Privacy Policy

1. Information We Collect & GDPR Legal Basis

Apex Plugins collects only the minimum necessary information required to fulfill product orders, validate software licenses, and provide technical customer support under European Union General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Article 6 standards:

• Purchase & Billing Data (Legal Basis: Performance of a Contract): When you purchase Apex Amp, transactions are executed by our Merchant of Record, Lemon Squeezy. Lemon Squeezy processes customer payment details (credit card information, billing address, and sales tax / VAT data). Apex Plugins receives only order confirmation details (email address, timestamp, generated key).
• License Activation Data (Legal Basis: Legitimate Interest & Contract Performance): During software activation, the plugin verifies your key status via HTTPS using an anonymized hardware identifier hash (HMAC-SHA256) to enforce the 3-machine activation limit and prevent software piracy.
• Support Inquiries (Legal Basis: Performance of a Contract): If you email us at [email protected], we store your correspondence to troubleshoot technical issues and assist with license recovery.

2. Data Controller & Data Processor Roles

Under GDPR and international data privacy laws, data control responsibilities are structured as follows:

• Apex Plugins (Data Controller): Apex Plugins acts as Data Controller for software license activation hashes, user key records, and customer support correspondence.
• Lemon Squeezy (Independent Data Controller): Lemon Squeezy acts as an independent Data Controller for customer billing details, payment card processing, and global VAT tax compliance. Refer to the Lemon Squeezy Privacy Policy.

3. AI Assistant & Local / Cloud API Keys

Apex Amp includes an optional conversational AI Assistant that converts plain-text prompts into rig configurations. Privacy rules governing AI processing include:

• 100% Offline Local LLMs (Ollama / LM Studio): If you choose to run local AI inference, all prompt processing and model execution occur entirely on your local machine (`http://localhost:11434`). Zero network calls are made to external cloud servers.
• Third-Party Cloud API Keys (Gemini, Claude, OpenAI): If you enter your own API key for cloud providers (Google Gemini, Anthropic Claude, OpenAI, OpenRouter, DeepSeek), your API key is encrypted and saved strictly in your local system AppData directory (`ApexAmp/ai_config.dat`). Your prompt string is sent directly over HTTPS from your DAW to your chosen cloud API provider. Apex Plugins never proxies, intercepts, logs, or stores your AI prompts or API keys on our servers.

4. Analytics & Web Cookies

Our storefront website (`apex-plugins.com`) uses minimal functional cookies strictly necessary to maintain shopping cart state and enable Lemon Squeezy overlay checkout functionality. We do not sell, rent, or share website visitor browsing history with third-party advertising networks.

5. Children's Privacy (COPPA & GDPR Minors)

Apex Amp website and software services are not directed to children under 13 years of age (or under 16 in the European Union). We do not knowingly collect or solicit personal data from children. If we learn that we have collected personal data from a child without parental consent, we will promptly delete that information.

6. Data Retention & Storage Limitations

• License Records: License activation hashes and key data are retained for the duration of your active license to enable device key management via the Lemon Squeezy Order Portal.
• Customer Support Correspondence: Email support tickets and correspondence are retained for up to 24 months following resolution of the support request, after which they are securely deleted unless retention is required for accounting or legal compliance.

7. Your Rights

Depending on your jurisdiction (such as GDPR in the European Union or CCPA in California), you have rights regarding your personal data, including the right to request access, correction, restriction, or deletion of customer records. To exercise these rights or request key/account updates, email [email protected].

8. Policy Updates

Apex Plugins reserves the right to update this Privacy Policy as our software features or regulatory standards evolve. Any revisions will be published directly to this page with an updated effective date.

9. Contact Us

If you have questions regarding this Privacy Policy or our software data handling, please contact our team at:

Apex Plugins Engineering
Website: https://apex-plugins.com
Email: [email protected]