Privacy notice

Who handles your information

Plays Research LLC operates this website and handles the business enquiries and subscriptions described here. For privacy questions or requests, contact info@playsresearch.com.

Enquiries and project information

When you email Dr. Shen, the information received may include your name, email address, organization, project context and any material you choose to send. It is used to respond, assess whether the work is a fit, consider potential conflicts, discuss scope and maintain relevant business correspondence.

Please send only a non-confidential outline at first. Access to confidential engineering files and the confidentiality terms for an engagement are arranged separately. This website notice is not a non-disclosure agreement.

Email subscriptions

The email subscription form uses WordPress.com and Jetpack. Your email address and subscription status are used to deliver Plays Research Letters and manage that subscription. You can stop future subscription emails using the unsubscribe link in a subscription email. A LinkedIn subscription is managed separately on LinkedIn.

Website visits and cookies

WordPress.com and Jetpack provide hosting and site statistics. They process technical visit data, which can include IP address, browser information, pages viewed, referring page and time of access. This supports site operation, security and readership measurement. The public site counter shows an aggregate view count.

WordPress services may use cookies or similar technologies. Browser settings can restrict or clear cookies, which can affect some features. See Automattic’s Cookie Policy.

Services that process information

• Website, subscriptions and statistics. WordPress.com and Jetpack are provided by Automattic. Gravatar may serve profile images; Akismet supports spam filtering where submission features use it. Visitor privacy notice.
• Email. Business email is handled through Google’s email services. Google privacy information.
• Appointments. The booking link opens Calendly, which processes the contact details and appointment information you provide to arrange the meeting. Calendly privacy notice.
• LinkedIn. Profile and newsletter links open LinkedIn, where its account and privacy settings apply. LinkedIn privacy policy.

These providers may process information outside your country, including in the United States. Their notices explain their processing locations and transfer arrangements. Contact Plays Research if you need further information about a particular channel before using it.

Purposes and legal basis

Where EU or UK data protection rules apply, handling an enquiry or appointment supports responding to your request and, where relevant, steps toward a contract. Website administration, security and relevant business follow-up serve legitimate business interests. Newsletter delivery follows your subscription choice, which you can withdraw. Applicable legal obligations may require certain records to be kept.

How long information is retained

The retention of enquiry correspondence depends on ongoing business needs, possible relevant follow-up and applicable record-keeping obligations. There is no fixed deletion period for enquiries that do not lead to an engagement. You can contact Plays Research to ask about or request deletion of your information.

Subscription and technical service records are also subject to the relevant provider’s retention arrangements. Cancelling a subscription stops future subscription emails; it does not necessarily erase all service records.

Your choices and requests

Contact info@playsresearch.com to request access, correction or deletion of personal information held by Plays Research. Depending on the law that applies, you may also have rights to restrict or object to processing, receive a portable copy, withdraw consent, or complain to a data protection authority. Requests may require enough information to verify your identity and locate the relevant records.

For information controlled directly by WordPress.com, Google, Calendly or LinkedIn, their notices also explain how to exercise your choices with them.

Changes to this notice

This notice may be updated as the website or its services change. The date above identifies the latest version.