Overview
Artwell does not silently delete content at the moment a trial or paid subscription expires. Expired and lapsed accounts move to read-only access while retained data remains available under the windows below.
Artwell uses different retention windows for different data classes. Transcript text and metadata are retained longer than large source-media files because the user value and storage profile are different.
Quick Transcript purchases follow their own, shorter source-retention rules described in the next section. The trial and subscription windows further below apply to Story Engine account content.
Quick Transcript source and transcript retention
Quick Transcript is Artwell’s pay-as-you-go transcription product. Its retention rules are intentionally short for the uploaded recording and user-controlled for the transcript:
- Unpaid or abandoned uploads: the uploaded source recording is scheduled for deletion 24 hours after upload if no completed purchase follows.
- Completed transcripts: the source recording is scheduled for deletion 72 hours after your transcript completes.
- Failed jobs: if transcription terminally fails, the source recording is scheduled for deletion after 7 days to allow diagnosis and any required refund, then removed.
- Your transcript: the transcript text and its metadata remain in your account until you delete them.
These windows are fixed and automatic: Quick Transcript source deletions run on the stated schedule without separate notice emails. Deleting the source recording removes the uploaded media itself. Minimal content-free records — payment, fraud-prevention, security, and audit entries — may be retained where operationally or legally required. Deletion is executed by a scheduled reconciliation process that runs continuously, so removal happens shortly after each window ends rather than at an exact second.
Data classes and retention windows
| Data class | Trial-expired / trial-ineligible | Paid-lapsed |
|---|---|---|
| Source media and large uploaded media files | 30 days after deletion scheduling begins | 90 days after paid access ends |
| Transcript text and transcript metadata | 180 days after deletion scheduling begins | 24 months after paid access ends |
| Account identity, billing records, and audit history | Retained as needed for account administration, fraud prevention, support, compliance, and legal obligations unless a shorter deletion path is required by law or an approved verified deletion request. | |
If an enterprise or custom agreement explicitly overrides these defaults, the signed contract controls for that account.
Deletion notices (trial and subscription content)
For the trial and subscription data classes above, Artwell aims to send notices approximately 30 days, 15 days, and 24 hours before the applicable deletion time. These notices do not apply to Quick Transcript source recordings, which follow the fixed schedule described in the Quick Transcript section without additional notice emails.
If a retention window is shorter than the first notice threshold for a given data class, Artwell may send the first notice when deletion is scheduled and then send only the remaining future notices that still apply.
These notices are designed to give you a fair opportunity to resubscribe, export retained data, or request deletion.
Legal holds and deletion requests
Artwell may pause deletion where a legal hold, security investigation, fraud review, or similar obligation applies. In those cases, normal deletion windows can be suspended until the hold is removed.
If you request deletion, Artwell may require identity verification before deleting retained account data or media. Verified deletion requests are handled together with the Artwell Privacy Policy and any applicable legal obligations.