This Privacy Policy explains how Otaku EX collects, uses, and protects information when you visit this website or use its features. It applies to the main Otaku EX website. The Otaku EX Forums operate through separate forum software, and forum-related privacy requests can be submitted through the contact methods described below.

Information You Provide

We collect information that you choose to provide, including:

  • Contact messages: Your name, email address, subject, and message when you use the contact form. A name and subject are optional, but an email address is required so we can respond.
  • Forum identity: When you log in through the Otaku EX Forums, the main site may receive your forum user ID, username, display name, and avatar address. This information is used to recognize your forum session on the main site.
  • Public contributions: Comments posted through an embedded article discussion are forum posts and may be publicly visible with your forum username and profile information.

Information Collected Automatically

Like most websites, our servers may record technical information when you visit, such as your IP address, browser and device type, requested pages, referring page, and the date and time of a request. Search terms are included in search-page URLs and may therefore appear in ordinary server logs. We use this information to operate, secure, troubleshoot, and understand the general use of the site.

We also maintain daily aggregate article-view counts to identify currently popular stories. A server-side session is used to avoid counting repeated views of the same article within a short period. The article-view table stores the article, date, and aggregate count; it does not store an IP address or visitor identifier.

Cookies and Sessions

Otaku EX uses essential cookies and server-side sessions to keep the site working. These support features such as forum login status, contact-form security, CAPTCHA challenges, and protection against duplicate or abusive submissions. The Otaku EX Forums also use cookies to maintain forum accounts and sessions. Blocking cookies may prevent login, commenting, or form-security features from working correctly.

How We Use Information

We use collected information to:

  • Provide, maintain, and secure the website;
  • Respond to questions, corrections, feedback, and other contact requests;
  • Connect article discussions with your Otaku EX Forums account;
  • Prevent spam, fraud, abuse, and technical problems;
  • Measure article readership and identify stories that are currently trending;
  • Comply with applicable legal obligations and protect the rights and safety of Otaku EX, its users, and others.

Sharing and Third-Party Services

Otaku EX does not sell or rent your personal information. We may share limited information with service providers that help host, maintain, secure, or operate the site; when required by law or valid legal process; or when reasonably necessary to prevent abuse or protect rights and safety.

Articles use embedded discussions from the Otaku EX Forums. Media pages may include embedded YouTube videos. When third-party content loads, its provider may receive technical information and use cookies or similar technologies under its own policies. You can review Google’s Privacy Policy for information about YouTube and other Google services.

The public site does not currently use third-party advertising or analytics services. If that changes, this policy will be updated to describe the relevant practices.

Data Retention

We retain information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes described in this policy, including responding to contact requests, maintaining community discussions, resolving disputes, enforcing site rules, meeting legal obligations, and protecting the site. Retention periods may differ depending on the type of information. Forum posts may remain available as part of a public discussion unless removed under forum tools or policies.

Your Choices and Requests

You may choose not to submit information through the contact form or participate in forum discussions. Browser controls can limit or delete cookies, although some site features may stop working. Depending on where you live, you may also have rights to request access to, correction of, or deletion of certain personal information.

To ask a privacy question or request action concerning information held by the main site, use the Contact page. Requests involving a forum account or forum post may also be handled through the account and moderation tools available on the Otaku EX Forums. We may need to verify your identity before completing a request.

Children’s Privacy

Otaku EX is a general-audience website and is not directed to children under 13. Children under 13 should not submit personal information through the contact form or create or use a forum account without any consent required from a parent or guardian. If you believe a child under 13 has provided personal information, please contact us so we can review and address the situation.

Security

We use reasonable administrative and technical safeguards intended to protect information. No website, transmission method, or storage system can be guaranteed completely secure, so we cannot promise absolute security.

External Links

Otaku EX may link to websites that we do not operate. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of those external sites, and we encourage you to review their policies before providing information.

Changes to This Policy

We may revise this Privacy Policy as the site and its services change. The effective date at the top of this page will be updated when a revised policy is posted. Material changes may also be announced elsewhere on the site.

Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or Otaku EX’s privacy practices, please use the Contact page.