Cookie Policy

Last updated: 7 September 2026

This Cookie Policy explains how iclarence.com uses cookies and similar technologies when you browse the website, create or use a reader account, buy a book, access subscriber-only material or use other website functions.

This policy should be read together with the Privacy Policy, which explains more generally how personal information is collected and used.

1. What is a cookie?

A cookie is a small piece of information stored on your computer, phone, tablet or other device when you use a website. Cookies can allow a website to recognise a browser, maintain a login session, remember information during a transaction, protect forms and provide other website functions.

Similar technologies can also store information on, or obtain information from, a user's device. References to cookies in this policy include similar storage and access technologies where appropriate.

2. Cookies used by iclarence.com

iclarence.com uses, or may use when the relevant feature is being used, cookies that are necessary to provide functions requested by the visitor. These may include:

• Session and authentication cookies – used to keep you signed in to a reader account and to recognise your authenticated session while you move between pages.
• Security cookies – used to protect forms, account functions, purchases and other requests against misuse or unauthorised activity.
• Transaction and checkout cookies – where necessary to maintain information required to complete a purchase or other transaction requested by you.
• Preference cookies – where necessary to remember a choice you have specifically asked the website to retain.

Where a cookie is strictly necessary to provide a function you requested, consent is not required before it is set, although information about its use is still provided in this policy.

3. Non-essential cookies

iclarence.com does not currently use cookies for behavioural advertising or cross-site advertising tracking.

If non-essential cookies or similar technologies are introduced in future, this Cookie Policy will be updated and an appropriate consent mechanism will be provided where required by law.

Non-essential technologies will not be treated as accepted merely because you continue browsing the website.

4. Analytics

The website may use server-side technical information and logs to understand website performance, investigate errors, identify automated traffic and protect the service. Server logs are not necessarily cookies because they do not require information to be stored on your device.

If browser-based analytics cookies or similar technologies are introduced, their use, purpose and duration will be explained here. Any consent or other controls required by applicable law will be provided before or when those technologies are used.

5. Reader accounts

Reader accounts may use a session cookie so that the website can recognise that you have successfully logged in and can give you access to subscriber-only stories or other restricted material.

Such a cookie should contain only the information needed to maintain or identify the session. Your password is not stored in a cookie.

Signing out should end or invalidate the authenticated session. Session information may also expire automatically after a period of inactivity for security reasons.

6. Purchases and PayPal

When you choose to buy a book or other product, iclarence.com may use strictly necessary session or transaction information to maintain the state of the purchase and associate a successful payment with the correct order and secure download.

Payments are processed through PayPal. When you are redirected to, or interact with, PayPal, PayPal may use its own cookies and similar technologies. Those technologies are controlled by PayPal and are governed by PayPal's own cookie and privacy information rather than this policy.

7. Cookie consent and choices

Where consent is legally required for a cookie or similar technology, iclarence.com will ask for an appropriate positive choice before using it.

You should be able to refuse non-essential cookies without losing access to the ordinary public content of the website. Where preference controls are provided, you can use them to change your choices.

8. Browser controls

Most web browsers allow you to view, delete or block cookies through their privacy or security settings. You can also configure many browsers to block third-party cookies or clear stored cookies when the browser is closed.

Blocking all cookies may affect functions that depend upon them. For example, if you block a cookie required to maintain an authenticated reader session, you may be unable to remain logged in or access subscriber-only material.

9. How long cookies last

Some cookies are session cookies and expire when the browser session ends or when the website invalidates the session. Others may be persistent cookies and remain on the device for a defined period.

iclarence.com will keep cookie lifetimes no longer than reasonably necessary for the purpose for which the cookie is used.

10. Third-party content and services

Some pages may link to or interact with services operated by other organisations. If a third-party service places or reads information on your device, that organisation may be responsible for its own cookies and similar technologies.

If iclarence.com embeds a third-party feature that sets non-essential cookies directly on this website, it will be assessed before use and any consent required by law will be obtained.

11. Changes to this Cookie Policy

This policy may be updated if the website changes the cookies or similar technologies it uses, introduces new account, analytics, marketing or third-party features, or if legal requirements change.

The date at the top of this page shows when the policy was last revised.

12. Contact

If you have questions about cookies or privacy on iclarence.com, please contact ian@iclarence.com.