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    Privacy Policy

    Introduction

    Welcome to Orpetron Web Design Awards. We are committed to protecting your personal information and your right to privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website and use our services.

    By using our website, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy. If you do not agree with our policies and practices, please do not use our services.

    Last updated: June 2026

    Information We Collect

    Personal Information

    We collect personal information that you voluntarily provide to us when you:

    • Register for an account
    • Submit a website for evaluation
    • Subscribe to our newsletter
    • Contact us through our contact form
    • Make a purchase or subscription
    • Apply to become a judge

    The personal information we collect may include:

    • Name and display name
    • Email address
    • Username and password
    • Profile picture
    • Country and location
    • Website URL and portfolio information
    • Professional description and bio
    • Payment information (processed securely through third-party payment processors)
    • Social media links

    Automatically Collected Information

    When you visit our website, we automatically collect certain information about your device and browsing activity, including:

    • IP address
    • Browser type and version
    • Operating system
    • Referring URLs
    • Pages viewed and time spent on pages
    • Device information
    • Cookies and similar tracking technologies

    How We Use Your Information

    We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

    • Account Management: To create and manage your user account, authenticate your identity, and provide access to our services.
    • Service Delivery: To process your website submissions, evaluate designs, award recognition, and display your work in our directory.
    • Communication: To send you important updates, newsletters, promotional materials, and respond to your inquiries.
    • Payment Processing: To process transactions, subscriptions, and manage billing information.
    • Analytics and Improvement: To analyze website usage, understand user behavior, and improve our services and user experience.
    • Marketing: To promote winning websites and creators on our platform and social media channels.
    • Legal Compliance: To comply with legal obligations, enforce our terms of service, and protect our rights.
    • Security: To detect, prevent, and address technical issues, fraud, and security threats.

    How We Share Your Information

    We may share your information in the following circumstances:

    Public Display

    When you submit a website or create a profile, certain information becomes publicly visible, including:

    • Your username and display name
    • Profile picture
    • Country
    • Website URL and submitted projects
    • Professional description
    • Awards and recognition received

    Third-Party Service Providers

    We may share your information with trusted third-party service providers who assist us in operating our website and services, including:

    • Payment processors (e.g., Stripe, PayPal)
    • Email service providers
    • Analytics services (e.g., Google Analytics)
    • Hosting and infrastructure providers
    • Customer support tools

    These service providers are contractually obligated to protect your information and use it only for the purposes we specify.

    Legal Requirements

    We may disclose your information if required by law, court order, or governmental request, or to protect our rights, property, or safety.

    Business Transfers

    In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred to the acquiring entity.

    Data Storage and Security

    We implement appropriate technical and organizational security measures to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These measures include:

    • Encryption of sensitive data in transit and at rest
    • Secure server infrastructure
    • Regular security audits and updates
    • Access controls and authentication
    • Employee training on data protection

    However, no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

    We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy, unless a longer retention period is required by law.

    Your Rights and Choices

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

    Access and Portability

    You have the right to request access to the personal information we hold about you and receive a copy in a portable format.

    Correction

    You can update or correct your personal information through your account settings or by contacting us.

    Deletion

    You have the right to request deletion of your personal information, subject to certain legal exceptions.

    Objection and Restriction

    You can object to certain processing activities or request restriction of processing in specific circumstances.

    Withdraw Consent

    Where we rely on your consent to process your information, you have the right to withdraw that consent at any time.

    Marketing Communications

    You can opt out of receiving promotional emails by clicking the unsubscribe link in our emails or updating your account preferences.

    To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the information provided below.

    Cookies and Tracking Technologies

    We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your browsing experience and analyze website usage. For detailed information about our use of cookies, please refer to our Cookie Policy.

    Third-Party Links and Services

    Our website may contain links to third-party websites and services that are not operated by us. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these third parties. We encourage you to review their privacy policies before providing any personal information.

    Children's Privacy

    Our services are not intended for individuals under the age of 16. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe we have collected information from a child, please contact us immediately, and we will take steps to delete such information.

    International Data Transfers

    Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your country of residence. These countries may have different data protection laws. By using our services, you consent to the transfer of your information to these countries.

    We take appropriate measures to ensure that your personal information remains protected in accordance with this Privacy Policy when transferred internationally.

    GDPR Compliance

    If you are located in the European Economic Area (EEA), you have additional rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), including:

    • The right to be informed about data collection and processing
    • The right to access your personal data
    • The right to rectification of inaccurate data
    • The right to erasure ("right to be forgotten")
    • The right to restrict processing
    • The right to data portability
    • The right to object to processing
    • Rights related to automated decision-making and profiling

    Our legal basis for processing your personal information includes:

    • Consent: When you have given explicit consent for specific processing activities
    • Contract: When processing is necessary to fulfill our contract with you
    • Legal Obligation: When we must process data to comply with legal requirements
    • Legitimate Interests: When processing is necessary for our legitimate business interests

    California Privacy Rights

    If you are a California resident, you have specific rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), including:

    • The right to know what personal information is collected, used, shared, or sold
    • The right to delete personal information
    • The right to opt-out of the sale of personal information
    • The right to non-discrimination for exercising your privacy rights

    We do not sell your personal information to third parties.

    Changes to This Privacy Policy

    We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, legal requirements, or for other operational reasons. We will notify you of any material changes by:

    • Posting the updated policy on this page
    • Updating the "Last updated" date
    • Sending you an email notification (for significant changes)

    We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically to stay informed about how we protect your information.

    Contact Us

    If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:

    • Contact Form: Contact Us
    • Website: https://orpetron.com

    We will respond to your inquiry as soon as possible, typically within 30 days.