Legal
Privacy Policy
Last updated: March 2026
This policy is currently under legal review and may be updated. If you have any questions about how we handle your data in the meantime, please get in touch at support@mechcompete.com.
Who We Are
MechCompete (“we”, “us”, “our”) operates the platform at mechcompete.com. We are the data controller for personal data collected through this site.
For privacy queries, please contact us at: support@mechcompete.com
What Data We Collect
| Data type | Detail |
|---|---|
| Account data | Name, email address, password (via Clerk) |
| Competition data | Design submissions (PDF/images), submission metadata |
| Payment data | Billing details processed by Stripe. We do not store card numbers. |
| Usage data | IP address, browser type, and pages visited (via standard web analytics) |
How We Use Your Data
| Purpose | Legal basis |
|---|---|
| Account creation and authentication | Contract |
| Processing entry fees and prize payouts | Contract |
| Sending competition notifications | Contract / Legitimate interest |
| Displaying your name on leaderboards | Legitimate interest |
| Improving the platform | Legitimate interest |
Third-Party Processors
We share data with the following processors only to the extent necessary to provide the service:
| Processor | Purpose | Privacy policy |
|---|---|---|
| Clerk | Authentication | clerk.com/privacy |
| Stripe | Payments | stripe.com/privacy |
| Supabase | Data storage | supabase.com/privacy |
| Vercel | Hosting | vercel.com/legal/privacy |
| Resend | Email delivery | resend.com/privacy |
Your Submissions & Public Display
By submitting a design, you:
- —Retain full ownership of your intellectual property
- —Grant MechCompete a non-exclusive, royalty-free licence to display and promote winning and notable submissions for marketing purposes
- —Agree that your name and competition score may appear on public leaderboards
You may request removal of your submissions at any time by contacting us at support@mechcompete.com.
Data Retention
Account data is retained while your account is active and for 12 months following account deletion. Payment records are retained for 7 years in accordance with UK legal requirements.
Your Rights (UK GDPR)
Under UK GDPR, you have the right to:
- —Access the personal data we hold about you
- —Correct inaccuracies in your data
- —Request deletion of your data
- —Restrict or object to processing
- —Data portability
To exercise any of these rights, contact us at support@mechcompete.com. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) at ico.org.uk.
Cookies
We use essential cookies for authentication and session management.
International Data Transfers
Some of our third-party processors (including Supabase, Vercel, and Clerk) may store or process data outside the United Kingdom. Where this occurs, transfers are governed by Standard Contractual Clauses or equivalent UK-approved safeguards.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify registered users of material changes by email. Continued use of the Platform after the effective date of any update constitutes acceptance of the revised Policy.
Contact
For any questions about this Privacy Policy or how we handle your data, please contact us at:
support@mechcompete.com