Privacy Policy

Last updated: 15.05.2025

1. Introduction

Welcome to DearComic. DearComic is a service provided by PUNTO ONLINE LTD, a company registered in England and Wales with company number 12396142 and registered office at 32-33 Upper Street, London, England, N1 0PN ("Company", "we", "us", or "our"). We are committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and protect your personal data when you visit our website www.dearcomic.com and use our services, including submitting content for personalized comic creation.

2. Information We Collect

We may collect the following types of personal data:

  • User-Submitted Data: Information you provide directly such as names, email addresses, story texts, anecdotes, character descriptions, character photos, and chat screenshots required to create your comic.
  • Usage Data: Automatically collected data like IP address, browser type, device information (e.g., operating system), visited pages, timestamps, and referring URLs. Cookies and similar tracking technologies may be used solely to improve service experience; we do not use third-party advertising cookies.
  • Payment Information: Payment details are securely processed by third-party providers (e.g., Stripe, Coinbase). We do not collect or store your full credit card information. We may receive transaction confirmations or partial details from the provider.
  • Communication Data: Information shared when you contact us via email or support channels.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use collected personal data for the following purposes:

  • To create and deliver your personalized comic
  • To process payments via our payment providers
  • To communicate with you regarding your order, delivery, support, or service updates
  • To send marketing communications only if you have explicitly opted in
  • To improve our website, services, and user experience (typically using aggregated or anonymized data)
  • To ensure the security of our services and prevent fraud
  • To comply with legal and regulatory obligations

4. Legal Basis for Processing (GDPR/KVKK)

We process your personal data based on the following legal grounds:

  • Contract Performance: Necessary to fulfill our contract with you (e.g., create and deliver your comic, process your payment)
  • Consent: When you have given explicit consent (e.g., marketing emails, promotional use of generated content). You may withdraw your consent at any time.
  • Legitimate Interests: For service improvement, security, and fraud prevention, provided such interests are not overridden by your fundamental rights and freedoms.
  • Legal Obligation: When required to comply with applicable laws and regulations.

5. Data Storage and Deletion

Your personal data (names, emails, text entries) is stored in our databases hosted on MongoDB Atlas. Uploaded files (photos, screenshots) and the final generated comic PDF are securely stored on Amazon Web Services (AWS) Simple Storage Service (S3). Files necessary for comic creation (photos, screenshots, final PDF) are permanently and automatically deleted 48 hours after the successful email delivery of your comic, unless otherwise agreed upon with you (e.g., for revisions within that period). Database records may be retained slightly longer as required for service operations but are subject to deletion upon your request.

We do not retain system logs, backups, or metadata beyond the scope necessary for immediate service function. No analytics or error logs are preserved beyond session runtime.

6. Data Sharing

We never sell your personal data. We may share limited personal data with third parties only when necessary:

  • AI Service Providers: We use OpenAI API to generate dialogue, narratives, scripts, and images based on your inputs. Data sent via the OpenAI API is not used to train models and is temporarily retained for abuse monitoring (typically up to 30 days).
  • Cloud Storage Providers: We use AWS S3 to temporarily store your uploads and generated comics.
  • Database Providers: MongoDB Atlas for storing personal information.
  • Payment Processors: Stripe and Coinbase for secure payment processing.
  • Email Delivery Services: For order confirmations and sending final comic PDFs.
  • Legal Authorities: When required by law or official court order.
  • Professional Advisors: Lawyers, accountants, or consultants when necessary for legal, financial, or business support.

7. International Data Transfers

Some of our service providers (e.g., OpenAI, AWS, MongoDB Atlas) are located outside the UK or EEA. When transferring your data internationally, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place, such as SCCs or adequacy decisions, as required by law.

8. Data Security

We implement reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect your personal data against unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure.

9. Your Rights

Depending on your location (notably under GDPR and KVKK), you have the right to:

  • Access the personal data we hold about you
  • Request corrections to inaccurate data
  • Request deletion of your data (subject to retention rules and legal obligations)
  • Restrict processing in certain cases
  • Request data portability in a machine-readable format
  • Object to processing based on legitimate interest
  • Withdraw consent at any time
  • File a complaint with a data protection authority (e.g., KVKK in Türkiye or ICO in the UK)

To exercise your rights, please contact us using the details below.

10. Children's Privacy

Our service is not intended for individuals under the age of 16 (or the age defined by your local law). We do not knowingly collect personal data from children.

11. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Major changes will be announced via update to the "Last updated" date or via a site notification. We recommend reviewing this policy periodically.

12. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact: PUNTO ONLINE LTD
32-33 Upper Street, London, England, N1 0PN
Company No: 12396142
Email: hello@dearcomic.com