Privacy Policy

1. Information We Collect

1.1 Personal Information You Provide

Account Information: When you create an account through third-party login services, we collect information such as your name, email address, and profile information from the third-party service provider.
Communication Information: When you contact us via email, we collect your email address and the content of your communications.
Payment Information: When you make purchases through our app or website, payment information is processed by our payment service providers (Stripe, Apple App Store, Google Play Store). We do not directly store your complete payment card information.
Creator Content: If you use our Creator Center, we collect and store your original novels, visual novels, game content, images, audio files, character designs, and associated metadata.
AI-Assisted Content: Information about your use of AI assistance tools for text, image, and audio creation, including prompts and generated content variations.
Virtual Items and Gaming Data: Information about virtual items obtained through reading novels and playing games, purchase history of virtual items (such as avatar frames), and gaming progress data.

1.2 Automatically Collected Information

Device Information: IP address, browser type, operating system, device identifiers
Usage Information: Pages visited, time spent on site, reading preferences, search queries
Location Information: General geographic location based on IP address

1.3 Third-Party Collected Information

We use third-party services that may collect information about you:

Google Analytics: Collects analytics data about your website usage
Google AdSense: Collects data for advertising purposes
Google AdMob: Collects mobile advertising data
Third-Party Login Providers: May share profile information when you log in through their services
Payment Processors: Stripe, Apple App Store, and Google Play Store collect payment and transaction information

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the collected information for the following purposes:

Service Provision: To provide and maintain our novel reading platform
Account Management: To create and manage your user account
Communication: To send emails via Sendcloud for account-related notifications and updates
Analytics: To understand how users interact with our website and improve our services
Advertising: To display relevant advertisements through Google AdSense and AdMob
Payment Processing: To process purchases and subscriptions through our payment service providers
Content Creation and Management: To provide Creator Center functionality, store and manage user-generated content, and provide AI-assisted creation tools
Virtual Economy: To manage virtual items, rewards, and in-platform purchases
Legal Compliance: To comply with applicable laws and regulations

3. Authentication and Data Storage

3.1 Authentication Method

We use Bearer token authentication for user sessions. We do not store traditional cookies for authentication purposes.

3.2 Data Retention

Account Data: Retained until account deletion or service termination
Analytics Data: Retained according to Google Analytics retention settings (default 26 months)
Log Data: Typically retained for 90 days for security and operational purposes

4. Information Sharing and Disclosure

4.1 Third-Party Services

We share information with the following third-party services:

Google Analytics: For website analytics and performance monitoring
Google AdSense/AdMob: For advertising services
Sendcloud: For email delivery services
Third-Party Login Providers: For authentication services
Payment Service Providers: Stripe, Apple App Store, and Google Play Store for payment processing

4.2 Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information if required by law, court order, or government regulation.

4.3 Business Transfers

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

5. Google Services and Advertising

5.1 Google Analytics

We use Google Analytics to analyze website traffic and user behavior. Google Analytics uses cookies and similar technologies to collect and analyze information about your use of our website. You can opt out of Google Analytics by installing the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.

5.2 Google AdSense and AdMob

We use Google AdSense and AdMob to display advertisements. These services use cookies and other tracking technologies to:

Serve ads based on your prior visits to our website
Enable frequency capping
Measure ad effectiveness
Provide interest-based advertising

Third-party vendors, including Google, use cookies to serve ads based on your prior visits to our website. Google's use of advertising cookies enables it and its partners to serve ads based on your visits to our site and other sites on the Internet.

You can opt out of personalized advertising by visiting Google's Ads Settings or by visiting www.aboutads.info.

6. Payment Information and In-App Purchases

6.1 Payment Processing

We use third-party payment processors to handle all payment transactions:

Stripe: Processes credit card and other payment methods for web purchases
Apple App Store: Processes in-app purchases on iOS devices through Apple's payment system
Google Play Store: Processes in-app purchases on Android devices through Google's payment system

6.2 Payment Data Collection

We do not directly collect, store, or process your complete payment card information. All payment processing is handled securely by our payment service providers who are PCI DSS compliant.

Information We May Receive from Payment Processors:

Transaction confirmation and receipt information
Purchase amount and currency
Transaction date and time
Product or service purchased
Payment method type (e.g., "Visa ending in 1234")
Billing country/region (for tax and compliance purposes)

6.3 Mobile App Store Purchases

When you make in-app purchases through Apple App Store or Google Play Store:

Apple App Store: Apple processes the payment according to their privacy policy and may share limited transaction information with us
Google Play Store: Google processes the payment according to their privacy policy and may share limited transaction information with us
We receive confirmation of successful purchases to deliver digital content but do not receive your payment card details

6.4 Subscription and Billing

For subscription services:

Subscription status and billing cycle information
Renewal and cancellation data
Subscription plan details
Refund and chargeback information

6.5 Payment Security

All payment transactions are secured using industry-standard encryption and security measures implemented by our payment service providers. We recommend reviewing the privacy policies of our payment processors:

Stripe Privacy Policy: https://stripe.com/privacy
Apple Privacy Policy: https://www.apple.com/privacy/
Google Privacy Policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy

7. Creator Center and User-Generated Content

7.1 Creator Account Information

When you register as a creator on our platform, we collect:

Creator profile information and biography
Content publishing preferences and settings
Revenue and royalty information (creators retain copyright ownership)
Publishing exclusivity status and agreement confirmations

7.2 Content Ownership and Rights

Important: Creators retain full copyright ownership of all content they create and publish on our platform, including:

Original novels and written content
Visual novel games and interactive content
Character designs and artwork
Audio content and sound effects
Cover art and promotional materials

Platform Rights: By publishing content on our platform, creators grant us a non-exclusive license to:

Display and distribute the content to users
Process payments and collect a 30% platform fee from sales
Provide content recommendation and discovery services

7.3 Content Restrictions and Removal

Published content that has been sold cannot be removed from the platform (except for legal violations)
Creators confirm they have not signed exclusive distribution agreements with other platforms
We reserve the right to remove content that violates our terms of service or applicable laws

7.4 AI-Assisted Creation Tools

Our platform provides AI assistance for content creation:

Text Generation Assistance:

AI-powered writing suggestions and completions
Grammar and style improvement recommendations
Plot and character development assistance

Image Generation Assistance:

Character and avatar generation tools
Cover art and illustration assistance
Background and scene generation

Audio Generation Assistance:

Voice synthesis and audio effect creation
Background music and sound effect generation
Audio editing and enhancement tools

AI Data Processing:

We process your prompts and inputs to provide AI assistance
AI-generated content suggestions are stored temporarily during creation sessions
Your creative inputs help improve our AI tools (you can opt out of this)
Final AI-assisted content is owned by the creator, not by us or the AI system

7.5 Avatar and Character Generation

Our platform includes avatar and character generation tools:

User profile avatars and creator avatars
Novel and game character designs
Character artwork and visual representations
Ownership: All generated characters and avatars are owned by the creator/user
Usage Rights: Same rights and restrictions apply as other creative content
Commercial Use: Creators may commercialize generated characters subject to the same platform terms

8. Virtual Items and Gaming Features

8.1 Virtual Items and Rewards

Our platform includes a virtual economy with the following features:

Drop Items: Virtual items obtained through reading novels and completing games
Purchasable Items: Virtual items available for purchase (such as avatar frames, special effects, etc.)
Item Ownership: Virtual items are tied to your account and have no real-world monetary value
Item Trading: Virtual items cannot be traded or transferred between accounts

8.2 Gaming and Progress Data

We collect and store:

Reading progress and completion statistics
Game completion status and achievements
Virtual item inventory and usage history
Leaderboards and ranking information
Time spent reading/playing various content

8.3 Virtual Item Purchases

All virtual item purchases are processed through our payment systems
Virtual items have no cash value and cannot be refunded for real money
Virtual items may be removed or modified for technical or legal reasons
Purchase history is maintained for account management purposes

9. Children's Privacy (COPPA Compliance)

Our service is not directed to children under 13 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we become aware that we have collected personal information from a child under 13 without parental consent, we will take steps to delete such information.

If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately at xiaoyu@sumeru-labs.com.

10. Your Rights and Choices

10.1 California Residents (CCPA Rights)

If you are a California resident, you may have the following rights:

Right to Know: Request information about the categories and specific pieces of personal information we collect
Right to Delete: Request deletion of your personal information
Right to Opt-Out: Opt out of the sale of personal information (we do not sell personal information)
Right to Non-Discrimination: Not receive discriminatory treatment for exercising your privacy rights

10.2 Creator Rights

As a creator on our platform, you have additional rights:

Content Ownership: You retain full copyright ownership of all content you create
Content Control: You can edit and update your content (subject to sales restrictions)
Revenue Transparency: Access to detailed sales and revenue reports
AI Opt-Out: You can opt out of having your creative inputs used to improve our AI tools

10.3 General Rights

All users may:

Access: Request access to your personal information
Correction: Request correction of inaccurate information
Deletion: Request deletion of your account and associated data (subject to content sales restrictions)
Opt-Out: Opt out of marketing communications

To exercise these rights, contact us at xiaoyu@sumeru-labs.com or yuqing@sumeru-labs.com.

11. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational security measures to protect your personal information, including:

Encryption of data in transit using SSL/TLS
Secure authentication using Bearer tokens
Regular security assessments and updates
Access controls and employee training

However, no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is 100% secure.

12. International Data Transfers

Your information may be processed and stored in the United States and other countries where our service providers operate. By using our service, you consent to the transfer of your information to countries outside your residence, which may have different data protection laws.

13. Email Communications

We use Sendcloud to send transactional and promotional emails. By providing your email address, you consent to receive:

Account-related notifications
Service updates
Creator revenue and sales notifications
Promotional communications (you may opt out)

You can unsubscribe from promotional emails by following the unsubscribe link in any email or contacting us directly.

14. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

While we do not use traditional authentication cookies, our third-party services may use cookies and similar technologies:

Google Analytics Cookies: For analytics and performance monitoring
Google Advertising Cookies: For ad serving and personalization
Session Data: Stored temporarily for website functionality
AI Tool Usage: Temporary storage for AI-assisted content creation sessions

You can control cookies through your browser settings, but disabling cookies may affect website functionality.

15. Mobile Application Privacy (iOS and Android)

15.1 App Store Compliance

Our mobile applications comply with both Apple App Store and Google Play Store privacy requirements:

All data collection is disclosed in this privacy policy
In-app purchases are processed through respective app store payment systems
We provide required data safety information in app store listings

15.2 Mobile-Specific Data Collection

In addition to the data mentioned above, our mobile app may collect:

Device identifiers for app functionality and analytics
Push notification tokens (if you opt in to notifications)
App usage analytics through Google Analytics for Mobile Apps
Gaming progress and virtual item data

15.3 Mobile Permissions

Our app may request the following permissions:

Internet Access: Required for core app functionality
Network State: To optimize content delivery based on connection type
Notifications: To send you updates about your reading progress and creator activities (optional)
Storage: To cache content for offline reading (optional)

16. AI and Copyright Considerations

16.1 AI-Generated Content Ownership

AI-generated content created with our tools is owned by the human creator who provides sufficient creative input
All AI assistance is provided as a tool to enhance human creativity
Final creative decisions and arrangements remain with the human creator
We do not claim ownership over AI-assisted content created by users

16.2 Training Data and AI Improvement

User inputs to AI tools may be used to improve our AI systems (with opt-out available)
We do not use copyrighted content from other sources to train our AI without permission
All AI-generated content on our platform will be appropriately labeled for transparency

17. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this privacy policy from time to time. We will notify you of any material changes by:

Posting the updated policy on our website
Sending an email notification to registered users
Displaying a prominent notice on our website

Your continued use of our service after any changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

18. Contact Information

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this privacy policy or our data practices, please contact us:

Email: xiaoyu@sumeru-labs.com or yuqing@sumeru-labs.com
Address: Sumeru Labs Inc., 100 W 31st Street, New York, NY 10001

For privacy-related inquiries, please allow up to 30 days for a response.

Creator Support: For creator-specific privacy questions or content ownership issues, please use the same contact information with "Creator Privacy" in the subject line.

19. Governing Law

This privacy policy is governed by the laws of the State of New York and applicable federal laws of the United States.