Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy applies to personal information processed through the IdeaJudge website and Services.

Because IdeaJudge is designed for law firms, Partners may also provide information concerning their clients for the purpose of creating and operating monitoring profiles.

Where a law firm or other Partner determines the purposes and means of processing personal information and IdeaJudge processes that information on its behalf, the Partner may act as the controller or business and IdeaJudge as the processor or service provider, as those terms are defined under applicable privacy laws.

Specific roles may depend on the circumstances and applicable law.

We may use information to:

• create and maintain Partner accounts;
• establish client monitoring profiles;
• provide Domain Monitor, Portfolio Monitor and related services;
• identify and assess relevant patent publications;
• create relevance assessments and Product Decision Briefs;
• deliver alerts and reports;
• administer subscriptions and billing;
• provide customer support;
• communicate about the Services;
• secure and protect our systems;
• detect fraud or misuse;
• troubleshoot and improve service performance;
• comply with legal obligations; and
• establish, exercise or defend legal claims.

We do not sell personal information.

We recognize that information provided by a law firm concerning its clients may be confidential.

IdeaJudge uses client information for the purpose of delivering and supporting the Services and for other purposes permitted by the applicable agreement and law.

We do not publicly disclose:

• a Partner's client list;
• which clients are being monitored;
• which competitors a client monitors;
• a client's monitoring profile; or
• a client's Product Decision Briefs.

Access to client-related information is limited to personnel and service providers who require access for legitimate operational purposes and are subject to appropriate confidentiality obligations.

Partners should not assume that providing information to IdeaJudge automatically preserves attorney-client privilege, work-product protection or any other legal protection.

The existence and preservation of privilege depend on applicable law and the circumstances.

Partners are responsible for determining what information may appropriately be provided to IdeaJudge and whether any client authorization, confidentiality agreement or other safeguard is required.

IdeaJudge will cooperate with reasonable confidentiality and data-protection requirements applicable to participating firms.

IdeaJudge uses artificial intelligence and automated technologies to provide aspects of the Services, including:

• analyzing product and technology information;
• comparing patent publications against monitoring profiles;
• assessing relevance;
• summarizing patent documents; and
• generating Product Decision Briefs.

We may use third-party AI service providers, including OpenAI, as part of this processing.

Information provided to AI service providers is limited to information reasonably necessary to perform the relevant function and is handled subject to applicable contractual and security protections.

IdeaJudge does not use client information to create advertising profiles or sell targeted advertising.

We use third-party service providers that may process information on our behalf, including providers of:

• cloud hosting and infrastructure;
• artificial intelligence;
• patent and technical data;
• payment processing;
• email and communications;
• authentication;
• analytics;
• security; and
• customer support.

We require service providers to handle information in accordance with applicable contractual obligations and data-protection requirements.

Where appropriate, IdeaJudge may make additional information about material subprocessors available to Partners.

Where the GDPR or UK GDPR applies, IdeaJudge processes personal information under one or more lawful bases, which may include:

• performance of a contract;
• legitimate interests in providing, securing and improving the Services;
• compliance with legal obligations; and
• consent where required.

Where IdeaJudge processes personal information solely on behalf of a Partner, the Partner is responsible for establishing the appropriate lawful basis for that processing.

Where the Protection of Personal Information Act applies, IdeaJudge processes personal information in accordance with applicable POPIA requirements.

Subject to applicable law, individuals may have rights to:

• request access to personal information;
• request correction or deletion;
• object to certain processing; and
• lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator.

Residents of U.S. states with applicable comprehensive privacy laws may have rights regarding their personal information, including rights to:

• access;
• correction;
• deletion;
• portability; and
• opt out of certain processing activities where applicable.

IdeaJudge does not sell personal information.

Where IdeaJudge processes personal information as a service provider or processor for a Partner, requests relating to that information may need to be submitted to the relevant Partner.

IdeaJudge operates internationally, and information may be processed in the United States and other jurisdictions where IdeaJudge or its service providers operate.

Where required, we use legally recognized mechanisms and safeguards for international transfers, which may include contractual protections such as Standard Contractual Clauses.

IdeaJudge uses reasonable administrative, technical and organizational safeguards designed to protect information against unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration or destruction.

These measures may include access controls, authentication, encryption where appropriate, system monitoring and vendor-security measures.

No method of transmission or storage is completely secure, and no service can guarantee absolute security.

We retain information for as long as reasonably necessary to:

• provide the Services;
• maintain the Partner relationship;
• comply with legal and accounting obligations;
• resolve disputes;
• enforce agreements; and
• maintain legitimate business and security records.

When client monitoring is terminated, associated information may be deleted or anonymized in accordance with our retention practices, except where continued retention is required or permitted by law.

IdeaJudge may use essential cookies for:

• authentication;
• security;
• session management; and
• core website functionality.

We may also use analytics or performance technologies to understand how our website and Services are used.

Where applicable law requires consent for non-essential cookies or similar technologies, we will obtain consent before using them.

We may send Partners communications concerning IdeaJudge products, services and firm-related opportunities where permitted by law.

You may unsubscribe from promotional communications using the unsubscribe mechanism provided in the message.

Service-related communications necessary to operate your account are not promotional and may continue while your account is active.

IdeaJudge does not market competing IdeaJudge monitoring services directly to clients introduced through participating Partners while those clients remain associated with the Partner's active IdeaJudge account.

Depending on applicable law and our role in processing the information, individuals may have rights to:

• access personal information;
• correct inaccurate information;
• request deletion;
• restrict certain processing;
• object to processing;
• withdraw consent where processing is based on consent; and
• receive portable copies of certain information.

Identity verification may be required before a request is processed.

Where IdeaJudge processes information on behalf of a Partner, we may refer the request to the relevant Partner or assist the Partner in responding.

If IdeaJudge is involved in a merger, acquisition, financing, reorganization, sale of assets or similar business transaction, information may be transferred as part of that transaction, subject to applicable law and appropriate confidentiality protections.

We may disclose information where reasonably necessary to:

• comply with applicable law, regulation, subpoena or legal process;
• protect the rights, property or security of IdeaJudge, our Partners or others;
• investigate fraud, abuse or security incidents; or
• establish, exercise or defend legal claims.

Where legally permitted and appropriate, we will seek to limit disclosure to information reasonably required by the request.

IdeaJudge is a business service intended for professional users.

The Services are not directed to children under 18, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children through the Services.

We may update this Privacy Policy as our Services, technology or legal obligations change.

When we make material changes, we will provide reasonable notice through the website, the Services or email, as appropriate.

The "Last Updated" date at the top of this Policy indicates when it was most recently revised.

Questions, privacy requests or concerns may be directed to:

Email: [email protected]