Privacy Policy

Effective Date: January 14, 2025
Last Updated: January 14, 2025

Welcome to Patere AI ("we," "our," or "us"). We are committed to protecting your privacy and personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our website and services (collectively, the "Service").

By using Patere AI, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this Privacy Policy.

1. Information We Collect

1.1 Personal Information

We collect the following types of personal information:

• Account Information: Email address, name, and password when you create an account
• Payment Information: Processed securely through Stripe (we do not store credit card details)
• Profile Information: Any additional information you provide in your profile

1.2 Patent Search Information

• Invention descriptions and technical details you submit for patent searches
• Generated patent drafts and search results
• Search queries and patent research data

1.3 Usage Information

• Device Information: IP address, browser type, device type, operating system
• Log Data: Access times, pages viewed, time spent on pages, error logs
• Cookies: We use cookies and similar technologies (see Section 6)

1.4 Communication Data

• Customer support correspondence
• Feedback and survey responses
• Email communications and preferences

2. How We Use Your Information

We use your information for the following purposes:

2.1 To Provide Services

• Process patent searches and generate drafts
• Maintain and improve the Service functionality
• Authenticate users and maintain account security
• Process payments and manage subscriptions

2.2 To Communicate

• Send transactional emails (receipts, confirmations, password resets)
• Provide customer support
• Send service updates and important notices
• Send marketing communications (with your consent)

2.3 To Improve Our Service

• Analyze usage patterns and trends
• Develop new features and improve existing ones
• Conduct research and analytics
• Train and improve our AI models

2.4 Legal and Safety

• Comply with legal obligations
• Protect against fraud and abuse
• Enforce our Terms of Service
• Protect our rights and property

3. How We Share Your Information

We do not sell your personal information. We may share your information in the following circumstances:

3.1 Service Providers

• Stripe: Payment processing (subject to Stripe's Privacy Policy)
• Supabase: Database hosting and management
• Anthropic: AI processing for patent analysis (subject to Anthropic's Privacy Policy)
• Vercel: Website hosting and delivery

3.2 Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information if required by law or in response to:

• Court orders or legal processes
• Government or regulatory requests
• Protection of our legal rights
• Prevention of fraud or security threats

3.3 Business Transfers

In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred. We will notify you of any such change and any choices you may have.

3.4 With Your Consent

We may share information with third parties when you explicitly consent to such sharing.

4. Data Retention

We retain your information for as long as necessary to:

• Provide you with the Service
• Comply with legal obligations
• Resolve disputes and enforce agreements
• Maintain business records

Patent Search Data: Retained for the duration of your active subscription plus 90 days after cancellation, unless you request deletion.
Account Information: Retained until you request account deletion.
Payment Records: Retained for 7 years for tax and accounting purposes.

5. Your Rights and Choices

5.1 Access and Correction

You have the right to:

• Access your personal information
• Correct inaccurate information
• Update your account details

5.2 Data Portability

You can request a copy of your data in a machine-readable format.

5.3 Deletion

You can request deletion of your account and personal information by contacting us at support@patere-ai.com. Note that some information may be retained for legal compliance.

5.4 Marketing Communications

You can opt out of marketing emails by clicking the "unsubscribe" link in any marketing email or by updating your communication preferences in your account settings.

5.5 Do Not Track

We currently do not respond to Do Not Track (DNT) signals.

6. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies to:

• Maintain your logged-in session
• Remember your preferences
• Analyze site usage and traffic
• Improve user experience

Types of Cookies We Use:

• Essential Cookies: Required for basic site functionality
• Analytics Cookies: Help us understand how you use the Service
• Preference Cookies: Remember your settings and preferences

You can control cookies through your browser settings, but disabling cookies may limit functionality.

7. Data Security

We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your information:

• Encryption in transit (HTTPS/TLS)
• Encryption at rest for sensitive data
• Regular security audits and monitoring
• Access controls and authentication
• Secure payment processing through Stripe (PCI-DSS compliant)

However, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

8. International Data Transfers

Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your country of residence. These countries may have different data protection laws. By using the Service, you consent to such transfers.

We ensure appropriate safeguards are in place for international transfers, including:

• Standard contractual clauses
• Data processing agreements with service providers
• Compliance with applicable data protection regulations

9. Children's Privacy

Patere AI is not intended for children under 18 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 18. If you believe we have collected information from a child under 18, please contact us immediately at support@patere-ai.com.

10. Third-Party Links

Our Service may contain links to third-party websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these external sites. We encourage you to review their privacy policies.

11. California Privacy Rights (CCPA)

If you are a California resident, you have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA):

• Right to Know: Request information about data collected
• Right to Delete: Request deletion of personal information
• Right to Opt-Out: Opt out of the sale of personal information (we do not sell data)
• Right to Non-Discrimination: Not be discriminated against for exercising your rights

To exercise these rights, contact us at support@patere-ai.com.

12. European Privacy Rights (GDPR)

If you are in the European Economic Area (EEA), you have rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR):

• Right to access your personal data
• Right to rectification of inaccurate data
• Right to erasure ("right to be forgotten")
• Right to restrict processing
• Right to data portability
• Right to object to processing
• Right to withdraw consent

To exercise these rights, contact us at support@patere-ai.com.

13. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of material changes by:

• Posting the updated policy on this page
• Updating the "Last Updated" date
• Sending email notification for significant changes

Your continued use of the Service after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy.

14. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices, please contact us: