Privacy Policy

This page outlines the privacy policy surrounding your use of the TIPs website and related resources.

By accessing and using TIPs, you consent to accept the privacy practices stipulated herein. This page should be interpreted in conjunction with the Terms and Conditions. If you do not agree to the terms and practices, please refrain from using TIPs.

Information we collect:

We collect different types of information to enhance user experience and maintain system integrity, including personal information such as your name, institutional affiliation, and email address (strictly ‘.edu’ emails for eligibility verification). We also collect submitted data, including genetic sequences and project data submitted for encoding, as well as usage data, such as IP addresses, device and browser information, and log activity. Additionally, we use cookies and tracking technologies to enhance user experience and optimize website functionality.

How we use your information

Your information is used to provide TIPs services, including data encoding and model processing, verify eligibility and manage user accounts, improve and develop TIPs, including infrastructure and algorithm enhancements, and communicate with users regarding their submissions, updates, and security notifications. Additionally, users may be contacted about their submitted projects, new releases, product and service development, and promotional content. We also use collected information to ensure compliance with our Terms and Conditions and legal requirements.

Data and sharing disclosure:

We do not sell or rent your personal data. However, your information may be shared with TIPs developers and affiliates to enhance system functionality and improve TIPs models, with third-party service providers who assist in maintaining system security and server hosting, and for legal compliance when required by law or to protect TIPs from fraudulent, unauthorized, or criminal activities.

Data retention and deletion:

Submitted data may be deleted based on server storage constraints, as outlined in the Terms and Conditions. Personal information is retained as long as the user maintains an active account, and users can request account deletion via TIPs support channels. Cookies and logs are retained for a limited period to optimize service performance and security.

User rights:

Users may request access to their personal data and request corrections as needed. They may also opt out of non-essential communications and request data deletion, though certain essential information may be retained for compliance purposes. As stated in the Terms and Conditions, users can request to cancel their encoding request at any time.

Legal disclosure:

We will disclose any information we collect, use or receive if required or permitted by law, such as to comply with a subpoena or similar legal process, and when we believe in good faith that disclosure is necessary to protect our rights, protect your safety or the safety of others, investigate fraud, or respond to a government request.

Cookies:

TIPs uses cookies to help personalize your online experience. By accessing TIPs, you agreed to use the required cookies.

A cookie is a text file that is placed on your hard disk by a web page server. Cookies cannot be used to run programs or deliver viruses to your computer. Cookies are uniquely assigned to you and can only be read by a web server in the domain that issued the cookie to you.

We may use cookies to collect, store, and track information for statistical or marketing purposes to operate our website. You have the ability to accept or decline optional Cookies. There are some required Cookies that are necessary for the operation of our website. These cookies do not require your consent as they always work. Please keep in mind that by accepting required Cookies, you also accept third-party Cookies, which might be used via third-party provided services if you use such services on our website, for example, a video display window provided by third parties and integrated into our website.

Third-party links:

TIPs may contain links to third-party websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of external sites and recommend reviewing their privacy policies.

Changes to the policy:

TIPs reserves the right to modify this Privacy Policy at any time. Users will be notified of significant changes via email or an announcement on our website. Continued use of TIPs after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

Contact information:

If you would like to contact us to understand more about this Policy or wish to contact us concerning any matter relating to individual rights and your Personal Information, you may send an email to tipsencoding@gmail.com or by submitting a request on the 'Contact' section.