Privacy Policy

Introduction

Welcome to LitSource ("we", "our", "us"). LitSource helps researchers and writers find real biomedical papers that support their claims and avoid hallucinated citations.

This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, and the choices you have when you use our websites and services (collectively, the "Service").

By using LitSource, you agree to the practices described in this policy.

Information we collect

We collect the minimum information needed to operate and improve the Service.

1. Account information

• Name and email address.
• Authentication identifiers (for example, IDs from third‑party login providers).
• Profile details such as organization or role, if you choose to provide them.

We use this to create and secure your account, show your available credits, and contact you when necessary.

2. Usage data and content you provide

• The text you paste or type into LitSource (your claims, paragraphs, or prompts).
• Search filters, settings, and feedback you apply.
• Logs of searches run, timestamps, and performance metrics.
• Interactions with results (for example, which runs you open from history).

We use this to:

• Run searches and generate results.
• Maintain a history of your previous runs.
• Monitor abuse and debug problems.
• Improve ranking and relevance of results.

3. Device and technical information

• IP address, browser type, operating system, and language preferences.
• Approximate location derived from IP (city / region level, not precise GPS).
• Log data about how you access the Service (pages viewed, links clicked, errors).

We use this to keep the Service secure, prevent fraud, and understand aggregate usage patterns.

4. Billing and payments

When you subscribe or buy credits we process payment through third‑party providers such as Stripe, PayPal, or other processors listed on our site.

• We receive limited billing information (for example, last 4 digits of card, card type, billing country, subscription status).
• Full payment details (full card number, CVC) are handled directly by the payment processor and are not stored on LitSource’s servers.

We use this information to manage plans, invoices, and credits.

5. Cookies and similar technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies to:

• Keep you signed in.
• Remember your language and interface preferences.
• Measure aggregated traffic and product performance.

You can usually control cookies through your browser settings, but disabling essential cookies may break parts of the Service.

How we use your information

We use the information described above to:

• Provide, maintain, and improve the Service.
• Run and display search results and analyses.
• Enforce our Terms of Service and protect against abuse.
• Communicate with you about your account, credits, billing, and important changes.
• Comply with legal obligations.

We do not sell your personal information.

AI, queries, and third‑party providers

LitSource sends your text and query parameters to infrastructure and AI providers in order to return results (for example, search indexes, ranking services, and model APIs).

We currently integrate with providers such as:

• biomedical literature indexes and APIs (for example, PubMed, CrossRef, Semantic Scholar, OpenAlex);
• AI or ranking providers (for example, OpenRouter, Replicate or similar services);
• hosting, logging, and monitoring vendors.

We take these steps:

• We only share the minimum data necessary to perform each task.
• We contractually require processors to protect your data where possible.
• We do not allow third‑party providers to use your queries to train their own general‑purpose models beyond what is required to provide the Service, to the extent we can control this in their terms.

However, when you send text to external APIs, their own privacy policies also apply. You should avoid pasting highly sensitive personal data (such as patient names, IDs, or confidential clinical records) into LitSource.

Legal bases (for users in the EEA, UK, and similar regions)

Where applicable, we rely on the following legal bases:

• Contract – to provide the Service you requested.
• Legitimate interests – such as improving the Service, preventing abuse, and securing our systems.
• Consent – for optional cookies or marketing communications where required by law.

How we share information

We may share your information with:

• Service providers and processors who host our infrastructure, send emails, process payments, analyze usage, or provide search / AI capabilities.
• Professional advisors (lawyers, accountants) under confidentiality obligations.
• Authorities when required to comply with law, regulation, legal process, or to protect the safety of any person.

We do not sell or rent your data.

If LitSource is involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will notify you where required.

Data retention

• We keep account information as long as your account is active.
• Search history and logs are retained for a reasonable period to help you revisit previous work and to improve the Service.
• We may keep certain records longer where required by law or to resolve disputes.

When data is no longer needed, we will delete it or anonymize it.

Your rights and choices

Depending on your location, you may have the right to:

• Access a copy of your personal data.
• Correct inaccurate information.
• Delete certain information.
• Object to or restrict some processing.
• Export your data in a portable format.

You can exercise many of these rights through your account settings. For other requests, contact us at support@litsource.ai. We may need to verify your identity before responding.

You can also opt out of non‑essential email notifications by using the unsubscribe link in those emails.

Children

LitSource is designed for researchers and adults. It is not intended for children under 16, and we do not knowingly collect personal data from children under that age. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us and we will delete it.

Changes to this policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we make material changes, we will update the created_at or effective date at the top and, where appropriate, provide additional notice (for example, in‑app notice or email).

Your continued use of the Service after changes become effective means you accept the updated policy.

Contact us

If you have questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy, please contact us at:

• Website: https://litsource.ai
• Email: support@litsource.ai