Enacted: July 21, 2020

Revised: Sep 29, 2021

Hutchinson Technology ("HTI") is committed to respecting and protecting your personal data and privacy rights. We've structured our Web sites so that, in general, you can visit HTI on the Web without identifying yourself or revealing any personal information. This Privacy Statement reflects the policies of https://www.hutchinson.tdk.com. We are committed to protecting the privacy of our customers and we use the information that we collect in order to facilitate a more personalized web browsing experience. Once you choose to provide us personally identifiable information (any information by which you can be identified), it will be used in accordance with law to support your customer relationship with HTI.

Hutchinson Technology (“HTI”) is committed to the protection of personal data and privacy rights.

This HTI Privacy Policy consists of the HTI Personal Data Protection Basic Policy and the Policy for the Handling of Personal Data on HTI Websites. It describes how HTI processes personal data in compliance with applicable data protection and other laws and globally accepted data protection principles including the Japanese Act on the Protection of Personal Information, the Regulation (EU) 2016/679 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data (General Data Protection Regulation, “GDPR”).

This Privacy Policy applies to all activities where HTI processes personal data of individuals excluding HTI’s personnel, which is governed by internal regulations. Data are personal, if the information contained therein relates to an identified individual or an individual that can be identified, directly or indirectly, by reference to an identifier or a combination of identifiers. Processing means any operation or set of operations on personal data whether or not by automated means and regardless whether electronically, physically in paper or any other form.

This Privacy Policy supplements the applicable data protection and other laws without replacing them. In case of a conflict or where an applicable law has stricter or additional requirements the law will take precedence over this Privacy Policy.

By accessing, browsing, or using HTI’s website, you agree to the Terms of Use of the HTI Website, this HTI Privacy Policy and the HTI Cookie Policy that supplements this Privacy Policy in respect of the use of Cookies on the HTI Website.

HTI Personal Data Protection Basic Policy

1. Scope of Application

This HTI Personal Data Protection Basic Policy is part of HTI’s Privacy Policy and describes the general rules how Hutchinson Technology (“HTI”) processes personal data

2. Personal Data Processing Principles

HTI processes personal data in accordance with the following principles:

2.1 Lawfulness, Fairness and Transparency

Personal data are processed on basis of the applicable legal permission and in compliance with applicable laws (lawfulness), in consideration of the interests of the affected individual (fairness) and together with reasonable provision of information including the identity of the legal person that controls and is accountable for the processing of personal data (data controller), the purpose of the processing, associated risks, and necessary safeguards (transparency).

2.2 Purpose Limitation

Personal data are processed for a specified, explicit and legitimate purpose and are no further processed in a manner that is incompatible with that purpose.

2.3 Data Minimization

Personal data are adequate, relevant and limited to what is necessary in relation to the purpose for which they are processed.

2.4 Accuracy

Personal data are kept accurate and, where necessary, up to date; every reasonable step is taken to ensure that personal data that are inaccurate in respect to the purpose for which they are processed, are erased or rectified without delay.

2.5 Storage Limitation

Personal data are kept in a form which permits identification of the affected individual for no longer than necessary for the purpose for which the personal data are processed.

2.6 Integrity and Confidentiality

Personal data are processed in a manner that ensures appropriate security, including protection against unauthorized or unlawful processing and against accidental loss, destruction or damage, using appropriate technical or organizational measures. Personal data protection is taken into account when new processes are planned and implemented. Technical and organizational measures at HTI are continuously adjusted.

3. Business Partner Data

In course of its business operations, HTI processes data of its customers, suppliers, agents, providers, sub-contractors, consultants, advisors, journalists, users that access, browse or otherwise use HTI’s website or third party websites on which HTI has posted advertisements and other current and potential business partners (“Business Partners”). These data may also include personal data of Business Partners and in case Business Partners are corporations, of individuals affiliated with Business Partners.

3.1 Data Categories

Data processed include first, middle and last name, academic title, professional status, position, postal address, e-mail address, telephone number, login-in data, online identifiers, IP addresses and other personal data reasonably related to the business relationship with HTI.

3.2 Data Sources

Personal data are obtained through direct and indirect online and offline sources. Direct sources include business cards, e-mails, facsimiles, letters, surveys, data collected via active entries on HTI’s website and other electronic or non-electronic communication and interaction between HTI and an individual in course of a potential or existing business relationship. Indirect sources include publicly available data collected by HTI, data of users that access, browse or otherwise use HTI’s website or third party websites on which HTI has posted advertisements and data received from third parties including HTI and other Business Partners in compliance with applicable laws.

3.3 Processing Purposes

Personal data are processed for HTI’s business operations, including Business Partner relationship management, research and development, manufacturing, enterprise resource planning, data analysis for supply, online and offline marketing and sales activities, market observance and orientation, provision of product and service information, making and answering requests and inquiries, making and accepting quotes, offers, and any communication, cooperation, and other activities reasonably related to HTI’s business operations.

Data analysis activities may comprise automated processing including the profiling of individuals affiliated with Business Partners. HTI may in particular combine data from the above-described direct and indirect online and offline sources and analyze or predict preferences, interests, reliability, behavior, location, movements and other activities of Business Partners and in case Business Partners are corporations, of individuals affiliated with Business Partners. HTI conducts such analysis activities to understand the needs of its Business Partners, in particular to enhance, develop, present and provide new products to them, online and offline.

Online activities include targeted advertisements on HTI’s website and in user accounts, online newsletters by e-mail or other electronic means, promotional campaigns and other activities reasonably related to HTI’s business operations. Offline activities include the delivery of marketing and other promotional material including samples by mail and other activities reasonably related to HTI’s business operations.

3.4 Permission

Personal data are processed in compliance with applicable laws on basis of the applicable legal permission, in particular the initiation and performance of a contract, where the individual has given consent to the processing, where the processing is necessary for compliance with a legal obligation to which HTI is subject to and where the processing of personal data is in the legitimate interest of HTI. Legitimate interests are the development, nurturing and enhancement of existing and initiation of new business relationships and any activities related thereto to pursue HTI’s business operations.

4. Recruitment Data

In course of its business operations, HTI processes data related to the recruitment of new personnel. These data may also include personal data of individuals.

4.1 Data Categories

Data processed include first, middle and last name, academic title, professional status, position, work history, current position and former positions, education, postal address, e-mail address, telephone number, login-in data, online identifiers, IP addresses and other personal data reasonably related to the recruitment of new personnel.

4.2 Data Sources

Personal data are obtained through direct and indirect online and offline sources. Direct sources include business cards, job applications, e-mails, facsimiles, letters, meetings, entries on HTI’s website and other electronic or non-electronic communication and interaction between an individual and HTI in course of a job application. Indirect sources include publicly available data, data of users that access, browse or otherwise use HTI’s website or third party websites on which HTI has posted advertisements and data received in compliance with applicable laws from third parties including HTI Subsidiaries/affiliates and other Business Partners in course of a recruitment process, e.g. recruiting agencies and HR service providers.

4.3 Processing Purposes

Personal data are processed for searching and recruiting new personnel for HTI’s business operations including any activities reasonably related thereto.

4.4 Permission

Personal data are processed in compliance with applicable laws on basis of the applicable legal permission, in particular where necessary for the job application and the initiation of an employment relationship with HTI, where the individual has given consent to the processing, where the processing is necessary for compliance with a legal obligation to which HTI is subject and where the processing of personal data is in the legitimate interest of HTI. Legitimate interests are the processing of the job application to find and recruit skilled personnel for HTI and HTI subsidiaries/affiliates and any activities related thereto.

5. Website Data and Cookies

For information about the processing of personal data on HTI’s website and third party websites, please refer to Policy for the Handling of Personal Data on HTI Websites and to the HTI Cookie Policy

6. Retention Periods

Personal data will be removed from HTI’s systems and records and/or steps are taken to anonymize data if processing is no longer required for the original purpose unless it is necessary to keep personal data to comply with a legal obligation to which HTI is subject, e.g. statutory retention periods under applicable laws including commercial and tax laws or where HTI has a legitimate interest to retain information in compliance with applicable laws, e.g. for filing, enforcing or defending legal claims. HTI has installed and maintains retention policies in compliance with applicable data protection and other laws.

7. Transfer of Personal Data

Hutchinson Technology is part of the TDK Group of Companies with joint business operations (https://www.tdk.com/corp/en/worldwide/index.htm). HTI may transfer data including personal data to other TDK Group Companies, Business Partners, courts, law enforcement agencies, government authorities, other public bodies and other third parties, which may have access to and/or process personal data. Transfers are made on a need to know basis in compliance with applicable laws and agreements with Business Partners.

7.1 Transfer to TDK Group Companies

Purpose of data transfers to other TDK Group Companies (https://www.tdk.com/corp/en/worldwide/index.htm) is the support the business operations of HTI within the TDK Group of Companies and the joint utilization of data. This may include joint business operations and the outsourcing of internal functions and the utilization of external resources, e.g. procurement and manufacturing, marketing, data analysis, Business Partner relationship management, research and development, education, administration, IT functions, HR functions, compliance with corporate organization and corporate governance rules and other activities reasonably related to HTI’s business operations. Categories of personal data transferred are described in 3.1 and 4.1 above.

TDK Group Companies that act as service providers are contractually bound to take appropriate technical and organizational security measures to safeguard and process personal data only as instructed by HTI. The same applies to any sub-providers of HTI’s service providers.

7.2 Transfer to Business Partners

Purpose of data transfers to Business Partners is to outsource internal functions and utilize external resources, e.g. IT services, HR, recruiting, marketing activities, marketing data analysis, administration of campaigns, offline and online advertisement, publishing, design, legal, tax, financial advisory services and other activities reasonably related to HTI’s business operations.

Business Partners that act as service providers for HTI are contractually bound to take appropriate technical and organizational security measures to safeguard and process personal data only as instructed by HTI. The same applies to any sub-providers of Business Partners’ service providers.

7.3 Transfer to government authorities, courts, law enforcement agencies

Purpose of data transfer to government authorities, courts, law enforcement agencies and other public bodies is to comply with obligations to which HTI is subject to under applicable laws, e.g. -transfer and disclosure obligations under social security law, civil procedure law, tax, import and export laws.

8. Transfer of Personal Data to other Countries

To the extent personal data are transferred to and processed in other countries than where HTI is established, HTI transfers personal data in compliance with applicable laws and has established appropriate safeguards by means of data processing and data transfer agreements that oblige the recipient in the other country to establish and adhere to an adequate level of data protection.

9. Information Obligations

In compliance with applicable laws, HTI informs individuals about its personal data processing activities as described in the HTI Privacy Policy and the HTI Cookie Policy. HTI provides amongst others on and offline references to the HTI Privacy Policy on HTI’s website, electronic or non-electronic communication with individuals and electronic or non-electronic business documents to promote its data privacy activities.

10. Consent and Withdrawal of Consent

Where required under applicable data protection and other laws, HTI processes any data only after consent. Providing consent and data is voluntary. Before obtaining consent, HTI will duly inform each individual about the respective processing activity. Without providing data, an individual may not be able to engage with HTI in respect of HTI’s business operations.

A consent can be withdrawn at any time with future effect by e-mail to privacy@htch.com or by sending a withdrawal notice to the contact stated under 12. below. A withdrawal will not affect the lawfulness of the processing prior to the withdrawal.

11. Rights of Individuals

Where HTI processes personal data of individuals, each individual may exercise its rights under applicable laws.

Any rights can be exercised by sending an e-mail to privacy@htch.com or to the contact details stated under 12 below.

In addition, each individual may lodge a complaint with a competent data protection supervisory authority.

Under the applicability of the Regulation (EU) 2016/679 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data (General Data Protection Regulation, “GDPR”) any individual may exercise towards HTI the following rights:

  • Right of Access,
  • Right of Rectification,
  • Right to Erasure,
  • Right to restriction of processing,
  • Right to object to processing,
  • Right to data portability,
  • Where HTI processes personal data for direct marketing purposes, each individual has the right to object at any time to the processing of its personal data for direct marketing purposes, which includes profiling to the extent related to marketing purposes.

12. HTI Personal Data Protection Organization

HTI controls and is accountable for processing personal data collected from www.hutchinson.tdk.com. Please forward all inquiries regarding the processing of personal data to privacy@htch.com

13. Change Management

HTI may change the HTI Personal Data Protection Basic Policy, the Policy for the Handling of Personal Data on HTI Websites and the HTI Cookie Policy at any time and without explicit notice. The enactment date and the date of the last revision is shown in the respective document and any prior versions can be requested from HTI.

Policy for the Handling of Personal Data on HTI Websites

Enacted: July 21, 2020

Revised: Sep 29, 2021

1. Scope of Application

This Policy for the Handling of Personal Data on HTI Websites is part of HTI’s Privacy Policy.

It describes how Hutchinson Technologies (“HTI”) processes data of users that access, browse or otherwise use HTI’s website or third-party websites on which HTI has posted advertisements (“Users”). These data include also personal data that Users actively send, transmit or otherwise provide on HTI’s website and that HTI collects or otherwise obtains via cookies.

For detailed information about the use of cookies please refer to the HTI Cookie Policy.

2. Purposes

2.1 Services

HTI processes data including personal data for providing the following services in connection with its business operations (“Services”):

2.1.1 User Accounts

After registration, HTI offers personalized User accounts that allow access to product information and services and other information reasonably related to HTI’s business operations.

2.1.2 Inquiries and Requests

HTI offers the possibility to make online inquiries and requests regarding its products and services and strives to revert to the inquirer in due time.

2.1.3 Newsletters

After registration, HTI offers online newsletters by e-mail or other electronic means. Newsletter comprise information about HTI’s products, services, events, seminars, exhibitions, campaigns and other information reasonably related to HTI’s business operations.

2.1.4 Information Download

After registration, HTI offers information about products and services and other information reasonably related to HTI’s business operations.

2.1.5 Promotional Campaigns

HTI invites Users to take part in online promotional and other campaigns to bring HTI’s products and services and other information reasonably related to HTI’s business operations to the attention of current and potential customers and the wider public. HTI asks individuals to provide their comments and opinions about HTI’s products and services. HTI may also send materials and samples and other giveaways and information offline to Users participating in the campaigns.

2.1.6 Recruitment

HTI may offer information about job vacancies of any kind on its website and invite individuals to file applications via HTI’s website.

2.1.7 PC and Mobile Application Software

HTI offers software for specific services and functions alone or in together with HTI’s products, services and other activities reasonably related to HTI’s business operations. HTI provides certain support services like software and firmware support. Software applications may create crash reports that help HTI and third party software developers to resolve any issues with the software.

Where required under applicable data protection and other laws, HTI processes data only after the consent of the User. Providing consent and data is voluntary. Before obtaining any consent, HTI will duly inform each individual about the respective processing activity. Without providing data, a User may still access, browse or otherwise use HTI’s website but may not able to benefit from some or all of the Services.

Regarding the withdrawal of a consent and other rights of Users, please refer to the HTI Personal Data Protection Basic Policy.

2.2 Marketing

For its marketing activities HTI processes data that Users have actively sent, transmitted or otherwise provided on HTI’s website for Services (see 2.1 above) and that HTI has collected or otherwise obtained via cookies from its and third party websites where HTI has posted advertisements. For detailed information about the use of cookies please refer to the HTI Cookie Policy.

HTI analyses such data alone or in combination or together with other data including personal data HTI has lawfully received. Data analysis activities may comprise automated processing including profiling. HTI may in particular combine data from the above-described direct and indirect online sources and offline sources and analyze or predict preferences, interests, reliability, behavior, location, movements and other activities of Users. HTI conducts such analysis to understand the needs of the Users, in particular to enhance, develop, present and provide new products to them, online and offline.

Online activities include targeted advertisements on HTI’s website and in User accounts, online newsletters by e-mail or other electronic means, promotional campaigns and other activities reasonably related to HTI’s business operations.

Offline activities include the delivery of marketing and other promotional material including samples by mail and other activities reasonably related to HTI’s business operations.

Where required under applicable data protection and other laws, HTI processes data only after the consent of the User. Providing consent and data is voluntary. Before obtaining any consent, HTI will duly inform each individual about the respective processing activity. Without providing data, a User may still access, browse or otherwise use HTI’s website but may not able to benefit from some or all of the Services.

Regarding the withdrawal of a consent and further rights of Users, in particular to object at any time to the processing of its personal data for direct marketing purposes, which includes profiling, please refer to the HTI Personal Data Protection Basic Policy.