Last Updated: March 25, 2009
Nintendo is dedicated to protecting your privacy and handling any personal information we obtain from you with care and respect. Our Wii Network Service Privacy Policy (Wii Privacy Policy) is intended to provide you with an understanding of information that is submitted and collected through the Wii Network Service. We may revise and update this Wii Privacy Policy from time to time. Please review the most recent version posted on http://support.nintendo.com often to ensure you are aware of any changes, or contact our customer-service department at (888) 977-7627 for the most current version. This Wii Privacy Policy only applies to information submitted or collected through the Wii Network Service. Information you may submit through any of Nintendo's web sites is subject to the privacy policy posted on those sites.
Please read this Wii Privacy Policy, which applies to use of the Wii Network Service by you and any other person using your Wii Console. Capitalized terms in this Privacy Policy have the meaning assigned to them in the Wii End User License Agreement unless defined otherwise herein.
ATTENTION PARENTS OR LEGAL GUARDIANS: PROTECTING CHILDREN'S PRIVACY
Before allowing your children to use the Wii Network Service, we strongly recommend you educate them on the importance of not sharing personal information about themselves with strangers. In particular, we recommend you tell your children not to use personal information for any nicknames on games, user names, names for Miis or any other applications that use the Wii Network Service. You should also keep in mind that certain Wii games use the Wii Network Service to create the opportunity for users to communicate in-game.
We strongly recommend you assist your children with the setup of the Wii Network Service, and that you supervise your children's use of the Wii Network Service at all times. You can restrict use of certain aspects of the Wii Network Services by setting up the Wii Console's parental controls function. You may also disconnect your Wii Console from the Wii Network Service, as explained in your Wii Operations Manual.
INFORMATION COLLECTED
Personal Information is information that may be directly linked to you such as your name, address, telephone number, or name based e-mail address (for example, MyWii@Nintendo.com). We may ask you to provide us with certain Personal Information when you register your Wii Console on the Wii Network Service, download games or contact us with questions or comments. In addition to the Personal Information you provide to us, we may anonymously collect information from you such as your age, gender, geographic area, Wii Console identifier and Wii message address, without linking your Personal Information to this anonymous information. We will not link your Personal Information with any anonymous information we collect from you unless (1) you authorize us to do so; (2) you choose to link your Wii Shop Account to your Club Nintendo account; or (3) we notify you first. In order to provide you with more customized services, we may also receive and record information on our server logs from the Wii Network Service, including but not limited to your internet protocol (IP) address, cookies, transactions, settings and download activity. If you provide sensitive information when communicating with third parties via the Wii Network Service, Nintendo does not receive or collect that information. Your Wii Console may store that sensitive information for your convenience.
HOW SUCH INFORMATION IS USED
We may request either personal or anonymous information from you for several purposes including to: (i) complete your Wii Network Service registration; (ii) customize your Wii Shop catalog and other catalogs; (iii) communicate with you regarding games, contests, sweepstakes, surveys, product changes, system issues and more; (iv) allow you to participate in the Wii messaging service, message boards and other Wii online services; (v) process orders you have placed through the Wii channels; and (vi) set up repair orders. Some of the types of information collected and the way the information is handled are detailed by category below.
Surveys: We may conduct surveys of Wii Console users. The information we collect from you in a survey will be demographic or opinion information and will not be tied to your Personal Information unless we notify you otherwise. The results of aggregate data collected from surveys, but not Personal Information, may be disclosed to the public.
Contests and Sweepstakes: We may host various contests and sweepstakes. To enter you may be required to submit certain Personal Information about yourself. For more information about Nintendo contests or sweepstakes, please see the official rules of the contest or sweepstakes you are entering.
Nintendo Channel: You may choose to share certain anonymous information with us through the Nintendo Channel, which we may use to make certain recommendations to you or to develop new games and services. The Nintendo Channel does not collect Personal Information. Your use of the Nintendo Channel is anonymous and will remain so unless you choose to link your Wii Shop Account to your Club Nintendo account. For more information, please select the "How Your Information Is Used" menu in the Settings section of the Nintendo Channel or visit http://support.nintendo.com.
Wii Shop Account: If you pay for items through the Wii Shop with your credit card, you need to provide a valid credit card number, expiration date, credit card security code and your city, state/county/province and zip code/postal code. We do not ask for your name or your complete address unless you order items that we must ship to you, rather than deliver via a download. You must be over the age of 18 to enter into the Wii Network Service User Agreement, and to place orders online. Any credit card information you submit through the Wii Shop will be transmitted in an encrypted manner. All such encrypted information will be maintained and processed by Nintendo and its trusted third party credit card processor on secure computers that are not accessible from the Internet. This encrypted information is subject to the section below entitled "Security."
Wii Message Service: When you connect to the Wii Network Service, we provide you an automatically generated Wii message address. Your Wii message address is anonymous and will remain so unless you choose to (a) share it with other people in order to send Wii messages; (b) share it with other people in order for them to add your Wii Console to their in-game friend list; or (c) link your Wii Shop Account to your Club Nintendo account. You have the ability to choose through our parental controls function whether to allow use of the Wii message service on your Wii Console. If you choose not to use the Wii message service, you will not receive emails from third parties. You also can choose not to receive certain messages from Nintendo by selecting the "opt-out" option on Wii channels or by using the opt-out option included in commercial messages sent by Nintendo to your Wii message address. However, you may still receive messages on your Wii Message Board that originate from members of your household as well as messages from us related to transactions or services you have specifically requested; in response to any email from you to us; to notify you of updates or changes to our policies and procedures; or to otherwise provide you with information important to all Wii users.
IP Addresses: Your Wii Console is automatically assigned an IP address by your Internet Service Provider when you connect to the Wii Network Service. The Wii Network Service automatically creates log files of user activities on the Wii Network and may also record the IP address of users. In general, we only use log files to monitor traffic on our Web sites and to troubleshoot technical problems. In the event you do not comply with our Wii Code of Conduct when using the Wii Network Service, however, we may block your IP address. We do not link IP addresses to Personal Information unless we notify you or unless necessary to enforce our Wii Code of Conduct or respond to legal process.
Web Beacons: The Wii Network Service uses common Internet technology called "Web beacons" (also called "Web bugs," "action tags," "pixel trackers," or "clear GIFs"), which are small graphic images placed on a Web page, Web-based document, or in an e-mail message, designed to collect certain information and monitor user activity online. Web beacons are invisible to you because they are typically very small (only 1-by-1 pixel) and the same color as the background of the Web page, document or e-mail message. We may use Web beacons to collect non-personal information such as the Wii Console IP address, the URL of the page the Web user comes from, and the time the Web beacon is activated (such as when you view the Web page, advertisement, or e-mail containing the Web beacon). We do not use Web beacons to collect Personal Information.
Cookies: The Wii Network Service may use cookies, which are small text files that a Web site places on your Wii Console. These files identify your Wii Console and record data about your visit so that when you return to the site, the site recognizes your Wii Console and can personalize your visit. Cookies may be linked to your transaction history, game play or other information gathered through the Wii Network Service. We may use information collected by cookies, as well as other tools such as log files or Web beacons, for determining how to improve the Wii Network Service by seeing which areas, features, and products are most popular; personalizing the services and making recommendations based on downloaded products; and completing transactions you have requested. In the event you visit a third party's website through the Internet browser option offered on the Wii Network Service, or we employ a third party advertising company to display ads on the Wii Network Service, those websites or ads may also contain cookies. Any information gathered through such cookies is collected by the third party, not by us, and we have no access to or control over these cookies or the information contained within them.
Other: In order to constantly improve the products and services we provide and better meet your needs, we may also use your Personal Information as well as anonymous information for our internal marketing, demographic studies, and quality assurance. In some cases, we may add to or update your Personal Information with data collected from other sources (e.g., mail-in registration cards or date of purchase information from retailers). If we combine information collected offline with information collected through the Wii Network Service, the combined information will be treated in accordance with this Wii Privacy Policy.
DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION
We do not sell or rent any of our customers' Personal Information to third parties. We may, however, share personal or anonymous information with our vendors to help us perform various functions necessary to operate our business (for example, completing downloads or purchases made through the Wii Shop, developing and executing marketing campaigns, etc.) and with our affiliated companies. We may disclose Personal Information in order to comply with legal process, respond to claims or inquiries, or protect the rights, property or personal safety of Nintendo, our customers or the public. In addition, information about our customers, including Personal Information, may be disclosed as part of any merger, sale, transfer of company assets, or acquisition, if permitted by and done in accordance with applicable laws.
LINKING ACCOUNTS
You may link your Wii Shop Account to your Club Nintendo account in order to receive personalized content and participate in a variety of activities, promotions and programs. If you would like to link your accounts, you may do so when you register your Wii Console on the Wii Shop. Once you have linked your Club Nintendo account to your Wii Shop Account, any personally identifiable information you enter on your Club Nintendo account will be linked to your Wii Shop Account. Please note that if you opt-in to receive messages from us in your Club Nintendo account, we may send messages to your Wii message address or other messaging devices you designate such as your mobile phone.
Wii CHANNELS AND GAMES
Certain Wii games and Wii channels give you the opportunity to nickname your Miis, create a user id and interact with other Wii users. We strongly encourage you not to use your own name for any Miis or any user ids you may create. In addition, we strongly encourage you not to share Personal Information about yourself and not to allow your children to share Personal Information about themselves with other Wii users.
For certain Wii Content, including some Wii games and Wii channels, your Wii Friends may have access to information such as whether you have downloaded or are using a particular Wii game or Wii channel.
INFORMATION STORED ON YOUR Wii REMOTE AND Wii CONSOLE
Certain sensitive or Personal Information about you may be stored on your Wii Console. For your protection, before selling or otherwise transferring your Wii Console, please be sure to clean and securely remove all Personal Information, Wii messages, any pictures or messages on the message board, and all other stored sensitive information on the Wii Network Service, your Wii Console, Wii Remote and/or Wii accessories. For instructions on formatting your Wii Console and clearing your Wii Shop Account activity, please review the Wii Operations Manual: Channels and Settings.
Your Wii Console may allow certain sensitive or Personal Information to be stored on the Wii Remote as well. Accordingly, by using your Wii Remote on a Wii Console other than your own, it is possible that certain sensitive or Personal Information about you could be shared with the other Wii Console.
UPDATES AND UPGRADES
We may without notifying you, download updates, patches, upgrades and similar software to your Wii Console and may disable unauthorized or illegal software placed on your Wii Console to ensure that your Wii Console is operating properly and efficiently, comply with applicable laws, assist law enforcement, protect us and our customers, or prevent the use and distribution of software obtained through improper channels.
SECURITY
We have established reasonable safeguards to secure Personal Information collected directly by us in an effort to ensure the security, integrity and privacy of the Personal Information collected and transferred through your Wii Network Service. We also have implemented reasonable security measures in an effort to protect information under our control against loss, misuse or alteration. While we strive to safeguard your Personal Information, no data storage system or transmission of data over the Internet or any other public network can be guaranteed to be 100% secure.
Please note that information collected from and provided by you to other persons or entities may not have the same security protections as information you submit to us, and you are responsible for protecting the security of any such information.
OPTING OUT AND UPDATING YOUR INFORMATION
In order to completely opt-out from the collection of any information about you relating to the Wii Network Service, both anonymous and personal, you must disable your Wii Network Service. If you have linked your Club Nintendo account to your Wii Shop Account, Nintendo Channel or Wii message address (collectively, "Features"), you must unlink those Features from your Club Nintendo account in order to stop the collection of information about you. You may do so in the Settings section of the Wii Shop.
INTERNATIONAL USERS
Any information you provide or that is collected through the Wii Network Service may be stored and processed in the United States or any other country in which we or our affiliated companies, vendors or agents maintain facilities. As such, personal information may be accessed by foreign governmental authorities and otherwise in accordance with the laws applicable in the jurisdiction in which it is stored. By using the Wii Network Service, you consent to such storage and processing. We abide 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. However, this Wii Privacy Policy is intended to meet the laws and requirements of the United States and those of Canada and Latin America, which may not be the same as the laws and regulations of your home country. If you are not located in the United States, Canada or Latin America please go back to the country selection screen and select an appropriate country so that you will be aware of the policies that apply to you.
CONTACT US WITH YOUR PRIVACY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS OR CONCERNS
If you have any questions, complaints or comments regarding this Wii Privacy Policy or our practices, please contact the Nintendo Wii Privacy Policy Administrator via e-mail at privacypolicy@noa.nintendo.com, by phone at (888) 977-7627, or by regular mail at Nintendo, Attn: Online Privacy Policy Administrator, 4820 150th Avenue NE, Redmond, WA 98052.
Nintendo is a licensee of the Entertainment Software Rating Board's Privacy Online Program. If you believe that we have not responded to your inquiry or your inquiry has not been satisfactorily addressed, please contact ESRB at http://www.esrb.org/privacy_wc_hotline.asp. ESRB Attn: Privacy Online Program, 317 Madison Avenue, 22nd Floor New York, NY 10017 (212) 759-0700 or privacyinfo@esrb.org.