Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

SharpCut Studios ("Company," "we," "us," or "our") is committed to protecting the privacy of our clients, website visitors, and all individuals who interact with our services. This Privacy Policy describes how we collect, use, store, share, and protect your personal information when you visit our website, communicate with us, or use our digital media post-production and editing services.

By accessing our website or using our Services, you consent to the collection and use of your information as described in this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with the practices described herein, please do not use our website or Services.

This Privacy Policy applies to all information collected through our website, email communications, file transfer systems, project management portals, and any other means through which you interact with SharpCut Studios.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Information You Provide Directly

We collect information that you voluntarily provide to us, including but not limited to:

• Full name, business name, and job title
• Email address and phone number
• Mailing address and billing address
• Payment information (processed securely through PCI-compliant third-party payment processors; we do not store full payment card details)
• Project briefs, creative direction documents, brand guidelines, and other project-related communications
• Raw video footage, audio files, images, logos, and other media files uploaded for processing
• Feedback, reviews, and survey responses
• Any other information you choose to provide in communications with us

2.2 Information Collected Automatically

When you visit our website, certain information is collected automatically through cookies, web beacons, and similar tracking technologies. This may include:

• IP address and approximate geographic location
• Browser type, version, and operating system
• Device type, screen resolution, and unique device identifiers
• Pages visited, time spent on pages, and navigation paths
• Referring website URL and search engine queries
• Date and time of access
• Click patterns and interaction data

2.3 Information from Third Parties

We may receive information about you from third-party sources, including analytics providers, advertising networks, social media platforms, and business partners. This information may be combined with other information we collect about you to improve our Services and marketing efforts.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

• To provide, maintain, and improve our post-production and editing services
• To communicate with you regarding project updates, deliverables, revisions, and support
• To process payments, send invoices, and manage billing
• To respond to your inquiries, requests, and feedback
• To send promotional communications, newsletters, and service updates (you may opt out at any time)
• To analyze website usage patterns and improve user experience
• To detect, prevent, and address fraud, security incidents, and technical issues
• To comply with legal obligations, enforce our Terms of Service, and protect our rights and the rights of others
• To create aggregated, anonymized, or de-identified data for analytical and statistical purposes
• To personalize your experience and deliver content and recommendations relevant to your interests

4. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Our website uses cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your browsing experience. The types of cookies we use include:

• Essential Cookies: Necessary for basic website functionality, including session management, security features, and accessibility preferences. These cannot be disabled.
• Analytics Cookies: Help us understand how visitors interact with our website by collecting information about pages visited, time on site, and user flow. We use services such as Google Analytics for this purpose.
• Functional Cookies: Enable enhanced functionality and personalization, such as remembering your language preference and form data.
• Marketing Cookies: Used to track visitors across websites and display relevant advertisements. These cookies may be set by third-party advertising partners.

You can manage your cookie preferences through your browser settings. Most browsers allow you to refuse all cookies or indicate when a cookie is being set. Please note that disabling certain cookies may affect the functionality of our website.

5. Data Sharing and Disclosure

SharpCut Studios does not sell your personal information to third parties. We may share your information in the following circumstances:

• Service Providers: We share information with trusted third-party vendors who assist us in operating our business, including payment processors, cloud hosting providers, file transfer services, email service providers, and analytics tools. These providers are contractually bound to use your information only for the purposes we specify and to maintain appropriate security measures.
• Legal Compliance: We may disclose information when required by law, subpoena, court order, or governmental regulation, or when we believe disclosure is necessary to protect our rights, your safety, or the safety of others.
• Business Transfers: In the event of a merger, acquisition, reorganization, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred to the acquiring entity. We will notify you of any such change in ownership or control of your personal information.
• With Your Consent: We may share your information for any other purpose with your explicit consent.

6. Data Security

We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, and destruction. Our security practices include:

• 256-bit SSL/TLS encryption for all data transmitted to and from our website
• End-to-end encryption for all file transfers and project communications
• Access controls limiting data access to authorized personnel on a need-to-know basis
• Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments
• Secure, encrypted cloud storage with redundant backups
• Employee security training and confidentiality agreements
• Multi-factor authentication for administrative access to systems

While we take extensive measures to protect your information, no method of electronic storage or transmission over the Internet is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security, and you acknowledge that you provide information at your own risk.

7. Data Retention

We retain your personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements. Specific retention periods include:

• Project Files: Deleted within 30 days of final project delivery unless extended archival storage has been arranged. Premium and Enterprise clients receive 30-day and 90-day archival periods, respectively.
• Account Information: Retained for the duration of the Client relationship and for up to 3 years following the last project to facilitate future engagements and support inquiries.
• Financial Records: Retained for a minimum of 7 years as required by U.S. tax and financial regulations.
• Website Analytics Data: Retained for up to 26 months, after which it is aggregated and anonymized.
• Marketing Communications: Contact information for marketing purposes is retained until you opt out or request deletion.

8. Your Rights and Choices

Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have the following rights regarding your personal information:

• Right of Access: You may request a copy of the personal information we hold about you.
• Right of Rectification: You may request correction of any inaccurate or incomplete personal information.
• Right of Deletion: You may request that we delete your personal information, subject to certain legal exceptions and retention requirements.
• Right to Opt Out: You may opt out of receiving promotional communications at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link in any marketing email or by contacting us directly.
• Right to Data Portability: You may request that your personal information be provided to you in a structured, commonly used, and machine-readable format.
• Right to Object: You may object to the processing of your personal information for certain purposes, including direct marketing.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the information provided at the bottom of this policy. We will respond to your request within 30 days, or within the timeframe required by applicable law.

9. Children's Privacy

Our Services are not directed to individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If we become aware that we have inadvertently collected personal information from a child under 18, we will take immediate steps to delete such information from our systems. If you believe we may have collected information from a child, please contact us immediately.

10. International Data Transfers

SharpCut Studios is based in the United States. If you are accessing our Services from outside the United States, please be aware that your information will be transferred to, stored, and processed in the United States, where data protection laws may differ from those in your jurisdiction. By using our Services, you consent to the transfer of your information to the United States and the application of U.S. data protection laws.

For clients in the European Economic Area (EEA), United Kingdom, or other jurisdictions with data protection regulations, we ensure that appropriate safeguards are in place for international data transfers, including Standard Contractual Clauses approved by relevant regulatory authorities.

11. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technologies, legal requirements, or other factors. We will post the updated Privacy Policy on this page with a revised "Last Updated" date. We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically. For material changes, we may notify you via email or prominent notice on our website.