Privacy Policy Effective Date: 25-11-2020; Revised: 16-08-2025

1. INTRODUCTION This Privacy Policy describes how the Institute for Research and Theory Methodologies ("we," "us," or "our") collects, uses, and discloses your personal information when you use our websites and services (the "Service"). We are committed to protecting your personal information and your right to privacy. When you visit our website and use our services and products, you trust us with your personal information. We take your privacy very seriously. In this Privacy Policy, we seek to explain to you in the clearest way possible what information we collect, how we use it, and what rights you have in relation to it. This Privacy Policy applies to all information collected through our website and services, as well as any related services, sales, marketing, or events. Please read this Privacy Policy carefully, as it will help you understand what we do with the information we collect. 

2. DEFINITIONS To help explain things as clearly as possible in this Privacy Policy, every time any of these terms is referenced, they are strictly defined as: – Cookie: a small file placed on your device to enable certain features and functionality. – Company: when this policy mentions "Company," "we," "us," or "our," it refers to Institute for Research and Theory Methodologies. – Country: where the Institute for Research and Theory Methodologies or the owners/founders of the Institute for Research and Theory Methodologies are based, in this case, the United States. – Customer: refers to the company, organization, or person that signs up to use the Institute for Research and Theory Methodologies Service. – Device: any internet-connected device such as a phone, tablet, computer, or any other device that can be used to visit the Institute for Research and Theory Methodologies and use the services. – Personal Data: any information that directly, indirectly, or in connection with other information allows for the identification of a natural person. – Service: refers to the website and services provided by the Institute for Research and Theory Methodologies as described in the relevant terms and on this platform. – Third-party service: refers to advertisers, contest sponsors, promotional and marketing partners, and others who provide our content or whose products or services we think may interest you. – Websites: Institute for Research and Theory Methodologies' site, which can be accessed via https://www.mentoringresearchers.org/. The Grounded Theory Review site, which can be accessed via https://www.groundedtheoryreview.org/.   – You: a person or entity that is registered with the Institute for Research and Theory Methodologies to use the Services. 

3. INFORMATION WE COLLECT We collect several different types of information for various purposes to provide and improve our Service to you. 3.1 Personal Data While using our Service, we may ask you to provide us with certain personally identifiable information that can be used to contact or identify you. Personally identifiable information may include, but is not limited to: – Email address – First name and last name – Phone number – Address, State, Province, ZIP/Postal code, City – Cookies and Usage Data 3.2 Financial Data Financial information such as payment method details (including credit card numbers, banking information) is collected and stored by our payment processors, and we may receive certain information from these payment processors to facilitate payments. All payment data is stored by our payment processor (such as PayPal, Stripe, etc.), and you should review their privacy policies to understand their privacy practices. 3.3 Usage Data We may also collect information about how the Service is accessed and used ("Usage Data"). This Usage Data may include information such as your computer's Internet Protocol address (e.g., IP address), browser type, browser version, the pages of our Service that you visit, the time and date of your visit, the time spent on those pages, unique device identifiers, and other diagnostic data. 3.4 Location Data We may use and store information about your location if you give us permission to do so ("Location Data"). We use this data to provide features of our Service, to improve and customize our Service. You can enable or disable location services when you use our Service at any time, through your device settings. 3.5 Tracking Technologies and Cookies We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to track the activity on our Service and hold certain information. Cookies are files with a small amount of data, which may include an anonymous unique identifier. Cookies are sent to your browser from a website and stored on your device. Tracking technologies also used are beacons, tags, and scripts to collect and track information and to improve and analyze our Service. You can instruct your browser to refuse all cookies or to indicate when a cookie is being sent. However, if you do not accept cookies, you may not be able to use some portions of our Service. Examples of Cookies we use: – Session Cookies: We use Session Cookies to operate our Service. – Preference Cookies: We use Preference Cookies to remember your preferences and various settings. – Security Cookies: We use Security Cookies for security purposes. – Advertising Cookies: Advertising Cookies are used to serve you with advertisements that may be relevant to you and your interests. 

4. HOW WE USE YOUR INFORMATION The Institute for Research and Theory Methodologies uses the collected data for various purposes: – To provide and maintain our Service – To notify you about changes to our Service – To allow you to participate in interactive features of our Service when you choose to do so – To provide customer support – To gather analysis or valuable information so that we can improve our Service – To monitor the usage of our Service – To detect, prevent, and address technical issues – To fulfill any other purpose for which you provide it – To provide you with news, special offers, and general information about other goods, services, and events which we offer that are similar to those that you have already purchased or enquired about, unless you have opted not to receive such information – In any other way we may describe when you provide the information – For any other purpose with your consent 

5. LEGAL BASIS FOR PROCESSING PERSONAL DATA UNDER GDPR If you are from the European Economic Area (EEA), the Institute for Research and Theory Methodologies' legal basis for collecting and using the personal information described in this Privacy Policy depends on the Personal Data we collect and the specific context in which we collect it. The Institute for Research and Theory Methodologies may process your Personal Data because: – We need to perform a contract with you – You have given us permission to do so – The processing is in our legitimate interests and it's not overridden by your rights – To comply with the law 

6. RETENTION OF YOUR PERSONAL DATA The Institute for Research and Theory Methodologies will retain your Personal Data only for as long as is necessary for the purposes set out in this Privacy Policy. We will retain and use your Personal Data to the extent necessary to comply with our legal obligations (for example, if we are required to retain your data to comply with applicable laws), resolve disputes, and enforce our legal agreements and policies. The Institute for Research and Theory Methodologies will also retain Usage Data for internal analysis purposes. Usage Data is generally retained for a shorter period of time, except when this data is used to strengthen the security or to improve the functionality of our Service, or we are legally obligated to retain this data for longer time periods. 6.1 Data Retention for Physical Goods For orders involving physical goods, we retain your shipping and billing information, including your name, address, and contact details, as necessary to fulfill your order, process returns, manage warranty claims, and comply with tax, legal, and regulatory obligations. This information may be retained for a longer period than other personal data to ensure proper delivery of goods and to handle any post-purchase issues that may arise. 

7. TRANSFER OF YOUR PERSONAL DATA Your information, including Personal Data, may be transferred to — and maintained on — computers located outside of your state, province, country or other governmental jurisdiction where the data protection laws may differ from those of your jurisdiction. If you are located outside United States and choose to provide information to us, please note that we transfer the data, including Personal Data, to United States and process it there. Your consent to this Privacy Policy followed by your submission of such information represents your agreement to that transfer. The Institute for Research and Theory Methodologies will take all steps reasonably necessary to ensure that your data is treated securely and in accordance with this Privacy Policy and no transfer of your Personal Data will take place to an organization or a country unless there are adequate controls in place including the security of your data and other personal information. 

8. DISCLOSURE OF YOUR PERSONAL DATA Business Transactions: If the Institute for Research and Theory Methodologies is involved in a merger, acquisition or asset sale, your Personal Data may be transferred. We will provide notice before your Personal Data is transferred and becomes subject to a different Privacy Policy. Disclosure for Law Enforcement: Under certain circumstances, the Institute for Research and Theory Methodologies may be required to disclose your Personal Data if required to do so by law or in response to valid requests by public authorities (e.g. a court or a government agency). Legal Requirements: The Institute for Research and Theory Methodologies may disclose your Personal Data in the good faith belief that such action is necessary to: – Comply with a legal obligation – Protect and defend the rights or property of Institute for Research and Theory Methodologies – Prevent or investigate possible wrongdoing in connection with the Service – Protect the personal safety of users of the Service or the public – Protect against legal liability 

9. THIRD-PARTY DISCLOSURE 9.1 Analytics We may use third-party Service Providers to monitor and analyze the use of our Service. - Google Analytics: Google Analytics is a web analytics service offered by Google that tracks and reports website traffic. Google uses the data collected to track and monitor the use of our Service. This data is shared with other Google services. Google may use the collected data to contextualize and personalize the ads of its own advertising network. You can opt-out of having made your activity on the Service available to Google Analytics by installing the Google Analytics opt-out browser add-on. The add-on prevents the Google Analytics JavaScript from sharing information with Google Analytics about visits activity. For more information on the privacy practices of Google, please visit the Google Privacy & Terms web page: https://policies.google.com/privacy (https://policies.google.com/privacy) 9.3 Payments We may provide paid products and/or services within the Service. In that case, we use third-party services for payment processing (e.g. payment processors). We will not store or collect your payment card details. That information is provided directly to our third-party payment processors whose use of your personal information is governed by their Privacy Policy. These payment processors adhere to the standards set by PCI-DSS as managed by the PCI Security Standards Council, which is a joint effort of brands like Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover. PCI-DSS requirements help ensure the secure handling of payment information. The payment processors we work with are: – PayPal or Braintree: Their Privacy Policy can be viewed at https://www.paypal.com/webapps/mpp/ua/privacy-full (https://www.paypal.com/webapps/mpp/ua/privacy-full) – Stripe: Their Privacy Policy can be viewed at https://stripe.com/us/privacy (https://stripe.com/us/privacy) 9.4 Cloud Services We may use third-party cloud service providers to host our Service and store your data. - Amazon Web Services (AWS): Their Privacy Policy can be viewed at https://aws.amazon.com/privacy/ (https://aws.amazon.com/privacy/) - Microsoft : Their Privacy Policy can be viewed at https://privacy.microsoft.com/en-us/privacystatement (https://privacy.microsoft.com/en-us/privacystatement) - Google Cloud Platform: Their Privacy Policy can be viewed at https://cloud.google.com/terms/cloud-privacy-notice (https://cloud.google.com/terms/cloud-privacy-notice) -Sync: Their Privacy Policy can be viewed at https://www.sync.com/privacy-policy-gdpr/ 

10. SECURITY OF YOUR PERSONAL DATA The security of your Personal Data is important to us, but remember that no method of transmission over the Internet, or method of electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your Personal Data, we cannot guarantee its absolute security. 

11. CHILDREN'S PRIVACY Our Service does not address anyone under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personally identifiable information from anyone under the age of 13. If you are a parent or guardian and you are aware that your child has provided us with Personal Data, please contact us. If we become aware that we have collected Personal Data from anyone under the age of 13 without verification of parental consent, we take steps to remove that information from our servers. If we need to rely on consent as a legal basis for processing your information and your country requires consent from a parent, we may require your parent's consent before we collect and use that information. 

12. YOUR DATA PROTECTION RIGHTS Depending on your location and applicable laws, you may have certain rights regarding your personal information, including rights to access, correct, delete, or restrict use of your information. We honor these rights regardless of your location and are committed to providing reasonable access to the information that you have shared with us. 12.1 General Data Access & Deletion Rights Regardless of your location, you can make the following requests regarding your personal data: – Access Your Data: You can request a copy of the personal information we have about you. We will provide this information in a structured, commonly used, and machine-readable format. – Delete Your Data: You can request that we delete your personal information from our systems. We will comply with this request unless there is a legal requirement for us to keep certain information. To submit a data access or deletion request, please contact us using the contact information provided at the end of this Privacy Policy. We will respond to your request within 30 days. We may need to verify your identity before processing your request. 12.2 CCPA Privacy Rights (California Residents) If you are a California resident, you are entitled to learn what data we collect about you, ask to delete your data and not to sell (share) it. To exercise your data protection rights, you can make certain requests and ask us: – What personal information we have about you. If you make this request, we will return to you: – The categories of personal information we have collected about you – The categories of sources from which we collect your personal information – The business or commercial purpose for collecting or selling your personal information – The categories of third parties with whom we share personal information – The specific pieces of personal information we have collected about you – A list of categories of personal information that we have sold, along with the category of any other company we sold it to – A list of categories of personal information that we have disclosed for a business purpose, along with the category of any other company we shared it with – To delete your personal information. If you make this request, we will delete the personal information we hold about you as of the date of your request from our records and direct any service providers to do the same. In some cases, deletion may be accomplished through de-identification of the information. If you choose to delete your personal information, you may not be able to use certain functions that require your personal information to operate. – To stop selling your personal information. We don't sell or rent your personal information to any third parties for any purpose. We do not sell your personal information for monetary consideration. However, under some state laws, sharing your data through certain targeted advertisements may be considered a "sale" of information. You are the only owner of your Personal Data and can request disclosure or deletion at any time. We will respond to verified requests within 45 days as required by the CCPA. If we need more time, we will inform you of the reason and extension period in writing. Please note, if you ask us to delete or stop selling your data, it may impact your experience with us, and you may not be able to participate in certain programs or membership services which require the usage of your personal information to function. But in no circumstances, we will discriminate against you for exercising your rights. To exercise your California data protection rights described above, please send your request(s) by email: info@mentoringresearchers.org. Your data protection rights, described above, are covered by the CCPA, short for the California Consumer Privacy Act. To find out more, visit the official California Legislative Information website. The CCPA took effect on 01/01/2020. 

13. SERVICE PROVIDERS We may employ third-party companies and individuals to facilitate our Service ("Service Providers"), to provide the Service on our behalf, to perform Service-related services or to assist us in analyzing how our Service is used. These third parties have access to your Personal Data only to perform these tasks on our behalf and are obligated not to disclose or use it for any other purpose. 

14. LINKS TO OTHER SITES Our Service may contain links to other sites that are not operated by us. If you click on a third-party link, you will be directed to that third party's site. We strongly advise you to review the Privacy Policy of every site you visit. We have no control over and assume no responsibility for the content, privacy policies, or practices of any third-party sites or services. 

15. CHANGES TO THIS PRIVACY POLICY We may update our Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on this page. We will let you know via email and/or a prominent notice on our Service, prior to the change becoming effective, and update the "effective date" at the top of this Privacy Policy. You are advised to review this Privacy Policy periodically for any changes. Changes to this Privacy Policy are effective when they are posted on this page. 16. CONTACT US If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact us: – By email: info@mentoringresearchers.org – By visiting this page on our website: https://www.mentoringresearchers.org/contactus – By phone number: +01(858)848-7576 – By mail: 13920 Chancellor Way, Poway, CA 92064 Regulatory Compliance General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Compliance The following provisions apply to users protected by European Union regulations: Data Collection Under GDPR In compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), we collect and process your personal data only when we have a lawful basis to do so. This includes processing based on your consent, to fulfill a contract with you, to comply with a legal obligation, to protect your vital interests, to perform a task in the public interest, or for our legitimate interests where those don't override your fundamental rights and freedoms. We collect only the minimum data necessary for the purposes specified in this policy. When we request your consent to process your data, you have the right to withdraw that consent at any time. Data Processing Under GDPR We process personal data in accordance with the principles outlined in the GDPR: – Lawfulness, fairness, and transparency: We process data lawfully, fairly, and in a transparent manner. – Purpose limitation: We collect data for specified, explicit, and legitimate purposes and do not process it in a manner incompatible with those purposes. – Data minimization: We limit data collection to what is necessary for the purposes for which it is processed. – Accuracy: We take reasonable steps to ensure personal data is accurate and kept up to date. – Storage limitation: We keep data in a form that permits identification only as long as necessary for the purposes of processing. – Integrity and confidentiality: We process data in a manner that ensures appropriate security, including protection against unauthorized or unlawful processing and against accidental loss, destruction, or damage. We maintain records of our data processing activities and conduct data protection impact assessments where required by law. Your Rights Under GDPR If you are located in the European Economic Area (EEA), you have the following rights with respect to your personal data: – Right to access: You can request a copy of the personal data we hold about you. – Right to rectification: You can request that we correct inaccurate or incomplete data about you. – Right to erasure: You can request that we delete your personal data in certain circumstances. – Right to restrict processing: You can request that we restrict the processing of your data in certain circumstances. – Right to data portability: You can request to receive your data in a structured, commonly used, and machine-readable format. – Right to object: You can object to our processing of your personal data in certain circumstances. – Rights related to automated decision-making: You can request human intervention in automated decisions that significantly affect you. To exercise these rights, please contact us at info@mentoringresearchers.org. We will respond to your request within 30 days. International Data Transfers If we transfer your personal data outside the European Economic Area (EEA), we will ensure that appropriate safeguards are in place to protect your data, such as: – Transferring to countries deemed by the European Commission to provide adequate protection – Using Standard Contractual Clauses approved by the European Commission – Adopting Binding Corporate Rules for transfers within our corporate group – Where applicable, relying on derogations for specific situations such as your explicit consent or the necessity to perform a contract with you You have the right to obtain information about the safeguards we use to transfer your personal data outside the EEA by contacting us at info@mentoringresearchers.org. California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) Compliance The following provisions apply to users protected by California, United States regulations: Information Collection Notice for California Residents Under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), we are required to inform California residents about the categories of personal information we collect and the purposes for which we use this information. In the past 12 months, we have collected the following categories of personal information: – Identifiers (such as name, email address, IP address) – Commercial information (such as products purchased or considered) – Internet or other electronic network activity (such as browsing history) – Geolocation data – Inferences drawn from other personal information We use this information for the business and commercial purposes described in our Privacy Policy. California Privacy Rights If you are a California resident, you have the following rights under the CCPA: – Right to know: You can request information about the personal information we have collected about you and how we have used and disclosed it. – Right to delete: You can request the deletion of your personal information, subject to certain exceptions. – Right to opt-out: You can opt out of the sale of your personal information, if applicable. – Right to non-discrimination: We will not discriminate against you for exercising any of your CCPA rights. To exercise your rights, you can submit a verifiable consumer request by contacting us at info@mentoringresearchers.org or through the methods described in our Privacy Policy. You may make a request up to twice within a 12-month period. We will respond to your request within 45 days, with a possible extension of up to 45 additional days when reasonably necessary. California Do Not Sell My Personal Information Under the CCPA, California residents have the right to opt-out of the sale of their personal information. The Institute for Research and Theory Methodologies does not sell personal information as defined by the CCPA. Lei Geral de Proteção de Dados (LGPD) Compliance The following provisions apply to users protected by Brazil regulations: Legal Basis for Processing Under LGPD In accordance with the Brazilian General Data Protection Law (LGPD), we only process your personal data when we have a legal basis to do so. These legal bases include: – With your consent – To fulfill a contract with you or to take steps at your request before entering into a contract – To comply with a legal or regulatory obligation – For the regular exercise of rights in judicial, administrative, or arbitration proceedings – For our legitimate interests, provided these interests do not override your fundamental rights and freedoms – To protect credit (in accordance with applicable legislation) – For the protection of your life or physical safety, or the life or physical safety of a third party – For health procedures, when processing is performed by health professionals or health entities – To perform public policy studies and research – For the regular exercise of rights in contracts or judicial, administrative, or arbitration proceedings Your Rights Under LGPD If you are located in Brazil, the LGPD provides you with specific rights regarding your personal data. You have the right to: – Confirmation of the existence of processing of your personal data – Access to your personal data – Correction of incomplete, inaccurate, or outdated data – Anonymization, blocking, or deletion of unnecessary or excessive data – Portability of your data to another service provider – Deletion of personal data processed with your consent – Information about public and private entities with which we have shared your data – Information about the possibility of not providing consent and the consequences – Revocation of consent To exercise any of these rights, please contact our Data Protection Officer at the contact information provided below. We will respond to your request within 15 days. Data Protection Officer (DPO) In compliance with the LGPD, we have appointed a Data Protection Officer (DPO) who can be contacted regarding any questions or concerns about our personal data processing practices: DPO Name: Kara Vander Linden Email: info@mentoringresearchers.org Address: 13920 Chancellor Way, Poway, CA 92064 Our DPO is responsible for ensuring our compliance with the LGPD and will respond to your inquiries regarding your personal data. Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) Compliance The following provisions apply to users protected by Canada regulations: Consent Under PIPEDA In accordance with the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA), we obtain your consent when we collect, use, or disclose your personal information. The form of consent may vary depending on the circumstances and the type of information collected. Express consent is generally obtained when the information is likely to be considered sensitive, while implied consent may be appropriate when the information is less sensitive. You may withdraw your consent at any time, subject to legal or contractual restrictions and reasonable notice. However, please note that withdrawing your consent may affect our ability to provide you with certain products or services. Canadian Privacy Rights Under PIPEDA, you have the right to: – Access your personal information held by us – Challenge the accuracy and completeness of your personal information – Have your personal information amended where inaccurate or incomplete – Withdraw your consent to the continued use and disclosure of your personal information To exercise these rights, please contact our Privacy Officer at info@mentoringresearchers.org. We will respond to your request within 30 days, unless an extension is warranted. Cross-Border Data Transfers Your personal information may be stored and processed in Canada or other countries where we or our service providers maintain facilities. By using our services, you consent to the transfer of information to countries outside your country of residence, which may have different data protection rules than in your country. When we transfer your personal information to other countries, we will protect that information as described in this Privacy Policy and in accordance with applicable law. We take steps to ensure that third parties involved in processing your data maintain appropriate data protection safeguards. Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) Compliance The following provisions apply to users protected by South Africa regulations: Processing Principles Under POPIA In compliance with the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA), we process your personal information in accordance with the following principles: – Accountability: We are responsible for ensuring compliance with POPIA principles – Processing limitation: We process your information lawfully and minimally – Purpose specification: We collect information for specific, explicitly defined purposes – Further processing limitation: We only use your information for purposes compatible with those for which it was collected – Information quality: We take reasonable steps to ensure your information is complete, accurate, and not misleading – Openness: We maintain documentation about our processing activities and notify you when collecting your information – Security safeguards: We secure the integrity and confidentiality of your information – Data subject participation: We facilitate your right to access and correct your information We only process your personal information if we have a lawful basis, including your consent, contractual necessity, legal obligation, or our legitimate interests. Your Rights Under POPIA As a data subject under POPIA, you have the right to: – Request confirmation of whether we hold your personal information – Request access to your personal information – Request correction or deletion of inaccurate, irrelevant, excessive, outdated, incomplete, misleading, or unlawfully obtained personal information – Object to the processing of your personal information in certain circumstances – Object to the processing of your personal information for direct marketing purposes – Not be subject to a decision based solely on automated processing – Submit a complaint to the Information Regulator – Institute civil proceedings regarding alleged interference with your personal information To exercise these rights, please contact our Information Officer using the details provided below. Information Officer In accordance with POPIA, we have appointed an Information Officer who is responsible for ensuring our compliance with the Act: Information Officer Name: Kara Vander Linden Email: info@mentoringresearchers.org Phone: +01(858)848-7576 You may contact our Information Officer with any inquiries related to the processing of your personal information or to exercise your rights under POPIA. Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) Compliance The following provisions apply to users protected by Australia regulations: Australian Privacy Principles Compliance We comply with the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) contained in the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth). The APPs govern how we collect, use, disclose, store, and provide access to your personal information. We are committed to: – Being open and transparent about how we manage your personal information – Only collecting personal information that is reasonably necessary for our functions or activities – Notifying you about the collection of your personal information – Only using or disclosing your personal information for the purpose for which it was collected, or for a related purpose you would reasonably expect – Taking reasonable steps to protect your personal information from misuse, interference, loss, and unauthorized access, modification, or disclosure – Providing you with access to your personal information upon request – Correcting inaccurate, out-of-date, incomplete, irrelevant, or misleading personal information For more detailed information about how we handle your personal information, please refer to our Privacy Policy. Your Privacy Rights in Australia Under the Privacy Act and the APPs, you have the right to: – Request access to the personal information we hold about you – Request correction of any personal information that is inaccurate, out-of-date, incomplete, irrelevant, or misleading – Make a complaint about a breach of the APPs – Opt out of receiving direct marketing communications from us – Request information about our privacy practices and handling of your personal information To exercise these rights, please contact our Privacy Officer at info@mentoringresearchers.org . We will respond to your request within a reasonable timeframe (usually within 30 days). Disclosure to Overseas Recipients We may disclose your personal information to overseas recipients, such as service providers or affiliated entities located outside Australia. When we do so, we take reasonable steps to ensure that the overseas recipient does not breach the APPs in relation to your personal information. The countries where overseas recipients may be located anywhere in the world. By providing your personal information, you consent to this disclosure. If a third-party overseas recipient handles your personal information in a way that breaches the APPs, we may be accountable under the Privacy Act, and you may not be able to seek redress under the Privacy Act against the overseas recipient. Canada's Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL) Compliance The following provisions apply to users protected by Canada regulations: Consent for Electronic Communications In compliance with Canada's Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL), we obtain appropriate consent before sending commercial electronic messages (CEMs) to electronic addresses. We may rely on either express or implied consent: – Express consent means you have actively agreed to receive our communications, which remains valid until you withdraw it. – Implied consent may arise from an existing business relationship, existing non-business relationship, conspicuous publication of your address, or voluntary disclosure of your address to us without indicating you do not wish to receive CEMs. When requesting your express consent, we clearly identify the purpose for which consent is sought, provide our contact information, and inform you that you can withdraw your consent at any time. Unsubscribe Mechanism Every commercial electronic message we send includes a clear and prominent unsubscribe mechanism that allows you to withdraw your consent to receive future messages. The unsubscribe mechanism: – Is easy to use and at no cost to you – Can be executed through the same electronic means by which the message was sent, or if that is not practicable, through another electronic means – Specifies an electronic address or link to a webpage to which the unsubscribe request may be sent When you unsubscribe, we will honor your request within 10 business days. We will not charge a fee, require you to provide personal information beyond your electronic address, or make you take any steps other than sending a reply email or visiting a single webpage to unsubscribe. CASL Compliance Statement We are committed to compliance with Canada's Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL). This means we: – Obtain appropriate consent before sending commercial electronic messages – Clearly identify ourselves in all communications – Provide our contact information in all communications – Honor all unsubscribe requests promptly – Do not alter transmission data without consent – Do not install computer programs without consent If you have questions about our CASL compliance practices or believe you have received a message from us that does not comply with CASL, please contact us at info@mentoringresearchers.org. Additional Terms International Shipping and Customs Shipping Destinations We ship to most countries worldwide, although certain restrictions may apply. We reserve the right to refuse shipment to certain countries or addresses at our discretion, including those subject to international sanctions or where fraud risk is elevated. Customs, Duties, and Taxes For international orders, you are responsible for all customs duties, taxes, import fees, and any other charges that may be levied by agencies in the destination country. These fees are not included in the purchase price or shipping charges and are collected directly by the destination country's authorities. We cannot predict these costs, as customs policies and tax rates vary widely by country. Customs Documentation and Declarations We declare all international shipments accurately and in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. We will not declare merchandise at a lower value or as a gift to circumvent customs duties or taxes. Requesting such actions is a violation of these Terms and may result in order cancellation. Import Restrictions Many countries have restrictions on certain types of products that can be imported. You are responsible for ensuring that the items you order can be lawfully imported to your destination country. We are not responsible for any items seized, returned, or destroyed by customs authorities due to import restrictions. Delivery Delays International shipments may experience delays due to customs processing, local delivery conditions, or other factors outside our control. Estimated delivery timeframes for international orders are approximations only, and we cannot guarantee delivery within these timeframes. We are not responsible for delays, lost packages, or additional fees resulting from the customs clearance process. Tracking and Insurance All international orders include tracking information to the extent supported by the destination country. For certain high-value shipments, we may include insurance at our discretion or offer it as an option during checkout. Insurance claims for lost or damaged shipments must be filed within [NUMBER] days of the estimated delivery date. Returns from International Locations Returning products from international locations may incur additional shipping costs, which are your responsibility unless the return is due to our error. In certain cases, returned merchandise from international locations may be subject to return shipping duties or taxes, which will also be your responsibility. Virtual Events and Webinars Registration and Access Access to our virtual events, webinars, and online conferences (collectively, "Virtual Events") requires registration and, in some cases, payment of applicable fees. Upon successful registration, we will provide you with access credentials or instructions. These credentials are personal to you and may not be shared, transferred, or distributed to any third party. Recordings and Content Use Virtual Events may be recorded, and by participating, you grant us permission to record, store, and distribute your likeness, voice, and any content you share during the event. You retain ownership of any original content you provide, but grant us a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to use, reproduce, distribute, and display such content in connection with our services. Recordings of Virtual Events are protected by copyright and may be made available to registrants for a limited time after the live event. You may not record, reproduce, share, distribute, modify, or create derivative works from our Virtual Events without our express written permission. Participant Conduct When participating in Virtual Events, you agree to: – Conduct yourself in a professional and respectful manner – Not engage in disruptive behavior that interferes with others' experience – Not share inappropriate, offensive, or illegal content – Not engage in marketing, solicitation, or commercial activities unless explicitly permitted – Comply with any additional guidelines provided for specific events We reserve the right to remove participants who violate these conduct guidelines without refund or to deny access to future events. Technical Requirements and Limitations Access to Virtual Events requires compatible hardware, software, and an internet connection. We are not responsible for technical issues on your end that prevent or impair your participation. While we make reasonable efforts to ensure platform stability, we do not guarantee uninterrupted access to Virtual Events and are not liable for technical failures outside our control. Cancellation and Rescheduling We reserve the right to reschedule, modify, or cancel Virtual Events. In case of cancellation, paid registrants will receive a refund or credit for a future event, at our discretion. If you are unable to attend a Virtual Event for which you have registered, our refund policy is explained here: https://www.mentoringresearchers.org/refundpolicy. Disclaimers Virtual Event content is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. We do not guarantee any particular outcome or result from applying information obtained during Virtual Events. Opinions expressed by presenters or participants other than our official representatives do not necessarily reflect our views and policies. API Usage and Integration API License Subject to these Terms, we grant you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable license to access and use our Application Programming Interface ("API") for the purpose of developing, testing, and supporting your integration with our Services, and for facilitating your use of our Services. API Credentials and Security To access our API, you may need to register for API credentials (such as API keys, tokens, or passwords). You agree to: – Keep your API credentials secure and confidential – Not share your API credentials with any third party without our prior written consent – Implement reasonable security measures to protect your API credentials – Notify us immediately of any breach or unauthorized use of your API credentials You are responsible for all activities that occur under your API credentials. Usage Restrictions and Rate Limits Your use of our API is subject to the following restrictions: – API calls may be subject to rate limits (requests per minute, hour, or day) – Usage may be capped at certain volumes based on your service tier – Certain API functionality may require additional permissions or separate agreement – You may not use the API in a manner that exceeds reasonable request volume or constitutes excessive or abusive usage We reserve the right to enforce API rate limits, monitor API usage, and suspend or terminate API access for violations of these restrictions. API Changes and Deprecation We may modify, update, or discontinue any aspect of our API at any time. For material changes to the API, we will make reasonable efforts to provide advance notice. We may offer version support according to our API Lifecycle Policy, but we are not required to support previous versions of the API indefinitely. Technical Documentation We provide technical documentation for the use of our API. While we strive to keep documentation accurate and up-to-date, we do not warrant that the documentation will be error-free. Technical documentation is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind. Third-Party Applications If you develop applications for third parties that integrate with our API, you agree to: – Provide clear attribution identifying the use of our Service in your application – Ensure your end users comply with these Terms – Not misrepresent your relationship with us or suggest that we endorse your application – Comply with all applicable laws and regulations, including data protection laws Monitoring and Analytics We may monitor your use of the API for compliance with these Terms, security purposes, and to improve our Services. This monitoring may include the number of API calls, traffic patterns, and content of API requests and responses (consistent with our Privacy Policy). User-Generated Content Moderation Content Standards When submitting User Content to our Services, you must comply with the following standards. User Content must not: – Contain material that is defamatory, obscene, offensive, hateful, or inflammatory – Promote sexually explicit material, violence, or discrimination based on race, sex, religion, nationality, disability, sexual orientation, or age – Infringe any copyright, database right, trademark, or other intellectual property right of any person – Be likely to deceive or mislead any person – Be made in breach of any legal duty owed to a third party, such as a contractual duty or a duty of confidence – Promote any illegal activity or advocate, promote, or assist any unlawful act – Be threatening, abuse or invade another's privacy, or cause annoyance, inconvenience, or needless anxiety – Be likely to harass, upset, embarrass, alarm, or annoy any other person – Impersonate any person or misrepresent your identity or affiliation with any person – Give the impression that the Content emanates from us, if this is not the case – Contain any advertising or promote any services or web links to other sites without our prior written approval Moderation Process We may employ various moderation methods, including but not limited to: – Pre-moderation (reviewing content before it is published) – Post-moderation (reviewing content after it is published) – User flagging and reporting systems – Automated filtering and detection tools – Human review by moderators or community managers Our moderation team has sole discretion to determine whether User Content violates these Terms. Moderators may take any of the following actions in response to violations: – Remove or refuse to post any User Content – Limit or block a user's ability to submit User Content – Issue warnings to users – Temporarily suspend or permanently terminate a user's account – Report illegal content to relevant authorities Appeals Process If you believe your content was removed in error, you may appeal the moderation decision by contacting us at info@mentoringresearchers.org. Please include the following information in your appeal: – The specific content that was removed – The reason you believe the content does not violate our Terms – Any additional context that may be relevant to our review We will review your appeal and respond within 30 business days. All moderation decisions following an appeal are final. Repeat Offenders Users who repeatedly violate our content standards may have their accounts terminated and may be permanently prohibited from using our Services. We maintain internal records of warnings and violations to identify repeat offenders. Legal Compliance We reserve the right to disclose your identity to any third party who claims that material posted by you violates their rights (including, but not limited to, intellectual property rights or privacy rights). We will also cooperate with law enforcement authorities as required by law, which may include sharing User Content and user information in response to a valid legal request. No Monitoring Obligation Although we have the right to monitor, remove, or edit User Content, we are not obligated to do so and assume no responsibility for monitoring all User Content. Users are encouraged to report content that violates these Terms through our reporting mechanisms. Data Transfers We will only transfer personal data to countries outside the European Economic Area (EEA) or other protected jurisdictions where appropriate safeguards are in place. These safeguards may include: – Adequacy decisions by relevant authorities – Standard contractual clauses approved by relevant authorities – Binding corporate rules – Other valid transfer mechanisms Data Breach Notification We will notify you without undue delay after becoming aware of a personal data breach affecting the personal data we process on your behalf. Our notification will include, to the extent possible: – The nature of the breach – The categories and approximate number of data subjects concerned – The categories and approximate number of personal data records concerned – The likely consequences of the breach – The measures taken or proposed to address the breach and mitigate possible adverse effects Records of Processing We will maintain records of our processing activities as required by applicable data protection laws. Upon your reasonable request, we will make these records available to you to demonstrate our compliance with these Data Processing Terms. Subscription Management Subscription Plans and Billing Cycles We offer various subscription plans with different features, limitations, and pricing. The specific details of available plans are described on our pricing page. Subscriptions may be offered on a monthly, quarterly, annual, or other recurring basis as specified during signup. By subscribing to our Services, you authorize us to charge the applicable subscription fees to your designated payment method at the beginning of each billing period. For monthly subscriptions, you will be billed on the same date each month. For annual subscriptions, you will be billed on the same date each year. If a billing date falls on a date that does not exist in a particular month (e.g., the 31st), you will be billed on the last day of that month. Automatic Renewal All subscriptions automatically renew unless canceled by you prior to the renewal date. By subscribing, you authorize us to automatically charge your payment method for the subscription term at the then-current rate. If the renewal fails due to payment issues, we may attempt to process the payment multiple times. Price Changes We may change the price of our subscription plans from time to time. If we change the pricing for your subscription plan, we will provide notice of the change through our Services or via email at least 30 days before the change is to take effect. Your continued use of the Services after the price change goes into effect constitutes your agreement to pay the updated price. If you do not agree to a price change, you must cancel your subscription before the change goes into effect. Payment Methods We accept various payment methods, which may include credit cards, debit cards, PayPal, and other payment services as indicated during the checkout process. You agree to provide current, complete, and accurate billing information and to promptly update such information if it changes. For subscription services, you authorize us to store your payment method information for future charges. Cancellation You may cancel your subscription at any time through your account settings or by contacting our customer support at info@mentoringresearchers.org. Upon cancellation, your subscription will remain active until the end of your current billing period, and you will not receive a refund for any fees already paid. Free Trials and Promotional Periods We may offer free trials or promotional periods for our subscription services. Unless otherwise stated, free trials automatically convert to paid subscriptions at the end of the trial period. To avoid charges, you must cancel before the end of the free trial period. You may be required to provide a valid payment method to start a free trial, and we may authorize a nominal charge to verify your payment method. You are eligible for one free trial per subscription plan unless we explicitly permit otherwise. We reserve the right to determine eligibility for free trials and to limit or prohibit free trials at our discretion. Refunds All subscription fees are non-refundable except as expressly stated in these Terms or as required by applicable law. In exceptional circumstances, we may, at our sole discretion, offer a partial or full refund. Any refunds will be processed using the original payment method unless otherwise specified. Account Delinquency If payment cannot be charged to your payment method for any reason (such as expiration, insufficient funds, or otherwise), we will make reasonable attempts to notify you and retry the charge. If we are unable to charge your payment method after multiple attempts, we may suspend or terminate your access to the Services. You remain responsible for any uncollected amounts. Tax and VAT Subscription fees may not include applicable taxes such as sales tax, value-added tax (VAT), or goods and services tax (GST). Where required by law, we will collect and remit these taxes to the appropriate authorities. You are responsible for any taxes not collected by us that are applicable to your purchase. Accessibility Commitment to Accessibility We are committed to making our Services accessible to all users, including those with disabilities. We strive to conform to WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) and applicable laws regarding accessibility. Accessibility Features Our Services may include the following accessibility features: – Text alternatives for non-text content – Captions and other alternatives for multimedia – Content that can be presented in different ways without losing information – Functionality that is available from a keyboard – Sufficient time for users to read and use content – Content that does not cause seizures or physical reactions – Ways to help users navigate and find content – Text that is readable and understandable – Content that appears and operates in predictable ways – Input assistance to help users avoid and correct mistakes – Compatibility with current and future user tools Third-Party Content While we strive to ensure all content on our Services is accessible, we may not have control over all third-party content or applications that may be integrated into our Services. We cannot guarantee that such third-party content will meet all accessibility requirements. Feedback and Assistance If you experience any difficulty accessing any part of our Services, or if you require assistance or have suggestions for improving accessibility, please contact us at info@mentoringresearchers.org. We welcome your feedback and are committed to continually improving the accessibility of our Services. Accessibility Statement For more detailed information about our accessibility efforts, please refer to our Accessibility Statement at [ACCESSIBILITY_STATEMENT_URL].[Reviewer1] [Reviewer2] Dispute Resolution and Arbitration Informal Dispute Resolution Before filing a claim against us, you agree to attempt to resolve the dispute informally by contacting us at info@mentoringresearchers.org. We will attempt to resolve the dispute by contacting you via email. If the dispute is not resolved within 30 days after submission, you or we may initiate formal proceedings. Agreement to Arbitrate You and we agree to resolve any disputes between us through binding and final arbitration instead of through court proceedings. You acknowledge and agree that you are waiving the right to sue in court, have a jury trial, or participate in a class action. This arbitration agreement is governed by the Federal Arbitration Act and shall survive the termination of these Terms. The arbitration will be conducted by [ARBITRATION_PROVIDER] under its then-current rules and procedures, including any supplementary procedures for consumer-related disputes. Exceptions to Arbitration Notwithstanding the foregoing, the following shall not be subject to arbitration: (1) small claims court cases that qualify; (2) disputes related to intellectual property (like patents, trademarks, and copyright); (3) disputes related to or arising from allegations of theft, piracy, invasion of privacy, or unauthorized use; and (4) any claim for injunctive relief. Arbitration Procedures To begin an arbitration proceeding, you must send a letter requesting arbitration and describing your claim to our registered agent: 13920 Chancellor Way, Poway, CA 92064. The arbitration will be conducted in San Diego, CA or Poway, CA, unless you and we agree to conduct it elsewhere. If the value of your claim does not exceed $10,000, we agree that you may choose whether the arbitration will be conducted solely on the basis of documents submitted to the arbitrator, through a telephonic hearing, or by an in-person hearing as established by the arbitration rules. Arbitration Fees Payment of all filing, administration, and arbitrator fees will be governed by the arbitration provider's rules. If the arbitrator finds that your claim is non-frivolous, we will pay all filing, administration, and arbitrator fees associated with the arbitration, regardless of who initiated the proceeding. Class Action Waiver YOU AND WE AGREE THAT EACH MAY BRING CLAIMS AGAINST THE OTHER ONLY IN YOUR OR OUR INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY, AND NOT AS A PLAINTIFF OR CLASS MEMBER IN ANY PURPORTED CLASS OR REPRESENTATIVE PROCEEDING. The arbitrator may not consolidate more than one person's claims and may not otherwise preside over any form of a representative or class proceeding. Opt-Out Procedure You have the right to opt out of this arbitration agreement within 30 days of the date you first agreed to these Terms by sending a signed letter stating your decision to 13920 Chancellor Way, Poway, CA 92064. If you opt out of this arbitration agreement, all other parts of these Terms will continue to apply to you. Severability If any part of this arbitration agreement is found to be illegal or unenforceable, the remainder will remain in effect, except that if a finding of partial illegality or unenforceability would allow class or representative arbitration, this arbitration agreement shall be unenforceable in its entirety. Changes to Arbitration Agreement Notwithstanding any provision in these Terms to the contrary, we agree that if we make any future change to this arbitration agreement (except a change to the notice address), you may reject any such change by sending us written notice within 30 days of the change. Intellectual Property Rights Our Intellectual Property The Service and its original content (excluding Content provided by users), features, and functionality are and will remain the exclusive property of the Institute for Research and Theory Methodologies and its licensors. The Service is protected by copyright, trademark, and other laws of both the United States and foreign countries. Our trademarks and trade dress may not be used in connection with any product or service without the prior written consent of the Institute for Research and Theory Methodologies. Your License to Use Our Content Subject to these Terms, we grant you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, and revocable license to access and use the Service for your personal or internal business purposes. This license does not include any resale or commercial use of the Service or its contents; any collection and use of any product listings, descriptions, or prices; any derivative use of the Service or its contents; or any use of data mining, robots, or similar data gathering and extraction tools. Third-Party Intellectual Property The Service may display content that belongs to third parties. You may not use this third-party content without the permission of these third parties, and your use of third-party content may be subject to additional terms and conditions. We are not responsible for examining or evaluating the content or accuracy of any third-party content, and we do not warrant and will not have any liability or responsibility for any third-party materials or websites, or for any other materials, products, or services of third parties. Copyright Complaints If you believe that any material available on or through the Service infringes upon your copyright, please notify us in accordance with our Copyright Policy, which is incorporated by reference into these Terms. We will respond to notices of alleged copyright infringement that comply with applicable law. We reserve the right to remove or disable access to any material claimed to be infringing or claimed to be the subject of infringing activity and to remove or disable access to any reference or link to material or activity that allegedly infringes any copyright. DMCA Compliance If you are a copyright owner or an agent thereof and believe that any content on the Service infringes upon your copyrights, you may submit a notification pursuant to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act ("DMCA") by providing our Copyright Agent with the following information in writing: – A physical or electronic signature of a person authorized to act on behalf of the owner of an exclusive right that is allegedly infringed – Identification of the copyrighted work claimed to have been infringed – Identification of the material that is claimed to be infringing or to be the subject of infringing activity and that is to be removed or access to which is to be disabled, and information reasonably sufficient to permit us to locate the material – Information reasonably sufficient to permit us to contact you, such as an address, telephone number, and an e-mail address – A statement that you have a good faith belief that use of the material in the manner complained of is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law – A statement that the information in the notification is accurate, and under penalty of perjury, that you are authorized to act on behalf of the owner of an exclusive right that is allegedly infringed Our designated Copyright Agent to receive notifications of claimed infringement is: Kara Vander Linden, 13920 Chancellor Way, Poway, CA 92064, info@mentoringresearchers.org, +01(858)848-7576.