Privacy Policy
THIS IS A TEMPLATE, NOT LEGAL ADVICE; HAVE A QUALIFIED ATTORNEY REVIEW BEFORE USE.
Effective Date: [EFFECTIVE DATE]
This Privacy Policy explains how [LEGAL ENTITY NAME], doing business as "In Hand Reviews" ("we," "us," "our"), collects, uses, and shares information when you visit [WEBSITE URL] (the "Site"), apply to sell us videos, use the member portal, or otherwise interact with us (together, the "Service"). Questions? Contact us at [CONTACT EMAIL].
1. Information We Collect
1.1. Application data. When you apply to become a creator, we collect your name, email address, general location (e.g., city/state/country), links to your social media or YouTube profiles, and information about your filming setup and experience.
1.2. Account data. If you create a member account, we collect login credentials (email and password or authentication tokens), profile details, and account activity.
1.3. Submitted content and metadata. We collect the videos you submit, along with descriptions, titles, notes, and technical metadata (e.g., file information, upload timestamps).
1.4. Payment and tax data. To pay you, we collect payout details for [PAYOUT METHODS e.g. PayPal/Zelle] (such as your PayPal email or Zelle-linked phone/email), payment history, and, where required, tax information such as IRS Form W-9 data (which may include your Social Security Number or EIN).
1.5. Usage and device data. We automatically collect IP address, browser and device type, operating system, pages viewed, referring pages, and timestamps.
1.6. Cookies and local storage. We use cookies and similar technologies (including browser local storage) to keep you logged in, remember preferences, secure the Service, and understand how the Service is used. You can control cookies through your browser settings; disabling them may break login and other features.
2. How We Use Information
We use information to: (a) review creator applications and video submissions; (b) operate the member portal and authenticate accounts; (c) communicate with you about applications, submissions, acceptance decisions, and payments; (d) pay you and keep payment and tax records; (e) publish and monetize purchased videos (see Section 4.3); (f) maintain security, prevent fraud and fake submissions, and enforce our terms; (g) comply with legal obligations (including tax reporting); and (h) improve and analyze the Service.
3. Our Legal Bases (Plain English)
Where laws require a legal basis, we rely on: (a) contract — we need your information to evaluate submissions, run your account, and pay you; (b) legal obligation — e.g., tax reporting and record-keeping; (c) legitimate interests — running, securing, and improving the Service and our business; and (d) consent — where we ask for it (you can withdraw consent at any time).
4. How We Share Information
We do not sell your personal information. We share it only as follows:
4.1. Service providers (processors/subprocessors). Companies that process data on our behalf, under contracts limiting their use of it: Hosting and serverless infrastructure: Hostinger (hosts the website); Database and authentication: Supabase (stores application, account, and submission data; manages logins); Email delivery: an email provider (for transactional emails, when enabled); Payment processing: [PAYOUT METHODS e.g. PayPal/Zelle] and related payment providers (process payouts; they handle your data under their own privacy policies); and video storage and analytics providers we may use to store submissions and understand Site usage.
4.2. Publication platforms. Purchased videos are published on Amazon (storefront and product pages), YouTube, and other platforms.
4.3. Purchased videos become public. If we purchase your video, it — including your appearance, voice, and any name or username shown in or with it — will be published publicly on those platforms and may be copied, viewed, and shared by anyone. We cannot control or retrieve copies made by third parties.
4.4. Legal and safety. We may disclose information to comply with law, respond to lawful requests, enforce our agreements, or protect the rights, safety, or property of us, our users, or others.
4.5. Business transfers. If we sell or transfer the business or its assets, information may transfer to the successor, subject to this Policy.
5. Data Retention
We keep personal information only as long as needed for the purposes above: application data for rejected applicants is kept for a reasonable evaluation and record period and then deleted; rejected video submissions are deleted within a reasonable time (except routine backups); account data is kept while your account is active and for a reasonable period after closure; payment and tax records are kept as long as tax and accounting laws require (typically up to 7 years); purchased videos are our property and are retained indefinitely.
6. Security
We use reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards, including encrypted connections (HTTPS), access controls, and reputable infrastructure providers. No system is perfectly secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security. Keep your login credentials confidential and notify us at [CONTACT EMAIL] of any suspected breach of your account.
7. Your Rights and Choices
7.1. All users. You may request access to, correction of, or deletion of your personal information by emailing [CONTACT EMAIL]. We will respond within a reasonable time and verify your identity first. Note: we cannot "delete" videos we have purchased (they are our property), and we must retain records required by law (e.g., tax records).
7.2. California residents (CCPA/CPRA). You have the right to: know what personal information we collect, use, and disclose; access it; correct it; delete it (with legal exceptions); and not be discriminated against for exercising these rights. We do not sell personal information or share it for cross-context behavioral advertising. To exercise rights, email [CONTACT EMAIL]. You may use an authorized agent with proof of authorization.
7.3. Non-US users (GDPR/UK GDPR note). If you are in the EEA, UK, or a similar jurisdiction, you may also have rights to restrict or object to processing, to data portability, to withdraw consent, and to complain to your local data protection authority. Contact us at [CONTACT EMAIL] to exercise these rights.
8. International Transfers
We are based in the United States, and our service providers process data in the US. If you submit information from outside the US, you understand it will be transferred to and processed in the US, where privacy laws may differ from those in your country.
9. Children
The Service is for adults. You must be 18 or older to apply, create an account, or submit videos. The Service is not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child has provided us information, contact [CONTACT EMAIL] and we will delete it.
10. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Policy from time to time. We will post the updated version on the Site with a new Effective Date and, for material changes, give notice by email or a prominent Site notice. Your continued use of the Service after the Effective Date means you accept the updated Policy.
11. Contact
[LEGAL ENTITY NAME] d/b/a In Hand Reviews. Email: [CONTACT EMAIL]. Website: [WEBSITE URL]. [MAILING ADDRESS — optional but recommended].