PRIVACY & COOKIE POLICY
Last updated: June 2025
Issued by DreamWard Studios Ltd
Registered in England and Wales
1. Introduction
This Privacy & Cookie Policy explains how DreamWard Studios Ltd ("DreamWard", "we", "our") collects, uses, protects, and stores your personal data when you visit or interact with our website, www.dreamward-studios.com.
We are committed to handling your personal information in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and other applicable privacy laws.
By using our website, you acknowledge and accept the practices described in this Policy
2. What Data We Collect
When you browse or interact with the DreamWard Studios website, we may collect the following types of personal information:
a) Information You Provide Voluntarily
-
Name and email address, when you fill out a contact form or communicate with us
-
Book details, author name, and media files, if you participate in the Once Upon an Author program
-
Payment-related data, when purchasing subscription plans or items from our shop (processed securely via third-party services such as Wix Payments, Stripe, or PayPal)
Note: We do not store or process your card details directly.
b) Information Collected Automatically
-
IP address
-
Device type, browser, and operating system
-
Pages visited and time spent
-
Referring website or search engine
This information is collected via standard web technologies such as cookies and analytics tools.
c) Cookies and Tracking Technologies
We use cookies and similar tools to:
-
Enable essential website functionality
-
Analyse how users navigate the site to improve experience
-
Remember preferences where applicable
Upon your first visit, you will be asked to accept or manage your cookie preferences via a cookie banner. You can change these preferences at any time in your browser settings.
3. Legal Basis for Processing
We process your personal data in accordance with the UK GDPR, based on the following lawful grounds:
a) Consent
When you voluntarily provide us with your information (for example, through a contact form or by subscribing to a service) we rely on your explicit consent to process that data.
b) Contractual Necessity
When you purchase a subscription or service (e.g., renting a shelf in the DreamWard Library), we process your data as required to fulfil our contractual obligations to you.
c) Legitimate Interests
We may process limited technical data (such as IP address or page views) to improve our website functionality and ensure security. This is done in a way that does not override your rights and freedoms.
d) Legal Obligation
In some cases, we may need to retain and disclose personal information in compliance with applicable laws, tax regulations, or law enforcement requests.
4. How We Use Your Data
We use the personal data we collect for the following purposes:
-
To respond to inquiries submitted via contact forms or email
-
To process and manage subscriptions to the Once Upon an Author program or other DreamWard services
-
To deliver digital visibility for authors and display their submitted content on the DreamWard website
-
To manage payments and transactions securely through third-party platforms
-
To improve the website’s content and layout, based on anonymous user interaction and feedback
-
To notify you about important updates, such as changes to terms, new features, or subscription expiration reminders
-
To comply with legal and administrative requirements under UK law
We do not use your data for unsolicited marketing, nor do we sell or rent your personal information to third parties.
5. Data Sharing and Third Parties
We treat your personal data with care and confidentiality. However, to operate our services effectively, we may share your data with the following trusted third parties:
a) Payment Processors
To handle transactions, we use secure third-party platforms such as:
-
Wix Payments
-
Stripe
-
PayPal
These platforms receive only the information necessary to process your payment and are responsible for ensuring secure data handling in compliance with applicable laws.
b) Service Providers
We may use third-party tools and providers to support the operation of the website, such as:
-
Website hosting (Wix.com)
-
Analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics)
-
Email communication services (e.g., Wix Forms, or other email clients)
Each provider only receives the minimum data required to perform their function and is bound by confidentiality and data protection obligations.
c) Legal Requirements
We may disclose your data if legally required to do so, for example, in response to a valid legal request, tax inquiry, or to enforce our legal rights.
6. Data Retention
We retain your personal data only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes outlined in this Policy, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law.
Specifically:
-
Contact form submissions are kept for up to 12 months, unless further correspondence is required
-
Subscription and transaction data are retained for up to 6 years, in compliance with accounting and tax regulations
-
Analytics data is stored in anonymized form and used solely for website performance evaluation
Once your data is no longer needed, it is securely deleted or anonymized.
You may request early deletion of your data at any time, subject to legal and contractual obligations (see Section 9 for more).
7. Data Security
We take appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal data against unauthorized access, loss, misuse, alteration, or disclosure.
These measures include:
-
SSL encryption on all website pages
-
Secure third-party payment processing
-
Limited access to personal data, restricted to authorized personnel only
-
Regular website maintenance and security updates via Wix infrastructure
While we do our best to protect your data, please note that no system can be 100% secure. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of any information you choose to share with us.
If we become aware of a data breach that could affect your rights or freedoms, we will inform you in accordance with legal requirements.
8. Your Rights Under the UK GDPR
As a data subject under the United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR), you have the following rights:
a) Right of Access
You can request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
b) Right to Rectification
You may request corrections to inaccurate or incomplete personal data.
c) Right to Erasure ("Right to be Forgotten")
You can ask us to delete your personal data, where there is no legal reason for us to keep it.
d) Right to Restrict Processing
You can ask us to limit how we use your data under certain conditions.
e) Right to Data Portability
You can request a digital copy of your personal data in a commonly used format.
f) Right to Object
You may object to certain types of processing, including direct marketing or data profiling.
g) Right to Withdraw Consent
Where processing is based on your consent, you can withdraw it at any time.
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at:
info@dreamward-studios.com
We may request verification of your identity before responding. We aim to respond to all data requests within 30 days.
9. Contact & Complaints
If you have questions about this Privacy & Cookie Policy or wish to make a request regarding your personal data, please contact us at:
DreamWard Studios Ltd
If you believe that your data has been mishandled or that we have not respected your rights, you also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) in the United Kingdom:
🌐 www.ico.org.uk
📞 Tel: 0303 123 1113
We encourage you to contact us first so we can resolve your concerns directly.
10. Updates to This Policy
We may update this Privacy & Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, legal obligations, or the development of our services.
When we make changes, we will:
-
Update the “Last updated” date at the top of this page
-
Post the revised version publicly on www.dreamward-studios.com
-
Notify users of significant changes where appropriate (e.g., via website notice or direct communication)
We encourage you to review this page periodically to stay informed about how we protect your data.
Simone Mangoni
Founder & Director
Dreamward Studios Ltd
www.dreamward-studios.com
info@dreamward-studios.com
Date: 25-06-2025