Privacy Policy & Story Submission Agreement

1. About This Project

empaithy LLC (“we,” “us,” or “our”) is collecting stories, perspectives, and personal reflections about turning 30 for a book and related content.

By submitting your story, you agree to the terms outlined below.

Participation is entirely voluntary. Submitting a story or photograph does not guarantee that either will be selected, published, or featured.

2. Information We Collect

When you participate, we may collect:

• Your first name
• Your age
• Your city
• Your written responses or personal story
• An optional photograph
• Your preferred attribution (first name or anonymous)
• Any contact information you voluntarily provide

Our website and form providers may also collect basic technical information necessary to operate and secure the submission process.

3. How Your Story May Be Used

By submitting your story, you grant empaithy LLC permission to use, reproduce, edit, publish, distribute, and share your submission in:

• The book, including print, digital, audio, and future editions
• Social media posts and campaigns
• Websites and digital content related to the project
• Promotional, advertising, and marketing materials associated with the book

We may edit submissions for length, grammar, clarity, and formatting while making reasonable efforts to preserve their original meaning.

We reserve the right to select, edit, excerpt, or decline submissions at our editorial discretion.

Submission does not guarantee publication, and contributors will not receive payment, royalties, or other compensation.

4. Optional Photograph Submissions & Photo Release

You may optionally submit a photograph of yourself with your story. Photographs are not required.

By uploading a photograph, you acknowledge and agree that:

1. Ownership and permissions: You either own the copyright to the photograph or have obtained permission from its copyright owner for all uses described in this agreement, including commercial publication and promotion.
2. People depicted: Your photograph must feature only you. Do not submit photographs containing other identifiable individuals, including children.
3. Permission to use your likeness: You authorize empaithy LLC and its publishing and production partners to reproduce, publish, distribute, and display your photograph and likeness in the book, its future editions, associated websites, social media, advertising, and promotional materials related to the project, without compensation.
4. Editing and formatting: You authorize reasonable cropping, resizing, retouching, and other formatting adjustments. Photographs selected for the printed book will appear in black and white. Photographs used digitally or on social media may appear in color.
5. Selection and placement: Uploading a photograph does not guarantee its publication. Your story may be selected without your photograph, and your photograph may be used in other project-related materials without accompanying your full story.
6. Anonymous submissions: If you choose anonymous attribution, your photograph will not be published unless you separately authorize its publication, recognizing that your image may reveal your identity.
7. No approval or compensation: You understand that you will not receive payment or royalties and will not have the right to review or approve the final design, placement, or publication of your photograph.

You retain any copyright you own in your photograph. Your submission grants empaithy LLC the nonexclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license described in this agreement, subject to the withdrawal and removal provisions in Section 8.

5. Your Name and Privacy Preferences

You can choose how your story is credited if published.

First Name: Your first name, age, and city may appear with your submission.

Anonymous: Your first name will not be published. Your age and city may still accompany your story.

Please understand that choosing anonymous attribution does not guarantee complete anonymity. Details within your story or an accompanying photograph may make you recognizable.

Only share personal information you are comfortable potentially making public.

6. Ownership and Permission

You retain ownership of your original written submission and any photographs you own.

By submitting, you grant empaithy LLC a nonexclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to use, reproduce, edit, publish, distribute, and display your submission and any uploaded photograph for the purposes outlined in this agreement.

This license includes permission for publishers, printers, distributors, and production partners to use the materials in connection with the project.

You confirm that you have the necessary rights and permissions to submit the materials.

7. How We Handle Your Information

We use the information you provide to:

• Collect, review, and select submissions
• Develop, publish, and promote the book
• Attribute submissions according to your selected preference
• Communicate with you about your submission, when contact information is available
• Understand common themes and experiences among contributors

We do not sell your private contact information to data brokers or use it for unrelated marketing without separate permission.

Information may be shared with service providers and partners involved in hosting, storing, producing, publishing, or distributing the project.

We use reasonable safeguards to protect unpublished information. However, no digital storage system is completely secure.

8. Requests to Change or Remove Your Submission

If you would like to update your information, change your attribution preference, or request withdrawal of your submission, please email kat@katkemner.com.

We will honor requests to withdraw unpublished submissions when received before they have been committed to publication.

Once a story or photograph has been published or distributed, complete removal may not be possible. Printed books, previously distributed materials, and third-party shares cannot necessarily be recalled or deleted.

We will consider requests to stop future uses where reasonably practicable and honor applicable legal rights.

9. Data Retention

We may retain submissions and related information for as long as reasonably necessary to manage, develop, publish, distribute, and promote the project, maintain records of permissions, and comply with legal obligations.

10. International Submissions & Data Protection

International Participation

We welcome story submissions from individuals aged 18 and older worldwide.

empaithy LLC is based in the United States and is responsible for managing personal information submitted through this project.

We may collect your country of residence in addition to the information described elsewhere in this agreement.

Consent and Use of Personal Information

We use personal information to collect, review, select, edit, publish, and promote submissions. Where consent is our legal basis, we rely on your voluntary permission to process and publish your story, optional photograph, and any sensitive personal information you explicitly authorize us to use.

We may also retain necessary records of submissions and permissions to fulfill legal obligations and protect our legitimate interests.

International Data Storage

Your information may be stored or processed in the United States or in other countries where our service providers operate.

Where applicable privacy laws require specific safeguards for international data transfers, we will use legally permitted transfer mechanisms. You may contact us for information about applicable safeguards.

Your Privacy Rights

Depending on your country of residence, you may have the right to:

• Access or obtain a copy of your personal information.
• Request corrections or deletion.
• Restrict or object to certain processing.
• Withdraw consent to future consent-based processing.
• Request transfer of your information, where applicable.
• File a complaint with your local data protection authority.

To exercise these rights or withdraw consent, contact kat@katkemner.com.

Withdrawing consent does not invalidate processing that occurred before withdrawal. We will honor requests concerning future uses as required by applicable law. Previously printed, published, or distributed materials may not be fully recoverable.

Sensitive Personal Information

Personal stories may contain sensitive information, including details about health, religious beliefs, political opinions, or sexual orientation.

Please share only information you are comfortable potentially making public. Where legally required, we will obtain your explicit consent before processing or publishing sensitive personal information.

Please avoid including identifying information about other individuals without their permission.

11. Eligibility

You must be at least 18 years old to participate.

12. Updates to This Agreement

We may update this policy and agreement from time to time. Updated terms will be posted with a revised effective date. Material changes affecting previously submitted content will be handled in accordance with applicable law and any additional consent requirements.

13. Contact

For questions, privacy requests, or concerns about your submission, please contact:

empaithy LLC
kat@katkemner.com