WeKwikGene Website Privacy Policy

Effective Date: February 22, 2023

Welcome to the WeKwikGene Plasmid Repository website operated by Westlake Laboratory (Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine inZhejiang Province) (hereinafter referred to as "Westlake Laboratory"). We understand the importance of personal information to you, and your trust is crucial to us.We will strictly comply with legal requirements and take appropriate security measures. Based on this, Westlake Laboratoryhas formulated this "WeKwikGeneWebsite Privacy Policy" (hereinafter referred to as "this PrivacyPolicy" or "this Agreement") to help users (hereinafter referred to as "you") and affiliated parties fully understand how we collect,use, share, store, and protect your personal information during your use of theWeKwikGene Plasmid Repository websiteand how you can manage your personal information, so that you can make informed choices. This Privacy Policy is a valid contract based on the WeKwikGene Plasmid Repository website services.Please carefully read all the contents of the Privacy Policy before accepting it to ensure full understanding of the provisions in this Privacy Policy.

By clicking "Accept" on the website/mobile page or accepting this agreement in any other way, you indicate that you have reached an agreement with Westlake Laboratory and agree to accept all the terms and conditions of this agreement and all the related rules. If you are under 18 years old, please read and fully understand this agreement with the accompaniment of your legal guardian and obtain the consent of your legal guardian before accepting this agreement.

When you use the WeKwikGene Plasmid Repository website or services provided by Westlake Laboratory personnel, we will collect, process, and disclose your information in accordance with this Privacy Policy. This Privacy Policy will help you understand the following:

I. Scope of Application

II. Collection and Use of UserInformation

III. How We Use Cookies and RelatedTechnologies

IV. Sharing, Transfer, and PublicDisclosure of User Information

V. User Business Data

VI. Management of User Information

VII. Security of User Information

VIII. Protection of Information ofMinors

IX. Your Rights

X. Legal Statement and Updates to thePrivacy Policy

XI. How to Contact Us

I. Scope of Application

This Privacy Policy applies to the WeKwikGene Plasmid Repository website provided by Westlake Laboratory. The services include providing you with page browsing, Request Plasmids, Deposit Plasmids, and technical services provided to you through the official website of Westlake Laboratory or by Westlake Laboratory personnel.
Our services may contain links to third-party websites, applications, or services. This Privacy Policy does not apply to any products, services, websites, or content provided by third parties.
It is important to note that as a user of the official website services provided by Westlake Laboratory, if you utilize the official services of the WeKwikGene Plasmid Repository website provided by Westlake Laboratory to provide services to your users, as your business data belongs to you, you should separately agree on a privacy policy with your users.

II. Collection and Use of User Information

2.1 Collection of User Information

When you use the WeKwikGene Plasmid Repository website provided by Westlake Laboratory, you are required to provide us with key information, including Lab Name, Lab Website URL, Supervisor Name, Supervisor Email, Department, University/Institute/Company, Street Address, City, Province, ZIP code, etc. These pieces of information will serve as one of the designated contact methods between you and Westlake Laboratory. They will be used to receive business notifications from the WeKwikGene Plasmid Repository website (such as new product launches, service changes, real-time messages, etc.), and Westlake Laboratory may use this contact information to send you business notifications (including Wishlist status updates) or communicate with you regarding business matters.
Before you officially use the services provided by the WeKwikGene Plasmid Repository website, in accordance with the laws of the People's Republic of China, Westlake Laboratory will display the information you need to submit on the website page (including required and optional information). The information displayed on the website page at that time shall prevail. If you do not require certain services, you are not obligated to provide the relevant information.
During your use of the services, based on the specific permissions you authorize during software browsing and usage, we will receive and record device-related information (such as device model, operating system version, browser version, unique device identifiers, and other software and hardware characteristics) and device location-related information (such as IP address, GPS location, and sensor information from Wi-Fi access points that can provide relevant information). We may associate the two types of information to provide consistent services across different devices.
When you use the services provided by the WeKwikGene Plasmid Repository website, we will automatically collect and store detailed information about your use of our services as network logs. For example, your search queries, IP address, telecommunications carrier, language used, access date and time, and browsing history of the web pages you visit.
Please note that individual device information, log information, browser versions, etc., cannot identify specific individuals. If we combine such non-personal information with other information to identify specific individuals or use it in conjunction with personal information, during the period of combination, such non-personal information will be treated as personal information. Unless we obtain your authorization or as otherwise stipulated by laws and regulations, we will anonymize and de-identify such personal information.
Westlake Laboratory will use the user consultation records, fault reporting records, and troubleshooting processes related to user issues (such as communication or call records) generated from your use of the WeKwikGene Plasmid Repository website services to record, analyze, and respond more promptly to your requests for assistance, as well as to improve the services.

2.2 Purposes of Information Collection

To provide you with the services of the WeKwikGene Plasmid Repository website.
To maintain, improve, and upgrade the WeKwikGene Plasmid Repository website (such as using the business contact person's mobile number and email address you provided for receiving business notifications and conducting business communications).
Based on user information statistics, we may design, develop, maintain, and promote new WeKwikGene websites or related services.
We may compile statistics on the usage of our services and may share these statistics with the public or third parties. However, these statistics will not contain any personally identifiable information about you.
Within the scope permitted by laws and regulations, to promote and introduce Westlake Laboratory's scientific research products or services to you.
In order to enhance the security of your use of our services, Westlake Laboratory's official website, and to protect your personal and property safety, as well as the safety of other users and the public, and to better prevent phishing websites, fraud, network vulnerabilities, computer viruses, network attacks, network intrusions, and other security risks, we may use your personal information submitted on the website, integrate device information, relevant network log information, and other information collected by Westlake Laboratory to determine whether there are any risks associated with your account, device, or website, to perform identity verification, detection, and prevention of security incidents, and to take necessary measures such as recording, auditing, analysis, and disposal in accordance with laws and regulations.
Other purposes permitted by your consent and/or by applicable laws.

III. How We Use Cookies and Related Technologies

We may collect and use your information through cookies and other related technologies. The specific purposes for which we use cookies include:

Remembering your identity, for example, cookies help us recognize the Wishlist you submit on our platform.
Analyzing your usage of the WeKwikGene Plasmid Repository website in order to provide you with more thoughtful personalized services, including but not limited to customized pages, plasmid recommendations, and service tracking. You can refuse or manage cookies through browser settings. However, please note that if you disable cookies, you may not be able to enjoy a high-quality website service experience, and the availability of certain functions may be affected. We will not use cookies for purposes other than those described in this Privacy Policy.

IV. Sharing, Transfer, and Public Disclosure of UserInformation

4.1 Information Sharing We will not share your user information with any other organizations or individuals, except in the following circumstances:

With your explicit consent, we may share your user information with other parties.
We may share your user information with external parties in accordance with laws, regulations, litigation, arbitration needs, or requests made by administrative or judicial authorities in accordance with the law.
Shared among affiliated services, your user information may be shared with other services provided by Westlake Laboratory. We will only share the user information necessary for providing the services and it will be subject to the purposes stated in this privacy policy. If the affiliated services intend to change the processing purposes of user information or use user information for other purposes not stipulated in this privacy policy, your authorization and consent will be sought again.
We may engage trusted cooperating companies to provide website technical development services. Therefore, we may share certain user information with these development companies to provide better customer service and optimize user experience. We will only share your user information for legitimate, lawful, necessary, specific, and explicit purposes, and only the user information necessary for providing technical development services will be shared. Our technical partners are not authorized to use the shared user information for any other purposes. Currently, our authorized partners include the following types: website technical development service providers, website page design service providers, and other cooperative partners. We send information to vendors that support our business, including providing user authentication services, basic technical services, page design services, technical consulting, data analysis storage, and other professional services. We will sign strict confidentiality agreements or include confidentiality clauses in the agreements with the units, companies, organizations, and individuals with whom we share user information, requiring them to handle user information in accordance with our instructions, this privacy policy, and any other relevant confidentiality and security measures.

4.2 Information Transfer

We will not transfer your user information to any units, companies, organizations, or individuals, except in the following circumstances:

With your explicit consent, we may transfer your user information to other parties.
In the event of mergers, acquisitions, or revocation by the supervisory authority involving Westlake Laboratory and other legal entities, or other circumstances involving mergers, acquisitions, or revocation, if the transfer of user information is involved, we will require the new unit, company, organization, or individual holding your user information to continue to be bound by this privacy policy. Otherwise, we will require the unit, company, organization, or individual to seek your authorization and consent again.

4.3 Information Public Disclosure

We will only disclose your user information publicly under the following circumstances:

With your explicit consent or based on your active choice, we may publicly disclose your user information.
To protect the personal and property safety of users of the official platforms of Westlake Laboratory and its affiliated services or the public, we may disclose your user information in accordance with applicable laws and regulations or relevant agreements and rules of the official platforms of Westlake Laboratory.

4.4 Exceptions to Obtaining Prior Authorization andConsent for Sharing, Transfer, and Public Disclosure of User Information

Obtaining your prior authorization and consent is not required for sharing, transfer, and public disclosure of your user information in the following circumstances:

Related to national security and defense security.
Related to public safety, public health, and significant public interests.
Related to criminal investigations, prosecutions, trials, and enforcement of judgments.
Necessary to protect your or other individuals' vital legitimate interests, but it is difficult to obtain your consent.
Personal information that you voluntarily disclose to the public.
Related to your fulfillment of obligations stipulated by laws and regulations.
Collected from legally disclosed information, such as legal news reports, government information disclosure, and other channels.

V. User Business Data

The business data that you analyze, process, store, upload, download, distribute, and handle through other means during your use of the WeKwikGene Plasmid Repository website provided by Westlake Laboratory are considered your user business data, and you have complete ownership and management rights over your business data. As the service provider, Westlake Laboratory will strictly follow your instructions in handling your business data and will not engage in any unauthorized use or disclosure of your business data, except as agreed upon by you or as required by explicit legal and regulatory obligations or by administrative or judicial authorities.
Westlake Laboratory advises you to exercise caution in assessing the legality of the data source and content. You should ensure that the data is collected and used in accordance with the law (including but not limited to entrusted processing) and that you do not infringe upon the legal rights and interests of any individual or entity in any way. You understand and agree that China and other countries or regions may have laws and regulations pertaining to data security, storage, and cross-border transmission. Before storing, transmitting, downloading, distributing, or performing any operations on your business data using Westlake Laboratory's website services, you should comply with the relevant laws and regulations in the applicable regions and conduct sufficient and necessary evaluations and approvals to ensure compliance with the relevant provisions. Otherwise, you will bear all consequences and liabilities on your own. You are solely responsible for any consequences and liabilities arising from the collection, content, or processing of your business data that violate laws, regulations, departmental rules, or national policies.
In accordance with your agreement with Westlake Laboratory, user business data will be stored on internal servers within the laboratory. Westlake Laboratory will protect the user business data stored on its services in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. However, this does not apply in cases where you fail to comply with relevant laws and regulations, or where data is lost due to resource expiration or failure to timely receive plasmids, among other circumstances.

VI. Management of User Information

You have the right to access, modify, and delete your user information. Different requirements may apply to accessing, modifying, and deleting different types of information, considering factors such as account security, protection of legal rights, and legitimate reasons related to technical logic, legal and regulatory requirements, and information security.Therefore, certain information may not be accessible, modifiable, or deletable(e.g., you may not be able to change the automatically assigned account ID).

If you need to change the user information you have submitted on the WeKwikGene Plasmid Repository website, you should contact us through the official email address of Westlake Laboratory and follow the instructions provided by the WeKwikGene Plasmid Repository website 's technical administrators.

In the following situations, you can request the deletion of your user information:

If our processing of user information violates laws and regulations.
Unless otherwise provided hereunder, if we collect and use your user information without obtaining your explicit consent.
If our processing of personal information seriously violates the agreement between Westlake Laboratory and you. We may request identity verification first (you may need to provide a written request or prove your identity in other ways) before processing your request.
You can deactivate your account. After successful deactivation, we will cease to provide products or website services to you, and all services and data under that account may be deleted and cannot be recovered. Additionally, we will delete your personal information or anonymize it according to your request, except as otherwise provided by laws and regulations.

VII. Security of User Information

Westlake Laboratory attaches great importance to the security of your information. We strive to implement various reasonable physical, electronic, technical, and managerial security measures to protect your user information, preventing unauthorized access, disclosure, use, modification, damage, or loss of user information. We use encryption technology to ensure the security of user information. We employ reliable protection mechanisms to prevent malicious attacks on user information. We deploy access control mechanisms to ensure that only authorized personnel can access user information.
We will take reasonable and feasible measures to avoid collecting irrelevant user information. We will only retain your user information for the duration necessary to achieve the purposes described in these privacy terms or required by law unless an extension is required or permitted by law. After the aforementioned retention period for user information has expired, we will delete or anonymize your personal information.
In the future, if the WeKwikGene Plasmid Repository website provides login and registration functions, please use complex passwords to assist us in ensuring the security of your account. We will make every effort to ensure the security of any information you send to us.
Please understand that due to technological limitations and the possible existence of various malicious methods, it is not possible to guarantee the absolute security of information in the Internet environment, even with the utmost effort to strengthen security measures. You need to understand that the systems and communication networks you use to access our services may experience problems beyond our control. In the unfortunate event of a user information security incident (such as leakage or loss), we will promptly inform you in accordance with the requirements of laws and regulations, including the basic situation and potential impact of the security incident, the disposal measures we have taken or will take, suggestions for you to autonomously prevent or reduce risks, and remedial measures for you. We will inform you of the relevant details of the incident through methods such as email, letters, phone calls, and push notifications. When it is difficult to inform each user individually, we will release announcements on our website in a reasonable and effective manner.
At the same time, we will report the handling of user information security incidents in accordance with the requirements of regulatory authorities.
In accordance with relevant laws and regulations, we will store the user information collected in mainland China within the territory of mainland China. If it is necessary to transfer user information overseas due to business needs in accordance with applicable laws and regulations, we will seek your consent in advance and inform you of the purpose of the outbound transfer, the recipient, security measures, security risks, and other relevant information.
In the event of the cessation of operation of Westlake Laboratory's products and website services, we will take reasonable measures to protect the security of your user information, including promptly discontinuing activities related to the collection of user information. Notices of the cessation of operation will be delivered individually or in the form of announcements to users. Furthermore, we will delete or anonymize the personal information we hold.

VIII. Protection of Minors' Information

We primarily provide WeKwikGene Plasmid Repository website services to adults. If you are a minor, we require you to have your parents or guardians carefully read these privacy terms and use our website services or provide information to us only with the consent of your parents or guardians.
In cases where we collect personal information of minors with the consent of parents or guardians for the use of our website services, we will only use,share, transfer, or disclose user information in accordance with applicable laws and regulations, explicit consent from parents or guardians, or when it is necessary to protect the interests of minors.

IX. Your Rights

In accordance with relevant laws, regulations, standards of thePeople's Republic of China, as well as common practices in other countries and regions, we guarantee your rights to exercise the following regarding your personal information:

You have the right to access your user information by logging into your account on the Westlake Laboratory WeKwikGene Plasmid Repository website(if the platform provides user login and registration functions in the future),except for exceptions provided by laws and regulations. If you are unable to access your user information, you can contact the official phone number or email address provided on the Westlake Laboratory official website, and we will respond to your access request within 30 days. For other user information generated by your use of our website services, within reasonable technical means and cost limitations, we will provide you with such information.
You have the right to correct your user information. When you find any errors in the personal information we process about you, you have the right to request us to make corrections. You can contact the official email address provided on the WeKwikGene Plasmid Repository website, and we will respond to your correction request within 30 days.
You have the right to change the scope of your authorized consent.Each business function requires some basic user information to be completed.For the collection and use of user information beyond business needs, you can give or withdraw your consent at any time. Once you withdraw your consent, we will no longer process the corresponding user information. However, your decision to withdraw consent will not affect the processing of user information that was conducted based on your previous consent.
To respond to your above-mentioned requests as soon as possible while ensuring information security, you may need to provide a written request or provide other means to prove your identity. We may request verification of your user identity before processing your request. We will respond within 30days. For reasonable requests, we generally do not charge any fees. However,for repeated or excessive requests beyond reasonable limits, we may charge certain costs depending on the situation. We may refuse requests that are unreasonably repetitive, require excessive technical means (such as developing new systems or fundamentally changing existing practices), pose risks to the legitimate rights and interests of others, or are highly impractical (such as involving information stored on backup tapes).

X. Revision of Legal Statements and Privacy Policy We may revise the legal statements and privacy policy from time to time, and such revisions shall form part of this privacy policy statement. If any revision results in a substantial reduction of your rights under this privacy policy or significant changes in the rules regarding the collection and use of information, we will provide a prominent notice on the WeKwikGene Plasmid Repository website of Westlake Laboratory or notify you through email or other means before the revisions come into effect. In such a case, if you continue to use our website services, it indicates that you agree to be bound by the revised privacy policy.

XI. How to Contact Us If you have any questions or opinions regarding this privacy policy or the contents of the user agreement, or if you have any questions or opinions about the implementation of this privacy policy by Westlake Laboratory, you can contact us through the official contact information on the WeKwikGene Plasmid Repository website of WestlakeLaboratory:

Email: wekwikgene@westlake.edu.cn

Address: No. 18 Shilongshan Street, Xihu District,Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China Postal Code: 310024

In order to efficiently handle your inquiries and provide timely feedback, we may require you to provide identification, valid contact information, written requests, or other relevant evidence. We will respond to you within 30 days after verifying your identity.

If you are not satisfied with our response or have any disputes regarding the contents of this agreement, you should first seek an amicable resolution. If no agreement can be reached through negotiation within30 days from the date of the dispute, you may file a lawsuit with the people's court in the jurisdiction where Westlake Laboratory is located.

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