Privacy Policy

Introduction

Paperclipper is a Chrome extension operated by Harborside Apps ("Paperclipper", "we", "our", or "us"). This policy explains what information Paperclipper processes when you use the extension and this website.

Paperclipper is designed to work locally without an account. We do not sell your personal information.

Information Paperclipper Processes

Paper metadata

On supported research and publisher pages, the extension reads information needed to identify and save a paper. This may include the title, authors, publication, year, abstract, DOI or other identifiers, source URL, and links exposed by the page.

Your local library

When you save a paper, Paperclipper stores the citation record, labels, notes, source links, PDF links, extraction details, and local timestamps in your Chrome profile using browser storage. This information is not currently synced to a Paperclipper account or cloud library.

Open PDF lookup

When you choose Find PDF, Paperclipper may use a DOI to request open-access availability from Unpaywall. Unpaywall will receive that DOI and the contact email included with the request. If an open route is found, Paperclipper saves the resulting link in your local library.

Broken-page reports

If you choose Report a problem, Paperclipper shows you the report before it is sent. A report may contain the page URL and title, citation details detected on that page, extraction evidence and warnings, your selected problem category, an optional note, and extension and browser versions. Your saved library, labels, and private paper notes are not included. Reports that cannot be sent immediately remain queued in your Chrome profile for a later retry.

Website information

Our hosting provider may process standard request information, such as your IP address, browser type, requested page, and request time, to deliver and protect this website. We do not currently use advertising cookies or behavioural analytics on this website.

Chrome Permissions

Paperclipper requests browser permissions only to provide its extension features:

• Active tab: to detect citation metadata on the paper page you are viewing.
• Storage: to keep detection state and your local paper library in Chrome.
• Supported website access: to run detection on listed research and publisher domains and contact Unpaywall for open-access lookup.

How We Use Information

Information processed by Paperclipper is used to:

• Detect and save research-paper citation details.
• Maintain the local library, labels, notes, and exports you request.
• Look for legitimate open PDF routes.
• Receive reports you explicitly submit and diagnose compatibility problems.
• Operate, secure, diagnose, and improve the website and extension.
• Comply with legal obligations and protect our rights.

Sharing and Third Parties

We do not sell your personal information. Information may be processed by service providers that help us host and secure the website, by Unpaywall when you request open-access lookup, or when disclosure is required by law or needed to protect users, Paperclipper, or others. Hosting and database providers may process broken-page reports you choose to submit on our behalf.

Links opened through Paperclipper lead to third-party publishers, repositories, and services. Their own privacy policies apply when you visit them.

Your Data and Retention

You control the records stored in your local library. You can edit or delete saved papers through the extension. You can also clear extension storage through Chrome or remove the extension. Queued broken-page reports remain in Chrome until submitted or extension storage is cleared. Submitted reports may be retained while they are useful for fixing compatibility and preventing regressions. Standard website request logs may be retained by our hosting provider for security and operational purposes.

Security

We use reasonable measures to protect information processed through our services. No browser storage, network transmission, or online service can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

Children's Privacy

Paperclipper is not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this policy as Paperclipper changes. The revised policy will be posted here with a new last-updated date.

Contact Us

Questions about this policy can be sent to Harborside Apps through our support page.