Effective date: [insert publication date]

1. Who we are

Moulding Optimisation Ltd is the controller responsible for the personal information described in this Privacy Policy.

Company: Moulding Optimisation Ltd
Company number: 09680478
VAT number: 217 3064 33
Registered office: C/O SG Accounting, 1 Cedar Office Park, Cobham Road, Wimborne, United Kingdom, BH21 7SB
Website: https://mouldingoptimisation.ltd
Contact: https://mouldingoptimisation.ltd/contact-moulding-optimisation/

This Privacy Policy explains how we collect and use information when you:

• Visit or register on our website.
• Contact us or request support.
• Purchase or manage a licence.
• Download or use SIM Workbench®.
• Activate or use the Cav-Bal® Correction Engine.
• Start or use a free trial.
• Receive service, licence or expiry emails.

2. Information we collect

2.1 Website and account information

When you register, purchase, contact us or use our website, we may collect:

• Your name.
• Email address.
• Company or organisation.
• Postal address and telephone number, where supplied.
• WordPress or membership account identifier.
• Login and account activity.
• Enquiries, support messages and correspondence.
• Marketing preferences.
• Order, invoice, payment status and transaction information.

Payment card details are normally processed by the relevant payment provider and are not stored directly by us.

2.2 Website technical information

Our website and hosting provider may collect:

• IP address.
• Browser type and version.
• Device type and operating system.
• Referring pages and requested pages.
• Dates and times of access.
• Security, error and server logs.
• Cookie identifiers and analytics information where applicable.

Our Cookie Policy or cookie controls provide further information about non-essential cookies and analytics.

3. SIM Workbench and Cav-Bal licensing information

SIM Workbench includes free functionality. The Cav-Bal Correction Engine is an optional licence-controlled feature.

When SIM Workbench communicates with our licensing server, we may process:

• Customer, licence, activation and trial references.
• WordPress account identifier associated with a purchased licence.
• Licence status, start date, expiry date and computer limits.
• Activation and last-online-check dates.
• Trial start, expiry, status and last-online-check dates.
• A cryptographic device public key and a derived device hash.
• A derived installation identifier used to control anonymous trials.
• The SIM Workbench version and application User-Agent.
• Whether a startup check relates to paid use, an active trial, free use or an expired trial.
• Security and audit events relating to activation, renewal, revocation, expiry, code replacement and administration.
• IP address information used by the website host and for temporary rate limiting and service protection.

The device and installation identifiers are pseudonymous technical identifiers. They are used to recognise an installation, apply computer limits, prevent repeated trials, protect the service and produce aggregate usage statistics. They are not intended to reveal the contents of your computer or study files.

3.1 Activation Codes

Activation Codes are shown when issued or reissued. After issue, the licensing server stores a secure keyed hash of the Activation Code rather than retaining the plaintext code.

If a code is reissued, the previous code can no longer be used for a new activation.

3.2 Free use and anonymous trials

SIM Workbench may send a pseudonymous startup signal when it opens in free mode. This allows us to understand how often the free software is used without collecting the contents of a study.

An anonymous Cav-Bal trial records a pseudonymous device or installation identifier, trial reference, start date, expiry date, status and last-online-check date. No website login is required to start an anonymous trial.

Although these identifiers are designed to be pseudonymous, we treat them as personal information where data-protection law requires us to do so.

3.3 Update checks

SIM Workbench may contact a public update endpoint after startup. The request may include the application User-Agent and version-related information. The server returns information such as the current version, release message and official download page.

SIM Workbench does not silently install an update. The user chooses whether to open the download page.

3.4 Information that SIM Workbench does not normally upload

SIM Workbench study files, process values, cavity weights, graphs, reports and other engineering data remain on the user’s computer unless the user chooses to send, share or upload them.

The licensing and update services do not normally receive this study information.

3.5 Information stored on the computer

SIM Workbench stores licensing information locally, including a device key and signed entitlement. The private device key is protected for the current Windows user using Windows security facilities.

Deleting local licensing files does not necessarily delete the related server records or restart a trial.

4. How we use information

We use information to:

• Create and manage website accounts.
• Supply software, licences, trials and purchased services.
• Issue, activate, renew, revoke and administer licences.
• Apply licence expiry dates and authorised-computer limits.
• Prevent repeated trials, code sharing, fraud and misuse.
• Provide customer support.
• Send Activation Codes and requested service communications.
• Send licence-expiry reminders where enabled.
• Maintain security and audit records.
• Investigate faults, abuse and attempted unauthorised access.
• Provide update notices.
• Understand aggregate use of paid, trial, expired-trial and free modes.
• Improve our website, software and services.
• Process payments, invoices and accounting records.
• Meet legal, tax, regulatory and contractual obligations.
• Send marketing communications where permitted.

We do not sell personal information.

5. Lawful bases

Depending on the circumstances, we rely on the following lawful bases under UK data-protection law.

5.1 Contract

We process information where necessary to:

• Supply purchased software or services.
• Manage a Cav-Bal licence.
• Activate authorised computers.
• Provide support.
• Send essential licence and service communications.
• Perform our obligations under the applicable terms and End-User Licence Agreement.

If required information is not provided, we may be unable to create an account, supply a purchased licence, activate Cav-Bal or provide support.

5.2 Legitimate interests

We rely on legitimate interests where necessary to:

• Secure our website and licensing service.
• Prevent fraud, repeated trials, licence abuse and unauthorised access.
• Maintain audit records.
• Enforce reasonable computer and activation limits.
• Produce pseudonymous, aggregate product-usage statistics.
• Diagnose faults and improve the service.
• Notify users that a software update is available.
• Establish, exercise or defend legal claims.

We consider the nature of the information, the effect on users and whether the processing is reasonably expected and proportionate.

You have the right to object to processing based on legitimate interests.

5.3 Legal obligation

We may process and retain information where required for:

• Tax and accounting records.
• Responding to lawful requests.
• Consumer-protection obligations.
• Data-protection compliance.
• Other legal or regulatory requirements.

5.4 Consent

We rely on consent where required for:

• Non-essential cookies.
• Certain analytics technologies.
• Optional marketing communications.

You can withdraw consent at any time. Withdrawing consent does not affect processing that took place before withdrawal.

You have an absolute right to object to direct marketing.

6. Automated licensing decisions

The licensing system automatically determines whether Cav-Bal functions should be enabled based on information such as:

• Licence or trial status.
• Expiry date.
• Revocation status.
• Cryptographic proof from the authorised installation.
• Permitted computer limits.
• Successful online verification.

This can cause Cav-Bal calculations to remain locked or become unavailable when a licence has expired, been revoked, cannot be verified or exceeds its permitted computer limits.

These decisions do not prevent use of the free SIM Workbench functions.

If you believe a licensing decision is incorrect, contact us and request a human review.

7. Emails and communications

We may send:

• Activation Codes.
• Replacement Activation Codes.
• Licence-expiry reminders.
• Purchase and account information.
• Security and service notices.
• Responses to support enquiries.
• Important software or policy information.

These operational communications are separate from marketing.

Marketing emails will include an unsubscribe method where required. Unsubscribing from marketing does not prevent essential communications concerning an account, purchase, licence, security issue or requested support.

8. Sharing information

We may share information with:

• Website and database hosting providers.
• Email and SMTP providers.
• Payment and invoicing providers.
• Analytics and security providers where enabled.
• IT support and software service providers.
• Accountants, insurers, solicitors and professional advisers.
• Regulators, courts, law-enforcement bodies or public authorities where required.
• A buyer or successor if our business or relevant assets are sold, reorganised or transferred.

Providers acting on our behalf may only use information for the services they provide to us and must protect it appropriately.

We do not provide SIM Workbench study data to these providers through the normal licensing process because study data is not normally uploaded to our licensing server.

9. International transfers

Some service providers may process information outside the United Kingdom.

Where personal information is transferred internationally, we use an appropriate lawful safeguard where required, such as:

• UK adequacy regulations.
• The UK International Data Transfer Agreement.
• The UK Addendum to approved standard contractual clauses.
• Another legally permitted transfer mechanism.

You may contact us for further information about safeguards relevant to your information.

10. Retention

We retain information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purpose for which it was collected, including legal, accounting, security and dispute-resolution requirements.

Our intended retention periods are:

• Website account information: while the account remains active and normally for up to six years after closure or the last relevant transaction.
• Purchase, invoice and accounting records: normally six years after the end of the relevant financial year, or longer where legally required.
• Paid customer, licence and activation records: for the licence period and normally for up to six years afterward.
• Anonymous trial records: normally for up to three years after the trial ends, so repeated trials and abuse can be controlled.
• Pseudonymous free-mode usage signals: normally for up to 24 months.
• Licensing, security and administrative audit records: normally for up to six years, depending on their purpose.
• Support enquiries and correspondence: normally for up to six years after the matter is closed.
• Marketing records and suppression lists: until consent is withdrawn or an objection is received, with limited suppression information retained to respect the request.
• Server security logs and temporary rate-limiting records: for a shorter period appropriate to security and operational needs.
• Backups: until overwritten or deleted through the normal backup cycle.

We may retain information longer where required by law, necessary to resolve a dispute, investigate fraud or security incidents, or establish, exercise or defend legal claims.

Information may be anonymised and retained in aggregate form where it can no longer reasonably identify an individual.

11. Security

We use technical and organisational measures intended to protect information, including:

• HTTPS for communications with the licensing server.
• Cryptographic signatures for local entitlements.
• Device-key proof for activation and renewal.
• Secure hashing of Activation Codes.
• Access controls for licence administration.
• Rate limiting and audit records.
• Restricted database permissions.
• Appropriate server, account and backup security.

No internet transmission or storage system can be guaranteed completely secure. Users should protect their Windows account, Activation Code, email account and local study files.

12. Your rights

Depending on the circumstances and lawful basis, you may have the right to:

• Ask whether we process your personal information.
• Obtain a copy of your personal information.
• Correct inaccurate or incomplete information.
• Request deletion.
• Request restriction of processing.
• Object to processing based on legitimate interests.
• Object to direct marketing.
• Request portability of information you provided to us.
• Withdraw consent where processing depends on consent.
• Request human review of an applicable automated decision.
• Complain to a supervisory authority.

These rights are not absolute, and legal exemptions may apply.

To exercise a right, contact us through:

https://mouldingoptimisation.ltd/contact-moulding-optimisation/

We may request information needed to confirm your identity. We normally respond within one month, although the law permits extensions for complex requests.

13. Complaints

Please contact us first so we can try to resolve your concern.

You also have the right to complain to the UK Information Commissioner’s Office:

Information Commissioner’s Office
Website: https://ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint/
Telephone: 0303 123 1113

If you are outside the United Kingdom, you may also have the right to contact the relevant supervisory authority in your country.

14. Cookies and analytics

Our website may use essential cookies required for security, login, membership and website operation.

Non-essential analytics or marketing cookies will be used only where permitted and, where required, after consent has been obtained.

You can manage cookies using the controls presented by the website and your browser settings. Disabling essential cookies may prevent account, login or membership features from working.

15. Third-party links

Our website and software may link to third-party websites, including download, payment, support and information services.

We are not responsible for the privacy practices of independent third parties. Review their privacy notices before providing information.

16. Children

Our business software and services are intended for adults and organisations. They are not directed at children under 16, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children.

17. Changes to this Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy to reflect changes to our services, technology or legal obligations.

We will publish the revised policy on this page and update its effective date. Where a change materially affects how we use personal information, we will provide an appropriate additional notice where required.

18. Contact

For privacy questions, requests or complaints, contact:

Moulding Optimisation Ltd
C/O SG Accounting
1 Cedar Office Park
Cobham Road
Wimborne
United Kingdom
BH21 7SB

https://mouldingoptimisation.ltd/contact-moulding-optimisation/