Privacy
Stemmata — last updated 13 September 2026
The short version
There is no Stemmata server. We do not have an account system, we do not collect analytics, and we do not receive your library or notes. Local library search stays on your device. Optional online catalogue actions, where available in your installed version, send your query to that catalogue.
What stays on your device
- Your library: works, permissions, licences and the reasons behind them.
- Your notes and highlights.
- Your local search index and any search history saved by the app.
- App settings.
These are stored in the app's own container. If you include the app in iCloud Backup or place exported files in iCloud Drive, Apple's terms apply. This does not provide Stemmata note synchronization between devices.
What leaves your device, and when
- Catalogue lookup, where available. If your installed version offers online catalogue search, choosing that action sends the search terms you enter to Crossref to retrieve bibliographic metadata. It does not request abstracts or full text. A search sends a query even if you do not save any result. Your other library records and notes are not attached. Stemmata does not attach an account or advertising identifier. Crossref states that it logs request contents and IP addresses even for anonymous access, and deletes those logs after three months. See Crossref's metadata access documentation. Crossref handles those requests under its own privacy policy.
- Opening a DOI link. The link is handed to your browser. From that point your browser, not Stemmata, is talking to the publisher.
If you do not use an online catalogue action or open an external link, Stemmata does not contact those external services. Searching a library already saved on your device works offline.
What we do not do
- No accounts, no sign-in, no email address collected.
- No analytics, crash reporting to third parties, advertising or tracking identifiers.
- We do not sell library or note data, or send it to analytics or advertising services.
Children
Stemmata is a research tool and is not directed at children. We do not receive users' library or note content. Optional requests to external services are described above.
Your rights
There is no Stemmata account to delete and no library export to request from us. Your library is managed on your device. Deleting the app removes its local data; files you exported or backed up separately are not deleted by that action. For information sent to an external catalogue or website, consult that service's privacy policy.
Changes and contact
If this policy changes, the date above changes with it and the change is described here. Questions: brkekahraman@icloud.com.