Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

This Privacy Policy describes how NovelHour — the entity operating NovelHour ("NovelHour," "we," "us," or "our") — collects, uses, processes, stores, discloses, and protects your personal data when you access or use the NovelHour application, website, and related products (collectively, "the Service").

By using the Service, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, please stop using the Service immediately.

2. Age Restriction

The Service is intended for individuals aged 18 or older (or the legal age of majority in your jurisdiction). We do not knowingly collect or maintain personal data from minors. If we discover that a minor has created an account or submitted personal information, we will take reasonable steps to delete such data and assist guardians in closing the account.

3. Information We Collect

We collect both Personal Data (information that can identify you) and Non-Personal Data (information that does not directly identify you).

3.1 Information You Provide Directly

  • • Nickname or display name
  • • Phone number
  • • Email address
  • • Password or login credentials
  • • User-generated content (e.g., comments, reviews, uploaded images, profile photo)

3.2 Information Collected Automatically

  • • IP address
  • • Browser type and language
  • • Device type, model, OS version, and carrier
  • • Screen size and orientation
  • • Time zone and regional settings
  • • Cookie and similar identifiers
  • • Access time, date, and usage behavior
  • • Approximate location (country / region)

3.3 Payment Information

If you make purchases, we may collect payment confirmation details and transaction identifiers. When you pay through a third-party provider (e.g., Apple, Google, PayPal), you provide your card or account details directly to that provider, and their privacy policy applies. We do not store your full payment-card number.

3.4 Survey Information

If you participate in voluntary surveys, we may collect information about your reading preferences and platform usage to improve the Service.

4. How We Use Your Data

  • • To operate, maintain, and provide the Service, including user authentication, recommendations, and personalized features;
  • • To improve our algorithms, enhance user experience, and develop new features;
  • • To process payments and verify identity when necessary;
  • • To communicate with you, including account notifications, security alerts, and support responses;
  • • To send promotional messages or service announcements (subject to your opt-out rights);
  • • To detect and prevent fraud, abuse, and to ensure platform security;
  • • To display your public profile and UGC within the Service;
  • • To comply with applicable laws and regulatory requirements.

Your information may be transferred to and processed on servers located outside your country. By using the Service, you consent to such transfer, subject to the safeguards described in Section 6.

5. Sharing of Your Data

We do not sell your personal data. We may share your information only in the following circumstances:

5.1 With Your Consent — where you explicitly authorize us.

5.2 Service Providers — trusted partners who assist with data processing, payment processing, customer service, and security/analytics. They may access your data only to perform services on our behalf and must maintain confidentiality.

5.3 Other Users — comments, reviews, and other UGC you post may be visible to other users.

5.4 Legal Compliance — where required by law, regulation, government or judicial authority, or to protect the rights, safety, or interests of individuals or the public.

5.5 Corporate Transactions — in a merger, acquisition, restructuring, asset sale, or bankruptcy, your data may be transferred to a successor entity. We will notify you before such a transfer where legally required.

6. International Data Transfer

Your data may be transferred internationally, including to jurisdictions with different data-protection laws. We take reasonable measures (such as contractual safeguards) to ensure secure and lawful cross-border data transfer.

7. Cookies and Similar Technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies to recognize your device, maintain login sessions, improve user experience, analyze performance and behavior, and provide customer support. You may disable cookies through your browser or device settings, though some features may not function properly as a result.

8. Data Security

We implement technical and organizational measures to protect your personal data from unauthorized access, loss, misuse, or alteration. However, no method of transmission or storage is entirely secure, and you acknowledge that you use the Service at your own risk.

9. Data Retention

We retain personal data only for as long as necessary to provide the Service and for legitimate business or legal purposes (including fraud prevention, tax, legal reporting, and audit obligations). When data is no longer needed, we take reasonable steps to delete or anonymize it.

10. Your Rights

Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have the right to:

  • Access and correction — access or update your information by logging into your account;
  • Deletion — request account deletion and data removal by contacting novelhoursupport@gmail.com. We will comply unless we are required to retain certain data by law;
  • Opt out of marketing — unsubscribe from promotional communications at any time.

11. GDPR (EU / EEA / UK Users)

If you are located in the EU, EEA, or UK, you have the rights to: access; rectification; erasure ("right to be forgotten"); restriction of processing; data portability; and to object to certain processing. You may exercise these rights by contacting us.

Our legal bases for processing may include your consent, contractual necessity, legitimate interests, and compliance with legal obligations.

12. CCPA (California Users)

California residents have the right to: request disclosure of the categories and specific pieces of personal data collected; request deletion of personal data; opt out of the sharing of personal data for advertising purposes; and not face discrimination for exercising privacy rights. We do not sell personal information as defined under the CCPA. Requests may be submitted to novelhoursupport@gmail.com.

13. Children's Privacy (COPPA)

We do not knowingly collect data from users under 18. If you believe a minor has submitted personal information, please contact us immediately so we may delete the data and assist with account removal.

14. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify users via email or platform notice before significant changes take effect. The "Last Updated" date at the top of this document indicates the latest version.

15. Contact Us

If you have questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy, please contact us at: novelhoursupport@gmail.com