privacy policy

Effective Date: July 25, 2025

The Category LLC ("The Category," "we," "us," or "our") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit www.thecategory.com (the "Site"), engage our services, or interact with us in any other way. By using the Site or providing information to us, you agree to the terms of this Policy.

INFORMATION WE COLLECT

  1. Information You Provide Voluntarily
    1. Contact Information (e.g., name, email address, phone number, mailing address)
    2. Business Information (e.g., company name, role, industry)
    3. Content You Submit (e.g., inquiries, feedback, project materials, or media assets)
  2. Information We Collect Automatically When you visit the Site, we automatically collect certain information via cookies, pixels, and similar tracking technologies (“Cookies”), including:
    1. IP address, browser type, device identifiers
    2. Pages viewed, links clicked, referring URL
    3. Date/time stamps, approximate location (city/region)
    4. Interaction data (e.g., scroll depth, clicks)
  3. Information from Third Parties, We may receive information about you from public databases, social media platforms, event partners, or analytics providers.

HOW WE USE YOUR INFORMATION

We use your information to:

  1. To operate and improve the Site
  2. To respond to inquiries and communicate about projects
  3. To send news, marketing, or event details (you may opt out anytime)
  4. To analyze trends and prevent fraud
  5. To meet legal and contractual obligations

SHARING YOUR INFORMATION

We do not sell your personal information. We share it only as described:

  1. Service Providers: Trusted vendors who assist with hosting, analytics, email delivery, payment processing, or project execution (bound by confidentiality and data‑processing agreements)
  2. Professional Advisors: Lawyers, auditors, accountants where necessary
  3. Business Transfers: In connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets
  4. Legal Requirements: To comply with law, court order, or governmental request; to protect our rights, privacy, safety, or property

COOKIES & TRACKING TECHNOLOGIES

We use cookies (first- and third-party) for site performance, remembering preferences, and tailoring content. You can disable cookies in your browser, but some Site features may not work.

DATA RETENTION

We retain personal information only as long as necessary for the purposes outlined or as required by law (e.g., tax, accounting). When no longer needed, we securely delete or anonymize it.

SECURITY

We employ industry‑standard technical and organizational measures to protect your information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. No Internet transmission or storage system is 100% secure, so we cannot guarantee absolute security.

YOUR RIGHTS

Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have the right to:

  1. Access the personal information we hold about you
  2. Correct, update, or delete your information
  3. Object to or restrict processing
  4. Withdraw consent at any time (without affecting prior processing)
  5. Receive a copy of your information in machine‑readable format (data portability)
  6. Lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority

To exercise your rights, contact us at weare@thecategory.com. We may require proof of identity.

CALIFORNIA PRIVACY RIGHTS (CCPA/CPRA)

If you are a California resident, you have additional rights:

  1. Right to Know. Request details about categories and specific pieces of personal information collected, disclosed, or shared
  2. Right to Delete. Request deletion of personal information (subject to exceptions)•  Right to Correct inaccurate information
  3. Right to Opt Out of “sale” or “sharing” of personal information for cross‑context behavioral advertising (we do not sell personal information)
  4. Right to Non‑Discrimination for exercising your privacy rights
    Submit requests by emailing weare@thecategory.com. We will verify your identity before responding.

INTERNATIONAL TRANSFERS

We are headquartered in the United States. If you visit the Site from outside the U.S., your information may be transferred to and processed in the U.S., where privacy laws may differ. We rely on appropriate safeguards, such as Standard Contractual Clauses, for cross‑border transfers.

CHILDREN’S PRIVACY

The Site is not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from them. If we learn we have collected such information, we will delete it promptly.

CHANGES TO THIS PRIVACY POLICY

We may update this Policy periodically. Material changes will be posted on the Site with a new “Last Updated” date. Your continued use of the Site after changes signifies acceptance.

CONTACT US

For questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices, contact weare@thecategory.com

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