Terms & Conditions

1. Introduction

This Affiliate Program Agreement ("Agreement") is between you ("Affiliate," "you," or "your") and Dondich Creative LLC, operating as DNS Spy ("DNS Spy," "Company," "we," "us," or "our"). By joining the DNS Spy Affiliate Program ("Program"), you agree to be bound by the terms and conditions outlined in this Agreement.

This Agreement governs your participation in the Program and your relationship with DNS Spy as an affiliate partner. Please read these terms carefully before applying to or participating in the Program.

2. Definitions

• "Affiliate" — An individual or entity accepted into the Program who promotes DNS Spy using their unique referral link.
• "Affiliate Link" — The unique tracking URL provided to each Affiliate through the affiliate dashboard, used to track referrals and attribute commissions.
• "Customer" — An individual or entity that signs up for a paid DNS Spy subscription through an Affiliate Link.
• "Commission" — The monetary compensation earned by an Affiliate for each qualifying referral.
• "Referral" — A visitor who arrives at the DNS Spy website through an Affiliate Link and subsequently becomes a paying Customer.
• "Referral Cookie" — The first-party browser cookie set when a visitor clicks an Affiliate Link, used to attribute the referral to the Affiliate.

3. Program Enrollment

3.1 Eligibility

To participate in the Program, you must be at least 18 years of age and have the legal capacity to enter into this Agreement. You must provide accurate and complete information during the application process.

3.2 Acceptance

DNS Spy reserves the right to accept or reject any affiliate application at its sole discretion. We may also revoke acceptance at any time if we determine that your participation is not in the best interest of the Program or our brand.

3.3 One Account Per Affiliate

Each Affiliate is permitted one affiliate account. Creating multiple accounts to manipulate referrals or commissions is prohibited and grounds for immediate termination.

4. Commission Structure

4.1 Commission Rates

Commissions are calculated as a percentage of each payment made by referred Customers:

• 30% Base Rate — Lifetime recurring commission on every payment from referred Customers.
• 35% Performance Tier — Automatically unlocked when an Affiliate refers 5 or more paying Customers within a 90-day period.
• 40% Top Performer Tier — Automatically unlocked when an Affiliate has referred 20 or more total paying Customers.

Commission rates apply to all recurring payments made by referred Customers for the lifetime of their subscription ("lifetime recurring"). This means you earn a commission on every monthly or annual payment, not just the initial purchase.

4.2 Qualifying Referrals

A referral qualifies for commission when all of the following conditions are met:

• The Customer arrives at the DNS Spy website through the Affiliate's unique referral link.
• The referral cookie is present in the Customer's browser at the time of registration or team creation.
• The Customer signs up for a paid DNS Spy subscription.
• The Customer is a new DNS Spy customer (not an existing or previously churned account).
• The referral was not generated through prohibited methods (see Section 6).

4.3 Cookie Duration

The referral cookie has a duration of 60 days. If a visitor clicks your Affiliate Link and signs up for a paid subscription within 60 days, you receive credit for the referral.

4.4 Attribution

DNS Spy uses first-touch attribution. The first Affiliate whose link a Customer clicks receives credit for the referral, regardless of subsequent clicks on other Affiliate Links.

5. Payments

5.1 Minimum Payout Threshold

Commissions become eligible for payout once the Affiliate's unpaid balance reaches $50 USD. Balances below this threshold will roll over to the following payout period.

5.2 Payout Schedule

Payouts are processed monthly. Commissions are subject to a 30-day holding period from the date of the Customer's payment to account for potential refunds or chargebacks.

5.3 Payout Methods

Commissions are paid via PayPal. It is the Affiliate's responsibility to maintain an active PayPal account and provide accurate payment details.

5.4 Taxes

Affiliates are solely responsible for reporting and paying all applicable taxes on their commission earnings. DNS Spy does not withhold taxes on affiliate payouts. Depending on your jurisdiction, we may require tax documentation (such as a W-9 form for US-based Affiliates) before processing payouts.

5.5 Refunds and Chargebacks

If a referred Customer requests a refund or initiates a chargeback, the corresponding commission will be deducted from the Affiliate's balance. If the balance is insufficient, the amount will be deducted from future earnings.

6. Promotional Guidelines

6.1 Permitted Promotion Methods

Affiliates are encouraged to promote DNS Spy through:

• Blog posts, articles, and written reviews
• Social media posts and content
• Email newsletters (to opt-in subscribers only)
• YouTube videos and podcast mentions
• Comparison and review websites
• Community forums and discussion groups (where permitted by the community's rules)

6.2 Prohibited Activities

The following promotional methods and activities are strictly prohibited:

• Paid search on branded terms — Bidding on "DNS Spy," "dnsspy," "dnsspy.io," or any confusingly similar variations in paid search advertising (Google Ads, Bing Ads, etc.).
• Misleading claims — Making false, exaggerated, or misleading statements about DNS Spy's features, pricing, or capabilities.
• Spam — Sending unsolicited emails, messages, or communications promoting DNS Spy, in violation of CAN-SPAM, GDPR, or any applicable anti-spam legislation.
• Cookie stuffing — Using hidden iframes, forced clicks, or any technique to set referral cookies without the visitor's knowledge or intent.
• Self-referrals — Referring yourself or your own organization's accounts to earn commissions.
• Trademark misuse — Registering domain names, social media handles, or app store listings that include "DNS Spy," "dnsspy," or confusingly similar terms.
• Incentivized clicks — Offering financial incentives, rewards, or other consideration to visitors solely for clicking your Affiliate Link or signing up.
• Coupon/discount misrepresentation — Advertising discounts, coupons, or promotional offers that do not exist or have not been authorized by DNS Spy.
• Malware or adware — Using software that automatically redirects visitors, injects affiliate links, or modifies browser behavior.

6.3 FTC Disclosure

Affiliates in the United States must comply with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) guidelines on endorsements and testimonials. You must clearly disclose your affiliate relationship with DNS Spy whenever you promote the product for compensation. Similar disclosure requirements may apply in other jurisdictions — it is the Affiliate's responsibility to comply with local laws.

6.4 Brand Representation

DNS Spy's name, logos, and trademarks may only be used in connection with promoting the Program and in accordance with any brand guidelines we provide. DNS Spy reserves the right to request changes to any promotional materials that do not accurately represent our brand or products.

7. Relationship of the Parties

This Agreement does not create an employment, partnership, joint venture, or agency relationship between the Affiliate and DNS Spy. Affiliates are independent contractors and are solely responsible for their own business operations, taxes, and compliance with applicable laws.

8. Intellectual Property

DNS Spy retains all rights, title, and interest in its name, logos, trademarks, service marks, website content, and other intellectual property. Nothing in this Agreement grants the Affiliate any ownership rights to DNS Spy's intellectual property. The limited license to use DNS Spy's name and materials for promotional purposes is revocable and terminates upon the end of your participation in the Program.

9. Confidentiality

Any non-public information shared with Affiliates, including commission rates, program strategies, upcoming features, or performance metrics, is considered confidential. Affiliates agree not to disclose confidential information to third parties without DNS Spy's prior written consent.

10. Term and Termination

10.1 Term

This Agreement is effective upon your acceptance into the Program and continues until terminated by either party.

10.2 Termination by Affiliate

You may terminate your participation in the Program at any time by contacting us at support@dnsspy.io. Upon termination, any pending commissions above the minimum payout threshold will be paid in the next payout cycle.

10.3 Termination by DNS Spy

DNS Spy may terminate or suspend your participation in the Program at any time, with or without cause, by providing written notice. Reasons for termination include, but are not limited to:

• Violation of any terms in this Agreement
• Engaging in prohibited activities (Section 6.2)
• Fraudulent referrals or manipulated tracking
• Inactivity (no referrals or dashboard login for 12 consecutive months)
• Conduct that damages DNS Spy's reputation or brand

10.4 Effect of Termination

Upon termination, the Affiliate must immediately cease using DNS Spy's name, logos, and trademarks, and remove all Affiliate Links from their properties. Commissions earned prior to termination and above the minimum payout threshold will be paid in the next payout cycle, provided they were earned through legitimate means.

11. Limitation of Liability

DNS Spy shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages arising out of or related to this Agreement or the Program, including but not limited to loss of revenue, profits, business, or data. DNS Spy's total liability under this Agreement shall not exceed the total commissions paid to the Affiliate in the 12 months preceding the claim.

12. Modifications

DNS Spy reserves the right to modify these terms at any time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated "Last updated" date. Continued participation in the Program after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the modified terms. For material changes (such as changes to commission rates or payout terms), we will make reasonable efforts to notify active Affiliates via email.

13. Governing Law

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California, United States, without regard to its conflict of law provisions. Any disputes arising from this Agreement shall be resolved in the courts located in San Diego County, California.