🦕 Privacy Policy

1. Overview

Welcome to Dinos Sudoku! This Privacy Policy is designed to help you understand how we handle information. We are committed to protecting your privacy and your child's privacy.

Dinos Sudoku is an educational Sudoku game designed specifically for children. The game primarily runs locally on your device, does not require registration, and we do not collect personally identifiable information on servers we operate. The app displays child-appropriate, non-personalized ads, including at launch and as optional rewarded video ads that users may choose to watch (for example, to earn hints), with settings aligned to child-directed and G-rated approaches. You may purchase an optional "Premium" subscription to remove ads and unlock related features; see Section 4 below.

2. Information Collection

2.1 Information We Do NOT Collect

For developer-operated services, Dinos Sudoku does not collect, aggregate, or use the following categories of information to run the game or build user profiles. Data needed for gameplay is stored only on your device (see Section 2.2). Google, Apple, and similar parties may process limited technical information related to ads or store transactions under their own policies; see Section 4.

Specifically, we do not collect on servers we control:

• Personal identification information (name, age, gender, etc.)
• Contact information (email, phone number, address, etc.)
• Device identifiers or IP histories centralized on our servers for marketing or profiling (limited technical data visible to ad or network stacks is described in Section 4)
• Location information (GPS, geolocation, etc.)
• Photos or videos from your camera or photo library uploaded to servers we control (we do not operate a feature that uploads your gallery or camera roll to our servers; optional replay export may create video files only on your device from in-game replay data; see Section 4.4)
• Contacts or address book information
• Usage statistics or analytics data
• Crash reports or diagnostic data

2.2 Locally Stored Data

The app stores the following data locally on your device to provide gameplay and premium features. We do not upload this list to developer-operated servers:

• Game Progress: Current level, completed levels, star ratings
• Game Settings: Music toggle, number/dinosaur mode, language preference
• Game State: Saved incomplete games, game duration records
• Dinosaur Collection: Unlocked dinosaur records
• Premium status: A local flag indicating whether subscription benefits are active (e.g., ad removal); it may update via the system store; we do not operate a separate login account to host this state
• Optional replay / export-related data (if you use these features): Data used to record or export a gameplay replay is processed and stored locally on your device; we do not upload it to servers we control unless you choose to share an exported file through the system share sheet or similar OS-provided flows

This data is used on-device for app functionality. Aside from store and ad flows handled by Apple / Google, we do not maintain a centralized cloud database of this content on servers we control.

3. Information Use

We do not use personal data held on servers we control for marketing profiles or sale. For locally stored data:

• It is used only for in-app features such as progress, settings, and premium entitlement display
• We do not use local game data for cross-app ad profiling or sale to data brokers
• We do not send marketing emails or SMS because of your use of the app (the app does not collect such contact details for us)

Advertising and subscription processing are governed by Section 4 and by Google and Apple disclosures.

4. Third-Party Services

4.1 Google AdMob Advertising Service

Dinos Sudoku uses Google AdMob to display ads, including at app launch and as rewarded video ads that users may choose to watch during gameplay (for example, to earn hints). We apply child-directed related settings to help ensure:

• ✅ Non-Personalized Ads: Not based on user behavior or interests
• ✅ G-Rated Content: All ad content suitable for all ages
• ✅ Family-Friendly: Only displays educational and child-appropriate ads
• ✅ Closeable: Launch ads can usually be dismissed after a few seconds (as shown in the app)
• ✅ No cross-app tracking for ads: Under child-directed settings, ads are not used to track individuals across apps for personalized advertising

Google AdMob may collect the following non-personally identifiable information for ad serving:

• Device type (iPhone/iPad/Android)
• Operating system version
• App version
• Anonymous ad impression and click statistics

Important: With child-directed treatment enabled, AdMob will NOT:

• ❌ Collect device ID or advertising ID
• ❌ Track user behavior
• ❌ Create user profiles
• ❌ Display personalized ads

For more information, see: Google Privacy Policy

4.2 Apple App Store and In-App Purchases (Premium)

Dinos Sudoku offers an optional auto-renewing annual "Premium" subscription through Apple App Store in-app purchases. When you or a parent/guardian purchases, restores, or manages a subscription:

• Payment, receipts, and billing periods are handled by Apple under its terms and privacy policy; we do not receive your full payment card number.
• The app stores a local flag for whether premium benefits are active (e.g., ad removal); this state may sync with your Apple ID via the system store. We do not operate a separate registration or login system for this.
• You can manage or turn off auto-renewal in Settings > Apple ID > Subscriptions on iPhone or iPad; billing and refund rules are governed by Apple.

For how Apple handles purchase-related data, see: Apple Privacy Policy.

4.3 Other Third-Party Services

Beyond Google AdMob and the Apple App Store as described above, Dinos Sudoku does not use other third-party services for our own account system, social login, proprietary cloud saves, or cross-app user profiling. The subscription screen may link to this Privacy Policy, Terms of Use, or support pages, which open in the system browser for caregivers to review.

4.4 On-Device Media Processing (Optional Replay Video Export)

If you use optional features that export a replay as a video file, the app uses a bundled open-source media toolkit (FFmpeg-based components) to encode video on your device. In that case:

• Processing happens locally; we do not send your replay files to servers we control for encoding
• Exported files may be saved on your device or passed to apps you pick via the system share sheet; any upload after that is governed by the destination app or service you choose
• Sudoku gameplay itself does not use your camera to capture photos or videos, and we do not use your camera to collect media for advertising
• Because the bundled media libraries include low-level device interfaces linked in the app binary, Apple may require an NSCameraUsageDescription string in the app’s Info.plist even when the app does not present a camera feature; this is a platform disclosure requirement and does not mean we access your camera for profiling or ad targeting

5. Children's Privacy Protection (COPPA Compliant)

Dinos Sudoku is designed specifically for children. We follow the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and related child-friendly practices:

• ✅ No PII on our servers: We do not ask children to register accounts or submit names, emails, etc. to us
• ✅ No Registration Required: Core gameplay does not require personal information
• ✅ Child-directed ad settings: Ads are shown with child-directed, non-personalized approaches and G-rated content goals
• ✅ No Social Features: No social features or chat functionality
• ✅ Controlled external pages: Core gameplay does not embed arbitrary websites; subscription/support flows may open this policy, support, or Apple subscription management in the system browser for a caregiver
• ✅ In-app purchases by caregivers: Subscriptions use the Apple ID payment sheet; we recommend parents or guardians manage payment methods and auto-renewal
• ✅ Closeable or optional: Launch ads can usually be dismissed after a few seconds; rewarded ads are user-initiated

5.1 Advertising and Child Protection

Our advertising practices aim to align with COPPA and Google programs for child- and family-directed experiences:

• Aside from user-initiated rewarded video, we do not force full-screen ads in the middle of puzzle solving
• Ad content is filtered for child-directed, non-personalized settings
• Ads do not mislead children into clicking or performing inappropriate actions
• Clear close or skip controls are provided where applicable
• The app remains functional even if ads fail to load

6. Data Security

We do not centralize your game and settings data on developer-operated cloud servers; for data stored only on your device, we still recommend standard device protections:

• All game data is stored only on your device
• We use standard system data storage mechanisms (SharedPreferences/UserDefaults)
• Data is protected by the device's operating system security
• All local data is automatically deleted when the app is uninstalled

7. Permissions

Dinos Sudoku requests permissions needed for its features (as shown by the system), including:

• 📡 Network access: Used to load ads, complete in-app purchases and store sync, and in some cases to open support or policy pages; core Sudoku can be played offline, but ads, subscriptions, and some online content require a network
• ✅ No location permission required
• 📷 Camera (iOS disclosure): Core gameplay does not use your camera. The App Store build may still include an NSCameraUsageDescription entry because bundled media components used for optional replay video export link to system camera-related APIs at the binary level; we do not use your camera to collect photos or videos for advertising. You are not asked to grant camera access for normal Sudoku play.
• ✅ No microphone permission required
• ✅ No contacts permission required
• ✅ No photo library access required for core gameplay (optional export/share flows use the system share sheet; we do not upload your gallery to our servers)
• ✅ No calendar permission required
• ✅ No device ID or advertising ID required (disabled in child-directed mode)

The app uses basic device features (audio playback, local storage, optional on-device export, network for ads and store flows) to provide the gaming experience.

7.1 iOS-Specific Permissions

On iOS devices, you may see the following permission requests or Info.plist disclosures:

• App Tracking Transparency (ATT): We do not track you; this permission is only for iOS compliance. The app works normally even if you deny this permission, and privacy protection is not affected.
• Local Network: As described in the system prompt, local network access is used for playing local audio and for optional development tooling; the app is not intended to browse or control other devices on your network.
• Camera usage description (Info.plist): Explains why a camera-related string may appear in the app bundle for App Store validation; see Section 4.4. It does not mean we operate a camera-based feature for ads or child profiling.

8. Data Deletion

You can delete local app data or uninstall at any time:

• Clear Game Progress: Use options such as "Clear Progress" in app settings (wording may vary)
• Complete Deletion: Uninstalling removes locally stored data saved by the app (including the premium flag)
• Subscriptions: Uninstalling does not automatically cancel Apple auto-renewing subscriptions; manage them in Settings > Apple ID > Subscriptions

Locally stored data usually cannot be restored by us after deletion. Purchase records tied to your Apple ID are retained by Apple; after reinstall you may restore entitlements via "Restore Purchases" or automatic store sync (subject to Apple and system behavior).

9. Privacy Policy Updates

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Updated policies will be posted within the app and on our website. For significant changes, we will notify you within the app.

Continued use of the app indicates your acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy.

10. Applicable Law

This Privacy Policy is governed by applicable laws and regulations. We comply with:

• Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) - United States
• General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) - European Union
• Personal Information Protection Law - China
• Network Security Law - China
• Regulations on the Network Protection of Children's Personal Information - China

11. Your Rights

Depending on applicable law, you may have rights such as access, correction, deletion, and portability. For this app:

• Right to Know: This policy describes our practices; the subscription screen also explains auto-renewal
• Right to Control: You can manage locally stored game data (see Section 8)
• Subscription management: Manage or cancel auto-renewal via Apple ID Subscriptions; rules are set by Apple
• Right to Refuse: Core gameplay does not require you to give us name, email, etc.; optional purchases are at a caregiver's discretion