Privacy Policy

Overview

This Privacy Policy explains how Launchpad ("we," "us," or "our") collects, uses, shares, and protects personal information when you visit launchpad.ms, create an account, submit a project, interact with content, or use our services. We wrote this in plain language to help you understand your choices and rights, including under laws like the EU/UK GDPR and the California CCPA/CPRA.

Scope

• Applies to: our website, web apps, and services available at launchpad.ms and related pages.
• Does not apply to: third-party websites we link to (e.g., project websites, partner badges, external tools). Their privacy practices are their own.

Information We Collect

We collect information you provide directly and information collected automatically when you use Launchpad.

1) Information You Provide

• Account and profile: name, username/handle, email address, password (hashed), profile photo, bio.
• Project submissions: project name, description, tags/categories, logos/images, links (e.g., website, social), and any other content you upload.
• Interactions: comments, votes/likes/favorites, messages you send us, support requests.
• Payments: if you purchase a plan or feature, we receive limited billing details (e.g., plan, status) and our payment processor receives your payment information (e.g., card data, billing address).
• Preferences: marketing email preferences, notification settings, theme (light/dark).
• Contest/awards participation: entries, nominations, and any information you provide.

2) Information Collected Automatically

• Device and usage: IP address, device type, operating system, browser type/version, language, referring/exit pages, pages viewed, links clicked, time and date, and other standard log data.
• Cookies and similar technologies: session cookies, persistent cookies, local storage, and pixels used for authentication, remembering preferences, performance/analytics, and (where applicable) personalization/advertising.
• Approximate location: inferred from IP address (city/region level).
• Performance and security data: error logs, diagnostic information, fraud and abuse signals.

3) Information from Third Parties

• Sign-in services: if offered (e.g., single sign-on), we may receive identifiers and profile information you allow the provider to share.
• Analytics and measurement partners: aggregated or pseudonymous usage metrics.
• Publicly available sources: information you publish about your project we may display or index.

How We Use Your Information

We use personal information to:

• Operate the service: provide accounts, authenticate users, host content, display projects, comments, badges, and rankings.
• Personalize: show relevant content, categories, and recommendations; remember settings.
• Communicate: send service-related emails (e.g., confirmations, changes, notices). With your consent or as allowed by law; send marketing emails about Launchpad.
• Process payments: provide paid features and manage subscriptions via a payment processor.
• Improve and protect: analyze usage; fix bugs; enhance features; monitor performance; prevent spam; fraud; abuse; secure our systems.
• Legal/compliance: meet legal obligations; resolve disputes; enforce Terms of Service; protect rights and safety.

Legal Bases (GDPR/UK GDPR)

Where GDPR/UK GDPR applies we process personal data on these bases:

• Contract: to provide Launchpad and fulfill your requests (e.g., account; submissions; payments).
• Legitimate interests: to improve services; ensure security; prevent abuse; measure engagement—balanced against your privacy rights.
• Consent: for non-essential cookies; certain marketing communications; where required for personalized advertising.
• Legal obligation: to comply with law; enforce our terms.

Cookies and Similar Technologies

We use:

• Strictly necessary cookies: required for site functionality/security.
• Preferences cookies: remember choices like theme/language.
• Analytics cookies: help us understand usage/improve site (e.g., page performance/traffic).
• Advertising/personalization cookies (if used): tailor content or measure campaign performance.

Your choices:

• Cookie banner/settings: manage non-essential cookies when you first visit/via settings thereafter.
• Browser controls: block/delete cookies in browser. Some features may not work without cookies.

Sharing of Information

We do not sell your personal information. We share information with:

• Service providers: hosting/storage; customer support; analytics; email delivery; security/fraud prevention; payment processing. These providers may process data on our behalf under contracts that require privacy/security protections.
• Analytics/measurement partners: to understand performance/usage. Data is typically aggregated/pseudonymous.
• Advertising partners (if used): we may share limited identifiers/device data for measuring/delivering campaigns. In California this may be considered "sharing" for cross-context behavioral advertising.
• Other users/public: content you intentionally publish (project pages/logos/descriptions/comments/badges) may be publicly visible.
• Legal/safety: to comply with law/respond to lawful requests/enforce Terms/protect rights/safety/security.
• Business transfers: in the event of a merger/acquisition/asset sale your data may be transferred under this Policy's protections.

International Transfers

If you are outside the country where our servers/providers are located your data may be transferred internationally. We use appropriate safeguards (e.g., Standard Contractual Clauses) for transfers of personal data from the EEA/UK to countries without equivalent protection.

Data Retention

• We keep personal data only as long as needed for the purposes described above.
• Account data is retained while your account is active. If you delete your account we will delete or de-identify your personal data within a reasonable period unless we need to retain it for legal/security/business continuity reasons.
• Public content (project listings/comments) may remain visible to preserve site integrity/historical records but we will remove/pseudonymize it upon valid request when feasible.
• Logs/analytics are retained for operational/security purposes for a limited time.

Security

We use technical/organizational measures to protect your information including:

• Encryption in transit (TLS)/at rest where appropriate for sensitive data.
• Access controls: role-based access/authentication/limited employee access to personal data on a need-to-know basis.
• Secure development practices/monitoring/regular updates. No system is 100% secure but we work to protect your data/promptly address incidents.

Your Rights

Your rights vary by region. We honor applicable rights where laws require.

EU/EEA & UK (GDPR/UK GDPR)

You have the right to:

• Access: request a copy of your personal data
• Correction: ask us to fix inaccurate/incomplete data
• Deletion: request deletion in certain circumstances
• Restriction: request we limit processing
• Objection: object to processing based on legitimate interests/direct marketing
• Portability: receive your data in a usable format & transfer it
• Withdraw consent at any time where relied upon

California (CCPA/CPRA)

You have the right to:

• Know: request details about categories/specific pieces of PI we collect/use/disclose/share
• Delete PI subject to exceptions
• Correct inaccurate PI
• Opt out of "sale" or "sharing"—we do not sell PI. If engaged in cross-context behavioral advertising opt out of sharing
• Limit use of sensitive PI—we do not use sensitive PI beyond what's necessary for payment processing by our provider

How To Exercise Your Rights

Submit requests by email or privacy controls in account. We may need verification of identity. Manage marketing preferences via email footers/cookie banner/settings/do-not-sell links if applicable.

Children's Privacy

Launchpad is not directed at children under 13 (or under 16 in the EEA/UK). We do not knowingly collect PI from children. If you believe a child has provided us PI contact us so we can delete it.

User-generated Content & Public Visibility

Content you choose to publish—like project pages/logos/descriptions/comments/votes/badges—may be publicly visible/indexed by search engines. Please do not post personal info you do not want public.

Do Not Track

Some browsers send DNT signals—we do not respond. Use cookie preferences/browser controls instead.

Third-party Links & Embeds

We link/display third-party sites/badges/embeds—they are governed by their own privacy policies.

Updates To This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time-to-time for changes in practices/laws/etc. If changes are material we will provide notice via updated policy/email/site notice. Latest version always at /legal/privacy.

Contact Us

Questions or requests about privacy/data rights:

• Email: [email protected]

Regional Contacts & Complaints

• EEA/UK residents can lodge complaints with local DPA—contact us first so we can help!
• California residents can submit requests via email/web forms—we will not discriminate against CCPA rights exercise.

California Disclosures — Categories Collected & Shared

We collect/disclose these categories of PI:

• Identifiers—name/email/account ID/IP address
• Customer records—account profile/subscription tier
• Commercial info—transactions/plans
• Internet/network activity—browsing history/interactions/device & usage
• Geolocation—approximate location via IP
• Inferences—preferences inferred from usage
• We do not collect sensitive PI beyond what's necessary for payment processing by our provider.

Data Controller and Payment Processing

Launchpad is the data controller for personal data processed through launchpad.ms. For payments, we use a third-party payment processor that handles your card details directly and maintains PCI-DSS compliance. We do not store full payment card numbers on our servers.

Your Choices

• Account Controls: Update your profile, email preferences, and notifications in your account.
• Marketing Emails: Unsubscribe using the link in any marketing email.
• Cookies: Adjust preferences via our cookie banner/settings and your browser.
• Delete Account: Request deletion in your account settings or by contacting us.

Acknowledgments

• Hosting and Storage: We use reputable cloud providers.
• Analytics: We use analytics partners to understand site performance. We configure them to respect applicable privacy requirements.

If you have any questions, contact [email protected].