This Privacy Policy applies to personally identifiable information collected by Affymetrix, Inc. ("Affymetrix") through this web site ("the Site"). Although this Site provides links to third-party websites, they are not covered by this Privacy Policy. Affymetrix assumes no responsibility for the privacy or security of information you provide to any third party through linked websites or any other means. "Third Parties" mean any person or entity other than Affymetrix, its majority owned subsidiaries, and you.

By using this Site, you agree that you have reviewed and understood our Terms and Conditions of Use and this Privacy Policy to your full satisfaction, that you accept and are subject to our Terms and Conditions of Use and this Privacy Policy, and that Affymetrix is permitted to use your personal information as set forth below.

1. What Personal Information We Collect

Affymetrix's web server collects information from you during the course of your visit to our Site. This information includes the Internet Protocol (IP) address of your Internet Service Provider, e-mail address, the content you access, the platform operating system and web browser you use, and the date, time, and duration of your visit. This information is collected through the use of a "cookie," which our web server seeks to place in the "Cookies" folder on your computer hard drive, to help us recognize and serve you better when you return to our Site. You can choose to refuse any cookie by following the procedure suggested by your particular web browser. You may delete the Affymetrix cookie from your computer without substantially impairing your use of our Site.

We may also collect information from you through your voluntary submission. For instance, you may be required to register with Affymetrix via our Site to access and use certain portions of our Site (e.g., the core lab portal, on-line shopping, and web events, surveys, and downloads). We collect contact information such as name, IP address, physical address, title, lab affiliation, telephone number, physical address, and e-mail address.

We also collect in our databases all information an employment applicant submits in a resume and employment application.

2. How We Use Your Personal Information

Affymetrix uses your personal information to process your requests and transactions, offer or furnish additional products and services, personalize the types of information you receive from Affymetrix, assess trends in the use of our Site or purchases of products or services, develop content and functionality that helps us serve our customers' needs, and improve the service and products we provide. Affymetrix will not use your personally identifiable information in a manner different from that stated at the time of collection without first attempting to notify you via the last e-mail address we have in our records.

We may share your personally identifiable information with third parties that assist us in providing our services, carrying out your account needs, or providing you with information about their services that we believe may be of interest to you. Such third parties are required to use the information only to perform such services and to maintain the confidentiality of the information. We also may sell or license aggregated information (that is, without personally identifying details) to third parties. As we continue to develop our business, we might sell or buy businesses or assets, or Affymetrix might be acquired by another company. In any of those circumstances, personal information in our databases may be included among the transferred assets.

We may use your personally identifiable information jointly with any of our majority-owned subsidiaries so that they may assist us in achieving any of the purposes of use explained above.

Affymetrix may also use your personal information to prevent harm or injury, to prevent fraud, to protect our legal interests, to comply with or respond to legal process, and to comply with applicable laws.

Resumes and other materials submitted by job applicants may be viewed by our human resources department personnel, hiring managers, employees who will be interviewing the candidate, and the administrative assistants to these individuals for applicant screening and hiring purposes, and for general human resources purposes.

3. Choice

When you submit personally identifiable information to us, you will be able to choose whether we may disclose such information in a personally identifiable form to a third party or whether the information may be used in personally identifiable form for purposes different from the purposes for which it was originally collected or that you have subsequently authorized.

You will have the opportunity to opt-out of receiving communications from us when we first request your information. Also, in our e-mail communications you will find instructions for unsubscribing.

You can request removal of your personally identifiable information from our databases by contacting us at the phone number or e-mail address listed below. To honor your request, we will need the exact information you want removed and information sufficient for us to identify the type of communication you received from us.

4. Access or Change Your Personal Information

You can access, correct, amend, or delete the personal information that you have provided by clicking on "your profile" at the top of the Affymetrix web site. You will need to enter your e-mail address and password.

5. Security

We have physical, electronic, and procedural safeguards to protect personal information we collect online, including the use of passwords to gain access to your information. To protect your privacy and security, you must keep your password confidential. However, even with such measures, no one is able to guarantee that unauthorized third parties will not be able to bypass these measures or otherwise capture information you provide over the Internet.

6. Data Integrity

We will take reasonable steps to see that the personal information in our systems is relevant for its intended use, accurate, complete, and current.

7. Enforcement

Affymetrix will conduct periodic reviews of compliance to verify that this Privacy Policy is accurate, comprehensive, prominently displayed, complete, implemented, and accessible. Any employee who violates this Privacy Policy may be subject to disciplinary action.

8. Special Rules Applicable to Data Collected or Processed in the European Union

This Privacy Policy applies to all personally identifiable data that is subject to the European Union's Data Protection Directive 95/46 EC and that is transferred to the United States, even if not collected at this Site. Affymetrix has enrolled in the Safe Harbor System established by the U.S. Department of Commerce to meet the requirements of the European Commission's Directive on Data Protection.

Onward transfers will be permitted only to other persons or entities who have agreed to provide a continuing adequate level of protection through participation in the Safe Harbor program or one of the other means permitted under EU Directive 95/46 EC and implementing Member State laws.

If you have any concern or complaint regarding Affymetrix' compliance with the Safe Harbor Principles, please contact Affymetrix where indicated below. Affymetrix will investigate your concern or complaint and will attempt to resolve the matter with you. For complaints that cannot be resolved between Affymetrix and the person making the complaint, Affymetrix will cooperate with the European Data Protection Authorities as an independent recourse mechanism available to investigate unresolved complaints.

9. Changes to this Policy

We reserve the right to make changes to this Privacy Policy at any time. Please check the Policy when you use our web site to ensure that you are aware of any changes in our privacy practices. Our Privacy Policy will indicate the date it was last updated. For material changes to this Privacy Policy, we will send notification to the last e-mail address you have provided to us.

10. Contact Points

Please contact us to learn more about our privacy practices or to change your privacy choices:

Siang Chin
VP & Chief Corp Counsel
Phone: 888-DNA-CHIP (888-362-2447)
E-mail: privacy@affymetrix.com

To view the Affymetrix privacy policy for the Japan website, please visit: Japan Privacy Policy.

Last update: 07/17/07