Privacy Policy

Simple principle: your books and your reading stay on your device.

Effective date: 1 January 2025  ยท  Last updated: 26 August 2026

This Privacy Policy explains how Bridge Comm. ("we", "us", or "our") handles information in connection with BookReader for Mac ("the app") and the website www.macbookreader.it ("the site"). We are the data controller under the General Data Protection Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (GDPR) and applicable Italian data protection law.

1. What BookReader Does NOT Collect

We want to be clear about what we do not do:

  • We do not collect, store, or transmit the content of your books, documents, or library.
  • We do not read your highlights, bookmarks, or annotations โ€” they are saved locally on your Mac and, if enabled, synced through your personal iCloud account, which we cannot access.
  • We do not create user accounts or require registration to use the app.
  • We do not sell, rent, or share your personal data with advertisers or data brokers.
  • We do not use your data to serve targeted advertising.
  • We do not track you across third-party apps or websites.

2. Data We Collect and Why

2.1 Subscription and Payment

BookReader uses Paddle (Paddle.com Market Limited) as its payment processor and merchant of record for subscriptions. When you subscribe, Paddle collects your payment details, billing address, and email address directly. We receive only a confirmation that a subscription is active and, if you provide it voluntarily, your email address for licence management and support.

Paddle's privacy practices are governed by Paddle's Privacy Policy. Paddle acts as an independent data controller for payment data.

2.2 Anonymous Usage Analytics

The app may collect anonymous, aggregated usage data โ€” such as which features are used, crash reports, and performance metrics โ€” to help us improve the app. This data:

  • Contains no personally identifiable information
  • Cannot be linked back to you as an individual
  • Is not shared with advertising networks

If you purchase BookReader through the Mac App Store, Apple may collect additional diagnostic and usage data subject to Apple's Privacy Policy.

2.3 iCloud Sync (optional)

If you enable iCloud sync in the app's preferences, your reading positions, bookmarks, and highlights are synced through Apple's iCloud service. This data is stored in your private iCloud account. We cannot access it. Apple's handling of iCloud data is governed by Apple's Privacy Policy.

2.4 Contact and Support

If you contact us by email or via the support form on this site, we collect your email address and the content of your message solely to respond to your enquiry. We do not add you to any mailing list without your explicit consent. Support correspondence is retained for up to 24 months and then deleted.

2.5 Website

The website (www.macbookreader.it) is a static site that does not set tracking cookies, run advertising scripts, or use third-party analytics beyond basic server-level access logs (IP address, page requested, timestamp) retained by our hosting provider (Aruba S.p.A.) for up to 12 months for security and abuse-prevention purposes. We load fonts from Google Fonts; Google may log your IP address when the font stylesheet is requested โ€” see Google's Privacy Policy.

3. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

BookReader does not use any artificial intelligence or machine learning features that process your personal data or the content of your library. Specifically:

  • Your books, documents, highlights, and annotations are never sent to any AI service, large language model (LLM), or machine learning system โ€” by us or by any third party integrated into the app.
  • No content from your library is used to train, fine-tune, or improve any AI model.
  • BookReader does not embed or call any AI API (such as OpenAI, Google Gemini, Apple Intelligence, or similar) in ways that would share your reading content with a third party.
  • Your subscription data and support correspondence are not processed by automated AI decision-making systems that produce legal or similarly significant effects on you.

If we ever introduce optional AI-assisted features in a future version (for example, text summarisation or translation), we will: (a) make them strictly opt-in; (b) clearly disclose which third-party AI service is used and what data is sent; (c) update this policy before the feature ships; and (d) never use such features to process data without your explicit, informed consent.

4. Legal Basis for Processing (GDPR)

For users in the European Economic Area (EEA), we process personal data on the following legal bases:

  • Contract performance (Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR) โ€” processing your subscription confirmation to deliver the service you purchased.
  • Legitimate interests (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR) โ€” responding to support requests; maintaining server security logs.
  • Consent (Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR) โ€” anonymous analytics, if collected via a mechanism that requires your consent under applicable law.

5. International Data Transfers

Our primary operations are in Italy (EU). Paddle's servers may be located outside the EEA; Paddle relies on Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) and other approved transfer mechanisms. Google Fonts requests are served from Google's global infrastructure. Where data leaves the EEA, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place.

6. Your Rights

Under GDPR and applicable law, you have the right to:

  • Access โ€” request a copy of any personal data we hold about you.
  • Rectification โ€” ask us to correct inaccurate data.
  • Erasure ("right to be forgotten") โ€” ask us to delete your personal data where there is no overriding legal ground to retain it.
  • Restriction โ€” ask us to pause processing of your data in certain circumstances.
  • Portability โ€” receive your data in a structured, machine-readable format.
  • Objection โ€” object to processing based on legitimate interests.
  • Withdraw consent โ€” where processing is based on consent, you may withdraw it at any time without affecting prior processing.

To exercise any of these rights, email us at support@macbookreader.it. We will respond within 30 days. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority โ€” in Italy, the Garante per la protezione dei dati personali.

7. Data Retention

We retain personal data only as long as necessary:

  • Support emails โ€” up to 24 months from last contact.
  • Subscription records โ€” for the duration of the subscription and up to 5 years thereafter for tax and accounting purposes (Italian law).
  • Server access logs โ€” up to 12 months (hosted by Aruba S.p.A.).

8. Children's Privacy

BookReader is not directed at children under the age of 13 (or 16 in jurisdictions where this applies). We do not knowingly collect personal data from children. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us and we will delete it promptly.

9. Security

All data transmitted between the app, this site, and our servers uses HTTPS encryption. We apply reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect personal data against unauthorised access, loss, or disclosure. No transmission over the internet is completely secure; we cannot guarantee absolute security.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this policy from time to time. When we do, we will update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page. Material changes will be communicated via a notice on this website. Continued use of the app or site after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.

11. Contact

Bridge Comm. โ€” Data Controller
Via Adda 15, Ardea (RM) โ€” 00040, Italy
support@macbookreader.it

For privacy-specific requests, please include "Privacy Request" in the subject line.