1. Introduction

PatentFlare is operated by Futurist IP, an Ontario, Canada corporation ("we," "us," or "our"). We provide a web-based claim chart generation platform for patent professionals. This Privacy Policy describes how we collect, use, and protect information when you use our service at patentflare.com (the "Service"). By creating an account and using the Service, you consent to the collection, use, and disclosure of your information as described in this Privacy Policy.

2. Information We Collect

Account information. When you register, we collect your email address and optional display name.

Patent and product data. You provide patent numbers, patent claims, and product materials (uploaded documents or URLs) for analysis. When you provide a URL, our servers fetch the content from that website for processing. This data is stored to generate and display your claim charts.

AI-generated analysis. We store claim constructions, evidence mappings, scores, and summaries generated by the Service.

Payment information. If you purchase credits, our third-party payment processor collects your payment card details, billing address, and transaction information. PatentFlare does not receive or store your full card number. We store a transaction record — including the amount, date, and last four digits of your card — for accounting and customer support purposes.

Usage data. We collect standard server logs (IP address, browser type, pages visited) to maintain and improve the Service.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use your information to:

Provide, operate, and maintain the Service
Generate claim chart analyses from patent and product data you submit
Send transactional emails (account verification, password resets)
Respond to support requests
Monitor usage for security and abuse prevention

We do not sell your personal information or share it with third parties for their marketing purposes.

We may occasionally send you service-related communications (e.g., feature updates, maintenance notices). We will not send marketing emails without your express consent. You may opt out of non-essential communications at any time.

4. Third-Party Service Providers

We use third-party service providers to operate the platform, including providers for database hosting, authentication, file storage, AI-powered analysis, application hosting, patent data retrieval, payment processing, and transactional email delivery. Patent and product text you submit is sent to our AI service provider for processing. Each provider processes data only as necessary to deliver its service and is bound by its own privacy and security commitments.

5. AI Data Processing

Patent claims, patent specification text, and product material content you upload are sent to our AI service provider to generate claim constructions, evidence mappings, and infringement analyses.

6. Cookies

We use cookies solely for authentication and session management. These cookies are necessary to keep you logged in and to secure your account. We do not use advertising cookies, tracking cookies, or third-party analytics cookies.

7. Data Security

All data is transmitted over HTTPS (TLS encryption in transit). Data at rest is encrypted by our infrastructure providers. Access to your data is restricted to your authenticated account through row-level security policies — no other user can view or access your projects, materials, or analyses.

8. International Data Transfers

Your data may be processed outside of Canada, including in the United States, by our third-party service providers for infrastructure, AI processing, and hosting purposes. When your data is transferred outside of Canada, it may be subject to the laws of those jurisdictions, which may differ from Canadian privacy law. We take reasonable steps to ensure that our service providers protect your data in accordance with standards comparable to those required under Canadian law, including the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA).

9. Data Breach Notification

In the event of a data breach that affects your personal information, we will notify affected users in accordance with applicable law. We will make reasonable efforts to provide notification promptly and to describe the nature of the breach and the steps we are taking in response.

10. Business Transfers

If Futurist IP is involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of all or a portion of its assets, your data may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will notify you via email or a prominent notice on the Service of any change in ownership or use of your personal information.

11. Data Retention and Deletion

Your data is retained for as long as your account is active. You may delete individual projects at any time — this permanently removes the project and all associated patent data, uploaded materials, analysis results, and stored files. If your account is terminated, we may retain your data for a reasonable period to comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, or enforce our terms, after which it will be permanently deleted. Notwithstanding the foregoing, we may retain transaction records (including purchase amounts, dates, and last four digits of payment cards) for up to 7 years as required for tax, accounting, and regulatory compliance. Such retained records do not include any uploaded patent data, product materials, or analysis results. To request full account deletion and removal of all associated data, contact us at contact@patentflare.com.

12. Confidentiality

We understand that patent analysis often involves confidential client information. We treat all data you upload as confidential. We do not access your project data except as needed to provide the Service or respond to support requests you initiate. We do not disclose your data to third parties except as described in Section 4 or as required by law.

13. Your Rights

You may access, correct, or delete your data at any time through the Service or by contacting us. If you are located in a jurisdiction with applicable data protection laws, you may have additional rights — please contact us and we will work to accommodate your request. If you are not satisfied with our response to a privacy concern, you may file a complaint with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada at www.priv.gc.ca.

14. Children's Privacy

The Service is not intended for individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under 18. If we become aware that we have collected personal information from an individual under 18, we will take steps to delete that information promptly.

15. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will provide at least 30 days' advance notice of material changes by email or by posting a notice on the Service. Continued use of the Service after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

16. Contact Us

Questions about this Privacy Policy? Contact us at contact@patentflare.com.