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Privacy

AMERBACH PRIVACY POLICY

Effective Date: September 1, 2026

Amerbach respects your privacy and is committed to handling your personal information responsibly. This Privacy Policy explains what personal information we collect, how we use and share it, and the choices and rights available to you. It applies to the Platform and Services as defined in the Amerbach Terms and Conditions, which this Policy supplements.

If you do not agree with this Privacy Policy, please do not use the Services.

1. Who We Are

Amerbach is operated by Amerbach Society, Inc., with its principal place of business at 1074 Greentree Rd, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15220, United States ("Amerbach," "we," "us," or "our"). Amerbach is the controller responsible for the personal information described in this Policy.

For any questions about this Policy or our handling of your personal information, contact us at privacy@amerbach.com.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Information You Provide Directly

Depending on how you use the Services, we may collect:

  • Account information: name, email address, username, password, and institution/field of study, where applicable.
  • Contributor information: additional details required to submit Materials for sale, and payment-service details necessary to process your commission payouts through Paystack.
  • Purchase information: billing details processed in connection with a Purchase. Full payment card details are collected and processed directly by Paystack, our third-party payment processor, and are not stored by Amerbach itself.
  • Content you submit: Materials, reviews, ratings, support messages, or other content you choose to provide through the Services.
  • Communications: information you provide when you contact us for support or other inquiries.

2.2 Information Collected Automatically

When you use the Platform, we and our service providers may automatically collect:

  • Device and usage data, such as IP address, browser type, operating system, device identifiers, pages visited, and features used;
  • Log and performance data, such as timestamps, error reports, and referring/exit pages; and
  • Cookies and similar technologies, as described in Section 3.

2.3 Information from Third Parties

We may receive information about you from:

  • third-party login providers, if you choose to register or sign in using a third-party account, subject to your permissions with that provider; and
  • Paystack, our payment processor, confirming that a transaction or payout has been completed.

3. Cookies and Similar Technologies

3.1 What Cookies Are

Cookies are small data files stored on your device that allow the Platform to recognize your browser and remember certain information between visits.

3.2 Types of Cookies We Use

  • Strictly necessary/functional cookies: required for core functionality, such as keeping you logged in. These cannot be disabled without affecting the availability of the Services.
  • Analytics cookies: we use Google Analytics to understand how the Platform is used, so that we can improve it. Google Analytics sets cookies on your device and processes information such as your IP address, browser type, and browsing activity on the Platform. You can learn more about Google's data practices at Google's own privacy policy.

3.3 Managing Cookies

You can control or disable cookies through your browser settings, or opt out of Google Analytics using Google's browser add-on. Disabling certain cookies may limit your ability to use some features of the Services. Where required by applicable law, we will request your consent to non-essential cookies before they are set, through a cookie banner or preference tool on the Platform.

4. How We Use Your Information

We use personal information to:

  • create and administer your Account and provide the Services you request;
  • process Purchases and Contributor commission payouts;
  • host, display, and distribute Materials in accordance with the license described in the Terms and Conditions;
  • communicate with you about your Account and transactions, and about material changes to the Services (these operational communications are necessary to provide the Services and cannot be opted out of while you maintain an Account);
  • send you promotional communications, where you have opted in, and always with the ability to opt out (see Section 7);
  • monitor, secure, and improve the Platform, including diagnosing technical issues and preventing fraud or abuse;
  • investigate and respond to reports of prohibited content, academic-integrity concerns, or intellectual property complaints as described in the Terms and Conditions; and
  • comply with our legal obligations and enforce our Terms and Conditions.

4.1 Legal Bases for Processing

Where applicable data protection law requires a legal basis, we rely on one or more of the following: performance of a contract with you; compliance with a legal obligation; our legitimate interests (such as securing and improving the Platform, provided these interests are not overridden by your rights); and your consent, where we specifically request it (for example, for optional marketing communications or non-essential cookies). Where we rely on consent, you may withdraw it at any time as described in Section 7.

5. How We Share Your Information

We do not sell your personal information. We may share it in the following circumstances:

  • Paystack, to process Purchases and Contributor payouts;
  • Google, through our use of Google Analytics, as described in Section 3;
  • Other service providers who help us operate the Platform, such as hosting providers and customer support tools, under contractual obligations to protect your information and use it only as instructed;
  • Other Users, where you choose to share information: for example, a Contributor's username may be displayed publicly alongside their submitted Materials;
  • Intellectual property and academic-integrity complaints: where necessary to investigate or respond to a notice under the Terms and Conditions, we may share limited information (such as a username or contact email) between the complainant and the relevant Contributor, as described in the Terms and Conditions;
  • Legal and safety reasons: where required by law, legal process, or governmental request, or where we believe disclosure is necessary to protect the rights, property, or safety of Amerbach, our Users, or others; and
  • Business transfers: in connection with a merger, acquisition, financing, or sale of assets, subject to appropriate confidentiality safeguards. We will notify you of any such transfer that materially changes how your personal information is handled.

6. International Data Processing

Amerbach is based in the United States, and we primarily use service providers based in the United States. Certain third-party providers, including Paystack, which supports international payment processing, may process your information outside the United States as necessary to complete your transaction or payout. Where this occurs, we take reasonable steps to ensure your information continues to receive an appropriate level of protection.

7. Your Choices

  • Marketing communications: you may opt out of promotional emails at any time using the unsubscribe link in the communication or by updating your Account settings.
  • Cookies: see Section 3.
  • Account information: you can review and update certain Account information directly through your Account settings.

8. Your Rights

Depending on your location, applicable law may give you the right to:

  • access the personal information we hold about you;
  • correct inaccurate or incomplete information;
  • request deletion of your personal information;
  • restrict or object to certain processing, including processing based on legitimate interests or for direct marketing;
  • receive a copy of certain personal information in a portable, machine-readable format; and
  • withdraw consent, where processing is based on consent, without affecting the lawfulness of processing carried out before withdrawal.

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at privacy@amerbach.com. We may ask you to verify your identity before responding. We will respond within the timeframe required by applicable law. If we are unable to fulfil a request, we will explain why.

9. Data Retention

We retain personal information for as long as necessary to provide the Services, fulfil the purposes described in this Policy, and comply with our legal, accounting, and reporting obligations. Where information is no longer needed for these purposes, we will delete or anonymize it, except where longer retention is required or permitted by law.

10. Data Security

We implement technical and organizational measures designed to protect personal information against loss, misuse, and unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

11. Children's Privacy

The Services are intended for individuals who are at least eighteen (18) years of age, consistent with Section 1.3 of the Amerbach Terms and Conditions. Where a User under 18 uses the Services with parental or guardian consent, we process only the information necessary to provide the Services, consistent with this Policy. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under thirteen (13) years of age in a manner inconsistent with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act ("COPPA"). If you believe a child under 13 has provided us with personal information without verifiable parental consent, please contact us at privacy@amerbach.com so that we can delete it.

12. Third-Party Links and Services

The Platform may contain links to third-party websites or integrate third-party services (such as Paystack or Google Analytics). This Policy does not apply to those third parties, and we encourage you to review their privacy policies separately. Amerbach is not responsible for the privacy practices of third parties.

13. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or for legal, operational, or regulatory reasons. Material changes will be communicated through the Platform or by other reasonable means before they take effect. The "Effective Date" at the top of this Policy indicates when it was last revised.

14. Contact Us

Amerbach Amerbach Society, Inc. 1074 Greentree Rd Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15220 United States Phone: (412) 563-1440

Privacy inquiries: privacy@amerbach.com General inquiries: support@amerbach.com