U-Boot Policy

Last Updated: June 18, 2025

Welcome to U-Boot.org. This Privacy Policy describes how U-Boot.org (referred to as “we,” “us,” or “our”) collects, uses, and discloses information when you visit and use our website, u-boot.org (the “Site”).

We are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring you have a positive experience while using our Site. As an open-source project, transparency is key, and this policy aims to clearly outline our data practices.

1. Introduction and Purpose

This Privacy Policy explains our practices regarding the collection, use, and protection of your information. By using our Site, you agree to the terms of this Privacy Policy.

2. Information We Collect

We primarily focus on providing information and resources about the U-Boot project. As such, we strive to collect minimal personal data. The types of information we may collect include:

  • Non-Personal Information:

    • Usage Data: Information about how you access and use the Site, such as your IP address (anonymized if possible), browser type, operating system, referring URLs, pages viewed, time spent on pages, and dates/times of access. This data is typically collected via analytics services (e.g., Google Analytics, Squarespace Analytics) to help us understand Site performance and user behavior.

    • Device Information: Information about the device you use to access the Site, including hardware model, unique device identifiers, and mobile network information.

  • Personal Information (Limited Collection):

    • Contact Information: If you choose to contact us directly via email (e.g., info@u-boot.org), you may provide your name, email address, and any other information you choose to include in your message. We use this information solely to respond to your inquiries.

    • Donation Information: If you choose to make a financial contribution through the “Donations” page:

      • We do not directly collect or process your financial information (e.g., credit card details, bank account numbers). All donation transactions are handled by third-party payment processors (e.g., Open Collective, Patreon, cryptocurrency wallets). Please refer to the privacy policies of these third-party services for details on their data collection and processing practices.

      • If you opt for public acknowledgment for a significant donation and contact us, we will collect your name or alias with your explicit consent for display on the Site.

    • Mailing List Subscription (if applicable): While we link to external mailing list archives (e.g., lore.kernel.org/u-boot), if we were to implement a direct newsletter subscription, we would collect your email address for the sole purpose of sending you updates, with your consent.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the collected information for the following purposes:

  • To Operate and Maintain the Site: Ensuring the Site functions correctly and provides a seamless user experience.

  • To Improve the Site: Analyzing usage patterns to understand how users interact with our content and identify areas for improvement (e.g., popular pages, broken links).

  • To Respond to Inquiries: If you contact us, we use your information to address your questions or comments.

  • To Process Donations: While we don’t handle financial data directly, any non-financial information related to donation acknowledgment (e.g., your name for public display) is used as agreed upon with your consent.

  • To Communicate News (if subscribed): If you subscribe to a direct newsletter, we will use your email to send updates related to the U-Boot project.

  • Security and Troubleshooting: To monitor for and address technical issues, security threats, and protect against malicious activity.

4. Data Sharing and Disclosure

We are committed to minimizing the sharing of your personal information. We may share or disclose information in the following circumstances:

  • With Service Providers: We may use third-party service providers (e.g., Squarespace for hosting and analytics, Google Fonts, Lucide Icons) to perform functions on our behalf. These providers have access to information only as necessary to perform their functions and are obligated not to disclose or use it for other purposes.

  • Third-Party Donation Platforms: As noted, financial transactions for donations are handled by external platforms (Open Collective, Patreon, etc.). We do not share your financial details with them, as you provide them directly. We may receive aggregated, anonymous data from these platforms regarding donation totals.

  • Legal Requirements: We may disclose your information if required to do so by law or in response to valid requests by public authorities (e.g., a court order or government agency).

  • Protection of Rights: We may disclose information when we believe it is necessary to protect our rights, property, or safety, or the rights, property, or safety of others.

  • With Your Consent: We may share your information for any other purpose with your explicit consent.

We do not sell or rent your personal information to third parties for their marketing purposes.

5. Data Security

We take reasonable measures to protect the information collected through our Site from unauthorized access, use, or disclosure. This includes leveraging Squarespace’s built-in security features, such as SSL certificates and platform-level protections. However, no internet transmission or electronic storage method is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

6. Your Rights

Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have certain rights regarding your personal information, including:

  • Right to Access: You have the right to request copies of your personal data.

  • Right to Rectification: You have the right to request that we correct any information you believe is inaccurate or incomplete.

  • Right to Erasure: You have the right to request that we erase your personal data under certain conditions.

  • Right to Restrict Processing: You have the right to request that we restrict the processing of your personal data under certain conditions.

  • Right to Object to Processing: You have the right to object to our processing of your personal data under certain conditions.

  • Right to Data Portability: You have the right to request that we transfer the data that we have collected to another organization, or directly to you, under certain conditions.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at info@u-boot.org. We will respond to your request within a reasonable timeframe.

7. Third-Party Links

Our Site contains links to other websites that are not operated by us (e.g., docs.u-boot.org, lore.kernel.org). If you click on a third-party link, you will be directed to that third party’s site. We strongly advise you to review the Privacy Policy of every site you visit, as we have no control over and assume no responsibility for the content, privacy policies, or practices of any third-party sites or services.

8. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update our Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on this page and updating the “Last Updated” date at the top of this Privacy Policy. You are advised to review this Privacy Policy periodically for any changes. Changes to this Privacy Policy are effective when they are posted on this page.

9. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact us:

  • By email: info@u-boot.org