Data Retention & Deletion

This policy explains what data we keep, how long we keep it, and what happens when you ask us to delete it. It supplements our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.

You own 100% of every novel you create. Whimsy claims no royalty, no revenue share, and no ownership interest in your work. Retention of generated content is governed by the perpetual, non-exclusive platform license you grant in Section 5 of the Terms of Service — not by any ownership claim. This policy does not and cannot limit what you do with your work.

1. The Key Distinction

We treat two types of data differently:

• Personal data — your name, email address, payment information, device data. This is yours. You can request its deletion.
• Generated content — novels, prompts, and creation metadata. You own 100% of this work. It is retained under the platform license granted in Section 5 of the Terms of Service — not under any ownership claim.

These are handled differently because they serve different purposes and carry different legal obligations.

2. What We Retain Permanently

The following data is retained regardless of account status, deletion requests, or account termination:

• Every novel generated through the Service
• The original prompt used to generate each novel
• The identity (name and account) of the person who created each novel
• The creation date and associated metadata
• Content ratings and moderation history
• Publication status and publication history

Why: Whimsy holds no ownership stake in your work. These records are retained to operate the platform under the license granted in Section 5 of the Terms — to display and promote published work, to maintain publication and moderation history, and to attribute each novel to its author.

3. What You Can Request Deleted

You may request deletion of:

• Email address
• Payment information (note: Stripe stores payment data separately under their own retention policies)
• Device and usage data
• IP address logs
• Communication history with support

To request deletion, email privacy@trywhimsy.com. We will process your request within 30 days.

4. What Happens to Your Novels

If you cancel your subscription: Your novels remain stored and accessible if you return. You may export them at any time by reactivating your account.

If you request account deletion: Your personal data is deleted per Section 3. Your novels and creation records are retained per Section 2. Your name is removed from any novels published to the community library (they become anonymous). The novels themselves remain in the library.

If your account is terminated by Whimsy: Same as account deletion. Personal data deleted, generated content retained, published novels anonymized.

5. Published Novels

Novels published to the Whimsy Ink community library cannot be removed by the user. You may remove your name from a published novel at any time (it becomes anonymous), but the novel remains available to readers. See our Terms of Service, Section 9 for full details.

6. How Long We Keep Personal Data

| Data Type | Retention Period |

|-----------|-----------------|

| Account info (name, email) | Until deletion requested or 30 days after account termination |

| Payment records | As required by tax and financial regulations (typically 7 years for transaction records) |

| Device and usage data | 24 months from collection, then anonymized or deleted |

| IP address logs | 12 months, then deleted |

| Support communications | 24 months after last contact, then deleted |

| Generated novels | Permanent |

| Creation metadata | Permanent |

| Creator identity | Permanent |

7. Legal Basis for Permanent Retention

Our permanent retention of generated content and creator identity is grounded in:

• Contractual basis: The perpetual, irrevocable, non-exclusive platform license you grant in Section 5 of the Terms of Service, which permits Whimsy to host, display, and promote your work on the platform. That license does not transfer ownership and does not restrict what you do with your work anywhere else.
• Legitimate business interest: Operating the platform and maintaining accurate records of what was created, when, and by whom — including preserving each author's ability to demonstrate the provenance of their own work.
• Legal claims: Under GDPR Article 17(3)(e), the right to erasure does not apply where processing is necessary for the establishment, exercise, or defense of legal claims.

8. Data Export

While your account is active, you may export your novels at any time in standard formats. You own 100% of your work and may use, publish, and distribute all of it freely.

9. Changes to This Policy

We may update this policy as our practices evolve. The "Last updated" date at the top reflects the most recent revision. Material changes will be communicated to active users.

Questions about your data? Contact privacy@trywhimsy.com.