Terms and Conditions | Ipsos KnowledgePanel

For participation in the Ipsos KnowledgePanel

Effective Date: 08/24/2022

1. Application scope of these Terms and Conditions

These Terms and Conditions (“Terms and Conditions”) apply in addition to any agreement with Ipsos and the Panellist and to any specific terms and conditions which may apply for a survey or other KnowledgePanel activities.

The purpose of the Terms and Conditions is to set out the general terms and conditions for your membership of the Panel and your participations in the Research proposed by the KnowledgePanel.

To become a member of the Ipsos KnowledgePanel (the "Panel"), a worldwide consumer panel of Ipsos, run by Ipsos Limited ("Ipsos” or “we"), you need to be a resident of Ireland, be 16 years old or over and accept these Terms and Conditions (the "Panellist"/"you"). We offer our Panellists the chance to join the Panel and to participate into Research and express your opinions on a wide range of issues. Your voice represents the voice of thousands!

Ipsos Limited is a company incorporated and registered under the laws of Ireland with number 465448 and having its registered office at 39/40 Lower Baggot Street, Dublin 2.

2. Becoming a Member of the Panel

Subject to the requirements mentioned herein, you can join the Panel and become a member only if you are invited by Ipsos. Ipsos invites a limited number of randomly selected households across the nation. People who do not live in these selected households cannot join. You cannot share your invitation with anyone else or have someone else than you fill out the surveys. Your invitation is strictly personal. You must keep any member information or member registration details confidential, and you are responsible for any use, whether authorized or unauthorized of your Panel account/membership if such member information proved to be disclosed by you outside of the purpose of this panel.

An individual invited to join the Panel can register, use and hold only one valid registration in the Panel/a single valid Panel account regardless of how they participate in our surveys (online or telephone).

You acknowledge and agree that you shall at all times comply with applicable laws when you respond to a Research, always providing the answers according to your own opinions.

We reserve the right to terminate your membership in case you breach any of these Terms and Conditions. Also, we reserve the sole right to deny membership, without any requirement to justify such a rejection.

Membership is not open to employees of the entities part of the Ipsos group or members of their family.

3. Use of Your Personal Information

The information collected about you or you give us will be treated in the strictest confidence and in accordance with all applicable laws, regulations and rules including those relating to privacy and personal data as well as our privacy and cookie policies. These policies can be found here: Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy.

As part of this undertaking, we undertake that:

Other than in relation to this Panel, we will not try to sell you anything or pass your personal information on to any third parties for marketing or sales purposes.
Taking part in surveys is completely voluntary and you do not have to take part in any individual survey if you do not wish to. Nonetheless, in order to remain a member of the KnowledgePanel, you may need to complete a minimum number of surveys per month.
Your individual responses to surveys will remain confidential and will only be used =combined with other confidential responses, unless you explicitly consent otherwise.
Refusal to answer a particular question in a Research you are invited to will have no consequences with regard to your membership.
You can ask to be removed from the Panel and end your membership at any time by using the relevant means to do so (e.g., functionality of our website or mobile app or termination confirmation via regular post).
You are entitled to request correction or deletion of your personal data and the information you provide about your household at any time.
You have the right to request a copy of your personal data that we hold at any time.

4. Email and Other Panel Communication Policy

As you have been invited into the Panel, joined voluntarily the Panel, and confirmed your e-mail address, phone and/or mobile number and postal address upon registration, which you consent for Ipsos to use in conjunction with this Panel, you should not mark or treat emails or other communication received from us as spam or unsolicited communication, and you might be responsible for any resulting damage to Ipsos.

Depending on your mail-box security settings, the survey invitations you receive from us might be directed to your bulk / junk mail or similar folder. To avoid this, please add the surveysIE@eu.ipsosknowledgepanel.com address to your address book.

5. Registration of Background Information

With respect to the statistical analyses that Ipsos delivers to its clients, Ipsos needs certain demographic and personal information about you, including confidential information, for instance, your income.

Providing Ipsos with this personal information is a condition for participation in any surveys as it would otherwise not be possible for us to determine whether your participation in any survey would meet such survey's criteria. We also ask some basic details about your household and any children you may have and in respect of which you are the parent/legal guardian.

During the registration process and during your participation in our research surveys, you agree to provide only true, accurate and complete information and agree to update the Panel account related information that you supplied to ensure it remains up to date and accurate.

6. How Does the Panel Work?

This panel is based on invitation only and Ipsos may be using various ways to register members, via online and/or via telephone interviews.

How the surveys are communicated to you is dependent on how you registered with the panel.

Online Participation – Panellists who participate via online surveys will have completed their registration process online using a valid e-mail address and creating a user account with unique log-in credentials (username and password). These Panellists will receive relevant survey invitation links by e-mail, SMS or other electronic communication from Ipsos to participate in online surveys.

Panellists who registered via online process can log in to the website and update their information, see available surveys, check their incentive account balance, request a reward by redeeming points, and contact our Member Services for support or to unsubscribe.

Telephone Participation – Panellists who participate via telephone surveys will have completed their registration process via a telephone interview using a valid telephone number (landline or mobile) and valid postal address (which we use for notifications and any rewards to be delivered). These Panellists will be contacted via telephone, SMS or postal notifications to participate in our surveys.

Panellists who registered via telephone process can contact us via post, in some markets telephone and of course via our website if they choose. Panellists can change their membership information used in the registration process (i.e., change of name, postal address, or telephone number/mobile) at any time. Redeeming your points for rewards is done by selecting a preferred reward. One time per month we will process these rewards for members IF they have enough points for that reward, if not we will check again the following month. You can change this preference at the end of each telephone interview.

Ipsos has taken high data safety measures. Still, should any viruses appear in the e-mails sent to you or in your devices used (smartphones, tablets, etc.), Ipsos is not liable for the consequences that such cases may entail and thus no compensation may be claimed from Ipsos for this.

Each Research project is only to be answered once. Please do not mark or threat e-mails or other communication from Ipsos as spam or unsolicited communication, as explained in the previous section. Ipsos is not bound to send to or contact for surveys all Panellists for each new Research; nor can Ipsos guarantee a minimum or a maximum number of surveys per year.

When the necessary number of Panellists has answered a survey, or you do not fit the profile, Ipsos or its clients reserves the right to end the survey at any stage and not collect further answers.

7. Use of Ipsos Devices

To participate or respond in a Research, Ipsos may offer you as a Panellist to use Ipsos devices (“Device(s)”) (such as tablets). In this case, you undertake to comply with the following rules, but not limited to:

Ipsos Devices still remain Ipsos property, and you have no interest or right to Ipsos Devices;
Should you leave the Panel membership for any reason, you agree to surrender without any delay the Devices to Ipsos;
You agree not to permit other persons (nor other family members) to use the Device, as the Device contains Ipsos confidential information;
Ipsos shall have the right to inspect the Device at any time;
Since the Device will have Ipsos confidential information stored on it, in the case that the Device is damaged, lost or stolen at any time during your membership, you agree to report this damage, loss or theft to Ipsos immediately, so that Ipsos can take the necessary steps to fix/debug or remotely erase the Device;
The Device that is provided by Ipsos will be the one that is to be used by you as a Panel member for all activities.

In addition, you acknowledge and agree that the Device shall be governed by Ipsos’ corporate security policy, which includes, but is not limited to, the following requirements:

The Device shall be protected with a password with a minimum length of 8 characters using capital letters, alpha-numeric and special characters, without including names or date of birth, and such other additional complexity requirements as may be determined by Ipsos, and which cannot be disabled.
The maximum password attempts before the Device is erased and disabled shall be 10.
The maximum time, in minutes, that elapses before the Device locks and prompts the user for the security password must be set to 15 minutes.
Access to the Ipsos intranet or other internal network resources from the Device is not permitted.
Local storage on the Device of Ipsos controlled personal data, or client provided personal data, is strictly prohibited.
Use of the Ipsos Device for any other personal activities or for storing any other information belonging to you and not related to the Research activities requested by Ipsos is strictly prohibited.

You agree that you will not attempt to circumvent or disable any elements of this security policy that have been implemented on the Device. Additional terms and conditions of use may be applicable and communicated upon the delivery of the Device.

Ipsos cannot be responsible for any loss of personal data on the Device resulting from actions taken by you which are in breach of the above rules.

8. Acceptable Use and Participation

When made available, as a Panellist who registered via online process, you will also have access to the member community and other social interaction features. You understand that any messages, opinions, information, pictures or any other materials posted by you, or other panellists, are the sole responsibility of the person who posted the material. You agree that you will not post or upload any material that:

Is illegal. This includes content or any messages that promote or discuss illegal activities or encourages others to commit them.
Is abusive, obscene or hateful. This includes language, information or images. Masked swearing (e.g. "f__k") is considered the equivalent of the actual swear word.
Is threatening, harassing, libellous or defamatory either between Panellists or directed towards an Ipsos moderator or other Ipsos employee.
Is inciting hate or violence.
Is bigoted, racially, ethnically, sexually or otherwise offensive.
Is an inappropriate political or religious message.
Is aimed at advertising or marketing any goods or services.
Contains viruses, corrupted files, "Trojan Horses" or any other malicious code.
Contains your personal information or the personal details of other people.
Is owned by or under the copyright of someone else.

It is important to note that Ipsos does not pre-screen any information posted by Panellists.

However, Ipsos reserves the right to remove any content that is posted, be this via the polls tool or other interactive features we may make available to Panellists at any time.

9. Children's Privacy

If you provided information concerning children in your household and confirmed that you are the parent or legal guardian, we might contact you in respect of surveys which we would like them to complete. We will always require your prior consent and will not contact such child directly, unless it is a member of the Panel in its own right.

10. Rewarding You for Answering Surveys

Each time you complete a survey before the deadline, you will receive rewarding points (“Points”), as follows:

Points for completing the recruitment and profiling surveys, then,
Points for each survey that be completed after registration.

The number of the Points may vary per each survey based on various criteria such as: survey difficulty, length, completion mode (online or via telephone interviewer) or other similar criteria. For online surveys, the number of Points for completing a specific survey will be communicated survey based via the online invitation, or inside or at the end of the online survey questionnaire. For the telephone interviews, the number of Points for completing a specific survey will be communicated with each survey and via post on a quarterly basis.

Your participation in the Panel’s surveys (the “Research”) is based on your desire to share opinions and provide feedback. Any consideration that is paid to you for participation in the Research is not calculated based on time spent by you. Likewise, any consideration that is paid to you for participation is not pro-rated on an hourly basis or otherwise. You acknowledge and agree that you are voluntarily participating in the Research, without control or direction of Ipsos and that you are exercising independent judgment and discretion.

There may be instances when the Points for recently completed survey sessions do not immediately appear in your account via online access (for example, due to technical issues on specific projects). In such cases the points will be added at a later time to your account.

Ipsos reserves the right, at any time, to implement a verification period (of maximum 96 hours), during which your reward will be held in "Pending" status. During this period, we will undertake quality control and fraud prevention checks. We will inform you of any such waiting period applicable to you, via the FAQ section of the Panel members' website or by other means of communication.

11. Use of Your Information

We have explained how your personal data will be used by us in more detail in our Privacy Policy, in particular in section 3. “How Will We Use the Information You Provide?”

12. Cookies, Digital Fingerprinting, Device Data and Other Information on Your Device for Answering Online Surveys

We aim to:

Ensure that the Research is delivered in a form suited to your device.
Assist in providing support to you should you have difficulty accessing or completing a survey.
Use anonymised information whenever possible for research purposes. For example, to determine the percentage of Panellists accessing surveys via online that use a certain type of browser in a specific country.

The reasons we are using the below measures are described in more detail in our privacy policy.

As set out in more detail within our cookie policy, we are using different kinds of cookies and might also read cookies used by third parties. Other than with your prior consent, cookies are used for statistical purposes, quality control, validation, fraud prevention and fraud control.

Digital Fingerprinting

We may also use digital fingerprinting technology, also known as "Machine Identification" digital fingerprints, to gather certain information about your device hardware and software.

Device Data and Other Information on Your Device

We may also use certain information about the hardware and software present on your device for quality control and fraud prevention purposes.

We also automatically capture information about your IP address, location data, operating system, screen display settings, browser type, use of Java or Flash and whether your device has a webcam or not.

13. Confidentiality Notice

As a research participant (via online surveys or via telephone interviews), you may be asked to review new concepts, products and packaging that are still in development and as such not known to the public. You may come in contact with, be allowed to see, use or otherwise have access to certain non-public, confidential, proprietary, or trade secret information or material that are the sole and exclusive property of our relevant client, including, without limitation, information with respect to the client products (collectively, "Confidential Information"). You must not copy, record, print, store, forward or disclose to anyone by any means, the Confidential Information you will have access to, and must not use the Confidential Information for other purpose than the purpose it was disclosed to you.

14. Intellectual Property

Ipsos shall own and retain exclusive ownership of its trademarks, logos, copyrights, any content of its website and other intellectual property rights ("Ipsos IP"). You may not use or reproduce any of the Ipsos IP without Ipsos prior written consent. Nothing in these Terms and Conditions shall be construed as granting you any license, right, title or interest in any Ipsos IP or IP of Ipsos’ customers, or any patent, trademark, copyright, know-how, or similar right now or hereafter owned or controlled by Ipsos or Ipsos’ customers.

15. Indemnity and Limitation of Liability

You agree to indemnify, defend and hold harmless Ipsos, and each of its respective officers, partners, clients, managers, employees, agents, attorneys, successors or assignees from, and against, any and all liabilities, claims, actions, suits, proceedings, judgments, fines, damages, costs, losses of any kind and expenses (including reasonable legal fees, court costs and/or settlement costs) arising from or related to: (i) your membership within the Panel, (ii) your participation within research surveys conducted by Ipsos, (iii) any third party claims, or (iv) any breach by you of these Terms and Conditions.

Any unlawful or disparaging action caused by you during your membership within the Panel or your participation within research surveys conducted by Ipsos, that may be considered a violation of criminal and/or civil law shall entitle Ipsos to seek all remedies in this regard to the full extent permitted by law and in equity. Ipsos disclaims any warranties, express and implied, related to your membership within the Panel and to your participation within research surveys conducted by Ipsos and Ipsos shall have no liability whatsoever (including without limitation liability for any indirect, punitive, special, incidental or consequential damages), to you or any third party, for your membership within the Panel and your participation within research surveys conducted by Ipsos.

The Panel website may provide links to other websites or online resources. Because Ipsos has no control over such sites and resources we cannot accept any responsibility or liability for those sites or resources. We cannot guarantee the availability of such external sites or resources, nor do we endorse any content, advertising, products, cookies, website tags or other materials on or available from such sites or resources. You acknowledge and agree that Ipsos shall not be responsible or liable, directly or indirectly, for any damage or loss caused or alleged to be caused by or in connection with use of or reliance on any such content, goods or services available on or through any such site or resource.

You will release and forever discharge Ipsos, Ipsos clients, each of their affiliated companies, and each of their respective officers, directors, shareholders, employees, and agents from and against all claims, lawsuits, causes of action, demands, losses, liabilities, obligations, judgments, damages, costs and expenses of any kind (including reasonable attorneys' fees) ("Losses") arising directly or indirectly out of any injury, death, property damage or other damage sustained or allegedly sustained by you resulting from the distribution, sale, consumption or use of or contact with a product in connection with any product test and evaluation research. This does not apply to any Losses which may be caused by Ipsos client's or Ipsos gross negligence or any liability by them under applicable product liability or consumer protection legislation.

16. Participation Conditions

Ipsos reserves the right, at any time, to change these Terms and Conditions. We will inform you of any updates via the FAQ section of the Panel members' website or via post. From time to time, we may contact you by e-mail or post for account administration purposes, as well as through e-mail newsletters or special announcements containing key information related to your Panel membership activity and key Panel updates ("Membership Updates").

We may also send you email, SMS or postal communication about (i) rewards that you may be eligible for through your participation in our surveys, and (ii) new Panel engagement campaigns that we have regarding (new) Panel rewards and/or redemption (collectively named "Engagement Updates"). Receiving any of these Engagement Updates is optional and you can separately opt-out from Engagement Updates at any time by using the relevant means to do so (e.g., updating your preferences on the Panel member website).

In some cases, individual surveys may be subject to additional conditions of which you will be made aware at the beginning of such survey. You will be under no obligation to accept such additional conditions without affecting your panel membership, however, this may affect your eligibility for such survey.

17. Termination/Inactivation of Membership

You may request at any time for your membership to be terminated.

If you are a Panellist who registered via online process, you may do this either by sending an email to surveysIE@eu.ipsosknowledgepanel.com or by clicking on the appropriate link within your Panel account in the survey invitations or on the panel website/app.

If you are a Panellist who registered via telephone process, you may do this by communicating us in writing to our postal address:

Ipsos Limited
Address: 39/40 Lower Baggot Street, Dublin 2

Please note that it may take up to thirty (30) days to fully process your request and remove your information from all of our systems, so you may still receive the occasional communication from Ipsos during this time. If you request to be unsubscribed from the Panel you should redeem all your bonus points and exchange them for vouchers prior to unsubscribing if your spare points are enough for the redemption threshold, otherwise you'll forfeit the remaining points, and your points account will be automatically deleted.

We may terminate the membership at any time with ten (10) days' notice. Ipsos also reserves the right to terminate your Panel membership without further notice for any conduct outside our quality parameters or business objectives, or any other violation or breach of these Terms and Conditions, the Privacy Policy or applicable survey rules. In the event of such termination, you will be given ten (10) days to redeem all reward points that have been duly accrued prior to the termination date.

A termination of your Panel membership by Ipsos for fraudulent use or behaviour, or serious breach of these Terms and Conditions, the Privacy Policy or survey rules, may result in the immediate forfeiture of all rewards or points that have been accrued in relation with such use, behaviour or breach (including those points or other rewards held in "Pending" status, as the case may be). The use of the panellist account by an individual other than the Panellist may be considered an unauthorised use and may be grounds for immediate termination and forfeiture of points.

Ipsos reserves the right to delete inactive Panellists from the Panel. This means terminating a Panellist's membership if the Panellist does not have any Panel activity at all or does not respond to any survey invitation (by clicking any survey link or refusing telephone interviews for more than six (6) months. Ipsos will inform you of such termination and you will have thirty (30) days to redeem any remaining points, or reactivate your account, otherwise the respective points account will be forfeited and erased completely.

18. Jurisdiction

These Terms and Conditions are governed by Ireland law and the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the Irish courts.

19. Contact Us

For more information about our panels, Panel membership or information related to your membership of one of our panels, please contact our Panel Support Team. They can be contacted by:

Email sent to surveysIE@eu.ipsosknowledgepanel.com with “Ipsos Knowledge Panel” as subject line or phone number 1800-832-000

Or by letter sent to:
Ref: Ipsos Knowledge Panel
Panel Support Team
Ipsos Limited
Address: 39/40 Lower Baggot Street, Dublin 2