LEGAL / PRIVACY
Privacy Policy
Last updated: 6 September 2026
This notice explains how FanForge handles personal information on joinfanforge.com and in its working private alpha at app.joinfanforge.com. It covers Founding Tester applications and participation in the service. Private-alpha participation is limited to people aged 18 or over.
1. Who we are
FanForge is operated for the private alpha by Javan Buchanan, who is responsible for the personal information described in this notice. For privacy questions or requests, contact forgemaster@joinfanforge.com.
2. Information we collect
Founding Tester applications collect your name, email, creative role or interests, intended use of FanForge, readiness to test a real project, how you heard about FanForge, your application acknowledgement and a separate optional product-updates preference. For alpha participants, we handle invitation, account and profile details; Forge memberships and permissions; workspace content and uploaded files/media; collaboration records such as notes, comments, submissions, reviews, decisions and attribution; feedback and support correspondence; and limited technical or contextual information needed to operate, diagnose and secure the alpha. Please do not put passwords, sensitive personal information or confidential project material in an application.
3. Why we collect your information
We use application information to assess and respond to applications, select suitable testers and administer alpha participation where selected. We use service information to provide account and workspace features, preserve authorised collaboration records, secure FanForge, prevent abuse, provide support, maintain reliability and understand tester feedback to improve the private alpha. Applying does not guarantee access. Optional product and alpha updates are separate from application processing and service communications.
4. Our lawful basis
Application review and response use legitimate interests: evaluating applications for FanForge’s private alpha, selecting suitable testers, communicating about applications and administering the tester-selection process. For selected testers, we rely on contract where processing is necessary to provide FanForge under the Terms they accept. Security, abuse prevention, support, service reliability and private-alpha improvement and feedback use legitimate interests where necessary and proportionate. Optional FanForge product and alpha update emails rely on separate consent, not on the required application acknowledgement.
5. How your information is stored
This website and its native application form use Framer. Form responses are delivered by email and to a connected Google Sheets spreadsheet for the founder to review. The hosted application uses Vercel for application hosting and Supabase for database, authentication and file storage. Email services also handle application and service correspondence. These services process the information needed for their respective functions.
6. Who we share your information with
Application information is used by the founder to administer tester selection and by the providers that handle the website, forms, response spreadsheet and email. Private Forge content is available according to workspace membership and permissions; deliberately published content can be seen publicly. Hosting, database, authentication and storage providers process service information to operate FanForge. Information may also be disclosed where required by law or necessary to protect people, the service or legal rights. We do not sell your personal information or private creative work.
7. International data transfers
Some of the service providers we use may process personal information outside the UK. Where this involves a restricted transfer, we rely on safeguards provided through our service agreements, such as applicable Standard Contractual Clauses together with the UK International Data Transfer Addendum, or another recognised transfer mechanism where relevant. You can contact us at forgemaster@joinfanforge.com if you would like more information about the safeguards relevant to your information.
8. How long we keep your information
Unsuccessful, withdrawn or unselected Founding Tester applications are deleted or anonymised 6 months after the application is closed or decided. For successful applicants, the original application is deleted or anonymised 6 months after admission to the alpha. Applications genuinely under active consideration are retained until a decision, with anything older than 6 months reviewed. Optional update consent is retained while subscribed. On withdrawal, marketing stops immediately and only the minimum suppression record needed to honour the opt-out is retained. Account, profile and legal-acceptance records are separate from the original application. Account and Forge information is kept while needed to provide the service, protect users and preserve authorised collaboration records. Durable contribution, review and attribution records may need restriction or de-identification when deletion would affect other collaborators. Support and security information is kept only while reasonably needed for the issue, abuse prevention or legal requirements. Provider backups may retain deleted information temporarily until their normal replacement cycle completes.
9. Marketing emails
You can apply and participate without joining a mailing list. Product and alpha update emails are sent only if you select the separate optional checkbox, which is unchecked by default. Leaving it unchecked does not affect your application or participation. Messages needed to assess or respond to your application or provide the alpha are not marketing. You can withdraw update consent at any time by contacting forgemaster@joinfanforge.com or using the unsubscribe option provided in an update email.
10. Cookies and analytics
The website uses technologies needed for hosting and form operation. Framer describes its built-in website analytics as cookie-free. The private-alpha application uses essential session storage to authenticate users and protect private routes. For the application’s current storage information, see its Cookies & storage notice. Changes to how information is used will be reflected in this notice.
11. Your rights
You can contact forgemaster@joinfanforge.com to ask about access, correction, deletion, restriction or a portable copy of your personal information. You may object to processing based on legitimate interests. The rights that apply depend on the circumstances. You may withdraw optional update consent at any time without affecting the lawfulness of earlier consent-based processing. We may need to verify your identity to handle a request safely.
12. Complaints
If you have concerns about how FanForge handles your information, contact forgemaster@joinfanforge.com. You can also complain to the UK Information Commissioner’s Office without contacting FanForge first.
13. Changes to this policy
We may update this notice as FanForge develops or its processing changes. The latest version will appear here with its update date. Material changes will be brought to participants’ attention where appropriate.