Privacy Policy

Your privacy is important to us. This policy explains how we collect, use, and protect your personal information.

Last Updated: December 15, 2023

1. Introduction

Welcome to StoryBook.net ("we," "our," or "us"). We are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring the security of your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website and use our AI-powered creative writing services.

Important: By using our services, you consent to the collection and use of your information as described in this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with our policies and practices, please do not use our services.

This policy applies to all users of our platform, including visitors to our website, registered users, and subscribers to our services. We are committed to compliance with applicable privacy laws, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA).

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Personal Information You Provide

We collect information you voluntarily provide to us, including:

  • Account Information: Name, email address, username, and password when you create an account
  • Profile Information: Bio, profile picture, writing preferences, and other optional profile details
  • Payment Information: Billing address and payment method details (processed securely through third-party payment processors)
  • Communication Data: Messages you send us through contact forms, support tickets, or direct communication
  • Content Data: Stories, prompts, and other creative content you create using our platform
  • Feedback and Reviews: Comments, ratings, and feedback you provide about our services

2.2 Information Automatically Collected

When you use our services, we automatically collect certain information:

  • Usage Data: Pages visited, features used, time spent on the platform, and interaction patterns
  • Device Information: IP address, browser type, operating system, device identifiers, and screen resolution
  • Location Data: General geographic location based on IP address (not precise location)
  • Performance Data: Error logs, crash reports, and performance metrics
  • Referral Information: Source of traffic and referring websites

2.3 Information from Third Parties

We may receive information about you from third parties, including:

  • Social media platforms when you connect your accounts
  • Payment processors for transaction verification
  • Analytics providers for usage insights
  • Marketing partners for campaign effectiveness

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the collected information for the following purposes:

3.1 Service Provision

  • Provide, maintain, and improve our AI writing services
  • Process your account registration and manage your profile
  • Generate personalized writing suggestions and content
  • Save and sync your work across devices
  • Process payments and manage subscriptions

3.2 Communication

  • Send you service-related notifications and updates
  • Respond to your inquiries and provide customer support
  • Send marketing communications (with your consent)
  • Notify you about new features and improvements

3.3 Platform Improvement

  • Analyze usage patterns to improve our services
  • Conduct research and development for new features
  • Train and improve our AI models (using anonymized data)
  • Monitor and prevent fraud and abuse
Legal Basis for Processing (GDPR): We process your personal data based on consent, contractual necessity, legitimate interests, and legal obligations as applicable under GDPR.

4. Information Sharing and Disclosure

We do not sell, trade, or rent your personal information to third parties. We may share your information in the following limited circumstances:

4.1 Service Providers

We may share information with trusted third-party service providers who assist us in:

  • Cloud hosting and data storage
  • Payment processing
  • Email delivery and communication
  • Analytics and performance monitoring
  • Customer support services

These providers are contractually bound to protect your information and use it only for specified purposes.

4.2 Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information when required by law or to:

  • Comply with legal processes, court orders, or government requests
  • Protect our rights, property, or safety
  • Prevent fraud or illegal activities
  • Enforce our Terms of Service

4.3 Business Transfers

In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred to the new entity, subject to the same privacy protections.

4.4 With Your Consent

We may share your information for other purposes with your explicit consent.

5. Data Security

We implement comprehensive security measures to protect your personal information:

5.1 Technical Safeguards

  • Encryption: Data is encrypted in transit using TLS and at rest using AES-256
  • Access Controls: Strict access controls and authentication mechanisms
  • Network Security: Firewalls, intrusion detection, and monitoring systems
  • Regular Updates: Security patches and software updates

5.2 Organizational Measures

  • Employee training on data protection and privacy
  • Background checks for personnel with data access
  • Regular security audits and assessments
  • Incident response procedures
Security Notice: While we implement robust security measures, no system is 100% secure. We encourage you to use strong passwords and keep your account credentials confidential.

6. Your Privacy Rights

Depending on your location, you may have the following rights regarding your personal information:

6.1 GDPR Rights (EU Residents)

  • Right to Access: Request a copy of your personal data
  • Right to Rectification: Correct inaccurate or incomplete data
  • Right to Erasure: Request deletion of your personal data
  • Right to Restrict Processing: Limit how we use your data
  • Right to Data Portability: Receive your data in a portable format
  • Right to Object: Object to certain types of processing
  • Right to Withdraw Consent: Withdraw consent for data processing

6.2 CCPA Rights (California Residents)

  • Right to know what personal information is collected
  • Right to delete personal information
  • Right to opt-out of the sale of personal information
  • Right to non-discrimination for exercising privacy rights

6.3 How to Exercise Your Rights

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at privacy@storybook.net or use our privacy request form. We will respond to your request within the timeframes required by applicable law.

7. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

7.1 What Are Cookies

Cookies are small text files stored on your device that help us provide and improve our services. We use both session cookies (deleted when you close your browser) and persistent cookies (remain until deleted or expired).

7.2 Types of Cookies We Use

  • Essential Cookies: Required for basic website functionality
  • Performance Cookies: Help us understand how visitors use our site
  • Functional Cookies: Remember your preferences and settings
  • Marketing Cookies: Used to deliver relevant advertisements

7.3 Managing Cookies

You can control cookies through your browser settings. However, disabling certain cookies may affect the functionality of our services. You can also use our cookie preference center to manage your choices.

8. International Data Transfers

Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your country of residence. We ensure appropriate safeguards are in place for international transfers:

  • Standard Contractual Clauses approved by the European Commission
  • Adequacy decisions for countries with adequate protection levels
  • Certification schemes and codes of conduct
  • Binding corporate rules for intra-group transfers
Data Processing Locations: Our primary data processing occurs in the United States and European Union, with appropriate safeguards in place for cross-border transfers.

9. Data Retention

We retain your personal information only as long as necessary for the purposes outlined in this policy:

9.1 Retention Periods

  • Account Data: Retained while your account is active and for 2 years after closure
  • Content Data: Retained as long as you maintain your account or as required by law
  • Usage Data: Typically retained for 2-3 years for analytics purposes
  • Communication Records: Retained for 5 years for customer service purposes
  • Legal Compliance: Retained as required by applicable laws and regulations

9.2 Secure Deletion

When data is no longer needed, we securely delete or anonymize it using industry-standard methods to prevent unauthorized recovery.

10. Children's Privacy

Our services are not intended for children under 13 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13.

Parental Notice: If you believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately so we can delete such information.

For users between 13-18 years old, we recommend parental guidance and supervision when using our services.

11. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or applicable laws. When we make changes:

  • We will post the updated policy on this page
  • We will update the "Last Updated" date
  • For material changes, we will provide additional notice (email notification or prominent website notice)
  • We will obtain your consent for changes that materially affect how we use your information

We encourage you to review this policy periodically to stay informed about how we protect your information.

12. Contact Information

Privacy Questions or Concerns?

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices, please contact us:

Email: privacy@storybook.net

Address:
StoryBook.net Privacy Team

For EU residents, you also have the right to lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority.