Privacy Policy

1. Applicability

1.1. Scope of This Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy explains how Syntelium B.V. (“Storyon”, “we”, “us”), a company registered in Antwerp, Belgium, collects, uses, stores, and safeguards Personal Information when you use the Storyon.net platform or any related services.

For purposes of this Privacy Policy, “Personal Information” means any information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person, as defined under the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and other applicable data protection laws.

Changes to this Privacy Policy will apply only to the Personal Information processed after the effective date of the updated version. We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically if you are concerned about how your Personal Information is used.

1.2. International Users and Cross-Border Data Transfers

Syntelium B.V. is based in Belgium. By using Storyon.net, you understand that your Personal Information may be processed in Belgium or transferred to third-party service providers outside the European Union (EU).

Such transfers will comply with the GDPR and applicable EU data protection laws, for example through:

  • Your explicit consent, given when you agree to this Privacy Policy;
  • The necessity of the transfer for providing the Storyon platform and fulfilling our contractual obligations to you; and/or
  • Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) or equivalent safeguards for transfers to service providers outside the EU.

By creating an account or otherwise using Storyon.net, you acknowledge that your Personal Information may be processed in jurisdictions where our third-party service providers operate.

If you do not agree to such transfers, please do not use Storyon.net.

2. Scope of Personal Information We Process

2.1. Personal Information Included in Your Content

Any Personal Information you choose to include in Content you submit to Storyon.net—including text, tags, comments, reviews, messages, or uploaded works—may be accessible to Storyon administrators for purposes such as moderation, support, security, or compliance with legal obligations.

If your Content is public, it may also be accessible by the general public. If your Content is visible only to registered users or only to purchasers (for paid works), it will be accessible to those users accordingly.

Storyon does not require you to include Personal Information in your Content; you submit such information voluntarily and at your own discretion.

2.2. Personal Information We Collect Automatically

When you visit or use Storyon.net, we may automatically collect certain Personal Information, including but not limited to:

  • IP address
  • Device and browser information
  • Log data (such as access times, pages viewed, and interactions)
  • Cookies and similar tracking technologies (as described in our Cookie Policy)

2.3. Personal Information You Provide Directly

We may collect Personal Information you provide directly to us, including:

  • Email address (required for account creation and notifications)
  • Payment information processed by third-party payment providers when purchasing works
  • Information submitted via forms, such as support requests or abuse reports

We collect this information when you request an invitation (if applicable), register for an account, purchase works, or otherwise access or use Storyon.net.

3. Types of Personal Information We Collect and Process

3.1. Email Addresses

We collect, process, and retain email addresses from users who register on Storyon.net or communicate with us directly. We may also process any Personal Information included in your messages to us.

We use your email address to:

  • Create and maintain your account
  • Send transactional or service-related messages (e.g., login verification, security alerts, purchase confirmations, content updates)
  • Respond to support requests, abuse reports, and other inquiries
  • Contact you regarding potential violations of the Terms of Service or other applicable policies
  • Send administrative notices and legally required communications

We may also, at our discretion, send non-marketing informational updates about Storyon that we reasonably believe are relevant to registered users.

Some notification emails may be optional and allow unsubscribing. However, you cannot unsubscribe from emails deemed necessary for legal, security, or account-integrity purposes.

By creating an account on Storyon.net, you consent to receiving the above communications.

3.2. IP Addresses

We and our service providers collect, process, and retain IP addresses of Storyon visitors, including guests and logged-in users. IP addresses are used for:

  • Delivering requested content and platform functionality
  • Fraud prevention, abuse detection, and security monitoring
  • Enforcing the Terms of Service
  • Logging and auditing purposes
  • Complying with applicable legal requirements

3.3. Server Logs

We and our service providers collect logs of server interactions and service usage. These logs may include timestamps, device information, access patterns, and interactions with site features.

We process this information to:

  • Ensure security and platform integrity
  • Diagnose technical issues
  • Detect violations of the Terms of Service
  • Comply with legal and audit obligations

3.4. Cookies and Similar Technologies

We and our service providers use cookies and similar technologies to:

  • Remember user preferences
  • Maintain session functionality (including login sessions)
  • Customize the site experience
  • Prevent malicious activity or automated attacks
  • Gather analytics for service improvement

Blocking or disabling cookies may limit your ability to access or use certain parts of Storyon.net. Storyon does not have access to third-party cookies set by other websites.

3.5. Information About Your Interactions With Storyon

We and our service providers may collect, process, and retain Personal Information related to your usage of Storyon, including:

  • Pages you view or access
  • Your interactions with platform features such as comments, reviews, ratings, tags, or purchases
  • Referral data (the site you arrived from)
  • Error and performance data used to troubleshoot display or functionality issues

This information is necessary to:

  • Deliver the site’s features and content
  • Prevent spam and abuse
  • Maintain platform integrity
  • Comply with legal and audit requirements

3.6. Information About Content You Submit

When you upload or submit Content—such as works, chapters, comments, reviews, or user-generated tags—we collect certain Personal Information associated with your submission (including your IP address and account identifiers, even if you are not logged in).

We process this information to:

  • Publish and display the Content as you request
  • Manage reports or potential policy violations
  • Maintain a secure and stable platform

By submitting Content to Storyon.net, you consent to this collection and to the processing of such information in compliance with the GDPR and other applicable data protection laws.

4. Aggregate and Anonymous Information

We may use Personal Information in aggregated or statistical form to understand how users interact with Storyon. Processing data in this way is necessary for our legitimate interests as the operator of an online content-hosting platform, including operating, maintaining, optimizing, and securing Storyon and our servers.

Please note that information which has been de-identified, anonymized, or combined into aggregate datasets that cannot reasonably be linked back to an identifiable individual is not treated as Personal Information under this Privacy Policy.

Nothing in this Privacy Policy restricts our use of anonymous, de-identified, or aggregate information or any other data that does not qualify as Personal Information under applicable law.

5. Your Rights Under Applicable Data Privacy Laws

As a user of Storyon, you have certain rights regarding your Personal Information under the GDPR and other applicable EU data protection laws, including:

  • Access to the Personal Information we hold about you, and a copy of that data in a commonly used electronic format
  • Correction of inaccurate or incomplete Personal Information
  • Deletion of your Personal Information, in circumstances where we are permitted to do so
  • Restriction of our processing of your Personal Information
  • Objection to certain types of processing based on our legitimate interests
  • Portability of your Personal Information to another service or provider

We will respond to such requests within a reasonable time and in accordance with applicable law.

We will not discriminate against you for exercising any data privacy rights available to you. To protect the privacy and security of our users, we may request proof of identity before fulfilling a rights request.

6. Information Shared With Third Parties

We do not sell, trade, or rent your Personal Information. We do not use your Personal Information for targeted advertising or automated decision-making/profiling. If this ever changes, we will update this Privacy Policy, and you will have the right to restrict such processing where required by law.

Third parties may develop applications, browser extensions, scripts, or other tools that interact with Storyon. If you choose to use such tools, they may receive Personal Information directly from you. This Privacy Policy does not govern their use.

We do not share your Personal Information with third parties without your consent, except in the following cases:

  • External Processing and Service Providers We may use third-party service providers (“Subprocessors”) to store, process, or transmit data, or to perform technical or administrative functions necessary for operating Storyon. Examples include cloud hosting, email delivery, security monitoring, or analytics.

    Personal Information processed by these Subprocessors may be stored in data centers inside or outside the EU. All such transfers comply with GDPR requirements for international data transfers.

  • Participation in Platform Features If you participate in platform features that require additional user communication or coordination (e.g., community events, collaborative publishing), we may share your contact information with the maintainers of that feature for the limited purpose of running it.
  • Handling Copyright or Legal Complaints If we receive a legally valid notice under applicable copyright law (e.g., EU copyright directives), we may disclose information contained in the notice to the user whose content is the subject of the complaint. Complaints regarding other matters are handled according to our Abuse & Reporting Policy.
  • Legal Compliance We may share Personal Information if:
    • Legally required under EU law or other applicable laws
    • Necessary to comply with judicial proceedings or lawful requests from public authorities
    • Necessary to protect the rights, safety, or property of Storyon, our users, or the public

    We will make reasonable efforts to notify you if disclosure is required, unless prohibited by law or notification could interfere with an investigation or cause harm.

7. Termination of Account

If you choose to delete your Storyon account, we will delete active records containing your Personal Information visible to the public or other users, except for Personal Information included within Content you choose not to delete, as soon as reasonably possible (no later than 30 business days).

If you orphan your works and preserve your pseudonym, it will continue to be displayed.

Backups for legal compliance, security, or disaster-recovery purposes are maintained according to our policies.

We may retain limited Personal Information accessible only to Storyon administrators for legal, security, or Terms of Service enforcement purposes.

8. Retention of Personal Information

We retain Personal Information only as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes for which it was collected or as required by law. Once no longer necessary, we delete, anonymize, or securely dispose of it.

Backups may be overwritten on the next scheduled cycle and are not actively used except for security, continuity, or legal purposes.

9. Subprocessor List

Syntelium B.V. may use third-party service providers (“Subprocessors”) to process Personal Information on our behalf. These Subprocessors assist in operating, hosting, maintaining Storyon.net, communicating with users, and processing payments.

Current Subprocessors:

  • Hetzner Online GmbH – Hosting and server infrastructure for Storyon.net
  • Cloudflare, Inc. – CDN and security services
  • Google LLC (Gmail) – Email communication with users
  • Stripe, Inc. – Payment processing for purchases and monetization services
  • Wise Ltd. – Payment and transfer services for platform-related transactions

All Subprocessors are contractually obligated to protect Personal Information in accordance with GDPR. Subprocessors located outside the EU comply through Standard Contractual Clauses or equivalent safeguards.

10. Contact Us

For questions, concerns, complaints, or to submit data access, correction, deletion, or portability requests, contact Syntelium B.V. Privacy & Compliance Team:

We will review and respond in accordance with applicable data protection laws, including the GDPR.

Effective: November 25, 2025

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