Privacy Policy

Overview

BigYap ("we", "us", or "our") operates thebigyap.com and the Audio Center desktop application (distributed through the Microsoft Store). This policy explains what data the app and website access, collect, and transmit, and how it is handled. We practice minimal data collection.

Audio Center: Data the App Accesses Locally

Audio Center is a Windows desktop app that records microphone input and per-application audio on your computer. To do this, the app accesses the following on your device. None of this information leaves your machine:

• Microphone audio. The app declares the Windows microphone capability. Microphone audio is captured only while you have explicitly started a recording from within the app. Microsoft Store / Windows Settings lets you revoke microphone access at any time.
• System and application audio. The app can capture audio playing from selected output devices and from specific running applications (loopback capture). It enumerates your audio input/output devices and the names and process IDs of applications currently producing audio so you can choose what to record.
• File system access. Recordings are written to the local folder you select in the app.

Audio Center: Recordings and Transcripts

Your recordings stay on your device unless you explicitly choose to generate a transcript. Audio is recorded only when you press the record button, and the resulting audio files stay on your device under your full control by default.

If you select Generate Transcript, Audio Center temporarily uploads the selected recording in audio chunks to BigYap servers so we can send it to our transcription provider, OpenAI. The chunks are used only to generate the transcript, then deleted after processing or job expiry. We do not store transcript text or uploaded audio permanently.

Audio Center: License Validation Data

If you activate a Pro license, the app transmits the following over HTTPS to our license verification endpoint at thebigyap.com/audio-center/license/verify:

• Your license key (compared server-side against an HMAC-SHA256 hash; the raw key is not stored in our database).
• A locally-generated device identifier (stored server-side only as a SHA-256 hash, used to track which devices have activated the license).
• The app version number.

This information is used solely to verify your subscription status and count device activations. The license key may also be stored locally by the app to allow re-verification on launch. The app does not collect or transmit any other personal information.

Purchases and Payment Data

Purchases of Audio Center Pro made on thebigyap.com are processed by Stripe, our payment processor. When you check out, Stripe collects your email address, billing details, and payment method directly. We do not see or store your full payment card number. From Stripe we receive: your email address, a Stripe customer ID, a subscription or payment reference, the plan you purchased, and subscription status events (e.g. renewed, canceled). We store this so we can issue and manage your license and let you access a billing portal to cancel or update payment details.

If you obtain Audio Center through the Microsoft Store, any purchase and refund flow is handled by Microsoft under its own privacy terms; we receive only what Microsoft passes to developers (e.g. anonymized purchase confirmations).

Email

If you request a billing portal link, we send a one-time link to the email address associated with your purchase. We use a transactional email provider to deliver these messages. We do not use your email for marketing.

Website (thebigyap.com)

Our website may use standard server logs (IP address, browser user agent, referring URL, timestamp) to diagnose issues, monitor uptime, and apply rate limits to abusive traffic. We may use privacy-respecting analytics to understand aggregate traffic patterns. We use only essential cookies required for site operation and session management — no tracking or advertising cookies.

Who We Share Data With

We do not sell your personal data. We share limited data only with the service providers needed to operate Audio Center:

• Microsoft Store — app distribution, installation, and (where applicable) purchase processing, subject to Microsoft's privacy policy.
• Stripe — payment processing and subscription management for purchases made on our website.
• Our hosting and email providers — infrastructure to run the website, license endpoint, and transactional emails.
• OpenAI — transcription processing only when you explicitly choose to generate a transcript from a selected recording.

We may also disclose information if required by law or to protect the rights, safety, or property of BigYap or our users.

Data Retention

License records and activation history are retained for the duration of your subscription plus a reasonable period for dispute resolution, refund handling, and tax/accounting requirements. Hashed device identifiers are discarded when the associated license is deleted.

Your Rights — Access, Correction, and Deletion

Depending on your jurisdiction (e.g. GDPR, UK GDPR, CCPA), you may have the right to access, correct, export, or delete the data we hold about you, and to withdraw consent for processing. To exercise any of these rights — including requesting deletion of your license and activation records — email us at privacy@thebigyap.com. We will respond within a reasonable timeframe and verify your identity via the email address on file before acting on the request.

Children

Audio Center is not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this policy as our services evolve. Material changes will be noted with an updated "Last updated" date at the top of this page. Continued use of our services after changes constitutes acceptance.

Contact

Questions about this policy, or requests to access or delete your data? Reach us at privacy@thebigyap.com.