1. GENERAL
The private limited liability company incorporated under Belgian law AcademicLabs, with registered offices at Korenmarkt 14B, 9000 Gent, registered at the Register of Legal Entities of Gent, division Gent under the number 0643.547.983 and known by the VAT-administration under the number BE0643.547.983 (hereafter "AcademicLabs" or "we") primarily makes use of cookies to enhance the surfing experience on the website academiclabs.com (hereafter the "Website") and its digital platform (hereinafter the "Digital Platform"). AcademicLabs also retrieves data from cookies to understand the user's (hereafter a "user" or "you" or "your") experience and visitation of the Website and the Digital Platform with the aim to improve the performance and usability of the Website and the Digital Platform. AcademicLabs may change, supplement or amend this policy applicable on its use of cookies (hereafter the "Cookie Policy") as it relates to any future use of the Website and the Digital Platform from time to time, and for any reason, by conspicuously posting a revised policy on the Website and/or on the Digital Platform.
2. WHAT IS A COOKIE?
A cookie, also known as an HTTP cookie, web cookie, or browser cookie, is usually a small piece of data sent from a website or a digital platform and stored in a user's web browser while a user is browsing a website or visits a digital platform. When the user browses the same website or visits the same digital platform in the future, the data stored in the cookie can be retrieved by the website or the digital platform to notify the website or the digital platform of the user's previous activity. Cookies were designed to be a reliable mechanism for websites and digital platforms to remember the state of the website and the digital platform or activity the user had taken in the past. Cookies may include clicking particular buttons, logging in, or a record of which pages were visited by you even months or years ago. Although cookies cannot carry viruses, and cannot install malware on the host computer, tracking cookies and especially third-party tracking cookies are commonly used as ways to compile long-term records of individuals' browsing histories — a major privacy concern that prompted European and US law makers to take action. This Cookie Policy is in accordance with the current Belgian law (Law of 10/07/2012 laying down provisions on electronic communications, BS 20/9/2012) based on these actions. Our cookies for example help us to optimize your visit to and use of the Website and/or the Digital Platform, to remember technical choices (e.g. choice of language, a newsletter, log in data, etc.) and to show more relevant services and offers. If you want to consult the Website and/or register for access to or use the Digital Platform, AcademicLabs recommends that the cookies are turned on. However, if you prefer not to do this, you are always free to not turn them on. This Website and the Digital Platform can use the following types of cookies.
2.1. Strictly necessary cookies
As the name suggests these cookies are strictly necessary to enable you to use and/or move around the Website and/or the Digital Platform or to provide certain features that you have requested:
• Pusher
2.2. Functionality cookies
These cookies enhance the functionality of the Website and/or the Digital Platform by storing your preferences.
2.3. Tracking cookies
These cookies will outlast user sessions. If a persistent cookie has its Max-Age set to 1 year, then, within that year, the initial value set in that cookie will be sent back to the server every time you visit the server. This is used to record a vital piece of information such as how a visitor initially came to this Website and/or the Digital Platform. For this reason they are also called tracking cookies. For example, once you have selected your preferred language, the Website and/or the Digital Platform will record this preference in a persistent cookie set on your browser. When you then revisit the Website and/or the Digital Platform it will use that persistent cookie to ensure that the content is delivered in your preferred language.
2.4. Analytic cookies and/or third party cookies
These cookies help to improve the performance of the Website and/or the Digital Platform, providing a better user experience. AcademicLabs uses Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Hubspot and Hotjar to help AcademicLabs to analyze how users use the Website and Digital Platform. To support AcademicLabs' communications AcademicLabs may embed the content of social media channels such as YouTube, Facebook, Google+, LinkedIn and Twitter and AcademicLabs makes use of sharing possibilities on social networks. The channels AcademicLabs uses may present cookies from these websites, which are not controlled by AcademicLabs. You should check the relevant third party website for more information about these cookies. Some of our partners may collect aggregate analytics; these are not personally identifiable. This information may be shared with third parties for purposes such as improving their business communications and displaying targeted advertisements. PR Newswire is our partner for press releases, and leverages such cookies to gather aggregate analytics on the readership of their content.
3. OPTING OUT OF COOKIES
There are a number of options available to avoid the storage of cookies. Please visit the websites of the different browsers to learn how to block the storage of cookies. Besides avoiding storage, it is also possible to delete at any time the current installed cookies on your computer. You need to bear in mind that if you decide to delete all of your cookies, you will likely have to re-enter all of your usernames and passwords on all of the websites and Digital Platform that you visited, which you previously didn't even have to think about. As mentioned before, cookies can be a real asset to the web surfing experience.
4. GOVERNING LAW – DISPUTE RESOLUTION
All issues, questions and disputes concerning the validity, interpretation, enforcement, etc. of this policy shall be governed by and construed in accordance with Belgian law. Any controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this policy or the breach thereof shall be submitted to the sole jurisdiction of the competent courts of the registered office of AcademicLabs.