Privacy Policy

Who controls your information

HIVE Insider is an independent editorial picture-licensing service operated as a sole-trader business in the United Kingdom.

For the purposes of UK data protection law, the operator of HIVE Insider is the controller of personal information processed through this website.

Information we collect

Depending on how you use HIVE Insider, we may collect:

• Your name and email address.
• Your billing address and telephone number where provided.
• Your account and login information.
• Your purchasing organisation or company.
• The publication, newspaper, broadcaster, website or other outlet for which an image licence is being purchased.
• The publication or outlet website.
• Details of photographs and picture sets you licence.
• The licence type and permitted editorial use.
• Order, transaction and payment-status information.
• Correspondence and enquiries you send to us.
• Technical information such as IP address, browser, device and website activity where collected by our website systems, security services, analytics or cookies.

We seek to collect only information reasonably necessary to operate HIVE Insider, process licences and payments, maintain licensing records and provide our services.

Payments

Payments made through HIVE Insider are processed using Stripe.

Payment card details are handled by Stripe and are not intended to be stored directly by HIVE Insider.

Stripe may process information necessary to authenticate and complete payments, prevent fraud and comply with financial and regulatory requirements.

How we use your information

We may use personal information to:

• Create and administer your HIVE Insider account.
• Process orders and editorial image licences.
• Take and confirm payment.
• Provide access to licensed high-resolution photographs.
• Record who licensed an image, the publication or organisation concerned and the permitted use.
• Provide invoices, receipts and licensing records.
• Respond to enquiries and provide customer support.
• Communicate with you about an order or licence.
• Protect our photographs, copyright and licensing rights.
• Detect or prevent fraud, misuse or unauthorised access.
• Maintain the security and operation of the website.
• Comply with accounting, tax, legal and regulatory obligations.
• Establish, exercise or defend legal claims where necessary.

Our lawful bases for processing

Under UK data protection law, we must have a lawful basis for processing personal information.

Contract

Where processing is necessary to provide a service or image licence you have requested, including processing an order, payment and delivery.

Legal obligation

Where information must be processed or retained to comply with applicable legal, accounting, tax or regulatory requirements.

Legitimate interests

Where necessary for the legitimate operation and protection of HIVE Insider, including maintaining licensing records, preventing fraud, protecting copyright, securing the website, handling business enquiries and establishing or defending legal claims, provided those interests are not overridden by your rights.

Consent

Where consent is required for a particular activity, such as certain electronic marketing or non-essential cookies. Where processing relies on consent, you may withdraw that consent.

Editorial licensing records

Because HIVE Insider licenses copyrighted editorial photographs, we maintain records of licences granted.

These records may include the purchaser, purchasing organisation, publication or outlet, images licensed, licence type, date, amount paid and other information necessary to establish the scope of the licence.

We use this information to administer licences, answer licensing queries, maintain business records and protect and enforce our copyright and contractual rights.

Who we share information with

We do not sell your personal information.

Information may be disclosed to service providers where reasonably necessary to operate HIVE Insider, including providers involved in:

• Payment processing.
• Website hosting and infrastructure.
• WordPress and WooCommerce functionality.
• Email delivery.
• Website security.
• Analytics and performance.
• Accounting and professional services.

We may also disclose information where required by law, regulation, court order or another lawful authority, or where reasonably necessary to establish, exercise or defend legal rights.

International data transfers

Some technology and payment providers used by HIVE Insider may process information outside the United Kingdom.

Where personal information is transferred internationally, we expect appropriate safeguards or another lawful transfer mechanism required by applicable UK data protection law to be used.

How long we keep information

We keep personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes for which it was collected and to satisfy applicable legal, accounting, tax and licensing requirements.

Order, transaction and licensing records may need to be retained for a number of years because they form part of HIVE Insider's financial records and evidence of editorial licences granted.

Account information may be retained while an account remains active and for an appropriate period afterwards where necessary for licensing, legal, security or record-keeping purposes.

Information that is no longer required will be deleted, anonymised or otherwise securely disposed of where appropriate.

Cookies and website technologies

HIVE Insider may use cookies and similar technologies necessary for the operation of the website, including account login, licensing basket, checkout, payment and security functions.

We may also use analytics or other non-essential technologies. Where consent is legally required for non-essential cookies or similar technologies, they should not be used until the appropriate consent has been obtained.

Further information may be provided through our cookie notice or cookie settings.

Security

We take reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect personal information against unauthorised access, loss, misuse, alteration or disclosure.

Payments are processed through specialist payment providers rather than HIVE Insider directly handling complete payment-card details.

No internet-based service can guarantee absolute security, but we take reasonable steps appropriate to the nature of the information we process.

Your data protection rights

Depending on the circumstances, UK data protection law may give you rights including:

• The right to request access to personal information we hold about you.
• The right to request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information.
• The right to request deletion of personal information in certain circumstances.
• The right to request restriction of processing in certain circumstances.
• The right to object to certain processing.
• The right to data portability in certain circumstances.
• The right to withdraw consent where processing is based on consent.

These rights are not absolute and may be subject to legal exceptions. For example, we may need to retain information relating to completed transactions or licences where there is a legal or legitimate requirement to do so.

To exercise a data protection right, email hi@hiveinsider.com. We may need to verify your identity before acting on a request.

Complaints

If you have concerns about how HIVE Insider handles your personal information, please contact us first so that we can investigate.

You also have the right to raise a concern with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), the UK's data protection regulator.

Visit ico.org.uk for further information.

Third-party websites

HIVE Insider may contain links to third-party websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of independent third-party websites. You should review their privacy information when using those services.

Changes to this policy

We may update this Privacy Policy when our services, technology or legal obligations change.

The current version will be published on this page with its latest revision date. We will review the policy periodically to ensure it continues to reflect how HIVE Insider processes personal information.