This Privacy Policy explains how The Geek Menu LLC may collect, use, disclose, retain, and protect information in connection with thegeekmenu.com, related communications, community features, digital content, and other services that link to this Policy. The words “The Geek Menu LLC,” “The Geek Menu,” “the Company,” “the Website,” “the site,” “services,” and similar terms are used in the practical sense described in Appendix A.
Information That May Be Collected
Information may be provided directly when someone subscribes to a newsletter, sends a contact form, posts a comment, submits a recipe or other content, creates an account, participates in a rating or community feature, responds to a survey, enters a promotion, or otherwise communicates with The Geek Menu LLC. Depending on the feature used, this may include a name, email address, account information, message content, preferences, submitted photographs or files, and any other information voluntarily provided.
The Website and service providers may automatically receive technical information such as an Internet Protocol address, browser or device type, operating system, referring and visited pages, approximate location derived from an IP address, access time, cookie or similar identifier, and general interaction data. The exact information depends on the technologies and services active on the Website.
Information may also be received from service providers, social platforms, embedded-content providers, analytics or advertising partners, affiliate networks, fraud-prevention providers, and other parties when their services are used in connection with the Website and their terms permit the information to be shared.
How Information May Be Used
Information may be used to operate, maintain, secure, personalize, and improve the Website; respond to questions; provide requested communications; administer accounts, comments, submissions, ratings, or promotions; understand how content is used; detect misuse; protect legal rights; comply with law; and support advertising, affiliate, analytics, or business operations where permitted. Information may also be used for another compatible purpose disclosed when it is collected or with consent when consent is required.
Newsletter and marketing messages may be sent when a person subscribes or when otherwise permitted by law. Those messages will provide an available method to unsubscribe from future marketing email. Administrative, security, legal, or transactional messages may still be sent when needed.
Comments, Submissions, and Public Content
Comments, ratings, profile details, recipe submissions, photographs, and other material submitted to a public or community area may be visible to other people and may be indexed, copied, or shared outside the Website. Information that should remain private should not be placed in a public submission. Community content is also governed by the Terms and Conditions, Acceptable Use Policy, Community Guidelines, and Copyright and DMCA Policy.
Cookies and Similar Technologies
The Website and participating service providers may use cookies, pixels, local storage, embedded scripts, and similar technologies to keep features working, remember preferences, measure use, prevent abuse, support media or social features, and provide or measure advertising. Details and available controls appear in the Cookie Policy. Third-party websites and embedded services operate under their own privacy and cookie practices.
Advertising, Affiliates, and Sponsored Content
The Website may display advertising, use affiliate links, publish sponsored content, or discuss complimentary products, services, or experiences. Advertising and measurement providers may use information collected through their technologies as permitted by law and their own policies. Material relationships are described in the Affiliate and Advertising Disclosure and, when appropriate, close to the relevant recommendation or content.
When Information May Be Disclosed
Information may be disclosed to vendors and service providers that support hosting, security, email, analytics, advertising, content delivery, spam prevention, customer support, and other site functions. It may also be disclosed when reasonably necessary to comply with law or legal process; investigate misuse, fraud, or security concerns; protect the rights, safety, or property of The Geek Menu LLC or others; complete a merger, financing, sale, reorganization, or similar business event; or carry out another purpose disclosed at collection with any consent required by law.
The Geek Menu LLC does not sell personal information for money. Some state laws use broader definitions of “sale,” “sharing,” or “targeted advertising” that may cover certain advertising or analytics activities. Where an applicable law requires a choice, that choice will be provided as described in Addendum A.
Retention and Security
Information may be kept for as long as reasonably needed for the purpose for which it was collected, to provide or improve services, preserve legitimate records, resolve disputes, prevent abuse, enforce agreements, and meet legal obligations. Retention periods may vary by the type of information and the reason it is held.
Reasonable administrative, technical, and organizational safeguards may be used to protect information. No website, transmission, or storage system can be guaranteed completely secure, and The Geek Menu LLC cannot promise that unauthorized access, loss, or misuse will never occur.
Children’s Privacy
The Website is intended for a general audience and is not directed to children under 13. The Geek Menu LLC does not knowingly request personal information online from a child under 13 without any notice and consent required by law. A parent or guardian who believes a child provided personal information may contact The Geek Menu LLC to request review or deletion.
Choices and Requests
People may unsubscribe from marketing email using the method in the message, adjust browser or device settings, use controls made available by a relevant service provider, or contact The Geek Menu LLC about an applicable privacy request. A request may require reasonable verification, and some information may be retained or a request limited when permitted or required by law. The Geek Menu LLC will not unlawfully discriminate against a person for exercising an applicable privacy right.
Links and Services Operated by Others
The Website may link to or embed websites, advertisements, maps, videos, social media, payment tools, plugins, or other services operated by third parties. The Geek Menu LLC does not control their privacy or security practices. Their own notices should be reviewed before information is provided to them.
Changes to This Policy
This Policy may be updated as the Website, business practices, or legal requirements change. The current version will be posted on this page with a revised date. Additional notice may be provided when required.
Contact
Privacy questions or requests may be sent to info@thegeekmenu.com or mailed to The Geek Menu LLC, P.O. Box 69, Hastings, NY 13076. The Contact Us page may also be used for general inquiries.
Addendum A – U.S. State Privacy Rights
Depending on residence, the nature of the information, how it is used, and whether a law applies to The Geek Menu LLC, a person may have rights to know or access personal information, obtain a portable copy, correct inaccurate information, request deletion, limit certain uses of sensitive information, opt out of a sale or sharing of personal information, opt out of targeted advertising or certain profiling, and appeal a denied request. These rights are not identical in every state and may be subject to exceptions.
A state privacy request may be sent to info@thegeekmenu.com with the subject “Privacy Request.” The request should describe the right being exercised and provide enough information to locate and reasonably verify the relevant records. An authorized agent may submit a request where permitted, but proof of authority and direct verification may be required. If a covered request is denied, the response will explain any available appeal process.
Where required, browser-based opt-out preference signals that meet applicable legal standards may be recognized for the browser or device sending the signal. A “Your Privacy Choices” link or another control will be made available if the Website’s active practices and applicable law require one.
Appendix A – Definitions
- The Geek Menu LLC or the Company
- The New York limited liability company responsible for the Website and the practices described in this Policy.
- Website or site
- thegeekmenu.com and any related page, feature, or service that links to this Policy.
- Personal information
- Information that identifies, relates to, describes, or could reasonably be linked with a person or household, as defined by applicable law.
- Sensitive personal information
- Personal information given special protection by applicable law, which may include precise location, account credentials, government identifiers, certain financial information, or health-related information.
- Processing
- Any operation performed on information, including collecting, using, storing, organizing, disclosing, or deleting it.
- Cookies and similar technologies
- Small files, identifiers, pixels, local-storage tools, scripts, or related technologies used by websites and services.
- Service provider
- A vendor or contractor that performs services for The Geek Menu LLC, subject to applicable obligations.
- Third party
- A person or organization that is not The Geek Menu LLC or a service provider acting on its behalf.
- Community content
- Comments, ratings, recipes, images, profile information, and other material submitted by a visitor or user.
Appendix B – Additional Collection and Use Details
Contact and support features may collect the information included in a message so the inquiry can be reviewed and answered. Newsletter features may collect an email address, subscription preferences, and delivery or engagement information. Comment and community features may collect account or display information, submission content, moderation records, and technical information used for spam and security controls. If accounts, transactions, promotions, or other features are introduced, the relevant form or notice may provide additional information at the point of collection.
Appendix C – Additional Privacy Practices
The Website may use automated tools to assist with spam detection, security, analytics, content organization, or drafting and editing. Human review may be used where appropriate. Recipe, allergy, dietary, or medical-preference information should not be submitted unless a feature clearly requests it and the person chooses to provide it. If The Geek Menu LLC begins collecting identifiable consumer health data in a way that requires a separate policy or consent, an additional notice will be provided before that practice begins.
Information may be processed in the United States and other places where service providers operate. Privacy protections may differ by location. Appropriate steps will be taken when a transfer mechanism is required by applicable law.