Privacy Policy

Last Updated: February 7th, 2023

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This Patch High School News (“Patch HSN”) Privacy Policy (the “Policy”) discloses our practices with respect to information we collect and receive from visitors to the Patch HSN website at https://highschool.news (the “Patch HSN Site”) and/or from publishers, potential publishers and any other users of the Patch HSN services (collectively, the “Patch HSN Service”).  Unless we state otherwise, any new features or functionality provided by Patch HSN are also part of the Patch HSN Service.  By accessing or using the Patch HSN Service, whether by visiting the Patch HSN Site, submitting an application or setting up an account or otherwise using the Patch HSN Service, you agree to be bound by this Policy and consent to the practices and policies described herein.  So, please read this Policy carefully before accessing or using the Patch HSN Service.  


Patch HSN and the Patch HSN Service are growing and changing every day, and thus this Policy is subject to change by Patch HSN at any time. The most current version of the Policy can be viewed on the Patch HSN Site, and we will let you know when the latest updates occurred – just check the “Last Updated” date on the posted Policy. If you access or use the Patch HSN Site or the Patch HSN Service after the latest Last Updated date, you consent to the updated Policy. 


Patch HSN is a project of Planck, LLC d/b/a Patch Media (“Planck”). This Policy applies to Patch HSN and the Patch HSN Service only. Please see https://patch.com/privacy for the privacy policy applicable to other websites, applications and services provided by Planck.  And, please see the applicable website for the privacy policy of any website using the Patch HSN publisher services.  


Personal Information You Provide or We Collect

Patch HSN receives and stores information you choose to provide to us directly. We also receive and store information that we collect passively or automatically when you visit the Patch HSN Site or use the Patch HSN Service. 


  • Personal Information You Provide. Patch HSN receives and stores any information you enter on the Patch HSN Site or through the Patch HSN Service (for example, information you provide through or in connection with your school publisher account) or provide in any other way. This includes any information provided to Patch HSN through Google or another platform, e.g., as part of an application for the Patch HSN Service; provided that such information may also be subject to the privacy policy of the applicable platform.  In order to access or use certain parts of the Patch HSN Service you may be asked to provide, or voluntarily provide, certain personally identifiable information such as your name, email address, street address, telephone number or credit card number (“Personal Information”). You are not required to provide your Personal Information, but if you don’t you may not be able to access or use parts of the Patch HSN Service. You may also provide third-party Personal Information, for example if you send someone else a communication through the Patch HSN Service.  


  • Financial Information.  Patch HSN uses a third-party payment processor (the “Payment Processor”).  Information, including financial and other personal information, that you provide in connection with a payment (for example, and without limitation, credit card number, type and expiration date) may be collected, stored and processed by such Payment Processor.  Any information you provide or that is otherwise collected by such Payment Processor is subject to the Payment Processor’s privacy and other policies.  Patch HSN currently uses Stripe, Inc. as the Payment Processor. Stripe’s privacy policy is available at https://stripe.com/privacy.   


  • Personal Information We Collect. We receive and store certain types of information automatically, whenever you interact with the Patch HSN Service.  Patch HSN and its third-party service providers may collect or receive information about you or your computer or other device used to access the Patch HSN Service. This information includes, without limitation, your IP address, browser type, operating system, Internet service provider, mobile network, type of mobile device, mobile carrier, device identifiers and settings, browser settings, pages you have visited on the Patch HSN, search activity, date and time of your access to or use of the Patch HSN Service and requested and referring URLs. Some of this information may be classified as Personal Information under applicable laws. 


  • Different Devices and Platforms. If you access or use the Patch HSN Service through different devices (such as your mobile phone and a computer) or through different platforms, the information you provide and that we collect through these different devices and platforms may be cross-referenced and combined, and information and content you provide through one platform may be displayed or accessed through other platforms that are part of the Patch HSN Service.  


  • Information from Other Sources. We may receive information about you, including Personal Information, from other sources, and include and store it with other information about you.  


How We Use Your Personal Information

Patch HSN may use your information, including Personal Information and any other information you provide or we collect to, or in connection with, the following key purposes:


  • Provide the Patch HSN Service to you, including providing technical and other support for the Patch HSN Service and confirming your identity;
  • Process and make any payment due to you or a payee in connection with the Patch HSN Service;
  • Maintain, improve and develop the Patch HSN Service and features and content of the Patch HSN Service, including research and analysis with respect to the Patch HSN Service; 
  • Communicate with you regarding the Patch HSN Service and respond to and fulfill your inquiries and requests;
  • Enforce this Privacy Policy, the Patch HSN Terms of Use and other agreements you may have with Patch HSN, address fraud and other illegal activities, including claims of copyright infringement, and protect your safety and the safety of other users of the Patch HSN Service;
  • The purpose(s) for which you provide the information;
  • Promote our legitimate business interests and those of a third party such as publishers using the Patch HSN Service;  
  • Back-up Patch HSN systems, allow for disaster recovery and enhance security of the Patch HSN Service; 
  • Comply with legal obligations; and
  • As you may otherwise agree or consent.


If you provide information, including Personal Information, through the Patch HSN Service, for example by posting or commenting online, such information may be available to other users of the Patch HSN Service. Patch HSN does not control use of your Personal Information by other persons. By posting or publishing your information on the Patch HSN Site or the Patch HSN Service, you assume the risk that the information you provide will be viewed and used by third parties. 


How We Disclose Your Information

Patch HSN may disclose your information, including Personal Information, as follows:


  • To our service providers who provide services to Patch HSN, such as user support; hosting; research and analytics; and otherwise in connection with provision of the Patch HSN Service.  If you submit an advertisement(s) for display on a school website, any personal information you provide in connection with your advertisement(s) may be provided to our service providers as necessary for sending, supporting, managing and displaying the advertisement(s), and any personal information you provide in connection with a donation to a school may be provided to our service providers as necessary for processing and managing such donation.  These service providers may also share information with Patch HSN that they collect or obtain from or about you in connection with their services.
  • In order to process a payment, Patch HSN may provide information, including your personal information, to a third party payment processor(s).  Patch HSN is not responsible for any third party payment processor’s privacy practices.
  • In response to legal process such as a court order or subpoena or a request by law enforcement or a government agency, or as otherwise required by law.
  • Patch HSN may share certain Personal Information, e.g., with respect to donations, with the applicable school, in connection with provision of the Patch HSN Service to the school.  Patch HSN is not responsible for any school’s privacy practices.   
  • To other business entities in connection with the sale, assignment, merger or other transfer of all or a portion of Patch HSN’s business to that business entity.
  • In connection with any investigation, prevention or action Patch HSN may take, in our discretion, with respect to activities we believe may be illegal, or violate our Terms of Use or other policies, or an emergency that may pose a threat to your or another person’s safety, or as necessary to protect Patch HSN’s rights and property.


We will not sell your Personal Information to any third party not affiliated with Patch HSN without your consent, except in connection with the sale or merger of Planck, LLC d/b/a Patch Media, or some or all of its assets or the division responsible for Patch HSN, or in the unlikely event of a bankruptcy.  


Security

The security of your Personal Information is important to us. We have put in place reasonable physical, electronic, and managerial procedures to safeguard the information we collect. However, we cannot guarantee that communication between you and Patch HSN, or information stored on the Patch HSN Service or our servers, will be free from unauthorized access, or will never be disclosed, modified or destroyed in a way that is not consistent with this Privacy Policy. By accessing or using the Patch HSN Service, you assume this risk. 


Protection for Children

The Patch HSN Service is not directed at children and Patch HSN does not knowingly collect Personal Information from children under the age of 13. If we become aware that Personal Information has been collected from a child under age 13, we will take steps to delete that information as soon as possible. 


Other Websites 

We may provide links to third-party websites and services from within the Patch HSN Service. These may include government websites, merchant websites, news websites and other websites and services not controlled by Patch HSN and which have privacy policies different than the Policy.  Patch HSN is not responsible for, and does not control, the privacy practices or content of these third-party websites. When you link away from the Patch HSN Website or Patch HSN Service you do so at your own risk, and should read the privacy policies of such linked websites and services. 


Communication with Patch High School News

By providing your email address or telephone number to Patch HSN, you expressly consent to receive emails or texts from us. We may use email or text to communicate with you, to send information that you have requested or to send information about our products or services. 


Any communication or material you transmit to us, by email or posting on the Patch HSN Website or otherwise on the Patch HSN Service or by any other means, including any data, questions, comments, suggestions, or the like is, and will be, treated as, non-confidential and non-proprietary. Except to the extent expressly covered by this Privacy Policy, anything you transmit or post may be used by us for any purpose, including but not limited to, reproduction, disclosure, transmission, publication, broadcast and posting. Furthermore, you expressly agree that we are free to use any ideas, concepts, know-how, or techniques contained in any communication you send to us without compensation and for any purpose whatsoever, including but not limited to, developing, manufacturing and marketing products and services using such information. 


If you are receiving text messages from Patch HSN and no longer wish to receive such messages, please follow the instructions to stop the delivery of such messages, which may include replying “STOP” to the text message.  


Updating and Correcting Your Information 

You may opt-out or unsubscribe from Patch HSN email newsletters or other email communication, or update or correct your email or other information by sending an email to highschoolnews@patch.com.  We are not responsible for removing your Personal Information from the lists of any third party that has previously been provided your information in accordance with this Privacy Policy.


Opt-Out of Sale of Sale or Sharing of Your Personal Information

If you wish to opt-out of sale of your Personal Information, please contact us via email at highschoolnews@patch.com or write to us at the address at the end of this Privacy Policy.  


International Transfer

The Patch HSN Service is maintained in the USA and is governed by and operated in accordance with the laws of the USA. By accessing or using the Patch HSN Service, you freely and specifically give Patch HSN your consent to export your Personal Information to the USA and to collect, transfer, store, process and use your Personal Information in the USA as specified in this Privacy Policy and in accordance with USA laws, which may differ from those of your country of residence. 


Terms of Use

Use of the Patch HSN Service, and this Privacy Policy, is subject to the Patch HSN Terms of Use, which is incorporated herein by reference. 


Changes to Privacy Policy

We reserve the right, at our discretion, to change, modify, add, or remove portions from this Privacy Policy at any time. We will post any changes here. Your continued use of the Patch HSN Service or access to or use of the Patch HSN Website following the posting of any changes to this Privacy Policy means you accept such changes. 


How to Contact Patch High School News 

If you have questions or concerns relating to this Privacy Policy or privacy for the Patch HSN Service, please contact us at:


Patch High School News

134 W. 29th Street, 11th Floor

New York, NY  10001 

Email: highschoolnews@patch.com

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