Terms of Service

Terms of Service

Effective Date: July 1, 2025

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using the AcademyLite platform (“AcademyLite”, “we”, “our”, or “the Platform”), you agree to comply with and be bound by these Terms of Service (“Terms”) and all applicable laws and regulations. If you do not agree with these Terms, you must discontinue use of the Platform immediately.

2. Description of Services

AcademyLite is a freelance marketplace that connects employers with freelancers globally. The Platform enables employers to post tasks or job offers, hire service providers (freelancers), and manage payments through a centralized payment-handling system operated by AcademyLite. AcademyLite facilitates payment processing and payout disbursement to freelancers, but does not operate as a bank, payment processor, or financial intermediary. All funds are processed through integrated third-party payment gateways (e.g., PayPal), and AcademyLite retains operational control of funds from the moment of employer payment until payout to freelancers.

3. Acceptance of Legal Center Policies

By creating an account or using the AcademyLite Platform, you acknowledge and agree that you also accept all other policies, agreements, and statements listed in our Legal Center. This includes, but is not limited to: Terms of Use, User Agreement, Freelancer Membership Policy, Commission & Fee Policy, Payment & Withdrawal Terms, Refund & Dispute Policy, Privacy Policy, Cookie Policy, Data Processing Notice, Copyright & DMCA Notice, Tax Responsibility Notice, Acceptable Use Policy, Nondiscrimination Statement, Account Suspension & Termination Policy, and Accessibility Statement. Users are responsible for reviewing these documents and ensuring compliance with all applicable rules.

4. User Accounts

To use the Platform, users must create an account and submit accurate and up-to-date information. Identity verification may be required for both freelancers and employers. Users are responsible for all activities conducted through their account and must keep login credentials confidential.

5. Email Communications

By creating an account on AcademyLite, you acknowledge and agree that you will receive important emails from AcademyLite regarding account activity, payments, updates, and platform notices. These emails are mandatory for the proper use of the Platform and cannot be unsubscribed from.

6. Acceptable Use

Users agree not to engage in any of the following activities:

  • Violate applicable laws or regulations;
  • Post misleading or fraudulent job offers or services;
  • Use the Platform for money laundering, scams, or other unlawful purposes;
  • Interfere with the operation of the Platform;
  • Infringe on intellectual property rights of others.

AcademyLite reserves the right to investigate, suspend, or terminate any account engaged in prohibited conduct.

7. Payments and Fees

Employer Payments: When an employer hires a freelancer or creates a job/task, the full amount is collected immediately by AcademyLite via integrated payment processors such as PayPal.

Fee Structure:

  • Employers: A non-refundable $4 small order fee applies to all tasks and projects under $100. In addition, employers are charged a 10% processing fee on the task or project amount. For tasks or projects of $100 or more, only the 10% processing fee applies.
  • Freelancers: For all tasks and projects, freelancers are charged a 20% commission fee on the amount earned from each task or project.

Fee Deduction: All applicable fees are automatically deducted prior to payout. Employers and freelancers agree to these deductions by using the Platform.

8. Platform Currency and Internal Credits

AcademyLite uses an internal credit system for transactions. Key points:

  • All amounts displayed with the $ symbol indicate the Platform’s working currency and are for reference purposes only.
  • Employer funds collected via PayPal are credited as Wallet Balance (internal platform credits), which are non-withdrawable and may only be used to pay for tasks or services on AcademyLite.
  • Freelancers’ earnings are credited to their Account Balance, which is withdrawable once the minimum payout threshold (currently $100) is reached.
  • The exchange rate is 1 $ = 1 credit within the Platform for internal transaction purposes.
  • Credits in the employer wallet cannot be refunded, except as expressly allowed under the Refund & Dispute Policy.

Users acknowledge that AcademyLite retains discretion and legal authority over all funds and credits until they are applied to a task or withdrawn by freelancers.

9. Payment Handling & Legal Structure

All employer payments are processed into AcademyLite’s official PayPal Business account or another authorized payment processor account. From a legal standpoint, AcademyLite is the recipient and controller of these funds. Funds are not held in escrow or in user-specific accounts. AcademyLite temporarily holds the funds and later disburses the freelancer’s net earnings upon job completion and approval, or after a default resolution period if no action is taken. AcademyLite operates in compliance with the terms of use of its payment processors (e.g., PayPal) and applicable regulations. Freelancers and employers understand and agree that AcademyLite holds full discretion and legal authority over the funds until the payout occurs.

10. Payout Policy

Freelancer payouts are issued after one of the following conditions is met:

  • Employer marks the task as complete;
  • A pre-defined resolution period (e.g., 14 days) elapses without dispute;
  • System-triggered auto-completion.

Additional payout policies:

  • Minimum Payout Threshold: Payouts may require a minimum accumulated balance (e.g., $100);
  • Auto-Withdrawal: Payouts may be auto-initiated if thresholds or time limits are reached;
  • Payout Method: Freelancers must ensure their payout details (e.g., PayPal address) are accurate and valid.

AcademyLite is not responsible for failed payouts due to incorrect freelancer information or third-party service disruptions.

11. Account Termination

Users may close their accounts at any time. However, any pending financial activity (e.g., payouts, disputes, fees) must be resolved prior to closure. AcademyLite may suspend or terminate accounts for violation of these Terms, suspicious activity, or legal compliance reasons.

12. Intellectual Property

All materials, designs, code, logos, and content on the Platform are the property of AcademyLite or its licensors. Users retain rights to their own original submissions but grant AcademyLite a limited, royalty-free license to use and display such content on the Platform.

13. Disclaimers and Limitation of Liability

The Platform is provided “as is” and “as available”. AcademyLite does not guarantee uninterrupted service, error-free operation, or specific outcomes. AcademyLite disclaims liability for any direct or indirect damages, lost profits, or reputational harm arising from Platform use, delays in payout, or user conduct.

Copyright Disclaimer: AcademyLite cannot guarantee that work delivered by freelancers is free of copyright infringement or other violations. Employers are solely responsible for verifying compliance before using delivered materials commercially. AcademyLite assumes no liability for employer or freelancer misuse of third-party intellectual property.

14. Compliance with Payment Processors

AcademyLite uses third-party payment processors such as PayPal, which have their own terms of service, privacy policies, and compliance obligations. Users agree to abide by those policies when transacting through the Platform. AcademyLite is not liable for delays, chargebacks, or account restrictions arising from actions taken by these payment processors.

15. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

These Terms shall be governed by the laws of Serbia, without regard to conflict of laws. Any disputes arising from these Terms or the use of the Platform shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts in Belgrade, Serbia.

16. Amendments to Terms

AcademyLite reserves the right to update, amend, or revise these Terms at any time. We will notify users via email or Platform notice. Continued use of the Platform after such updates constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.

17. Contact

For legal inquiries or support: Email: support@academylite.com