1. Introduction
Welcome to The Edge Story ("we," "our," or "us"). This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our platform, including our website, applications, and services (collectively, the "Platform").
We are committed to protecting your privacy and being transparent about our data practices. This policy applies to all users of The Edge Story platform, whether you are actively creating narratives or simply exploring our cosmic universe.
2. Information We Collect
2.1 Development Phase Data Collection
During our current development phase, we collect only non-sensitive data necessary for building and testing the platform:
- Account Information: Username, email address (for authentication purposes only)
- Usage Data: Platform interaction logs, feature usage patterns, session duration
- Technical Data: IP address, browser type, device information, operating system
- Performance Data: Error logs, latency metrics, system performance indicators
- Creative Content: Stories, narratives, and collaborative content you create on the platform
2.2 Information We DO NOT Collect
We explicitly do not collect or store:
- Payment information (no payment processing during development)
- Government-issued identification numbers
- Biometric data
- Precise geolocation data
- Health or medical information
- Financial account details
- Social security numbers or tax identification
2.3 Cookies and Tracking Technologies
We use essential cookies for platform functionality, including session management and authentication. We do not use third-party tracking cookies or advertising networks during the development phase.
3. How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect for the following purposes:
3.1 Platform Development and Testing
- Building and improving platform features and functionality
- Testing AI-powered narrative generation systems
- Optimizing real-time collaboration infrastructure
- Debugging technical issues and performance bottlenecks
- Analyzing user interaction patterns to enhance user experience
3.2 Platform Operation
- Providing access to The Edge Story platform and its features
- Facilitating real-time collaborative storytelling
- Maintaining platform security and preventing unauthorized access
- Communicating with users about platform updates and changes
3.3 Analytics and Improvement
- Understanding how users interact with narrative generation features
- Measuring engagement with collaborative storytelling tools
- Identifying and fixing bugs or technical issues
- Planning future features based on usage patterns
4. Data Storage and Security
4.1 Development Environment
All data collected during the development phase is stored in secure, isolated development environments. We implement industry-standard security measures including:
- Encrypted data transmission (TLS/SSL)
- Secure authentication mechanisms (OAuth 2.0, Google Authentication)
- Access controls and role-based permissions
- Regular security audits and monitoring
- Data isolation between development and future production environments
4.2 Data Retention
During development, we retain data only as long as necessary for testing and improvement purposes. Development data may be periodically purged as we transition between testing phases.
5. Intellectual Property and Content Ownership
5.1 Platform-Generated Content
Important: All creative content, narratives, stories, characters, worlds, and other intellectual property generated within The Edge Story platform, whether created by users, AI systems, or through collaborative efforts, become the exclusive property of The Edge Story.
5.2 License Grant
By using The Edge Story platform, you grant us a perpetual, irrevocable, worldwide, royalty-free, sublicensable, and transferable license to use, reproduce, distribute, modify, adapt, publicly perform, publicly display, and create derivative works from any content you create on the platform.
5.3 Collaborative Works
All collaborative narratives created by multiple users on the platform are considered collective works owned by The Edge Story. Individual contributors do not retain ownership rights to collaborative content, though we may acknowledge contributors in public-facing materials at our discretion.
5.4 AI-Generated Content
Content generated or suggested by our AI systems, including but not limited to plot elements, character descriptions, dialogue, world-building details, and narrative structures, is the exclusive property of The Edge Story.
6. Data Sharing and Disclosure
6.1 Third-Party Sharing
During the development phase, we do not share your personal information with third parties except:
- Service Providers: Cloud infrastructure providers (e.g., Hetzner) who help us operate the platform
- Authentication Services: Google OAuth for secure authentication
- Legal Obligations: When required by law or to protect our legal rights
6.2 No Data Sales
We never sell your personal information to third parties. We do not engage in data brokering or share data with advertisers.
7. User Rights and Control
7.1 Access and Deletion
During the development phase, you may request access to or deletion of your personal data by contacting us at [email protected].
7.2 Content Rights
Please note: Due to our ownership of platform-generated content (see Section 5), deletion requests will remove your personal information but not creative content you contributed to the platform, which becomes part of The Edge Story universe.
7.3 Opt-Out
You may opt out of non-essential data collection by discontinuing use of the platform. Essential cookies required for authentication and session management cannot be disabled.
8. International Data Transfers
The Edge Story operates from servers located in Germany (Hetzner data centers). If you access the platform from outside the European Union, your data may be transferred to and processed in the EU. We comply with applicable data protection laws governing international transfers.
9. Children's Privacy
The Edge Story is not intended for users under the age of 13 (or 16 in the EU). We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If we discover we have collected data from a child, we will promptly delete it. Parents or guardians who believe we have collected information from a child should contact us immediately.
10. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy as The Edge Story evolves from development to production. We will notify users of material changes by:
- Updating the "Last Updated" date at the top of this policy
- Posting a notice on our platform
- Sending email notifications to registered users (for significant changes)
Your continued use of the platform after changes indicates acceptance of the updated policy.
11. Contact Information
For questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://theedgestory.org
12. Governing Law
This Privacy Policy is governed by the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany and the European Union General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), where applicable. Any disputes arising from this policy will be resolved in accordance with these laws.