We collect brief information when you provide it to us, when you use our Services, and when other sources provide it to us for use in support and functionality, as further described below.  

Information you provide to us

We collect information in support of our Services when you input it into the Services or otherwise provide it directly to us. 

It is important to remember, all your content is encrypted and is always yours and yours alone: The Services encrypt and decrypt your content to go the extra mile to keep it safe inside the already provided encryption that the browser applies, in essence we encrypt your data twice to keep it safe and we store it encrypted in your database. We only decrypt it for your use right directly on your writing device, prior to you using it, an extra step by us to keep your content and words safe and always yours. Your content can only be decrypted with your ok. And only shared with others if you decide.  

Account and Profile Information: We collect brief information to allow the Services to work when you register for an account, create or modify your profile, set preferences, sign-up for the Services. For example, you provide your contact information and sometimes login information (which we encrypt) when you register for the Services. You also have the option of adding a display name, profile photo, job title, and other details to your profile information to be displayed in our Services.  We keep track of your preferences when you select settings within the Services, but for software functionality purposes only. We collect no billing information, we do not store any billing information, any transactions are handled directly by our payment processor Stripe.com that handles payment transactions from most of the top major internet sites.

Content you provide through our products: The Services include the WriterStat products you use, where we collect and store content on your behalf. This content includes any information about you that you may choose to include. Examples of content we collect and store on your behalf include: the summary and description added to a product issue, information regarding an incident in the software or product, and any feedback you provide to us. Content also includes encrypted files. We collect feedback you provide directly to us through the product and; we collect data using analytics techniques that hash, filter or otherwise scrub information to exclude the information that might identify you or your organization to allow us to create and give you a much better product; and we collect clickstream data about how you interact with and use functionality in the Services, only for the betterment of that functionality within the software and Services. 

Content you provide through our websites: The Services also include our websites owned or operated by us. We collect other content that you submit to these websites, which include social media or social networking websites operated by us. For example, you provide content to us when you provide website feedback or when you participate in any interactive features, surveys, contests, promotions, sweepstakes, activities, or events.  

Information you provide through our support channels: The Services also include our customer support, where you may choose to submit information regarding a problem you are experiencing with a Service. Whether you designate yourself as a technical contact, open a support ticket, speak to one of our representatives directly or otherwise engage with our support team, you will be asked to provide contact information, a summary of the problem you are experiencing, and any other documentation, screenshots or information that would be helpful in resolving the issue.

Payment Information:  We collect no payment or billing information. That information is collected by our payment processor Stripe.com, who is used by most of the largest internet companies. We never host, collect, or store any billing information when you register for our paid Services. 

Information we collect automatically when you use the Services

We collect brief information when you use our Services for functionality purposes, including browsing our websites and taking certain actions within the Services.          

Your use of the Services: We keep track of certain information when you visit and interact with any of our Services for security purposes and for Services functionality purposes. This information includes the functionality you use; the type, size and filenames of encrypted attachments you upload to the Services; software data for the functionality of the software and Services; word total progress on your behalf; and how you interact with others on the Services, on your behalf so we may show it to you in the Services.  If you use a group, company, or school server or data center version of the Services, the information we collect about your use of the Services is limited to clickstream data about how you interact with and use functionality in the Services, in addition to any encrypted content needed for use in the Services. As described in the "Content you provide through our products" passage above. 

Device and Connection Information: We collect limited information about your computer, phone, tablet, or other devices you use to access the Services to provide optimal functionality in our software. This device information includes your connection type and WriterStat Service settings when you access, update, or use our Services. We also collect information through your device about your operating system, browser type, IP address, URLs of referring/exit pages, device identifiers, and crash data. We collect this data in a limited fashion to provide optimal Service and software functionality performance. How much of this information we collect depends on the type and settings of the device you use to access the Services. 

Cookies and Other Tracking Technologies: WriterStat and our third-party partners, such as our analytics and functionality partners, use cookies and other tracking technologies (e.g., web beacons, device identifiers and pixels) to provide functionality and to recognize you across multiple different Services and devices for security purposes.

How we use the information we collect depends in part on which Services you use, how you use them, and any preferences you have communicated to us.  Below are the specific purposes for which we use the information we collect.

To provide the Services and functionality, and personalize your experience: We use information to provide the Services and functionality to you, including to process functionality data, authenticate you when you log in, provide customer support, and operate, maintain, and improve the Services.  For example, we use the nickname and picture you provide in your account to display you to other Service users that you authorize or message with. Our Services also include tailored functionality that personalize your experience, enhance your productivity, and improve your ability to collaborate when authorized.  For example, we may use information about you such as your nickname to help you connect with other writers, readers, editors, and book street team members authorized by you. Where you use multiple Services, we may combine information about you and your activities to provide you an integrated user experience, such as to allow you to find information from one Service while searching from another or to present relevant product information as you travel across our websites to help you. Based on your interactions with different WriterStat products, we may personalize your experience and tailor our communications to you based on that functionality.  

For research and development:  We are always looking for ways to make our Services smarter, faster, secure, integrated, and useful.  We use information and collective learnings (including feedback) about how people use our Services to troubleshoot, to identify trends, usage, activity patterns, and areas for integration and to improve our Services and to develop new products, functionality, and technologies that benefit our users and the public. For example, to improve the book and author likes feature in BookStats For Readers, we automatically analyze recent book interactions among users and how often they visit different book genres to surface the most relevant books for users. We automatically analyze and aggregate frequently used book search terms in our BookStats For Readers software in different functionalities to improve the accuracy and relevance of suggested topics, authors, and books when you use the search feature. In some cases, we apply these learnings across our Services to help improve and develop similar features, to better integrate the Services you use, or to provide you with insights based on how others use our Reader Services. We also test and analyze certain new functionality with some beta users before rolling the features out to all users.  

To communicate with you about the Services: We use your contact information to send transactional communications via email and within the Services, including providing customer support, and sending you technical notices, updates, security alerts, and administrative messages, confirming your purchases, reminding you of subscription expirations, responding to your comments, questions and requests.  We also provide tailored communications based on your activity and interactions with us. For example, certain actions you take in the Services or software may automatically trigger a feature where email communication within the Services would make that task easier.  We also send you communications as you onboard to a particular Service to help you become more proficient in using that Service. These communications are part of the Services and in most cases you cannot opt out of them.  If an opt out is available, you will find that option within the communication itself or in your account settings.   

Customer support: We use your information to resolve technical issues you encounter, to respond to your requests for assistance, to analyze crash information, and to repair and improve the Services. 

For safety and security: We use information about you and your Service to verify accounts and activity, to detect and prevent, security issues and to monitor and protect against any malicious, deceptive, fraudulent or illegal activity or intent, including violations of Service policies. 

To protect our legitimate business interests and legal rights: Where required by law or where we believe it is necessary to protect our legal and software rights, interests, and the interests of you, and others.  

With your consent: We use information where you have given us consent to do so for a specific purpose only not listed above. For example, we may publish testimonials or featured customer stories to promote the Services, or to promote your book on BookStats For Readers, with your permission.    

Legal bases for processing (for EEA users): 

If you are an individual in the European Economic Area (EEA), we collect and process information about you only where we have legal bases for doing so under applicable EU laws.  The legal bases depend on the Services you use and how you use them. This means we collect and use your information only where:

• We need it to provide you the Services, including to operate the Services, provide customer support and personalized features and to protect the safety and security of the Services;
• It satisfies a legitimate interest (which is not overridden by your data protection interests), such as for research and development, to market and promote the Services and to protect our legal rights and interests;
• You give us consent to do so for a specific purpose; or
• We need to process your data to comply with a legal obligation.

If you have consented to our use of information about you for a specific purpose, you have the right to change your mind at any time, but this will not affect any processing that has already taken place.  Where we are using your information because we or a third party (e.g. someone you required) have a legitimate interest to do so, you have the right to object to that use though, in some cases, this may mean no longer using the Services. 

We create collaboration tools, and we want them to work well for you.  This means sharing information through those types of Services where applicable.  We share information we collect in the ways discussed below. We will never sell information to advertisers or any other third parties.

Sharing with other Service users 

When you use the Services, we share certain information you approve with other Service users to allow you to use those Services.

When using our Services for collaboration: You can create shared content on some of our Services, which may contain information, and you may grant permission to others to see, share, edit, copy and download that content based on settings you select and set.  Some of the collaboration features of the shared Services display some or all of your display information to other Service users when you share or interact with specific shared content. For example, when you comment on another user's page or shared content, we display your display picture and nickname next to your comments so that other users with access to the page understand who made the comment. Similarly, when you publish or display a book on BookStats For Readers, your name is displayed as the author of that book, and Service users with permission to view the book's display information can view your display information as well.  Your books’s status or certain book display information when you are listed in BookStats For Readers, can be seen by other users/readers with certain approved permissions.

Managed group, company, or school accounts and administrators: If you register with and access the Services using a group, company, or school WriterStat site or page and such organization manages that WriterStat site or page, certain brief information about you including your name, profile picture, contact info, content you approve, and past usage #'s of your account may become accessible to that organization’s group, company, or school administrator. Any not approved by you content will continue to be encrypted and only available to you.  If you are an administrator for a particular site or group of users within the Services, we may share your contact information with current or past Service users, for the purpose of facilitating Service-related requests.  

Compliance with Enforcement Requests and Applicable Laws; Enforcement of Our Rights: In exceptional circumstances, we may share information with a third party if we believe that sharing is reasonably necessary to (a) comply with any applicable law, regulation, legal process or governmental request, including to meet national security requirements, (b) enforce our agreements, policies and terms of service, (c) protect the security or integrity of our products and services, (d) protect WriterStat, our customers, you, or the public from harm or illegal activities, or (e) respond to an emergency which we believe in good faith requires us to disclose information to assist in preventing the death or serious bodily injury of any person.

Sharing with affiliated companies

We share information we collect with affiliated companies, where applicable to functionality.  Affiliated companies are companies owned or operated by us.  The protections of this privacy policy apply to the information we share in these circumstances.

WriterStat Companies: We share information we have with other WriterStat Services in order to operate and improve products and services and to offer other WriterStat Services to you. This includes companies where we own or operate the Services.  

Business Transfers: We may share or transfer information we collect under this privacy policy in connection with any merger, sale of company assets, financing, or acquisition of all or a portion of our business to another company. You will be notified prior via email and/or a prominent notice on the Services if a transaction takes place, as well as any choices you may have regarding your information.

Information storage and security

We use industry standard encryption, technical, and organizational measures to secure the information we store. For more information on where and how we store your information, please see the "It is important to remember, all your content is encrypted and is always yours and yours alone" area above. 

While we implement safeguards designed to encrypt and protect your information, your information is decrypted when on your device, as it is in all software, so you must take preventative and appropriate measures just like you would for any software on your device. No security system is impenetrable and due to the inherent nature of the Internet, Computers and devices, we cannot guarantee that your device is protected as it is outside of our hands, and so it is important and up to you to take the necessary steps to protect your device as you would for all software.

If you use our server or data center Services, responsibility for securing your device and device storage and access to the information you put into the Services rests with you and not WriterStat. We strongly recommend that server or data center users configure their device browsers to use SSL to prevent interception of information transmitted over networks and to restrict access to the databases and other storage points used.

How long we keep information

How long we keep information we collect depends on the type of information, as described in further detail below.  After such time, we will either delete or de-identify your information or, if this is not possible (for example, because the information has been stored in backup archives), then we will securely store your information and isolate it from any further use until deletion is possible.  

Account information: We retain your account information for as long as your account is active and a reasonable period thereafter in case you decide to re-activate the Services.  We also retain some of your information as necessary to comply with our legal obligations, to resolve disputes, to enforce our agreements, to support business operations, and to continue to develop and improve our Services. Where we retain information for Service improvement and development, we take steps to eliminate any information that directly identifies you, and we only use the information to uncover collective insights about the use of our Services, never to specifically analyze personal characteristics.  

Information you share on the Services: If your account is deactivated or disabled, some of your information and the content you have provided will remain in order to allow other group members, if you are a member of a group, school, or company, or other users to make full use of the Services.  For example, we continue to display comments or messages you sent to the users that received them, but when requested details that can identify you will be removed. 

Managed accounts: If the Services are made available to you through an organization (e.g., a group, company, or school), we retain your information as long as reasonably required by the administrator of that group, company, or school, the same as we do in the areas above. For more information, see "Managed group, company, or school accounts and administrators" above.

Marketing information: If you have elected to receive marketing emails from us, we retain information about your marketing preferences for a reasonable period of time from the date you last expressed interest in our Services, such as when you last opened an email from us or ceased using your WriterStat account. We retain information derived from cookies and other tracking technologies for a reasonable period of time from the date such information was created.   

You have certain choices available to you when it comes to your information. Below is a summary of those choices, how to exercise them and any limitations.

Your Choices: 

You have the right to request a copy of your information, to object to our use of your information (including for marketing purposes), to request the deletion or restriction of your information, or to request your information in a structured, electronic format.  Below, we describe the tools and processes for making these requests.  You can exercise some of the choices by logging into the Services and using settings available within the Services or your account where available. Where the Services are administered for you by a group, company, or school administrator, you may need to contact your administrator to assist with your requests first.  For all other requests, you may contact us as provided in the Contact Us section below, through our website, through our Services, or through email to request assistance.

Your request and choices may be limited in certain cases: for example, if fulfilling your request would reveal information about another person, or if you ask to delete information which we or your administrator are permitted by law or have compelling legitimate interests to keep.  Where you have asked us to share data with third parties, for example, by installing third-party apps, you will need to contact those third-party service providers directly to have your information deleted or otherwise restricted.  If you have unresolved concerns, you may have the right to complain to a data protection authority in the country where you live, where you work or where you feel your rights were infringed.

Access and update your information: Our Services and related documentation can be found in each of our Services and in that specific Services Info/Help and each Service will give you the ability to access and update certain information about you from within the Service. For example, you can access your profile information from your account in the Service.  You can update your profile information within your profile settings and modify content and settings for things that contain information using the editing tools associated with that content and Service.

Deactivate your account:  If you no longer wish to use our Services, you or your administrator may be able to deactivate your Services account. If you can deactivate your own account, that setting is available to you in your profile and account settings. Otherwise, please contact your administrator. If you are an administrator and are unable to deactivate an account through your administrator settings, please contact the appropriate support team at WriterStat for that Service.  Please be aware that deactivating your account does not delete your information right away, brief information may be kept for a reasonable amount of time so that you can reactivate your account if you should need to do so; your information remains visible to other Service users based on your past participation within the Services and with them.  For example, when you comment on someone's book in BookStats For Readers. For more information on how to delete your information, see below.   

Delete your information: Our Services and related documentation (see that Services related Info/Help area) give you the ability to delete certain information about you from within the Service. For example, you can remove content that contains information using the provided editing tools associated with that content, and you can remove certain profile information within your profile settings areas. Please note, however, that we may need to retain certain information for record keeping purposes, to complete transactions, or to comply with our legal obligations.   

Request that we stop using your information:  In some cases, you may ask us to stop accessing, storing, using and otherwise processing your information where you believe we don't have the appropriate rights to do so.  For example, if you believe a Services account was created for you without your permission or you are no longer an active user, you can request that we delete your account as provided in this policy.  Where you gave us consent to use your information for a limited purpose, you can contact us to withdraw that consent, but this will not affect any processing that has already taken place at the time. You can also opt-out of our use of your information for marketing purposes by contacting us, as provided below.  When you make such requests, we may need time to investigate and facilitate your request.  If there is delay or dispute as to whether we have the right to continue using your information, we will restrict any further use of your information until the request is honored or the dispute is resolved, provided your administrator does not object (where applicable).  If you object to information being shared based on your authorization and consent as noted in the passages above, please disable the app or contact your administrator, or us to do so.

Opt out of communications: You may opt out of receiving promotional communications from us by using the unsubscribe link within each email, updating your email preferences within your Service account settings menu, or by contacting us as provided below to have your contact information removed from our promotional email list or registration database.  Even after you opt out from receiving promotional messages from us, you will continue to receive transactional and functionality messages from us regarding our Services. You can opt out of some notification messages in your account settings. 

Turn off Cookie Controls: Browser-based cookie controls are described below in the Cookies & Tracking Notice.

We keep cookies, but only for Services functionality purposes.: We keep cookies in some Services for functionality purposes only. No specific identifiable data to you is stored in them.

Data portability: Data portability is the ability to obtain some of your information in a format you can move from one service provider to another.  Should you request it, we will provide you with an electronic file of your basic account information.  

Transfers of information we collect(internationally)

We collect information globally and may transfer, process and store your information outside of your country of origin, to the closest possible data center to you where we or our service providers operate for the purpose of providing you the best possible Services.  Whenever we transfer your information, we take steps to protect it.  

Transfers within the WriterStat Companies: To facilitate our global operations, whenever we transfer information globally and allow access to that information from countries in which the WriterStat owned or operated companies have operations for the purposes described in this policy internationally. These countries may not have equivalent privacy and data protection laws to the laws of many of the countries where our customers and users are based. When we share information internationally within and among WriterStat corporate affiliates, we make use of standard contractual data protection clauses, which have been approved by the European Commission, and we rely on the EU-U.S. and Swiss-U.S. Privacy Shield Framework to safeguard the transfer of information we collect from the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom (the "UK"), and Switzerland.

Privacy Shield Notice

WriterStat, Inc. and its U.S. subsidiaries comply with the EU-U.S. and Swiss-U.S. Privacy Shield Frameworks and the Privacy Shield Principles regarding the collection, use, and retention of information that is transferred from the European Union, the UK, or Switzerland (as applicable) to the U.S.(where applicable and which is subject to it).  We ensure that the Privacy Shield Principles apply to all information that is subject to it internationally to this privacy policy and is received from the European Union, the European Economic Area, the UK, and Switzerland. 

We encourage you to contact us as provided below should you have a general privacy-related question or complaint.  If you have an unresolved privacy or data use concern that we have not addressed satisfactorily, please contact us through our Services Info/Help area or directly through the Services Welcome Email provided, for international transfers covered above, or for transfers in the US. 

Notice to End Users

Many of our products are intended for use by individuals directly, groups, companies, schools, and organizations. Where the Services are made available to you through a group, company, school, or organization, that organization is the administrator of the Services and is responsible for the accounts and/or Service sites over which it has control unless otherwise directed. If this is the case, please direct your data privacy questions to your administrator, as your use of the Services is subject to that organization's policies. We are not responsible for the privacy or security practices of an administrator's organization outside of us in that case, which may be different than this policy in that case. 

Administrators are able to:

• require you to reset your account password;
• restrict, suspend or terminate your access to the Services;
• access certain information in and about your account, except for information that is encrypted;
• access or retain information stored as part of your account, except for information that is encrypted;

In some cases, administrators can also:

• restrict, suspend or terminate your account access through that group, company, school, or organization;

If you do not want an administrator to be able to assert control over your account or use of the Services from a group, company, school, or organization, you should deactivate your membership with the relevant group, company, school, or organization, or use a direct personal account through us to register for or access the Services. 

Please contact your group, company, school, or organization or refer to your group, company, school, or organization administrator’s organizational policies for more information.

California Requirements

Exercising your rights: If you are a California resident, there are some additional rights that may be available to you under the California Consumer Protection Act (“CCPA”). This policy explains the tools that we have made available to you to exercise your data rights under the CCPA, such as the right to deletion and the right to request access to the categories of information we have collected(where applicable). We encourage you to manage your information, and to make use of the privacy controls we have included in our Services. You will not be discriminated against for exercising any of your privacy rights under the CCPA. In order to protect your information from unauthorized access or deletion, we may require you to provide additional information for verification. If we cannot verify your identity, we will not provide or delete your information.

Sharing your personal information: We don't and never will sell your personal information. And we only share your information internally for support and functionality within our Services as described in the “How we share information we collect” section of this policy.

Processing your information: This policy describes the categories of personal information we may collect, the sources of that information, and our deletion and retention policies. We’ve also included information about how we may process your information, which includes for "business purposes" under the CCPA  - such as to protect against illegal activities, and for the development of new products, features, and technologies.  If you have questions about the categories of information we may collect, please be sure to visit the section of this policy called, “What information we collect.” For more details about our processing activities, please be sure to visit the section called, “How we use information we collect.”

If you have any questions or would like to exercise your rights under the CCPA, you can reach out to us through the specific Services Info/Help area or directly through the Services Welcome Email provided. 

Changes to our Privacy Policy

We may change this privacy policy from time to time. We will post any privacy policy changes on this page and, if the changes are significant, we will provide a more prominent notice by adding a notice on the Services homepages, login screens, or by sending you an email notification. We will also keep prior versions of this Privacy Policy in an archive for your review.  We encourage you to review our privacy policy frequently and whenever you use the Services to stay informed about our information practices and the ways you can help protect your privacy.

If you disagree with any changes to this privacy policy, you will need to stop using the Services and deactivate your account(s), as outlined above.

Contact Us

Your information is controlled by WriterStat Ltd and WriterStat, Inc.  If you have questions or concerns about how your information is handled, please direct your inquiry to WriterStat.com, which we have appointed to be responsible for facilitating such inquiries and reach out to us through the specific Services Info/Help area or directly through the Services Welcome Email provided.