Copyright & Intellectual Property Policy

Effective Date: March 12, 2026

Lacesse Ventures ("Lacesse", "we", or "us") respects the intellectual property rights of others and expects our users and merchants to do the same. This policy outlines our procedures for addressing alleged copyright infringement in accordance with the Kenya Copyright (Amendment) Act 2019 and international frameworks such as the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA).

We will respond expeditiously to notices of alleged copyright infringement that are properly reported to our Designated Copyright Agent.

1. Submitting a Notice of Copyright Infringement (Takedown Notice)

If you believe that your copyrighted work has been copied or hosted on Lacesse Services (including Lacesse Duka storefronts, our Newsroom, or uploaded via our APIs) in a way that constitutes copyright infringement, please submit a written takedown notice to our legal team.

Your notice must include the following information:

Identification of the copyrighted work: Provide a description of the work you claim has been infringed (e.g., a link to your original work).
Identification of the infringing material: Provide the exact URL or precise location on the Lacesse platform where the alleged infringing material is located so we can find and remove it.
Your contact information: Include your full name, mailing address, telephone number, and email address.
A Good Faith Statement: A statement that you have a good faith belief that the disputed use is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law (e.g., fair use).
A Statement of Accuracy: A statement, made under penalty of perjury, that the information in your notice is accurate and that you are the copyright owner or authorized to act on the owner's behalf.
Signature: Your physical or electronic signature.

2. How We Process Takedown Notices

Upon receipt of a valid notice, Lacesse Ventures reserves the right to:

Remove or disable access to the infringing material.
Notify the user or merchant who uploaded the material that it has been removed.
In cases of severe or repeated violations, suspend or terminate the user's account and access to Lacesse Services.

3. Submitting a Counter-Notice

If you believe that your content was removed by mistake or misidentification, you may submit a Counter-Notice. Your Counter-Notice must include:

Identification of the material that was removed and the URL where it previously appeared.
A statement under penalty of perjury that you have a good faith belief the material was removed as a result of mistake or misidentification.
Your name, address, telephone number, and email address.
A statement that you consent to the jurisdiction of the courts of Nairobi, Kenya, and that you will accept service of process from the person who provided the original takedown notice.
Your physical or electronic signature.

If we receive a valid Counter-Notice, we will forward it to the original reporting party. If they do not notify us within 10-14 business days that they have filed a legal action seeking a court order to restrain you from engaging in infringing activity, we may restore the removed content.

4. Repeat Infringer Policy

In accordance with applicable law, Lacesse Ventures has adopted a policy of terminating, in appropriate circumstances and at our sole discretion, users, merchants, or API consumers who are deemed to be repeat infringers.

5. Designated Copyright Agent Contact Information

Please send all takedown notices and counter-notices to our legal department at the following email address:

Email: [email protected]

Disclaimer: The information on this page does not constitute formal legal advice. If you are unsure whether material infringes your copyright, or whether you have grounds to file a counter-notice, you should consult an attorney.