ArtYard Privacy Policy

Last updated: January 2025

At ArtYard, we are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring the security of your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, and your rights regarding your data.

1. Information We Collect

1.1 Account Information

When you create an account on ArtYard, we collect:

• Email address - Used for account authentication and important notifications
• Profile information - Including your display name (username/handle), profile photo, bio, school/department (optional), and your name from social login providers (Google, Apple, Facebook) if provided
• Authentication data - Provided by third-party OAuth services (Google, Apple, Facebook) when you sign in

1.2 Content You Create

• Artworks you upload (images, titles, descriptions, pricing information)
• Comments and messages you post
• Your likes, bookmarks, and interactions with other users' content

1.3 Location Information (Optional)

When you upload artwork, you may optionally choose to include location information:

• Approximate location - City, state/province, and country where your artwork was created
• GPS coordinates - Latitude and longitude (rounded to approximately 100 meters for privacy)

Note: Location data is only collected if you:

• Grant location permission when prompted by your device
• Choose to add location to your artwork during upload

You can always skip adding location information. Location data is never collected in the background or for any other purpose.

1.4 Automatically Collected Information

• Device information (device type, operating system)
• App usage data (features used, time spent in app)
• Error logs and diagnostic data for app improvement

2. How We Use Your Information

We use your information for the following purposes:

2.1 Service Provision

• Create and manage your account
• Display your profile and artworks to other users
• Show location information (city, state, country) on your artworks if you choose to add it
• Enable communication between users (messaging, comments)
• Process artwork sales and purchases

2.2 Service Improvement

• Analyze app usage to improve features and user experience
• Identify and fix technical issues
• Develop new features based on user behavior

2.3 Safety and Security

• Prevent spam, fraud, and abuse
• Enforce our Terms of Service
• Protect the rights and safety of our users

2.4 Communication

• Send important service notifications (security alerts, policy changes)
• Respond to your support requests
• Send optional marketing communications (you can opt out anytime)

3. Information Sharing

3.1 Public Information

The following information is visible to other ArtYard users:

• Your profile information (display name/username, name from social login, photo, bio, school)
• Artworks you upload and their details (including location if you choose to add it)
• Comments you post
• Your likes and bookmarks (if you choose to make them public)

3.2 We Do NOT Sell Your Data

We will never sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties for marketing purposes.

3.3 Third-Party Service Providers

We share limited data with trusted service providers who help us operate ArtYard:

• Supabase - Database and authentication services
• OAuth Providers (Google, Apple, Facebook) - For secure sign-in
• Payment Processors - For handling transactions (they process payments securely and don't share payment details with us)

3.4 Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information if required by law or to:

• Comply with legal processes (subpoenas, court orders)
• Protect our rights, property, or safety
• Prevent fraud or illegal activity

4. Data Security

We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your data:

• Encryption - All data is encrypted in transit (HTTPS) and at rest
• Secure Authentication - Passwords are hashed, OAuth tokens are securely stored
• Access Controls - Only authorized personnel can access user data
• Regular Audits - We regularly review and update our security practices

5. Data Retention

We retain your data for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide our services:

• Active Accounts - Data is retained while your account exists
• Deleted Accounts - Most data is deleted within 30 days of account deletion
• Legal Requirements - Some data may be retained longer if required by law
• Backup Systems - Data in backups is deleted during regular backup cycles (up to 90 days)

6. Your Rights

6.1 Access and Download Your Data

You can access and download a copy of your personal data at any time through the app settings.

6.2 Modify Your Information

You can update your profile information, artworks, and preferences at any time in the app.

6.3 Delete Your Account

You have the right to delete your account and all associated data. See our Data Deletion Policy for details.

6.4 Opt Out of Communications

You can unsubscribe from marketing emails or disable push notifications in your settings.

6.5 Data Portability

You can export your data in a machine-readable format (JSON) from your account settings.

7. Children's Privacy

ArtYard is intended for users aged 13 and older. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we discover that we have collected data from a child under 13, we will delete it immediately.

8. International Data Transfers

Your data may be stored and processed in servers located in different countries. We ensure that all data transfers comply with applicable data protection laws and use appropriate safeguards.

9. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. We will notify you of significant changes through:

• In-app notifications
• Email to your registered address
• Notice on our website

Your continued use of ArtYard after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy.

10. Contact Us