Terms of Service

Cocina

Owned and operated by Atlas Studios LLC

Last updated: 11/21/2025

1. Introduction

These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your access to and use of the Cocina platform, including any websites, mobile applications, and related services (collectively, the "Service" or "Cocina") operated by Atlas Studios LLC ("Atlas Studios," "we," "us," or "our").

By accessing or using Cocina, creating an account, or booking or offering any services through Cocina, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree to these Terms, you may not use Cocina.

You should read these Terms carefully. They contain important information about your legal rights, obligations, and remedies, including limitations on liability, disclaimers of warranties, an agreement to arbitrate disputes, and a waiver of class actions.

2. Definitions

For purposes of these Terms:

"Client" means a user who requests, books, or receives culinary services through Cocina.
"Chef" means a user who applies to and is approved to provide culinary or related services through Cocina.
"Provider" means any user acting as a Chef.
"User" means any individual or entity that accesses or uses Cocina, including Clients and Providers.
"Services" or "Culinary Services" means cooking, meal preparation, private dining, tastings, or related services arranged through Cocina between Clients and Providers.
"Content" means any text, photos, images, videos, reviews, ratings, profile information, and other materials posted, uploaded, submitted, or transmitted through Cocina.

3. Nature of the Platform

Cocina is an online platform that facilitates the discovery and booking of independent Providers by Clients. Cocina enables Clients to connect with Chefs for in-home or off-site culinary services.

No employment relationship. Providers are independent contractors, not employees, agents, or representatives of Atlas Studios.
No direct provision of services. Atlas Studios does not itself provide cooking, catering, tasting, or any other culinary services. All such services are provided by Providers directly to Clients.
No guarantee of suitability. While Cocina may conduct certain verification steps, Atlas Studios does not guarantee the qualifications, legality, safety, quality, or suitability of any Provider, Client, service, kitchen, or location.

By using Cocina, you acknowledge that your actual contract for culinary services is solely between you (as a Client) and the relevant Provider, and that Atlas Studios is not a party to that contract.

4. Eligibility

To use Cocina, you must:

Be at least 18 years old (or the age of majority in your jurisdiction).
Have the legal capacity to enter into a binding contract.
Comply with these Terms and all applicable laws.

By using Cocina, you represent and warrant that you meet the above requirements.

If you are using Cocina on behalf of a company or other legal entity, you represent and warrant that you are authorized to bind that entity to these Terms, and "you" and "your" will refer to that entity.

5. Account Registration

To access certain features of Cocina, you must create an account.

You agree to provide accurate, current, and complete information during registration and to keep your account information up to date.
You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your login credentials and for all activity that occurs under your account.
You agree to notify us immediately of any unauthorized use or suspected unauthorized use of your account.
You may not transfer or assign your account to any other person or entity without our prior written consent.

We may suspend or terminate your account if we reasonably believe you have violated these Terms or engaged in fraudulent, abusive, or illegal activity.

6. Provider Applications (Chefs)

6.1 Chef Applications

Users who wish to become Chefs must complete a separate application and verification process, which may include:

Application form (experience, cuisine specialties, background).
Upload of dish photos and/or portfolio materials.
Upload of government-issued identification and, where applicable, a liveness/selfie check.
Upload of photos or video of their kitchen or prep space.
Acceptance of a food safety and handling pledge and any additional policies.

Submission of an application does not guarantee approval. We may accept or reject any application at our sole discretion.

6.2 Verification and Monitoring

Although Cocina may perform certain verification checks (including ID checks, media review, basic safety pledges, or other methods), we do not guarantee:

That any verification is complete or error-free;
That any Provider has any particular training, certification, insurance, or licensure;
The continued suitability, safety, or quality of any Provider.

We reserve the right, but are not obligated, to periodically re-verify Providers, request updated information, or suspend or terminate Provider privileges for any reason, including complaints, safety concerns, or inactivity.

7. Bookings and Transactions

7.1 Booking Culinary Services

Clients may use Cocina to request and book Services from Chefs. The details of each booking may include:

Date, time, and duration of the service.
Location (e.g., Client's home, Chef's space, or other venue).
Number of guests.
Menu or type of cuisine.
Price and any additional fees (e.g., ingredients, travel).

By requesting a booking, the Client is making an offer to engage the Chef under the terms described in the booking. A booking is considered confirmed when the Chef accepts the booking through Cocina or as otherwise specified in the booking process.

7.2 Payments

Cocina may integrate with third-party payment processors to facilitate payments between Clients and Providers. By using Cocina, you agree that:

Payments may be processed by third-party payment providers subject to their own terms and privacy policies.
Atlas Studios may charge service, platform, or transaction fees, disclosed at or before the time of booking.
All fees, charges, and payout schedules are subject to change, and any changes will be communicated in accordance with these Terms.

Clients authorize Cocina and its payment providers to charge their selected payment method for the total amount of the booking, including any applicable taxes, service fees, or other charges.

Chefs authorize Cocina and its payment providers to remit payouts according to the applicable payouts schedule, less any fees agreed to in advance.

Cocina is not responsible for errors by third-party payment processors, but will make reasonable efforts to assist Users in resolving payment-related issues.

7.3 Cancellations and Refunds

Cocina may provide default cancellation and refund policies, or permit Providers to set their own policies within certain parameters.

Cancellation terms (e.g., deadlines, partial refunds, non-refundable portions) will generally be specified during the booking process.
The Client and Provider are responsible for reviewing and agreeing to any applicable cancellation and refund policy prior to confirming a booking.
In the event of disputes over cancellations or refunds, Cocina may, but is not obligated to, assist in facilitating communication. Atlas Studios is not obligated to provide refunds beyond what is described in the applicable policy.

We reserve the right to issue or withhold refunds, in whole or in part, at our discretion as a matter of customer service, but this does not create an obligation to do so in the future.

8. User Conduct

You agree not to:

Violate any applicable law, regulation, or third-party right.
Provide or request services that are illegal, unsafe, or violate health and safety regulations.
Use Cocina to engage in harassment, hate speech, fraud, or abusive behavior.
Impersonate any person or entity, or falsely represent your affiliation.
Post or transmit content that is defamatory, obscene, pornographic, discriminatory, or otherwise inappropriate.
Use Cocina for spamming, phishing, or other unsolicited communications.
Attempt to circumvent any security features or access non-public areas of the Service.
Interfere with or disrupt the operation of Cocina or any servers or networks connected to it.
Reverse engineer, decompile, or attempt to derive the source code or underlying ideas or algorithms of any part of Cocina, except to the extent permitted by law.
Use automated systems (bots, scrapers) without our express written consent, except for standard search engine crawling.

We may investigate and take any action we deem appropriate (including account suspension or termination) for any unauthorized or unlawful use of Cocina.

9. Food Safety, Allergies, and Health Risks

Culinary services inherently involve food preparation, handling, and consumption, which carry risks, including but not limited to:

Food-borne illness
Allergen exposure (e.g., nuts, dairy, gluten, shellfish)
Cross-contamination
Improper storage or cooking temperatures

While Cocina may encourage safe practices and may require Chefs to agree to a food safety pledge, you acknowledge and agree that:

Atlas Studios does not inspect kitchens or facilities and does not guarantee compliance with food safety laws or standards.
Clients are responsible for communicating all dietary restrictions, allergies, or health conditions to Providers in advance and confirming that the Provider can safely accommodate them.
Providers are responsible for complying with applicable food safety laws, regulations, and best practices and for truthfully representing their capabilities.
Any health-related outcomes, including illness or adverse reactions, arise solely from the interaction between Client and Provider.

Cocina is not liable for any health issues, injuries, or damages resulting from culinary services arranged through the platform.

10. Reviews and Ratings

Clients may leave reviews, ratings, and feedback regarding Providers and services.

You agree that:

Reviews must be honest, accurate, and not misleading.
You will not post reviews that are defamatory, harassing, discriminatory, or otherwise unlawful.
You will not attempt to manipulate ratings or reviews (e.g., by self-reviewing, offering incentives for positive reviews, or sabotaging competitors).

Atlas Studios may, but is not obligated to, monitor, remove, or edit reviews at its discretion, including content that violates these Terms or applicable law.

By posting a review, you grant Atlas Studios a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use, reproduce, modify, publish, display, and distribute your review in connection with Cocina, including for marketing purposes.

11. Intellectual Property

11.1 Our Content

Cocina and all associated content, features, and functionality (including software, design, logo, branding, text, graphics, and other materials) are owned by or licensed to Atlas Studios and are protected by copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws.

Except as expressly permitted by us, you may not:

Copy, modify, distribute, sell, or lease any part of Cocina;
Use our trademarks, logos, or branding without our prior written consent.

11.2 User Content

You retain ownership of Content you submit or post on Cocina. However, by uploading or posting Content, you grant Atlas Studios a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free, sublicensable, and transferable license to:

Use, host, store, reproduce, modify, create derivative works from, distribute, and display such Content in connection with the operation, improvement, and promotion of Cocina.

You represent and warrant that:

You own or have the rights to submit the Content; and
The Content does not infringe any third-party rights or violate any laws.

We may remove or disable access to any Content at our discretion.

12. Third-Party Services and Links

Cocina may contain links to third-party websites, services, or resources, or integrate with third-party services (e.g., payment processors, cloud storage, analytics, messaging providers).

You acknowledge and agree that:

We do not control and are not responsible for third-party websites or services.
Your use of third-party services is at your own risk and may be governed by separate terms and privacy policies.

13. Disclaimers

To the maximum extent permitted by law, the following disclaimers apply:

"As is" and "as available." Cocina is provided on an "as is" and "as available" basis, without warranties of any kind, whether express, implied, or statutory.
No warranty of quality or fitness. We do not warrant that any Provider, service, dish, or kitchen is safe, compliant, accurate, reliable, or suitable for any particular purpose.
No guarantee of availability. We do not warrant that Cocina will be uninterrupted, secure, or free from errors, viruses, or other harmful components.
User responsibility. You are solely responsible for determining whether to book or provide services, what to cook or consume, and how to manage risk, including allergies and health concerns.

To the extent permitted by law, we expressly disclaim all warranties, including but not limited to any implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement.

14. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law:

Atlas Studios, its owners, officers, employees, contractors, and affiliates will not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, or for any loss of profits, revenue, data, or goodwill, arising out of or related to your use of Cocina, even if we have been advised of the possibility of such damages.
Our total aggregate liability to you for all claims arising out of or related to Cocina or these Terms will not exceed the greater of:
- The total amount you paid to us in fees (if any) in the twelve (12) months preceding the event giving rise to the claim; or
- One hundred U.S. dollars (USD $100).

Some jurisdictions do not allow limitations on certain damages or implied warranties, so some of the above limitations may not apply to you. In such cases, the limitations will apply to the maximum extent permitted by law.

15. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Atlas Studios and its officers, directors, employees, agents, licensors, and affiliates from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out of or related to:

Your use or misuse of Cocina;
Your violation of these Terms;
Your violation of any law or the rights of any third party;
Your provision or receipt of services arranged through Cocina, including any personal injury, property damage, or health-related issues.

We reserve the right to assume the exclusive defense and control of any matter subject to indemnification by you, in which case you agree to cooperate with any reasonable requests in assisting our defense.

16. Dispute Resolution and Arbitration

Please read this section carefully. It affects your rights.

16.1 Informal Resolution

Before initiating formal legal proceedings, you agree to first contact us at the email address below and attempt to resolve the dispute informally. Most concerns can be quickly resolved this way.

16.2 Binding Arbitration

If a dispute is not resolved informally, to the fullest extent permitted by law, you and Atlas Studios agree to resolve any dispute, claim, or controversy arising out of or relating to these Terms or your use of Cocina (collectively, "Disputes") through binding individual arbitration, rather than in court.

Arbitration will be conducted:

Before a single arbitrator;
Under the rules of a recognized arbitration provider;
In a location mutually agreed upon, or if not, a location reasonably chosen by the arbitrator;
In English, unless the parties agree otherwise.

The arbitrator's decision will be final and binding and may be entered as a judgment in any court of competent jurisdiction.

16.3 No Class Actions

You and Atlas Studios agree that:

Disputes will be resolved only on an individual basis; and
You will not seek to have any Dispute heard as a class action, class arbitration, private attorney general action, or any other representative proceeding.

If this class-action waiver is found unenforceable, then the entirety of this arbitration section will be null and void, and disputes will be resolved in court.

16.4 Opt-Out

If you do not wish to be bound by this arbitration clause, you may opt out by sending us written notice within 30 days of your first use of Cocina. Your opt-out must clearly state your name, account information, and intent to opt out of arbitration. If you opt out, both you and Atlas Studios retain the right to bring any dispute in court.

17. Governing Law

These Terms and any dispute arising out of or related to them will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of North Carolina, United States, without regard to its conflict of law rules.

Subject to the arbitration clause above, you agree to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in North Carolina for any non-arbitrable disputes.

18. Changes to the Service and Terms

We may modify Cocina, add or remove features, or discontinue parts of the Service at any time, with or without notice.

We may also update these Terms 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 via email or in-app notice). Your continued use of Cocina after changes become effective constitutes your acceptance of the updated Terms.

19. Termination

We may, at our sole discretion, suspend or terminate your access to Cocina at any time, with or without cause or notice, including if we reasonably believe you have violated these Terms or engaged in fraudulent or harmful behavior.

You may stop using Cocina and/or delete your account at any time, subject to any obligations that have already arisen (e.g., confirmed bookings, outstanding payments, or indemnification obligations).

Provisions that by their nature should survive termination (e.g., intellectual property, disclaimers, limitations of liability, indemnification, and dispute resolution) will survive termination of your use of Cocina.

20. Miscellaneous

Entire Agreement. These Terms constitute the entire agreement between you and Atlas Studios regarding Cocina and supersede any prior or contemporaneous agreements.
Severability. If any provision of these Terms is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will remain in full force and effect.
No Waiver. Our failure to enforce any provision of these Terms does not constitute a waiver of that provision or any other provision.
Assignment. You may not assign or transfer these Terms without our prior written consent. We may assign these Terms without restriction.
Headings. Section headings are for convenience only and do not affect interpretation.

21. Contact Information

If you have questions about these Terms, you may contact:

Atlas Studios LLC
Email: support@atlasstudiosllc.com