Story Institute Vision


We will inspire you to imagine, enhance, and grow your stories personally and professionally while helping you share your successes in print, online, and in person.

Story Institute Mission

Though Integrity, Ingenuity, Inspiration, Influence, Impact, and Excellence, we will:
  • Evoke emotion within our customers that make connections to our communities.
  • Engage our customers, their families, and clients in active tales that connect their emotions to past knowledge and experiences.
  • Empower our partners to use their new knowledge while growing their families, organizations, and stories into a world of their own.

Established: 2002
  • Copyright
  • Conditions of Use and Copyright Information

    Copyright

    All content included on this site, such as text, graphics, logos, button icons, images, audio clips, video clips, digital downloads, data compilations, and software, is the property of Story Institute, John E. Murray, III, Teri A. Murray, or its content suppliers and protected by United States and international copyright laws. The compilation of all content on this site is the exclusive property of Story Institute, John E. Murray, III, Teri A. Murray, and protected by U.S. and international copyright laws.

    Any postings are writings shared by visitors and contributors to Story Institute remain the property of the visitors and contributors.

    No part of this website may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems without permission in writing from the content owners, John E. Murray, III or Teri A. Murray, except by a reviewer, who may quote brief passages in a review. Poetry and Short Story Topics may be used as the basis for the writing of other authors, poets, and writers without consent with the understanding that other visitors, contributors, or owners of Story Institute may also create similar poems, short stories, novels, or any other electronic or mechanical techniques with no ownership of the ideas, only the final work itself. This is further restricted by the laws of the US in regards to copyright.

    For permission or other resources, please Send an email to:
    customerservice@storyinstitute.com

    Trademarks

    Story Institute, Timeless Tales, Story Symphonizing, and EIII are service marks and trademarks. Story Institute service marks or trademarks may not be used in connection with any product or service that is not connected with the Story Institute, in any manner that is likely to cause confusion among customers, or in any manner that disparages or discredits Story Institute. All other trademarks not owned by Story Institute or its affiliates that appear on this site are the property of their respective owners, who may or may not be affiliated with, connected to, or sponsored by Story Institute or its affiliates.
  • Privacy Policy
  • Privacy

    Short Summary

    Story Institute believes in protecting your privacy above all else. Here are our promises:

    • We require a valid email address to register, but promise will never give it to anyone else except when required to do so by law.
    • From time to time we may make special mailings to Story Institute Contributors, but they will be infrequent and will never contain spam.
    • We will take all reasonable precautions to ensure that your personal information is secured on our servers.
    • If you contribute or pay with PayPal or Square you should check their privacy policy as well.
    • Story Institute may use cookies to help personalize your online experience with our site. A cookie is a small text file that is placed on your computer by a web server. Cookies contain information that can later be read by a web server in the domain that issued the cookie to you. Cookies cannot be used to run programs or deliver viruses to your computer. You have the ability to accept or decline cookies. Most web browsers automatically accept cookies, but you can usually modify your browser setting to decline cookies.

    Full Policy

    Last updated 4-23-2022

    Story Institute (“we” or “us” or “our”) respects the privacy of our users (“user” or “you”). This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our mobile application (the “Application”). Please read this Privacy Policy carefully. IF YOU DO NOT AGREE WITH THE TERMS OF THIS PRIVACY POLICY, PLEASE DO NOT ACCESS THE WEBSITE OR APPLICATION.

    We reserve the right to make changes to this Privacy Policy at any time and for any reason. We will alert you about any changes by updating the “Last updated” date of this Privacy Policy. You are encouraged to periodically review this Privacy Policy to stay informed of updates. You will be deemed to have been made aware of, will be subject to, and will be deemed to have accepted the changes in any revised Privacy Policy by your continued use of the Website or Application after the date such revised Privacy Policy is posted.

    This Privacy Policy does not apply to the third-party online/mobile store from which you install the Application or make payments, including any in-game virtual items, which may also collect and use data about you. We are not responsible for any of the data collected by any such third party.

    COLLECTION OF YOUR INFORMATION
    We may collect information about you in a variety of ways. The information we may collect via the Application depends on the content and materials you use, and includes:

    Personal Data
    Demographic and other personally identifiable information (such as your name and email address) that you voluntarily give to us when choosing to participate in various activities related to the Website or Application, such as chat, posting messages in comment sections or in our forums, liking posts, sending feedback, and responding to surveys. If you choose to share data about yourself via your profile, online chat, or other interactive areas of the Website or Application, please be advised that all data you disclose in these areas is public and your data will be accessible to anyone who accesses the Website or Application.

    Derivative Data
    Information our servers automatically collect when you access the Website or Application, such as your native actions that are integral to the Website or Application, including liking, re-blogging, or replying to a post, as well as other interactions with the Website or Application and other users via server log files.

    Financial Data
    Financial information, such as data related to your payment method (e.g. valid credit card number, card brand, expiration date) that we may collect when you purchase, order, return, exchange, or request information about our services from the Website or Application. We store only very limited, if any, financial information that we collect. Otherwise, all financial information is stored by our payment processors, Square and PayPal, and you are encouraged to review their privacy policy and contact them directly for responses to your questions.

    Facebook Permissions
    The Application may, by default, access your Facebook basic account information, including your name, email, gender, birthday, current city, and profile picture URL, as well as other information that you choose to make public. We may also request access to other permissions related to your account, such as friends, checkins, and likes, and you may choose to grant or deny us access to each individual permission. For more information regarding Facebook permissions, refer to the Facebook Permissions Reference page.

    Data from Social Networks
    User information from social networking sites, such as Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Google, or LinkedIn, including your name, your social network username, location, gender, birth date, email address, profile picture, and public data for contacts, if you connect your account to such social networks. This information may also include the contact information of anyone you invite to use and/or join the Application.

    Geo-Location Information
    We may request access or permission to and track location-based information from your mobile device, either continuously or while you are using the Website or Application, to provide location-based services. If you wish to change our access or permissions, you may do so in your device’s settings.

    Mobile Device Data
    Device information such as your mobile device ID number, model, and manufacturer, version of your operating system, phone number, country, location, and any other data you choose to provide.

    Push Notifications
    We may request to send you push notifications regarding your account, Website or the Application. If you wish to opt-out from receiving these types of communications, you may turn them off in your device’s settings.

    Third-Party Data
    Information from third parties, such as personal information or network friends, if you connect your account to the third party and grant the Application permission to access this information.

    Data From Contests, Giveaways, and Surveys
    Personal and other information you may provide when entering contests or giveaways and/or responding to surveys.

    USE OF YOUR INFORMATION
    Having accurate information about you permits us to provide you with a smooth, efficient, and customized experience. Specifically, we may use information collected about you via the Website or Application to:
    1. Administer sweepstakes, promotions, and contests.
    2. Assist law enforcement and respond to subpoena.
    3. Compile anonymous statistical data and analysis for use internally or with third parties.
    4. Create and manage your account.
    5. Deliver targeted advertising, coupons, newsletters, and other information regarding promotions and the Website or Application to you.
    6. Email you regarding your account or order.
    7. Fulfill and manage purchases, orders, payments, and other transactions related to the Website or Application.
    8. Increase the efficiency and operation of the Website or Application.
    9. Monitor and analyze usage and trends to improve your experience with the Website or Application.
    10. Notify you of updates to the Website or Application.
    11. Offer new products, services, mobile applications, and/or recommendations to you.
    12. Perform other business activities as needed.
    13. Prevent fraudulent transactions, monitor against theft, and protect against criminal activity.
    14. Process payments and refunds.
    15. Request feedback and contact you about your use of the Website or Application.
    16. Resolve disputes and troubleshoot problems.
    17. Respond to product and customer service requests.
    18. Send you a newsletter.

    DISCLOSURE OF YOUR INFORMATION
    We may share information we have collected about you in certain situations. Your information may be disclosed as follows:

    By Law or to Protect Rights
    If we believe the release of information about you is necessary to respond to legal process, to investigate or remedy potential violations of our policies, or to protect the rights, property, and safety of others, we may share your information as permitted or required by any applicable law, rule, or regulation. This includes exchanging information with other entities for fraud protection and credit risk reduction.

    Third-Party Service Providers
    We may share your information with third parties that perform services for us or on our behalf, including payment processing, data analysis, email delivery, hosting services, customer service, and marketing assistance.

    Marketing Communications
    With your consent, or with an opportunity for you to withdraw consent, we may share your information with third parties for marketing purposes, as permitted by law.

    Interactions with Other Users
    If you interact with other users of the Website or Application, those users may see your name, profile photo, and descriptions of your activity, including sending invitations to other users, chatting with other users, liking posts, following blogs.

    Online Postings
    When you post comments, contributions or other content to the Applications, your posts may be viewed by all users and may be publicly distributed outside the Website or Application in perpetuity.

    Third-Party Advertisers
    We may use third-party advertising companies to serve ads when you visit the Website or Application. These companies may use information about your visits to the Website or Application and other websites that are contained in web cookies in order to provide advertisements about goods and services of interest to you.

    Affiliates
    We may share your information with our affiliates, in which case we will require those affiliates to honor this Privacy Policy. Affiliates include our parent company and any subsidiaries, joint venture partners or other companies that we control or that are under common control with us.

    Social Media Contacts
    If you connect to the Website or Application through a social network, your contacts on the social network will see your name, profile photo, and descriptions of your activity.

    Third-parties
    We are not responsible for the actions of third parties with whom you share personal or sensitive data, and we have no authority to manage or control third-party solicitations. If you no longer wish to receive correspondence, emails or other communications from third parties, you are responsible for contacting the third party directly.

    TRACKING TECHNOLOGIES
    Cookies and Web Beacons
    We may use cookies, web beacons, tracking pixels, and other tracking technologies on the Website or Application to help customize the Website or Application and improve your experience. When you access the Website or Application, your personal information is not collected through the use of tracking technology. Most browsers are set to accept cookies by default. You can remove or reject cookies, but be aware that such action could affect the availability and functionality of the Website or Application. You may not decline web beacons. However, they can be rendered ineffective by declining all cookies or by modifying your web browser’s settings to notify you each time a cookie is tendered, permitting you to accept or decline cookies on an individual basis.

    Internet-Based Advertising
    Additionally, we may use third-party software to serve ads on the Website or Application, implement email marketing campaigns, and manage other interactive marketing initiatives. This third-party software may use cookies or similar tracking technology to help manage and optimize your online experience with us.

    Website Analytics
    We may also partner with selected third-party vendors, such as Google Analytics or Microsoft Analytics to allow tracking technologies and remarketing services on the Website or Application through the use of first party cookies and third-party cookies, to, among other things, analyze and track users’ use of the Website or Application, determine the popularity of certain content, and better understand online activity. By accessing the Application, you consent to the collection and use of your information by these third-party vendors. You are encouraged to review their privacy policy and contact them directly for responses to your questions. We do not transfer personal information to these third-party vendors.
    You should be aware that getting a new computer, installing a new browser, upgrading an existing browser, or erasing or otherwise altering your browser’s cookies files may also clear certain opt-out cookies, plug-ins, or settings.

    THIRD-PARTY WEBSITES
    The Website or Application may contain links to third-party websites and applications of interest, including advertisements and external services, that are not affiliated with us. Once you have used these links to leave the Website or Application, any information you provide to these third parties is not covered by this Privacy Policy, and we cannot guarantee the safety and privacy of your information. Before visiting and providing any information to any third-party websites, you should inform yourself of the privacy policies and practices (if any) of the third party responsible for that website, and should take those steps necessary to, in your discretion, protect the privacy of your information. We are not responsible for the content or privacy and security practices and policies of any third parties, including other sites, services or applications that may be linked to or from the Website or Application.

    SECURITY OF YOUR INFORMATION
    We use administrative, technical, and physical security measures to help protect your personal information. While we have taken reasonable steps to secure the personal information you provide to us, please be aware that despite our efforts, no security measures are perfect or impenetrable, and no method of data transmission can be guaranteed against any interception or other type of misuse. Any information disclosed online is vulnerable to interception and misuse by unauthorized parties. Therefore, we cannot guarantee complete security if you provide personal information.

    POLICY FOR CHILDREN
    We do not knowingly solicit information from or market to children under the age of 13. If you become aware of any data we have collected from children under age 13, please contact us using the contact information provided below.

    CONTROLS FOR DO-NOT-TRACK FEATURES
    Most web browsers and some mobile operating systems and mobile applications include a Do-Not-Track (“DNT”) feature or setting you can activate to signal your privacy preference not to have data about your online browsing activities monitored and collected. No uniform technology standard for recognizing and implementing DNT signals has been finalized. As such, we do not currently respond to DNT browser signals or any other mechanism that automatically communicates your choice not to be tracked online. If a standard for online tracking is adopted that we must follow in the future, we will inform you about that practice in a revised version of this Privacy Policy.


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