Privacy Policy

Cocina

Owned and operated by Atlas Studios LLC

Last updated: 11/21/2025

1. Introduction

This Privacy Policy explains how Atlas Studios LLC ("Atlas Studios," "we," "us," or "our") collects, uses, discloses, and protects personal information when you use the Cocina platform, including our websites, mobile applications, and related services (collectively, "Cocina" or the "Service").

By accessing or using Cocina, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with this Privacy Policy, you should not use Cocina.

This Privacy Policy applies to all Users, including Clients and Chefs.

2. Data Controller

Atlas Studios LLC is the entity responsible for the processing of personal information in connection with Cocina.

If you have any questions or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact:

Atlas Studios LLC
Email: support@atlasstudiosllc.com

3. Information We Collect

We collect personal information in various ways when you use Cocina. The categories of information we may collect include:

3.1 Information You Provide Directly

Account Information:

• Name
• Email address
• Password (stored in hashed form)
• Phone number
• Profile photo or avatar
• Preferred language or region

Chef Application Information:

• Full legal name
• Contact information (e.g., phone number, email, address or region)
• Professional experience, biography, and cuisine specialties
• Photos of dishes, menus, and other portfolio materials
• Photos and/or videos of kitchen or prep spaces
• Government-issued ID images and associated details
• Selfie/liveness photos used for identity verification
• Food safety and handling pledge and related attestations
• Any other information provided in application forms or correspondence

Booking and Transaction Information:

• Details of services requested or provided (e.g., date, time, location, number of guests, menu)
• Special requests, dietary restrictions, or allergy information you choose to share
• Pricing, payment details (processed by third-party providers), and transaction history
• Messages between Clients and Providers related to bookings

Communication and Support:

• Messages you send through the platform (e.g., chat, inquiries, complaints, or feedback)
• Support requests and correspondence with our team
• Survey responses or participation in promotions or research

3.2 Information We Collect Automatically

When you use Cocina, we may automatically collect certain information, including:

• Device and Usage Data: IP address, browser type, operating system, device identifiers, device type, and app version.
• Log Information: Access times, pages viewed, links clicked, referring URL, and interactions with the Service.
• Location Data: Approximate location based on IP address or device settings (e.g., city or region). We may request more precise location data if needed for certain features (and only with your permission).
• Cookies and Similar Technologies: We use cookies, web beacons, and similar technologies to recognize your browser or device, remember your preferences, and analyze usage patterns.

3.3 Information from Third Parties

We may receive information about you from:

• Third-party login providers (if you choose to sign in using a social or single-sign-on provider).
• Payment processors, which may provide limited information related to your transactions (e.g., payment status, last four digits of a card, or tokenized identifiers).
• Verification or screening providers, which may assist with identity checks, fraud prevention, or compliance processes.
• Other users, for example when a Client submits a review about a Chef, or a Chef refers you.

We may combine information from these sources with the information we collect directly and automatically.

4. How We Use Your Information

We use personal information for the following purposes:

4.1 To Provide and Operate Cocina

• Creating and managing your account.
• Enabling Clients to discover and book Providers.
• Enabling Providers to receive, manage, and fulfill bookings.
• Processing payments and payouts and managing financial transactions.
• Providing customer support and responding to inquiries.

4.2 To Verify Identity and Enhance Trust and Safety

• Verifying the identity of Providers (and in some cases, other Users) through ID checks, selfies, or other measures.
• Reviewing photos, videos, and other materials provided during applications or bookings to assess compliance with platform policies.
• Detecting, preventing, and responding to fraud, abuse, security incidents, and other harmful activity.
• Enforcing our Terms of Service and other policies.

4.3 To Personalize and Improve the Service

• Recommending Providers or services based on your preferences, location, and past activity.
• Analyzing usage and trends to understand how Cocina is used and to improve performance and user experience.
• Testing new features, conducting research, and developing new products or services.

4.4 To Communicate with You

• Sending transactional emails and notifications, such as booking confirmations, updates, cancellations, or security alerts.
• Sending service-related announcements (e.g., changes to policies or features).
• With your consent or as permitted by law, sending promotional communications, newsletters, or offers.

You can opt out of non-essential marketing communications at any time by following the unsubscribe instructions in those messages or contacting us.

4.5 To Comply with Legal Obligations

• Complying with applicable laws, regulations, and legal processes.
• Responding to lawful requests, such as subpoenas or court orders.
• Maintaining appropriate business records.

5. Legal Bases for Processing (EEA/UK Users)

If you are located in the European Economic Area (EEA) or the United Kingdom (UK), we process your personal information only when we have a valid legal basis, including:

• Contract: To provide the Service you request (e.g., account setup, bookings, payments).
• Consent: Where required, for certain uses (e.g., some marketing or specific optional features).
• Legitimate Interests: To improve the Service, maintain security, prevent fraud, and support business operations, where such interests are not overridden by your rights.
• Legal Obligation: To comply with applicable laws and regulations.

You may withdraw consent at any time where consent is the legal basis, without affecting the lawfulness of processing before withdrawal.

6. How We Share Your Information

We may share personal information with:

6.1 Other Users

• When Clients book services, relevant booking details (e.g., name, requested date/time, location details, dietary notes you choose to share) may be provided to the Chef.
• Chefs' profiles and certain information (e.g., name or professional alias, biography, portfolio photos, general location/region, reviews, and ratings) may be visible to Clients.

You should not share more personal information through messages or bookings than is necessary.

6.2 Service Providers and Partners

We may share information with trusted third parties that help us operate and improve Cocina, such as:

• Cloud hosting and storage providers.
• Payment processors and financial services providers.
• Identity verification and security vendors.
• Analytics providers.
• Email, SMS, and notification providers.
• Customer support tools and communication platforms.

These third parties are authorized to use your information only as necessary to provide services to us and are subject to appropriate confidentiality and security obligations.

6.3 Legal and Compliance

We may disclose your information:

• To comply with laws, regulations, legal processes, or lawful requests by public authorities.
• To protect the rights, property, or safety of Atlas Studios, our users, or others.
• To detect, prevent, or address fraud, security, or technical issues.

6.4 Business Transfers

In the event of a merger, acquisition, reorganization, sale of assets, or bankruptcy involving Atlas Studios or Cocina, your information may be transferred as part of the transaction. We will take reasonable steps to ensure that the recipient continues to protect your information consistent with this Privacy Policy.

6.5 With Your Consent

We may share your information with third parties when you direct us to or provide your explicit consent.

7. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies to:

• Recognize your browser or device.
• Maintain your session and keep you logged in.
• Store your preferences.
• Analyze usage and trends to improve Cocina.

Types of cookies include:

• Essential cookies: Necessary for the basic operation of the Service.
• Performance/analytics cookies: Help us understand how users interact with Cocina.
• Functionality cookies: Remember your preferences and settings.
• Advertising or marketing cookies (if used): Assist with delivering and measuring promotional content.

You can manage cookies through your browser settings and, in some cases, through preference tools we provide. Disabling certain cookies may impact your ability to use some features of Cocina.

8. Data Retention

We retain personal information for as long as necessary to:

• Provide the Service and complete your transactions.
• Fulfill legitimate business purposes (e.g., maintaining records, improving the Service).
• Comply with legal, regulatory, or contractual obligations.

We may retain certain information after you close your account, for example:

• Transaction history and related records, to comply with legal and financial obligations.
• Records necessary for fraud prevention, security, and dispute resolution.
• Reviews or aggregated data that does not identify you directly.

When personal information is no longer needed, we will delete it or anonymize it in a secure manner.

9. Data Security

We implement reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect personal information against loss, misuse, unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction.

These measures may include:

• Encryption of data in transit (e.g., HTTPS).
• Access controls and authentication measures.
• Secure storage and backups.
• Internal policies and training for staff with access to personal information.

However, no method of transmission or storage is completely secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security. You are responsible for safeguarding your account credentials and promptly notifying us of any suspicious activity or unauthorized access.

10. International Data Transfers

Cocina may be accessed globally, and personal information may be transferred to, stored in, or processed in countries other than your own, including the United States.

These countries may have different data protection laws than your jurisdiction. Where required, we implement appropriate safeguards for cross-border data transfers, such as contractual protections or other lawful mechanisms.

By using Cocina, you consent to the transfer of your information to countries outside your country of residence, subject to this Privacy Policy and applicable law.

11. Your Rights and Choices

Depending on your location, you may have certain rights regarding your personal information, including:

• The right to access personal information we hold about you.
• The right to request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information.
• The right to request deletion of your personal information, subject to legal constraints.
• The right to object to or restrict certain forms of processing.
• The right to withdraw consent where processing is based on consent.
• The right to data portability (in some cases).

To exercise these rights, please contact us using the contact information above. We may need to verify your identity before fulfilling your request. Some rights may be limited by applicable law.

11.1 EEA/UK Users

If you are in the EEA or UK, you also have the right to lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority if you believe that our processing of your personal information violates applicable law.

11.2 California (CCPA/CPRA) Users

If you are a California resident, you may have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), as amended by the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA), including:

• The right to know the categories and specific pieces of personal information we collect, use, and disclose.
• The right to request deletion of personal information, subject to certain exceptions.
• The right to correct inaccurate personal information.
• The right to opt out of certain types of "sharing" or "selling" of personal information (if applicable).
• The right not to be discriminated against for exercising your privacy rights.

At this time, we do not "sell" personal information as that term is typically defined under CCPA. If our practices change, we will update this Privacy Policy and provide appropriate notices.

To submit a privacy request under CCPA/CPRA, please contact us using the email address provided above and specify that your request is related to California privacy rights.

12. Children's Privacy

Cocina is not intended for use by children under the age of 13, or under the age of majority in their jurisdiction, whichever is higher. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children without appropriate parental or guardian consent where required by law.

If we learn that we have collected personal information from a child in violation of this policy, we will take steps to delete that information as soon as reasonably possible. If you believe a child has provided personal information to us, please contact us.

13. Third-Party Websites and Services

Cocina may contain links to third-party websites and services that are not controlled by Atlas Studios. This Privacy Policy does not apply to those third-party properties.

We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party websites or services you visit or use. We are not responsible for the privacy or security practices of those third parties.

14. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we will revise the "Last updated" date at the top. If we make material changes, we will provide additional notice, such as by email or via prominent notice within the Service.

Your continued use of Cocina after the updated Privacy Policy becomes effective indicates that you have read and accepted the changes.

15. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests related to this Privacy Policy or our data practices, you may contact:

Atlas Studios LLC
Email: support@atlasstudiosllc.com