1. Introduction

1.1 Purpose of this Privacy Policy

CookLeads (“Company,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) respects the privacy of individuals whose information is contained within our business-to-business (B2B) data platform. This Privacy Policy explains in clear and comprehensive terms how we collect, process, store, use, and share personal information that is related to professional and business contexts.

We understand that privacy is a fundamental right, and we recognize that even in the B2B environment, individuals should have transparency, control, and choice over how their professional information is used. This Privacy Policy is designed to help you understand:

• What information we collect and how we collect it
• How and why we use such information
• The legal basis under which we process information
• The parties with whom we may share such information
• How long we retain information
• The rights available to individuals with respect to their information
• How individuals can exercise those rights (including opting out)

1.2 Scope & Applicability

This Privacy Policy applies to:

• Visitors to our website(s), portals, or online services
• Users who register and subscribe to our CookLeads platform
• Individuals whose professional contact data is contained within our database
• Customers, service providers, and business partners with whom we interact

This Privacy Policy does not apply to:

• Information collected offline that is not integrated into our business systems
• Data collected solely for personal, household, or non-commercial purposes
• Information that is aggregated, anonymized, or otherwise does not identify an individual

1.3 Commitment to Privacy & Compliance

CookLeads is committed to:

• Maintaining compliance with global and domestic privacy and data protection regulations (such as the DPDP Act, GDPR, CCPA, LGPD, and others where applicable).
• Ensuring ethical collection and use of professional contact data
• Providing individuals with clear opt-out mechanisms and rights of access
• Implementing robust technical and organizational security measures to safeguard information

Our commitment is not only legal but also ethical: our business thrives on trust, and the success of our platform depends on maintaining confidence in the responsible use of data.

2. Definitions

For clarity, the following definitions apply throughout this Privacy Policy:

“Personal Data”

Any information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person, including but not limited to names, job titles, business phone numbers, professional email addresses, company names, and other similar identifiers.

“Business Contact Data”

Professional or corporate-related information that one might typically find on a business card, company directory, or professional networking profile, such as name, job title, employer, corporate email address, business phone number, and office location.

“Processing”

Any operation performed on personal data, whether by automated means or otherwise, including collection, recording, storage, use, disclosure, transfer, or deletion.

“Customer”

Any organization, entity, or individual who subscribes to, purchases, or otherwise accesses the CookLeads platform.

“End User”

Employees, agents, or representatives of a Customer who use the CookLeads platform on the Customer’s behalf.

“Data Subject”

An individual whose professional or business-related information is included within our database or otherwise processed by CookLeads.

“Service Providers”

Third parties engaged by CookLeads to provide infrastructure, technology, analytics, or operational support.

“Opt-Out Request”

A request submitted by an individual to prevent further inclusion of their professional contact data within the CookLeads database or to restrict further processing.

3. Information We Collect

CookLeads primarily collects and processes business-related professional information. We do not intentionally collect sensitive personal data such as government-issued identification numbers, health data, biometric data, or financial account numbers unless absolutely required for compliance or contractual purposes.

The categories of data we collect include:

3.1 Business Contact Data

• Full name
• Job title and professional role
• Company or organization name
• Corporate/professional email address
• Business phone number(s)
• Office address or company headquarters location
• Professional social profile links (when publicly available in a business context)

3.2 Company Information

• Company name, industry classification, and sector
• Company size (number of employees, revenue bands where publicly available)
• Office locations, subsidiaries, and branches
• Key executives and decision-makers (as part of B2B sales enablement)
• Company website and publicly available domain details

3.3 Technical & Usage Data

When you interact with our website, platform, or digital services, we may automatically collect:

• IP address and device identifiers
• Browser type and version
• Operating system details
• Referring URL and pages visited
• Time spent on pages, clicks, and actions taken within the platform
• Session logs for security and compliance purposes

3.4 User-Provided Information

Customers and users may voluntarily provide information to CookLeads, including:

• Account registration details (name, email, password, company affiliation)
• Payment and billing information (processed securely by our payment gateway partners)
• Uploaded contact lists or CRM integrations (at the Customer’s discretion)
• Support tickets, inquiries, or communications with our team

4. Sources of Information

CookLeads collects information from lawful and legitimate sources that are aligned with B2B data usage practices. We avoid collecting data from sources that are unlawful, deceptive, or non-transparent.

The key sources of data include:

4.1 Publicly Available Sources

We collect business-related information that is made available by individuals themselves in a professional or corporate context, such as:

• Company websites and official press releases
• Online professional directories
• Publicly accessible conference speaker lists
• Trade association membership directories
• Open corporate filings or regulatory disclosures (to the extent publicly available)

4.2 Company Websites & Professional Directories

Information published by companies about their employees, leadership teams, or representatives may be included in our database if it is reasonably expected to be used for business communications.

4.3 Trusted Data Partners

We may license or receive professional contact information from carefully vetted data partners who are contractually obligated to comply with applicable privacy and data protection laws. These partners must demonstrate lawful collection practices and provide mechanisms for data subject rights.

4.4 User Submissions

Our Customers may upload their own business contact data into the CookLeads platform for purposes of enrichment, deduplication, or campaign management. In such cases, the Customer is considered the data controller, and CookLeads acts as a data processor, processing such information strictly under contractual instructions.

5. How We Use the Information

CookLeads processes professional and business-related information for clearly defined and legitimate purposes. We do not sell, misuse, or exploit personal data outside the B2B context. Our use of information is strictly aligned with providing value to our Customers while maintaining fairness, proportionality, and transparency.

5.1 Core Business Purposes

1. Provide and Operate the CookLeads Platform
   • Delivering access to our database of verified professional contacts.
   • Allowing customers to search, filter, and retrieve business contact information.
   • Enabling integration with CRMs and sales/marketing automation tools.
2. Provide Custom Database Services
   • Fulfilling requests for custom-built, personalized databases based on specific criteria provided by the customer.
3. Facilitate Business-to-Business (B2B) Engagement
   • Empowering our customers to identify decision-makers and influencers within target companies.
   • Supporting sales, marketing, recruitment, and business development efforts.
   • Assisting in lead generation, prospecting, and outreach campaigns.
4. Maintain Accuracy and Quality
   • Regularly verifying, updating, and enriching business contact data.
   • Reducing duplication and obsolete entries within the database.
   • Applying quality assurance checks to maintain data integrity.
5. Customer Account Management
   • Processing account registrations, logins, and authentications.
   • Managing subscriptions, renewals, and billing activities.
   • Providing customer support and resolving inquiries.
6. Legal and Compliance Purposes
   • Meeting contractual obligations with our Customers and partners.
   • Responding to lawful requests from regulators, courts, or authorities.
   • Enforcing our Terms of Service and preventing fraudulent use of our platform.

5.2 Ancillary and Operational Purposes

• Service Improvements: Analyzing usage patterns, customer feedback, and market trends to enhance the features, UI, and overall performance of our platform.
• Research & Development: Developing new tools, algorithms, and data validation models to improve data accuracy and predictive insights.
• Communications: Sending service-related notices, updates, feature announcements, and security alerts.
• Marketing (Limited & Respectful):
  • Informing customers about relevant product enhancements.
  • Providing opt-in newsletters and knowledge resources.
  • Conducting surveys to measure customer satisfaction.

5.3 What We Do Not Do

6. Legal Basis for Processing

CookLeads operates globally and complies with relevant legal frameworks in the jurisdictions where our services are offered. While legal bases differ by region, our processing activities are justified under well-established grounds.

6.1 Contractual Necessity

We process information to fulfill contracts with our Customers. This includes providing access to our services, processing payments, delivering requested data, and offering support.

6.2 Legitimate Interests

We process professional contact information based on legitimate business interests, such as enabling B2B sales and marketing, ensuring data accuracy, and preventing fraud, always balancing these interests with individual rights.

6.3 Consent (Where Required)

For activities like optional marketing newsletters, CookLeads relies on consent, which is obtained via a clear opt-in and can be revoked at any time.

6.4 Legal Obligations

We may process data to comply with laws, regulations, or lawful requests from authorities.

7. Information Sharing and Disclosure

CookLeads shares information in a controlled and transparent manner.

7.1 Sharing with Customers

Professional business contact data is made available to Customers for B2B prospecting, outreach, and marketing, under contractual terms that prohibit misuse.

7.2 Sharing with Service Providers

We engage trusted service providers (e.g., cloud hosting, payment processors) who are contractually bound to process data only under our instructions and maintain security standards.

7.3 Corporate Transactions

In the event of a merger or acquisition, business-related information may be transferred as part of the transaction, with continued protection for individuals.

7.4 Legal Requirements & Enforcement

We may disclose information if required by law or to protect our rights and prevent fraud.

8. Cookies, Tracking, and Online Identifiers

CookLeads uses cookies and similar technologies to ensure smooth operation of our website and platform. We do not use cookies for intrusive tracking or consumer advertising.

8.1 Types of Cookies We Use

We use essential, performance, functional, and optional marketing cookies. Users can manage their preferences through browser settings and our opt-out banners.

9. Data Retention

CookLeads retains professional information only for as long as necessary, balancing business utility, accuracy, and legal compliance. Data is regularly audited and removed if it becomes outdated or irrelevant. Customer account and billing data are retained in line with legal and financial regulations.

10. International Data Transfers

CookLeads hosts its infrastructure on secure cloud servers provided by DigitalOcean. Data may be stored and processed in data centers outside the country where it was collected. We implement safeguards like Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) to ensure such transfers comply with GDPR, CCPA, and other relevant regulations.

11. Security of Information

The security of data is of paramount importance. We implement a combination of organizational, technical, and procedural safeguards, including encryption, access controls, network security, employee training, and a formal Incident Response Plan to prevent unauthorized access or disclosure.

12. Individual Rights

CookLeads respects the rights of individuals regarding their data. Depending on applicable law, these rights may include:

• Right to Access: To request confirmation and copies of your data.
• Right to Rectification: To correct inaccurate or incomplete data.
• Right to Erasure (“Right to be Forgotten”): To request the removal of your information.
• Right to Restrict Processing: To limit how your data is used.
• Right to Object: To object to processing based on legitimate interests.
• Right to Data Portability: To export your data in a machine-readable format.
• Right to Withdraw Consent: To withdraw consent at any time.
• Right to Lodge a Complaint: To complain to a data protection authority.

13. Children’s Data

CookLeads is a B2B platform and is not intended for individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect, process, or distribute information about minors. If you believe a child’s data has been inadvertently processed, please contact us for immediate removal.

14. Third-Party Services, Links, and Integrations

Our platform may link to or integrate with third-party services (e.g., CRMs, payment processors). These external sites are outside our control, and we encourage users to review their privacy policies. CookLeads is not responsible for the privacy practices of third parties.

15. Updates to this Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy is a living document. Material changes will be communicated via email or a prominent notice on our website. Each update will include a “Last Updated” date.

16. Contact Information

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy, please contact us:

17. Jurisdiction, Governing Law, and Dispute Resolution

This Privacy Policy is governed by the laws of India. Disputes will be resolved first through informal negotiation, then mediation, and finally through binding arbitration under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 (India), with the venue in [Insert City, India].

🔹 Closing Statement