Re: privacy@wiley.com

[Alan Edelson <amedelson@topnet.net>]

I have read through Wiley's User Terms of Service Agreement and
questionnaire, and, while I personally dislike filling out such forms, I
find nothing unusually  invasive about the questions, except that you
may be quite certain that you will be on their computerized mailing
lists to receive promotional literature in the areas of interest you
have indicated. The information requested is no more extensive, and in
many ways less extensive, than that which is routinely asked of us by
manufacturers of computer hardware, cameras, television sets, credit
card companies, and so forth, so that they understand the demographics
of their market---and so that they can, if they choose, sell this
information to mailing list brokers. Failure to fill out the forms to
some extent may mean failure to validate a warranty or to receive credit
card approval.  Which is why I use a post office box address for all
such questionnaires, and my home address for more personal mail. Once a
fortnight I stop by my post office box to empty the mound of junk mail
into a nearby waste basket. It's part of being immersed in a
consumer-driven economy.  And by the way, you are not under oath when
filling out such forms, and you can become creative when asked truly
inappropriate questions.

Alan M. Edelson, Ph.D.

Jane Holmquist wrote:

> In response to a recent e-mail message, we have just taken
> another look at the User Terms of Service Agreement for
> Wiley Interscience e-journals at  http://www.interscience.wiley.com/
>
> Is anyone else concerned about about their 'Privacy and
> Data Protection Policy' and requirement that all users provide
> certain personal information in order to use their e-journals?
>
> There is a note that Wiley's privacy and data protection policy
> is reviewed periodically, and any comments or questions can be
> sent to privacy@wiley.com.
>
> Should we as librarians speak up on behalf of our users?
>
> Jane Holmquist and David Goodman, co-chairs
> Electronic Journals Task Force
> Princeton University Library