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PRIVACY POLICY

Last Updated: August 20, 2025

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Introduction

This Privacy Policy explains how Chicago Women in IP ("ChiWIP", "we", "us", "our") handles your personal information. It applies to data collected through our website and related digital platforms linked to this Privacy Policy (the "Sites"), as well as information collected during our in-person and virtual events, membership registration, and other organizational activities.

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Important Geographic Limitation: Our website and services are intended for individuals located in Illinois only and are not directed to residents of the European Union (EU) or the United Kingdom (UK). We do not actively seek or solicit personal information from individuals outside of Illinois.

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As a professional networking and mentoring organization dedicated to connecting, promoting, and supporting women in intellectual property law throughout the Chicagoland area, we are committed to protecting your privacy while providing valuable resources, educational programs, and networking opportunities for our members and participants.

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Please read this Privacy Policy completely to stay informed about how we collect, use, and protect your information.

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1. Personal Information We Collect

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Information you may provide to us includes:

  • Membership data: First and last name, email address, job title/function, employer/firm name, practice area, years of experience, bar admission status, and other related professional information.

  • Event registration data: Registration information for webinars, panel discussions, networking events, and other ChiWIP programs, including dietary preferences or accessibility requirements for in-person events.

  • Communications: Exchanges with us, including questions, feedback, and participation in member surveys or program evaluations.

  • Volunteer information: Committee participation preferences, leadership interests, and availability for organizational activities.

  • Communications preferences: Your preferences for receiving our newsletters, event announcements, and other organizational communications.

  • Other data: As described in this Privacy Policy or disclosed at the time of collection.

 

Third Party Sources

 

We may also obtain personal information about you from other sources, such as:

  • Partner organizations: Contact information and professional details from other legal or IP-focused organizations with whom we collaborate on events or initiatives.

  • Social media platforms: When you engage with our content on platforms like LinkedIn or interact with our social media presence.

 

Automatic Data Collection

 

When you visit our Sites, we automatically collect:

  • Device data: Type of device, operating system, browser type, IP address, and general location information.

  • Online activity data: Pages viewed, time spent on our Sites, navigation paths, and email interaction metrics when you engage with our communications.

 

2. Cookie Policy

 

We use automated tools like cookies, web beacons, and tracking pixels to collect data from our Sites. This information helps us improve your experience and may be shared with third-party service providers for security and fraud detection purposes.

 

What Are Cookies?

 

Cookies are small files placed on your device when you visit our website. They help us understand how our Sites are used, facilitate navigation, remember your preferences, and enhance your browsing experience when interacting with ChiWIP's digital platforms.

 

Our Sites use:

  • Session cookies: These expire when you close your browser.

  • Persistent cookies: These remain on your device until deleted.

 

We use two types of cookies:

  • First-party cookies: Set by ChiWIP to recognize your device on our Sites.

  • Third-party cookies: Set by our partners for analytics, event registration, and social media features.

 

Cookie Categories

  • Essential Cookies: These are necessary for our Sites to function properly and provide services, such as secure access to member resources and event registration. Refusing these may affect Site functionality.

  • Performance and Functionality Cookies: These enhance Site performance and functionality. While non-essential, without them, some features of our membership portal or event registration system may be unavailable.

  • Analytics and Customization Cookies: These collect data to help us understand how our Sites are used, measure the effectiveness of our communications, and customize your experience as a ChiWIP member or event participant. Without these, we can't analyze usage patterns to improve our services.

  • Advertising Cookies: These help make any promotional content more relevant by preventing repetitive content and ensuring proper display. For sponsored events or partnerships, these may help us better understand and reach our audience through user interaction analysis.

 

Additional Tracking Technologies

 

Besides cookies, we use technologies like pixel tags to automatically collect information about how you interact with our Sites and communications.

 

We may use browser web storage for similar purposes as cookies, allowing more data storage to enhance your experience with ChiWIP's digital resources. Your browser may offer settings to clear this storage.

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We use web beacons and JavaScript to track site and email interactions, which help us measure engagement with our newsletters, event announcements, and other communications. These technologies allow us to understand which content is most valuable to our members and participants.

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Meta pixels may track user actions and help target content on platforms like Facebook and LinkedIn, which we use to promote ChiWIP events and resources. By using our Site, you consent to this tracking.

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Your Cookie Choices

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You can manage cookies and similar technologies through the following options:

  • Cookie Settings: We may show a notice explaining cookie use and allow you to opt out of non-essential cookies.

  • Browser Settings: Most browsers let you remove or reject cookies. Check your browser settings for instructions.

  • Privacy Plug-ins/Browsers: Use browsers with privacy features, or plugins like Privacy Badger, to block third-party cookies. To opt out of Google Analytics, install the opt-out add-on: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout.

  • Mobile Settings: Adjust your mobile device settings to limit advertising ID use for interest-based content.

 

Note: Opt-out mechanisms are specific to each device or browser, requiring separate actions for each.

 

Do Not Track

 

Some Internet browsers may be configured to send "Do Not Track" signals to the online services that you visit. We currently do not respond to "Do Not Track" or similar signals. To find out more about "Do Not Track," please visit http://www.allaboutdnt.com.

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If you decline cookies, you may experience some inconveniences with website operability.

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3. How We Use Personal Information

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We use your personal information for the following purposes:

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Organization Operation and Services Delivery:

  • Provide, operate, and improve our Sites and organizational activities

  • Communicate with you about our Sites, events, and member services

  • Offer support and respond to inquiries from members and participants

  • Detect bugs and maintain site quality and safety

 

Research and Development:

  • Develop and implement new features for our Sites and member services

  • Improve educational programs and networking opportunities

 

Member Experience and Communications:

  • Personalize your experience and understand your preferences

  • Combine information from third parties to enhance understanding and prevent fraud

  • Send organizational communications and evaluate their effectiveness

 

Event Promotion:

  • Use cookies and similar technologies with partners to promote ChiWIP events and resources based on your interactions

  • Use your photo or name to promote ChiWIP events and resources based on your interactions with ChiWIP

  • For sponsored events, we may share anonymized analytics with sponsors

 

Compliance and Protection:

  • Comply with laws and legal processes

  • Protect rights, privacy, and property of our members and organization

  • Audit compliance and enforce terms

  • Enhance security and prevent fraud

 

4. How We Share Personal Information

 

We may share your personal information with the following parties:

  • Service Providers: Companies and individuals that assist us in operating our Sites and organizational activities, such as website hosting, IT services, event registration platforms, membership management systems, email delivery services, and analytics providers.

  • Event Partners and Sponsors: We may share limited information with partners during collaborative events or programs. With your consent, they may send you communications about related opportunities or resources.

  • Educational Content Providers: Third parties who help deliver webinars, CLE programs, or other educational content may receive limited participant information necessary for program administration.

  • Professional Advisors: Lawyers, auditors, bankers, and insurers who provide necessary professional services to our organization.

  • Authorities and Others: Law enforcement, government authorities, and private parties as needed for compliance and protection purposes, including to protect the rights, privacy, and safety of our members and organization.

  • As You Instruct Us: We may share your information based on your explicit written instructions or written consent.

 

5. Your Choices

  • Opt out of communications: You can stop receiving our newsletters and event announcements by following the opt-out instructions in those emails. However, we may still send you non-marketing emails related to your membership, event registration, or our organizational relationship.

  • Online tracking opt-out: To learn how to opt-out of online tracking, such as cookies, please refer to our Cookie Policy section above.

 

6. Processing Personal Information in the US

 

We process personal information in the United States, where our personnel and service providers are located, to operate our Sites and organization.

 

7. Other Sites

 

Our Sites may link to third-party websites and services, such as social media platforms, event registration services, or professional organizations with whom we collaborate. These links do not imply our endorsement or affiliation. We do not control these third-party sites and are not responsible for their actions. Your use of these sites is governed by their terms and privacy policies, not ours.

 

8. Data Security

 

We use various safeguards to protect your personal information, but no security system is completely secure. While we implement reasonable measures to protect your data, we cannot guarantee the absolute security of your information.

 

9. Children

 

Our organization and Sites are not intended for individuals under 18. We do not knowingly collect information from children under 18. If we discover we have collected information from a child under 18 without parental consent, we will delete it promptly.

 

10. Changes to this Privacy Policy

 

We may update this Privacy Policy at any time. If we make significant changes, we will update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this policy and post a notice on our website.

 

11. How to Contact Us

 

You can reach us by email at planningcommittee@chiwip.org.

 

12. Supplemental Notice to United States Residents

 

This notice is for residents of U.S. states with privacy laws, including:

  • California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA)

  • Colorado Privacy Act (CPA)

  • Connecticut Data Privacy Act (CTDPA)

  • Virginia Consumer Data Protection Act (VCDPA)

  • Utah Consumer Privacy Act (UCPA)

  • Oregon Consumer Privacy Act

  • Texas Data Privacy and Security Act

  • Montana Consumer Data Privacy Act

  • Delaware Personal Data Privacy Act

  • Iowa Consumer Data Protection Act

  • Tennessee Information Protection Act

 

Categories of Personal Information Collected and Disclosed

 

We may collect and disclose the following categories of personal information:

  • Identifiers (e.g., name, email address)

  • Commercial Information (e.g., event registration data)

  • Internet Activity (e.g., interaction with our Sites)

  • Geolocation Data (e.g., general location)

  • Professional Information (e.g., employer, practice area)

  • Education Information (e.g., educational background)

  • Inferences (e.g., aggregated metrics)

 

For more information about the categories of personal information we collect, see the "Personal Information We Collect" and the "How We Use Personal Information" sections above.

 

No Sale or Sharing of Personal Information

 

We do not sell or share your personal information for cross-context behavioral advertising, as defined by state privacy laws.

 

Your Rights Under State Privacy Law

 

Under state privacy laws, you have the following rights:

  • Right to Know: Access categories of personal information we process and the purpose.

  • Access: Obtain a copy of your personal information.

  • Correct: Update inaccuracies in your personal information.

  • Deletion: Request deletion of your personal information.

  • Transfer: Request transfer of your personal information to you or a third party.

  • Opt-out of the sale of your personal information.

 

You are entitled to exercise the rights described above free from discrimination.

 

Here is how you can submit requests:

  • To request access to or deletion of personal information collected via our Services, please email us at planningcommittee@chiwip.org with the re line “Privacy.”

  • To learn how to limit tracking, please see our Cookie Policy above.

  • To verify your identity, we may ask for information we have on file. Additional information requested will only be used for verification purposes.

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