Terms of Service — PlateAtlas

1. Acceptance of terms

By accessing or using PlateAtlas — including our website at plateatlasworldwide.com and the PlateAtlas mobile app — you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service. If you do not agree to these terms, please do not use the service.

These terms apply to all visitors, registered users, and anyone who submits content or suggestions through PlateAtlas.

2. What PlateAtlas is

PlateAtlas is an informational platform that helps users find restaurants offering gluten-free and allergy-friendly dining options. We aggregate and organize restaurant information to make it easier for people with dietary restrictions to discover places to eat.

Restaurant information on PlateAtlas is sourced from third-party services (including Google and Yelp) and from user submissions. While we work to keep information useful and up to date, we do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or currentness of any allergen or menu information displayed on the platform.

We strongly recommend confirming allergen information directly with restaurant staff before ordering or dining. PlateAtlas is a starting point for research, not a substitute for direct communication with the restaurant.

3. Important allergy disclaimer

⚠️ ALLERGY DISCLAIMER: PlateAtlas provides information for guidance only. We cannot guarantee that any restaurant is free from allergens. Cross-contamination, menu changes, and human error can occur. Always inform your server of your allergies and confirm with restaurant staff before eating. PlateAtlas is not liable for any allergic reactions or health incidents resulting from use of this platform.

Your safety is your responsibility. Even restaurants that advertise allergy-friendly options may use shared kitchens, change ingredients without notice, or have staff who are not fully trained on allergen protocols. Never rely solely on PlateAtlas when making decisions that affect your health.

4. User accounts

If you create a PlateAtlas account, you agree to the following:

You must be 13 years of age or older to create an account
You are responsible for keeping your password secure and for all activity that occurs under your account
You may not create accounts on behalf of others without their permission
You must provide accurate information when registering
We may suspend or terminate accounts that violate these terms or that we reasonably believe pose a risk to other users or the platform

5. Reviews and user content

PlateAtlas allows users to submit reviews and other content. By doing so, you agree to the following rules:

Reviews are posted anonymously, but you are still responsible for what you write
Do not post false, misleading, harmful, or defamatory reviews
Do not post spam, advertisements, or off-topic content
Do not post content that harasses, threatens, or discriminates against others
PlateAtlas may remove or hide reviews that violate these rules without notice
By posting a review, you grant PlateAtlas a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to display, store, and moderate that content on the platform

6. Suggesting restaurants

PlateAtlas welcomes community suggestions for restaurants that should be listed on the platform. When you suggest a restaurant, you agree that:

All suggestions are reviewed by our team before being added to the platform
You should not suggest restaurants you are affiliated with for commercial gain or to manipulate listings
Information you provide should be accurate to the best of your knowledge
PlateAtlas reserves the right to accept, reject, or modify any suggestion at our sole discretion

7. Advertising

Restaurants may pay for advertising placement on PlateAtlas. Our advertising policies are designed to keep the platform trustworthy:

All paid placements are clearly labeled "Sponsored"
Paid advertising does not affect restaurant listings, ratings, search rankings, or review visibility
Restaurants cannot pay to improve their organic rating or position in search results

8. Prohibited uses

You agree not to use PlateAtlas to:

Scrape, crawl, or systematically collect data from the platform without our written permission
Reverse engineer, decompile, or attempt to extract the source code of the platform
Attempt to hack, disrupt, overload, or interfere with the service or its infrastructure
Post harmful, abusive, fraudulent, or illegal content
Impersonate another person, restaurant, or organization
Use automated tools (bots, scripts) to access the service in ways that violate these terms

Violation of these rules may result in immediate suspension or termination of your account and, where applicable, legal action.

9. Intellectual property

The PlateAtlas name, logo, website design, and original content created by PlateAtlas are our intellectual property and may not be copied, modified, or used without our permission.

Restaurant names, logos, menus, photographs, and other third-party content displayed on PlateAtlas belong to their respective owners. We display this content for informational purposes under applicable licenses and fair use principles. If you believe content on PlateAtlas infringes your rights, contact us at legal@plateatlasworldwide.com.

10. Limitation of liability

PlateAtlas is provided on an "as is" and "as available" basis without warranties of any kind, whether express or implied. We do not warrant that the service will be uninterrupted, error-free, or free of harmful components.

To the fullest extent permitted by law, PlateAtlas and its operators are not liable for inaccurate restaurant information, allergic reactions, health incidents, data loss, service interruptions, or any direct, indirect, incidental, or consequential damages resulting from your use of the platform.

Some jurisdictions do not allow certain limitations of liability. In those cases, our liability is limited to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law.

11. Changes to terms

We may update these Terms of Service from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, features, or legal requirements. When we make material changes, we will notify registered users by email and post a notice on the PlateAtlas website.

Your continued use of PlateAtlas after updated terms take effect means you accept the revised terms. If you do not agree with the changes, you should stop using the service and delete your account.

12. Governing law

These Terms of Service are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Hawaii, United States, without regard to conflict of law principles.

Any disputes arising from these terms or your use of PlateAtlas shall be resolved in the courts located in the State of Hawaii, unless otherwise required by applicable law.

13. Contact

Questions about these Terms of Service? Email us at legal@plateatlasworldwide.com.