Chapter 21 — The owner of the car shop behind the school gate

Unfavorable terms appear in a file that seems to be just an introduction.

Quynh Chi was reviewing the documents Van Hung sent to the school when she saw a small line at the bottom of the page: "The sponsor has the right to use activity images and interaction data for brand communication purposes for a period of three years."

There is no definition of “interactive data”. There is no limit to the images used. There is no opt-out option after the event ends.

Vy read that line three times. “The previous survey grant is not available.”

“This is an additional funding proposal,” Quynh Chi said. “If signed without editing, the car repair class photo could become an advertisement.”

Huy turned pale. “I used this phrase in the proposed announcement.”

Khoa took off his gloves and placed them on the table. “So the announcement must stop.”

Huy asked if it was possible to just ask each person's permission later. Quynh Chi shook her head: if the contract allows the use of data, asking for permission later will not erase the transferred rights. They need to request to change the terms before receiving money.

Vy called her father. He listened and asked her to send the page number, not comments. After ten minutes, he replied that Van Hung's legal department was using a standard template for brand events, which had not been adapted for schools.

“Father, can you remove that clause?”

"It can be proposed. But the media company will object because they need effective data."

“The effectiveness of a banner cannot be more important than student privacy.”

“I know.”

Vy was surprised that he did not argue. He said he would give her a new copy the same day, but she had to notify the school and not deal with him privately.

The team compiles a comparison table: current terms, risks, alternative proposals. They request that photos be used only with separate consent; Do not collect emails or phone numbers for marketing; Survey data is for renovation purposes only; storage period of six months; The right to withdraw consent does not affect the right to use the garage.

Huy read the board and admitted that he thought the more data there was, the more proof the project would be successful. Khoa says data without context is just a way to count people.

The school board invited Van Hung representative to discuss. The person in charge of communications is Ms. Lan, who once gave Huy the design file. She explained that the company needed images to report to shareholders. Vy asked if it was possible to use illustrations without the students present and report the compiled data.

Ms. Lan said yes, but needed permission to use the school logo. Ms. Van replied that the school logo does not automatically belong to the sponsor.

The meeting lasted more than an hour. At times, the adult's voice rises. Khoa showed a photo of Ms. Hanh only taking a photo of the wheel, saying a user has the right to appear the way they choose. Quynh Chi suggests creating a consent form in easy-to-understand language, without combining multiple items in one box.

In the end, Van Hung agreed to waive the three-year term and switch to separate agreements for each activity. They can still use de-identified aggregate reports, provided the school approves the content. The logo only appears on the thank you page, not on equipment or walkways.

Huy breathed a sigh of relief. But Quynh Chi reminded everyone to clearly state the contract version. An old copy is still in the mailbox.

Vy manually marked "CANCEL - DO NOT USE" on the old file, saving the new version in a read-only folder. She sent a notice to the whole group, not thinking This can be a better lesson than any presentation.

On the way home, Khoa asked her if she found her father awkward. Vy said yes. He asked her if she loved her father. Vy replied yes, but loving does not mean signing for someone else.

Khoa looked at her for a moment. “You sound really dangerous when you say that.”

“Where is the danger?”

“When people start to believe they have the right to make decisions, they forget to ask.”

Vy laughed. She knew what he said wasn't just about her father. It also reminds her not to turn her role as team leader into a key that opens all doors.

After the meeting, the new contract is sent as an edit-locked PDF. Quynh Chi requested a machine-readable version to check the terms. Ms. Lan said it was a legal form. Quynh Chi explained that accessibility is also part of transparency. Finally, Ms. Lan sent an additional document.

Huy created a table of each sentence. The cluster “activity images” is separated into event photos, area photos and people photos. “Engagement data” is defined as aggregate participation, not including name, class, device or travel schedule. The whole group read until late at night.

Vy discovered that the six-month period only applies to survey data, and the sponsor's backup copy does not state the deletion date. She marked it in red. Ms. Lan called back, saying the company's storage system needed a separate deadline. Vy asked who had the right to delete. The question made the conversation last longer, but in the end the contract was added to the contract to cancel copies.

A parent asked if students could participate without signing any photo papers. Ms. Van answered yes. Huy edited the registration chart, the photo consent box was left blank by default. Khoa said an empty box is the design's way of saying that the right to refuse is normal.

The media representative wants to place a QR code on the door to measure visits. Quynh Chi recommends a code that only goes to the safety instructions page, not tracking the device. Huy asked what else to measure? She said measuring the number of voluntary inquiries and the number of cases handled, not each person.

Ms. Lan admitted that the company's initial goal was to have good data in the quarterly report. Vy asked if a less beautiful but honest figure would be acceptable. Ms. Lan said she had to convince her superiors.

The group wrote an appendix explaining why no identifying data was used. They do not quote the law at length, just describe it with an example: a student who comes to school at six forty does not need to be turned into an advertising profile.

At the end of the day, Huy said he never thought the contract could affect one hour of school. Khoa replied that everything in school affects school hours, it's just that the person who writes the contract is usually not the person waiting at the gate.

Vy saves three versions, names them clearly, and deletes the old files from the shared folder. She sent out a notice, asking everyone not to use drafts. This time no one thought she was too careful. They saw how a small line could lead to a huge controversy.

Ms. Lan invited the group to look at the revised contract with the legal department. They do not use a presentation screen, but print each clause on large paper. Huy underlines words that can have two meanings. Quynh Chi asked why "participant" is not defined as a volunteer.

Lawyer explains old form for commercial events. Ms. Van proposed separating it into a school annex. Vy asked what if an underage student signs. They added a guardian requirement, but still allowed students to refuse to appear.

Khoa asked What happens to a posted photo if the person in the photo changes their mind? Ms. Lan said to remove it within two days. Quynh Chi requested the regulation to remove all copies of the campaign, not just the school page. The discussion dragged on, but no one said it was a small matter anymore.

Huy discovered a clause that allowed the sponsor to change the message after the event. He suggested that all content must be reviewed by the school. The legal department says that slows the process. It's better for Huy to respond slowly than for a new sentence to appear under the student's photo.

At the end of the session, the appendix was more than two pages long, but each group's question had a place to answer. Vy stored the old version in the archive folder and did not delete it to make it seem like it never existed. She clearly wrote "no longer valid", so the next person would know why the new form was created.

Khoa gave her an oil pen and told her to sign the list of people who had read it. Vy signed, then gave the pen to Lan. Transparency is not about one side proving the other is bad; is that every party leaves traces clear enough for inspection.

On the way home, Huy asked what if the final contract still had a vague sentence. Quynh Chi replied not to sign until asked. Vy said sometimes the answer is "impossible", but knowing in advance is better than imagining later. Khoa puts the oil pen in a common compartment and writes the name of the holder, so that no one takes it home by mistake.

Ms. Lan sent the final copy before closing time. The group reread each page, no one skipped the appendix. A punctuation error is corrected, a deadline is stated. They sign the receipt, then inform the student under what terms the photos and data will be processed.

Notifications are written in simple language. Readers know they can participate without taking photos, can ask where the copy is saved, and can withdraw consent. Vy sees that a good document does not overwhelm people; it helps them know what to do if they have questions.

Khoa underlined the last sentence and told him to keep it.