Privacy 

Policy

The Short Version

We don't do legalese for the sake of it. Here's what this policy actually means:

• When you give us your data, it becomes ours. Your samples, your questionnaire answers, your microbiome results — once submitted, GutGutGoose owns that data. Think of it like medical records: your doctor's practice owns the file, but you can always access what's in it.
• You always have access. You can view, download, and export your results anytime. You can request corrections. That never changes.
• Your data makes the science better. We use it to train our AI, improve our formulas, publish research, and build better products. That's how personalised probiotics get more personalised — for you and for everyone who comes after you.
• We never sell your data to advertisers. No ad networks. No data brokers. Full stop.
• Once we de-identify your data, it stays de-identified. We strip out everything that could identify you, permanently. That process can't be reversed. De-identified data belongs to GutGutGoose outright.
• Your data stays in Australia. Australian servers, Australian law.
• You can stop giving us new data anytime. But data we've already collected and de-identified is ours — we can't "un-know" what your microbiome taught our models.

Questions? Contact us or email admin@gutgutgoose.com.

1. About This Policy

This Privacy Policy explains how GutGutGoose ("we", "us", "our") collects, uses, stores, shares, and protects your information. It covers everything — our website at gutgutgoose.com, our forms, testing kits, and any communication between us.

We comply with the Australian Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs).

2. What We Collect

2.1 Personal Information

Information you give us directly:

• Identity — name, email address, phone number
• Account and waitlist — submitted through our online forms
• Payments — processed by our third-party payment provider (we never see or store your card details)
• Messages — emails, feedback, and support requests
• Newsletter preferences — your subscription status

2.2 Sensitive Information (Health and Biological Data)

Under Australian law, health and genetic information is classified as sensitive information with extra protections. We collect the following only with your express consent:

• Stool test samples — the biological sample you send us via our testing kit
• Metagenomic sequencing data — a detailed map of your gut microbiome covering 300+ bacterial strains
• Health questionnaire responses — your diet, symptoms, lifestyle, and health history

By submitting your sample or completing a health questionnaire, you:

1. Consent to us collecting, using, storing, and sharing your sensitive information as described in this policy;
2. Grant GutGutGoose a perpetual, irrevocable, royalty-free, worldwide licence to use, analyse, aggregate, de-identify, and create derivative works from your data — including for AI training, research, product development, and commercial purposes;
3. Acknowledge that all data and samples you submit become the property of GutGutGoose upon submission, subject to your access rights in Section 7;
4. Acknowledge that de-identification of your data is irreversible (see Section 6); and
5. Understand that withdrawing consent applies to future collection only — data already collected, de-identified, or built into our models is not subject to recall.

We present these terms clearly at the point of collection and require your affirmative opt-in.

2.3 Technical Information

When you visit our website, we automatically collect:

• Device info — browser type, operating system, screen size
• Usage data — pages visited, time on site, referring URLs
• Cookies — see Section 9

3. How We Use Your Information

3.1 Delivering Your Product

• Analysing your microbiome and generating your personalised probiotic formula
• Managing your account, processing orders, shipping your product
• Communicating about your results and providing support

3.2 Research and Development

• Training, refining, and validating our AI and machine learning models
• Conducting internal and collaborative research on gut health and microbiome science
• Developing new products, formulations, and features
• Generating population-level health insights and statistical analyses

3.3 Commercial and Strategic Use

• Licensing de-identified or aggregated datasets to research partners, health organisations, and pharmaceutical companies
• Publishing research, white papers, and scientific papers
• Supporting business operations, planning, and market analysis

3.4 Legal Compliance

• Meeting obligations under the Privacy Act 1988, Therapeutic Goods Act 1989, and other Australian laws
• Responding to lawful requests from regulators, courts, or government agencies

3.5 Other Lawful Purposes

We may use your data — particularly de-identified and aggregated data — for any lawful purpose consistent with the Australian Privacy Principles. The broader our dataset, the better our science gets. That benefits every GutGutGoose user.

4. How We Share Your Information

4.1 Service Providers

We share data with trusted partners who help us deliver your product.

All service providers are contractually bound to protect your information.

4.2 Research and Health Partners

We share de-identified and aggregated data — and, where you've given express consent, individual-level data — with:

• Universities, research institutions, and academic collaborators
• Pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies
• Public health organisations and government health bodies
• Clinical trial sponsors and contract research organisations
• Health technology and microbiome companies

This is for research, product development, and advancing health outcomes. Where identifiable data is shared, we obtain your express consent or ensure appropriate safeguards.

4.3 Corporate Transactions

If GutGutGoose is acquired, merges, or sells assets, your data may transfer to the new entity. We'll notify you where required by law.

4.4 Legal Requirements

We may disclose information where required by Australian law, court order, or regulatory request.

4.5 What We Will Never Do

• Never sell your data to advertisers, ad networks, or data brokers.
• Never share your identifiable information for third-party targeted advertising.

5. Data Ownership and Intellectual Property

This is the section that matters most. Read it carefully.

5.1 Your Data Becomes Ours

When you submit information to GutGutGoose — personal details, health questionnaires, stool samples, anything — that data becomes the property of GutGutGoose upon submission.

This works the same way as medical records. A healthcare provider owns the records they create and maintain. The patient has a right to access the information inside those records, but the records belong to the provider.

Your data works the same way with us. We own it. You can access it.

5.2 The Licence You Grant Us

To the extent any intellectual property rights exist in what you submit, you grant GutGutGoose a perpetual, irrevocable, royalty-free, worldwide, sublicensable, transferable licence to use, reproduce, modify, analyse, publish, and create derivative works from your content for any lawful purpose, including:

• AI and machine learning model training and deployment
• Scientific research, analysis, and publication
• Product and service development
• Commercial licensing of aggregated or de-identified datasets

This licence survives if you close your account or withdraw consent for future collection.

5.3 What We Build Is Ours

All insights, analyses, models, algorithms, reports, aggregated datasets, and intellectual property we create using your data — alone or combined with data from other users — belong exclusively to GutGutGoose. You have no ownership interest in these derived works.

5.4 Your Access Rights Still Stand

Despite everything above, you always retain the right to:

• Access your personal information and results through your account
• Export your reports and microbiome analyses
• Request corrections to inaccurate or incomplete information
• Receive a copy of the personal information we hold about you

Your access rights are detailed in Section 7.

5.5 No Limits on Our Use

Your access rights don't restrict GutGutGoose's right to use, process, de-identify, aggregate, licence, or deal with data in accordance with this policy and the law.

6. De-identification: What It Means and Why It Matters

6.1 What De-identification Is

De-identification strips out everything that could identify you — your name, contact details, date of birth, and any other identifying markers. What's left is pure data: bacterial strains, colony counts, metabolic patterns. Useful for science. Untraceable to you.

6.2 It's Permanent

Once we de-identify your data, the process cannot be reversed. We don't keep a secret key linking de-identified records back to you. There is no "undo." The data is permanently severed from your identity.

This means:

• De-identified data cannot be traced back to you
• We cannot fulfil access, correction, or deletion requests for data that's already been de-identified — because we literally can't tell which records are yours
• De-identified data is not "personal information" under the Privacy Act 1988, so the Australian Privacy Principles no longer apply to it

6.3 De-identified Data Belongs to GutGutGoose

All de-identified data is the sole property of GutGutGoose. You have no claim or interest in it — it's no longer connected to you in any way.

6.4 How We Use It

De-identified data can be used without restriction for any lawful purpose:

• Training and improving our AI models
• Conducting and publishing scientific research
• Generating population health insights
• Licensing datasets to research and pharmaceutical partners
• Developing new products, services, and applications
• Supporting public health initiatives

6.5 When We De-identify

We may de-identify your data at any time after collection. We aim to de-identify as soon as your data is no longer needed in identifiable form to deliver your personalised service.

7. Your Rights

You have real rights. Here they are.

7.1 Access Your Data

You can request a copy of all personal information we hold about you (APP 12). We respond within 30 days. Most requests are free — we may charge a reasonable fee for excessive or repetitive requests.

Your results and reports are available anytime through your account dashboard.

7.2 Correct Your Data

If something's wrong — inaccurate, incomplete, or out of date — you can ask us to fix it (APP 13). We'll respond within 30 days.

7.3 Withdraw Consent for Future Collection

You can withdraw consent for future collection of sensitive information at any time by emailing admin@gutgutgoose.com or through your account settings.

Important:

• Withdrawal applies to future collection only
• It doesn't undo any collection, use, or processing that already happened
• Data that's been collected, de-identified, or incorporated into our models is GutGutGoose's property and cannot be recalled or deleted (see Sections 5 and 6)
• Withdrawing consent may affect our ability to provide you with personalised services

7.4 Complain

If you think we've breached the APPs:

1. Email admin@gutgutgoose.com — we'll acknowledge within 7 days and aim to resolve within 30
2. Lodge a complaint with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC)

7.5 What These Rights Don't Include

To be clear: your rights are access and correction rights. They are not ownership rights. Specifically:

• You cannot require us to delete data that has been lawfully collected and de-identified
• You cannot restrict GutGutGoose's use of de-identified or aggregate data
• You have no ownership or IP rights in any datasets, models, or derivative works we create

8. Data Storage and Security

8.1 Australian Servers

All personal and sensitive information is stored on servers located in Australia. We don't transfer your data overseas unless:

• You give express consent, or
• The overseas recipient meets APP 8 requirements for equivalent privacy protection

8.2 How We Protect It

• Encryption in transit (TLS/SSL) and at rest
• Access controls limited to authorised personnel
• Regular security reviews
• Secure disposal of biological samples after processing

8.3 Sample Handling

Your stool sample is used solely for metagenomic sequencing. After processing, samples are securely disposed of under Australian biosafety standards. We don't keep physical samples beyond the analysis period unless you consent otherwise.

9. Cookies and Tracking

9.1 What We Use

TypePurposeDurationEssentialBasic site functionality (forms, login)SessionAnalyticsUnderstanding site usage (Webflow analytics)Up to 26 monthsPreferencesRemembering your settingsUp to 12 months

9.2 Your Control

You can manage cookies through your browser settings. Disabling them may affect site functionality. We don't use cookies to track you across other websites for advertising.

10. Children's Privacy

GutGutGoose is for adults aged 18 and over. We don't knowingly collect information from anyone under 18. If you're a parent and think your child has submitted data to us, contact admin@gutgutgoose.com and we'll delete it promptly.

11. Third-Party Links

Our site may link to other websites. We're not responsible for their privacy practices. Read their policies before sharing your information.

12. Changes to This Policy

We may update this policy. When we make material changes:

• We update the date at the top
• We notify you by email if changes affect how we handle your sensitive information
• We post the updated policy on our website

Continued use of our services after changes are posted means you accept the updated policy.

13. Contact Us

• Email: admin@gutgutgoose.com
• Visit: Contact page
• Location: Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
• More info: About Us · FAQ

*GutGutGoose is committed to using your data responsibly and transparently — to build better science, better products, and better outcomes for gut health.*

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