ACCEPTABLE USE POLICY (AUP) FOR DEEP ACADEMY

A Division of DeepPaya Digital Services Limited

Last Updated: August 2026
Effective Date: August 2026
Jurisdiction: England & Wales, United Kingdom (Global Applicability)

1. Introduction & Purpose

Deep Academy is a premium, AI-powered e-learning platform dedicated to academic excellence, professional growth, and career success. We are committed to maintaining a safe, respectful, and legally compliant digital environment for all students, instructors, and staff.

This Acceptable Use Policy (“AUP”) outlines the rules of engagement for using our website, Learning Management System (LMS), mobile app, discussion forums, and any associated services (collectively, the “Platform”).

By creating an account, enrolling in a course, or accessing any content, you agree to abide by this AUP. Violation of this policy may result in immediate suspension, permanent account termination, revocation of certificates, and/or legal action as detailed in Section 9.

2. Scope of Application

This AUP applies to:

All registered students and learners.
All instructors, tutors, and course content creators.
Any guest users, visitors, or third-party vendors accessing the Platform.
All user-generated content, including forum posts, assignment submissions, reviews, and profile information.

3. Prohibited Activities (The “Do Not” List)

You are strictly prohibited from engaging in any of the following activities on or via the Platform:

3.1. Academic Integrity Violations (Cheating & Plagiarism)

Using AI chatbots (e.g., ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini) to generate answers for graded quizzes, exams, or written assignments.
Copying, paraphrasing, or submitting work that is not your own (plagiarism).
Sharing quiz questions, exam answers, or assignment solutions with other students via WhatsApp, Telegram, social media, or any other channel.
Accessing or attempting to access another student’s exam answers or assessment data.
Using unauthorized third-party software, browser extensions, or hardware to cheat during proctored exams.

3.2. Unauthorized Sharing & Distribution

Sharing your login credentials (username and password) with any third party, including family members, colleagues, or friends.
Downloading, screen-recording, or capturing course videos, slide decks, or PDF resources for redistribution, resale, or public sharing.
Uploading our course materials to any file-sharing website (e.g., YouTube, Google Drive, Mega, Torrents).
Selling, sublicensing, or renting your access to any course to another individual.

3.3. Harassment, Discrimination, & Hate Speech

Posting, uploading, or transmitting any content that is defamatory, abusive, harassing, threatening, or intimidating.
Making discriminatory comments based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, or national origin.
Bullying, cyberstalking, or intimidating other students or instructors.
Using profanity, vulgar language, or sexually explicit content in forums, live chats, or assignments.

3.4. Fraud, Impersonation, & Identity Theft

Providing false, inaccurate, or misleading information during registration or course enrollment.
Impersonating another individual, student, instructor, or staff member.
Creating multiple accounts under false identities to bypass course access restrictions or refund policies.
Submitting fraudulent payment details, stolen credit cards, or using chargeback fraud to avoid payment obligations.

3.5. Technical Abuse & Security Violations

Attempting to bypass, disable, or circumvent any security measure, encryption, or digital rights management (DRM) tool on the Platform.
Introducing viruses, malware, worms, Trojans, ransomware, or any other harmful code into the Platform.
Launching denial-of-service (DoS) attacks, distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, or any other form of cyber-attack against our servers.
Scanning, probing, or testing the vulnerability of our network or systems without explicit written authorization.
Accessing parts of the Platform that are not publicly available (e.g., administrative dashboards, backend databases).

3.6. Spam & Unsolicited Communication

Sending unsolicited commercial emails, bulk messages, or spam to other students or instructors via the Platform.
Using the Platform’s communication tools (e.g., messaging, forums) for promoting external products, services, or competing educational platforms.

3.7. Intellectual Property Infringement

Uploading, posting, or sharing any content that infringes the copyright, trademark, patent, or other intellectual property rights of any third party.
Using Deep Academy’s logos, branding, course names, or certificates for commercial endorsement without prior written consent.

3.8. Illegal Activities

Using the Platform for any activity that violates local, national, or international law, including but not limited to:
- Money laundering.
- Terrorist financing.
- Human trafficking.
- Illegal gambling or betting.
- Distribution of illegal drugs or controlled substances.

4. Acceptable Use (The “Do” List)

To foster a positive learning community, we encourage you to:

Engage Respectfully: Treat instructors and fellow students with dignity, professionalism, and respect.
Collaborate Ethically: Participate in group discussions, study groups, and collaborative projects in a manner that is honest and transparent.
Ask Questions: Use the platform’s Q&A and forum features to seek clarification on course content.
Report Misconduct: Immediately report any suspected violations of this AUP to support@deepacademy.co.uk or via our internal reporting tool.

5. User-Generated Content (Forums, Assignments, Reviews)

Any content you submit to the Platform—including forum posts, assignment answers, course reviews, and profile information—is considered “User Content.”

5.1. Ownership: You retain ownership of your User Content. However, by submitting it, you grant Deep Academy a non-exclusive, royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable, and worldwide license to use, reproduce, modify, adapt, publish, and distribute such content for the purpose of:

Improving our courses and curriculum.
Marketing and promotional materials (anonymized where appropriate).
Internal training and quality assurance.

5.2. Responsibility: You are solely responsible for all User Content you submit. You represent and warrant that:

Your User Content does not violate this AUP.
Your User Content is accurate and not misleading.
You have the legal right to submit such content.

5.3. Monitoring & Removal: We reserve the right, but do not assume the obligation, to:

Monitor all User Content for compliance with this AUP.
Remove, edit, or delete any User Content that violates this AUP, at our sole discretion and without prior notice.
Preserve User Content as required by UK law or for evidence in legal proceedings.

6. Instructor & Tutor Obligations

Instructors and course creators are subject to this AUP and additionally agree to:

Deliver course content that is accurate, up-to-date, and free from plagiarism.
Maintain professional boundaries with students at all times.
Not solicit students for external tutoring, consulting, or business opportunities outside the Platform.
Not share or redistribute any student personal data (including names, emails, or assignment submissions) to third parties.
Report any suspicious student behavior or technical breaches to support@deepacademy.co.uk immediately.

7. Intellectual Property Rights (Deep Academy’s Content)

7.1. Ownership: All course content, including but not limited to videos, audio recordings, slides, quizzes, PDFs, software, and the Platform’s source code, is the exclusive property of Deep Academy or our licensed partners.
7.2. Protection: Our content is protected by UK copyright law, international copyright treaties, and digital rights management (DRM) technologies.
7.3. Unauthorized Use: Any unauthorized use, reproduction, distribution, or modification of our content is strictly prohibited and may subject you to civil and criminal liability.

8. Reporting Violations (Whistleblower Protection)

We take the integrity of our Platform seriously. If you witness or suspect a violation of this AUP:

Contact us immediately via email: compliance@deepacademy.co.uk
Use our anonymous reporting tool (available in your dashboard under “Report a Concern”).

Protection from Retaliation: Deep Academy prohibits retaliation against any individual who, in good faith, reports a suspected violation of this AUP or participates in an investigation. Retaliation is itself a violation of this AUP.

9. Consequences of Violation (Enforcement)

We enforce this AUP diligently and consistently. If we determine, at our sole discretion, that you have violated any provision of this AUP, we may take one or more of the following actions:

Severity Level	Violation Examples	Consequences
Minor	Using profanity in a forum, minor disrespect towards a peer.	Written warning; temporary suspension of forum privileges.
Moderate	Sharing a single quiz question; plagiarism in one assignment.	Assignment voided; mandatory academic integrity re-training; final warning.
Severe	Sharing course videos; cheating on final exam; creating multiple accounts.	Immediate permanent account termination; certificate revocation; no refund.
Critical	Fraudulent payment; identity theft; cyber-attacks; hate speech; illegal activities.	Immediate permanent termination; certificate revocation; no refund; referral to UK law enforcement (police, NCA, ICO); legal action for damages.

9.1. No Refund: In cases of termination due to AUP violation, no refunds will be issued, regardless of the amount paid or the duration of access.
9.2. Dispute Resolution: You have the right to appeal a termination decision by emailing compliance@deepacademy.co.uk within 14 days of notification. The appeal will be reviewed by an independent compliance officer, and a final decision will be provided within 10 business days.

10. Monitoring & Enforcement Rights

10.1. Active Monitoring: We use a combination of automated AI-driven monitoring tools and manual human oversight to detect potential violations.
10.2. Proctoring: For high-stakes courses, we use proctoring software that monitors your webcam, screen, and keystrokes during exams.
10.3. Reservation of Rights: We reserve the right to investigate any suspected violations, including reviewing your account activity, login history, IP addresses, and device information.

Important: Your privacy is protected under our Privacy Policy. However, where we have reasonable grounds to suspect illegal activity or a serious breach of this AUP, we may disclose relevant information to law enforcement or regulatory authorities (including the ICO, UKVI, or NDPC) without prior notice.

11. Liability Disclaimer

11.1. No Guarantee of Monitoring: While we actively monitor for violations, we do not guarantee that all violations will be detected or prevented. You remain solely responsible for your own actions.
11.2. User Responsibility: Deep Academy is not liable for the actions, statements, or content of any third-party user, including students, instructors, or forum participants. You engage with others at your own risk.
11.3. Third-Party Links: The Platform may contain links to third-party websites (e.g., Deep MarketHub, external partner platforms). We are not responsible for the AUP or content of those sites.

12. Governing Law & Jurisdiction

12.1. Governing Law: This AUP is governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales.
12.2. Jurisdiction: The courts of England and Wales shall have exclusive jurisdiction over any legal disputes arising from this AUP.
12.3. Cross-Border Users: For users in Nigeria, South Africa, Ghana, and other African nations, you acknowledge that you are entering into an agreement governed by UK law, and you submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of UK courts for dispute resolution, without prejudice to your rights under local data protection laws (NDPR, POPIA, Act 843).

13. Amendments to This Policy

We reserve the right to modify, update, or amend this AUP at any time to reflect changes in UK law, industry standards, or our business practices.

Significant changes will be notified to you via email and a prominent pop-up on the Platform at least 14 days in advance.
Your continued use of the Platform after the effective date constitutes your acceptance of the updated AUP.

14. Contact Information

For questions, reporting violations, or filing appeals, contact us:

DeepPaya Digital Services Limited (Trading as Deep Academy)

Compliance & Legal: compliance@deepacademy.co.uk
Student Support: support@deepacademy.co.uk
Data Protection (DPO): dpo@deepacademy.co.uk
Registered Address: 46 Waincliffe Drive. Leeds

15. Acknowledgment & Agreement

By clicking “I Agree”, “Create Account”, “Enrol Now”, or by accessing any portion of the Platform, you confirm that:

You have read, understood, and agree to be legally bound by this Acceptable Use Policy.
You acknowledge that violations may result in termination, certificate revocation, and legal action.
You agree to cooperate fully with any investigation into suspected violations.

Signed for and on behalf of DeepPaya Digital Services Limited:

David Nkanta
CEO, DeepPaya Digital Services Limited
Date: August 2026