Privacy Policy

1. Who we are

This website is operated by Merit Animation Studio (“Merit”, “we”, “us”), an animation production studio based in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. For anything relating to this policy, contact us at meritanimationstudio@gmail.com or by post at the studio address in the footer.

2. What we collect

Information you give us

When you submit the contact form, email us, or message us on WhatsApp, we collect what you send: typically your name, company, email address, phone number, project details, budget range and timeline. Providing this is voluntary, but we cannot respond to an enquiry without a way to reach you.

Information collected automatically

Our hosting provider records standard server logs (IP address, browser type, pages requested, timestamps) for security and capacity purposes. This website does not use advertising trackers. If we enable analytics, it will be a privacy-respecting service that does not use cross-site tracking cookies, and this policy and our cookie notice will be updated to say so.

Embedded content

The showreel and some case studies may embed video from third-party platforms such as YouTube or Vimeo. Those platforms may set cookies or collect data when you play a video, under their own privacy policies. Embeds are only loaded when you choose to play them.

3. Why we use it

• To respond to your enquiry and prepare a scope and quote.
• To manage projects and communicate with you if you become a client.
• To keep the website secure and understand, in aggregate, how it is used.
• To meet legal, accounting and tax obligations.

We do not sell personal data, and we do not send marketing email unless you have asked for it. You can withdraw consent at any time by emailing us.

4. Who we share it with

Only with service providers we need to run the business — for example our email and hosting providers, and, for clients, our accounting software — and only to the extent needed. Each is bound by contract to protect your data. We may also disclose data where the law requires it.

5. Where it is stored and for how long

Data may be stored on servers in India or in other countries operated by our providers. We keep enquiry data for up to 24 months after our last contact so we can pick up a conversation if you come back; client and financial records are kept for the period required by Indian law. You can ask us to delete enquiry data sooner.

6. Your rights

Under the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 and related rules, you have the right to access the personal data we hold about you, to have it corrected or erased, to withdraw consent, to nominate someone to exercise these rights on your behalf, and to raise a grievance. To do any of these, email meritanimationstudio@gmail.com with “Privacy request” in the subject line. We aim to respond within 30 days. If you are not satisfied with our response you may approach the Data Protection Board of India.

7. Security

We use reasonable technical and organisational measures — access controls, encrypted connections (HTTPS), and limited retention — to protect personal data. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

8. Children

This website is intended for businesses and adults. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children under 18. If you believe a child has sent us data, contact us and we will delete it.

9. Changes

We may update this policy from time to time. The date at the top shows when it was last changed. Material changes will be highlighted on this page.

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This policy is provided as a good-faith summary of our practices and is not legal advice. Merit Animation Studio recommends review by qualified counsel before relying on it for regulatory purposes.