IP Infringement

1. Scope

This policy covers content that appears on HSC Pal because a user uploaded it (for example, a scanned past paper, a textbook excerpt included in study notes, or branded material in an assessment). It also covers infringement claims about content HSC Pal itself publishes.

It does not cover complaints about how AI-generated study material merely resembles existing work in style or substance — copyright protects specific expression, not ideas or facts.

2. Before you file

Please consider:

• Is the use likely to be a fair dealing under Australian copyright law — for example, research or study, or criticism and review? Educational use by an individual student is often (but not always) permitted.
• Are you the rights holder or formally authorised to act on their behalf?
• Have you tried contacting the user who uploaded the material? In many cases a direct request to take it down is faster.

Submitting a knowingly false or misleading infringement notice may expose you to liability for damages and costs.

3. How to submit a notice

Send an email to ip@hscpal.io with the subject line “IP Infringement Notice” and include all of the following:

1. Your full legal name, postal address, phone number, and email.
2. The rights holder you represent and your relationship to them (yourself, employer, authorised agent).
3. A clear description of the work you say is being infringed — including a URL, registration number, or sample where possible.
4. The exact location of the allegedly infringing material on HSC Pal (URL or, where the content isn't public, enough information for us to identify it — e.g., the user account, upload date, and file name).
5. A statement that you have a good-faith belief that the use is not authorised by the rights holder, its agent, or the law.
6. A statement that the information in the notice is accurate and, under penalty of perjury (or, in Australia, of making a false statutory declaration), that you are authorised to act for the rights holder.
7. Your physical or electronic signature.

Notices missing any of the above may be rejected or delayed while we ask for the missing details.

4. What we do next

• We acknowledge valid notices within 5 business days.
• If the claim is on its face credible, we remove or disable access to the material and notify the user who uploaded it, forwarding a copy of your notice (you may redact your phone number on request).
• For repeat or clearly abusive uploads we may suspend or terminate the account in line with our Terms of Use.

5. Counter-notice

If you uploaded material that was removed and you believe the takedown was wrong (for example, you hold the rights, you have a licence, or the use is permitted as fair dealing), you can send a counter-notice to ip@hscpal.io including:

1. Your full name, address, phone number, and email.
2. Identification of the material that was removed and where it appeared.
3. A statement, under penalty of perjury, that you have a good-faith belief the material was removed as a result of mistake or misidentification.
4. Your consent to the jurisdiction of the courts of New South Wales, Australia.
5. Your signature (physical or electronic).

We'll forward valid counter-notices to the complainant. If we don't receive evidence that the complainant has commenced legal action within 10 business days, we may restore the material at our discretion.

6. Repeat infringers

We terminate accounts of users who repeatedly upload infringing material. “Repeatedly” usually means three substantiated notices, but we may act sooner for serious or commercial-scale infringement.

7. Trade marks & other IP

The same process applies for trade-mark and other IP claims — use the subject line “Trade Mark Notice” or “IP Notice” and include details of the registered right (jurisdiction, registration number, classes) along with the location of the allegedly infringing use.

8. Contact

IP notices and counter-notices: ip@hscpal.io.