Privacy Policy for Inkr

Last Updated: December 2024

1. Introduction

Welcome to Inkr ("we," "our," or "us"). We are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring the security of your personal information. This privacy policy explains how we collect, use, and safeguard your data when you use our platform at inkr.pro.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Information You Provide

  • Email address and basic profile information through Clerk authentication
  • Academic information you choose to share (institution, department, research interests)
  • Professional profile information (position/year of study, bio)
  • Optional social media links (website, Twitter, LinkedIn, ORCID)
  • Email templates and drafts you create
  • Payment information processed through Stripe (we do not store payment details)
  • Funding platform information (if you participate in our funding initiative)

2.2 Information We Receive from Third Parties

  • Authentication information from Clerk
  • Research data from external databases and APIs
  • Email verification data from email lookup services
  • Payment processing information from Stripe

2.3 Information We Collect Automatically

  • Usage data (how you interact with our platform)
  • Search queries for research opportunities
  • Research opportunities you save and interact with
  • Email lookup requests and results
  • Subscription usage and billing information
  • Technical information (browser type, device information, IP address)
  • Analytics data to improve our services

3. How We Use Your Information

We use your information to:

  • Create and manage your Inkr account
  • Provide research opportunity search functionality
  • Process email lookup requests and provide contact information
  • Manage subscription plans and billing
  • Track usage limits and enforce subscription tiers
  • Enable email template creation and management
  • Facilitate our funding platform connections
  • Save your preferred research opportunities and searches
  • Provide customer support
  • Improve our platform and user experience
  • Send important account-related and billing notifications
  • Prevent fraud and ensure platform security

4. Email Lookup Services

4.1 Email Discovery

  • We provide email lookup services to help you find contact information for researchers
  • Email lookups are subject to subscription limits
  • We use third-party services to verify and discover email addresses
  • Email lookup results are stored temporarily for service delivery

4.2 Use of Email Data

  • Email addresses discovered through our service are provided for legitimate research outreach
  • We do not sell or share discovered email addresses with third parties
  • Users are responsible for complying with anti-spam laws when using discovered emails

5. Subscription and Billing

5.1 Payment Processing

  • We use Stripe for secure payment processing
  • We do not store your payment card information
  • Billing information is stored securely for subscription management
  • Usage data is tracked to enforce subscription limits

5.2 Subscription Data

  • We track your subscription plan, billing cycle, and usage
  • Usage statistics include searches performed and email lookups conducted
  • Billing history is maintained for account management and tax purposes

6. Funding Platform

6.1 Funding Initiative Data

  • If you participate in our funding platform, we collect information about funding needs or interests
  • We may collect information about research projects seeking funding
  • Donor information is collected and processed securely
  • All funding transactions are processed through secure third-party payment processors

6.2 Transparency and Verification

  • We verify academic credentials and institutional affiliations for funding participants
  • Project information may be shared with potential donors (with researcher consent)
  • Progress reports and fund usage may be tracked and reported

7. Data Storage and Security

  • We use Supabase for secure data storage and authentication
  • All data is encrypted in transit and at rest
  • Access tokens and sensitive data are stored securely and never shared with third parties
  • We implement industry-standard security measures including RLS policies
  • Regular security audits and monitoring are performed
  • Payment data is processed through PCI-compliant systems

8. Data Sharing

We do not sell your personal information. We only share your information:

  • When you explicitly choose to contact researchers or participate in funding
  • With service providers who help us operate our platform (under strict confidentiality agreements)
  • For payment processing through Stripe
  • For email lookup services through verified third-party providers
  • If required by law or to protect our legal rights
  • In anonymized, aggregated form for research and analytics

9. Your Rights

You have the right to:

  • Access your personal information
  • Update or correct your information
  • Delete your account and associated data
  • Cancel your subscription at any time
  • Export your data
  • Opt out of non-essential communications
  • Request information about data processing activities

10. Data Retention

  • Account information is retained while your account is active
  • Billing and subscription data is retained for tax and legal compliance
  • Usage data is retained for service improvement and analytics
  • You can delete your account at any time
  • Some data may be retained in anonymized form for research purposes
  • Funding platform data is retained according to financial regulations

11. Children's Privacy

Our service is not intended for users under 13 years of age. We do not knowingly collect information from children under 13. If you are under 18, please ensure you have parental consent before using our services.

12. Changes to This Policy

We may update this privacy policy from time to time. We will notify you of any significant changes through our platform or via email. Continued use of our services after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

13. Contact Us

If you have questions about this privacy policy or your data, please contact us at [email protected]

14. Specific Data Processing Activities

14.1 Research Opportunity Search

  • Search queries are used to match you with relevant research opportunities
  • Search history is stored to improve search functionality and provide personalized results
  • Saved opportunities are linked to your profile for easy access
  • Search analytics help us improve our database and algorithms

14.2 Email Templates and Communication

  • Email templates are provided as a service and stored securely
  • Template content is customizable and private to your account
  • Draft emails are saved automatically for your convenience
  • We do not access the content of your email communications

14.3 Usage Analytics

  • We track platform usage to enforce subscription limits
  • Analytics help us understand user behavior and improve our services
  • Usage data is aggregated and anonymized for research purposes
  • Individual usage patterns are not shared with third parties

15. Third-Party Services

Our platform uses:

  • Supabase for authentication and data storage
  • Clerk for user authentication and management
  • Stripe for payment processing and subscription management
  • Various email lookup and verification services
  • Analytics and monitoring services
  • Cloud hosting providers

Each third-party service has its own privacy policy and data handling practices. We ensure all third-party providers meet our security and privacy standards.

16. International Data Transfer

While our service is primarily intended for users in the United States, your data may be processed in different countries where our service providers operate. We ensure appropriate safeguards are in place for international data transfers in compliance with applicable laws.

17. California Privacy Rights (CCPA)

California residents have additional rights under the CCPA, including:

  • Right to know what personal information is collected
  • Right to delete personal information
  • Right to opt-out of the sale of personal information (we do not sell personal information)
  • Right to non-discrimination for exercising privacy rights

Please contact us for more information about exercising these rights.

18. European Privacy Rights (GDPR)

If you are in the European Union, you have additional rights under GDPR, including:

  • 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

19. Cookie Policy

We use cookies and similar technologies for:

  • Essential authentication and security functions
  • Remembering your preferences and settings
  • Analytics to improve our platform (anonymized)
  • Subscription and billing management

You can control cookie settings through your browser, though some features may not work properly if cookies are disabled.

20. Data Breach Notification

In the unlikely event of a data breach that affects your personal information, we will notify you and relevant authorities as required by law, typically within 72 hours of discovery.

21. Business Transfers

If Inkr is involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your personal information may be transferred. We will provide notice before your personal information is transferred and becomes subject to a different privacy policy.