Privacy policy
Effective 1 January 2026 · Written to be read, not skimmed past. The short version: we collect what the service needs, we sell nothing, and you can leave with your data any time.
1. What we collect
Account data: name, email, password (hashed), and role (reader, author, institution). Order data: addresses, order history, GST details where you provide them. Manuscript data: files you submit, kept confidential and never used to train AI models. Usage data: pages visited and features used, via privacy-respecting analytics; reading progress syncs only if you enable it.
2. What we use it for
Fulfilling orders, publishing your work, paying royalties, and improving the service. Marketing email only with consent, and the unsubscribe link works on the first click. We never sell personal data — not to advertisers, not to “partners”, not at all.
3. Payments
Card and UPI payments are processed by PCI-DSS compliant providers (Razorpay, Stripe, PayPal). Card numbers never touch our servers; we store only the last four digits and the token needed for refunds.
4. Manuscripts, specifically
Submissions are visible only to the editorial staff assigned to them and, anonymised, to peer reviewers. Plagiarism screening shares text with iThenticate under contract. Declined manuscripts are deleted from active systems after 12 months.
5. Cookies
Essential cookies run the bag and sign-in. Optional analytics cookies load only after you accept them. Full detail and switches on the cookie policy page.
6. Your rights
Access, correction, export and deletion — from your account settings or by writing to privacy@lighthousepublication.com. We answer within 30 days; usually within three. Applicable law: DPDP Act 2023 (India), GDPR where you're in the EEA/UK.
7. Retention & security
Orders: 8 years (tax law). Royalty records: for the life of the contract plus 8 years. Everything else: as long as your account exists. Data is encrypted in transit and at rest; access is role-based and logged in an immutable audit trail.
8. Contact
Data Protection Officer, Lighthouse Publication Pvt. Ltd., 14 Barakhamba Road, New Delhi 110001 · privacy@lighthousepublication.com