Privacy Policy

At M81 Studio, we take your privacy seriously. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our website development services. Please read this policy carefully to understand our practices regarding your personal data.

1. Information We Collect

We collect information that you provide directly to us when using our services:

Personal Information

• Contact Information: Name, email address, phone number
• Business Information: Company name, business type, industry
• Project Details: Information about your website project, requirements, and preferences
• Account Information: Username, password (encrypted), and account preferences for the client portal

Files and Content

• Images, logos, and graphics you provide for your website
• Text content and copy for your website
• Brand assets and design materials
• Any other files submitted through our client portal

Automatically Collected Information

• IP address and browser type
• Device information and operating system
• Usage data and website interaction patterns
• Cookies and similar tracking technologies (see Section 6)

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Build Your Website: Create and develop your custom website according to your specifications
• Communicate: Respond to your inquiries, provide project updates, and send important information about your project
• Manage Your Account: Provide access to the client portal, manage your project, and facilitate collaboration
• Improve Services: Analyze usage patterns to enhance our services and user experience
• Legal Compliance: Comply with legal obligations and protect our rights and interests
• Marketing: With your consent, send you information about our services, updates, and promotional materials (you can opt-out at any time)

3. Third-Party Services

We use trusted third-party services to operate our business and provide services to you. These services may have access to your information:

• Stripe: Used for payment links for invoicing purposes only. M81 Studio does not directly process credit card information — Stripe handles all payment data securely under its own PCI-compliant infrastructure.
• Vercel: Hosts our website and provides deployment services. Your website may be hosted on Vercel's infrastructure.
• Supabase: Used for user authentication, database storage, and client portal functionality. Your account information and project data are stored securely on Supabase servers.
• Web3Forms: Used for contact form routing. Form submissions are processed and delivered to us via Web3Forms.
• Cloudflare Turnstile: Used for bot protection on forms and interactive elements. Cloudflare Turnstile may collect certain technical information about your visit to verify you are a legitimate user.
• Shopify: If your project includes e-commerce functionality, we may integrate with Shopify. Your e-commerce data will be subject to Shopify's privacy policy. See Section 4 (Financial Data) for details on how financial information is handled within Shopify.

These third-party services have their own privacy policies governing how they collect, use, and protect your information. We encourage you to review their privacy policies.

4. Financial Data

M81 Studio does not collect, store, or handle sensitive financial information including but not limited to bank account numbers, Social Security Numbers (SSN), Employer Identification Numbers (EIN), or tax routing information.

Invoicing via Stripe

M81 Studio uses Stripe payment links for invoicing. We do not operate a direct Stripe payment processing integration — all payment data is handled entirely by Stripe on their PCI-compliant platform. M81 Studio never sees or stores your full card number, CVV, or banking details.

Shopify E-Commerce

For clients with Shopify e-commerce websites, the Client connects their own financial information (bank accounts, tax IDs, payout details) directly to Shopify Payments through their own Shopify account. M81 Studio does not have access to, process, or store any of this financial data. The Client maintains full ownership and control of their Shopify Payments configuration.

5. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information:

• Encryption of sensitive data in transit and at rest
• Secure authentication and access controls
• Regular security assessments and updates
• Limited access to personal information on a need-to-know basis
• Secure hosting infrastructure through trusted providers

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.

6. Cookies

We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your experience:

• Essential Cookies: Required for the website to function properly, including authentication and security
• Analytics Cookies: Help us understand how visitors interact with our website to improve functionality
• Preference Cookies: Remember your settings and preferences

You can control cookies through your browser settings. However, disabling cookies may limit your ability to use certain features of our website and client portal.

7. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to:

• Provide our services and fulfill our contractual obligations
• Comply with legal and regulatory requirements
• Resolve disputes and enforce our agreements
• Maintain project records for reference and support

When we no longer need your information, we will securely delete or anonymize it, unless we are required to retain it for legal purposes.

8. AI-Assisted Development

M81 Studio uses artificial intelligence tools in its development process, including but not limited to AI code assistants and AI content generation tools. These tools may be used to assist with writing code, generating design assets, drafting copy, or other aspects of building and maintaining your website.

All websites, integrations, and deliverables produced by M81 Studio — whether AI-assisted or otherwise — are provided "as is" without warranty of any kind, express or implied. M81 Studio makes no guarantees regarding the performance, accuracy, or fitness for a particular purpose of any AI-generated or AI-assisted output incorporated into your project.

M81 Studio reviews and tests all work before delivery regardless of the tools used in its creation. The use of AI tools does not diminish our commitment to quality or our responsibility to deliver work that meets the agreed-upon project specifications.

9. Content Indemnification

M81 Studio does not verify the copyright ownership, licensing status, or intellectual property rights of materials submitted by the Client, including but not limited to images, logos, text, graphics, videos, and other media provided for use in the Client's website or project.

The Client is solely responsible for ensuring they have the legal right to use all submitted content. For full details on content ownership, indemnification obligations, and liability, please refer to the Content Indemnification section of our Terms of Service.

10. Your Rights

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

• Access: Request access to the personal information we hold about you
• Correction: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information
• Deletion: Request deletion of your personal information, subject to legal and contractual obligations
• Portability: Request a copy of your data in a portable format
• Opt-Out: Unsubscribe from marketing communications at any time
• Objection: Object to certain processing activities where applicable

To exercise these rights, please contact us using the information provided in Section 13. We will respond to your request within a reasonable timeframe.

11. Children's Privacy

Our services are not intended for individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe we have inadvertently collected information from a child, please contact us immediately, and we will take steps to delete such information.

12. Changes to This Policy

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

• Posting the updated policy on this page
• Updating the "Last updated" date at the top of this policy
• Sending an email notification for significant changes (where applicable)

Your continued use of our services after any changes indicates your acceptance of the updated policy.

13. Contact Information

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