoming features we are considering. Input and opinions from users help us build a better site for you and your family. Responses to these questions from Members of the Advisory Board are used only to compile aggregate statistical information about Board Members. Once the answers are analyzed, any link between the answers and personal information is broken forever.

Other Communications: Sesame Workshop will send requested communications including newsletters, informational updates and fundraising/promotional opportunities through email and occasionally via postal mail to our registered donors and customers who opt-in for this correspondence based on their interests. If you no longer wish to receive communications from Sesame Workshop, you will have the ability to remove yourself from the mailing list at the end of every email you receive or you can opt-out of receiving all email or selected email on your preferences page on www.sesameworkshop.org or by contacting us at contribute@sesameworkshop.org or 212-875-6119.

5. Access to and Correction of Personal Information

Sesame Workshop is committed to maintaining accurate, timely, relevant, and appropriate information about our users.

We recognize that we need the assistance of users to make sure that their information is correct because users are the source of the information. Users may review, correct, and update the information that we maintain about them. Users can review their information at the Member Center. For example, if you have provided a Member Profile, you can change it. You can also unregister for our newsletters.

If you remove or change information on our system, the information may be retained for a period in our backup systems. Backup systems protect against the possibility of failures in the computer system. It can take weeks or months before information cycles out of backup systems. Information about purchases made through our Web site may be retained for longer periods as required by law, contract, or auditing requirements.

6. Questions

Sesame Workshop pledges to work with users to answer any questions about our privacy and fair information practices policy or our implementation of the policy.

If you have a complaint about our privacy and fair information practices policy or about our implementation of the policy, you can write to us at privacy@sesameonline.org. Sesame Workshop will try to resolve any problems that arise in a fair and prompt manner.

7. Technical and Other Matters: Cookies, Web Logs, and Advertisers

Sesame Workshop discloses the defined and limited way that our Web site uses cookies, Web logs, and advertising.

Cookies: On the Internet, a cookie is a piece of information that a Web site transfers to a user's computer for record-keeping purposes. As a user moves from page to page at our Web site, a cookie is the only way that we have of knowing who you are. An activity on one page may depend on what you selected on a previous page. We use a cookie to keep track of your selection. Without cookies, users may be asked to provide the same information repeatedly. Some activities may not function at all.

The use of cookies is common on the Internet. Most major Web sites use cookies. Sesame Workshop uses cookies only when appropriate. We never use cookies to retrieve information from your computer that was not originally sent in a cookie from us. We never use information transferred through cookies for marketing purposes. We never share cookies information with any third parties for marketing or other purposes.

You can control cookies from your end through Internet browsers (like Netscape and Explorer) or using other software. Most browsers are initially set to accept cookies. If you prefer, you can set your browser to alert you when cookies are in use. You may also disable or refuse cookies. You can also erase a cookie that has been placed on your computer by us or by others. If you do not allow cookies to be used in the traditional way, it is possible that some parts of the Web site, like the Discussion Board, will not function as we designed them. It is your choice.

Web Logs: Sesame Workshop maintains standard Web logs that record basic information about visitors to our Web site. These logs contain, for example:

• The Internet domain from which you access Sesame Workshop (e.g., AOL.com, ABC.edu) and the address of the Web site you linked here from.

• Your IP address. An IP address is automatically assigned when you log onto the Internet. Static IP addresses may be personally identifiable in some instances. Dynamic addresses are usually not personally identifiable.

• The type of browser (e.g., Internet Explorer or Netscape) and operating system (e.g., Windows 98) you use.

• The date and time you visited Sesame Workshop, and the pages you saw.

If you think that any sponsors, advertisers, or links on our Web site are inappropriate, please contact our Sesame Workshop Neighborhood Watch program by E-mailing us at watch@sesameonline.org.