Privacy Policy - NovelPal

Effective Date: November 20, 2021
Last Updated: August 22, 2024

At NovelPal, we understand the importance of your privacy and are committed to safeguarding your personal information. This Privacy Policy outlines how NovelPal.cc and its affiliates (collectively "NovelPal") collect, use, and protect your personal information through our websites, devices, products, services, and applications that reference this Privacy Policy (collectively "NovelPal Services"). By using NovelPal Services, you agree to the practices described in this Privacy Policy.

1. Data Collection

We collect your personal information to enhance and continually improve our products and services. The types of personal information we collect include:

• Information You Provide Directly:
  • Content: Novels, comments, and other content you create or share on NovelPal.
  • Metadata: Information related to the content you create, such as upload location and creation date, in accordance with applicable laws.
  • Activity Data: Information about the content you read, comment on, and the features you use on NovelPal.
  • Transaction Data: Information related to your purchases, including credit card information.
  • Optional Personal Data: You may choose to provide additional personal information, such as age, gender, address, and email address, which may be subject to special protections under applicable laws.
• Information Collected Automatically:
  • Device Information: Details about the device and software you use to access NovelPal Services, such as device type and software version.
  • Internet Connection Data: Information such as your IP address that connects your device to the internet.
  • Cookies and Similar Technologies: Data collected through cookies and similar tracking technologies (as described in Section 2).
• Information from Third-Party Sources:
  • Data from Business Partners: Information from partners, suppliers, and other third parties, including device data, application usage, and ads you view. Partners may also share additional data such as your email and third-party account information.

2. Cookies

Cookies are small text files used to store data on your devices. We use cookies to:

• Authenticate Users: Verify your login details and keep you logged in.
• Analyze Traffic: Track traffic patterns and usage trends on NovelPal Services.
• Improve Services: Monitor and enhance the performance of NovelPal Services.
• Personalize Experience: Customize and improve your experience based on your interactions with NovelPal.
• Provide Customer Support: Assist with customer service requests.

You have the option to manage your cookie preferences through your browser settings. Please note that disabling cookies may affect the functionality of some parts of NovelPal Services.

3. Types of Data Processing and Purposes

We use your personal information to operate, provide, develop, and improve the products and services we offer. The types of data processing activities we undertake, the purposes for these activities, and the specific types of data involved are detailed in the table below:

Type of Data Processing	Purpose	Types of Data Used	Examples of Operations and Data
Creating and Maintaining User Accounts and Personal Homepages	Manage user accounts and personal homepages, ensure account security and personalized experience	User-provided data, operation data, application data	- Content creation: novels, comments, etc. - Account information: registration data (age, gender, address, email, etc.) - Metadata: upload location, creation date, etc.
Promoting Content	Increase content visibility and user engagement	User-generated content and its metadata	- Content type: novels or comments created by users - Interaction data: types of content read or commented on by users
Providing Comments Functionality	Allow users to post opinions and interact on content	User-generated content, operation data	- Content creation: comments, replies, etc. - Application and function usage: records of comment functionality usage
Offering Commercial Novels	Provide paid novels and related transaction services	Transaction data, user account data	- Transaction data: credit card information and other transaction details - Purchase records: purchased novels or chapters
Conducting Analyses	Improve services through data analysis and trend identification	All collected data	- Usage frequency: time, frequency, and records of user operations - Device information: type of device, software version, etc.
Testing NovelPal’s Functionality	Test and optimize application features	Application data, operation data	- Application and function usage: user operation records - Device information: device type and software version
Identifying and Solving Issues	Detect and fix bugs or issues in the application	Application data, user feedback	- Operation records: crash logs, error reports - User feedback: issues and suggestions submitted by users
Developing and Testing New Features	Create and test new features to enhance user experience	User feedback, usage data	- Application and function usage: records of user interactions with new features - User feedback: feedback from feature tests
Gathering Feedback	Collect user feedback to improve the app and services	User feedback data, usage data	- User feedback: opinions after using the app - Usage data: frequency of feature usage, effectiveness assessment
Verifying Accounts and Operations	Ensure account security, prevent unauthorized access	User-provided data, operation data	- Account information: username, password, registration details - Operation records: login history, operation logs
Investigating Suspicious Activity	Identify and investigate potential malicious activities	Operation data, metadata	- Operation records: logs of suspicious activities - Metadata: operation time, device information
Conducting Anti-Piracy Operations	Prevent and combat piracy, protect intellectual property	Operation data, metadata	- Operation records: logs of suspicious downloads or shares - Metadata: upload location, creation date
Monitoring and Preventing Security Issues	Protect user data, prevent spam	User-provided data, operation data	- Account information: user registration details - Operation records: spam detection and prevention logs
Resolving Negative Experiences	Improve user experience, resolve complaints	User feedback, operation data	- User feedback: complaints or negative comments - Operation records: logs of actions taken to address complaints
Cross-Border Data Transfer and Storage	Provide global services, ensure data security	User-provided data, operation data	- Account information: global registration and usage data - Device information: IP address, device characteristics, etc.
Third-Party Data Sharing	Share data with third parties based on user instructions	User-provided data, operation data	- Transaction data: PayPal transaction information - User information: name, bank account number, email, address, etc.

4. Data Sharing

We do not sell your personal information to third parties. We share your personal information only in the following situations:

• With Your Consent: When you authorize us to share information, such as when you request a payment through PayPal.
• With Third-Party Service Providers: We may share information with service providers who perform functions on our behalf, such as payment processing, data analysis, and customer support. These providers are required to use your data only for the services they provide to us.
• For Legal Reasons: We may disclose information if required by law or in response to legal processes, such as court orders, or to protect the rights, property, or safety of NovelPal and others.

5. Data Security

We implement a variety of security measures to protect your personal information, including:

• Encryption: Using encryption protocols to secure your data during transmission.
• PCI DSS Compliance: Adhering to Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) for handling credit card data.
• Access Controls: Maintaining physical, electronic, and procedural safeguards to prevent unauthorized access to your personal information.

6. Data Deletion and Your Rights

You have the right to access, manage, and delete your personal data at any time. We provide comprehensive tools to help you exercise these rights:

• Manage Your Data: Access and manage your data through the "Personal Center" or "Help & Feedback" sections within NovelPal.
• Delete Specific Personal Data: You can directly delete specific personal data, such as books on your shelf, by using the "Delete" button.
• Permanently Delete Your Account and Personal Data: If you wish to permanently delete your account and all associated personal data, please follow these steps:
  • Submit a Request: Send an email to lionelzhang1999@gmail.com with a request to delete your account.
  • Identity Verification: Our customer service team will guide you through an identity verification process. This is a security measure to ensure that the request is authorized.
  • Account Deletion: Upon successful verification, we will process your request and permanently delete your account and all related personal data within 30 days.
• Important Note: Once your account is deleted, it cannot be restored. All associated records, including your reading history, spending data, and any balance in your top-up voucher, will be permanently lost. We recommend backing up any important information before proceeding with deletion.
• Time Required to Delete Personal Data:
  • Immediate Deletion: Specific personal data, such as comments or items from your shelf, will be deleted immediately when you use the provided tools.
  • Account Deletion Timeline: Account deletion requests will be fully processed within 30 days from the date of request submission. If delays occur, we will communicate them promptly and work to resolve any issues as quickly as possible.
• Identity Verification and Confirmation:
  • Security Measures: To protect your data, we may require additional proof of identity before processing your deletion request. This step is crucial in preventing unauthorized access or deletion of your data.
  • Timely Response: You will receive a confirmation of your request within 30 working days. If you are dissatisfied with our response or the time it takes to process your request, please contact customer service to discuss your concerns or file a complaint.
• Feedback and Further Assistance: If you have any suggestions or feedback on how we can improve our data management and deletion processes, please feel free to reach out to us. We are committed to continuously improving our services to better meet your needs.

7. Age Restrictions

NovelPal Services are not intended for children under 12. Users aged 12-18 must have parental consent to use the service. Parents are responsible for supervising their children's use of NovelPal Services.

8. Data Retention

We retain your personal data for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected or as required by law. After account deletion, we may retain certain data in an aggregated and anonymized format for legal compliance and legitimate business purposes.

9. Conditions of Use, Notices, and Revisions

Your use of NovelPal Services and any disputes related to privacy are subject to this Privacy Policy. We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time, and you should review it periodically for any changes. Any material changes will not retroactively affect your rights without your consent.

10. Complaints

If you have concerns about how we process your personal data, please contact us at lionelzhang1999@gmail.com. You also have the right to file a complaint with your data protection authority.

11. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact us at lionelzhang1999@gmail.com.