Copyright and Intellectual Property Policy

Effective: 15 July 2025

This Copyright and Intellectual Property Policy outlines the ownership rights and permitted uses of all content, materials, and resources provided through Search Experts Ltd’s online training programmes. By accessing our services, you agree to comply with this policy.

Copyright Ownership

All content, materials, and resources provided through our online training programmes including but not limited to text, videos, graphics, logos, and downloadable materials are protected by copyright under the New Zealand Copyright Act 1994 and international treaties. Search Experts Ltd either owns the copyright in these materials or has obtained the necessary licences from third-party rights holders.

Intellectual Property Rights

All intellectual property rights in the course materials, website, and branding remain the exclusive property of Search Experts Ltd or its licensors. This includes trademarks, design rights, patents, and database rights. Nothing in our Terms or your use of our services transfers any intellectual property rights to you.

Our intellectual property represents significant investment in developing high-quality educational content. Respecting these rights ensures we can continue to create valuable resources for all our users. Any unauthorised use undermines our ability to provide these services and may result in legal action.

Permitted and Prohibited Uses

Permitted Use

As an enrolled user of our services, you are granted a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable licence to access and use course materials under specific conditions:

  • Personal educational use only
  • Temporary downloading of materials as specifically
  • permitted within the course
  • Printing of designated materials for personal reference
  • Creating notes for personal study purposes
  • Completing and submitting assignments as part of the course

This licence is valid only for the duration of your enrolment and terminates when your access period ends, unless otherwise specified.

Prohibited Use

To protect our intellectual property rights, you may not:

  • Copy, reproduce, modify, or distribute any course materials
  • Create derivative works based on our content
  • Share your login credentials or course access with others
  • Use course content for commercial purposes
  • Remove or alter any copyright notices or attributions
  • Reverse engineer or decompile any software components
  • Use automated systems to download or scrape content

Any such activities constitute copyright infringement and may result in immediate termination of your access and potential legal action.

Infringement and Enforcement

We take the protection of our intellectual property seriously and reserve the right to take appropriate action against any unauthorised use, reproduction, or distribution of our materials. This may include:

Termination of Access
Immediate termination of your account and access to our services without refund.

Legal Remedies
Pursuing legal action to seek damages, injunctive relief, and recovery of legal costs.

DMCA Notices
Issuing takedown notices to platforms hosting infringing content.

Reporting
Reporting serious violations to relevant authorities.

For permissions regarding our intellectual property or to report infringement, please contact us at admin@searchexperts.co.nz.


Enrolment and Refunds Policy

Effective: 15 July 2025

Enrolment Process

Our enrolment process is designed to be straightforward and transparent, ensuring you have all the information needed before committing to a course:

Course Selection
Browse our available courses and select the one that meets your educational needs.

Registration
Complete the registration form with accurate personal information and create your account.

Terms Acceptance
Review and accept our terms and policies, which form the legal agreement between us.

Payment
Complete the payment process using our secure payment gateway.

Confirmation
Receive confirmation of enrolment and course access details via email.

Enrolment is only confirmed upon acceptance of our Terms and Policies and receipt of full payment. Course access is granted for the specified duration stated at the time of enrolment, typically ranging from 3 days to 12 months depending on the course.

You are responsible for ensuring you meet the minimum technical requirements for online learning, including having access to a suitable device, internet connection, and any software specified in the course description.


Payment and Refund Terms

Payment Terms

We aim to provide clear and fair payment terms for all our courses:

  • All course fees are payable in US Dollars (USD) unless otherwise stated.
  • Payment must be made in full before course access is granted.
  • We accept major credit/debit cards and direct bank transfers.
  • All transactions are processed through secure and reputable payment gateways.
  • GST is included in all prices for New Zealand customers.

Refund Policy

Our refund policy is designed to be fair to students while ensuring the sustainability of our training programmes.

Refunds are subject to the specific terms for short or longer courses, as detailed below. Please note, all approved refunds (except for duplicate payments) are subject to a $150 administrative processing fee.

Short Courses (3 days – 1 month)

  • A full refund is available if cancellation is requested at least 10 days prior to the course start date.
  • Refunds are subject to a $150 administrative processing fee, which will be deducted from the refunded amount.
  • No refunds are available within 10 days of the course start date.
  • Transfer to a future intake may be considered if requested at least 10 days prior to the course start date, subject to availability and discretion.

Longer Programmes (2 months +)

  • A full refund is available if cancellation is requested 30 days or more prior to the course start date.
  • For cancellations made between 10 and 29 days prior, we offer a course credit or transfer to a future intake. No refunds or transfers within 10 days of the course start date.
  • Refunds are subject to a $150 administrative processing fee, which will be deducted from the refunded amount.

Additional refund conditions:

  • Non-Refundable Situations: Refunds are not available for participants who have already accessed and completed more than 30% of the course materials, or fail to complete the course due to lack of time, motivation, or change of mind.
  • Duplicate or Incorrect Payments: Any duplicate or incorrect payments will be fully refunded without deduction. Refunds for duplicate payments will be processed within 3 working days.
  • Processing Timeline: Approved refunds are processed on the 20th of each month. Please allow up to 10 working days after approval for the refund to reflect in your account.
  • Course Cancellations by Search Experts: In cases where we cancel a course, you will be entitled to either a full refund (with no admin fee deducted), or the option to transfer your enrolment to the next available intake date. We reserve the right to cancel or reschedule courses due to insufficient enrolments or unforeseen circumstances beyond our control.


How to Request a Refund

To request a refund or transfer, please email admin@searchexperts.co.nz with:

  • Your full name
  • The course title
  • The reason for your refund request
  • Your preferred transfer intake (if applicable)

Our team will review your request and respond within 5 working days.

Student Policy

Effective: 15 July 2025

This Student Policy outlines your rights and responsibilities as a student of Search Experts Ltd. By enrolling in our courses, you agree to comply with this policy throughout your learning journey with us.

Student Rights
As a student of Search Experts Ltd, you have the right to:

Quality Education
Receive high-quality educational content that is accurate, up-to-date, and delivered in an accessible format.

Support
Access reasonable technical and academic support during your enrolment period through our designated support channels.

Fair Assessment
Receive fair, timely, and constructive feedback on your assessments in accordance with the course guidelines.

Respect
Be treated with respect and dignity in all interactions with our staff, instructors, and other students.

We are committed to providing an inclusive learning environment where all students can thrive regardless of background, ability, or personal circumstances. If you require any reasonable accommodations to fully participate in our courses, please contact us to discuss your needs.

Student Obligations and Code of Conduct

Student Obligations
As a student, you are expected to:

  • Provide accurate and complete information during registration
  • Maintain the confidentiality of your account credentials
  • Meet course deadlines and participation requirements
  • Regularly check course announcements and communications
  • Respect the intellectual property rights outlined in our Copyright Policy
  • Use course materials for personal, non-commercial educational purposes only
  • Notify us promptly of any issues that may affect your studies

Code of Conduct
We maintain a respectful and productive learning environment. The following behaviours are not permitted:

  • Harassment or discrimination of any kind
  • Disruptive behaviour in online forums or live sessions
  • Sharing, reproducing, or distributing course content without permission
  • Submitting plagiarised work or engaging in academic dishonesty
  • Using offensive or inappropriate language
  • Attempting to access unauthorised areas of our learning platform
  • Any illegal activities or violations of our policies

Consequences of Policy Violations
Violations of this policy may result in:

Warning
A formal warning explaining the violation and required corrective action.

Restricted Access
Temporary limitation of your access to certain course features or forums.

Suspension
Temporary suspension of your account and course access.

Termination
Permanent termination of your account without refund for serious violations.

We will investigate alleged violations thoroughly before taking action and provide you with an opportunity to respond to any allegations. Our response will be proportionate to the nature and severity of the violation.

Disclaimers and Grievance Procedures

Disclaimers and Limitations

While we strive to provide high-quality educational content, it’s important to understand the following limitations:

Educational Purpose
Our courses are for educational purposes only and do not constitute professional advice. You should not rely solely on our content for making professional decisions without consulting appropriate qualified professionals.

No Guarantees
While we design our courses to help you develop specific skills and knowledge, we cannot guarantee specific outcomes, employment, or career advancement as a result of completing our courses.

Limitation of Liability
We are not liable for any loss or damage arising from your use of the courses or website, except as required by New Zealand law. This includes indirect, consequential, special, or punitive damages.

Grievances and Complaints
We take all student concerns seriously and have established a clear process for addressing grievances:

Initial Contact
Contact us at admin@searchexperts.co.nz with details of your complaint or concern.

Acknowledgement
We will acknowledge your complaint within 5 working days.

Investigation
Our team will investigate your complaint thoroughly, which may include reviewing records and consulting relevant staff.

Resolution
We aim to resolve all complaints within 20 working days and will provide you with a written response.

Appeal
If you are not satisfied with the outcome, you may escalate your complaint to the New Zealand Disputes Tribunal or another relevant authority.

We view complaints as opportunities to improve our services and appreciate your feedback. All complaints are handled confidentially and in accordance with our Privacy Policy.


Governing Law and Policy Amendments

Governing Law and Jurisdiction

All our policies and your relationship with Search Experts Ltd are governed by the laws of New Zealand. Any disputes arising from or related to these policies or your use of our services will be resolved exclusively in the courts of New Zealand.

If you are accessing our services from outside New Zealand, you agree that New Zealand law applies to our relationship regardless of conflict of law principles. This choice of law provision ensures consistency in how our policies are interpreted and applied.

In the event of any legal proceedings, the prevailing party may be entitled to recover reasonable legal fees and costs as determined by the court.

Policy Amendments

We reserve the right to amend our policies at any time to reflect changes in our practices, services, or legal requirements. When we make changes:

  • We will post the updated policies on our website with the revised date
  • For significant changes, we will notify you via email or a prominent notice on our website
  • Your continued use of our services after the changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policies
  • If you do not agree with the amended policies, you should discontinue using our services

We encourage you to review our policies periodically to stay informed about how we are protecting your rights and what we expect from you as a user of our services.

These policies constitute the entire agreement between you and Search Experts Ltd regarding your use of our services, superseding any prior agreements. If any provision of these policies is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will remain in full force and effect.