Copyright & Intellectual Property Policy
ETHICCRED COPYRIGHT & INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY POLICY
1. Purpose
This Policy establishes the ownership, protection, permitted use, reporting procedures, and enforcement mechanisms relating to intellectual property rights associated with the EthicCred Platform. It forms part of the Terms of Service and applies to all users, organisations, institutions, employers, recruiters, developers, API users, partners, and visitors.
2. Ownership of the Platform
Unless otherwise stated, EthicCred and its licensors own all rights, title, and interest in EthicCred software, source code, databases, platform architecture, user interfaces, website content, mobile applications, verification systems, APIs, designs, graphics, logos, trademarks, service marks, branding, documentation, business processes, and proprietary methodologies. All rights not expressly granted are reserved.
3. EthicCred Trademarks
The following may constitute trademarks, service marks, trade names, brand assets, or proprietary identifiers of EthicCred: EthicCred, EthicCred Professional Passport, EthicCred ID, Global EthicCred ID, EthicCred Verification, EthicCred Trusted Employer, EthicCred Verified Professional, EthicCred logos, and EthicCred branding materials. Users may not use EthicCred trademarks without prior written authorisation.
4. User Content
Users may submit professional records, employment records, educational records, certificates, recommendations, documents, images, profile information, and other content. Users retain ownership of content they lawfully own or control.
5. License Granted to EthicCred
By submitting content, users grant EthicCred a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free, transferable, sublicensable license to store, process, display, verify, reproduce, distribute, archive, secure, analyse, and use submitted content solely for operation, improvement, protection, verification, compliance, security, and administration of the Platform.
6. User Warranties
Users represent and warrant that they own the content submitted, or possess sufficient rights and permissions to submit the content. Users are responsible for obtaining necessary permissions before uploading or sharing content.
7. Organisation-Issued Records
Organisations retain ownership of certificates, recommendations, evaluations, and records they create. Organisations grant EthicCred permission to store, verify, display, archive, and manage such records for platform operations.
8. Prohibited Intellectual Property Activities
Users may not copy platform software, reverse engineer systems, reproduce databases, remove ownership notices, use EthicCred branding without authorisation, misrepresent ownership, create counterfeit certificates or verification records, or infringe third-party rights.
9. Certificate Authenticity
Certificates may contain Certificate IDs, QR Codes, Verification URLs, and digital verification mechanisms. Users may not alter certificates, modify verification records, forge identifiers, or manipulate verification status.
10. Copyright Infringement Reporting
A person believing content infringes IP rights may submit a written notice containing identification of the protected work, identification of the allegedly infringing material, description of the infringement, contact information, good-faith statement, and authority statement. EthicCred may investigate and take appropriate action.
11. Response to Infringement Claims
Upon receiving a valid complaint, EthicCred may request additional information, restrict content, remove content, suspend access, investigate the matter, or notify affected users. EthicCred retains discretion regarding enforcement actions.
12. Repeat Infringers
Users repeatedly violating IP rights may be subject to warnings, content removal, account restrictions, suspension, or termination.
13. Third-Party Content
EthicCred may contain links, integrations, references, or content originating from third parties. Ownership of third-party content remains with the applicable owners.
14. Feedback and Suggestions
Unless otherwise agreed in writing, EthicCred may use voluntarily provided feedback, suggestions, feature requests, ideas, and improvements without restriction, compensation, or attribution.
15. Open-Source Software
EthicCred may incorporate third-party open-source software, governed by its respective licenses.
16. Professional Records and Verification Data
Professional records, verification data, audit records, verification identifiers, and verification histories may constitute protected databases and proprietary platform assets. Unauthorised mass extraction, copying, scraping, or republication is prohibited.
17. API and Data Access
Users accessing APIs, integrations, exports, or verification services may only use information for authorised purposes. Unauthorised resale, redistribution, commercial exploitation, or bulk extraction is prohibited unless expressly authorised.
18. Reservation of Rights
Nothing in this Policy transfers ownership of any intellectual property belonging to EthicCred or third parties. All rights remain reserved.
19. Limitation of Liability
EthicCred does not guarantee that user-submitted content is free from third-party IP claims. Users remain responsible for content they submit.
20. Policy Changes
EthicCred may update this Policy periodically. Continued use constitutes acceptance.
21. Contact
Questions, notices, complaints, IP concerns, trademark inquiries, licensing requests, or copyright claims may be directed to EthicCred through the official legal and compliance contact channels.