Privacy Policy

Effective: August 4, 2026

This Privacy Policy explains how Lagrange Studios ("we," "us," or "our") collects, uses, stores, and shares information when you use the Proto Nova website, API, account system, game and server downloads, and related online services (collectively, the "Service").

1. Information we collect

2. How information is collected

We receive information directly from you when you register, update settings, submit a listing or request, contact us, or otherwise use the Service. We receive limited information from Google and Patreon when you authorize those connections. We also collect technical and download-counter information automatically when your browser or software communicates with the website or API.

3. Cookies and browser storage

We use short-lived, HTTP-only cookies to bind Google and Patreon authorization attempts to the browser that started them. These cookies are used for security, expire after approximately ten minutes, and are not used for advertising.

The frontend stores your selected site appearance preference in your browser's local storage. After sign-in, it also stores the Proto Nova authentication token, basic account display information, and a cached Patreon supporter-theme identifier so you can remain signed in and avoid visual theme changes while pages load. The cached supporter theme is checked against Patreon account information through the Proto Nova API after each page loads. You can remove this information by logging out or clearing site data.

4. How we use information

We use information to operate and secure accounts, authenticate users, record the legal terms applicable to an account, connect requested third-party accounts, provide server-listing and community features, send verification and account-recovery messages, prevent abuse, diagnose problems, and improve the Service.

We use download-counter information only to maintain cumulative, IP-deduplicated totals for game-client and dedicated-server downloads, understand general demand, and detect obvious counter abuse. The administrative dashboard displays aggregate client and server totals rather than IP addresses or individual download records. Because people may share or change IP addresses, these totals are approximate and do not identify an exact number of individual people.

We do not sell personal information or use Google, Patreon, or download-counter information for targeted advertising.

5. How information is disclosed

We may share information with infrastructure, database, email, security, and hosting providers that process it on our behalf; with Google or Patreon when you request their authentication or connection services; when required by law or necessary to protect users and the Service; or as part of a merger, acquisition, or transfer of the Service. We do not permit service providers to use account information for their own advertising.

We may preserve or disclose information when we reasonably believe it is necessary to comply with law or legal process; enforce our Terms; investigate fraud, abuse, infringement, or security incidents; protect the rights, safety, and integrity of users, Lagrange Studios, or the public; or establish, exercise, or defend legal claims. We may also share aggregated or de-identified statistics that do not reasonably identify an individual.

Proto Nova download files are hosted by GitHub. After our API records a download-counter event, your browser is redirected to GitHub to request the selected file. GitHub may receive technical information such as your IP address, browser information, and request details under the GitHub General Privacy Statement. We do not send GitHub your Proto Nova account credentials as part of this redirect.

Unless we expressly identify a modification, integration, or hardware product as official, Lagrange Studios does not control its data collection, security, permissions, or disclosures. Review the third party's privacy information before installing or connecting it. Removing a third-party modification does not necessarily delete information that the third party previously collected.

6. Community servers and direct connections

Community servers are independently operated. Loading the Proto Nova server browser may cause your browser to send status requests directly to listed servers, and joining a server causes your game client to communicate directly with that server. Its operator may receive your IP address, connection and device information, gameplay activity, chat or other communications, identifiers used by the game protocol, and anything you send to that server. Lagrange Studios does not receive or control information handled solely by an independent server and is not responsible for that operator's privacy or security practices.

A public server listing exposes the submitted server name, description, and network address. Do not list a private or personal address unless you have authority to make it public. Server operators should provide their own privacy information where required and collect only information they are legally permitted to process.

7. Administrative access

Authorized administrators and service providers may access information when reasonably necessary for account support, server-list review, security, abuse prevention, legal compliance, maintenance, and operation of the Service. Access is intended to be limited to legitimate operational purposes. The download dashboard presents aggregate client and server totals and does not display raw IP addresses.

8. Google user data

Our use and transfer of information received from Google APIs adheres to the Google API Services User Data Policy, including its Limited Use requirements. Proto Nova requests only the openid, email, and profile scopes needed for sign-in.

9. Retention and deletion

Unverified accounts may be deleted after 24 hours. Other account information is generally retained while your account is active and as reasonably necessary for security, legal compliance, dispute resolution, and operation of the Service. Patreon connection information is removed from the Proto Nova account when you disconnect Patreon. Some limited backups and security logs may remain for a reasonable period.

Versioned legal acceptance records may be retained for the life of the account and for up to six years after account deletion where reasonably needed to document the agreement, resolve disputes, or comply with law. We may retain them longer when a specific legal obligation, claim, or preservation requirement applies.

Download-counter records are retained while reasonably needed to maintain cumulative download statistics and may be deleted or reset when they are no longer needed. Deleting or deactivating an account does not automatically remove a download-counter record because the counter is not linked to account identifiers.

Retention periods depend on the type of information, why it was collected, operational needs, legal obligations, security risks, and whether it is needed to resolve disputes or enforce agreements. We may retain limited records after account deletion when reasonably necessary for those purposes. Information made public or sent to independent servers or third parties may remain in their systems and cannot necessarily be deleted by us.

10. Your choices and privacy rights

We may need to verify your identity and authority before completing a request. Rights may be limited by applicable exceptions, including security, fraud prevention, legal obligations, the rights of others, and information we cannot reasonably link to you. Where required by law, you may appeal a denied request by replying to our decision. We do not discriminate against users for exercising applicable privacy rights.

11. Security

We use reasonable safeguards, including password hashing, encrypted Patreon tokens, HTTPS, limited OAuth scopes, expiring one-use authorization state, restricted authentication cookies, and keyed one-way hashing for download-counter IP addresses. Hashing reduces identifiability but does not make information risk-free or necessarily anonymous under every applicable law. No system can guarantee absolute security.

You are responsible for protecting your device, credentials, recovery channels, connected accounts, server software, and backups. Email and internet transmissions may be intercepted, and unofficial mods, independent servers, and third-party services may not use our safeguards.

12. International processing

The Service and its providers may process information in the United States and other countries whose privacy laws may differ from those where you live. Where applicable law requires a transfer mechanism or additional safeguard, we will use one that is legally recognized and appropriate to the processing.

13. Children's privacy

The Service is intended for a general audience and is not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 without legally required authorization. If we learn that an under-13 user provided personal information in circumstances covered by applicable children's privacy law, we may disable the account and delete or otherwise handle the information as legally required. A parent or guardian who believes a child provided information should contact us.

14. Tracking preferences

The Service does not currently sell personal information or use it for cross-context behavioral advertising. Because there is no universally accepted standard for browser "Do Not Track" signals, the Service may not respond to them. We honor legally required opt-out preference signals where they apply to our practices.

15. Changes and contact

We may update this Policy as the Service, its data practices, or legal requirements change. We will update the effective date and provide additional notice when required by law. Your continued use after an update is subject to the revised Policy, but we will request consent where legally required.

For privacy questions or requests, contact Lagrange Studios at lagrangestudios.dev@gmail.com or through the official Proto Nova community links.