Who we are ¶
Copperplate (copperplate.cc) is a small academic editing, research-support and statistics consultancy. In this policy, "Copperplate", "we" and "us" mean the business that operates this website. "You" means anyone who visits the site, contacts us or uses our services.
We are responsible for the personal data described here. If you have any question about this policy or your data, email contact@copperplate.cc.
The data we collect ¶
We collect only what we need to answer your enquiry and deliver the work you ask for.
Through the quote and contact forms
- Your name, so we know how to address you.
- Your email address, so we can reply, send quotes and deliver files.
- Your WhatsApp number, only if you choose to give it. This field is optional.
- Files you upload, such as manuscripts, thesis chapters, data sets or audio for transcription.
- Your message, including the service you need, your field, your deadline and anything else you choose to tell us.
When you contact us directly
If you email us or message us on WhatsApp, we receive whatever you send, along with your email address or phone number.
When you browse the site
Like most websites, our server records basic technical information when pages are requested, such as your IP address, browser type and the time of the request. These logs are used to keep the site secure and working.
Please do not send us more personal information than the work requires. If your files contain personal data about research participants, they should already be anonymized or pseudonymized in line with your ethics approval.
How we use your data ¶
We use your data to:
- reply to your enquiry and prepare a quote;
- carry out the editing, analysis, coaching, translation or transcription you have asked for;
- deliver your files and answer follow-up questions about the work;
- arrange payment and keep the records a business is required to keep;
- keep the website secure and prevent abuse of our forms.
We do not use your data for advertising, and we do not send marketing emails unless you have asked to receive them.
Our legal basis
Where data-protection laws such as the GDPR apply, we rely on these grounds: taking steps at your request before entering a contract (quotes), performing a contract (delivering the service), complying with legal obligations (for example, tax records), and our legitimate interest in running a secure website and responding to messages.
How email is processed ¶
Messages sent through the quote and contact forms are delivered by email through the site's own mail server to our inbox at contact@copperplate.cc. Form submissions are not passed to a third-party form or marketing service.
Like any email, messages travel across the internet and are stored by the email systems that handle them. If you would prefer to share a highly sensitive file another way, tell us and we will agree a suitable method before you send it.
Confidentiality of your manuscripts and data ¶
We treat every file you send as confidential. Your manuscripts, data and recordings are:
- used only to deliver the service you requested;
- shared only with the editor or consultant working on your project, who is bound to keep them confidential;
- never published, sold, shared with other clients or reused for any other purpose.
An NDA is available on request. Our how it works page explains how files move through a project.
We do not sell your data ¶
We do not sell, rent or trade your personal data, and we do not share it with third parties for their own marketing. We disclose personal data only where the law requires it, or where it is needed to protect our rights or the safety of others.
How long we keep your data ¶
We keep your data only as long as it is needed:
| Type of data | How long we keep it |
|---|---|
| Enquiries that do not become projects | Only as long as needed to answer the enquiry and any follow-up |
| Project files (manuscripts, data, recordings) | For the project and its follow-up questions, then deleted on request or when no longer needed |
| Invoices and payment records | As long as tax and accounting law requires |
| Server logs | For a limited period needed for security and troubleshooting |
Deletion on request
You can ask us to delete your files and personal data at any time by emailing contact@copperplate.cc. We will confirm when it is done. The only exception is information we must keep by law, such as invoices, which we keep securely and use for no other purpose.
Your rights ¶
Depending on where you live, data-protection laws such as the GDPR give you rights over your personal data. We extend these rights to all our clients:
- Access: ask for a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
- Correction: ask us to fix data that is wrong or incomplete.
- Deletion: ask us to erase your data.
- Restriction: ask us to limit how we use your data.
- Objection: object to processing based on our legitimate interests.
- Portability: ask for your data in a commonly used format.
- Withdraw consent: where we rely on consent, withdraw it at any time.
To use any of these rights, email contact@copperplate.cc. We may ask you to confirm your identity before acting on the request. You also have the right to complain to the data-protection authority in your country.
How we protect your data ¶
We use reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect your data, including encrypted connections (HTTPS) on this website, access limited to the people working on your project, and deletion of files when they are no longer needed. No system is perfectly secure, but we take care to keep your information safe.
Children ¶
Our services are intended for university students, researchers and academics. We do not knowingly collect data from children. If you believe a child has sent us personal data, contact us and we will delete it.
Changes and contact ¶
We may update this policy when our services or the law change. The date at the top of the page shows when it was last revised. Significant changes will be noted on this page.
For any privacy question or request, email contact@copperplate.cc or use the contact form. Our terms of service and academic integrity policy explain the other conditions of working with us.