Privacy policy

This document is an English translation of the original Japanese version. In case of any discrepancies between the English and Japanese versions, the Japanese version shall take precedence.

Revised on October 28, 2024

Classmethod, Inc. and its designated affiliates (hereinafter collectively referred to as “our company,” “our group companies,” “we,” “us,” “our”) regard the protection of personal information as a priority in conducting our primary business of IT system services.

“Personal information” is a critical information asset for both our customers and us, who handle it, and it is our essential duty to protect it securely.Therefore, we implement company-wide efforts for “personal information protection” to ensure customer confidence and the fulfillment of our social responsibilities. We also ensure proper personal information handling among entrusted entities, partners, and related third parties and establish contracts for the confidentiality of personal information among organizations to clarify responsibilities.

Please be advised that the statements and provisions outlined in this policy are subject to change without prior notice. We encourage you to periodically review our website for the most up-to-date information. Unless otherwise noted, our Privacy Policy applies to all personal information we hold.

Personal Information Definition

“Personal information” refers to information that can identify a living individual. It also includes information that can identify an individual when cross-referenced with other information. Examples: Name, age, date of birth, telephone number, email address, address, workplace, credit card number, bank account number, etc.

Acquisition of Personal Information

We acquire personal information within the necessary scope for business purposes using legal and fair methods. We obtain personal information primarily through business card exchanges, application forms, contracts, web forms, emails, etc.

Personal Information We Collect and Purposes of Use

We publish or inform the individual of specific purposes of use and obtaining consent prior to the collection of personal information. We will not use the collected personal information beyond the scope necessary for the agreed purposes and will take measures to prevent such use.

Please refer to “Personal Information Classmethod, Inc. Collects and Purposes of Use” for the details of the personal information we collect and its purposes of use.

Please refer to the privacy policies of our group companies for the details of the personal information our group companies collect and its purposes of use.

Data Handling Security Measures

We implement security measures to ensure the accuracy and security of personal information, striving to prevent leakage, loss, or damage, and to recover from any such incidents. In handling personal information, we implement safety management measures across four dimensions: organizational, personnel, physical, and technical. Please contact us through the “Inquiry Form” for more details on safety management measures.

Continuous Improvement of Data Handling Practices

We continuously improve the Personal Information Protection Management System through internal audits and management reviews, maintaining it in the best condition at all times.

Basic Policy

We obtain consent for the collection of personal information either directly or through written notice on our website.
We ensure the protection of personal information in accordance with our company’s security policies.
Access to personal information is managed through individual ID assignments and log tracking.
Personal information is encrypted when transmitted externally to ensure its security.

Joint Use

We may jointly use the collected personal information within our group companies listed as joint users in “Personal Information Classmethod, Inc. Collects and Purposes of Use.” In this process, we adhere to the defined purposes of use that correspond to the types of collected personal information, as stipulated in “Personal Information Classmethod, Inc. Collects and Purposes of Use,” or within the separate scope of purposes published or informed to the individual upon acquisition.

Classmethod, Inc. manages the personal information used by its group companies, and the Personal Information Protection Manager at Classmethod, Inc. is responsible for the management.

Please refer to the Privacy Policies of our affiliated companies for their policies on joint use.

Provision to Third Parties

We will not provide personal information of our customers to third parties, except in the following cases:

When prior consent/approval has been obtained from the customer;
When providing personal information of customers who have made inquiries or applications for third-party services we offer, to vendors who are the providers of the services, for the purpose of proposing service contents or providing services (*);
Under the law;
When it is necessary to protect human life, body, or property, and obtaining consent from the individual is difficult;
When it is particularly necessary to improve public health or promote the healthy upbringing of children and obtaining consent from the individual is difficult;
When it is necessary to cooperate with a government agency or local authority or their entrusted entity to carry out administrative work prescribed by law and obtaining consent would impede the execution of such work.

*Our service provider vendors include overseas companies. If you wish to confirm details about the provision of your information, please contact us through this Personal Information Inquiry Form .

Transfer of Personal Information Data

Our enterprise in Japan handles personal information within Japan. However, depending on the service used for storing personal information, it may be stored overseas.

Please refer to “Services Used for Storing Personal Information by Classmethod, Inc.” for details on services used for storing personal information.

Please refer to the privacy policies of our group companies regarding their personal data transfers.

Provision to Overseas Group Companies

The personal information obtained by our company may be provided for the purpose of entrustment to our group companies located overseas. Please refer to the additional information for specific regions regarding the handling of personal information by our enterprises overseas.In providing personal information to the above-mentioned overseas companies, appropriate protective measures will be taken to ensure sufficient protection of customer information in accordance with the requirements of the Personal Information Protection Act and other applicable laws. If you wish to confirm the details of these protective measures, please contact us through this Personal Information Inquiry Form.

Additional Information for Specific Regions

Canada

The management of personal information within Canada is conducted by Classmethod Canada Inc. Under applicable laws, customers’ rights include:

The right to inquire if we hold any personal information about the customer, and to request a copy of that information and how it’s processed;
The right to request corrections of any inaccurate personal information;
The right to request deletion of personal information when it’s no longer needed for the purposes it was processed, the consent on which the processing is based is withdrawn, or if it’s processed without complying with applicable legal requirements;
The right to object to the processing of personal information.

Should you wish to exercise any of the above rights, please contact us at the information provided for inquiries concerning personal information.

EU

The management of personal information within the EU is conducted by Classmethod (Europe) GmbH, located in Germany. Our company processes your personal information based on one or more of the following legal bases:

To fulfill contractual obligations, provide member services, or respond to inquiries, as required for the execution of contracts with customers or customer-represented corporations;
Where there’s a legitimate interest according to our Privacy Policy;
As necessary to comply with relevant laws and legal obligations, including responding to lawful requests and orders;
Based on your consent.

Under applicable laws, customers’ rights include:

The right to inquire if we hold any personal information about the customer, and to request a copy of that information and how it’s processed;
The right to request corrections of any inaccurate personal information;
The right to request deletion of personal information when it’s no longer needed for the purposes it was processed, the consent on which the processing is based is withdrawn, or if it’s processed without complying with applicable legal requirements;
The right to object to the processing of personal information;
The right to request data portability of personal information provided by the customer to our company, (excluding information derived from collected information,) which has been processed by automated means based on consent or contract with the customer.

Should you wish to exercise any of the above rights, please contact us at the information provided for inquiries concerning personal information. Furthermore, you may lodge complaints with datenschutz-berlin or local authorities.

Even if you have consented to our processing your personal information for specific purposes, you can withdraw that consent at any time, and thereafter, we will not process your data for those purposes.

For information on the handling of cookies, please see our “Cookie Policy.”

Should we transfer your personal information outside the EU, it will be conducted according to this Privacy Policy and applicable data protection laws.

Japan

The management of personal information within Japan is conducted by individual companies within our group that acquire personal information. We comply with this Privacy Policy, applicable laws, governmental guidelines, and other norms, ensuring the appropriate handling of personal information.

Korea

The management of personal information within Korea is conducted by Classmethod Korea Co., Ltd.
Our company adopts standard measures to securely delete personal information, making it irrecoverable. Electronic documents or files containing personal information are deleted using methods that make recovery or retrieval practically impossible. Non-electronic documents or files containing personal information are disposed of in a way that makes recovery impossible.
If you have inquiries or requests concerning privacy, please contact the following Personal Information Inquiry counter.

Thailand

The management of personal information within Thailand is handled by Classmethod (Thailand) Co., Ltd.

In accordance with applicable laws, you have the following rights regarding your personal data:

The right to request access to and a copy of your personal data;
The right to request receipt of your personal data or transfer to another data controller;
The right to object to the collection, use, or disclosure of your personal data;
The right to request the deletion, destruction, or anonymization of your personal data;
The right to request the restriction of the use of your personal data;
The right to request the correction or update of your personal data;
The right to withdraw consent previously given;
The right to file a complaint regarding the processing of your personal data.

Our enterprises overseas have their own privacy policies stipulated.
Please refer to the following sites for their privacy policies.

About Analytical Tools

Our site uses Google’s analytical tool “Google Analytics.” Google Analytics uses cookies to collect data. This data is collected anonymously and does not identify individuals.

Handling of Cookies

For the handling of cookies, please refer to the “Cookie Handling Policy.”

Voluntary Provision of Personal Information

The provision of personal information to our company is voluntary. However, please note that if you do not provide the necessary personal information, you may not be able to use certain services.

Inquiries Regarding Personal Information

Our company appropriately and promptly responds to notifications of the purposes of use, disclosure (including records of provision to third parties), correction, addition, deletion, cessation of use, complaints, consultations, and other inquiries regarding provided personal information. Please inquire regarding the personal information you have provided through the following:

Contact Point:
Classmethod Inc. 26th Floor, Hibiya Fort Tower, 1-1-1 Nishi-Shinbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0003, Japan
Inquiry Regarding Personal Information

We also accept inquiries in the following cases:

If you do not wish to receive guidance provided by our company regarding the personal information you have provided;
In case of an objection;
In case of changes or withdrawal of consent.
For confirmation of foreign regulations, etc. regarding the following:
- Our group companies located overseas
- Vendors providing services we handle
- Service providers we use for storing personal information.

Requests for correction or deletion

When personal information we manage needs correction and you have direct access to it, we ask you to correct it yourself. The feasibility of direct correction is outlined in ‘Personal Information Classmethod, Inc. Collects and Purposes of Use.‘ If you are unable to make corrections or deletions by yourself, please consult our contact point.

Personal Information Protection Manager: Yoshiki Eguchi

For information about the accredited personal information protection organization to which our company belongs, please refer to “Name of Accredited Personal Information Protection Organization and Contact for Filing Complaints.”

*1 The companies currently included in “our company” or “our group companies” are as follows. The designated companies are updated from time to time:

Classmethod, Inc.
Annotation, Inc.
Prismatix, Inc.
Propagate, Inc.
Classmethod Technologies, Inc.

Established: July 1, 2015
Revised:October 28, 2024

Classmethod, Inc. Chief Executive Officer: Satoshi Yokota