Privacy Policy

Lichen Studio (“we,” “our,” or “us”) operates the website at thelichenstudio.com (the “Site”). This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our Site or interact with our forms.

We value your privacy and are committed to being transparent about how we handle your personal information.

1. Information We Collect

We collect only the information you voluntarily provide to us:

Contact Form

When you reach out via our contact form, we collect:

  • Your name
  • Your email address
  • Any message or inquiry you submit

We use this information solely to respond to your communication.

Newsletter Subscription and Beta Access

When you sign up for our newsletter, you may also receive access to participate in beta testing for our unreleased games. When you subscribe, we collect:

  • Your email address

Important information about beta access:

  • Beta access is provided as a temporary, limited-time privilege, not a permanent license or ownership of the game
  • Access may be revoked at any time at our sole discretion, including after the beta period ends or if participation terms are violated
  • Your participation in beta testing is voluntary, and you may unsubscribe from the newsletter (and thereby lose beta access) at any time

We use your email address to:

  • Send you newsletters, updates, and studio news
  • Provide instructions, download links, and credentials for beta access
  • Communicate important information regarding beta testing, including updates, feedback requests, and access expiration notices
  • Manage and maintain the beta testing participant list

2. How We Collect Information

We collect information directly from you when you:

  • Fill out and submit our contact form
  • Subscribe to our newsletter (which may include opting into beta access)
  • Communicate with us via email or other means
  • Participate in beta testing and provide feedback

3. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Our Site uses essential cookies to ensure proper functionality, including:

  • Maintaining security during your visit
  • Enabling form submissions
  • Remembering basic preferences

We do not use non-essential tracking cookies (such as those used for advertising or cross-site tracking) without obtaining your prior consent.

4. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

  • To respond to your questions, comments, or inquiries
  • To send you newsletters and updates (only if you explicitly subscribed)
  • To manage beta testing participation, including:
    • Providing access credentials and download links
    • Sending updates, patch notes, and testing schedules
    • Requesting and collecting feedback
    • Notifying participants of access expiration or changes
    • Revoking access when necessary (e.g., end of beta period, violation of terms)
  • To maintain, secure, and improve our Site and beta testing process
  • To comply with any applicable legal obligations

5. Legal Basis for Processing

We process your personal information based on:

  • Your consent: When you voluntarily submit information through our forms and opt into beta testing participation
  • Contractual necessity: To provide you with the beta access you requested, including managing your participation and communicating essential information
  • Legitimate interests: To respond to inquiries and maintain the security and functionality of our Site and beta testing environment

You have the right to withdraw your consent at any time. Withdrawing consent will result in:

  • Removal from our newsletter mailing list
  • Revocation of beta access (where applicable)

6. Sharing Your Information

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties.

We may share your information only in the following circumstances:

  • Service Providers: We use WordPress as our content management system. We may also use email marketing platforms to manage newsletter subscriptions and beta participant communications. Your information may be stored and processed through these services.
  • Beta Testing Platforms: If we use third-party platforms to distribute beta builds or collect feedback, your email address and participation data may be shared with those platforms solely for the purpose of managing the beta test.
  • Legal Requirements: If required by law or in response to valid legal process.

We ensure that any third-party service providers we engage are contractually obligated to protect your information and use it only for the purposes for which it was disclosed.

7. Data Security

We implement reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, use, alteration, or disclosure. However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

8. Data Retention

We retain your personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, including:

  • Contact form inquiries: Retained until the inquiry is resolved, unless a longer retention period is required
  • Newsletter and beta participant information: Retained until you unsubscribe or request removal. If you participated in beta testing, we may retain limited records of your participation (such as feedback provided) for quality assurance and development purposes, even after access is revoked

You may request deletion of your information at any time.

9. Your Rights and Choices

Depending on your location, you may have certain rights regarding your personal information, including:

  • Access: Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you
  • Correction: Request corrections to inaccurate or incomplete information
  • Deletion: Request deletion of your personal information (which will result in revocation of beta access)
  • Restriction: Request that we limit the processing of your information
  • Portability: Request a copy of your information in a structured, commonly used format
  • Objection: Object to the processing of your information
  • Withdrawal of Consent: Withdraw any consent you previously provided (which will result in removal from the newsletter and revocation of beta access)

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at: [Insert Your Email Address]

We will respond to your request within a reasonable timeframe and in accordance with applicable requirements.

10. Children’s Privacy

Our Site and beta testing program are not directed to children, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under the age of digital consent. If we become aware that we have collected personal information from a child without verification of parental consent, we will take steps to delete that information promptly and revoke any associated beta access.

11. Third-Party Links

Our Site may contain links to third-party websites or services (such as social media platforms or game distribution pages). This Privacy Policy does not apply to those third-party sites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any external sites you visit.

12. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or for operational, legal, or regulatory reasons. We will post the updated version on this page and update the “Effective Date” at the top. We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically.

13. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices, please contact us:

Lichen Studio
Email: contact@thelichenstudio.com