Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy explains how prod.essential collects, uses, and protects information when you visit prodessential.com (the "Site"), sign up for our email list, download free content, or purchase products.

1. Who We Are

The Site is operated by Owen Hucal, doing business as prod.essential, based in Michigan, United States. For the purposes of applicable data protection law (including the EU General Data Protection Regulation and the UK GDPR), Owen Hucal is the data controller for the personal information described in this policy, except where a third party such as Payhip acts as an independent controller of its own data as described below.

Contact for all privacy matters: prodessential@gmail.com

2. Information We Collect

Email addresses you give us. When you join our email list or request a free download (for example, a free tagged beat or free loop pack), you provide your email address. This is the only information those forms collect. Email signups are processed and stored by Kit (formerly ConvertKit), our email service provider.

Purchase information. When you buy a product, checkout takes place on Payhip, our e-commerce and digital delivery platform. Payhip collects the information needed to process your order, including your name, email address, billing details, IP address, and location data. Payment card details are processed by Stripe or PayPal and are never seen or stored by us. From each sale, we receive your name, email address, and order details so we can deliver your files, provide support, and maintain sales records. Payhip's handling of your data is described in Payhip's own Privacy Policy at payhip.com/privacy. For customers in the EU and UK, Payhip acts as a reseller of our digital products and is responsible for collecting and remitting EU and UK VAT, which requires Payhip to retain certain transaction records under applicable tax law.

Analytics data. We use Google Analytics 4 to understand how visitors use the Site (pages viewed, approximate location, device type, how you found us). Google Analytics uses cookies and uses your IP address to estimate your approximate location; it does not store your full IP address. Analytics cookies are only set after you accept them through our cookie notice. You can decline and the Site will work normally.

Advertising data. If we run paid advertising campaigns, we may use advertising tools such as the Meta Pixel to measure ad performance and build audiences. These tools use cookies or similar technologies and share data with the advertising platform (such as Meta Platforms, Inc.). Advertising cookies are only set after you accept them through our cookie notice.

Technical and log data. The Site is hosted on Netlify, which may automatically log standard technical information such as IP addresses and request data for security and operational purposes. The Site also loads fonts from Google Fonts, which involves your browser sending a request (including your IP address) to Google's servers.

Information you send us directly. If you email us with a question, custom beat inquiry, or support request, we receive whatever information you include in that message.

3. Information Stored on Your Device

The Site uses your browser's local storage to remember things like the contents of your shopping cart, your audio player volume, and your cookie preferences. This information stays on your device, is not transmitted to us, and is not used to track you.

4. How We Use Your Information

We use the information described above to:

• Deliver purchased and free digital products to you
• Send you emails you signed up for, such as new releases, free loops, and offers (you can unsubscribe at any time using the link in any email)
• Provide customer support and respond to inquiries
• Maintain records of beat license agreements, which identify the buyer by name and email
• Understand Site traffic and improve the Site
• Measure and improve advertising, where you have consented to advertising cookies
• Prevent fraud and comply with legal obligations, including tax and accounting requirements

We do not sell your personal information, and we do not share it with third parties for their own marketing.

5. Legal Bases (EEA and UK Visitors)

Where the GDPR or UK GDPR applies, we rely on the following legal bases: performance of a contract (delivering products you purchase and maintaining license records), consent (email marketing, analytics cookies, and advertising cookies), legitimate interests (site security, fraud prevention, responding to inquiries, and basic business record keeping), and legal obligation (tax and accounting records).

6. Third-Party Services We Use

Each of these providers processes data under its own privacy policy. Links from the Site to third-party platforms such as YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok are governed by those platforms' policies once you leave the Site.

7. International Transfers

We are based in the United States, and most of our service providers process data in the United States. If you visit from the EEA, UK, Canada, or elsewhere, your information will be transferred to and processed in the United States and other countries that may not provide the same level of data protection as your home jurisdiction. Where required, our providers rely on recognized transfer safeguards such as standard contractual clauses or participation in the EU-US Data Privacy Framework.

8. Data Retention

We keep email addresses on our list until you unsubscribe or ask us to delete them. We keep purchase and license records for as long as needed to honor the license, resolve disputes, and meet tax and accounting obligations (generally at least seven years for transaction records; Payhip retains EU and UK transaction data for ten years as required by VAT law). Analytics data is retained according to our Google Analytics settings and then deleted or aggregated.

9. Your Rights

Depending on where you live, you may have rights to access, correct, delete, or receive a copy of your personal information, to object to or restrict certain processing, to withdraw consent, and to lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority. This includes rights under the GDPR and UK GDPR, Canada's PIPEDA, and various US state privacy laws.

To exercise any of these rights, email prodessential@gmail.com with your request. We will respond within the timeframe required by applicable law. You can unsubscribe from marketing emails at any time using the link in any email. For data held by Payhip about your purchase, you can also contact Payhip directly.

We do not sell or share personal information as those terms are defined under US state privacy laws such as the California Consumer Privacy Act.

10. Cookies

Cookies are small files stored by your browser. The Site uses:

• Strictly necessary storage: local storage for your cart, player volume, and cookie preferences. This does not require consent and cannot be switched off without breaking Site features.
• Analytics cookies (Google Analytics): set only if you accept them via the cookie notice.
• Advertising cookies (Meta Pixel, if active): set only if you accept them via the cookie notice.
• Checkout cookies: when you proceed to checkout, Payhip sets its own cookies on its checkout pages under Payhip's cookie policy.

You can change your choice at any time by clearing the Site's data in your browser, which will cause the cookie notice to appear again, or by using your browser settings to block or delete cookies.

11. Children

The Site is not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 (or under 16 where a higher age applies). If you believe a child has provided us personal information, contact us and we will delete it.

12. Security

We take reasonable measures to protect your information, and our payment and email providers maintain their own industry-standard security programs. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure, so we cannot guarantee absolute security.

13. Changes to This Policy

We may update this policy from time to time. The "Last Updated" date at the top shows when it was last revised. Material changes will be posted on this page, and continued use of the Site after changes take effect means you accept the updated policy.

14. Contact

Questions about this policy or your data: prodessential@gmail.com

Owen Hucal d/b/a prod.essential, Michigan, United States.