It's a fact: when it comes to things like end-user license agreements and terms of service, legalese has triumphed over readability, obfuscation has triumphed over plain speaking and the golden rule has been all but abandoned.

We call them weasel words, and we don't like them.

Not much we can do about it as a tiny start-up, but what we CAN do is give you a simple top line and THEN do the weasel words as abridged and as non-egregious as we know how to make them.

The overarching theme? WE believe in the golden rule ("do unto others..."), which in the business world means: we have no intention of %#^$ing YOU; and we will do our best to prevent anyone from %#^$ing US.

So here we go.

Privacy Policy

Privacy is a BIG DEAL, and we will do our best to do right by you.
Here's what we mean:

Cookies

When you first visit Helium | Design Lab’s website, you will be greeted with a banner giving you the ability to opt-in or opt-out of any types of information you agree to let us track. By clicking “Cookies Settings,” you are able to specify which of the types you will permit us to keep and use. Please do take advantage of this.

Order Fulfillment

Of COURSE we collect your name and shipping address, as well as phone number, email address and other relevant information we need to process your order.

We will ONLY ask for the information we need to fulfill your order.

We will not share ANY of your contact information with anyone, but we WILL hang onto your shipping details and order history to so we can help you with things like warranty replacements or returns should the need arise.

If you create a Helium | Design Lab account, we store your account password, which you can reset or change at any time, but WE don't have access to it and neither does anyone else -- at least not through our system. Some kind of kinky data breach courtesy of hackers attacking software we use? That's beyond our control and we can't be responsible for that.

Although it would suck for everybody except the bad guys.

Credit Card Processing

We use Squarespace's processing portal for credit card processing, and we don't keep your credit card information in our system. Again, your data is only used once to capture the funds necessary to fulfill your order.

Website data

Our website serves a global audience. Your IP address helps tell us where in the world you are located (unless you use a VPN, and then we DON'T know where you're located).

That's some cool spy-sounding stuff right there.

When you come to Helium | Design Lab’s website, your IP address IS automatically tracked to personalize, in theory, your shopping experience (although to be candid even with ourselves, we're not really sure what we might be able to do with that data that really WOULD make it a better shopping experience for you save for things like automating shipping and tax information to streamline the ordering process).

It's a service provided to us by software tools available to us via Squarespace.

We DO know that this kind of tracking is regarded in the industry as critical to the functionality of our kind of website and is considered necessary.

Analytics

Our analytics are limited to what Squarespace offers us, and we use THAT to help us figure out how to make our site ever easier and better to use.

We do not use ANY other services like, for example, Google Analytics.

Digital Advertising

We do not knowingly share ANY data with digital advertisers.

We hate being placed on contact lists sold by other web sites, too. We don't use digital advertising, but w e DO engage with our customers and prospects via email and social media.

Specifics of Protecting Your Data

So, right: we use Squarespace’s tools and security features to protect your personal information.

We use commercially available means and methods available to us to transmit, store, and secure your data.

BUT -- you DO know this, right? -- Helium | Design Lab cannot GUARANTEE that unauthorized third parties will NEVER be able to defeat these security measures or use your personal information for improper purposes.

If any information under our control is compromised as a result of a security breach, Helium | Design Lab will take reasonable steps to investigate the situation and where appropriate, notify those individuals whose information may have been compromised. Helium | Design Lab will take any and all other steps, in accordance with any applicable laws and regulations.

We do not sell any data to any outside parties. Ever.

COPPA (Children’s Online Privacy Act) Compliance.

We are in compliance with the requirements of COPPA (Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act) and do not knowingly or willfully collect ANY information from anyone under 13 years of age. Our website, products and services are all directed to people who are at least 13 years old (probably SIGNIFICANTLY older than that, given what we sell).

Third Party Links

We may include links to other products, websites, or services on our website or via our social media channels that have relevance to our business and offerings. These third party sites may have separate and independent privacy policies. We have nor share responsibility or liability for the content and activities of these linked sites. We do strive to protect the integrity of our site, and therefore welcome any feedback about these sites.

Terms and Conditions

Refer to our Terms and Conditions page that establish the use, disclaimers, and/or limitations of liability governing the use our our website.

Consent

By using our website, you consent to Helium | Design Lab’s privacy policy, which is what we just outlined, DUH.

Changes

This Privacy Policy was last updated July 1, 2024

Contact Us

We are happy to address any questions regarding our privacy policy by emailing us at info@heliumlab.design.

Terms of Service

LOTS of weasel words here, sorry. We've tried our best to cut to the chase, but hey…

Terms

Do the right thing; pay attention.

By accessing this website, you are agreeing to be bound by this website’s Terms and Conditions of Use, all applicable laws and regulations, and agree that you are responsible for compliance with any applicable local and/or federal laws. If you do not agree with any of these terms, you are prohibited from using or accessing this site. The material contained on this website are protected by any and all applicable copyright and trademark laws.

Sorry you had to read through all of that, but we think it's fair and appropriate, even if long-winded.

Use License

You can download material on our website for your own use, but don't get piggy.

Permission is granted to temporarily download one copy of the material (information, images or software) available on Helium | Design Lab’s website for personal, non-commercial transitory viewing only. This is the grant of a license, not a transfer of title, and under this license you may not:

Modify or copy the material;

Use the material for any commercial purpose, or for any public display (commercial or non-commercial);

Attempt to de-compile or reverse engineer any software contained on Helium | Design’s website;

Remove any copyright or other proprietary notations from the material;

Transfer the material to another person or "mirror" the materials on any other server.

This license shall automatically terminate if you violate any of these restrictions and may be terminated by Helium | Design Lab at any time. Upon terminating your viewing of the material or upon the termination of this license, you must destroy any downloaded material in your possession whether in electronic or printed format.

Disclaimer

We all make mistakes, and at some point or another we all fall short. Don't jam us up if and when we do. Weasel words below:

The material on Helium | Design Lab's website is provided "as is". Helium | Design Lab makes no warranties, expressed or implied, and hereby disclaims and negates all other warranties, including without limitation, implied warranties or conditions of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or non-infringement of intellectual property or other violation of rights. [rough weasel words - let's talk] Further, Helium | Design Lab does not warrant or make any representations concerning the accuracy, likely results, or reliability of the use of the material on its Internet website or otherwise relating to such material or on any sites linked to or from this website.

Limitations

Don't look to us for damages, either; we're a tiny company doing the best we can, and neither you nor we want to spend our time in litigation over a sub-$500 product.

In no event shall Helium | Design Lab or its suppliers be liable for any damages (including, without limitation, damages for loss of data or profit, or due to business interruption) arising out of the use or inability to use the material on Helium | Design Lab's website, even if Helium | Design Lab or a Helium | Design Lab authorized representative has been notified orally or in writing of the possibility of such damage. Because some jurisdictions do not allow limitations on implied warranties, or limitations of liability for consequential or incidental damages, these limitations may not apply to you.

Revisions and Errata

Don't expect us to be perfect, hard as we may try.

The material appearing on Helium | Design Lab's website could include technical, typographical, or photographic errors. Helium | Design Lab does not warrant that any of the material on its website are accurate, complete, or current. Helium | Design Lab may make changes to the material contained on its website at any time without notice. Helium | Design Lab does not; however, make any commitment to update the materials.

Links

Don't expect us to control things or endorse things over which we have no control.

Helium | Design Lab has not reviewed all of the sites linked to its website and is not responsible for the contents of any such linked website. The inclusion of any link does not imply endorsement by Helium | Design Lab of the website. Use of any such linked website is at the user's own risk.

Site Terms of Use Modifications

Things evolve; you may want to come back and check our terms every now and again because you agree to be bound by them even if they change,

Helium | Design Lab may revise these terms of use for its website at any time without notice. By using this website, you are agreeing to be bound by the current version of these Terms and Conditions of Use.

Governing Law

We hope it never gets to this point, but if it does, welcome to Georgia, USA.

Any claim relating to Helium | Design Lab's website shall be governed by the laws of the State of Georgia without regard to its conflict of law provisions.