Privacy Policy

Last Updated: June 28, 2020

Your privacy is very important to Story Syndicate LLC (“Story Syndicate,” “we” or “us”).  In order to best protect your information, we have adopted this privacy policy (“Privacy Policy”), which applies to any and all information about you that we collect.  It is important to note that this Privacy Policy only applies to information that we collect through www.storysyndicate.com and related websites that we own and control (the “Website”).  Therefore, if you click any links on the Website that lead to websites owned or operated by third parties or if you access any other website, this Privacy Policy no longer applies.  You should review the privacy policies adopted by those third parties to ensure that you know what information is being collected and for what it is being used.  Also note that the Website is not directed at children under the age of 18 years. 
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What Information We Collect and How We Collect It
Some of the information we collect is Personally Identifiable Information (“PII”).  PII, collected only with your consent, includes your email address and any other information that you provide to us that is linked to your identity.  We will only collect PII that is relevant to the services that we provide and the maintenance of the Website.  This may occur, for example, when you communicate with us through our Website or by phone, mail or email.  Remember that you always have the option not to provide information by choosing not to use the Website or by not using the particular feature of the Website for which the information is being collected.
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We currently do not use “cookies,” but we reserve the right to begin to use them at any time.  Cookies are small pieces data that are stored on your computer by your browser.  This data helps our Website manage your experience while you visit and helps us determine whether you are a first-time visitor.  You can always tell your Internet browser that you don’t want to have any cookies downloaded to your computer.  Check with the provider of your particular browser to find out how.  Before you do however, note that deleting cookies or directing your browser to refuse them may limit your ability to use certain portions of our Website that require cookies to function.  Lastly, third parties who partner with us to display advertising, if we have any, may also use cookies to collect or store data.
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We may also collect non-personally identifying information.  As an example, we may collect information as visitors browse our Website such as the number of people that visit, what pages are visited and from where visitors come (like Google or Bing).  We may also compile this data to enable statistical analysis of our services that would be used internally or with external assistance to make improvements to our Website.  We may also provide this information to third parties, including advertisers.  Remember though that this information is not personally identifiable.
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California Do Not Track Procedures
We respect your choices about what PII we collect and what PII third parties can collect through us.  Therefore, if we ever begin to use any tracking technology, we will follow any Do-Not-Track instructions from your browser and any other direction that you give us regarding collection and dissemination of PII.  Note however that any Do-Not-Track or similar mechanism will not affect our collection of the data that you voluntarily provide to us, as detailed above.  So, please do not provide us with any information that you do not want collected.  California Civil Code Section 1798.83 permits users of the Website who are California residents to request certain information regarding disclosure of their personal information to third parties for direct marketing purposes. We do not make any such disclosures, however, if you would like to make such a request, please send an email to websitesupport@storysyndicate.com.
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Children’s Privacy
The privacy of children is of the utmost importance, and we are committed to complying with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). We do not knowingly collect, use, or disclose PII from children under the age of 13.  If we ever discover that we have inadvertently collected PII from children under the age of 13, we will delete it as soon as possible.  If you are a parent or legal guardian, and believe that we have collected PII from your child under the age of 13, please email us at websitesupport@storysyndicate.com, and we will take steps to delete this PII as soon as possible.
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Our Use of Information
We may use the information we collect for a number of purposes.  For instance we may use it to respond to your inquiries and otherwise correspond with you, to process transactions that you request, to maintain the security and integrity of our Website and services, and for the administration, review and improvement of the content of our Website and services.  We may also use your information to provide you with Story Syndicate updates that we think may interest you.  However, we will always give you the opportunity to opt out of receiving such communications as well as any newsletter for which you sign up.    

Our Policy for Disclosing Your Information to Third Parties
Again, your privacy is important to us and as a result we are protective of your information.  Except as stated above, there are only three instances in which we will disclose any of your information to anyone but you, as follows:
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1. To our service providers.  We may disclose your information to third parties who provide services to us, such as our database management vendors.
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2. If we are acquired by another company.  If another company acquires Story Syndicate or our assets, that company will take on all responsibility for the personal information we collect and it will assume all rights and obligations with respect to that information.  This may also happen if Story Syndicate ever enters bankruptcy proceedings.  Should any of this happen, the acquiring company may develop its own policy with respect to your information.
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3. If we are required to disclose information by law.  When directed by a court of law or other government entity, if we have a good faith basis to believe disclosure is necessary to comply with the law, or if we feel it necessary in order to prevent illegal, unethical or legally actionable conduct, we may be obligated to disclose personal information.  In such event, we will comply with the law and make commercially reasonable efforts to notify you, if legal.
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We do not sell or distribute PII to any third parties except as set forth above. 
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Access to Your Information
We will provide you with access to PII you provide us for as long as we maintain that information in a readily accessible format. We will also work with you to correct any error in your PII.  If you wish to access or correct any PII that you have submitted through our Website, or to have us completely remove your PII from our systems, please send an e-mail with your specific request to websitesupport@storysyndicate.com. 
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Security
We have in place physical, administrative and electronic safeguards to keep your information safe.  For instance, we only allow access to employees who require your information to do their jobs and we use industry standard SSL encryption to secure your data.
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Changes to the Privacy Policy
We may make changes to this Privacy Policy from time to time.  If we do, we’ll be sure to try to notify you at the email address you have provided us, if any, and to post the date of the latest revision herein.
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If you have questions about our Privacy Policy please contact us at websitesupport@storysyndicate.com.