PRIVACY & POPIA POLICY

    Last updated: 30 September 2026

    Template Studio (“Template Studio”, “we”, “us” or “our”) respects your privacy and is committed to protecting personal information in accordance with the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 (“POPIA”) and other applicable South African laws.

    This Privacy & POPIA Policy explains what personal information we collect, why we collect it, how we use it, how it may be shared, and the rights available to you.

    1. WHO WE ARE

    Template Studio provides website design, website templates, hosting, domain management, maintenance and related digital services.

    Our details are:

    Trading Name: Template Studio
    Legal Entity: [INSERT FULL LEGAL NAME]
    Registration Number: [INSERT IF APPLICABLE]
    Physical Address: [INSERT]
    Email: [INSERT]
    Telephone: [INSERT]
    Website: [INSERT]

    2. INFORMATION WE MAY COLLECT

    Depending on how you interact with Template Studio, we may collect information including:

    • Your name and surname;
    • Business or company name;
    • Email address;
    • Telephone number;
    • Billing information;
    • Physical or business address;
    • Company registration or VAT information where applicable;
    • Website and domain information;
    • Information submitted through our website;
    • Information supplied during website development;
    • Correspondence between you and Template Studio;
    • Technical information such as IP address, browser type and device information;
    • Website usage and analytics information;
    • Transaction and payment records; and
    • Any other information reasonably required to provide our services.

    We aim to collect only information reasonably necessary for legitimate business purposes.

    3. WHY WE PROCESS PERSONAL INFORMATION

    We may process personal information in order to:

    • Respond to enquiries;
    • Provide quotations;
    • Create and manage customer accounts;
    • Process orders;
    • Process and verify payments;
    • Build and maintain websites;
    • Register or manage domains;
    • Provide website hosting;
    • Provide customer support;
    • Communicate service information;
    • Send invoices and hosting renewal notices;
    • Maintain business and accounting records;
    • Prevent fraud and abuse;
    • Protect our systems and services;
    • Improve our website and services;
    • Comply with legal and regulatory obligations; and
    • Exercise or defend legal rights.

    Where required by law, we will obtain consent before processing personal information for a particular purpose.

    4. PAYMENT INFORMATION

    Payments may be processed using third-party payment providers.

    Template Studio may receive information confirming that a payment was made, the amount paid and related transaction information.

    Where payment card information is entered directly into a third-party payment gateway, Template Studio does not necessarily receive or store the complete card details.

    Payment providers process information according to their own privacy and security policies.

    5. WEBSITE HOSTING AND CLIENT WEBSITE DATA

    Where Template Studio hosts a Client’s website, our systems and hosting providers may process information associated with that website.

    This may include website files, databases, contact-form submissions, server logs, IP addresses, administrative information and backups.

    The Client remains responsible for ensuring that personal information collected through its own website is collected and processed lawfully.

    Where Template Studio processes personal information on behalf of a Client in providing hosting, maintenance or related services, we will take reasonable measures to safeguard that information.

    6. COOKIES AND ANALYTICS

    Our website may use cookies and similar technologies to operate the website, remember preferences, understand website usage, improve performance and measure marketing effectiveness.

    Cookies may include:

    • Essential cookies;
    • Functional cookies;
    • Analytics cookies; and
    • Marketing cookies where applicable.

    Where required by law, users will be given an appropriate choice regarding non-essential cookies.

    Users may also control cookies through their browser settings.

    7. MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS

    Template Studio may communicate with existing or prospective customers regarding our services where permitted by applicable law.

    Where consent is legally required for electronic direct marketing, Template Studio will obtain the required consent.

    Marketing communications will provide an appropriate method for recipients to opt out of future marketing communications.

    Opting out of marketing does not prevent Template Studio from sending necessary transactional or service communications, such as invoices, security notices or hosting renewal notices.

    8. SHARING PERSONAL INFORMATION

    Template Studio does not sell personal information.

    We may share information with trusted service providers where reasonably necessary to operate our business or provide services.

    These may include:

    • Hosting providers;
    • Domain registrars;
    • Payment processors;
    • Accounting providers;
    • Email service providers;
    • Website software providers;
    • Cloud storage providers;
    • Analytics providers;
    • Security providers;
    • Contractors or professional advisers; and
    • Government authorities where required by law.

    We aim to disclose only the information reasonably necessary for the relevant purpose.

    9. CROSS-BORDER PROCESSING

    Some technology and service providers used by Template Studio may process or store information outside South Africa.

    Where personal information is transferred internationally, Template Studio will take reasonable steps to ensure that the transfer is permitted under POPIA and that appropriate safeguards apply where required.

    10. INFORMATION SECURITY

    Template Studio takes reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect personal information against:

    • Loss;
    • Unauthorised access;
    • Misuse;
    • Unauthorised disclosure;
    • Alteration; and
    • Destruction.

    However, no internet-connected system or electronic storage system can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

    11. DATA BREACHES

    If Template Studio becomes aware of a security compromise involving personal information, we will take reasonable steps to investigate and contain the incident.

    Where notification is required under POPIA, we will notify the relevant parties and/or the Information Regulator as required by applicable law.

    12. RETENTION OF INFORMATION

    Template Studio will retain personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purpose for which it was collected, or for a longer period where required or permitted by law.

    Certain information may need to be retained for accounting, tax, contractual, fraud-prevention or legal purposes after a Client relationship ends.

    Website files and backups are subject to our separate Refund, Cancellation & Hosting Policy and should not be regarded as permanent archival storage.

    13. YOUR RIGHTS

    Subject to POPIA and other applicable law, you may have the right to:

    • Ask whether Template Studio holds personal information about you;
    • Request access to personal information;
    • Request correction of inaccurate or outdated information;
    • Request deletion or destruction where legally applicable;
    • Object to certain processing;
    • Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent;
    • Object to direct marketing; and
    • Lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator.

    Certain requests may be subject to legal limitations or record-retention obligations.

    14. ACCESS AND CORRECTION REQUESTS

    Requests relating to personal information may be submitted to:

    Email: [INSERT PRIVACY EMAIL]

    We may need to verify your identity before providing access to, correcting or deleting personal information.

    15. INFORMATION REGULATOR

    Individuals may lodge complaints concerning the processing of personal information with South Africa’s Information Regulator.

    Current contact information for the Information Regulator is available through the Regulator’s official website.

    16. THIRD-PARTY WEBSITES

    Template Studio websites may contain links to third-party websites or services.

    We are not responsible for the privacy practices, security or content of independent third parties.

    Users should review the privacy policies of those services before providing personal information.

    17. CLIENT RESPONSIBILITIES

    Clients whose websites are created or hosted by Template Studio remain responsible for their own compliance with POPIA and other applicable laws concerning information they collect from their customers or website visitors.

    Unless specifically included in the purchased service, Template Studio does not provide legal or regulatory compliance services.

    18. CHANGES TO THIS POLICY

    Template Studio may update this Privacy & POPIA Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our services, technology or legal requirements.

    The latest version will be published on our website with an updated revision date.

    19. CONTACT

    Questions or requests relating to privacy or personal information may be sent to:

    Template Studio
    Email: [INSERT]
    Telephone: [INSERT]
    Address: [INSERT]