Privacy Policy

Introduction

Meridian Systems ("we," "us," "our," or "Company") operates the systemblockdiag.info website and related services (the "Site"). We are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring you understand our practices regarding the collection and use of your information. This Privacy Policy explains what data we collect, how we use it, and your rights regarding that data.

Information We Collect

We collect information in several ways to provide and improve our services as a game systems verification guide:

• Contact Information: When you contact us via email, contact forms, or other communication channels, we collect your name, email address, phone number (if provided), and the content of your message to respond to your inquiry.
• Usage Data: We automatically collect information about how you interact with our Site, including your IP address, browser type, operating system, pages visited, time spent on pages, and referring URLs. This helps us understand user behavior and improve our technical documentation and verification guides.
• Cookies and Similar Technologies: We may use cookies, web beacons, and similar tracking technologies to enhance your experience, remember your preferences, and analyze Site performance. These may include session cookies (temporary) and persistent cookies (longer-lasting).
• Submission Data: If you contribute verified solutions, speedrun documentation, or creative player approaches to our community section, we collect the content you submit along with your chosen attribution name or identifier.
• Device Information: We may collect information about the device you use to access the Site, including hardware model, operating system version, and unique device identifiers, to ensure compatibility with our technical guides and diagrams.

How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

• To respond to your inquiries and provide customer support regarding verification methodologies, solution pathways, or technical questions about game systems.
• To deliver, maintain, and improve our Site and services, including updating our verification guides and system interaction documentation.
• To analyze usage patterns and Site performance to enhance user experience for speedrunners, completionists, creative experimenters, and accessibility-focused players.
• To send you updates, newsletters, or communications about new verification guides, community contributions, or changes to our services (only with your consent where required by law).
• To comply with legal obligations and enforce our Terms of Service.
• To prevent fraud, abuse, and other harmful activities on our Site.
• To conduct research and analytics to improve our evidence-based approach to documenting game systems and solution verification standards.

Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Our Site may use cookies and similar technologies to track user activity and preferences. These include:

• Essential Cookies: Required for Site functionality, security, and basic navigation.
• Performance Cookies: Help us understand how visitors use our Site and identify areas for improvement in our technical documentation layout and accessibility features.
• Preference Cookies: Remember your settings, such as language preferences or display options for system interaction diagrams.
• Analytics Cookies: We may use analytics tools to track aggregate user behavior and Site performance metrics.

You may control cookie settings through your browser preferences. Disabling cookies may affect your ability to access certain features of our Site.

Data Sharing and Third Parties

We do not sell your personal data. However, we may share information with third parties in the following circumstances:

• Service Providers: We may engage third-party vendors to assist with hosting, analytics, email delivery, and Site maintenance. These providers are contractually obligated to use your data only as necessary to provide services to us.
• Legal Requirements: We may disclose your information if required by law, court order, or government request, or to protect the rights, safety, and property of Meridian Systems, our users, and the public.
• Community Contributions: If you submit verified solutions or creative approaches to our community section, your contribution and chosen attribution may be publicly visible on our Site and shared with other users.
• Business Transfers: In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will notify you of any such change and any choices you may have regarding your data.

Data Retention

We retain your personal data only as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected or as required by law. Specifically:

• Contact information from inquiries is retained for up to two years to maintain communication history and respond to follow-up questions.
• Usage and analytics data is typically retained for up to 12 months to analyze trends and improve our services.
• Community submissions and verified solutions are retained indefinitely to maintain the integrity and historical record of our verification guides, unless you request deletion.
• Cookies are retained according to their type: session cookies are deleted when you close your browser, while persistent cookies may remain for up to one year.

You may request deletion of your personal data at any time, subject to legal obligations and the nature of the data (for example, community contributions may remain publicly visible even after deletion requests, as they form part of our documentation).

Your Privacy Rights

Depending on your location and applicable laws, you may have the following rights regarding your personal data:

• Right to Access: You have the right to request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
• Right to Correction: You may request that we correct inaccurate or incomplete information.
• Right to Deletion: You may request deletion of your personal data, subject to certain exceptions (such as legal retention requirements or data necessary for ongoing services).
• Right to Restrict Processing: You may request that we limit how we use your data in certain circumstances.
• Right to Data Portability: You may request a copy of your data in a structured, commonly used format.
• Right to Object: You may object to certain types of processing, including marketing communications and analytics tracking.
• Right to Withdraw Consent: If we process your data based on your consent, you may withdraw that consent at any time.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the information provided in the "Contact Us" section below.

Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal data against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These measures include encryption, secure servers, access controls, and regular security assessments. However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is completely secure. While we strive to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

Children's Privacy

Our Site is not directed to children under the age of 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal data from children under 13. If we become aware that we have collected data from a child under 13, we will take steps to delete such information promptly. Parents or guardians who believe their child has provided information to us should contact us immediately.

International Data Transfers

Meridian Systems is based in Budapest, Hungary. Your personal data may be processed and stored in Hungary and may be transferred to, and processed in, countries other than your country of residence. These countries may have data protection laws that differ from your home country. By using our Site, you consent to the transfer of your information to countries outside your country of residence, which may have different data protection rules. We will take appropriate measures to ensure that any international transfers comply with applicable data protection laws.

Third-Party Links

Our Site may contain links to third-party websites, including community forums, speedrunning platforms, and gaming resources. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these external sites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party sites before providing your personal information.

Contact Us

Policy Updates

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors. We will notify you of material changes by updating the "Last Updated" date below and, where required, by obtaining your consent. Your continued use of our Site following the posting of changes constitutes your acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy.