Privacy Policy & Terms of Use

Privacy Policy for The Clueless One

Effective Date: January 31, 2026

This privacy policy explains how The Clueless One ("the App", "we", "us") collects, uses, and protects your data. The Clueless One is developed and operated by Kevin Merz.

1. Overview

The Clueless One is a social word guessing game for 3-10 players. The App is designed with privacy in mind:

• No user accounts required - The app works entirely without registration
• No cloud storage of personal data - All your game data is stored locally on your device only
• No advertising - The app contains no ads and no advertising SDKs
• Family-friendly - Includes a Kids Mode with age-appropriate content
• Anonymized analytics - We collect anonymous usage statistics to improve the app (see Section 3)

2. Data Stored Locally on Your Device

All your personal game data is stored exclusively on your device using Apple's UserDefaults framework. We have no access to this data.

2.1 Game Preferences

• What: Settings like Kids Mode, sound/haptic preferences, last selected category
• Storage: Locally on your device only via iOS UserDefaults
• Purpose: To remember your preferences across app sessions
• Your control: You can reset all settings within the app or by deleting the app

2.2 Player Names

• What: Names you enter for players during game setup
• Storage: Locally on your device only
• Purpose: To display player names during gameplay and remember them for convenience
• Your control: You can delete saved names at any time within the app

2.3 Game Statistics

• What: Number of games played and rounds completed
• Storage: Locally on your device only
• Purpose: To show your usage statistics in the settings
• Your control: You can reset statistics by resetting all settings

3. Analytics and Crash Reporting (Firebase)

We use Google Firebase services to understand how the app is used and to identify and fix technical issues. This helps us improve the app experience for all users.

3.1 Firebase Analytics

• Service Provider: Google LLC (Firebase)
• Purpose: To understand app usage patterns and improve the user experience
• Data collected:
  • Anonymous app events (e.g., game started, category selected, round completed)
  • Device type and operating system version
  • App version
  • Country/region (derived from IP address, then IP is discarded)
  • Session duration and frequency
• Data NOT collected: Player names, personal information, game content, precise location
• Data retention: 14 months (Google's default)
• Legal basis: Legitimate interest in improving the app (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR)
• Privacy Policy: https://firebase.google.com/support/privacy

3.2 Firebase Crashlytics

• Service Provider: Google LLC (Firebase)
• Purpose: To automatically detect and diagnose app crashes and errors
• Data collected:
  • Crash logs and stack traces
  • Device state at time of crash (memory, disk space, battery)
  • Device type and operating system version
  • App version and build number
  • Crashlytics Installation UUID (anonymous identifier)
• Data NOT collected: Player names, personal information, game content
• Data retention: 90 days
• Legal basis: Legitimate interest in maintaining app stability (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR)
• Privacy Policy: https://firebase.google.com/support/privacy

3.3 Your Choices Regarding Analytics

Firebase Analytics and Crashlytics are essential for maintaining and improving the app. The data collected is anonymous and cannot be used to identify you personally. If you do not wish to participate in analytics, you may:

• Disable the app's internet access in iOS Settings (note: this will also disable in-app purchases)
• Uninstall the app

4. In-App Purchases

The Clueless One offers a Premium upgrade to unlock additional word categories.

4.1 Apple StoreKit & App Store

• Technology: We use Apple's native StoreKit 2 framework for in-app purchases
• Data processed: Purchase transactions are handled entirely by Apple
• What we receive: Only the purchase status (purchased or not) - no payment details
• What we do NOT receive: Your name, email, payment information, or Apple ID
• Verification: Purchases are verified locally on your device using Apple's secure verification
• Restore: You can restore purchases on any device using the same Apple ID
• Legal basis: Contract performance (Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR)
• Privacy Policy: https://www.apple.com/legal/privacy/

We do not use any third-party purchase management services. All transactions are processed directly through Apple's secure infrastructure.

5. Data We Do NOT Collect

The Clueless One is built on the principle of minimal data collection. We do not collect:

• Names, email addresses, or contact information
• Precise location data (GPS coordinates)
• Device identifiers (IDFA) for advertising purposes
• Advertising data
• Any data from your camera, photos, contacts, or other apps
• Game content or player interactions
• Player names entered in the game

6. Third-Party Services Summary

Service	Purpose	Data Shared
Firebase Analytics	Usage analytics	Anonymous events, device info, country
Firebase Crashlytics	Crash reporting	Crash logs, device state, anonymous ID
Apple App Store / StoreKit	Payment processing	Handled entirely by Apple

7. Data Security

• All local data is stored using Apple's secure frameworks (UserDefaults)
• Network communications use HTTPS/TLS encryption
• We have no servers that store your personal data
• Firebase data is protected by Google's enterprise-grade security
• The app works fully offline (except for purchases and analytics)

8. Data Retention and Deletion

• Local data: Retained until you delete it within the app or uninstall the app
• Firebase Analytics: 14 months (automatically deleted by Google)
• Firebase Crashlytics: 90 days (automatically deleted by Google)
• Purchase data: Managed by Apple according to their retention policies
• Complete deletion: Uninstalling the app removes all locally stored data

9. International Data Transfers

Data may be processed in the United States by our service providers (Google/Firebase, Apple). These transfers are protected by:

• EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework (Google)
• Standard Contractual Clauses (Art. 46(2)(c) GDPR)
• Appropriate data processing agreements

Your local game data and preferences never leave your device and are not subject to international transfers.

10. Your Rights (GDPR)

If you are in the European Economic Area, you have the following rights:

• Access (Art. 15): Request information about data we process
• Rectification (Art. 16): Correct inaccurate data
• Erasure (Art. 17): Request deletion of your data
• Restriction (Art. 18): Limit processing of your data
• Portability (Art. 20): Receive your data in a portable format
• Objection (Art. 21): Object to processing based on legitimate interests

Since all your personal game data is stored locally on your device, you have full control over it at all times. For requests regarding Firebase analytics data or any other inquiries, contact: MerzKevin@me.com

11. Children's Privacy

The Clueless One includes a Kids Mode with family-friendly content suitable for children ages 8 and older. The app:

• Does not collect any personal information from children
• Does not require account creation or registration
• Does not contain advertising
• Does not allow communication with other users
• Stores all personal data locally on the device only
• Collects only anonymous, aggregated analytics data

Parents can enable Kids Mode in the app settings to filter content to age-appropriate words only.

12. Changes to This Policy

We may update this privacy policy to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. The effective date at the top indicates when this policy was last revised. Continued use of the app after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

Terms of Use

Effective Date: January 31, 2026

By downloading, installing, or using The Clueless One ("the App"), you agree to these Terms of Use. If you do not agree, please do not use the App.

1. License

We grant you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable license to use the App for personal, non-commercial purposes in accordance with these Terms and Apple's App Store Terms of Service.

2. Acceptable Use

You agree to use the App only for lawful purposes. You shall not:

• Use the App for any illegal or unauthorized purpose
• Attempt to reverse engineer, decompile, or disassemble the App
• Remove or alter any proprietary notices or labels
• Use the App to harass, abuse, or harm others
• Redistribute, sell, or sublicense the App
• Attempt to interfere with or disrupt the App's services or servers

3. In-App Purchases

• The App offers optional Premium features available through in-app purchase
• All purchases are processed by Apple and subject to Apple's terms
• Purchases are non-refundable except as required by applicable law or Apple's refund policies
• You can restore purchases on the same Apple ID at no additional cost

4. Intellectual Property

The App, including its design, graphics, text, and code, is owned by Kevin Merz and protected by copyright and other intellectual property laws. The name "The Clueless One" and associated branding are trademarks of Kevin Merz.

5. User-Generated Content

Player names entered in the App are stored locally on your device only. We do not collect, store, or have access to any content you create or enter in the App.

6. Analytics and Data Collection

By using the App, you acknowledge and agree that:

• We collect anonymous usage analytics through Firebase Analytics
• We collect crash reports through Firebase Crashlytics
• This data is used solely to improve the App and fix issues
• No personal information or player content is collected

For full details, please refer to our Privacy Policy above.

7. Disclaimer of Warranties

THE APP IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO:

• IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY
• FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE
• NON-INFRINGEMENT
• ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF CONTENT

We do not warrant that the App will be uninterrupted, error-free, or free of viruses or other harmful components.

8. Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW:

• KEVIN MERZ SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES
• THIS INCLUDES DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF PROFITS, DATA, GOODWILL, OR OTHER INTANGIBLE LOSSES
• OUR TOTAL LIABILITY SHALL NOT EXCEED THE AMOUNT YOU PAID FOR THE APP (IF ANY)
• THESE LIMITATIONS APPLY REGARDLESS OF THE LEGAL THEORY (CONTRACT, TORT, OR OTHERWISE)

9. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Kevin Merz from any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising from:

• Your use of the App
• Your violation of these Terms
• Your violation of any rights of another party

10. Termination

We reserve the right to terminate or suspend your access to the App at any time, without notice, for conduct that we believe violates these Terms or is harmful to other users, us, or third parties.

11. Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Germany, without regard to its conflict of law provisions. Any disputes shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts in Soest, Germany.

12. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable or invalid, that provision shall be limited or eliminated to the minimum extent necessary, and the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.

13. Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and Kevin Merz regarding the App and supersede any prior agreements.

14. Changes to Terms

We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. Changes will be effective upon posting to this page. Your continued use of the App after changes constitutes acceptance of the modified Terms.