Privacy Policy

This privacy policy governs your use of the Brother Software (including associated materials or documents) (“Software”) provided by Brother Industries, Ltd. ("Brother", “we” or “our”). Terms used in this privacy policy, without definition, have the same meaning as the terms used in the EULA. In the event of conflict between the meaning of any term used in this privacy policy and its meaning as used in the EULA, the meaning in this privacy policy shall have precedence.

This privacy policy explains how we protect your privacy in relation to the Device Data (defined below) that Brother may collect through this Software.
If the Device Data is of such a nature that is capable of identifying you by matching it with other data held by us or other Brother Group companies, and such data is considered to be personal data under the applicable laws of the country or region where you reside (“Personal Data”), then we will protect such Device Data in accordance with this privacy policy and our general privacy policy https://web.global.brother/aa/privacy.html. Depending on the country or region where you reside, location specific privacy statements https://web.global.brother/aa/privacy-apps.html may separately apply.

Amendments and modifications to this privacy policy may be made without your prior consent in the following cases: A) when the amendments or modifications are in your general interest, or B) when the amendments or modification are rational and reasonable and do not conflict with the purpose of this privacy policy. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in principle, the contents of the amendments or modifications shall be published on Brother's website or by any other appropriate methods and be notified before the effective date of the amendments or modifications and enter into effect from the date that is separately specified in the notification.

What data we collect

When you use the Software, information from the Brother Machine and the devices connected to the Brother Machine (“Device”), including but not limited to, product model, serial number, printing date, number of printed pages, types and sizes of paper, total number of pages printed, error history of the Brother Machine, product settings, print job settings, amount of ink remaining in the Brother Machine, locale ID (regional information), error logs, OS type of your installation, firmware may be recorded in our server (collectively, “Device Data”). Any information on your use of products and the operation of those products accumulated prior to the installation of the Software may also be sent to our server.
Device Data cannot be used in itself or in combination with any other information we may have to identify you as a person.
While the serial number included in the Device Data can be associated with data that Brother Group companies may hold about you, such as the information that you register through our sales company's product registration website, your purchase history or service repair history of your Brother products, we will not use the serial number to identify you or other than for the Purposes (defined below).

How we use your data

We reserve the right to use such Device Data for the below purposes:

We consider that we have a legitimate interest in processing your Device Data for the above purposes. We may also process your Device Data to fulfill our contractual obligations to you, to comply with our legal obligations to you, or to defend, prosecute or make legal claims, or to process your Device Data where you have given your consent (hereinafter, all of the above shall be collectively referred to as “Purposes”).
We will not use your Device Data other than for the Purposes without your prior consent.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, Brother or Brother’s Group companies may ask for your consent (unless previously asked) to use Device Data for various direct marketing purposes in the course of providing our products or services (“Direct Marketing"). Such request to use the Device Data for Direct Marketing purposes shall be made clearly and separately from this privacy policy. It shall not be construed in any way that you are obliged to consent to the processing of Device Data for Direct Marketing purposes. Brother shall use or provide to its Group companies the Device Data for Direct Marketing purposes only with your consent, and you will not be deemed to have consented to such purposes solely by agreeing to this privacy policy.

If you do not wish that we use Device Data for any purposes other than to provide the functions of the Software, disable both the appropriate device settings in the Software. If you have previously installed any software or application for the Brother Machine (for the purposes of this paragraph, Brother Machine shall be limited to Brother’s printers and multifunctional products only), installing this Software may overwrite the features used for collecting Device Data under such previous software or application. In such case, the terms and conditions of this privacy policy shall apply to your Device Data collected and processed under such previous software or application

How we store your data

We take the security of your Device Data very seriously and will use appropriate security measures to prevent unauthorized use or disclosure.
We will keep your Device Data for as long as necessary to fulfill the Purposes or for as long as we are required to hold on to do so by law. After this, we will confidentially destroy, delete, or permanently anonymize the Device Data.

How we share your data

We work closely with Brother Group companies and we may share your Device Data with them. In this case, Brother Group companies may acquire your Device Data as information that can identify you as a person.
Where we do so, your Device Data will be shared in accordance with this privacy policy. Unless the Brother Group company obtains your consent, the Brother Group company shall only use your Device Data for the Purposes set out in this privacy policy.

Furthermore, Brother and Brother Group companies may, in accordance with their respective privacy policies, share your Device Data with third party subcontractors specified below under the following circumstances:
business service providers; to store and process your Device Data, maintain information technology equipment and systems that may be used to store and process your Device Data and provide data analytics services.

Device Data may also be disclosed to law enforcement agencies, courts, regulators, government authorities, where it is necessary to comply with a legal or regulatory obligation, or otherwise to protect our rights or the rights of any third party.

We will take reasonable steps to ensure that the above Brother Group companies and third parties shall treat the Device Data as confidential information and maintain appropriate physical and technical security to prevent loss or misuse of your Device Data.

To the extent described above, we may transfer Device Data outside the country or region where you reside. Where Device Data is considered to be Personal Data under applicable laws of your country or region, such laws may restrict transfer of data to countries or regions that may not be regarded as ensuring an adequate level of protection for Personal Data. Under such circumstances, we will either obtain your consent, implement appropriate legal transfer mechanisms, or take other necessary measures as required by law in order to ensure that the Device Data transferred to such country or region receives adequate protection.