Cookie Policy

What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files that are placed on your device (computer, smartphone, tablet) when you visit a website. They are widely used to make websites work more efficiently and provide information to website owners.

Key characteristics of cookies:

• They contain small amounts of data
• They help websites remember information about your visit
• They can be set by the website you visit (“first-party cookies”) or by other services (“third-party cookies”)
• They have expiration dates (some expire when you close your browser, others persist longer)

Why We Use Cookies

We use cookies to:

• Keep you logged into your account
• Remember your preferences and settings
• Understand how you use our service
• Improve your music listening experience
• Ensure the security of our platform
• Analyze site performance and functionality
• Provide personalized music recommendations

We do not use cookies to:

• Track you across other websites for advertising purposes
• Sell your browsing data to third parties
• Create invasive profiles for marketing to other companies

Types of Cookies We Use

We categorize cookies based on their purpose and necessity:

1. Strictly Necessary Cookies (Always Active)

These cookies are essential for our website to function properly. They enable core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility. You cannot opt-out of these cookies as the website cannot function properly without them.

Examples:

• Authentication cookies: Keep you logged into your account as you navigate through the platform
• Security cookies: Detect authentication abuses and protect user data from unauthorized access
• Load balancing cookies: Distribute traffic across our servers to ensure optimal performance
• Session cookies: Remember your current session and preferences while you browse

Cookie Names: session_id, auth_token, security_token, load_balancer

Duration: Session-based (deleted when you close your browser) or up to 30 days

Legal Basis: These cookies are necessary for the performance of our contract with you (providing the service)

2. Functional Cookies (Opt-in Required)

These cookies enable enhanced functionality and personalization. They may be set by us or by third-party providers whose services we use. If you do not allow these cookies, some or all of these services may not function properly.

Examples:

• Preference cookies: Remember your settings like volume level, playback quality, language preference, and theme (light/dark mode)
• Playback cookies: Remember your listening history within a session to enable “continue where you left off” functionality
• Feature cookies: Enable interactive features like playlist collaboration and social sharing

Cookie Names: user_preferences, playback_state, volume_setting, quality_preference, language, theme_mode

Duration: Up to 12 months

Legal Basis: Your consent, which you can withdraw at any time

3. Performance and Analytics Cookies (Opt-in Required)

These cookies help us understand how visitors interact with our website by collecting and reporting information anonymously. This helps us improve how our website works.

Examples:

• Analytics cookies: Count visits, identify traffic sources, and see which pages are most popular
• Error tracking cookies: Help us identify and fix technical issues
• A/B testing cookies: Allow us to test different versions of features to improve user experience
• Performance monitoring cookies: Measure page load times and streaming quality

Cookie Names: _ga, _gid, _gat (Google Analytics), analytics_session, performance_tracking

Third-party services we use:

• Google Analytics: Helps us understand site usage (we have IP anonymization enabled)
  Privacy Policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy

Duration: From session-based to up to 24 months

Legal Basis: Your consent, which you can withdraw at any time

Note: All analytics data is aggregated and anonymized. We cannot identify individual users from this data.

4. Targeting and Advertising Cookies (Opt-in Required)

These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant advertisements on other sites.

Our Approach:

• We use minimal advertising cookies and only with your explicit consent
• We do not sell your data to advertisers
• We may show you relevant music recommendations based on your listening history
• If we partner with advertising networks, we require them to respect your privacy

Cookie Names: ad_preferences, marketing_consent

Duration: Up to 12 months

Legal Basis: Your explicit consent, which you can withdraw at any time

Similar Technologies We Use

In addition to cookies, we use similar technologies:

Local Storage

• Stores data locally on your device to improve performance
• Used to cache album artwork and reduce loading times
• You can clear local storage through your browser settings

Session Storage

• Temporarily stores data during your browsing session
• Automatically cleared when you close your browser
• Used for temporary playback states and navigation

Web Beacons (Pixel Tags)

• Small transparent images embedded in emails or web pages
• Help us understand email open rates and user engagement
• Used only with your consent for marketing communications

Device Fingerprinting

• We do NOT use device fingerprinting or other covert tracking methods
• We respect your privacy and rely on transparent cookie usage

Cookie Duration Types

Session Cookies

• Temporary cookies that expire when you close your browser
• Used for essential functions like keeping you logged in during a session

Persistent Cookies

• Remain on your device for a set period (specified in each cookie category)
• Used to remember your preferences across multiple visits
• You can delete these manually through your browser settings

Your Cookie Choices and Control

You have several options to control cookies:

1. Cookie Consent Manager

When you first visit our site, you'll see a cookie consent banner. You can:

• Accept all cookies
• Reject non-essential cookies
• Customize your preferences by cookie category
• Change your preferences at any time by clicking the “Cookie Settings” link in the footer

Important: If you reject cookies, certain features may not work properly, such as:

• Staying logged in between sessions
• Remembering your preferences (volume, quality, theme)
• Personalized music recommendations

2. Browser Settings

Most web browsers allow you to control cookies through their settings:

• Google Chrome: Settings > Privacy and Security > Cookies and other site data
• Mozilla Firefox: Settings > Privacy & Security > Cookies and Site Data
• Safari: Preferences > Privacy > Cookies and website data
• Microsoft Edge: Settings > Cookies and site permissions > Cookies and site data

Clearing cookies: You can delete all cookies stored on your device through your browser's privacy settings. Note that this will log you out and reset your preferences.

3. Browser Do Not Track (DNT)

Some browsers have a “Do Not Track” feature. When enabled, we respect this signal by:

• Not setting optional analytics or advertising cookies
• Limiting data collection to essential functions only
• Ensuring third-party services also respect DNT signals where possible

4. Opt-Out of Third-Party Cookies

For third-party cookies (like Google Analytics), you can opt-out directly:

• Google Analytics Opt-out: Install the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout
• Your Online Choices (EU): https://www.youronlinechoices.eu/
• Network Advertising Initiative: https://www.networkadvertising.org/choices/
• Digital Advertising Alliance: https://www.aboutads.info/choices/

5. Mobile Device Settings

For mobile apps (if applicable):

• iOS: Settings > Privacy > Tracking
• Android: Settings > Privacy > Ads

EU-Specific Rights and Compliance

We comply with the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the ePrivacy Directive (Cookie Law).

Your Rights Under EU Law

Right to Consent:

• We obtain your explicit consent before setting non-essential cookies
• Consent must be freely given, specific, informed, and unambiguous
• Continued browsing does NOT constitute consent

Right to Withdraw Consent:

• You can withdraw your consent at any time through our Cookie Settings
• Withdrawal is as easy as giving consent
• Withdrawal does not affect the lawfulness of processing before withdrawal

Right to Information:

• This policy provides clear information about what cookies we use and why
• We inform you before cookies are set (via our consent banner)

Right to Access:

• You can see which cookies are currently stored on your device through your browser settings
• Contact us to request information about data collected via cookies

Right to Deletion:

• You can delete cookies at any time through your browser settings
• You can request deletion of data collected via cookies by contacting us

GDPR Compliance Measures

• Consent Management Platform: We use a compliant cookie consent banner that meets GDPR requirements
• Cookie Audit: We regularly review and audit all cookies used on our platform
• Data Minimization: We only collect data that is necessary for specified purposes
• Purpose Limitation: We only use cookie data for the purposes stated in this policy
• Storage Limitation: Cookies are automatically deleted after their specified duration
• Transparency: This policy provides detailed information about all cookies we use
• No Cookie Walls: We do not deny access to our service if you reject non-essential cookies (though some features may be limited)

International Data Transfers

Some of our service providers (like Google Analytics) may transfer cookie data outside the EU. We ensure adequate protection through:

• Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) approved by the EU Commission
• Adequacy decisions for certain countries
• Additional safeguards to protect your data

Specific Cookie Information Table

This table is regularly updated. For a complete current list, please use your browser's developer tools or contact us.

Changes to This Cookie Policy

We may update this Cookie Policy to reflect changes in our practices or for legal, operational, or regulatory reasons. We will notify you of material changes by:

• Updating the “Last Updated” date at the top of this policy
• Displaying a notice on our website
• Requesting renewed consent if required by law

We encourage you to review this policy periodically.

Contact Us

If you have questions about our use of cookies or this Cookie Policy, please contact us:

Cookie and Privacy Inquiries:
Email: privacy@fakefour.com
Subject: Cookie Policy Inquiry

Data Protection Officer (EU):
Email: dpo@fakefour.com

Mailing Address:
Fake Four Inc.
Attn: Data Privacy Department
New Haven, Connecticut

Cookie Settings:
Click “Cookie Settings” in the website footer to manage your preferences at any time.

Quick Summary: How We Use Cookies

• ✅ Essential cookies keep you logged in and the site working
• ✅ Preference cookies remember your settings (with your permission)
• ✅ Analytics cookies help us improve the site (with your permission)
• ✅ We respect your choices and make it easy to control cookies
• ✅ We don't sell your data or track you across the internet for advertising
• ✅ EU residents have full GDPR rights and protections

You're in control. Manage your cookie preferences anytime through our Cookie Settings.