Microsoft Office Labs Application Prototypes Privacy Statement

Last updated: February, 2010

Microsoft is committed to protecting your privacy, while delivering software that brings you the performance, power and convenience you desire in your personal computing. This privacy statement explains many of the data collection and use practices of Microsoft Office Labs Application Prototypes (“Application Prototypes”).  It focuses on features that communicate with the Internet. It does not apply to other online or offline Microsoft sites, products or services.

Application Prototypes are implementations of various ideas the Office Labs team is testing for viability. They are experimental concepts that may or may not become a commercial application.   A list of Application Prototypes is in this statement below under the heading “Specific Application Prototypes”.

You can choose between two levels of information that Office Labs collects from Application Prototypes; the standard level and the club level.  The standard level of information is collected from all Office Labs users.  The club level collects additional personally identifiable information from users who sign up to be members of Club|OL. 

Collection and Use of Your Information: Club|OL Members Only

We will collect personal information when you register for the Club|OL.  The personal information we collect may include your name, gender, age, e-mail address, city, and ZIP code.  In addition, we will collect and store your survey responses. If you join the Club|OL, then while you are a member both your survey responses and your personal information will be associated with automated feedback captured through the Microsoft Office Labs Usage Metrics program.  This information will be used to better understand the characteristics of the people who use our Application Prototypes and how they are used.  From time to time while you are a member of Club|OL, we may contact you directly to get more specific feedback or send you information about what is happening in Office Labs.  You may opt out of the Club|OL at any time. 

Collection and Use of Your Information: All Users

Update Mechanisms

Office Labs uses two mechanisms to provide updates to the Application Prototypes: Auto Update and Application Manager.  A prototype will only use one of these mechanisms, as described in the chart below under the heading “Specific Application Prototypes”.

Auto Update

Each time an Application Prototype that uses Auto Update connects to the Internet, it communicates with Microsoft servers to check for available software updates and patches.  When the software checks for updates, a hash of the Application Prototype’s installation files is sent to Microsoft.  A hash is a non-unique number generated from the installation files and does not represent any personal information. Microsoft uses this information to provide updates and to verify that the Application Prototype installation has not been corrupted.  The information will not be used to identify or contact you.  You will receive a notice after launching the software if any updates are available.  You can choose whether to accept these updates.

Application Manager

Application Manager is a tool for managing all the Office Labs installations in one place.  Periodically, Application Manager will communicate with Microsoft servers to get a list of Application Prototypes that update through Application Manager and their current versions. This is compared with Office Labs Application Prototypes installed on the client machine. If a version update or a new Application Prototype is available, Application Manager will display links to these.  You can then choose whether to install them.  The information will not be used to identify or contact you.

Microsoft Office Labs Usage Metrics

What This Feature Does:

The Microsoft Office Labs Usage Metrics (“Metrics”) collects information about your hardware configuration and how you use Application Prototypes so we can identify trends and usage patterns. Metrics also collects the type and number of errors you encounter, software and hardware, performance, and the speed of services.  Metrics will not collect your name, address, or other contact information.

Information Collected, Processed, or Transmitted:

Metrics collects basic information about your computer and how you use Application Prototypes.  These reports are sent to Microsoft, where we use them to help evaluate our features and to create solutions to common problems.

Metrics reports may include information about:

·                       ·         Your configuration, such as how many processors are in your computer, how many network connections you use, which version of Windows is running, and if some features such as Bluetooth wireless technology or high-speed USB connections are turned on.

                ·         Performance and reliability, such as how quickly an Application Prototype responds when you click a button, how many problems you experience with Application Prototype, and how quickly information is sent or received over a network connection.

        ·         How you use Application Prototype, such as the features that you use the most often, search terms you enter into Application prototypes, and how many folders you typically create on your desktop.

This information is sent to Microsoft when you are connected to the Internet. Metrics reports do not contain any contact information about you (such as your name, address, or phone number). Although the IP address through which you access the Internet is sent to Microsoft with each Metrics report, Microsoft does not use it. Metrics generates a globally unique identifier (GUID) that is stored on your computer to uniquely identify it. The GUID is a randomly generated number; it does not contain any personal information and is not used to identify you, unless you are a member of Club|OL. If you are a member of Club|OL, the GUID is mapped to the club registration data.

Metrics uses the GUID to distinguish how widespread the feedback we receive is and how to prioritize it. For example, the GUID allows Microsoft to distinguish between one customer experiencing a problem one hundred times and other customers experiencing the same problem once. The GUID is stored on your computer and sent with every Metrics report.

Use of Information:

Microsoft uses Metrics information to improve our software. We may share Metrics information with partners, No Metrics information is used or shared to send you advertising.

Choice/Control:

Many of the Application Prototypes do not allow you to turn off the Usage Metrics. If you do not wish to participate in the Metrics program, please do not install the prototype. 

Search Commands
Metrics is on by default.  You are offered the opportunity to participate in Metrics during setup.  If you choose to participate and later change your mind, you can turn off Metrics at any time by:

1. Clicking the Search Commands tab in Word, Excel or PowerPoint
2. Clicking on the Privacy option
3. Clicking Share usage data with Microsoft

Community Clips
Metrics is on by default.  You are offered the opportunity to participate in Metrics during setup.  If you choose to participate and later change your mind, you can turn off Metrics at any time by:

1. Click on task bar icon for Community Clips
2. Select Options
3. Uncheck Enable SQM recording

Speed Launch
Speed Launch does not allow you to turn off the Usage Metrics. Usage Metrics will not be collected if you do not use or if you uninstall Speed Launch.

pptPlex
Metrics is on by default.   You can turn Metrics off at any time by:

1. Click on the pptPlex tab in the ribbon in PowerPoint.
2. Click on the Learn More button on the Office Labs Prototype section and select About pptPlex.
3. The About box will open.  Uncheck I want to participate in Microsoft Office Labs usage metrics gathering.

Email Prioritizer
Metrics is on by default.   You can turn Metrics off at any time by:

1. Select About Email Prioritizer ... from the Options dropdown in the Email Prioritizer toolbar in Outlook.
2. The About box will open.  Uncheck I want to participate in Microsoft Office Labs usage metrics gathering.

Chart Advisor
Metrics is on by default.   You can turn Metrics off at any time by:

1. Click on some data in your Excel Spreadsheet and click on the Chart Advisor button from the Insert tab.
2. In the Chart Advisor window, click on the About button on the Office Labs Prototype section. 
3. The About box will open.  Uncheck I want to participate in Microsoft Office Labs usage metrics gathering.

StickySorter
StickySorter does not allow you to turn off the Usage Metrics. Usage Metrics will not be collected if you do not use or if you uninstall StickySorter.

Canvas for OneNote
Canvas for OneNote does not allow you to turn off the Usage Metrics. Usage Metrics will not be collected if you do not use or if you uninstall Canvas for OneNote.

Microsoft Error Reporting

Microsoft Error Reporting allows you to report problems you may be having with Application Prototypes to Microsoft.  For more information about Microsoft Error Reporting and how Microsoft uses the data we collect, see the Microsoft Error Reporting privacy statement at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=50293.

General

The information we collect from you will be used by Microsoft and its controlled subsidiaries and affiliates to enable the features you are using and provide the service(s) or carry out the transaction(s) you have requested or authorized.  It may also be used to analyze and improve Microsoft products and services.

Except as described in this statement, personal information you provide will not be transferred to third parties without your consent. We occasionally hire other companies to provide limited services on our behalf, such as answering customer questions about products or services, processing transactions, or performing statistical analysis of Application Prototypes. We will only provide those companies the personal information they need to deliver the service, and they are prohibited from using that information for any other purpose.

Microsoft may disclose personal information about you if required to do so by law or in the good faith belief that such action is necessary to: (a) conform to the edicts of the law or comply with legal process served on Microsoft; (b) protect and defend the rights of Microsoft (including enforcement of our agreements); or (c) act in urgent circumstances to protect the personal safety of Microsoft employees, users of Microsoft products or services, or members of the public.

Information that is collected by or sent to Microsoft by Application Prototypes may be stored and processed in the United States or any other country in which Microsoft or its affiliates, subsidiaries or service providers maintain facilities. Microsoft abides by the safe harbor framework as set forth by the U.S. Department of Commerce regarding the collection, use, and retention of data from the European Union and Switzerland.

Collection and Use of Information about Your Computer

When you use software with Internet-enabled features, information about your computer ("standard computer information") is sent to the Web sites you visit and online services you use. Microsoft uses standard computer information to provide you Internet-enabled services, to help improve our products and services, and for statistical analysis. Standard computer information typically includes information such as your IP address, operating system version, browser version, and regional and language settings. In some cases, standard computer information may also include hardware ID, which indicates the device manufacturer, device name, and version. If a particular feature or service sends information to Microsoft, standard computer information will be sent as well.

The privacy details for each Application Prototypes feature, software or service listed in this privacy statement describe what additional information is collected and how it is used.

Security of your information

Microsoft is committed to helping protect the security of your information. We use a variety of security technologies and procedures to help protect your information from unauthorized access, use, or disclosure. For example, we store the information you provide on computer systems with limited access, which are located in controlled facilities.

Changes to this privacy statement

We will occasionally update this privacy statement to reflect changes in our products and services and customer feedback. When we post changes, we will revise the "last updated" date at the top of this statement. We encourage you to periodically review this statement to be informed of how Microsoft is protecting your information.

For More Information

Microsoft welcomes your comments regarding this privacy statement. If you have questions about this statement or believe that we have not adhered to it, please contact us

mailto:olpfb@microsoft.com

Microsoft Office Labs Privacy Feedback

Microsoft Corporation

One Microsoft Way

Redmond, Washington 98052 USA

Specific Application Prototypes

The following table shows which Application Prototypes use which specific features.

Office Labs Application Prototype	Office Labs Usage Metrics	Auto Update	Windows Error Reporting	Application Manager Update Mechanism
Search Commands	X	X	X
Community Clips	X	X	X
Speed Launch	X	X	X
pptPlex	X	X	X
Email Prioritizer	X	X
Chart Advisor	X	X
StickySorter	X	X
Canvas for OneNote	X	X	X
Forgotten Attachment Detector	X	X
Ribbon Hero	X	X

Speed Launch

Speed Launch will save your Speed Launch shortcut information in an unencrypted file on your hard drive. You should not use Speed Launch to save sensitive information such as passwords.

When creating Speed Launch shortcuts for a Web site with commands, Speed Launch will send the commands directly to the Web site. Speed Launch does not control the use of your information by the target Web site. You should review the terms of use and privacy policy of the target Web site to learn more about how the Web site uses your information.

Email Prioritizer

Email Prioritizer uses information such as from your Global Address Book and your calendar to help determine the priority of an email. This information is not sent to Microsoft.

Email Prioritizer stores logs on your local disk at the following locations:

·                               - Windows XP: C:\Documents and Settings\%username%\Local Settings\Application Data\microsoft\OfficeLabs\EmailPrioritizer\logs

·                               - Windows Vista or Windows 7: C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\OfficeLabs\EmailPrioritizer\logs

 Canvas for OneNote

The notebook you select to view in Canvas for OneNote will have an image cache created to allow it to be browsed within the canvas. These files are stored in the following location:

·         %userprofile%\appdata\local\microsoft\Office Labs\Canvas for OneNote

When you uninstall Canvas for OneNote, these files will remain. To manually clear the cache, delete Canvas for OneNote directory from the above location.

Ribbon Hero

If you use the Ribbon Hero Facebook application, Microsoft stores your Facebook ID and the ID of your primary Facebook network. When you connect to Facebook, you can choose to share your scores with your friends. This will make your Facebook profile picture and overall score appear in your Facebook friends’ Ribbon Hero leaderboard. In addition, your overall score will be counted towards your primary Facebook network’s average score. Your Facebook friends will be able to click on your profile picture in Ribbon Hero, and then see how many points you have on each challenge.