This Privacy Policy describes how Aube Research ("Aube Research", "we", "us", or "our") collects, uses, stores, discloses, and protects personal data obtained through this website (auberesearch.com) and through any engagement with our services. It applies to all visitors and to all individuals who communicate with us in the context of an enquiry or professional engagement.

By using this website or submitting personal data to us, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, you should not use this website or submit personal data to us. This policy should be read alongside our Terms & Conditions.

1. Identity and contact details

Aube Research is a specialist patent analytics practice operated as an independent professional services provider. For all privacy-related matters contact us at:

Aube Research
Email: hello@auberesearch.com
Subject line: Privacy Request

We acknowledge all privacy communications within five business days and aim to resolve substantive requests within 30 calendar days. We do not designate a formal Data Protection Officer as we do not meet the thresholds requiring mandatory appointment; however, all privacy matters are handled directly and promptly.

2. Scope of this policy

This policy covers personal data collected through: (a) use of this website; (b) submission of our contact form; (c) direct email correspondence; (d) the course of a professional engagement. It does not cover data practices of third-party websites linked from this site, or the practices of clients who share third-party personal data with us as part of an engagement — in such cases the client is the data controller and Aube Research acts as processor under agreed terms.

3. What personal data we collect

3.1 Data you provide directly

Contact form submissions: name, organisation, email address, service required, and matter description. Direct email correspondence: the contents of that correspondence including any attachments. Engagement data: billing details, jurisdiction, technical documents, patent numbers, and any other information shared for the purpose of performing the agreed services. We do not collect payment card information — invoicing is handled outside this website.

3.2 Automatically collected data

Server logs may capture: IP address, date and time of visit, pages accessed, HTTP referrer, browser type and version, and operating system. This data is used solely for security monitoring and technical maintenance. It is not linked to personal profiles and is not used for behavioural analysis.

3.3 Data we do not collect

We do not collect special categories of personal data (health, biometric, racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious beliefs, criminal records). We do not collect financial account credentials. We do not use tracking pixels, fingerprinting scripts, or behavioural advertising tools. We do not operate social login or single sign-on integrations that would allow third-party platforms to track visits to this site.

3.4 Cookies and storage

This website does not use persistent tracking or advertising cookies. No third-party analytics scripts (including Google Analytics, Meta Pixel, or equivalents) are loaded. Any session-level browser storage used for basic functionality contains no personally identifiable information and is cleared on session end. You may block all cookies in your browser without any loss of functionality on this website.

4. Legal basis for processing

We process personal data only where a lawful basis exists. The bases we rely on are:

Legitimate interests (Article 6(1)(f) GDPR / equivalent): responding to unsolicited enquiries, maintaining website security, fraud prevention, and internal record-keeping. We have conducted a legitimate interests assessment and concluded our interests do not override the rights of individuals given the limited scope of processing.

Contract performance (Article 6(1)(b) GDPR / equivalent): processing necessary to deliver agreed services, issue quotes, and manage the engagement.

Legal obligation (Article 6(1)(c) GDPR / equivalent): where retention or disclosure is required by applicable law, tax regulation, or binding court or regulatory order.

Consent (Article 6(1)(a) GDPR / equivalent): for any optional communications or purposes not covered above. Consent may be withdrawn at any time; withdrawal does not affect the lawfulness of prior processing.

We do not rely on vital interests or public task as a legal basis for any processing we undertake.

5. Purposes of processing

We use personal data for the following purposes only: evaluating and responding to enquiries; performing contracted patent analytics services; issuing project scopes, quotes, and invoices; communicating about engagement status and deliverables; maintaining professional records; complying with applicable legal obligations; and maintaining the security and integrity of this website. We do not use personal data for direct marketing, profiling, or sale to third parties under any circumstances.

6. Confidentiality of engagement data

All matter-specific information — the subject technology, the legal or commercial question, identities of third parties, patent numbers, and documents provided — is treated as strictly confidential independently of this Privacy Policy. We do not disclose engagement information to any third party without prior written consent, except where compelled by law. We will notify you of any legally compelled disclosure to the extent permitted by the relevant legal process. We are willing to execute a mutual NDA before any substantive discussion; please indicate this in your initial enquiry.

7. Disclosure and third-party sharing

We do not sell, rent, license, or transfer personal data to third parties for commercial purposes. Disclosure occurs only in the following limited and defined circumstances:

Service delivery: where we engage a sub-contractor or specialist researcher to assist with an engagement, that person is bound by confidentiality obligations at least as protective as those in this policy and processes data only for the specified purpose.

Professional advisors: our legal or accounting advisors may access data strictly as necessary for the provision of professional advice, subject to professional confidentiality obligations.

Legal compulsion: where required by applicable law, regulation, court order, or binding regulatory directive. We will disclose only the minimum data required and will seek to notify you where legally permissible.

Business transfer: in the event of a merger, acquisition, or transfer of substantially all assets, personal data may be transferred to the successor entity, which will be required to honour this policy or provide equivalent protections. We will notify affected individuals of any such transfer.

We do not share data with advertising networks, data brokers, social media platforms, or analytics vendors under any circumstances.

8. International data transfers

This website is operated from India. If you are located in the EEA, UK, Switzerland, or another jurisdiction that restricts cross-border data transfers, your personal data will be processed outside your country of residence when you contact us or engage our services. We ensure adequate protection through: contractual safeguards functionally equivalent to EU Standard Contractual Clauses where applicable; maintaining data minimisation principles that limit the volume of personal data involved; and restricting processing to the specific purpose for which data was provided. Where a transfer adequacy mechanism is required under applicable law, we will implement one before processing proceeds.

9. Data retention

Enquiries that do not proceed to engagement: deleted after 12 months. Active engagements: retained for the duration of the engagement plus five years from completion, to meet professional obligations and potential dispute resolution needs. Invoicing records: retained for seven years in accordance with tax and accounting obligations under Indian law. Server logs: deleted or anonymised within 90 days. Marketing consents (if any): retained until withdrawn, then deleted promptly. We do not retain data beyond these periods except where required by a specific legal obligation, in which case the data is segregated and not used for any other purpose.

10. Security

We implement technical and organisational measures appropriate to the risk, including: access controls limiting data access to authorised personnel on a need-to-know basis; use of encrypted transmission protocols (TLS) for all data in transit; secure storage practices for data at rest; regular review of our security practices; and prompt response procedures for suspected security incidents. No electronic transmission or storage method is completely secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security but commit to notifying you without undue delay of any breach that is likely to result in a high risk to your rights and freedoms, and to notifying relevant supervisory authorities where required by law.

11. Your rights

Subject to the laws of your jurisdiction, you may have the following rights:

Access: obtain confirmation of whether we process your data and a copy of that data along with processing information.

Rectification: require correction of inaccurate or completion of incomplete data.

Erasure: request deletion where processing is no longer necessary, consent has been withdrawn, or processing is unlawful — subject to our legal retention obligations.

Restriction: require that we limit processing while accuracy is contested, a legitimate interests objection is pending, or processing is unlawful but you oppose erasure.

Portability: receive data you provided under contract or consent in a structured, machine-readable format, and transmit it to another controller where technically feasible.

Objection: object to processing based on legitimate interests or direct marketing. For direct marketing objections we will comply without requiring justification. For other objections we will comply unless we can demonstrate compelling legitimate grounds.

Withdrawal of consent: withdraw consent at any time where processing is consent-based, without affecting prior lawful processing.

No automated decisions: not to be subject to solely automated decisions producing significant legal or similarly significant effects. We do not conduct such processing.

Indian DPDPA rights: if you are a Data Principal under India's Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, you have the right to access a summary of processed data, correction and erasure, grievance redressal, and nomination of another individual to exercise rights on your behalf.

To exercise any right, contact us at hello@auberesearch.com with subject line Privacy Request, including sufficient detail to identify your request. We will verify your identity before acting on any request. Response within 30 calendar days; complex requests may take up to 90 days with notice given. No fee for reasonable requests; we reserve the right to charge a reasonable fee or decline manifestly unfounded or excessive requests, with written reasons.

12. Grievance and complaints

If you have a concern about how we have handled your personal data, contact us at hello@auberesearch.com in the first instance. We commit to acknowledging complaints within five business days and providing a substantive response within 30 days. If you are in the EEA or UK and remain dissatisfied, you may lodge a complaint with your local supervisory authority (e.g. your national data protection authority or the UK ICO). If you are in India, you may raise a grievance through the mechanism established under the DPDPA once the relevant provisions are in force.

13. Children

This website is directed exclusively at professionals. We do not knowingly collect personal data from individuals under the age of 18. If we become aware that a minor has submitted data to us, we will delete it promptly. If you believe a minor has provided data to us, notify us immediately at hello@auberesearch.com.

14. Third-party links

This website may contain links to external resources. We exercise no control over those sites and are not responsible for their content or privacy practices. This policy does not apply to any external site. We encourage you to review the privacy policy of any site you navigate to from this website. The presence of a link does not constitute endorsement.

15. Formspree (contact form processor)

Our contact form submits data to Formspree, Inc., a third-party form processing service. When you submit the contact form, your name, email, organisation, service selection, and message are transmitted to Formspree's servers before being forwarded to us. Formspree acts as a data processor on our behalf. Their privacy practices are governed by the Formspree Privacy Policy. We do not use Formspree for any purpose other than routing contact form submissions to us.

16. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy to reflect changes in law, technology, or our practices. Material changes will be reflected in an updated effective date at the top of this page. For significant changes we will take reasonable steps to bring the update to your attention. Continued use of the website following any update constitutes acceptance of the revised policy. We recommend reviewing this page periodically.

17. Governing law

This policy is primarily governed by the laws of India, including the Information Technology Act, 2000, the IT (Reasonable Security Practices) Rules, 2011, and the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023. For individuals in the EEA and UK, the GDPR and UK GDPR respectively apply to our processing of their personal data, and we commit to compliance with both frameworks. For individuals in other jurisdictions with applicable data protection laws, we will comply with those laws to the extent they apply to our activities.

These Terms & Conditions ("Terms") govern your use of this website (auberesearch.com) and the professional services provided by Aube Research ("Aube Research", "we", "us", "our"). By accessing this website or engaging our services, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree, you must not use this website or engage our services.

These Terms should be read alongside our Privacy Policy. In the event of a conflict between these Terms and a separately executed engagement letter or services agreement, the engagement letter or services agreement shall prevail.

1. Nature of services

Aube Research provides patent analytics services including prior art search, document review and analysis, infringement search and claim chart preparation, freedom to operate analysis, patent landscape and mapping, and portfolio strength evaluation. All services are provided on a project basis as agreed in writing at the commencement of each engagement.

Not a law firm. Aube Research is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Nothing delivered by Aube Research — including any report, analysis, claim chart, or other work product — constitutes legal advice, a legal opinion, or an opinion on patentability, infringement, or validity in the legal sense. Our deliverables are analytical research tools intended to support the work of qualified legal professionals. Any legal conclusion drawn from our work must be reached independently by a licensed patent attorney or solicitor in the relevant jurisdiction.

No attorney-client relationship is created by engaging Aube Research or by any communication between you and Aube Research.

2. Engagement formation

An engagement is formed when: (a) you submit a project brief and we issue a written scope and fee; and (b) you confirm acceptance of that scope and fee in writing (including by email). No obligation to commence work arises until written confirmation is received. We reserve the right to decline any engagement at our discretion without providing reasons.

All scope confirmations constitute the entire agreement between the parties in respect of that engagement and supersede all prior oral or written discussions, unless a separate formal engagement letter is executed.

3. Fees and payment

Fees are fixed per engagement and stated in the project scope unless otherwise agreed. Fees are quoted exclusive of applicable taxes, which will be added where required by law. Payment terms are stated in the project scope; unless otherwise specified, invoices are due within 14 calendar days of issue. We reserve the right to suspend work on any engagement where payment is overdue by more than 7 calendar days, without liability to you for any resulting delay.

Fees are non-refundable once work has commenced, except where we have materially failed to deliver the agreed scope and have not remedied the failure within a reasonable period following written notice from you. Fees for work completed prior to any termination remain payable in full.

We reserve the right to require a deposit for new clients or large engagements. Deposit terms will be stated in the project scope.

4. Delivery and timelines

Estimated delivery timelines are stated in the project scope. Timelines are estimates based on the information provided at the time of scoping. We will notify you promptly of any circumstances that may affect delivery. We are not liable for delays caused by: incomplete or inaccurate information provided by you; late confirmation or approval; scope changes requested after work has commenced; or circumstances beyond our reasonable control.

Deliverables are provided in the format agreed in the project scope. We are not obligated to provide deliverables in formats not agreed at the outset.

5. Your obligations

You agree to: provide accurate and complete information necessary for the engagement; respond promptly to requests for clarification or additional information; not provide us with confidential information of third parties without authorisation to do so; use deliverables only for the purpose agreed at the time of engagement; and not represent our deliverables as having been produced by your firm or organisation without our prior written consent.

You are responsible for ensuring that your use of our deliverables complies with applicable law in your jurisdiction, including any obligations to disclose prior art to patent offices or any professional responsibility rules applicable to you as an attorney or agent.

6. Intellectual property

Our deliverables: Upon full payment of all fees due, Aube Research assigns to you all intellectual property rights in the deliverables produced specifically for your engagement, including reports, claim charts, and analysis documents. This assignment does not extend to our methodologies, templates, general know-how, or any pre-existing materials incorporated into deliverables, in which we retain all rights.

Our website content: All content on this website — including text, structure, design, and graphics — is the property of Aube Research and is protected by applicable intellectual property laws. You may not reproduce, republish, distribute, or commercially exploit any website content without our prior written consent. Fair use quotation with attribution is permitted.

Third-party materials: Deliverables may incorporate references to third-party patents, publications, or standards documents. We do not claim ownership of those materials and their use in our deliverables constitutes fair use for research and analytical purposes.

7. Confidentiality

Each party agrees to hold in strict confidence all confidential information of the other party received in connection with an engagement. Confidential information means any non-public information disclosed in the context of the engagement that is designated as confidential or that a reasonable person would understand to be confidential given the nature of the information and the circumstances of disclosure.

Confidentiality obligations do not apply to information that: is or becomes publicly known through no breach of these Terms; was already known to the receiving party at the time of disclosure; is independently developed by the receiving party without reference to the confidential information; or is required to be disclosed by law or regulatory authority, in which case the disclosing party will be notified to the extent legally permissible.

Confidentiality obligations survive termination of any engagement for a period of five years.

We are willing to execute a mutual non-disclosure agreement before substantive engagement discussions if you require it. Please indicate this preference at the outset.

8. Warranties and representations

We warrant that: our services will be performed with reasonable skill and care; our deliverables will reflect the scope agreed at the outset; and we have the right to provide the services described.

We do not warrant that: any prior art search is exhaustive or that no relevant prior art exists beyond what is identified; any FTO analysis is complete or that no infringing patent exists beyond those identified; any deliverable will produce a particular legal outcome; or that our deliverables are free from error. Patent analytics involves professional judgment applied to incomplete and evolving information. Our deliverables reflect the state of the relevant databases and information available at the time of the search.

All implied warranties not expressly stated in these Terms are excluded to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.

9. Limitation of liability

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law:

Aggregate liability cap: our total aggregate liability to you arising out of or in connection with any engagement — whether in contract, tort (including negligence), breach of statutory duty, or otherwise — shall not exceed the total fees paid by you for the specific engagement giving rise to the claim.

Excluded losses: we are not liable for any: indirect or consequential loss; loss of profit, revenue, or anticipated savings; loss of business or contracts; loss of goodwill or reputation; data loss; or any loss arising from your reliance on our deliverables without independent legal review.

Legal reliance: our deliverables are research tools. We are not liable for any loss arising from a decision — commercial, legal, or strategic — made in reliance on our work without the independent review of a qualified attorney in the relevant jurisdiction.

Nothing in these Terms limits liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation, or any liability that cannot be excluded by law.

10. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Aube Research and its personnel from and against any claims, damages, losses, costs, and expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising from: your use of our deliverables in a manner inconsistent with these Terms; your provision of inaccurate or unauthorised information in connection with an engagement; your breach of these Terms; or any third-party claim arising from your exercise of rights in deliverables we have assigned to you.

11. Termination

Either party may terminate an engagement by written notice if the other party commits a material breach of these Terms and fails to remedy it within 14 calendar days of receiving written notice specifying the breach.

We may terminate an engagement immediately upon written notice if: you fail to pay any invoice within 21 days of the due date; you become insolvent or enter into a formal insolvency process; or we reasonably believe continuing the engagement would require us to act unlawfully or unethically.

On termination, all fees for work completed to the point of termination remain payable. We will deliver all completed work product upon receipt of payment for work done. Confidentiality obligations and intellectual property provisions survive termination.

12. Force majeure

Neither party is liable for failure or delay in performance caused by circumstances beyond reasonable control, including natural disasters, pandemic, war, civil unrest, government action, infrastructure failure, or internet outages. The affected party must notify the other promptly and take reasonable steps to mitigate the impact. If a force majeure event continues for more than 30 calendar days, either party may terminate the affected engagement by written notice without liability, except for fees due for work already completed.

13. Website use

This website is provided on an "as is" and "as available" basis. We do not warrant that the website will be uninterrupted, error-free, or free from viruses or harmful components. You are responsible for implementing adequate protections on your own systems. We reserve the right to modify, suspend, or discontinue any part of this website at any time without notice.

You must not: use this website for any unlawful purpose; attempt to gain unauthorised access to any part of this website or its underlying systems; transmit any malicious code or harmful data; or engage in any conduct that impairs or disrupts the operation of this website.

14. Accuracy of website content

Content on this website is provided for general informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal, professional, or commercial advice. We make reasonable efforts to keep content accurate and current but do not warrant its completeness or currency. You should not rely on website content as a substitute for professional advice specific to your situation.

15. Dispute resolution

In the event of a dispute arising from or in connection with these Terms or any engagement, the parties agree to first attempt resolution through good-faith negotiation. If the dispute is not resolved within 30 days of written notice, either party may refer it to mediation under mutually agreed mediation rules before commencing formal proceedings. Nothing in this clause prevents either party from seeking urgent injunctive or interim relief from a competent court.

16. Amendments

We may update these Terms from time to time. Updates take effect from the date they are posted on this website. Continued use of the website or engagement of services after an update constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms. Material changes to Terms governing active engagements require written agreement from both parties.

17. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is held invalid, unlawful, or unenforceable, that provision will be modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it enforceable, or severed if modification is not possible, and the remaining provisions will continue in full force and effect.

18. Entire agreement

These Terms, together with the Privacy Policy and any written project scope or engagement letter, constitute the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter and supersede all prior representations, discussions, and agreements. No oral statement or representation modifies these Terms.

19. Governing law and jurisdiction

These Terms are governed by the laws of India. Any dispute not resolved through negotiation or mediation shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Chandigarh, India. If you are contracting from a jurisdiction whose mandatory consumer or professional protection laws confer rights that cannot be waived by choice of law, those rights are not affected by this clause.