Intellectual Property Policy

Effective Date: January 14, 2026

Archade respects intellectual property rights and expects all users to do the same. This policy explains how ownership, licensing, attribution, and copyright enforcement operate on the platform.

1. Platform Role & Scope

Archade is a neutral service provider that hosts and indexes user-submitted content related to the built world. Archade does not independently verify ownership claims and does not adjudicate intellectual property disputes.

Nothing in this policy constitutes legal advice or establishes Archade as an arbitrator or rights authority.

2. User-Owned Content

2.1 Ownership

You retain all applicable copyrights and intellectual property rights in the content you upload, including images, text, drawings, models, media, and documentation (“Your Content”).

Archade does not claim ownership of Your Content.

2.2 License to Archade

By uploading content, you grant Archade a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free, sublicensable license to:

Host, store, and display Your Content
Index and structure Your Content for search and discovery
Associate Your Content with related entities (projects, firms, products)
Generate previews, thumbnails, and technical transformations necessary for platform functionality
Distribute Your Content via Archade-controlled surfaces (web, APIs, feeds)

This license exists solely to operate and improve the platform and terminates when content is removed, subject to legal retention requirements.

Full licensing terms are defined in the Terms of Service.

3. Responsibility for Uploaded Content

You are solely responsible for ensuring that you have the legal right to upload and publish content.

You must not upload content that:

You do not own or have permission to use
Is subject to confidentiality or non-disclosure obligations
Violates contractual, statutory, or professional restrictions

This includes, without limitation:

Professional photography without a valid license
Client-confidential drawings or documentation
Proprietary firm or manufacturer data without authorization

4. Attribution vs. Ownership

Archade distinguishes between:

Attribution (credit): Who contributed to or participated in work
Ownership (copyright): Who legally owns the content

Attribution disputes (e.g., missing credit, incorrect contributor listings) are handled through platform tools and moderation workflows.

Ownership disputes (copyright infringement) are handled through formal legal notice procedures only.

5. Copyright Complaints (DMCA & International Equivalents)

Archade complies with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) and equivalent international frameworks. For the full takedown procedure, response timeline, and counter-notice process, see our DMCA & Takedown Policy.

5.1 Submitting a Copyright Notice

If you believe content on Archade infringes your copyright, submit a written notice to:

copyright@archade.app

Your notice must include:

Identification of the copyrighted work
Identification of the allegedly infringing material (URL required)
Your contact information
A statement of good-faith belief that use is unauthorized
A statement, under penalty of perjury, that the information is accurate
Your physical or electronic signature

Incomplete notices may be rejected.

5.2 Counter-Notice

If your content is removed in error, you may submit a counter-notice containing:

Identification of the removed material
A statement under penalty of perjury that removal was mistaken
Consent to jurisdiction of applicable courts
Your contact information and signature

Upon receipt of a valid counter-notice, content may be restored unless legal action is initiated by the complainant.

6. Repeat Infringer Policy

Archade maintains a repeat infringer policy in accordance with applicable law.

Valid infringement notices are tracked at the account level
Users receiving three or more valid copyright strikes may have their accounts terminated
Archade reserves the right to terminate accounts immediately for egregious or willful infringement

This policy applies regardless of account tier or verification status.

7. False or Abusive Claims

Submitting knowingly false or misleading copyright claims may expose the claimant to legal liability.

Archade reserves the right to:

Reject abusive notices
Suspend users who repeatedly submit bad-faith claims
Cooperate with lawful investigations where required

8. Archade Intellectual Property

The Archade platform, including its:

Software
Data model
Taxonomies
UI/UX design
Branding and trademarks

is owned by Archade and protected by applicable intellectual property laws.

Users may not copy, scrape, reverse engineer, or commercially exploit platform elements without explicit permission.

9. Contact

General support requests should be directed to standard support channels.

Owner: Legal