Privacy & Terms

Privacy Policy

Effective Date: January 1, 2025 | Last Updated: October 30, 2025

Introduction

Welcome to UPIP Academy. We respect your privacy and are committed to protecting your personal data. This privacy policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect your information when you use our education-tutoring platform.

What Information We Collect

Information You Provide:

• Account Information: Name, email address, password, grade level
• Profile Information: Optional profile picture, bio, learning preferences
• Payment Information: Credit card details (processed securely through Stripe)
• Communication Data: Messages with tutors, support tickets, feedback
• Parent/Guardian Information: For students under 13, as required by COPPA

Information We Collect Automatically:

• Learning Data: Lessons completed, quiz scores, time spent studying, progress metrics
• Usage Data: Pages visited, features used, clicks, navigation patterns
• Device Information: Browser type, operating system, IP address, device identifiers
• Location Data: General location (country/region) based on IP address
• Cookies & Tracking: See our Cookie Policy below

How We Use Your Information

We use collected information for the following purposes:

1. Providing Services: Deliver lessons, facilitate tutoring sessions, track progress
2. Personalization: Recommend relevant lessons, customize learning paths
3. Communication: Send lesson updates, tutor confirmations, support responses
4. Improvement: Analyze usage patterns to improve our platform and content
5. Safety & Security: Prevent fraud, protect accounts, ensure platform integrity
6. Legal Compliance: Comply with applicable laws and regulations
7. Parent Reporting: Provide progress reports to parents/guardians (with consent)

How We Share Your Information

We may share your information only in these limited circumstances:

Data Security

We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your data:

• 256-bit SSL/TLS encryption for data in transit
• AES-256 encryption for data at rest
• Regular security audits and penetration testing
• Access controls and authentication requirements
• Secure data centers with physical security
• Regular backups and disaster recovery procedures

Data Retention

We retain your data only as long as necessary:

• Active Accounts: Data retained while account is active
• Inactive Accounts: Data deleted after 24 months of inactivity
• Deleted Accounts: Most data deleted within 30 days (some data retained for legal compliance)
• Learning Records: You can request deletion anytime via account settings

Your Rights

You have the following rights regarding your personal data:

• Access: Request a copy of all data we have about you
• Correction: Update or correct inaccurate information
• Deletion: Request deletion of your account and data
• Portability: Download your data in machine-readable format
• Opt-Out: Unsubscribe from marketing emails anytime
• Restriction: Request limitation of data processing
• Objection: Object to certain types of data processing

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at privacy@upip-academy.com or use the Data & Privacy section in your account settings.

International Data Transfers

Your data may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your own. We ensure adequate protections through:

• Standard Contractual Clauses (EU)
• Privacy Shield principles (where applicable)
• Explicit user consent

Terms of Service

Effective Date: January 1, 2025 | Last Updated: October 30, 2025

Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using UPIP Academy, you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service. If you do not agree to these terms, you may not use our platform.

Account Registration

• You must provide accurate and complete information
• You are responsible for maintaining account security
• You must be at least 13 years old (or have parental consent)
• One person per account (no sharing credentials)
• You must notify us immediately of any unauthorized access

User Conduct

You agree NOT to:

• Share false or misleading information
• Harass, abuse, or threaten other users or tutors
• Upload malicious code or viruses
• Attempt to hack or compromise platform security
• Copy, reproduce, or redistribute lesson content without permission
• Use the platform for any illegal purposes
• Impersonate others or create fake accounts
• Spam or send unsolicited communications

Payment & Billing

• Subscription fees are billed monthly/annually in advance
• Tutoring sessions are charged per hour or via credits
• All fees are in USD unless otherwise stated
• You authorize automatic renewal unless cancelled
• Cancellation must occur before next billing cycle
• See Refund Policy below for refund terms

Intellectual Property

All content on UPIP Academy, including lessons, videos, quizzes, graphics, and software, is owned by UPIP Academy or our licensors and is protected by copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws.

• You receive a limited, non-exclusive license to access content for personal educational use
• You may not download, copy, or redistribute content without permission
• You retain ownership of content you create (e.g., forum posts, assignments)
• By posting content, you grant us a license to use it for platform purposes

Tutoring Services

• Tutors are independent contractors, not employees
• We screen tutors but do not guarantee session quality
• You may report tutor misconduct for investigation
• Sessions must be conducted through our platform
• Recording sessions requires consent from all parties

Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW:

• UPIP Academy is provided "AS IS" without warranties of any kind
• We are not liable for any indirect, incidental, or consequential damages
• Our total liability is limited to fees paid in the last 12 months
• We are not responsible for tutors' actions or third-party content

Termination

We may suspend or terminate your account if you:

• Violate these Terms of Service
• Engage in fraudulent activity
• Fail to pay required fees
• Create risk or legal exposure for us or others

You may delete your account anytime through account settings.

Changes to Terms

We may update these terms from time to time. We will notify you of material changes via email or platform notification. Continued use after changes constitutes acceptance.

Cookie Policy

Effective Date: January 1, 2025

What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files stored on your device when you visit websites. They help us provide a better user experience.

Types of Cookies We Use

Managing Cookies

You can control cookies through:

• Browser settings (most browsers allow cookie blocking)
• Our Cookie Consent Manager (click "Cookie Settings" in footer)
• Opt-out links for third-party analytics services

Note: Blocking essential cookies may prevent platform functionality.

Age Requirements & COPPA Compliance

Age Requirements

• Under 13: Parent/guardian must create and manage account
• 13-17: May create account with parental consent
• 18+: Full account autonomy

COPPA Compliance (Children Under 13)

For students under 13, we comply with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA):

• Parental consent required before collecting any information
• Parents can review, modify, or delete their child's information anytime
• We collect only information necessary for educational purposes
• No behavioral advertising to children
• Enhanced security protections for children's data

Refund Policy

Subscription Refunds

• 7-Day Money-Back Guarantee: Full refund if cancelled within 7 days of initial purchase
• After 7 Days: Prorated refund for unused time (at our discretion)
• Annual Plans: Refundable within 30 days of purchase

Tutoring Session Refunds

• Tutor No-Show: Full refund or free replacement session
• Student Cancellation:
  • 24+ hours notice: Full refund
  • Less than 24 hours: 50% refund
  • No-show: No refund
• Technical Issues (Our Fault): Full refund or free replacement session
• Dissatisfaction: First session guaranteed - if unsatisfied, we'll find a new tutor and refund

How to Request a Refund

Contact support@upip-academy.com with:

• Account email address
• Transaction details
• Reason for refund request

Refunds processed within 5-10 business days.

Copyright & Intellectual Property

Copyright Ownership

All lesson content, videos, quizzes, graphics, logos, and platform code are the intellectual property of UPIP Academy and protected by U.S. and international copyright laws.

DMCA Notice

If you believe your copyrighted work has been infringed, submit a DMCA notice to dmca@upip-academy.com including:

• Description of the copyrighted work
• Location of infringing material on our platform
• Your contact information
• Good faith statement
• Statement under penalty of perjury
• Physical or electronic signature

User-Generated Content

Content you create (posts, assignments, etc.):

• You retain ownership
• You grant us a license to display and use it on the platform
• Must not infringe others' intellectual property
• Must comply with our content guidelines

Our Anti-Institutional Education Philosophy

Our Principles

• Learning Freedom: No rigid schedules, no forced curriculum, no arbitrary deadlines
• Student Ownership: Your data, your progress, your pace - you're in control
• Transparency: No hidden fees, no selling your data, no corporate partnerships
• Quality Over Credentials: We value knowledge and teaching ability over institutional credentials
• Anti-Surveillance: We track only what's necessary for learning, not for control
• Accessibility: Education should be available to everyone, regardless of location or background

Data Ethics Commitment

Unlike traditional institutions that often:

• Share student data with government agencies
• Sell aggregated data to researchers without consent
• Use surveillance technologies to monitor students
• Retain records indefinitely

We promise to:

• Collect only essential data for educational purposes
• Never sell or share your data for profit
• Give you full control over your information
• Delete your data when you request it
• Be transparent about what we collect and why