Legal

Privacy Notice

Last updated 7 October 2026

The short version: Panel Shelf keeps your library on your computer, and we can't see it. There are no accounts, no analytics and no tracking, in the app or on this website. A few features go online when you use them, and they send only what that feature needs. This notice explains each one.

Part A This website, email and purchases

1. Who we are

Vowborn Studio is the name under which independent developers publish software. We are responsible for the information described here. You can reach us at support@vowborn.com.

2. This website

This website uses no cookies, no analytics and no advertising, and loads nothing from other companies: even its fonts come from our own site. Like any website, the company that hosts it receives standard technical information when you visit, such as your IP address, your browser and the pages you request, so it can deliver the site and protect it from abuse. We don't use that information to identify you.

3. When you email us

If you email us, we receive your email address and whatever you write, including anything you attach, such as a diagnostics log. We use it only to answer you and help with your problem, and keep it only as long as that takes, or as long as we need a record of the conversation.

4. When you buy

Purchases are handled by an online reseller that acts as the merchant of record. The reseller collects your payment details and billing information and processes them under its own privacy policy, which you'll see at checkout. We never receive your full card details. We receive the order information we need to provide your licence and support: your name, email address, country, what you bought and your licence key.

Part B Panel Shelf

5. What stays on your computer

Your library, your files, reading progress, quotes, notes, saved words, settings and everything Panel Shelf reads from images (OCR) stay on your computer. Panel Shelf has no account and sends us nothing: no usage data, no analytics, no telemetry.

6. Your AI keys

The API keys you enter for AI features are stored on your computer, encrypted by Windows for your user account. A key is only ever sent to the provider it belongs to, and never to us.

7. Features that go online

These features connect to outside services, only when you use them. Each service also sees your IP address, as any website does, and handles what it receives under its own privacy policy.

• Looking up a word. The word is sent to free dictionary services: the Free Dictionary API (dictionaryapi.dev), Wiktionary and Datamuse.
• AI features. The word, the passage around it and any meanings you've already saved for it are sent to the AI provider you chose, using your own key. Providers' terms differ on whether they may keep or use what you send, so check your provider's policy, especially for free tiers.
• Pictures for words. When a word names something that can be pictured, a short search term is sent to Wikipedia to find an image.
• Finding a cover. When you search for a cover image, what you type is sent to Bing image search, and the image you pick is downloaded from the site it's on.

8. The diagnostics log

Panel Shelf keeps a log of what it did, including crashes, on your computer. It never contains your AI keys, and it's never sent anywhere automatically. You can copy it from Settings and send it to us if you want help.

Part C Your rights and the rest

9. Your rights

Depending on where you live, you may have the right to see the information we hold about you, correct it, delete it, limit or object to how we use it, or receive a copy. Since we hold very little (mainly emails and order details), the simplest way is to email us. You can also complain to your local data protection authority.

10. Why we use your information

We use order details to provide what you bought, emails to answer you, and website logs to keep the site working and safe. We don't sell your information, use it for advertising, or share it except with the services named in this notice.

11. How long we keep it

Order details are kept as long as your licence is in use and as long as tax and accounting rules require. Emails are kept as long as we need them to help you. Everything in Panel Shelf stays on your computer until you delete it.

12. Services in other countries

The services named in this notice may store or process information in countries other than yours. They are responsible for protecting it under their own policies and the law that applies to them.

13. Children

Our products aren't made for children, and we don't knowingly collect information from them. If you believe a child has sent us personal information, email us and we'll delete it.

14. Changes to this notice

If what our website or software does with information changes, we'll update this notice and the date at the top. Significant changes will be made clear on our website or in the app.

Contact

Questions about your privacy? Email support@vowborn.com.