Terms of Service - GameDev Academy

Introduction and Scope

These Terms of Service govern your access to and use of GameDev Academy's educational platform, courses, and related services. By accessing our website or enrolling in our programs, you agree to be bound by these terms and our advertising platform compliance requirements.

GameDev Academy operates as an educational institution providing game development training and career preparation services. Our platform integrates with various advertising and marketing technologies to reach prospective students and optimize educational content delivery.

These terms include specific provisions related to our use of Google Ads, Facebook advertising, Microsoft Bing Ads, and other marketing platforms to ensure compliance with platform policies and applicable regulations in Canada and internationally.

Advertising and Marketing Terms

Data Collection for Advertising

Consent Requirements

• Explicit consent required for advertising cookies and tracking
• Separate consent for each advertising platform (Google, Facebook, Bing)
• Right to withdraw consent at any time through cookie preferences
• Clear disclosure of data collection purposes and third-party sharing
• Regular consent renewal and preference management opportunities

Marketing Data Types

• Website interaction data including page views and engagement time
• Form submission data for lead generation and student outreach
• Device and browser information for ad delivery optimization
• Geographic location data for regional course recommendations
• Behavioral patterns for personalized educational content delivery

Advertising Targeting Practices

Interest-Based Advertising

• Targeting based on demonstrated interest in game development education
• Remarketing to previous website visitors with relevant course information
• Lookalike audience creation based on successful student profiles
• Cross-platform advertising coordination across Google, Facebook, and Bing
• Frequency capping to prevent excessive ad exposure

Marketing Communications

• Email marketing with clear opt-out options in every communication
• Educational content delivery based on expressed interests
• Course recommendation algorithms using browsing behavior
• Social media advertising through Facebook and Instagram platforms
• Search advertising on Google and Bing for relevant queries

User Obligations and Prohibited Uses

General User Obligations

Accurate Information

Provide truthful and accurate information in all course applications, contact forms, and educational communications.

Age Requirements

Minimum age of 16 for providing advertising consent; 18 for course enrollment without parental consent in most Canadian provinces.

Account Security

Maintain confidentiality of login credentials and immediately report any unauthorized access to your account.

Legal Compliance

Comply with all applicable local, provincial, and federal laws while using our educational services.

Prohibited Activities

Advertising-Related Violations

• Click fraud or artificial inflation of advertising metrics
• Bot traffic or automated interactions with our website
• Circumventing advertising tracking systems or consent mechanisms
• Providing false engagement data to advertising platforms

Content and Conduct Violations

• Uploading malicious code or attempting to compromise website security
• Scraping or harvesting data from our educational platform
• Impersonating other students, instructors, or staff members
• Sharing inappropriate or harmful content in course forums

Content Restrictions and Community Standards

Prohibited Content

• Illegal or harmful material
• Misleading educational claims
• Spam or unsolicited communications
• Violation of intellectual property rights

Professional Standards

• Respectful communication with peers
• Constructive participation in forums
• Academic integrity in coursework
• Professional conduct in industry networking

Consequences

• Warning and content removal
• Temporary account suspension
• Permanent account termination
• Legal action for severe violations

Platform-Specific Compliance

Google Ads Policies Compliance

Content Standards

• Clear, relevant, and professional educational content
• Accurate course descriptions and pricing information
• Functional landing pages with transparent enrollment processes
• Compliance with Google's editorial standards for grammar and spelling
• Adherence to educational advertising best practices

Technical Requirements

• Accurate conversion tracking implementation
• Proper Google Analytics configuration
• EU user consent policy compliance for GDPR
• Mobile-responsive landing pages and forms
• Fast loading times and accessibility standards

Facebook/Meta Advertising Policies

Community Standards

• Authentic identity and transparent business practices
• Respectful and inclusive educational advertising
• No discriminatory targeting based on protected characteristics
• Safe community environment for educational discussions
• Honest representation of course outcomes and career prospects

Data Use Compliance

• Custom audience terms compliance for remarketing
• Facebook Pixel usage guidelines adherence
• Proper consent management for EU users
• Transparent data collection and usage practices
• Business verification for certain educational advertising types

Microsoft/Bing Ads Policies

Editorial Guidelines

• Professional grammar, punctuation, and spelling standards
• Clear and relevant educational content descriptions
• Transparent pricing and course duration information
• Compliance with intellectual property policies
• Adherence to geographic advertising restrictions

Technical Standards

• Functional landing pages with clear navigation
• Accurate UET tag implementation for conversion tracking
• Microsoft Advertising data usage terms compliance
• Proper trademark usage and attribution
• Regular content and link functionality audits

Liability and Disclaimers

Educational Service Disclaimers

Career Outcomes

No guarantee of employment, salary levels, or specific career outcomes. Success depends on individual effort, market conditions, and industry factors.

Course Content

Course materials and industry practices may change. We strive for current content but cannot guarantee real-time industry updates.

Third-Party Platforms

No liability for advertising platform changes, outages, or policy modifications affecting our marketing efforts.

Limitation of Liability

Maximum Liability

Total liability limited to the amount paid for educational services in the 12 months preceding any claim.

Excluded Damages

No liability for indirect, consequential, or punitive damages including lost profits or business opportunities.

User Indemnification

Users agree to indemnify GameDev Academy for claims arising from violation of these terms or misuse of services.

Advertising-Related Limitations

Platform Dependencies

• No guarantee of advertising platform availability or functionality
• No responsibility for changes in platform policies or algorithms
• Limited control over ad delivery and audience targeting effectiveness
• No liability for data processing issues by third-party platforms

Data Processing

• Limited liability for third-party data breaches or misuse
• Best effort compliance with evolving privacy regulations
• No guarantee of perfect data accuracy across platforms
• Shared responsibility model for consent management

Legal Information and Dispute Resolution

Governing Law and Jurisdiction

Applicable Law

These terms are governed by the laws of Ontario, Canada, and applicable federal Canadian legislation.

Jurisdiction

Courts of Ontario have exclusive jurisdiction over disputes arising from these terms and educational services.

Language

These terms are provided in English. In case of translation discrepancies, the English version prevails.

Dispute Resolution Process

Step 1: Informal Resolution

Contact our support team for good faith resolution attempts before formal proceedings.

Step 2: Mediation

Voluntary mediation through recognized Canadian mediation services for unresolved disputes.

Step 3: Legal Proceedings

Court proceedings in Ontario jurisdiction if alternative resolution methods fail.

Terms Modifications and Updates

Update Policy

• Notice of material changes provided 30 days in advance
• Continued use constitutes acceptance of updated terms
• Right to terminate services if you disagree with changes
• Version history maintained for transparency

Contact Information

• Legal notices should be submitted through our contact form
• DMCA takedown requests processed within 5 business days
• Compliance inquiries from regulators handled promptly
• Law enforcement cooperation as required by law

Service Modifications and Termination

Service Changes

1

Course Content Updates

Regular updates to course materials to reflect industry changes and new technologies.

2

Platform Integrations

Modifications to advertising platform integrations and tracking technologies.

3

New Features

Introduction of new educational tools, career services, and student support features.

Termination Conditions

By User

Cancel services at any time with 30-day notice. Refund policies apply based on course completion status.

By GameDev Academy

Right to terminate for violations of these terms, non-payment, or disruptive behavior with appropriate notice.

Effect of Termination

Access to course materials ends unless otherwise specified. Data retention follows our privacy policy guidelines.