Privacy Policy

1. Information We Collect

Information You Provide

• Account Information: Name, email address, username, password
• Profile Information: Avatar, favorite teams, school affiliation
• Optional Information: Phone number (for notifications)
• Communications: Information you provide when contacting us

Information Collected Automatically

• Usage Data: Picks made, points earned, pages visited, features used
• Device Information: Browser type, operating system, device type
• Log Data: IP address, access times, referring URLs
• Cookies: Session cookies, preference cookies (see Section 7)

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Provide, operate, and maintain the Service
• Process your picks and calculate points
• Process reward redemptions
• Send transactional emails (pick confirmations, reward notifications)
• Send promotional communications (with your consent)
• Display your username on public leaderboards
• Analyze usage patterns to improve the Service
• Detect, prevent, and address fraud and abuse
• Comply with legal obligations
• Respond to your inquiries and support requests

3. Information Sharing

We may share your information with:

• Service Providers: Third parties who help us operate the Service (hosting, email delivery, analytics). These providers are contractually obligated to protect your information.
• Affiliated Companies: Our parent company, College Thread LLC DBA Athlete's Thread, and its affiliates for consistent service delivery.
• Legal Requirements: When required by law, subpoena, court order, or government request.
• Protection of Rights: When necessary to protect the rights, property, or safety of us, our users, or others.
• Business Transfers: In connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred.
• Public Leaderboards: Your username and points may be displayed publicly on leaderboards. Your email address is never displayed publicly.

4. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide you services. We may retain certain information for longer periods as necessary to:

• Comply with legal obligations
• Resolve disputes
• Enforce our agreements
• Protect against fraudulent or illegal activity

If you request deletion of your account, we will delete or anonymize your personal information within 30 days, except where retention is required by law.

5. Data Security

We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your personal information, including:

• Encryption of data in transit (HTTPS/TLS)
• Encryption of sensitive data at rest
• Secure password hashing
• Regular security assessments
• Access controls and authentication

However, no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

6. Your Rights

You have the right to:

• Access: Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you
• Correction: Request correction of inaccurate personal information
• Deletion: Request deletion of your personal information
• Opt-Out: Unsubscribe from marketing communications at any time
• Data Portability: Request your data in a portable format

To exercise these rights, contact us at help@athletesthread.com

We respect Do Not Track signals. When we detect a Do Not Track signal, we disable non-essential tracking.

7. Cookies and Tracking

We use the following types of cookies:

• Essential Cookies: Required for the Service to function (authentication, security). Cannot be disabled.
• Preference Cookies: Remember your settings and preferences.
• Analytics Cookies: Help us understand how you use the Service to improve it. Can be disabled in your browser settings.

We do NOT use third-party advertising cookies.

You can control cookies through your browser settings. Disabling certain cookies may affect the functionality of the Service.

8. Children's Privacy

The Service is not intended for individuals under 18 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 18.

If we discover that we have collected personal information from a child under 18, we will delete that information immediately. If you believe we have collected information from a child under 18, please contact us at help@athletesthread.com

9. Third-Party Links

The Service may contain links to third-party websites or services that are not owned or controlled by us. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these third parties.

We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party sites you visit.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any material changes by:

• Posting the new Privacy Policy on this page
• Updating the "Last Updated" date
• Sending an email notification (for material changes)

Your continued use of the Service after any changes constitutes your acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy.

11. California Privacy Rights (CCPA)

If you are a California resident, you have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA):

• Right to Know: You may request information about the categories and specific pieces of personal information we have collected about you.
• Right to Delete: You may request deletion of your personal information, subject to certain exceptions.
• Right to Opt-Out: You have the right to opt-out of the sale of your personal information. We do not sell your personal information.
• Right to Non-Discrimination: We will not discriminate against you for exercising your CCPA rights.

To exercise your CCPA rights, contact us at help@athletesthread.com

We will verify your identity before processing your request. You may designate an authorized agent to make a request on your behalf.

12. Contact Information

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