Privacy Policy

Last updated: April 15, 2026

Independent Publisher / Jenkins Group, Inc. ("we," "us," or "our") operates the Independent Publisher Book Awards platform at awards.independentpublisher.com. This Privacy Policy describes how we collect, use, and protect information you provide when entering our award contests.

1. Information We Collect

When you submit a book entry or place an order, we collect:

• Contact information: name, email address, phone number, and mailing address
• Book and entry details: title, author, publisher, category, and related submission data
• Payment information: billing address and credit card details (processed securely through Authorize.Net — we do not store full card numbers)
• Uploaded files: book files or cover images you submit as part of your entry
• Usage data: browser type, IP address, and pages visited, collected automatically through cookies and analytics tools

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Process your contest entries and payments
• Communicate with you about your order, entry status, and award results
• Fulfill order-related services such as shipping physical awards or certificates
• Maintain records for judging and contest administration
• Improve our platform and services
• Comply with legal obligations

3. Payment Processing

Payments are processed through Authorize.Net, a PCI-compliant payment gateway. Your credit card information is transmitted directly to Authorize.Net and is not stored on our servers. Please review Authorize.Net's Privacy Policy for details on how they handle payment data.

4. Sharing of Information

We do not sell your personal information. We may share your information with:

• Service providers: third-party vendors who assist us in operating our platform, processing payments, or delivering services (e.g., Authorize.Net, Zoho CRM for order management)
• Contest judges: entry details (book title, category, author) may be shared with assigned judges — contact information is not shared with judges
• Legal requirements: when required by law or to protect our rights

5. Cookies and Analytics

We use cookies and Google Tag Manager to collect anonymous usage statistics and improve site performance. You may disable cookies in your browser settings; however, some site features may not function correctly without them.

6. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes described in this policy, including maintaining contest records and complying with legal obligations. Entry and order data is retained for a minimum of five years.

7. Security

We implement reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, alteration, or disclosure. All data is transmitted over HTTPS.

8. Your Rights

You may contact us at any time to:

• Request access to the personal information we hold about you
• Request correction of inaccurate information
• Request deletion of your information, subject to our record-keeping obligations

9. Children's Privacy

Our platform is not directed at children under the age of 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The date at the top of this page reflects when the policy was last revised. Continued use of our platform after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy.

11. Contact Us

If you have questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy, please contact us:

Jenkins Group, Inc.
1129 Woodmere Ave. Suite B
Traverse City, MI 49686
awards@independentpublisher.com
(231) 933-0445