The Proto Hub Privacy Policy

Effective Date: 14-June-2025

At The Proto Hub, accessible from https://theprotohub.com, the privacy of our visitors is of extreme importance. This Privacy Policy document outlines the types of personal information that is received and collected and how it is used.

1. Information We Collect

We may collect the following types of information:

  • Name, email address, phone number, and submitted content via our contact or submission forms or during registration.
  • Payment details via secure gateways (Razorpay /PayPal or any other options published on the websites).
  • Uploaded prototype videos /documents and related project data.
  • Visitor analytics data (IP address, browser type, referral source, time on site, etc.) .

2. How We Use Your Information

  • Account creation, login, and membership management.
  • Sending notifications about updates, renewals, or changes.
  • To showcase and publish submitted prototype content (with user consent).
  • To respond to inquiries or support requests.
  • To improve our platform’s performance and user experience.
  • To provide filtered access for investors and recruiters.
  • Legal and compliance purposes when required by law.

3. Data Sharing

We do not sell, rent user data. Information is only shared:

  • With your consent
  • Payment details are processed securely by third-party gateways; we do not store full card/banking details.
  • All data is encrypted and access-controlled.
  • We never sell personal data.
  • Limited sharing with gateways, cloud providers, or AI tools to enable services.
  • To comply with applicable laws.
  • With platform partners (investors/recruiters) only if explicitly allowed.

4. Data Retention, IP Certificate Validity, and Data Lifecycle Policy

Scope: This policy applies to all users of The Proto Hub, including Designers, Investors, and other registered participants, worldwide.
Legal Frameworks: This policy is designed to comply with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) (EU), the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023 (India), the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), the UK-GDPR, and other applicable international privacy and data protection laws.

Purpose and Scope

The Proto Hub is committed to processing personal data lawfully, fairly and transparently. This policy defines how The Proto Hub collects, retains, stores, and deletes data relating to prototype submissions, video uploads, IP certification, and associated user records, and the lifecycle of such data in support of IP validation and platform services.

Prototype Video Retention
All prototype videos are stored in encrypted buckets.Videos remain active while your subscription is valid and during the retention period defined above.
After this period, videos may be archived or permanently deleted from our servers.

Data Categories
This policy covers all categories of data collected and processed by The Proto Hub, including but not limited to:

  • Logs and audit records necessary for compliance and security.
  • User registration and account details (name, email, contact information, plan subscription).
  • Prototype metadata and descriptions.
  • Uploaded videos (original and watermarked copies).
  • Payment and subscription records.
  • IP certificate issuance and verification records.

Unified Retention Period
The Proto Hub retains prototype-related data and certification records for a standardized period of five (5) years from the date of submission, IP certificate issuance, or last plan renewal, whichever is later. Retention beyond this period is not maintained unless required by applicable law or an active legal proceeding.

5. Original vs. Watermarked Video Handling

  • Original Uploaded Videos: Original, unwatermarked video files uploaded by users are retained for a maximum of six (6) months from the upload date. After six months these original files are automatically and permanently deleted from all active storage and backup systems. Originals are not stored, archived, or retrievable after deletion under any condition. The Proto Hub accepts no liability to recover, restore, or retain original files once deletion has completed.
  • Watermarked (IP-Validated) Videos: Only watermarked versions of prototypes uploaded on the platform (The Proto Hub) will be used for showcase, retention, and IP certification purposes. The original, unwatermarked files remain the full property and responsibility of the creator and are not stored, displayed, or distributed by the platform for certification or showcase activities. Watermarked prototype videos produced for IP verification and certification will be retained for up to five (5) years from the date the corresponding IP certificate is issued. These watermarked versions serve as the official evidence of the prototype at the time of certification and are maintained under strict security, access control, and encryption protocols. The platform’s liability applies only to the watermarked video versions that are securely stored and showcased. The platform is not liable for any misuse, alteration, or distribution of original non-watermarked videos, as those remain under the creator’s control unless explicitly shared by the creator.

6. Legal and Authority Disclosure Policy

In the event that any legal, regulatory, investigative, or governmental authority formally requests access to prototype-related evidence, the platform will only provide the certified watermarked version of the prototype. The platform will not disclose, share, release, or reproduce the original unwatermarked video under any circumstances, unless the creator provides explicit written authorization or such disclosure is mandated by a binding court order received within six (6) months of the original submission date.

Please note that the original unwatermarked video is automatically deleted after six (6) months as part of the platform’s data retention and security policy. Therefore, if a court order or authoritative request is received after the six (6)-month retention period, the platform will not be able to provide the original file, and only the watermarked certified version will be available for disclosure.

7. IP Certificate Validity and Data Lifecycle

Each IP Certificate issued by The Proto Hub is valid for a period of five (5) years from its issuance date. If a certificate is renewed prior to expiry, the certificate validity and associated retention are extended accordingly. If a certificate expires without renewal:

  • All data and records associated with that certificate (including watermarked videos, USP form submissions, metadata, and verification records) will be flagged and securely deleted.
  • Deletion will be performed within a secure deletion window of 7 to 30 days and will be irreversible.
  • Once deletion is complete, the data cannot be recovered, archived, or reissued. The Proto Hub is not liable for any loss of data following expiration and deletion of certificate-related records.
  • Upon successful completion of prototype deletion, any related blog post, showcase entry, or public display material linked to that prototype will also be permanently removed from the platform. This ensures that no references, previews, or descriptions of the deleted prototype remain visible or accessible.

8. Data Disclosure and Legal Requests

In response to a verified request, an ownership claim, a legally valid court order, or a formal request from an authorized government or regulatory authority, The Proto Hub may disclose relevant retained data within the applicable retention period. The types of data The Proto Hub may disclose in such circumstances include:

  • Watermarked video files used as official IP proof.
  • IP certificate records and verification metadata.
  • User registration and submission details (as necessary to support the claim or request).

Original video files will not be disclosed because originals are subject to the six-month deletion cycle and are not retained beyond that period. All disclosures will be made only where required by law, pursuant to a valid legal process, or with the explicit consent of the data subject.

9. Prototype Modification Policy

After a prototype video is submitted, the platform will conduct a validation and compliance review, requiring a minimum of 48 hours. Upon approval, the platform will create and publish the official watermarked version, which becomes the final certified showcase record.

Once published, the watermarked video cannot be edited, replaced, or altered under any circumstances at the user’s request.

For any of the following actions:

  • Updating or modifying the existing prototype.
  • Uploading a new or revised version.
  • Replacing a previously published watermarked version.
  • Requesting re-certification or new watermarking.

The creator must resubscribe to the applicable service plan. For any modification of published prototype, designer must have to resubscribe monthly plan with that present day cost of that monthly plan . For more details please submit a request through Contact Us page.

All modification requests must be:

  1. Submitted through the Contact Us page with clear details.
  2. Reviewed and approved by the Platform Administration Team.

Processing will begin only after administrative approval and completion of any required fees or subscription charges.

10. User Rights and Requests Handling

Users have the following rights under applicable law: access to their personal data, correction of inaccurate data, deletion of data (“right to be forgotten”), restriction or objection to processing, data portability where applicable, and withdrawal of consent. Requests may be submitted via contact us page with proper query category selection and mandatory document submission.

11. Watermark Policy

All videos and prototype media uploaded by designers will be automatically watermarked with the platform’s official brand identity. The watermark is applied to protect intellectual property, prevent unauthorized use, and maintain authenticity across all published content. Only the watermarked version of each video will be publicly displayed on posts, prototype listings, or investor dashboards. The original unwatermarked file will remain securely stored in the platform’s protected repository for verification, ownership validation, and record-keeping purposes till 6 months from the prototype video post submission . Designers acknowledge and consent to watermarking and secure storage of original media as part of the platform’s standard policy for content protection and authenticity.

12. Data Security and Storage

We implement industry-standard technical and organizational measures to protect user data. All communication between the user’s browser and our platform is encrypted in transit using HTTPS with SSL certificates issued by Let’s Encrypt.

Uploaded files, prototypes, and personal information are stored in Google Cloud Storage, where data is encrypted at rest by default. We enforce strict access controls, audit logging, and role-based permissions to ensure that only authorized personnel and systems may access stored data.

At present, data is stored and processed in secure Google Cloud data centers located in India. If additional storage regions are introduced in the future, any international data transfers will be carried out in accordance with legally recognized data protection requirements to ensure continued privacy and security.

We continuously monitor and update our security practices to maintain the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of user data.

13. AI-Generated Visual Content Disclaimer

This policy applies to all images and visual media created using generative Artificial Intelligence (“AI”) tools and displayed The Proto Hub .

Purpose and Identification
  • Illustrative Use Only: AI-generated images on this website are provided solely for illustrative and conceptual purposes (e.g., supporting articles, prototypes, platform demonstrations, educational explanations).
  • They are not intended to depict or represent real individuals, businesses, products, or events.
  • Identification: AI-generated images are labeled with notices such as “Image generated by AI” where applicable.
  • No Intent to Resemble Real Persons: Any resemblance to real persons (living or deceased) is unintentional and purely coincidental.
Legal Status and Intellectual Property (IP)
  • No Exclusive Copyright Claim: AI-generated images may not be eligible for exclusive copyright protection in certain jurisdictions. Accordingly, The Proto Hub does not assert exclusive ownership over such AI-generated elements as standalone works.
  • Permitted Use: Visitors may view AI-generated images on the website for informational and personal reference only.
  • Prohibited Uses:
  • You may not copy, sell, redistribute, license, or commercially exploit any AI-generated images from this website.
  • You may not use these images as part of any logo, trademark, brand identity, or product packaging.
  • You may not represent AI-generated images from this website as your own original work.
Accuracy, Training Data, and Liability
  • Content Provided “As Is”: AI-generated visuals are provided without warranties of accuracy, originality, or fitness for any purpose.
  • Training Data Limitations: AI systems may create outputs that unintentionally resemble existing works. The Proto Hub does not guarantee that generated content is free from third-party intellectual property elements.
  • Assumption of Risk: By viewing or using AI-generated content on this website, you agree that you do so at your own risk.
  • Limitation of Liability: The Proto Hub and its owners, partners, and affiliates are not liable for:
  • Any errors or inaccuracies in AI-generated content,
  • Any resemblance to existing works, brands, or individuals,
  • Any claims, damages, or losses arising from reliance on such content.

14. User-Generated Content

If users upload images or use AI tools on the platform (The Proto Hub) :

  • Users are solely responsible for the originality and rights of any uploaded or generated content.
  • Users agree not to upload, request, or generate images that violate privacy, copyright, or likeness rights.

15. Policy Updates

The Proto Hub may periodically modify this Policy to reflect changes in legal requirements, operational practices, or security standards. When we make material changes, we will notify users by email and by posting the revised Policy on the platform, including an updated Effective Date. Non-material changes may be posted directly to the site without email notification. Continued use of The Proto Hub following publication of changes constitutes acceptance of the updated Policy.

Contact and Enforcement

For questions, requests, or complaints regarding this Policy or The Proto Hub’s data practices, please contact us page .

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