Privacy Policy

Étincel ("we", "our", "us") is operated by JP LeBlanc. This Privacy Policy describes how we collect, use, and protect information when you use our platform at etincel.co and any related services (collectively, the "Service").

We take your privacy seriously. We collect only what we need, use it only for the purposes described here, and do not sell it to third parties under any circumstances.

Account information. When you create an account, we collect your name, email address, and a hashed password. If you sign in via a third-party provider (such as Google), we receive the profile information that provider shares with us.

Content you provide. We store the manuscript content, writing samples, chapter drafts, and project data you create or upload within the Service. This content is used solely to operate the pipeline on your behalf.

Usage data. We collect standard web analytics including pages visited, features used, session duration, and browser type. This data is used to improve the product and is not linked to individually identifiable profiles.

Payment information. Payments are processed by Stripe. We do not store full card numbers or sensitive payment details on our servers. We receive a token and basic billing metadata from Stripe.

Communications. If you contact us via email or the in-product support form, we retain those messages to respond and improve the Service.

We use your information to:

• Operate the four-stage manuscript production pipeline on your behalf
• Send transactional communications (account confirmations, pipeline status updates)
• Process billing and manage your subscription
• Improve product quality and fix bugs using aggregate usage signals
• Comply with legal obligations when required

We do not use your manuscript content to train models. Your writing is yours.

Your data is stored on servers located in the United States, hosted on infrastructure provided by Neon (PostgreSQL database) and Vercel (application hosting). Both providers maintain security certifications appropriate for production SaaS workloads.

We retain your account data for as long as your account is active. If you delete your account, we delete your personal data and manuscript content within 30 days, except where retention is required by law (such as billing records, which we retain for 7 years).

We do not sell your data. We share it only with the third-party service providers necessary to operate the platform:

• Vercel — application hosting and edge delivery
• Neon — database storage
• Stripe — payment processing
• Anthropic — the underlying model provider powering our agents. Your content is passed to Anthropic's API strictly to execute pipeline tasks. Anthropic's data handling is governed by their own privacy policy and API terms.

We may disclose information if required by law, subpoena, or court order, or to protect the rights, property, or safety of Étincel, our users, or others.

You have the right to:

• Access the personal data we hold about you
• Correct inaccurate data
• Request deletion of your data
• Export your manuscript content in a portable format
• Withdraw consent for optional processing at any time

To exercise any of these rights, email us at privacy@etincel.co. We will respond within 30 days.

We use essential cookies to maintain your login session. We use analytics cookies (via a privacy-respecting provider) to understand product usage. We do not use advertising or tracking cookies. You can disable cookies in your browser, but doing so may affect core functionality.

The Service is not directed to anyone under the age of 16. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children. If you believe a child has provided us with data, please contact us and we will delete it promptly.

We may update this policy as the Service evolves. We will notify you of material changes by email or via an in-product banner at least 14 days before they take effect. Continued use of the Service after the effective date constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.

Questions about this policy? Reach us at legal@etincel.ai or through the contact page.