Privacy Policy

Last updated: 3/7/2026

1. Introduction

Welcome to PatentClock. We respect your privacy and are committed to protecting your personal data. This privacy policy will inform you about how we look after your personal data when you visit our website and tell you about your privacy rights.

2. Data We Collect

We collect and process the following data:

  • Account Information: Name, email address, password (encrypted)
  • Usage Data: Patent lookup history, watchlist preferences, alert settings
  • Payment Information: Processed securely through Stripe (we don't store card details)
  • Technical Data: IP address, browser type, device information
  • Cookies: Essential cookies for authentication and session management

3. How We Use Your Data

We use your data to:

  • Provide patent expiration tracking services
  • Send you expiration alerts for patents on your watchlist
  • Process payments and manage your subscription
  • Improve our services and user experience
  • Communicate with you about your account and our services
  • Comply with legal obligations

4. USPTO Data

PatentClock retrieves patent information from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) public databases via PatentsView API. This data is publicly available and is used solely to provide our patent tracking services. We do not claim ownership of this data.

5. Data Sharing

We do not sell your personal data. We share data only with:

  • Stripe: For payment processing
  • Mailgun: For sending email alerts
  • Google: If you use Google OAuth for authentication

6. Data Security

We implement appropriate security measures to protect your personal data:

  • Passwords are hashed using bcrypt (12 rounds)
  • HTTPS encryption for all data transmission
  • Secure session management
  • Regular security updates

7. Your Rights

You have the right to:

  • Access your personal data
  • Correct inaccurate data
  • Request deletion of your data
  • Export your data
  • Withdraw consent
  • Object to processing

To exercise these rights, please contact us or use the account deletion feature in your settings.

8. Cookies

We use essential cookies for authentication and session management. These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off. We do not use advertising or tracking cookies.

9. Data Retention

We retain your personal data only as long as necessary to provide our services or as required by law. When you delete your account, all associated data is permanently removed from our systems.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this privacy policy from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by posting the new policy on this page and updating the "Last updated" date.

11. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this privacy policy or our privacy practices, please contact us at:

Email: privacy@patentclock.com