Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

BookAuth ("we," "our," or "us") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our platform at bookauth.com and related services (collectively, the "Service").

By using BookAuth, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy. If you do not agree with our policies and practices, please do not use our Service.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Information You Provide

• Account Information: Name, email address, password, and profile information when you create an account.
• Author Profile Data: Biography, social media links, genres, profile photos, and other information you choose to share publicly.
• Book Information: Book titles, descriptions, cover images, pricing, and publication details.
• Payment Information: When you make purchases or receive payments, our payment processor (Stripe) collects payment details. We do not store complete credit card numbers on our servers.
• Communications: Messages, reviews, and other content you submit through our platform.

2.2 Information Collected Automatically

• Usage Data: Pages visited, features used, time spent on pages, and interactions with the platform.
• Device Information: Browser type, operating system, device type, and IP address.
• Cookies and Tracking: We use cookies and similar technologies to maintain sessions, remember preferences, and analyze usage patterns.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Provide, maintain, and improve our Service
• Process transactions and send related information (receipts, confirmations)
• Create and manage your account
• Enable author-reader connections through ARC campaigns and reviews
• Send newsletters and marketing communications (with your consent)
• Respond to your comments, questions, and support requests
• Monitor and analyze trends, usage, and activities
• Detect, investigate, and prevent fraudulent or unauthorized activities
• Comply with legal obligations

4. Information Sharing and Disclosure

We may share your information in the following circumstances:

4.1 Public Information

Author profiles, book listings, and reviews are publicly visible. Reader profiles may display your name, reputation score, and review history.

4.2 Service Providers

We share information with third-party service providers who perform services on our behalf:

• Stripe: Payment processing for book purchases and author payouts
• WorkOS: Authentication and identity management
• Email Service Providers: Delivering newsletters and transactional emails
• Cloud Hosting: Data storage and computing infrastructure
• Analytics: Understanding how users interact with our platform

4.3 Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information if required by law or in response to valid legal requests, such as subpoenas, court orders, or government regulations.

4.4 Business Transfers

If BookAuth is involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction.

5. Data Security

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

• Encryption of data in transit (HTTPS/TLS)
• Secure authentication mechanisms
• Regular security assessments
• Access controls limiting who can view personal data

However, no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your personal information, we cannot guarantee its absolute security.

6. Your Rights

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

6.1 Access and Portability

You can access and download your personal data through your account settings.

6.2 Correction

You can update or correct your account information at any time through your profile settings.

6.3 Deletion

You can request deletion of your account and associated data. Some information may be retained for legal or legitimate business purposes.

6.4 Marketing Opt-Out

You can unsubscribe from marketing emails at any time using the link in our emails or through your account settings. Note that you may still receive transactional emails related to your account.

6.5 GDPR Rights (European Users)

If you are in the European Economic Area, you have additional rights including the right to object to processing, restrict processing, and lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority.

6.6 CCPA Rights (California Residents)

California residents have the right to know what personal information is collected, request deletion, and opt-out of the sale of personal information. We do not sell personal information.

7. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide you services. We may also retain information to comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce agreements.

Published content (books, reviews) may remain on the platform even after account deletion, though personally identifying information will be removed or anonymized.

8. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies to:

• Keep you signed in to your account
• Remember your preferences
• Understand how you use our platform
• Improve our services

You can control cookies through your browser settings. Disabling cookies may affect the functionality of certain features.

9. Children's Privacy

BookAuth is not intended for children under 13 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us.

10. International Data Transfers

Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your country of residence. These countries may have different data protection laws. We take appropriate safeguards to ensure your information remains protected.

11. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on this page and updating the "Last updated" date. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.

12. Contact Us

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