Privacy Policy

• 1. Scope
• 2. Summary
• 3. Information stored on your device
• 4. Third-party services
• 5. Advertising
• 6. Tracking and consent choices
• 7. In-app purchases
• 8. Unity engine and services
• 9. Device permissions and features
• 10. Support emails
• 11. This website
• 12. Purposes and legal bases
• 13. Sharing and disclosure
• 14. Retention, transfers and security
• 15. Your choices and rights
• 16. Children
• 17. Limitation of responsibility
• 18. Changes to this policy
• 19. Contact

1. Scope

This Privacy Policy describes how the Gem Block Sudoku application (shown on your home screen as “Gem Block”), version 1.1 and later, on every platform where it is offered, including Apple and Android devices, and its web pages at mjabbari.com/gemblockpuzzle (together, the “App”) handle information. The App is published by its developer (“we”, “us”, “our”).

This policy applies only to the App. It does not apply to Apple, Google, Unity or any other third-party service, website or advertisement, each of which is governed by its own privacy policy. By downloading or using the App you acknowledge this policy and our Terms of Use. To the maximum extent permitted by law, every statement in this policy is subject to section 17 and to the limitations in our Terms of Use, and nothing in this policy creates any contractual right or warranty.

2. Summary

3. Information stored on your device

To the maximum extent permitted by law, the App stores the following information locally on your device only: your best scores for each mode, any unfinished game you can resume, your gem balance, the block themes you own and the one selected, tutorial status, your daily-reward streak and dates, whether you own Remove Ads, your sound, music and haptics settings, your chosen language, and simple counters (such as the number of launches and finished games) used to decide when to ask for a rating. When you first open version 1.1, progress saved on the same device by an earlier version of the App is converted into the new save format on your device.

This information is not sent to us, and we have no access to it. It remains on your device until you delete the App or its data. Depending on your device settings, it may be included in your device backups (for example iCloud Backup or Android backup), which are provided by Apple or Google under their own terms. Google’s consent SDK also stores your consent choices on your device.

4. Third-party services

The App integrates the following third-party services. Each acts independently and is solely responsible for its own collection and processing of information under its own terms and privacy policy:

To the maximum extent permitted by law, we do not control, and are not responsible or liable for, the data collection, use, disclosure, retention, security or other practices of these or any other third parties, including their advertising partners.

5. Advertising

The App is free to download and is supported by ads served through Google AdMob:

• Banner ads shown in parts of the App;
• Full-screen (interstitial) ads shown between games, for example after a game ends; and
• Optional rewarded ads that play only when you choose to watch one, for example to continue a game with a rescue or to receive free gems.

The one-time Remove Ads purchase removes banner and interstitial ads. It does not remove rewarded ads, which stay available because they are always optional.

When ads are requested or shown, Google and its advertising partners may collect and receive information such as your IP address (from which an approximate location can be inferred), advertising and device identifiers where available (on Apple devices the advertising identifier is available only with your permission, see section 6; on Android devices the Android advertising ID and app set ID), device type, operating-system version, language and settings, app information, ad views, taps and rewards, diagnostic and performance data, and your consent choices. Google uses this information to deliver ads, limit how often you see them, measure and report on them, personalise them where you have allowed it, and detect fraud and abuse, under its own policies and in some cases as an independent controller.

To the maximum extent permitted by law, advertisements, advertisers and any websites, apps, products or offers they link to are third-party content for which we accept no responsibility. We do not choose individual ads and do not endorse anything advertised.

6. Tracking and consent choices

• App Tracking Transparency (Apple devices): the App may ask for your permission through Apple’s App Tracking Transparency prompt. Apple’s advertising identifier (IDFA) is available to the App and to Google only if you allow tracking. If you choose “Ask App Not to Track” or turn tracking off, you will still see ads, but they will not use the IDFA. You can change your choice at any time in iOS Settings > Privacy & Security > Tracking.
• SKAdNetwork (Apple devices): the App supports Apple’s SKAdNetwork, which lets advertisers measure whether an ad led to an app install in an aggregated way, without identifying you to the advertiser or to us.
• Advertising ID (Android devices): you can reset or delete your Android advertising ID, or opt out of ads personalisation, at any time in your device settings (usually Settings > Privacy > Ads, or Settings > Google > Ads, depending on your device).
• Consent in the EEA, the UK and Switzerland: where required by law, Google’s consent form, provided through the User Messaging Platform, is shown before ads are requested, and your choices decide whether ads may be personalised. If you do not agree to personalisation, Google may show non-personalised or limited ads.
• US state privacy laws: where required, Google’s privacy message lets you opt out of the use of your information for targeted advertising (which some US state laws treat as a “sale” or “sharing” of personal information).
• Changing your choices: where your region requires it, you can reopen Google’s privacy options at any time from Settings > Data privacy in the App.

Declining tracking or personalisation does not stop you from using the App. You can also manage Google ads settings at My Ad Center.

7. In-app purchases

The App offers optional in-app purchases: a one-time, non-consumable Remove Ads purchase and consumable gem packs in several sizes. Purchases are sold and processed by Apple through the App Store or by Google through Google Play, and are managed in the App by Unity In-App Purchasing. The store collects and processes your payment and billing details; we never receive your payment card details. The App receives only the information needed to deliver and restore purchases, such as the product identifier, transaction identifier and purchase receipt, which the App checks on your device. We do not operate a server that stores your purchase history. Apple, Google and Unity may process purchase-related information under their own policies.

8. Unity engine and services

The App is built with the Unity engine and uses Unity Gaming Services, which Unity In-App Purchasing requires. When these services start, Unity may generate an installation identifier and may receive technical information such as device model, operating-system version, app version, and service diagnostic or performance data, to operate, secure and improve its services. Unity processes this information under its own privacy policy.

9. Device permissions and features

• The App does not request access to your camera, microphone, photos, contacts, calendar, precise location or Bluetooth, and it does not send push notifications.
• Haptics: the App can use your device’s vibration or haptic engine for feedback. No data is collected for this, and you can turn haptics off in the App’s Settings.
• Language, date and time: the App reads your device language to choose the game language and uses your device’s date and time for daily rewards and timed modes. This happens on your device only.
• Ratings: on Apple devices the App may ask Apple to show its standard rating prompt, and the Rate option opens the store page. Ratings and reviews are handled by Apple or Google under their own terms.
• Internet: ads, purchases and consent forms need an internet connection, and are provided by the third parties described above.

10. Support emails

If you choose to contact us by email (for example from the App’s Settings), we receive your email address, your message and anything you attach, and we use them only to respond, to keep a record of the request and to improve the App. Please do not send sensitive information. Email is handled by our mail provider under its own terms.

11. This website

This website is hosted by a third-party hosting provider, which may automatically record technical information (such as IP address, date and time, page requested and browser type) in server logs for delivery and security. These legal pages do not use cookies, analytics, advertising or third-party scripts. Other pages at mjabbari.com/gemblockpuzzle may load resources from third parties, such as web fonts, page frameworks from a content delivery network and an embedded YouTube video player, which may receive your IP address and may set cookies under their own policies.

12. Purposes and legal bases

Where applicable law requires a legal basis, information is processed:

• to provide the App, deliver and restore purchases and give you the rewards you choose to earn (performance of a contract);
• to show ads that keep the App free, measure them, prevent fraud, keep the App secure, and maintain and improve it (legitimate interests);
• to personalise ads and access or store information on your device where the law requires consent, for example in the EEA and the UK (consent, which you can withdraw at any time without affecting earlier processing); and
• to comply with legal obligations and to establish, exercise or defend legal claims.

13. Sharing and disclosure

We do not sell personal information for money. Apart from information that third-party providers collect directly through their services as described above, and to the maximum extent permitted by law, we disclose information only: where required by law, regulation, legal process or a government request; where we believe in good faith that disclosure is needed to protect our rights, property or safety or those of users or others, or to detect or prevent fraud or abuse; or in connection with a merger, acquisition, financing or transfer of all or part of the App, in which case this policy continues to apply to the information transferred.

14. Retention, transfers and security

Retention: data on your device remains until you delete the App or its data, or reset your device. Third-party providers retain data according to their own policies and settings. Support emails are kept only as long as reasonably necessary to handle your request and to meet legal obligations.

International transfers: information processed by third-party providers may be transferred to, stored in and processed in countries other than your own, including the United States, which may have different data protection laws. Those providers state that they rely on recognised safeguards such as standard contractual clauses.

Security: reasonable measures are used to protect information, but no method of transmission or storage is completely secure. To the maximum extent permitted by law, we cannot guarantee the security of any information.

15. Your choices and rights

• Limit tracking in iOS Settings > Privacy & Security > Tracking, or reset your Android advertising ID.
• Reopen the privacy options from Settings > Data privacy in the App, where available in your region.
• Turn off haptics, sound and music in the App’s Settings.
• Delete the App to remove its data from your device.

Depending on where you live (for example under the EU or UK GDPR, the Swiss data protection law, the UAE Personal Data Protection Law or US state privacy laws), you may have rights to access, correct or delete personal information, to restrict or object to processing, to data portability, to opt out of targeted advertising, to withdraw consent, and to lodge a complaint with a data protection authority. We will not discriminate against you for exercising these rights.

Because the App has no accounts and your progress stays on your device, we generally cannot identify you or link advertising, purchase or technical data to you. Requests about data held by Apple, Google or Unity should be made to those providers using their own tools. Other requests can be sent to the contact address below. To the maximum extent permitted by law, we may need to verify your request before acting on it, we may decline requests that are unfounded, excessive or that we cannot verify, we will respond within the time required by applicable law, and if we decline a request you may appeal by replying to our response.

16. Children

The App is a general-audience puzzle game. It is not directed at children under 13 (or the higher minimum age that applies in your country, such as 16 in parts of the EEA), it is not offered in the App Store Kids category, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children. Parents and guardians can use device controls such as Apple Screen Time or Google Family Link to restrict ads tracking, purchases and app use. If you believe a child has sent us personal information, contact us and it will be deleted.

17. Limitation of responsibility

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, we are not responsible or liable for any loss, damage, unauthorised access, disclosure or misuse of information that is collected, stored or processed by your device, your Apple Account or Google account, device backups, Google AdMob, Google’s User Messaging Platform, Unity, Apple, Google, advertisers, your mail or internet provider, or any other third party, or that results from events beyond our reasonable control. The disclaimers and limitations of liability in our Terms of Use, including the liability cap, apply to this policy and to any claim relating to privacy or data.

18. Changes to this policy

We may update this Privacy Policy at any time, for example when the App, its third-party services or the law change. The updated version takes effect when published on this page, with the date shown at the top. To the maximum extent permitted by law, your continued use of the App after an update means you accept the updated policy. Where the law requires your consent to a change, we will ask for it.

19. Contact

Privacy questions and requests can be sent to apps.jabbari@gmail.com.