Forgeon Privacy Policy

1. Information We Collect

Forgeon collects different types of information to provide and improve our services:

• Personal Information: name or nickname, email address, and other profile data (country, date of birth, avatar, etc.) that you voluntarily provide during registration or profile updates. Passwords are stored in encrypted form.
• Technical Information: IP address, device and operating system type, browser version, connection data (country code, provider), and screen resolution. This data is collected automatically when you visit the site.
• Usage Data: how you interact with Forgeon (which books you read, time spent in the service, button clicks, selected topics, etc.), as well as purchase, subscription, and transaction history.
• Payment Information: Forgeon does not store bank card data and does not process user payment credentials directly. For website payments, we use the secure payment partner Stripe. For mobile app payments, transactions may be processed through Apple App Store and Google Play. We receive only payment fact data (for example: transaction ID, amount, currency, date, and payment status), while payment credentials (bank cards and payment account details) are processed directly by Stripe, Apple, or Google according to their privacy policies and terms of use (Stripe Privacy, Stripe Terms; Apple Privacy, Apple Media Services Terms; Google Privacy, Google Play Terms).
• Author Payouts: to transfer author rewards, Forgeon may use partner payment infrastructure, including Stripe (including products like Stripe Connect), Wise and Payoneer. Specific payout methods depend on region and author dashboard settings. Payout credentials (bank, account, recipient identifiers in partner systems) are mainly processed by these providers; Forgeon may store the minimum necessary information about payout status, amounts, transaction IDs, and payout linkage to the author account for accounting and legal compliance.
• Identity Verification and Compliance (KYC/AML): before payouts or for anti-fraud purposes, Forgeon may request additional data from an author (or payout recipient): full name or legal entity name, address, date of birth, tax identifier (for example W-9/W-8 form data or local equivalents), beneficial owner details, and copies/scans of identity documents and address confirmation. Processing purposes include recipient identification, anti-money laundering and sanctions compliance, tax/accounting reporting, and abuse prevention.
• Cookies and Similar Technologies: we use cookies, web beacons, and local storage for device identification, session support, interface personalization, and analytics. See our separate Cookie Policy.

2. How We Use Information

Forgeon uses collected information for the following purposes:

• Providing and supporting service operations (registration/authentication, purchases, content delivery).
• Processing transactions and subscription management (payment verification, interaction with payment partners: Stripe for website payments; Apple App Store and Google Play for mobile purchases and subscriptions), and initiating author payouts through Stripe, Wise, Payoneer, or other agreed channels.
• Performing verification (KYC/AML), payout accounting, and meeting tax/regulatory obligations related to author rewards.
• Communicating with users (account notices, support responses, service notifications).
• Personalizing experience (book recommendations, interface settings, profile preference storage).
• Analytics and Service Improvement: we analyze anonymized or aggregated usage data, including with Google Analytics and other tools. Google data processing terms are described in Google Privacy Policy.
• Ensuring security: detecting and preventing fraud, spam, and account compromise.
• Compliance with legal obligations: cooperating with competent authorities upon lawful request, and processing copyright notices under DMCA (17 U.S.C. §512).

3. Sharing Data with Third Parties

Forgeon does not sell or transfer users’ personal information to third parties for advertising purposes. We may share data only in the following cases:

• With Your Consent: if you gave explicit permission (for example, when connecting external services or newsletters).
• Service Providers: contractors necessary for service operation (including payment providers — Stripe, Apple, and Google for incoming payments; Stripe, Wise, Payoneer, and similar for author payouts; hosting and analytics providers). They receive only the data necessary for their functions and are bound by confidentiality obligations.
• Security and Legal Compliance: in response to lawful government requests, and to protect the rights of Forgeon and users (investigation of fraud, policy violations, security threats).

4. Data Storage and Protection

We store personal information in a protected environment using modern security measures. Forgeon servers are hosted on Namecheap, and the database is located in Germany (DigitalOcean). We apply HTTPS/TLS transport encryption and other technical/organizational controls.

Retention Periods

• Accounts: deleted upon user request or after 30 days following deactivation.
• Analytics and Logs: anonymized activity logs are retained up to 1 year for statistics and security.
• Financial Data: payment/subscription/accrual/ transaction records (including internal accounting records and accessible partner logs) — generally at least 5 years for tax and accounting reporting and dispute resolution, unless applicable law requires otherwise.
• Payout Requests and KYC: data related to withdrawal requests, payout status, and verification results (including document copies where provided) — typically retained for a period comparable to financial records retention (often up to 5-7 years after the last related transaction or dispute closure), unless law sets a different period.

5. Cookies and Similar Technologies

Forgeon uses cookies for platform operation, preference storage, and analytics. See details in the Cookie Policy.

6. User Rights

Under GDPR and other applicable laws, you may have the following rights regarding your data:

• Access: request a copy of personal data we store.
• Correction: request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data.
• Deletion: request data deletion ("right to be forgotten"), except where retention is legally required.
• Restriction of Processing: in specific cases (for example, during dispute review).
• Portability: receive data in a transferable format.
• Withdrawal of Consent: withdraw previously provided consent (for example, for newsletters).
• Marketing Opt-Out: opt out of marketing emails.
• Complaint: file a complaint with a supervisory authority in your jurisdiction (in the EU — a data protection authority).

To exercise your rights, contact legal@forgeon.art or use the support form. We will respond within timeframes required by law.

7. Children-Specific Information

The platform is available to users aged 13 and older. Users under 13 may use the platform only with permission from parents or legal guardians.

We do not knowingly collect personal data from children under 13 without proper parental/guardian consent where such consent is required by applicable law. If you believe a child provided data without required permission, contact us and we will take steps to delete or restrict processing (legal@forgeon.art).

8. International Data Transfers

Forgeon is an international service: data may be processed in the USA and other countries where providers are located (Stripe, Wise, Payoneer, Apple, Google and others). We apply appropriate safeguards (contracts, encryption, etc.) for cross-border transfers.

9. DMCA and App Store Compliance Overview

Forgeon complies with DMCA requirements (Section 512 of U.S. Copyright Law): rightsholder notice and content removal procedures are in place. For mobile applications, rules of App Store and Google Play are also followed (including advertising and subscriptions). In-app purchases are additionally governed by the respective store terms.

10. Policy Changes

We may update this Privacy Policy (new features, legal changes). Material changes will be communicated through platform notices or email. We recommend reviewing this page periodically. Related document: Terms of Use.

11. Contacts

Data processing questions: legal@forgeon.art or support form.

Forgeon, Inc. (Delaware, USA)

Address: 131 Continental Dr, Suite 305, Newark, DE 19713, USA