Privacy Policy
1. Introduction
At Dean Forest Miscellany (accessible at deanforestmiscellany.info), we are steadfastly committed to respecting and protecting the privacy and personal data of all visitors and users. This Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, use, store, share, and protect personal data when you visit or interact with our website. We process your personal information lawfully, fairly, and transparently, and in full accordance with the applicable privacy legislation, including but not limited to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA).
2. Scope of This Policy and Role of Data Controller
This Privacy Policy applies to all individuals who interact with the Dean Forest Miscellany website and services. Dean Forest Miscellany is the data controller for purposes of the GDPR and the entity responsible for processing your personal data collected through deanforestmiscellany.info.
For data subjects in California, we also act as a “business” under the CCPA, and this Policy aims to ensure compliance with applicable U.S. privacy requirements.
3. Categories of Data Processed
We may collect and process the following categories of personal data:
3.1 Usage Data
Includes information about how you interact with our website, such as IP address, referral source, browser type and version, time zone settings, page views, site navigation patterns, and session duration.
3.2 Account Data
We collect contact information provided upon registration or transactions, including full name, address, email address, and phone number.
3.3 Profile Data
Covers preferences, interests, browsing history, product or content interactions, feedback, and purchase history, where applicable.
3.4 Communication Data
Details collected when you contact us, including the content of your inquiries, support requests, emails, and contact history.
3.5 Technical Data
Data collected from the device used to access deanforestmiscellany.info, such as operating system, device type, network identifiers, browser configuration, screen resolution, and language settings.
3.6 Transaction Data
Includes order details, billing and shipping information, methods of payment, payment confirmations, and purchase identifiers.
3.7 Preference Data
Data relating to your marketing and communication preferences, including opt-in/opt-out settings, consents for commercial messages, and stated interests in our content or products.
4. Legal Bases for Processing Personal Data
We process personal data under one or more of the following lawful bases in compliance with GDPR:
– Contractual Necessity: For processing necessary to fulfill an agreement you enter into with us (e.g., purchasing content or services).
– Legitimate Interests: For purposes such as site management, fraud prevention, and customer service improvements, where such interests are not overridden by your rights.
– Consent: For marketing communications, optional analytics, or other non-essential purposes, where explicit user consent is required.
– Legal Obligations: Where processing is required for compliance with a regulation or legal obligation.
Under the CCPA, we do not sell personal information, and we only use your personal data for disclosed, lawful purposes.
5. Your Rights
Under applicable data protection laws, you have the following rights:
– Right of Access: You may request confirmation of whether your personal data is being processed and receive a copy of such data.
– Right to Rectification: You can request correction of any personal data that is inaccurate or incomplete.
– Right to Erasure: You may ask us to delete your personal data where there is no longer a legal reason to retain it.
– Right to Restriction: Under certain conditions, you may request that we restrict processing of your data.
– Right to Data Portability: You have the right to receive your data in a structured, machine-readable format and to transfer it to another controller where technically feasible.
If you are a California resident, you are additionally entitled to:
– The right to request disclosure of what information we collect, use, disclose, and share.
– The right to opt out of the sale of personal information (which we do not conduct).
– The right to equal service and price, even if you exercise your privacy rights.
To exercise your rights, please contact us at [email protected].
6. Security Measures
We have implemented robust technical and organizational safeguards to ensure the security of your personal data, including:
– Data encryption during transit and at rest
– Role-based access controls to limit access to sensitive information
– Regular system backups and redundant storage
– Staff training on data protection protocols and incident response
– Secure data hosting with industry-standard physical and digital protections
Despite these measures, no digital transmission or storage system can be guaranteed to be 100% secure.
7. International Data Transfers
In the event that we transfer your personal data outside of the European Economic Area (EEA) or other jurisdictions, we ensure that such transfers are protected by:
– Standard Contractual Clauses approved by the European Commission;
– U.S. Privacy Framework certification (where applicable); or
– Other legally recognized safeguards.
You may request more information about our international data transfer mechanisms by contacting us at the address below.
8. Data Retention
Your personal data is retained only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected and to comply with legal, regulatory, or contractual obligations. Retention periods include:
– Usage and Technical Data: Up to 12 months
– Account and Profile Data: For the duration of the account and up to 6 years after closure for legal compliance
– Transaction Data: Retained for 7 years to comply with accounting and tax laws
– Communication Data: Retained for 3 years for auditing and service quality assessment
– Preference Data: Retained until you withdraw consent or update your preferences
Data will be securely deleted or anonymized when no longer required.
9. Cookie Policy
We use cookies and similar technologies on deanforestmiscellany.info to enhance user experience and collect anonymized data. Categories include:
– Essential Cookies: Required for the website to function (e.g., session ID, authentication tokens)
– Functional Cookies: Support website functionality such as remembering preferences
– Analytics Cookies: Help us understand user behavior for improvement purposes (e.g., Google Analytics)
– Performance Cookies: Monitor system performance and server load
We do not use cookies to serve personalized third-party advertisements or for profiling.
10. Cookie Management and Consent
Upon your first visit to deanforestmiscellany.info, a cookie consent banner will prompt you to accept or adjust cookie settings. You may manage your cookie preferences at any time by accessing the cookie settings panel.
We comply fully with the consent requirements set forth by the GDPR and honor California’s Do Not Track (DNT) signals and global privacy control preferences as per CCPA guidelines.
11. Children’s Privacy
Our website and services are not directed at individuals under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children. If we are made aware that personal information of a child under 13 has been collected inadvertently, we will take steps to delete such information promptly. If you believe a child has submitted personal data to us, please contact [email protected].
12. Policy Updates
We reserve the right to revise or update this Privacy Policy to reflect changes in legal, regulatory, or operational requirements. Any updates will be posted prominently on deanforestmiscellany.info and, where appropriate, we will notify you via email or site banner.
13. Contact Us
If you have any questions, concerns, requests, or complaints regarding your personal data, or this Privacy Policy, please contact our Data Protection Officer at:
Email: [email protected]
We take privacy seriously and are committed to resolving concerns promptly and transparently.
Dean Forest Miscellany remains fully compliant with GDPR, CCPA, and other applicable privacy statutes. If you wish to exercise your rights or seek further clarification about how your data is protected, please reach out to our privacy team at [email protected].