Terms of Use

January 30, 2006

1. Introduction

By using this Web Site, you accept and agree to these terms of use. If you do not entirely agree with these terms of use, you must end using this Web Site immediately. These Terms of Use ("Legal Terms") describe the legally binding terms and conditions applicable to your access and use of this web site, which is owned, operated and controlled by the Swiss House for Advanced Research and Education – Consulate of Switzerland ("SHARE").

SHARE may, at any time, for any reason and without notice, make changes to this Web Site. Therefore, each time you access the Web Site, you need to review the Legal Terms upon which access and use of this Web Site is conditioned. By your continuing use of the Web Site after changes are posted, you will be deemed to have accepted such changes.

This web site is not directed to any person or entity in any jurisdiction where (by reason of nationality, residence, citizenship or otherwise) the publication or availability of the Web Site and its content, including its services, are unavailable or otherwise contrary to local laws or regulations. If this applies to you, you are not authorized to access or use any of the information on this Web Site. Those who choose to access this Web Site do so at their own risk and are responsible for compliance with applicable local laws.

2. Scope of Use and User E-Mail

You may not change the content of this website. The content of this website is owned by SHARE or licensed from third parties. SHARE authorizes you to download one copy of the content of this website to any single computer for your personal, non-commercial use only, provided that you keep intact all copyright notices and other proprietary notices. Otherwise, you may not reproduce, perform, distribute, display or create derivative works of the content of this website (including logos, pictures, photos and texts, whether or not marked as copyrighted) or the source code of any software downloaded from this website without the written permission of SHARE. The downloading or copying of any content from this website does not give you any legal rights with regard to the content of this website. SHARE reserves all rights with regard to all elements of this website.

E-mail submissions over the Internet may not be secure and are subject to the risk of interception by third parties. Please consider this fact before e-mailing any information. Also, please consult our Internet privacy statement at Section 3 in these Legal Terms. You agree not to submit or transmit any e-mails or materials through the Web Site that (i) are defamatory, threatening, obscene or harassing, (ii) contain a virus, worm, Trojan horse or any other harmful component, (iii) incorporate copyrighted or other proprietary material of any third party without that party's permission or (iv) otherwise violate any applicable laws. SHARE shall not be subject to any obligations of confidentiality regarding any information or materials that you submit online except as specified in these Legal Terms, or as set forth in any additional terms and conditions relating to specific products or services, or as otherwise specifically agreed or required by law.

The commercial use, reproduction, transmission or distribution of any information, software or other material available through the Web Site without the prior written consent of SHARE is strictly prohibited.

3. Privacy

Internet Privacy Statement

SHARE is concerned about the privacy of its users. We want to inform you about the measures we take in this matter.

We collect two kinds of information about our Web Site users: personal and non-personal information.

Personal information is information that can identify an individual personally, such as name, address or policy information. We collect personal information only when it is voluntarily offered and solely for purposes that are clearly identified on the Web Site, which include subscribing to our mailing list, submitting an inquiry or a feedback related to a Web Site content, or registering to attend an event (RSVP). By submitting personal data to SHARE, you acknowledge and agree that said data may be processed, stored and archived by SHARE or a third party on its behalf for the purpose it was submitted. As a result, you acknowledge and agree that data may be transmitted to countries where data protection legislation is less stringent than in your country of residence. Share commits itself to use personal data exclusively for the initially declared purpose, except if required by law.

Non-personal information is collected to evaluate the statistical behaviour of guests visiting the Web Site and to guide our efforts to improve the Web Site. To achieve these improvements, we may also monitor user traffic patterns and site usage to help provide enhancements to its services. Further, by providing information or materials to this Web Site, you grant to SHARE an unrestricted, irrevocable, worldwide, royalty-free license to use, reproduce, display, publicly perform, and transmit such information and materials for any purpose.

4. Links

SHARE offers links to other web sites operated by other entities as a convenience to you in the belief that making hyperlinks available to publicly accessible web pages and newsgroups is legally permissible and consistent with the common expectations of those who make use of the Internet. SHARE makes no representation regarding the content or accuracy of any web site that you may access through this Web Site. SHARE does not monitor and is not responsible for the content found on other web sites that are linked from this Web Site. Inclusion of these links on SHARE's Web Site does not imply endorsement, recommendation or sponsorship for any linked web site or the services, products or advice described on the site. Accordingly, SHARE assumes no responsibility or liability for the content of any linked sites. Before entering any linked site, you should review and understand that site's privacy policy.

You may not link to this Web Site without SHARE's permission. If you are interested in linking to this Web Site, please contact us.

5. No Warranties

THE WEB SITE, AND ANY CONTENT, ARE PROVIDED TO YOU ON AN "AS IS," "AS AVAILABLE" BASIS WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND WHETHER EXPRESS, STATUTORY OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, QUIET ENJOYMENT, SYSTEMS INTEGRATION, ACCURACY, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT, ALL OF WHICH SHARE EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS. SHARE DOES NOT ENDORSE AND MAKES NO WARRANTY AS TO THE ACCURACY, COMPLETENESS, CURRENCY, OR RELIABILITY OF THE CONTENT, AND SHARE WILL NOT BE LIABLE OR OTHERWISE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY FAILURE OR DELAY IN UPDATING THE WEB SITE OR ANY CONTENT. WE HAVE NO DUTY TO UPDATE THE CONTENT OF THE WEB SITE. SHARE MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES THAT USE OF THE CONTENT WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED OR ERROR-FREE. YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY RESULTS OR OTHER CONSEQUENCES OF ACCESSING THE WEB SITE AND USING THE CONTENT, AND FOR TAKING ALL NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS TO ENSURE THAT ANY CONTENT YOU MAY ACCESS, DOWNLOAD OR OTHERWISE OBTAIN IS FREE OF VIRUSES OR ANY OTHER HARMFUL COMPONENTS. YOU MAY ALSO HAVE OTHER LEGAL RIGHTS THAT VARY FROM JURISDICTION TO JURISDICTION.

6. Right of information

You have the right to obtain free of charge from the website operator information about the data that is stored about you. Please send a written request and identification (copy of an identity document) to:

Consulate of Switzerland 420 Broadway

Cambridge, MA 02138

The website operator will reply to your request as soon as possible.

If you are not satisfied with this information or with the website operator's response to your request, you can contact the data protection office of the DFA in writing at: Datenschutzstelle des EDA, Rechtsdienst, Direktion für Ressourcen und Aussennetz, 3003 Bern.

7.Legal basis

SwissFederal Data Protection Act and Ordinance of the Federal Government
Swiss Federal Information Technology Security OrdinanceGeneral

These Terms of Use are governed by and will be interpreted in accordance with the laws of Switzerland, without regard to any principles of conflicts of law. You agree that any action to enforce these Terms of Use will be brought in the courts with jurisdiction over Switzerland. You further agree to submit to the personal jurisdiction of these courts for the purpose of any proceeding arising out of these Terms of Use and waive any objections and defenses inconsistent with such venue.

These Terms of Use set forth the entire understanding and agreement between you and SHARE with respect to your use of this website. If any provision of these Terms of Use is held to be invalid or unenforceable, such provision will be stricken and the remaining provisions enforced. Any provision of these Terms of Use that imposes or contemplates continuing rights or obligations on you or SHARE will survive the expiration or termination of these Terms of Use, including the disclaimer of warranties and limitation of liability provisions.