Privacy Policy

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Table of Contents

1. Policy Overview

Welcome to Creative Story Media LLC. We are committed to protecting your privacy. This policy explains how we collect, use, and share your personal information when you visit our websites, including https://www.creativestorymedia.com/, and interact with our associated properties and services (CSSN, CSTN, CSON, and CS Athlete Services).

Creative Story Media LLC ("CSM," "we," "us," or "our") is headquartered in Franklin, North Carolina, USA.

Note on Conflicts: If there is any conflict between the terms of this page and any jurisdiction-specific addenda (e.g., a specific CCPA disclosure), the jurisdiction-specific addenda will control.

2. Information We Collect

We collect information primarily in two ways: (1) information you voluntarily provide to us, and (2) information collected automatically through technology.

Information You Provide Directly:

  • Contact Forms: When you submit a general inquiry, we collect your name, email address, phone number, and the content of your message.
  • Email Marketing Signups (Future): If you opt-in to our newsletters (e.g., via Mailchimp), we collect your name and email address.
  • Purchases & Subscriptions (Future): When you purchase merchandise or subscribe to CSON, we collect your name, email, order details, and limited billing metadata (handled primarily by our payment processor).
  • Student/Athlete Profiles (Future): If you create an optional account for CS Athlete Services, you may provide sensitive information like academic details, athletic stats, achievements, and contact information. This data is collected only with your explicit consent.

Information Collected Automatically (Browsing Data):

When you visit our sites, we automatically collect data about your device and activity through cookies, pixels, and scripts:

  • Device/Connection Information: IP address, operating system, browser type, user-agent string, and unique device identifiers.
  • Usage Data: Pages viewed, time spent on pages, links clicked, referral sources, and the path taken through our sites.
  • Location Data: Non-precise geolocation derived from your IP address (e.g., city and state).

3. How We Use Your Data

We use the data we collect for the following purposes:

  • Site Operations & Security: To operate, maintain, and secure our websites, and prevent fraud or malicious activity.
  • Content & Service Delivery: To fulfill requests (e.g., responding to contact form submissions, delivering CSON subscription content, managing Athlete Services profiles).
  • Analytics & Personalization: To understand how visitors use our sites (via GA4/GTM) for continuous improvement and to personalize content based on your interests.
  • Advertising: To deliver targeted advertisements (via Google AdSense) and measure the effectiveness of those ads.
  • Sponsorship Reporting: To generate aggregate and anonymous reports on audience engagement (e.g., total views in a certain area) for our business partners and sponsors. This data does not identify individual users.
  • Communications: To send transactional emails (like order confirmations) and, if you opt-in, marketing communications.

4. Cookies & Tracking Technologies

We use Cookies, Pixel Tags, Local Storage, and similar technologies to collect information about your browsing activity. These technologies allow us and our third-party partners (like AdSense and Google Analytics) to:

  • Recognize you and your device.
  • Maintain your preferences and settings.
  • Analyze site traffic and usage patterns.
  • Facilitate cross-context behavioral advertising and targeted ads.

Managing Cookies: We recommend using the cookie consent banner (when available) or your browser settings to control or delete cookies. Blocking cookies may affect the functionality of our sites and embedded content.

5. Third-Party Services & Embeds

Google AdSense (Ads)

We use Google AdSense to serve advertisements. AdSense uses cookies and tracking technologies to collect data and deliver personalized ads based on your visits to this and other websites. You have the right to opt-out of the sharing of personal information for cross-context behavioral advertising (see Section 11).

Google Analytics 4 (GA4) / Google Tag Manager (GTM)

We use Google Analytics (via GTM and/or gtag) to track and analyze site usage. This service collects data on page views, device information, and geographic location to help us understand our audience. Google processes this information under its own privacy policy.

Content Embeds (Video, Scores, Social Media)

Our sites feature embedded content like YouTube or Vimeo videos, ScoreStream scoreboards/schedules, and potential social media feeds (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X). When you interact with this embedded content (e.g., playing a video or viewing a social post), your browsing data is directly shared with that third party, and they may track your interaction according to their own policies. We have no control over the tracking practices of these external services.

6. Email Communications

We use or plan to use services like Mailchimp for managing our email lists. We will only send you promotional or marketing emails if you have explicitly opted-in to receive them. You can opt-out of marketing emails at any time by clicking the "unsubscribe" link located at the bottom of every marketing email we send.

7. Payments & Billing (Future)

For any future transactions (Shop merchandise, CSON subscriptions, or donations), we plan to use third-party payment processors such as Stripe and PayPal. We do not directly store your full credit card number or bank account details. That sensitive financial data is collected, processed, and stored directly by the payment processor. We retain only partial payment metadata (e.g., last four digits of a card, transaction date, amount) for accounting and tax purposes.

8. Student/Athlete Tools (Future)

The CS Athlete Services platform (future) is an optional, account-based service. If you choose to create a profile, you control the data:

  • Data Collected: Athletic stats, academic information, and achievements.
  • Visibility: You can set your profile to "Public" (viewable by all visitors) or "Private" (viewable only by you).
  • Coach/Scout Access: Sharing data with coaches or scouts requires your explicit action and verification within the platform.

We use this data only to provide the requested services, such as college-matching and scholarship exploration.

9. How We Share Your Data

We share personal information only in the following categories:

  • Service Providers: We use hosting providers, analytics services, ad networks, payment processors, and email marketing platforms to operate our business. These third parties are only provided with the information necessary to perform their services for us and are required to keep it confidential.
  • Partners for Embeds: As noted above, data is shared with the providers of embedded content (e.g., YouTube, ScoreStream, Social Media) when you interact with their content on our sites.
  • Legal & Compliance: We may disclose information if required by law, such as to comply with a subpoena or similar legal process, or when we believe in good faith that disclosure is necessary to protect our rights, your safety, or the safety of others.

10. Data Retention

We retain your personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this policy, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law:

  • Analytics Identifiers: Retained for a default of 26 months, or longer if required for security, fraud prevention, or site stability.
  • Contact/Email Marketing Data: Retained until you request deletion or unsubscribe, or until we determine the data is no longer necessary to provide services to you.
  • Account/Profile Data & Purchase Records: Retained for the life of your account, plus any mandatory periods for tax, accounting, and legal requirements.

11. Your Global Privacy Rights

Depending on where you live, you may have specific rights regarding your personal data. We are committed to honoring these rights globally.

Rights for EU/EEA/UK Visitors (GDPR)

If you are located in the European Union, European Economic Area, or the United Kingdom, you have the right to:

  • Access: Request copies of the personal data we hold about you.
  • Correction: Ask us to correct any inaccurate or incomplete information.
  • Deletion/Erasure: Request that we delete your personal data ("right to be forgotten").
  • Portability: Request that we transfer your data to another organization.
  • Restriction: Request that we restrict the processing of your data under certain conditions.

To exercise your GDPR rights, please contact us using the information in Section 15.

Rights for California Residents (CCPA/CPRA)

If you are a California resident, you have the right to:

  • Right to Know: Request disclosure of the categories and specific pieces of personal information we have collected about you.
  • Right to Delete: Request the deletion of personal information we have collected from you, subject to certain exceptions.
  • Right to Opt-Out of Sharing: You have the right to opt-out of the "sharing" of your personal information for cross-context behavioral advertising (targeted advertising). We do not "sell" personal information as traditionally defined for monetary gain.

California Opt-Out Link:

Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information

California "Shine the Light" Disclosure

Under California Civil Code Section 1798.83, California residents who provide personal information in obtaining products or services for personal, family, or household use are entitled to request and obtain from us, once per calendar year, information about the customer information we shared, if any, with other businesses for their own direct marketing uses. We do not share your information with unaffiliated third parties for their own direct marketing purposes.

12. Data Security

We implement administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect the personal information we collect from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, and destruction. However, no security system is impenetrable, and we cannot guarantee the absolute security of your information. You acknowledge that you provide your personal information at your own risk.

13. International Data Transfers

Creative Story Media LLC is headquartered in the United States. Your information will be processed in the U.S. and potentially other locations where our service providers operate. By submitting your personal data, you agree to this transfer, storing, and processing. We ensure that any transfers of personal data outside the EU/EEA/UK are governed by standard contractual clauses or similar mechanisms required by relevant law.

14. Privacy of Children

Our websites are not directed to children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you are a parent or guardian and believe that your child under 13 has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately. For high school sports coverage, parents or guardians must manage any submissions or accounts for minors.

15. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or wish to exercise any of your rights, please contact us:

16. Policy Changes

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any material changes by posting the new policy on this page and updating the "Last Updated" date at the top of the policy. You are advised to review this Privacy Policy periodically for any changes.