Data Privacy Policy

Quickenlancer’s data privacy policy explains the Platform's firm commitment to the privacy of its visitors and users and details how and why the Platform collects, uses, and shares information when you interact with or use the Platform or service. This policy, which applies to Quickenlancer’s processing of personal information of all Users across its targeted countries, mandates that, by choosing to use the service, the User provides explicit consent to the collection of their information.

Preamble and Commitment to Privacy

We, at Quickenlancer, are firmly committed to the privacy of our visitors and users. The terms "We," "Us," "Our," and "Quickenlancer" include all aspects related to the Quickenlancer, the “Platform”, and our website, www.quickenlancer.com. This Policy explains how and why Quickenlancer collects, uses, and shares personal information when you interact with or use our platform or service.

By using the Platform, you acknowledge this Policy and consent to processing where required by law or contract, while other processing may occur under legal obligation or legitimate interest. We commit to not sharing your information with anyone except; we share information only as set out in this Policy (with verification partners, certain legal requests, and payment processors). We respect your privacy and protect it as much as we protect ours.

Quickenlancer operates exclusively, dedicated to the IT Industry, connecting Project Admins/Clients/Organisations with highly skilled Professionals/Service Providers/Individual Users/Agencies.

1. Scope, Definitions, and Roles

A. Scope of Application

This Policy applies to Quickenlancer’s processing of personal information of all Users, where Quickenlancer determines the purposes and means of processing. This Policy applies across the targeted countries: India, the USA, the UK, Canada, Germany, Australia, Singapore, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Israel.

B. Definitions

• "Personal Information"/"Personal Data": Information or an opinion about an identified individual, or a reasonably identifiable individual.
• “Coins”: The platform's designated internal currency, required for Users to access and utilise mandatory interaction features, including Chat Access, Call Access, and Verification Services. For more Information, refer to our Financial Liability Policy and Financial Transactions and Refund Policy.
• "User": Means and includes any individual or entity utilising the Quickenlancer platform, encompassing Service Providers (Individual Users/Agencies), Project Admins (Clients/Organisations), and Site Visitors.
• “Service Provider”: A skilled professional, individual user, or agency utilising the platform to offer services to Clients, also called a Freelancer.
• “Project Admin”: An organisation or entity that utilises the Quickenlancer platform to seek and engage Service Providers for IT services, also called a Hiring Company.
• "Data Fiduciary"/"Controller": Quickenlancer, as the entity that determines the purposes and means of processing personal data.
• “Processor/Data Processor”: Any entity (including but not limited to Surepass, Payment Gateways or other services providers, whether located in India or otherwise) that processes Personal Data on behalf of and strictly under the instructions of the Data Fiduciary.
• “Sensitive Personal Data/Sensitive Personal Information (SPI)”: Data inherently more sensitive, posing a greater risk if mishandled, including but not limited to government-issued IDs (e.g., Aadhaar Card / PAN Card via Surepass API).
• “Access Payment”: Non-refundable fees paid for communication services (Chat Access, Call Access) or Verification Services, which are mandatory components of the platform's revenue model.
• “KYC (Know Your Customer) / Verification”: The mandatory process of verifying a user's identity and account legitimacy, including the use of Aadhaar Card / PAN Card verification for Domestic Users and Video verification for All Users.
• “ROPA (Record of Processing Activities)”: The internal documentation maintained by the Data Fiduciary detailing all processing activities performed under its responsibility, including purposes, categories of data processed, recipients, and legal bases.
• “DPO (Data Protection Officer)”: The designated individual responsible for overseeing data protection strategy and ensuring compliance with all applicable regulations, including DPDP and GDPR.

C. Quickenlancer's Role

Quickenlancer acts purely as an aggregator/mediator. We provide a free platform to connect the service provider and the employer/client or project admin.

2. Information Collection and Categories

The primary reason for collecting information is to identify your role (Service Provider or Project Admin) on the Quickenlancer website to improve your experience. We collect the following categories of information:

A. Information You Provide to Us

1. Identifiers and Contact/Account Profile Information: Name, email address, login details, physical address, profile details (picture, education, profession, expertise, associated skill-sets). This includes details submitted through the business listing page.
2. Sensitive Personal Information and Verification Data:

• Domestic Users (India): Aadhaar Card / PAN Card verification via Surepass API integration.
• All International Users: Mandatory video verification during registration for international individuals and for authorised representatives of international companies. Explicit consent is obtained for recording video verification.
• ID proof may be requested again if the client or user behaviour on our website does not abide by our rules & regulations as per our Code of Conduct (COC).
• Commercial Information and Financial Data: Transactional information, details about orders, purchases, and transactions. Payment information (e.g., credit card number) is collected only for the optional "Feature Business" section fee, which uses payment gateways. View our Financial Liability Policy here.
• Proportionate Collection and Lawful Basis for Sensitive Verification Data (India): The collection and processing of Sensitive Personal Information, specifically including Aadhaar Card and PAN Card details via the Surepass API, shall be strictly based on the lawful basis of compliance with a legal obligation (including mandatory KYC / AML regulations and requirements from FEMA and RBI) or explicit, informed consent. Furthermore, pursuant to the Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDP Act), the collection scope of Aadhaar data is limited strictly to verifying the identity of the Domestic User and preventing or stopping activity deemed illegal or fraudulent. This data shall not be used for any secondary purpose, profiling, or re-identification beyond the essential requirements of platform security and mandated government compliance.

B. Information Collected Automatically

1. Usage Data and Network Activity: IP address, device and connection information, operating system, browsing history on the website, and actions performed on the website.
2. Cookies and Tracking Technologies:

• Our website uses cookies, which are tiny files downloaded to your computer, for the sole purpose of improving and personalising the user experience. They help track web performance, store details like location, IP address, and browser details. Visit our cookie policy here.
• Comprehensive Cookie Consent and Disclosure: Quickenlancer implements a robust Consent Management Platform, featuring a visible Cookie Banner, to manage user consent for data collected via Cookies. Cookies shall be strictly categorised into: Strictly Necessary, Functional, Analytics, and Marketing. The policy mandates that explicit opt-in consent must be secured for all non-essential cookies (Analytics and Marketing) before processing begins. A comprehensive, accessible schedule detailing all first-party cookies shall be maintained and publicly disclosed, specifying their operational purpose.

1. Verification Metadata: Timestamp, User IP address, Location, and country details are stored along with Video KYC records.

C. Information Received from Third Parties

We receive information from third-party vendors like Surepass API for verification.

3. How We Use Information We Collect

We use personal information to provide and improve the Service, process requests, comply with the law, and for the following purposes:

1. Service Provision and Improvement: To improve the user’s experience, provide the requested service or product, and process registration and transactions.
2. Communications: To send a welcome message, send time-to-time emails when a new project is posted matching your skills, and communicate regarding recent activities (hired status, portfolios, promotions, account maintenance). Registered users cannot unsubscribe from service announcements that discuss upcoming changes that affect their accounts.
3. Promotion and Marketing: Information collected through the business listing page (public details like Project Admin name/logo) will be used to promote your business.
4. Verification and Security: To verify your identity and prevent or stop activity we may consider to be illegal, fraudulent, unethical, or legally actionable.
5. Legal and Compliance: To enforce our agreements and policies, and to comply with legal obligations, including mandatory compliance with FEMA, RBI directions, AML laws, sanctions, and regimes.
6. Legitimate Interests: Processing data to further our legitimate interests in commercial activities, such as improving, upgrading, or enhancing our Services, and ensuring internal quality control and safety, provided these interests are not overridden by your fundamental rights.

We will ask for your consent before using information for a purpose other than those set out in this Policy.

4. Information Sharing and Disclosure

We respect your privacy. We do not share your information with any third party other than the ones mentioned in this policy or people who have no affiliations. We do not sell your Personal Information for monetary consideration.

However, sharing occurs for specific operational and legal necessities as laid out in this policy:

A. Sharing with Third-Party Service Providers

We use third-party sites to help you serve better. If you are redirected to those sites, it is advised to read their policies carefully.

1. Payment Processing: We use our payment gateways for the Feature Business section fee and project fee.
2. Verification: We rely on the Surepass API for Aadhaar/PAN verification.
3. Communication Services (SMS & Email):
4. We use third-party communication service providers to send transactional messages, service notifications, alerts, and verification communications via SMS and email.
5. Analytics and Usage Monitoring:
6. We use analytics and session-monitoring tools such as Google Analytics and Microsoft Clarity to understand user interactions, improve platform performance, and enhance user experience. These tools may collect usage data, device information, and interaction metrics in accordance with their respective privacy policies.
7. Security and Hosting: Service providers may facilitate our Service, including hosting, security, and fraud detection purposes.

Data Processing Agreements (DPA) and Transparency: For all third-party processors utilised by Quickenlancer, including but not limited to Surepass and Payment Gateways, Quickenlancer shall execute a legally compliant

Data Processing Agreement (DPA) that governs the scope and terms of processing. This DPA shall require and disclose the security and technical organisational measures implemented by the processor to maintain data integrity and confidentiality, ensuring compliance with Article 28 of the GDPR the DPDP Act 2023, and other applicable data protection laws, where and to the extent applicable . We shall not be held liable if any loss or damage occurs on these third-party websites.

Appendix of Third-Party Vendors and Data Sharing Summary: A mandatory Appendix, updated semi-annually, shall be appended to this Policy, providing a consolidated list of all Third-Party Vendors, Processors, and Subprocessors. This Appendix shall clearly summarize:

(a) the category of the vendor (e.g., Payment Processor, Identity Verification Provider);

(b) the purpose for which Personal Information is disclosed or shared (e.g., Service Provision, Verification, Fraud Detection); and

(c) the categories of data shared with each respective vendor (e.g., Identifiers, Verification Data, Usage Data) as mentioned in this policy.

B. Disclosures to Other Users and Public Visibility

Once you register, certain information (such as photos, published portfolio, ratings, and reviews) may be made public and visible to all users. Feedback provided by users is publicly viewable.

C. Legal and Investigative Purposes

Quickenlancer will share information with government agencies as required by law, including in response to lawful requests by public authorities to meet national security or law enforcement requirements, and to comply with mandatory compliance of FEMA, RBI directions, AML laws, sanctions regimes, and export controls.

D. Vendor Compliance Obligations and Audit Rights: All contracted third-party vendors and data processors must agree contractually to strict compliance obligations, including:

(a) adherence to defined Service Level Agreements (SLAs) for uptime and service continuity;

(b) mandated notification to Quickenlancer of any security incident or breach within twenty-four (24) hours of confirmation; and

(c) granting Quickenlancer, or its designated independent auditor, the right to conduct periodic audits to verify compliance with contractual security and processing requirements.

5. Data Retention, Deletion, and Accountability

A. Data Retention Policy

We retain your personal information only for as long as is necessary to fulfil the purposes for which it was collected, including for the purposes of satisfying any legal, regulatory, accounting, or reporting requirements, as well as ongoing fraud prevention and audit purposes.

Project-related data will always be retained; only personal data used for verification, as mentioned in this section, shall be retained for 30-90 days and deleted.

1. Verification ID: The Verification ID generated by Surepass may be retained permanently for internal or external audit purposes (for domestic users).
2. Video KYC Data: Video KYC records are stored for a period of 30 to 90 days. After this period, the video is automatically deleted.
3. Account Closure: If a user permanently deletes their account, the account will no longer be accessible. However, certain information will continue to reside with Quickenlancer securely for compliance, audit, or legal purposes. This retention is necessary to support agreements between users, document financial transactions, and provide protection to other legitimate users of the marketplace.

B. User Choices and Deletion Rights

Users have the option for temporary deactivation (up to 30 days) or permanent deletion.

1. Manual Deletion of Video Data: Users also have the option to manually delete their video verification data between 30–90 days.
2. Limitations on Erasure: Most personal information and user-generated content cannot be deleted, as they are used to support contracts between users, document financial transactions, and provide protection to other legitimate users of the marketplace. Requests to delete may be denied if retention is necessary for us to retain such personal information under legal exceptions.
3. Temporary Deactivation (Account Freeze): The Project Admin may request temporary deactivation of their account for a period of up to thirty (30) calendar days. During the deactivation period, the account shall not be publicly visible or accessible to any third party. However, all Account Information, Project Records, and data associated with the account shall remain securely stored in the Platform systems. The Project Admin may reactivate their account at any time within the deactivation period through a written request or via the Platform interface. If the Project Admin fails to reactivate the account within thirty (30) days, the Platform reserves the right to automatically restore the account or convert the status to permanent deletion based on Platform policies then in effect.
4. Permanent Deletion (Right to be Forgotten): The Project Admin may request permanent deletion of their account by submitting an authenticated written request through the Platform or to the Company’s official email address. Upon permanent deletion, access to the account will be irrevocably terminated, and the user will lose access to all associated services, credentials, project records, and administrative privileges.Notwithstanding deletion, the Platform may retain certain data strictly for compliance, audit, dispute resolution, fraud monitoring, or legal/statutory obligations, as permitted under applicable data protection laws (including GDPR, CPRA, and DPDP Act).Such retained data shall be securely stored, with restricted access, and shall not be processed for any commercial, operational, or profiling purposes.
5. Effect of Deletion: Permanent deletion shall not affect the enforceability of obligations accrued before deletion, waive any indemnity, confidentiality, intellectual property, payment, or liability obligations that survive termination under this Agreement, or invalidate platform records, logs, or evidence already maintained for compliance or dispute management purposes.

C. DATA INCIDENT RESPONSE LOGGING STANDARD AND RETENTION MANDATE:

In the event of a suspected or confirmed Data Breach, Quickenlancer mandates the systematic retention and preservation of forensic logs critical for root cause analysis and regulatory reporting. These logs shall include, but not be limited to: all security event logs, access authentication logs, database access records, API usage logs, system audit trails, and data modification records. Such forensic data shall be retained, isolated, and encrypted for a minimum period of twelve (12) months following the confirmation of the breach or detection of the underlying security incident, strictly for regulatory compliance, internal investigation, and mandatory external audit.

D. Accountability and Documentation Requirements (ROPA & DPAs)

To fulfil the principles of accountability and lawfulness under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDP Act), Quickenlancer shall implement and strictly maintain the following mandatory documentation and contractual obligations:

• Record of Processing Activities (ROPA): Quickenlancer, acting as the Data Fiduciary, shall maintain a comprehensive and contemporaneous Record of Processing Activities (ROPA) detailing all categories of processing activities under its responsibility. This documentation shall include the purposes of processing, categories of data subjects, categories of personal data, recipients to whom the data has been or will be disclosed, and the lawful basis and security measures supporting the processing operation. Please refer to this policy for the same.
• Data Processing Agreements (DPAs): Quickenlancer is obligated to execute formal, written Data Processing Agreements (DPAs) with all vendors acting as Data Processors, including, but not limited to, Surepass API for verification, and Payment Gateways for payment processing, for performance tracking. These DPAs shall strictly define the scope, duration, nature, and purpose of processing, and ensure that the processor provides sufficient guarantees to implement appropriate technical and organisational measures as required by Article 28 of the GDPR and equivalent DPDP provisions.

6. Children

The Quickenlancer Service is a general audience platform and is offered and available to users who are at least 18 years of age or older and of legal age to form a binding contract.

Quickenlancer does not knowingly collect Personal Information from anyone younger than age 18.

If an individual is a minor under 18 but at least 13 years of age, they are only permitted to use the Site through an account owned by a parent or a legal guardian with their appropriate permission. Minors under 13 years of age are NOT permitted to use the Site or the Quickenlancer services. Parents and guardians should at all times supervise their children's activities.

If Quickenlancer becomes aware that a child younger than age 18 has provided us with Personal Information, we will use commercially reasonable efforts to delete such information from our files. If we learn we have collected or received personal information from a child under 13, we will delete that personal information.

If you are the parent or legal guardian of a child younger than age 18 and believe that Quickenlancer has collected Personal Information from your child, please contact us.

7. Security and Cross-Border Data Transfers

A. Data Security

We implement technical and organisational measures to maintain the security of the Site, services, and personal information, and in preventing unauthorised access, loss, misuse, alteration, destruction, or damage to it through industry-standard technologies and internal procedures. Users agree to keep their passwords in strict confidence.

Privacy by Design Statement and Technical Security Standards: Quickenlancer commits to embedding Privacy by Design and Default principles into the architecture of all services, ensuring that data protection safeguards are implemented proactively throughout the system development lifecycle. Technical and organisational measures shall mandate, but not be limited to: AES-256 encryption for all Personal Data stored at rest and TLS 1.2 or higher protocol for all data transmitted in transit. Furthermore, Quickenlancer utilises third-party payment processors (e.g., Payment Gateway) who are required to maintain PCI-DSS compliance. Quickenlancer explicitly confirms that it does not store, process, or retain Card Primary Account Numbers (PANs) on its internal servers, minimising the scope of its transactional data risk.

B. Cross-Border Data Transfers

• Since the platform processes and stores data in India, ur service providers may process and store it elsewhere . We transfer personal information in compliance with applicable laws, including reliance on appropriate legal transfer mechanisms, such as Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs), where required by law. We ensure that the data recipient is subject to contractual obligations requiring appropriate safeguards to prevent unauthorised and unlawful processing.
• Transfer Impact Assessments and Local Safeguards: In addition to reliance on Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs), Quickenlancer mandates the utilisation of all requisite local transfer safeguards, including, where applicable, the UK International Data Transfer Agreement (IDTA) or Addendum. Furthermore, before any new, substantial, or high-risk cross-border transfer, Quickenlancer shall perform a documented Transfer Impact Assessment (TIA) to evaluate the effective equivalence of protection afforded to personal data in the recipient country, ensuring that data subjects' rights are not undermined by the laws or governmental practices of the destination jurisdiction.

8. Compliance with International Data Protection Regulations

Quickenlancer ensures adherence to data protection regulations across its targeted countries, with mandatory compliance for India’s DPDP Act, EU/UK GDPR, and CCPA/CPRA.

A. India: Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDP Act)

Quickenlancer acts as the Data Fiduciary and ensures compliance with the DPDP principles.

1. Consent and Notice: Processing relies on explicit consent given by the user. Notice is provided regarding the collection of data (e.g., video verification, Verification ID) and the purpose of processing (e.g., audit purposes, security).
2. Rights of the Data Principal: Users have rights to access, correction, and erasure. However, the retention of the Surepass Verification ID permanently for internal or external audit purposes operates as a necessary limitation on the right of erasure under the DPDP framework.
3. Cross-Border Transfers: Transfers adhere to the rules set by the DPDP Act for transferring data out of India, ensuring necessary contractual safeguards are in place (SCCs).

B. EU/UK/EEA/Switzerland: General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR/UK GDPR)

For individuals located in the EEA, UK, or Switzerland (including users in Germany, Ireland, and the Netherlands), Quickenlancer adheres to GDPR/UK GDPR requirements.

Legal Basis Mapping and Documentation: To ensure complete compliance with the principles of accountability and lawfulness under GDPR/DPDP, the Data Fiduciary shall maintain a detailed Record of Processing Activities (RoPA). This RoPA shall explicitly map and document each defined personal data processing operation (including, but not limited to, identity verification via Surepass, transactional processing via Payment Gateways, and analytics collection via) to the precise, applicable legal basis under Article 6 of the GDPR or the defined lawful uses under the DPDP Act, specifying whether processing relies upon contractual necessity, compliance with a legal obligation, explicit, informed consent, or a defined legitimate interest.

• Lawful Basis for Processing: Processing is justified based on the necessity for the performance of a contract, compliance with a legal obligation (e.g., fraud prevention, AML compliance), and legitimate interests (e.g., improving services, security), provided these interests are not overridden by the user's rights.
• Data Subject Rights: Users are entitled to exercise the rights of:
• Right to Access: To obtain information about processing and a copy of data.
• Right to Rectification: Correction of inaccurate data.
• Right to Erasure (Deletion): In limited circumstances, noting that erasure is restricted where data supports agreements between users, documents financial transactions, or is required for legal compliance or audit.
• Right to Restrict Processing: If the accuracy of data is contested or processing is unlawful.
• Right to Object: Including objection to processing for direct marketing.
• Right to Data Portability: To receive data in a structured, machine-readable format.
• Automated Decision Making: We use automated decision making to rank users, match users to jobs, recommend potential jobs, and as a part of our marketplace security systems. Users have the right to seek human review, although for ranking algorithms, opting out means not being able to participate in the marketplace.

C. USA: California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) / California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA)

For residents of the USA, particularly California, this section outlines rights under CCPA/CPRA.

1. Categories of Personal Information Collected: We collect Identifiers (Name, IP Address), Sensitive Personal Information (Verification Data), Commercial Information, Internet Activity, Approximate Geolocation, and Professional Information/UGC.
2. Right to Opt-Out of “Sale” or “Sharing”: Although Quickenlancer does not "sell" information for monetary consideration, if our use of third-party advertising or analytics partners for cross-context behavioural advertising were deemed “sharing” or “selling” under California law, users would have the right to opt out.
3. Right to Limit Use of Sensitive Personal Information (SPI): We limit the use of Sensitive Personal Information (e.g., verification data) only as necessary to perform the services (identity verification, fraud detection) or as specifically permitted by CCPA/CPRA.
4. Rights to Know, Delete, and Correct: Users have the right to know what data has been collected, the business purpose for collection, and the categories of third parties shared with. Users also have the right to request deletion and correction of inaccuracies.

D. Other Jurisdictions (Australia, Canada, Singapore, Israel)

1. Australia (Privacy Act 1988/APPs): Quickenlancer is governed by the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs). Australian users have rights regarding access and correction of personal information.
2. Israel (Privacy Protection Law): Processing relies on informed consent as required by the Israeli Privacy Protection Law. Israeli users have the right to access, correct, and request deletion, handled in accordance with local requirements.
3. Canada and Singapore: We adhere to relevant privacy obligations, ensuring proper consent, accountability, and limits on collection, use, and disclosure in compliance with applicable laws.

9. Intellectual Property and Copyright Protection Policy

Quickenlancer respects the intellectual property rights of others and seeks to offer a platform which contains no content that violates those rights.

A. Quickenlancer’s Immediate IP Vesting Mandate

The structure of the Quickenlancer marketplace, based on its underlying legal mandates, establishes clear ownership rules for all work product created on the platform:

1. Immediate IP Vesting (Default): Intellectual Property (IP) vests immediately with the Hiring Company or Project Admin by default.
2. Irrevocable Assignment (IP): Service Providers grant an irrevocable assignment of the IP developed during the project to the Client.
3. immediate and irrevocable transfer (vesting) of IP from a service provider (freelancer) to a client derives primarily from the Copyright Act, 1957, and the Indian Contract Act, 1872.
4. Client IP Transfer (SOW Exception): The IP is transferred to the Client unless specifically modified or exempted within the Statement of Work (SOW) for a particular project.

This immediate vesting and irrevocable assignment mechanism ensures that Clients receive the necessary IP rights to the commissioned IT services, adhering strictly to the Quickenlancer’s mandate.

Intellectual Property Carve-Outs and Schedules: Notwithstanding the general mandate for Immediate IP Vesting and Irrevocable Assignment, the following categories of IP are deemed non-assignable to the Users without specific, separate written agreement:

(a) Pre-Existing Intellectual Property (Pre-Existing IP) of the Service Provider;

(b) Open-Source Software (OSS) components governed by open-source licenses; and

(c) Third-Party Licensed Components integrated into the work product. Service Providers must provide a Schedule of Pre-Existing IP to the Project Admin Any waiver of a Service Provider’s moral rights is strictly limited to the maximum extent permissible under applicable national law, and where non-waivable, such rights are asserted solely against the Client.

Copyright and Ownership under the Copyright Act, 1957

Section 17, First Ownership and Work Made for Hire:

Section 17(c) of the Copyright Act, 1957: It establishes that when a work is made “in the course of employment under a contract of service,” the employer (client) is the first owner of the copyright, unless there is an agreement to the contrary.

This legal concept underpins Immediate IP Vesting, meaning the IP automatically belongs to the hiring party once created, by default, if the contract defines the relationship as a work-for-hire or commissioned work.

Section 18, Assignment of Copyright: Section 18(1) allows the owner of copyright (here, the freelancer/service provider) to assign the copyright to another person (the client).

Section 19(3) & (4): It specify that if no duration or territorial limit is mentioned, the assignment is presumed to be for 5 years and limited to India, so Quickenlancer’s clause explicitly stating “irrevocable” and “immediate” assignment overrides these defaults through express contractual terms.

Thus, the Irrevocable Assignment clause rests on Sections 18–19 (to be read together), ensuring that once the IP is transferred, it cannot be withdrawn unilaterally.

Section 57, Moral Rights: Even with irrevocable assignment, moral rights (authorship, integrity) remain with the creator and cannot be waived entirely. The clause correctly carves out limits waiver to the maximum extent permissible, consistent with Section 57, international users. This clause aligns with:

U.S. Law: 17 U.S.C. § 201(b): “works made for hire” automatically vest ownership in the employer/client.

U.K. Law: Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, Section 11(2): employer is the first owner of work created by an employee under a contract of service.

EU IP Directives (InfoSoc Directive 2001/29/EC): recognises contractual transfer or licensing of rights to clients.

B. Copyright Infringement Reporting Procedures (DMCA Model)

Pursuant to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (17 U.S.C. § 512) (“DMCA”), Quickenlancer provides a process for submission of complaints concerning content posted by our users. Our policy is designed to make submitting Notifications of Alleged Infringement as straightforward as possible.

1. Notification of Alleged Infringement

If you believe in good faith that your copyright has been infringed, you must submit a written communication, known as a “Notification of Alleged Infringement,” which includes the following required elements:

• Signature: A physical or electronic signature of the owner, or a person authorised to act on behalf of the owner, of an exclusive copyright that has allegedly been infringed.
• Identification of Work: Identification of the copyrighted work claimed to have been infringed.
• Identification of Infringing Material: Identification of the material that is claimed to be infringing or to be the subject of infringing activity that is to be removed or access to which is to be disabled. This identification must include a URL or link specifying the location on the Quickenlancer website(s) sufficient to enable us to locate it.
• Contact Information: Your email address, mailing address, and/or telephone number, sufficient to permit Quickenlancer to contact the person submitting the Notification.
• Good Faith Statement: A statement by you that you have a good-faith belief that use of the material in the manner complained of is not authorised by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law.
• Statement of Accuracy and Authority: A statement by you, made under penalty of perjury, that the information in your notice is accurate and that you are the copyright owner or authorised to act on the copyright owner’s behalf.

2. Counter-Notification Procedures

Suppose a user or subscriber believes that a notice of copyright infringement has been improperly submitted against them. In that case, they may submit a Counter-Notification, pursuant to Sections 512(g)(2) and (g)(3) of the DMCA. The written communication must include the following information:

• Signature: Your physical or electronic signature.
• Identification of Removed Material: Identification of the material that has been removed or to which access has been disabled, and the location at which the material appeared before it was removed or access to it was disabled.
• Good Faith Statement: A statement under penalty of perjury that the User or subscriber has a good-faith belief that removal or disablement of the material was a mistake or that the material was misidentified.
• Contact Information and Consent to Jurisdiction: The User’s or subscriber's full name, address, and telephone number, and a statement that the user consents to the jurisdiction of the Federal District court (i) in the judicial district where your address is located if the address is in the United States, or (ii) located in the Northern District of California (Santa Clara County), if your address is located outside the United States, and that you will accept service of process from the complainant submitting the notice or his/her authorized agent.

3. Misrepresentations, Repeat Infringers, and Liability

Misrepresentation Liability: Any person who knowingly materially misrepresents that material or activity was removed or disabled by mistake or misidentification may be subject to liability.

Repeat Infringers: Quickenlancer enforces a policy that provides for the termination, in appropriate circumstances, of Users or subscribers who are repeat infringers.

C. Trademark and Other Intellectual Property Rights Infringement Notices

For claims of trademark infringement or other claims of intellectual property infringement, the reporting party must similarly provide Quickenlancer with clear information, including:

• The location of the allegedly infringing work, including the URL or link where the work is located.
• Complete information about your trademark or other intellectual property rights, including identifying the trademarked word(s) or symbol(s), trademark registration number(s), and a direct link to the trademark record(s), if available.
• The reporter's contact information (name, physical address, email address, and telephone number).
• Indication of the reporter's relationship to the IP holder (e.g., owner or authorised representative).

10. Third-Party Links, Financial, and Communication Disclaimers

A. Financial Disclaimers

Quickenlancer only provides a coin based platform to connect the service provider and employer/client or the project admin.

1. Direct Transactions Only: Quickenlancer does not provide a payment gateway or intermediary service for project-related payments between users. All payments for projects or services must be made directly between the parties, using their chosen payment methods.
2. No Commission Charged: Quickenlancer does not charge any commission, fee, or service charge on these transactions.
3. Limitation of Liability: Quickenlancer is not responsible for any payments made or disputes arising from transactions conducted directly between users outside of the platform. Users engage in such transactions at their own risk, and Quickenlancer shall not be liable for any loss, delay, or disagreement related to payment.
4. Due Diligence: Clients/project admins and Service Providers are encouraged to conduct their own due diligence before engaging. Quickenlancer will not be liable for any disputes related to user verification.

C. Mandatory and Optional Communications

We send all newly registered users a welcome email. We send service announcements to registered users. Registered Users cannot unsubscribe from service announcements that discuss upcoming changes that affect their Quickenlancer accounts. Users may opt out of optional communications (e.g., e-newsletters, e-postcards).

11. Mandatory Coin Purchase and Non-Refundable Access Fees

This clause formalises the operational and financial structure of the platform, noting that access is based on a pay-per-feature model. For detailed structure and information, please refer to our Financial Liability Policy.

Mandatory Coin Purchase: Use of Quickenlancer's core communication features (Chat Access, Call Access, Verification Services) operates on a "pay-per-feature model". Users are required to purchase the platform's designated internal currency (Coins) to access and utilise these mandatory interaction features.

Non-Refundable Access Fees: All fees paid for communication services (Chat Access, Call Access), verification services, or the optional fee to Feature a Business profile are non-refundable. These fees grant temporary access to features and are mandatory components of the platform's revenue model.

12. Chargeback Waiver

• This is a critical financial and liability mandate. By agreeing to use the Quickenlancer platform and mandatory payment services and payment gateways, the User (Service Provider or Hiring Project Admin) provides a Chargeback Waiver. The User waives their right to initiate a chargeback claim against Quickenlancer for any fees or payments processed through the platform, particularly those related to Non-Refundable Access Fees.
• Mandatory Dispute Resolution and Chargeback Exceptions: The User agrees that they must first exhaust all available internal dispute resolution (IDR) mechanisms provided by the Quickenlancer platform before initiating a chargeback claim against Quickenlancer. Notwithstanding this procedural requirement and the general Chargeback Waiver, Users retain the right to initiate a chargeback solely in the event of confirmed fraudulent activity on the payment, or where the chargeback right is mandatorily preserved by overriding regulatory protections or consumer laws applicable to the transaction.

13. Confidentiality

This mandate ensures the protection of user and project information within the platform.

All Users (Service Providers and Project Admins) agree to maintain the Confidentiality of proprietary information and Personal Information accessed through the platform, including, but not limited to, project details, proposal costs, and communication content with other users.

14. Indemnification

This mandate requires the User to protect Quickenlancer from liability stemming from the User's actions.

Users agree to Indemnify and hold harmless Quickenlancer, its affiliates, agents, and service providers from all and any claims, demands, damages, and expenses (including attorneys' fees) arising out of or related to the User’s access to or use of the Service, content provided by the User, violation of any law, or breach of any contractual agreement with another User facilitated through the platform.

15. Total Liability Cap

This crucial legal mandate restricts the maximum financial exposure of Quickenlancer.

In no event shall the total, aggregate liability of Quickenlancer, or its affiliates, agents, or service providers, arising out of or related to this Policy or the use of the Quickenlancer platform, exceed a defined Total Liability Cap. This cap will be explicitly stipulated in the platform's Terms and Conditions (T&C) mentioned in our policies, which the User must agree to before utilising the service.

16. Policy Changes and Contact Information

A. Changes to this Policy

We may change or update our privacy policy from time to time, whenever required. We advise you to review our privacy policy periodically to know the new policy. The privacy policy will be in effect immediately after updating those changes on this page.

User Notification of Policy Changes In addition to advising users to review the policy periodically, Quickenlancer mandates that all material changes to this Data and Copyright Protection Policy (defined as changes affecting user rights, data retention, or the security of processing) shall be communicated to all registered Users via a prominent platform notification and/or direct email correspondence at least fifteen (15) calendar days before the effective date of the amendments.

B. Contact Us

If you have additional questions or require more information about our Privacy Policy, do not hesitate to contact us through email at _________________________. We will process any requests in line with any local laws and our policies and procedures.

Related Policies and Reference Documents

For better understanding and comprehensive governance, please refer to the following related policies, terms, and agreements that collectively form an integral part of the Quickenlancer legal framework. Each document should be read in conjunction with the others, as together they govern the overall relationship between Users and the Platform.