PRIVACY POLICY

01Introduction

This Privacy Policy explains how ChessVS, Inc. ("ChessVS," "we," "us," or "our") collects, uses, and protects your personal information when you use the ChessVS service (the "Service"), including the website at chessvs.club, the ChessVS game application, and related services.

By using the Service, you consent to the practices described in this Policy. If you do not agree, please do not use the Service.

02Information We Collect

Information you provide directly

• Account information: email address, username, password (encrypted)
• Profile information (optional): display name, avatar, bio, club affiliation, country
• Payment information: billing address and payment method details processed by our payment processor (Stripe). We do not store full credit card numbers on our systems.
• Communications: messages you send to support, feedback you submit, content you post in community spaces

Information collected automatically

• Gameplay data: match history, ELO rating, in-game items collected, tournament participation
• Device and technical data: IP address, browser type, operating system, device identifiers, session timestamps
• Usage data: features accessed, time spent in the Service, navigation patterns
• Cookies and similar technologies: for authentication, preferences, and analytics (see Section 07)

Information from third parties

• Authentication providers: if you sign in via a third-party service, we receive basic profile information from that service
• Wallet infrastructure: our embedded wallet provider (Privy) creates and manages an associated wallet for your account; we receive only the wallet identifier, not private keys

03How We Use Your Information

We use the information collected to:

• Provide and operate the Service — account creation, matchmaking, gameplay, tournament participation
• Process payments — handle subscriptions and one-time purchases through our payment processor
• Communicate with you — service updates, security notifications, customer support, optional marketing communications (which you can opt out of)
• Maintain integrity and safety — anti-cheat detection, fraud prevention, terms-of-service enforcement
• Improve the Service — analytics on feature usage, performance monitoring, product development
• Comply with legal obligations — respond to lawful requests, protect rights and safety, fulfill regulatory requirements

04How We Share Your Information

We do not sell your personal information. We may share your information with:

• Service providers we engage to operate the Service (payment processors, hosting providers, analytics providers, customer support tools, email delivery services). These providers are contractually required to use your information only as needed to provide their services.
• Legal authorities when required by law, court order, or governmental request, or when we believe in good faith that disclosure is necessary to protect rights or safety
• Business transferees if ChessVS is involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, in which case your information may be transferred as part of the transaction (with continued protection under this Policy or a successor policy)
• Other users only as you choose — your username and gameplay records are visible to opponents and as you configure in your profile settings

05Your Rights and Choices

Access, correction, and deletion

You can access and update most of your information through your account settings. You may request a copy of your personal information or request deletion by contacting us at support@chessvs.club. We will respond to verified requests within 30 days, subject to applicable legal exceptions (such as records we are required to retain for tax or compliance purposes).

Marketing communications

You can opt out of marketing emails at any time using the unsubscribe link in any marketing email or by adjusting your account preferences. Service-related communications (billing, security, terms changes) are not subject to opt-out.

Cookies

You can manage cookies through your browser settings. Disabling cookies may affect your ability to use certain Service features.

Account closure

You may close your account at any time through your account settings. Upon closure, we will delete or anonymize your personal information within a reasonable timeframe, except for records we are required to retain by law.

06Region-Specific Rights

For European Economic Area, United Kingdom, and Switzerland residents (GDPR)

You have the following rights regarding your personal information:

• Right of access — to obtain a copy of your personal information
• Right to rectification — to correct inaccurate information
• Right to erasure — to request deletion of your information
• Right to restrict processing — to limit how we use your information
• Right to data portability — to receive your information in a portable format
• Right to object — to processing based on legitimate interests
• Right to withdraw consent where processing is based on consent
• Right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority

Our legal bases for processing include: contract performance (operating the Service for you), legitimate interests (security, fraud prevention, service improvement), consent (where applicable), and legal obligations.

For California residents (CCPA/CPRA)

You have the right to:

• Know what personal information we collect, use, and disclose
• Request deletion of your personal information
• Correct inaccurate personal information
• Opt out of the sale or sharing of personal information (we do not sell your information)
• Non-discrimination for exercising your privacy rights

To exercise these rights, contact support@chessvs.club.

07Cookies and Tracking

We use cookies and similar technologies for:

Type	Purpose
Essential	Authentication, security, basic Service functionality
Functional	Remembering preferences and settings
Analytics	Understanding how the Service is used to improve it
Performance	Monitoring Service uptime and performance

You can manage cookies through your browser settings. Disabling essential cookies may prevent the Service from functioning correctly.

08Data Security

We implement reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect your information, including encryption in transit (HTTPS/TLS), encryption of sensitive data at rest, access controls limiting employee access to personal information, and regular security reviews.

No system is perfectly secure. While we work to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials.

09Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to provide the Service and fulfill the purposes described in this Policy. Specific retention periods include:

• Active accounts: for the duration of your account plus a reasonable period after closure
• Payment records: for the period required by tax and accounting laws (typically 7 years)
• Communications: for the period needed to address inquiries and maintain service history
• Aggregated and anonymized data: may be retained indefinitely for analytics and product improvement

10International Data Transfers

ChessVS is based in the United States. If you access the Service from outside the United States, your information may be transferred to and processed in the United States or other countries where our service providers operate. These countries may have data protection laws different from your country of residence. By using the Service, you consent to these transfers, and we implement appropriate safeguards (such as Standard Contractual Clauses for transfers from the European Economic Area) where required by law.

11Children's Privacy

The Service is not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 (or under 16 in jurisdictions where that is the applicable age). If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us at support@chessvs.club and we will take appropriate action.

12Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Material changes will be communicated to registered users via email or in-Service notification at least 30 days before taking effect. The "Effective Date" at the top of this Policy indicates when it was last updated.

13Contact