Runkeeper is a great fitness tracking and monitoring application. However, what are we really signing up to when we click the agree to terms button? This Policy Primer discusses and explores such issues including copyright, use of personal data, and privacy.

1. Policy Primer
Runkeeper
Terms of Services and Privacy Policy
This work is licensed under :
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported Licence

2. Do you enjoy fitness?
(Running Girl, 2005)

3. Introducing Runkeeper!
(Runkeeper Profile, 2011).

4. But what exactly is Runkeeper?

5. Runkeeper is a website and
mobile application that
allows you to:
- track;
- manage; and
- share you fitness activities.
(Runkeeper, 2008)

6. But wait!
Let’s first take a quick look at some important
information called the….

7. Terms of Services and Privacy Policy
(Paper Mountain, 2013)

8. After all,
by using Runkeeper we are acknowledging
that we have:
“read, understood and agree to be bound by
Runkeeper’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy”
(Runkeeper 2013).

9. RUNKEEPER SERVICE
To enhance your fitness tracking experience,
Runkeeper’s service provides for the delivery of
content.

10. Content may include:
- fitness goals;
- personal records;
- maps; and
- history.
(Runkeeper, 2011)

11. Thinking of using content outside the
Terms of Use?

12. Runkeeper’s content is protected by
copyright laws, unauthorised
use may violate copyright,
trademark and
other laws.
(Barb Wire Fence, 2007).

13. The Terms of Services state that you may not:
“sell, transfer, assign, license, sublicense, or
modify the Content or reproduce, display, publicly
perform, make a derivative version of, distribute,
or otherwise use the Content in any way for any
public or commercial purpose, except to utilize
features of the Services that, by their nature,
involve publishing or sharing of Content with the
public” (Runkeeper 2013).

14. If you do happen to violate such terms…

15. Your permission to access and or use the
Content and Services may automatically
terminate and…
“you must immediately destroy any copies you
have made of the Content” (Runkeeper, 2013).
(Padlock, 2012).

16. While Runkeeper is providing content to assist
users in achieving their fitness goals, it is also
collecting information from them while using the
fitness tracking services.
(Security Camera Marco , 2012).

17. PRIVACY
Runkeeper’s Privacy Policy sets out the
policies with regards to collected information
such as personally identifiable data.

18. But where is my personal
data going?
(Question, 2007).

19. Well, according to Runkeeper’s Privacy Policy,
your data may be transferred from your
current location to Runkeeper’s office in the
USA and other countries.

20. But what is my personal data
Being used for?
(Question, 2007).

21. Well, information collected includes real-time
geographic and location data that allows
Runkeeper to provide activities such as
fitness mapping.
(Runkeeper, 2012).

22. Runkeeper also
conducts research
on personal data such as
demographics, interests
and behaviour, in an
effort to better serve
and understand its users.
(Sports and Academics, 2010).

23. Collecting information to
provide us with better
products and
services sounds
fine right?
(Thinking, 2007).

24. While this can be true,
Runkeeper also discloses
that in the event of a “sale,
merger or reorganisation”
personal data may be part
of the transferred asset.
(Runkeeper 2013).
(Stuff for sale here, 2008).

25. DECISIONS
So remember, YOU always have a choice
when ticking the Agree to Terms box.

26. If you do accept the terms, remember to check in
every now and then, as Runkeeper reserves the
right to modify their policy at any time without
prior notice.

27. It is also important to note that:
Runkeeper’s policy provides its users with
the ability to use the services without
providing personal data. In doing so however,
you may not be able use all the services and
features available.

28. Bibliography
Barb Wire Fence. (2007). Retrieved from: http://www.flickr.com/photos/40523968@N00/3808165834
More programming. (2007). Retrieved from: http://www.flickr.com/photos/69328495@N00/366823500
Padlock. (2012). Retrieved from: http://www.flickr.com/photos/54106249@N05/7146066347
Paper Mountain. (2013). Retrieved from: http://www.flickr.com/photos/21289977@N05/8431472575
Thinking. (2007). Retrieved from: http://www.flickr.com/photos/63379251@N00/394359583
Runkeeper. (2013). Retrieved from: http://runkeeper.com/
Runkeeper. (2012). Retrieved from: http://www.flickr.com/photos/29608604@N06/6834984437
Runkeeper. (2011). Retrieved from: http://www.flickr.com/photos/72092002@N00/5927278363
Runkeeper. (2008). Retrieved from: http://www.flickr.com/photos/29608604@N06/6279206931
Runkeeper Profile. (2011). Retrieved from: http://www.flickr.com/photos/28855526@N03/5747784159/

29. Running Girl. (2005). Retrieved from: http://www.flickr.com/photos/15123918@N00/393650532
Question! (2007). Retrieved from: http://www.flickr.com/photos/92454606@N00/349497988/
Security Camera Marco. (2012). Retrieved from: http://www.flickr.com/photos/66251177@N02/6959871909/
Sports and Academics. (2010). Retrieved from: http://www.flickr.com/photos/46095695@N06/4294865448/
Stuff for sale here. (2008). Retrieved from; http://www.flickr.com/photos/21618353@N00/2452044567