Privacy Policy
Last updated: March 31, 2026 · Effective: March 31, 2026
Plain-language summary: ChapterCut lets authors upload book chapters and generate cinematic AI films. We collect your email and account info to run the service, use third-party AI APIs to generate your films, and process payments through Stripe. We don't sell your data. You can request deletion at any time.
1. Who We Are
ChapterCut ("we," "us," or "our") is an AI-powered platform that transforms book chapters into cinematic visual stories. We operate at chaptercut.net.
For privacy questions or data requests, contact us at: privacy@chaptercut.net
2. Information We Collect
Account Information
- Email address (required to create an account and log in)
- Username or display name (if provided)
- Password (stored as a one-way hash — we cannot read it)
Content You Upload
- Book chapters and manuscript text you submit for film generation
- Character reference images you upload to maintain visual consistency
- Story descriptions, scene notes, and editing instructions
Payment Information
- Subscription and purchase data (plan type, billing date)
- Payment card details are processed directly by Stripe — we never see or store raw card numbers
Usage Data
- Pages visited, features used, and time spent on the platform
- Browser type, device type, and approximate location (country/region)
- IP address for security and abuse prevention
- Error logs to diagnose technical issues
3. How We Use Your Information
- Deliver the service — generate films from your chapters, serve your dashboard, process edits and exports
- Account management — log you in, send password resets, manage your subscription
- Email communications — welcome messages, re-engagement reminders, important account updates (you can opt out of marketing emails at any time)
- Billing — process payments, issue receipts, handle refunds via Stripe
- Improving the platform — understand how features are used, fix bugs, prioritize development
- Safety and security — detect fraud, prevent abuse, enforce our Terms of Service
4. Third-Party Services
ChapterCut uses the following third-party services to operate. When you use ChapterCut, your content may be processed by these providers:
OpenAI (Privacy Policy)
Used to generate voiceover narration (text-to-speech), scene scripts, and AI-generated images (DALL-E) from your chapter text. Your chapter content is sent to OpenAI's API to produce these outputs.
Replicate (Privacy Policy)
Used to generate short cinematic video clips (Wan2.1 model) for each scene in your film. Scene descriptions and images are sent to Replicate's infrastructure for video generation.
Stripe (Privacy Policy)
Handles all subscription billing and one-time purchases. Payment card information is entered directly into Stripe's secure checkout and never transmitted to or stored on ChapterCut servers.
Cloudflare R2 (Privacy Policy)
Used to store generated films, uploaded images, and media assets. Files are stored on Cloudflare's infrastructure and served through our platform.
Postmark (Privacy Policy)
Used to send transactional and marketing emails (welcome messages, account notifications, re-engagement sequences). Your email address is shared with Postmark to deliver messages.
Neon / PostgreSQL
Your account data, project data, and usage records are stored in a PostgreSQL database hosted on Neon's infrastructure, deployed via Render.
5. Cookies and Tracking
ChapterCut uses cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
- Authentication — keeping you logged in across sessions (essential)
- Analytics — understanding which pages and features are most useful (we use page-view analytics to improve the product)
- Advertising — we use the Meta Pixel (Facebook) to measure the effectiveness of advertising campaigns. The Meta Pixel may set cookies when you visit our site. You can opt out via your Facebook Ad Preferences.
Essential cookies (authentication) are required for the service to function. You can disable analytics and advertising cookies through your browser settings or by contacting us.
6. Data Retention
We retain your data for as long as your account is active. Specifically:
- Account data — retained until you delete your account
- Generated films and uploaded chapters — retained while your account is active; deleted within 30 days of account deletion
- Usage logs — retained for up to 12 months for security and debugging purposes
- Payment records — retained for 7 years as required by financial regulations
7. Your Rights
You have the following rights regarding your personal data:
- Access — request a copy of the data we hold about you
- Correction — request that we correct inaccurate information
- Deletion — request that we delete your account and associated data (subject to legal retention requirements)
- Portability — request your data in a structured, machine-readable format
- Opt-out of marketing — unsubscribe from email communications at any time using the unsubscribe link in any email
- Object to processing — object to certain uses of your data
To exercise any of these rights, email privacy@chaptercut.net with your request. We will respond within 30 days.
8. Children's Privacy
ChapterCut is not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, contact us at privacy@chaptercut.net and we will delete it promptly.
9. Data Security
We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your data, including:
- HTTPS encryption for all data in transit
- Hashed passwords (bcrypt) — we cannot recover or read your password
- JWT-based authentication with expiring tokens
- Access controls limiting who can access production systems
No system is 100% secure. If you believe your account has been compromised, contact us immediately at privacy@chaptercut.net.
10. International Data Transfers
ChapterCut is based in the United States. If you access our service from outside the US, your data may be transferred to and processed in the US and other countries where our service providers operate. By using ChapterCut, you consent to this transfer.
11. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we make material changes, we will notify you by email or by displaying a notice on the platform. The "Last updated" date at the top of this page reflects the most recent revision.
Continued use of ChapterCut after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.
12. Contact Us
For privacy questions, data requests, or concerns:
- Email: privacy@chaptercut.net
- Website: chaptercut.net