Your privacy matters to us. This Privacy Policy explains what information Menu Static collects when you use our platform, how we use it, who we share it with, and what choices you have. We have written it in plain language because we believe you deserve to understand exactly how your information is handled — not just that a policy exists.
Please read this policy carefully. By using Menu Static, you agree to the practices described here.
1. Who We Are
Menu Static is a free, community-powered digital library of restaurant menus in PDF format. We operate the website at menustatic.com and any related tools or features that are part of our platform. References to “Menu Static,” “we,” “us,” or “our” throughout this policy refer to the platform and its operators.
If you have questions about this policy or how we handle your data, you can reach us through the contact page at menustatic.com.
2. The Short Version
We collect as little information as possible. We do not sell your data. We do not share it with advertisers. We use what we collect to keep the platform running, to improve your experience, and to maintain the integrity of our library. If you are just browsing and downloading menus, we collect almost nothing that identifies you personally. If you contribute menus, we collect slightly more — but only what is necessary to manage contributions and maintain the library.
3. Information We Collect
3.1 Information You Give Us Directly
If you create an account with Menu Static, we collect the information you provide during registration, which typically includes your email address and a username. You may also optionally provide additional details such as your city or a short bio. We do not require your full name, phone number, or payment information, since Menu Static is free.
If you upload a menu to our library, we associate that submission with your account or, if you submit without an account, with the session in which it was uploaded. We collect the restaurant name, location, and any notes you choose to include with your submission.
If you contact us directly — through our contact form, a removal request, or a report — we collect the information you provide in that communication, including your email address and the content of your message.
3.2 Information We Collect Automatically
When you visit Menu Static, our servers automatically record certain technical information. This includes your IP address, browser type and version, the pages you visit on our site, the time and date of your visit, the amount of time you spend on each page, and the referring URL that brought you to us. This information is collected through standard server logs and, where applicable, cookies or similar technologies.
We use this information in aggregate to understand how people use Menu Static, which parts of the library are most accessed, and where we can improve the platform. We do not use it to build individual profiles or to identify you personally unless we are required to do so for security or legal reasons.
3.3 Cookies and Tracking Technologies
Menu Static uses a small number of cookies — small text files stored on your device — to make the platform function properly. These include session cookies that keep you logged in while you browse, preference cookies that remember settings you have chosen, and analytics cookies that help us understand aggregate usage patterns.
We do not use advertising cookies. We do not allow third-party advertisers to place tracking cookies on Menu Static. The cookies we use are limited to what is necessary for the platform to work and for us to understand how it is being used at a general level.
You can instruct your browser to refuse all cookies or to alert you when cookies are being sent. If you disable cookies, some features of Menu Static — particularly account-related features — may not function as intended.
3.4 Information from Third Parties
If you choose to log in to Menu Static using a third-party service such as Google, we receive basic profile information from that service — typically your name and email address — as permitted by your settings with that provider. We do not receive payment information, contacts, or any information beyond what is necessary to create and manage your account.
4. How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect for the following purposes:
To operate the platform. We use your account information to provide you with access to Menu Static, to manage your contributions, and to enable you to interact with the library. Without this, the platform simply cannot function.
To process contributions. When you upload a menu, we use the information you provide to add it to the library, attribute it correctly, and associate it with the right restaurant and location. This is the core function of the contribution system.
To respond to you. If you contact us with a question, a removal request, a report, or any other inquiry, we use your contact information to respond. We retain these communications to maintain a record of our interactions and to improve how we handle similar requests in the future.
To improve the platform. We use aggregated, anonymized usage data to understand which features are working well, where users encounter difficulty, and how we can make Menu Static more useful. This analysis does not involve identifying individual users.
To maintain security and integrity. We may use information — including IP addresses and account activity — to detect and prevent abuse, fraudulent submissions, spam, or other activity that violates our Terms of Use or harms the platform or its users.
To comply with legal obligations. In limited circumstances, we may be required to use or disclose your information to comply with applicable law, respond to legal process, or protect the rights, property, or safety of Menu Static, its users, or third parties.
We do not use your information for advertising. We do not build advertising profiles. We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information with any third party for marketing purposes. Ever.
5. How We Share Your Information
5.1 We Do Not Sell Your Data
Menu Static does not sell, license, or otherwise transfer your personal information to third parties for commercial purposes. This is not a qualification or a technicality — it is a firm commitment.
5.2 Public Information
Certain information associated with your contributions may be publicly visible on the Platform. If you submit a menu and include a username or a short note, that information will be visible alongside the listing. If you do not want any information associated with your contributions to be publicly visible, you may submit without creating an account where that option is available.
5.3 Service Providers
We work with a small number of third-party service providers who help us operate Menu Static. These may include hosting providers who store our data, analytics providers who help us understand platform usage, and email service providers who facilitate our communications with users. These providers access your information only to perform services on our behalf and are contractually prohibited from using it for any other purpose.
5.4 Legal Requirements
We may disclose your information if we believe in good faith that doing so is necessary to comply with a legal obligation, respond to a court order or government request, enforce our Terms of Use, or protect the rights, safety, or property of Menu Static, our users, or the public. We will notify you of such disclosures where we are legally permitted to do so.
5.5 Business Transfers
In the event that Menu Static is acquired, merged with another organization, or its assets are transferred, your information may be part of the assets transferred. If this occurs, we will notify you through the Platform and you will have the opportunity to delete your account and associated data before any transfer takes effect.
6. Data Retention
We retain your information for as long as your account is active or as long as necessary to provide you with access to the Platform and fulfill the purposes described in this policy. If you delete your account, we will delete or anonymize your personal information within a reasonable period, except where we are required to retain it for legal compliance, dispute resolution, or the enforcement of our agreements.
Contributions you have made to the library — such as menu uploads — may remain in the library after your account is deleted, since they form part of the shared resource that other users rely on. If you would like your contributions removed along with your account, please contact us and we will process that request.
Server logs and technical information are retained for a limited period — typically no more than 90 days — for security and performance monitoring purposes, after which they are deleted or anonymized.
7. Your Rights and Choices
Depending on where you are located, you may have certain rights regarding your personal information. These may include:
The right to access. You can request a copy of the personal information we hold about you. We will provide this in a readable format within a reasonable timeframe.
The right to correction. If any information we hold about you is inaccurate or incomplete, you can request that we correct it. You can also update most account information directly through your account settings.
The right to deletion. You can request that we delete your personal information. We will honor this request subject to any legal obligations that require us to retain certain data. To request deletion, contact us through the contact page or delete your account directly through your account settings.
The right to restrict processing. In certain circumstances, you may ask us to stop processing your information while a dispute is resolved or a request is pending.
The right to data portability. Where applicable, you may request a copy of your data in a structured, machine-readable format.
The right to object. You may object to certain types of processing, including any processing based on our legitimate interests.
Opting out of communications. If you have opted in to receive emails from Menu Static, you can unsubscribe at any time using the link at the bottom of any email we send, or by contacting us directly.
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us through the contact page at menustatic.com. We will respond within 30 days. We will not discriminate against you for exercising your privacy rights.
8. Children’s Privacy
Menu Static is not directed at children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we become aware that we have inadvertently collected information from a child under 13, we will delete it promptly. If you believe we may have collected information from a child under 13, please contact us immediately.
9. Data Security
We take reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. These measures include secure server infrastructure, access controls, and regular review of our security practices.
However, no method of transmission over the internet and no method of data storage is completely secure. While we do our best to protect your information, we cannot guarantee its absolute security. If you believe your account has been compromised or that your information has been accessed without authorization, please contact us immediately.
10. International Users
Menu Static is accessible from anywhere in the world, and our users come from many different countries. If you are accessing Menu Static from outside the country in which our servers are located, please be aware that your information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in a different jurisdiction. By using Menu Static, you consent to this transfer.
Where required by applicable law — including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) for users in the European Economic Area — we take appropriate steps to ensure that cross-border data transfers are handled lawfully and that your rights are protected regardless of where your data is processed.
If you are a user in the European Economic Area or the United Kingdom, you have the right to lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority if you believe we have not handled your information in accordance with applicable law.
11. Third-Party Links and Services
Menu Static may contain links to third-party websites, including restaurant websites and external resources. This Privacy Policy applies only to Menu Static. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of any third-party website, and we encourage you to read the privacy policies of any site you visit through a link on our platform.
If you choose to log in through a third-party service such as Google, that service’s own privacy policy governs how it handles your information. Our policy governs only what we do with the information we receive from that service.
12. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, in applicable law, or in the platform itself. When we update it, we will revise the “Last Updated” date at the top of this page. If we make material changes to how we handle your personal information, we will provide a more prominent notice through the Platform.
We encourage you to review this policy periodically. Your continued use of Menu Static after any changes to this policy constitutes your acceptance of the updated terms.
13. Contact Us
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, want to exercise your data rights, or need to report a privacy concern, please reach out to us through the contact page at menustatic.com. We take privacy inquiries seriously and aim to respond to all requests within 30 days.
Menu Static Contact: [email protected]
By using Menu Static, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy and agree to the collection and use of your information as described here.