Cookie Policy

Cookie Policy

We sometimes collect anonymous information from visits to our sites to help us provide better customer service. For example, we keep track of the domains from which people visit and we also measure visitor activity on BMJ Open web sites, but we do so in ways that keep the information anonymous. BMJ Open may use this data to analyze trends and statistics and to help us provide better customer service. We maintain the highest levels of confidentiality for this information, our affiliates and vendors follow the same high levels of confidentiality. This anonymous information is used and analyzed only at an aggregate level to help us understand trends and patterns. None of this information is reviewed at an individual level. If you do not want your transaction details used in this manner, you can either disable your cookies.

Change the settings on your browser or device to reject cookies.

For more information about how to reject cookies using your internet browser settings please consult the “Help” section of your internet browser (or alternatively visit http://www.aboutcookies.org). Please note that, whilst access to the website is not conditional upon the acceptance of cookies by you, if you do set your Internet browser to reject cookies, you may not be able to access all of the functions of the Site. Please also note that the device that you are using may affect which settings you are able to change in your browser.

Please be aware

Please note that we will make all reasonable efforts to comply with your consent preferences but due to certain technological restrictions and ways in which the technology was developed, from time-to-time, you may find that we cannot accommodate all your requests without compromising your experience of the Site. Due to the nature of the technology, unpredictability of browser configurations and user behaviour, we cannot unequivocally guarantee that no cookies will be set once you have opted out. To ensure best results, please also install cookie blockers in your chosen browser.

What cookies will be set?

BMJ Open sets a range of cookies (these include “strictly necessary”cookies, analytics cookies and functional cookies) and third party cookies for the following purposes:

1. to assist you in navigating the Site;
2. to improve, enhance and/or personalise your experience of using our Site
3. to remember your preferences on our Site and provide you with a customized experience;
4. analysing your use of our Site and services;
5. assisting with our marketing efforts (to measure the effectiveness of marketing efforts and analyse or predict preferences or behavior); and
6. allowing us to improve relevancy in our communications with you for direct marketing.

Some cookies are necessary for the efficient functioning of the Site, whilst others are optional and are used for the purposes set out above.

How can you contact us?

If you have any questions about the Privacy Policy or the cookie policy or managing your cookies, you can contact us either via the “Contact Us” tab on the Site, or as follows:

BMJ Open, 16192 Coastal HWY, Lewes
Delaware 19958, USA
Email: info@bmjopen.org

The BMJ Open Publishing Data Protection Office and Legal team will make reasonable efforts to promptly investigate and, if necessary, to correct any problem.

Security

We are committed to ensuring that your Personal Data is secure. In order to prevent unauthorized access or disclosure, we have put in place suitable physical, electronic and managerial procedures to safeguard and secure the Personal Data we collect.

We control access so that only people who need to access the Personal Data can. All staff of BMJ Open are provided security training and are required to adhere to a comprehensive set of security policies, procedures, and standards related to their jobs.

All the Personal Data you provide us is stored in a secure computing environment protected by secure firewalls to prevent unauthorized access.

When you use secure areas of the Website, BMJ Open use Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) protocol with 256-bit RSA encryption. This means that all the information sent between your computer and our secure computer environment is encrypted or scrambled so that no one can read it in transit. Secure areas of the site have a time-out feature. If you leave your secure session inactive for some time, it times-out to prevent unauthorized access.

Mailers

BMJ Open may, if you so choose, send direct mailers to you at the address given by you. You have the option to 'opt-out' of this direct mailer by way of links provided at the bottom of each mailer. We respect your privacy and in the event that you choose to not receive such mailers, we will take all steps to remove you from the list.

Anti Spam Policy

BMJ Open recognizes the receipt, transmission or distribution of spam emails (unsolicited bulk emails) as a major concern and has taken reasonable measures, to minimize the transmission and effect of spam emails in its computing environment. All emails received by BMJ Open, are subject to spam check. Any email identified as spam will be rejected with sufficient information to the Sender for taking necessary action.