Effective Date: April 12th, 2025

1. Introduction

Welcome to WorldsCommons ("WorldsCommons," "we," "us," or "our"). We are committed to protecting the privacy of our users ("you," "user"). This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website WorldsCommons.com, use our mobile application (if applicable), or utilize any of our related services (collectively, the "Service"). Please read this privacy policy carefully. If you do not agree with the terms of this privacy policy, please do not access the Service.

This policy applies to information we collect on the Service and in email, text, and other electronic messages between you and the Service.

2. Information We Collect

We may collect information about you in a variety of ways. The information we may collect on the Service includes:

• Personal Data You Provide:

  • Account Information: When you register for an account, we collect information such as your username, email address, password, date of birth, and any profile information you voluntarily add (e.g., real name, location, bio, avatar, profile picture, links to external profiles).

  • User Content: We collect the content you create, post, or share on the Service, including text posts, comments, photos, videos, files, blog entries, forum posts, private messages, and any metadata associated with that content.

  • Marketplace Information: If you list, sell, or purchase items through our marketplace feature, we may collect information related to those transactions, such as the item details, price, and transaction history. Financial transactions are typically processed by third-party payment processors (e.g., Stripe, PayPal), and we do not directly store your full credit card information. We may receive transaction confirmation data from the processor.

  • Communications: We collect information when you contact us directly (e.g., for customer support) or communicate with other users through the Service (e.g., private messages, group chats).

• Information Collected Automatically:

  • Log and Usage Data: When you access the Service, our servers automatically record information, including your IP address, browser type, operating system, referring URLs, pages viewed, links clicked, time spent on pages, device information, and the dates and times of your access.

  • Cookies and Similar Technologies: We use cookies, web beacons, and similar tracking technologies to collect information about your interaction with the Service, personalize your experience, and analyze usage patterns. Cookies are small data files stored on your device. You can typically control cookie settings through your browser.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for various purposes, including to:

• Provide, operate, maintain, and improve the Service.

• Create and manage your account.

• Facilitate communication between users.

• Enable the display of User Content.

• Process transactions and send related information (if applicable).

• Respond to your comments, questions, and requests, and provide customer service.

• Monitor and analyze trends, usage, and activities in connection with the Service.

• Detect, investigate, and prevent fraudulent transactions, abuse, and other illegal activities, and protect the rights, property, or safety of WorldsCommons, our users, and others.

• Personalize the Service, including providing content or features that match user profiles or interests.

• Communicate with you about products, services, offers, promotions, events, and provide news and information we think will be of interest to you.

• Comply with legal obligations.

4. How We Share Your Information

We may share information we collect about you as follows or as otherwise described in this Privacy Policy:

• With Other Users: Your profile information (username, avatar, bio, etc.) and the User Content you post publicly (posts, comments, forum entries, public group activity) are visible to other users of the Service. Your activity on the Service (e.g., liking posts, joining groups) may also be visible. Private messages are only visible to the recipients.

• With Service Providers: We may share your information with third-party vendors, consultants, and other service providers who need access to such information to carry out work on our behalf (e.g., hosting providers, analytics providers, payment processors). These providers are obligated to protect your information.

• For Legal Reasons: We may disclose your information if we believe disclosure is necessary to comply with any applicable law, regulation, legal process, or governmental request; to enforce our Terms of Service or other agreements or policies; to protect the security or integrity of the Service; or to protect the rights, property, or safety of WorldsCommons, our users, or the public.

• In Connection with Business Transfers: We may share or transfer your information in connection with, or during negotiations of, any merger, sale of company assets, financing, or acquisition of all or a portion of our business by another company.

• With Your Consent: We may share your information for other purposes with your explicit consent.

We do not sell your personal information to third parties.

5. Data Security

We implement reasonable administrative, technical, and physical security measures designed to protect your information from unauthorized access, use, alteration, or destruction. However, no internet transmission or electronic storage is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

6. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy, such as maintaining your account and providing the Service, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law. You can delete your account, which will typically remove your profile and associated content from active view, though some residual data may remain in backups or logs for a limited period for security or legal reasons.

7. Your Data Protection Rights

Depending on your location (e.g., EU/EEA, California), you may have certain rights regarding your personal information:

• Right to Access: You may have the right to request access to the personal information we hold about you.

• Right to Rectification: You may have the right to request correction of inaccurate personal information. Many profile details can be updated directly through your account settings.

• Right to Erasure (Deletion): You may have the right to request deletion of your personal information, subject to certain exceptions.

• Right to Restrict Processing: You may have the right to request restriction of the processing of your personal information.

• Right to Data Portability: You may have the right to receive your personal information in a structured, commonly used, and machine-readable format.

• Right to Object: You may have the right to object to the processing of your personal information in certain circumstances.

• Right to Withdraw Consent: Where processing is based on consent, you may have the right to withdraw consent at any time.

To exercise these rights, please contact us using the information below. We may need to verify your identity before processing your request.

8. Children's Privacy

Our Service is not directed to individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under this age. If we become aware that we have collected personal information from a child under the relevant age without parental consent, we will take steps to delete that information.

9. International Data Transfers

Your information may be transferred to, and maintained on, computers located outside of your state, province, country, or other governmental jurisdiction where the privacy laws may not be as protective as those in your jurisdiction. If you are located outside the United States, please be aware that we transfer information, including Personal Data, to the United States and process it there. Your consent to this Privacy Policy followed by your submission of such information represents your agreement to that transfer. We will take steps reasonably necessary to ensure that your data is treated securely and in accordance with this Privacy Policy.

10. Third-Party Links

The Service may contain links to other websites or services (like Meta Horizon Worlds) not operated or controlled by us. This Privacy Policy does not apply to third-party services. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party service before providing information to them.

11. Changes to This Privacy Policy

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

12. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact us here.