Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Welcome to Smart Maple. We respect your privacy and are committed to protecting your personal data in accordance with applicable data protection laws, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), and other relevant privacy regulations. This privacy policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect your personal information when you visit our website or use our services.

By using our website and services, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this privacy policy. If you do not agree with our policies and practices, please do not use our services.

2. Information We Collect

We collect information that you provide directly to us, as well as information that we obtain automatically when you use our services. The types of personal data we may collect include:

3. How We Use Your Information

We use your personal data for the following purposes, based on our legitimate business interests, contractual necessity, legal compliance, and with your consent where required:

• Service Delivery: To provide, operate, and maintain our software development services and respond to your inquiries
• Contract Fulfillment: To execute and manage contracts, process payments, and deliver services you have requested
• Communication: To send you service-related updates, respond to your inquiries, and provide customer support
• Website Improvement: To analyze website usage, improve our services, develop new features, and enhance user experience
• Marketing: To send you marketing communications (with your consent) about our services, special offers, and relevant industry news
• Legal Compliance: To comply with applicable laws, regulations, legal processes, and enforce our terms of service
• Security: To protect against fraud, unauthorized access, and security threats, and to maintain the security of our systems
• Business Operations: To manage our business operations, conduct analytics, and make informed business decisions

4. Legal Basis for Processing

We process your personal data based on the following legal grounds:

• Consent: When you have given clear consent for us to process your personal data for specific purposes
• Contract Performance: When processing is necessary to fulfill a contract with you or to take steps at your request before entering into a contract
• Legal Obligation: When we need to comply with a legal obligation, such as tax reporting or responding to legal requests
• Legitimate Interests: When processing is necessary for our legitimate business interests (such as improving our services) and your interests and fundamental rights do not override those interests
• Vital Interests: When processing is necessary to protect someone's life or physical safety

5. Data Sharing and Disclosure

We may share your personal data in the following circumstances:

• Service Providers: We may share data with trusted third-party service providers who assist us in operating our business, such as hosting providers, payment processors, analytics services, and email service providers. These providers are contractually obligated to protect your data.
• Business Transfers: If we are involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your data may be transferred as part of that transaction
• Legal Requirements: We may disclose your data if required by law, court order, or government regulation, or to protect our rights, property, or safety
• With Your Consent: We may share your data with other parties when you have given us explicit consent to do so

We do not sell your personal data to third parties for marketing purposes.

6. International Data Transfers

Your personal data may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your country of residence. These countries may have data protection laws that differ from those in your country. When we transfer your data internationally, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place, such as standard contractual clauses approved by relevant data protection authorities, to protect your personal data in accordance with this privacy policy.

7. Data Security

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

• Encryption of data in transit and at rest using industry-standard encryption protocols
• Regular security assessments and vulnerability testing
• Access controls and authentication mechanisms to limit access to personal data
• Employee training on data protection and security best practices
• Secure data centers and infrastructure with physical and logical security controls
• Incident response procedures to address security breaches promptly

However, no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your personal data, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

8. Data Retention

We retain your personal data only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this privacy policy, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law. Our retention periods are based on:

• The nature of the data and the purpose for which it was collected
• Legal, regulatory, or contractual requirements that may require us to retain data for specific periods
• The potential for disputes or legal claims
• Your requests for deletion or account closure

When we no longer need your personal data, we will securely delete or anonymize it in accordance with our data retention policies.

9. Your Privacy Rights

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

• Right to Access: Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you
• Right to Rectification: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete personal data
• Right to Erasure: Request deletion of your personal data under certain circumstances (also known as "the right to be forgotten")
• Right to Restrict Processing: Request that we limit how we process your personal data
• Right to Data Portability: Request a copy of your data in a structured, machine-readable format
• Right to Object: Object to processing of your personal data for direct marketing or legitimate interests
• Right to Withdraw Consent: Withdraw your consent at any time where we rely on consent as the legal basis for processing
• Right to Opt-Out: Opt out of the sale of personal information (if applicable under CCPA)
• Right to Non-Discrimination: Exercise your privacy rights without receiving discriminatory treatment

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the contact information provided below. We will respond to your request within the timeframe required by applicable law (typically within 30 days).

10. Children's Privacy

Our services are not intended for individuals under the age of 18 (or the age of majority in your jurisdiction). We do not knowingly collect personal data from children. If we become aware that we have collected personal data from a child without parental consent, we will take steps to delete that information promptly. If you believe we may have collected information from a child, please contact us immediately.

11. Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to third-party websites, services, or applications that are not owned or controlled by Smart Maple. This privacy policy does not apply to those third-party sites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of third-party websites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party sites you visit.

12. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to collect and store information about your preferences and interactions with our website. For detailed information about how we use cookies and how you can manage your cookie preferences, please refer to our Cookie Policy.

13. 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, legal, or regulatory reasons. We will notify you of any material changes by posting the updated policy on this page with a new "Last Updated" date. We may also notify you via email or through a prominent notice on our website for significant changes. Your continued use of our services after such changes constitutes your acceptance of the updated privacy policy.

14. Contact Us

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

If you are located in the European Economic Area (EEA), you also have the right to lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority if you believe we have not adequately addressed your concerns.