Privacy Statement
The Prime Machine Website Privacy Statement
The website www.theprimemachine.net is not an interactive website and no personal data is collected. There are no forms or means on this website for visitors to provide personal data. The link for feedback takes you to another website with its own privacy statement. You are advised to read the privacy policies of any websites you visit.
tPM Lobster Software Privacy Statement
This page provides the privacy statement for users of tPM Lobster concordancing software (a computer application which runs separately from this website). Last updated 8 March 2025. tPM Lobster for macOS, iOS and Windows Version 1.0 onwards.
This privacy statement relates to tPM Lobster computer application (not the website where this statement is posted).
1. Information Collection and Use
tPM Lobster software does not collect or store any personal data. When you search for a word or phrase, the request is passed to the server and the results are returned. The log data will include the name of the corpus (or corpora), but no details of the words or phrases will be stored in the server. Using the save options inside the application, you may choose to save a copy of your search requests on your computer, but these are not sent or stored by the Server.
2. Log Data
When you connect to The Prime Machine Server, information about the software version will be sent and different functions will be run on the server depending whether you are connecting inside the tPM Home Network or whether you are outside this network. The server logs information about the software version used, whether it is being accessed from inside or outside the tPM Home Network, the function name and the name of the corpus (or corpora). The date and time are included in the log. The log data is anonymous and no user information is included in these logs.
Currently, the tPM Home Network is Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou, P.R. China. Users accessing The Prime Machine Server on-site (XJTLU computer labs, via XJTLU Wi-Fi) or when connected to XJTLU's VPN will be able to connect via the tPM Home Network. All other access is treated as not being on the tPM Home Network.
This log data is used to provide summary information for ongoing software and service development. The development of The Prime Machine and related applications is part of the academic research output of Dr. Stephen Jeaco, and summary information from the logs may be used in academic outputs such as academic conference papers, academic articles, book chapters, etc.
3. Security
tPM Lobster is a concordancer designed to provide you with examples of how words and phrases are used, and to help you find useful business websites. The security of your search requests and search results is important to us, but you should remember that no method of electronic transmission is 100% secure. As with other internet traffic there is always the possibility that others may try to see what requests you are making or to intercept the corpus data which is being retrieved. We cannot guarantee absolute security.
When opening links to external websites, you should pay attention to the privacy statements and terms of use of those websites.