Privacy Policy

Introduction

Welcome to Fight.Directory (“Fight Directory,” “we,” “our,” or “us”). We are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring that your personal information is handled securely and responsibly. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect from you, how we use and share it, and your rights regarding your data when you use our website Fight.Directory (the “Site”), which provides an online directory of gyms and businesses in the combat sports space. By using the Site, you consent to the data practices described in this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with this policy, please do not use Fight Directory.

Information We Collect

We collect several types of information from and about our users to provide and improve our services. This includes:

  • Personal Data: Information you provide when creating an account, claiming or editing a gym listing, or contacting us. This may include your name, email address, username, and other contact details. If you are a gym owner listing your business, this may also include gym details like location, phone number, class information, photos, logos, and other content you upload. We do not collect any payment information at this time (since there are no paid services currently), but if we introduce paid features in the future, we will inform you and ensure any payment details are handled securely by trusted payment processors.

  • Profile and User Content: Any information you choose to include in your profile or posts on the Site. For example, if you add a profile picture, bio, or post reviews and comments about gyms, that content (along with your display name) will be visible to others on the Site. Please only share content you are comfortable making public.

  • Usage Data: Information collected automatically about your interaction with the Site. This can include your IP address, browser type, device information, operating system, referral URLs, pages viewed, clicks, the dates/times of visits, and other technical data. We collect this usage information through log files and analytics tools to understand how users use our Site and to improve performance.

  • Cookies and Tracking Technologies: Fight Directory uses cookies and similar tracking technologies (such as web beacons or local storage) to enhance your experience. Cookies are small text files placed on your device to remember your preferences and activity. For example, we use cookies to keep you logged in, remember your language or location preferences, and collect analytics data about site traffic. We may also use cookies to understand aggregate usage patterns or for future features like personalizing content. Note: We do not currently display third-party ads, so we do not use advertising cookies at this time. If we introduce advertising or premium features in the future, we will update this policy to reflect any new cookie or tracking practices. You can learn more about cookies in the Cookies and Tracking Technologies section below.

How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for various purposes in operating and improving Fight Directory. Our uses include:

  • Providing and Maintaining the Service: We use personal data to create and manage user accounts, allow gym owners to claim or edit their listings, and enable core features of the directory (such as searching gyms, saving favorites, and posting reviews). Your information allows us to display relevant listings (e.g., showing gyms near your location if you provide one) and ensure the Site functions as intended.

  • Communication: We may use your contact information to communicate with you. For example, we send transactional emails for account verification, password resets, or notifications related to your account or listings (such as confirmations when you update a listing). If you are a gym owner, we might contact you about your listing status or updates to our services. We may also respond to inquiries you send us via email or through the Contact form.

  • Site Improvement and Analytics: Usage Data and cookies help us understand how users interact with Fight Directory. We analyze this data to troubleshoot issues, optimize user experience, and develop new features. For instance, knowing which pages are most visited or how users navigate helps us improve site layout and content. We may use third-party analytics services (such as Google Analytics) to assist with this, which might use their own cookies or similar technologies (these services only receive aggregate data or truncated IP addresses, not direct personal identifiers).

  • Enforcing Terms and Policies: We use information to monitor for and address violations of our Terms & Conditions or other misuse of the Site. This includes using data to detect fraudulent behavior, security breaches, or any activities that violate our rules or could be illegal. If necessary, we will use relevant data to investigate and take action (such as suspending accounts or cooperating with law enforcement).

  • Legal Compliance: To comply with applicable laws and regulations, we may process your data as required. For example, keeping records of consents, or using your data to meet obligations (such as responding to lawful requests by public authorities).

  • Future Services: If we introduce new features or services (such as premium listings, advertising programs, or newsletters), we will use your information as needed for those services and provide additional notice or obtain consent when required. For instance, if you opt-in to a newsletter, we would use your email to send it; if we launch premium accounts, we might use your details to manage subscriptions. You will always have the choice to participate in any new service.

We will not use your personal information for purposes incompatible with those above without your consent. If we plan to process your information for a new purpose not outlined here, we will update this Privacy Policy or otherwise inform you and, if required, obtain your consent.

Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Cookies and similar technologies are an important part of how Fight Directory works. Here is more detail on how we use them and your choices:

  • Types of Cookies We Use: We use both session cookies (which expire when you close your browser) and persistent cookies (which remain on your device for a set period or until deleted). Essential cookies are used for login sessions and security (for example, to keep you logged in as you navigate different pages, or to protect against fraudulent logins). Preference cookies remember your settings (such as language or region selection). Analytics cookies help us collect information about site traffic and user interactions (for example, counting visits, seeing which pages are popular, understanding referral sources). We do not use advertising cookies or tracking pixels from advertisers at this time, since we do not run ads on the Site yet.

  • Third-Party Cookies: As of now, most cookies on our site are first-party (set by Fight Directory). However, some third-party services we use might set cookies as well. For example, if we use Google Analytics, Google may set cookies to help us analyze website usage. Additionally, our interactive maps or embedded media (like a video or social media widget) could come from third-party providers that set cookies. We do not control these third-party cookies, and their use is governed by the third parties’ own privacy policies. We will endeavor to disclose significant third-party tools in use: for instance, if we integrate Google Maps to show gym locations, using that feature may allow Google to collect certain data (like your IP or location) under their terms.

  • Your Choices for Cookies: You have the ability to control or disable cookies. Most web browsers automatically accept cookies, but you can usually modify your browser settings to decline some or all cookies, or to alert you when cookies are being sent. Please note: if you disable cookies, some features of Fight Directory (such as maintaining your login or saving preferences) might not function properly. For example, you may have to log in every time or certain preferences won’t be remembered.

  • Do Not Track Signals: “Do Not Track” (DNT) is a setting available in some browsers that you can enable to signal that you do not want to be tracked across websites. Currently, our Site does not respond differently to DNT signals. We treat all users’ data according to this Privacy Policy, and because there is no agreed-upon industry standard for DNT, we cannot guarantee any particular response to those signals. We will monitor developments around DNT and may update our practices if a standard emerges.

By using Fight Directory with cookies enabled in your settings, you consent to our use of cookies and similar technologies as described here. If we add advertising or additional tracking technologies in the future, we will update this section and provide you with any required notice or consent options.

How We Share Your Information

We value your privacy and handle your personal data with care. We do not sell or rent your personal information to third parties for their own marketing or commercial purposes. However, we do share certain information in the following circumstances to operate our service and as otherwise described here:

  • With Gym Owners or Businesses (User-Initiated Sharing): If you choose to contact a gym or business through our platform (for example, by filling out a contact form on a gym’s listing or sending a message through Fight Directory), we will forward your inquiry along with your contact details (such as your name and email, and potentially phone number if you provided one) to the owner or contact person of that gym. In doing so, you are directing us to share that information. Similarly, if you leave a review or rating for a gym, that content along with your display name will be visible to the gym owner and other users on the Site. Note: We only share your information with a gym or business when you take an action that clearly intends to communicate with them or make information public (like posting a review).

  • Service Providers and Partners: We employ third-party companies and individuals to help us operate and improve Fight Directory (“Service Providers”). Examples include website hosting providers, data storage services, analytics providers, email service providers, and (in the future, if payments are introduced) payment processors. These service providers may process personal information on our behalf and under our instructions. We only share the information necessary for them to perform their services. For instance, our web hosting provider stores user account data to serve the Site, or an email provider may handle sending bulk emails like a newsletter or account notifications. If we introduce paid services, a payment processor (e.g., Stripe, PayPal, or similar) would handle your credit card or payment information securely; in such cases, we would share the necessary data for processing payment but would not receive or store your full financial information ourselves. All service providers are expected to protect your information and use it only for the purposes we specify.

  • Business Transfers: If Fight Directory is involved in a merger, acquisition, sale of assets, or similar corporate transaction, your personal information might be transferred to the acquiring entity or merged with another organization. In such an event, we will ensure that the new owner understands that they must honor the commitments we have made in this Privacy Policy, and we will notify you (for example, via email or a prominent notice on the Site) if your information becomes subject to a different privacy policy.

  • Legal Requirements and Protection of Rights: We may disclose your information if required to do so by law or in the good-faith belief that such action is necessary to comply with applicable laws, regulations, legal process (such as a subpoena or court order), or enforceable government request. We may also disclose data as needed to enforce our Terms & Conditions or other agreements, or to protect the rights, property, or safety of Fight Directory, our users, or others. This includes exchanging information with other companies and organizations for fraud protection and credit risk reduction (though, as noted, we currently do not handle credit card info on our own).

  • With Your Consent: In cases where we want to share your information for purposes not covered above, we will ask for your consent. For example, if we ever want to feature your success story or testimonial on our Site or marketing materials, we would ask your permission before doing so and explain what information would be shared.

Importantly, we do not share your personal information with advertisers or third-party marketing companies at this time, since we are not running any advertising programs yet. If in the future we decide to partner with advertisers or sponsors (for example, to offer promotions or premium sponsored listings), we will update our Privacy Policy accordingly and provide you with choices regarding how your data is shared in those contexts.

Your Rights and Choices

You have rights and choices regarding your personal information, and we want you to be informed of them. Depending on your location and applicable law (for example, users in the European Union have specific rights under the GDPR, and California users have rights under the CCPA), your rights may include:

  • Access Your Information: You have the right to request access to the personal data we hold about you. This means you can ask us for a copy of your personal information stored in our systems, and we will provide it to you in a commonly used format.

  • Correct/Update Your Information: We strive to keep your information accurate and up to date. You may review and correct the personal information in your account at any time by logging into your Fight Directory account and editing your profile or listing details. If you cannot make a change yourself, or if any data we have is inaccurate or incomplete, you can request that we correct or update it.

  • Delete Your Information (Right to Erasure): You can request that we delete your personal data. For example, you may request to delete your account entirely. We will honor deletion requests to the extent we are legally able to. Note that in some cases we may retain certain information for legitimate business or legal purposes (such as fulfilling our financial, audit, or legal obligations, or if retention is required by law). If you are a gym owner and you delete your account or request deletion of your listing, we may remove the listing or any personal data associated with it, or we may retain non-personal parts of the listing (like the gym name and address if it is public business information) for directory completeness. In any case, personal identifiers would be removed.

  • Data Portability: In some jurisdictions, you have the right to request that we provide your personal data to you, or to a third party you designate, in a structured, commonly used, and machine-readable format. This applies to information you have provided to us. We will assist with such requests as required by applicable law.

  • Withdraw Consent: If we are processing any of your personal data based on your consent (for example, you signed up for an optional newsletter or you consented to location access for finding nearby gyms), you have the right to withdraw your consent at any time. Withdrawing consent will not affect the lawfulness of any processing we did prior to your withdrawal. If you withdraw consent for a service that requires it, we may not be able to provide that service to you (for instance, if you withdraw consent for location services, features that use your location may not function).

  • Opt Out of Communications: If you no longer wish to receive promotional emails or newsletters from us, you can opt out at any time. Simply click the “unsubscribe” link in any promotional email, or adjust your account email preferences if that feature is available. Note that you cannot opt out of certain emails that are transactional or necessary for service (such as account verification, password reset emails, or notifications about important updates to our Terms or Privacy Policy).

  • Cookies Choices: As mentioned above, you have control over cookies through your browser settings. You can delete or disable cookies, but keep in mind this may impact your use of the Site. Additionally, you can opt out of Google Analytics tracking by using the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on, if we use Google Analytics. We currently do not use any interest-based advertising cookies that you’d need to opt out of, but if we ever do, we will provide appropriate opt-out mechanisms.

  • Object or Restrict Processing: In certain situations, you may have the right to object to or ask us to limit (restrict) our processing of your information. For example, if we ever use your data for direct marketing (we do not currently beyond possibly an optional newsletter), you can object and we will stop such processing. Or you could request we restrict processing if you contest the accuracy of data or have other legal rights to do so. We will evaluate and comply with such requests in accordance with applicable laws.

  • Non-Discrimination: If you exercise any of your rights, we will not discriminate against you for doing so. For instance, if you request deletion of your data, we will not deny you services or provide a different quality of service, except as necessary to comply with your request (once your data is deleted, of course, you would not be able to use an account that relies on that data).

  • Lodge a Complaint: If you believe we have infringed your privacy rights, you have the right to complain to a data protection authority. If you’re in the EU or UK, this would be the supervisory authority in your country. If you’re in another jurisdiction, you may contact the appropriate privacy or data protection regulator. We encourage you to contact us first at [email protected] so we can address your concerns directly.

To exercise any of your rights, please contact us at [email protected] with your request. For security, we may need to verify your identity before fulfilling certain requests (for example, ask you to confirm from the email associated with your account or provide information that matches our records). We will respond to your request within a reasonable timeframe, and in any case within any timeframe required by law.

Please note that these rights are subject to certain exceptions and limitations. For example, we might not be able to delete data that we are required to keep by law, or we might decline a request if it jeopardizes the privacy of others. But we will explain any such determination in our response to your request. Your privacy and control over your data are important to us, and we will do our best to honor your requests and clearly communicate our actions.

Data Security

We take appropriate security measures to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. Fight Directory employs a combination of technical, administrative, and physical controls to safeguard your data. These measures include, for example, using HTTPS encryption (SSL/TLS) to secure data transmitted between your browser and our Site, storing passwords in hashed form (so they are not easily recoverable), and limiting access to personal data only to those in our team or service providers who need it to perform their duties. We also regularly monitor our systems for vulnerabilities or attacks, and we implement security updates and industry best practices to strengthen our defenses.

However, please understand that no method of transmission over the Internet or method of electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your information and take the issue very seriously, we cannot guarantee absolute security of your data. Factors beyond our control may result in breaches. In the unfortunate event of a data breach that affects your personal information, we will act promptly to contain the breach and mitigate harm. We will also notify you and any applicable regulatory authorities of significant breaches as required by law.

As a user, you also play a role in keeping your data secure. Choose a strong, unique password for your Fight Directory account and do not share it with others. If you suspect any unauthorized access to your account or any suspicious activity, please notify us immediately. We will assist in securing your account (for example, helping you reset your password or suspending the account until it's secure).

By using Fight Directory, you acknowledge and accept the inherent risks of online activity and agree that we are not liable for security incidents beyond our reasonable control.

Data Retention

We will retain your personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law. In general:

  • Account Information: If you create an account on Fight Directory, we will keep your account data while your account is active. If you choose to delete your account or if your account is terminated, we will remove or anonymize personal data associated with your account within a reasonable timeframe. However, we may retain certain data after account deletion if necessary for legitimate business interests or legal obligations. For example, we might keep log records to prevent fraud or to have proof of our agreement, or we may retain data needed for accounting, audits, or to comply with regulations. Any retained data will remain subject to this Privacy Policy.

  • Gym Listings and User Contributions: If you are a gym owner and have provided a listing, the content of that listing (which may include business contact info, descriptions, etc.) might remain on our Site as part of our directory even if you discontinue your account, especially if the information is of public interest (e.g., a gym’s address which is public). However, any personal account information (like the owner’s name or email) associated with the listing would be removed or anonymized if the account is deleted or upon request, so that the listing is no longer tied to your personal identity. Reviews or posts you contributed may also remain visible (as they are part of the community content), but we can anonymize or remove them upon request if they contain personal data.

  • Communications: If you contacted us via email or support inquiry, we may retain those communications (and our responses) for a period of time to handle your current request and to improve our customer service. Unless needed for ongoing support or legal reasons, we typically archive or delete inquiries and support emails after a certain period.

  • Usage Data: We retain usage data (analytics, logs) for internal analysis purposes. Usage data that is aggregated or de-identified (not linked to a user identity) may be retained longer, as it does not directly identify you and is used to improve our services (for example, overall site traffic trends). For identifiable usage logs (like IP addresses in logs), we will typically retain them for a short period unless needed for security, legal, or site operation purposes.

  • Backups: Like many websites, we perform regular backups of our database for integrity and disaster recovery. These backups may store your information even after it’s removed from the live database. We secure our backups, and they are only retained for a limited time according to our backup rotation schedule. When backups expire, they are deleted or overwritten.

When we no longer have a legitimate need to retain your personal information, we will securely dispose of it or anonymize it so that it can no longer be associated with you. If disposing of physical copies, we shred or securely destroy them, and for digital data we use deletion or anonymization methods appropriate to the sensitivity of the data.

Third-Party Links and Services

Our Site may contain links to third-party websites or integrate third-party services for your convenience and information. For example, gym listings may include links to the gym’s own website or social media pages; our blog or articles may reference external sources; or we might integrate a mapping service to show locations. If you click on a third-party link or interact with a third-party service (such as playing an embedded video or using a map widget), you will be redirected to or interacting with that third party’s platform.

Please be aware that these external sites and services are not operated by Fight Directory and are outside of our control. We are not responsible for the content, privacy practices, or policies of any third-party websites or services. If you provide any information to those third parties (for example, filling out a form on a gym’s own website, or if the gym uses an embedded scheduling widget from another service), that information is governed by the third party’s privacy policy, not ours. We encourage you to review the privacy policies and terms of any third-party sites or services that you visit or use via links from Fight Directory.

The inclusion of a link or third-party service on our Site does not imply that we endorse or have vetted the third party. It is provided for reference or convenience. You should exercise caution and use your best judgment when interacting with external sites, especially if asked to provide personal data or payment information.

That said, if you encounter a third-party link on Fight Directory that you believe is malicious or inappropriate, please let us know. We want to maintain a safe and trustworthy directory and will consider removing or disabling links that pose risks to our users.

Children’s Privacy

Fight Directory is not intended for use by children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under 13 years old. If you are under 13, you are not permitted to create an account or use our services that require providing personal information. We encourage parents and guardians to supervise their children’s online activities and to help enforce this policy by preventing children from providing personal data to us.

If we become aware that we have inadvertently collected personal information from a child under 13, we will take steps to delete such information from our records promptly. If you believe that a child under 13 may have provided us with personal information, please contact us at [email protected], and we will investigate and address the issue.

For users between the ages of 13 and 18 (or the age of majority in your jurisdiction), if you create an account, we assume that you are doing so with the consent of a parent or guardian. While our content is generally about martial arts and combat sports gyms (which may be of interest to teenagers and adults alike), account creation and interaction on the platform should be done by individuals who can consent to the use of their personal data. If you are a minor, please get permission from your parent or guardian before using Fight Directory or providing personal information.

We may in the future implement age-gating or additional verification measures if needed to ensure compliance with age-related regulations (such as COPPA in the United States or similar laws in other countries). Any changes in this regard will be reflected in an updated version of this policy.

Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update or revise this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technologies, legal requirements, or for other operational reasons. When we make changes, we will update the “Effective Date” at the top or bottom of this Privacy Policy to indicate when the revisions came into effect. For significant changes, we may also provide a more prominent notice of the update — such as via a notice on our website homepage or by email notification to registered users — prior to the change becoming effective.

It is your responsibility to review this Privacy Policy periodically for any updates. Your continued use of Fight Directory after any changes to this Privacy Policy signifies your acceptance of the revised terms. If you do not agree with the changes, you should stop using the Site and, if you are a registered user, you may consider deleting your account or contacting us for further assistance.

We will not reduce your rights under this Privacy Policy without your explicit consent. If any changes involve how we handle your personal data in a way that requires consent (for example, if we ever plan to use data for a new purpose that requires opt-in), we will obtain your consent before doing so.

Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or the way your personal information is handled at Fight Directory, please feel free to contact us. We value your feedback and privacy inquiries and will respond as promptly as we can.

  • Email: You can reach us by email at [email protected]. This is the primary way to contact us for privacy-related matters, including questions about your data, requests to exercise your rights (access, deletion, etc.), or any complaints.

  • Mailing Address: [If applicable, include a physical mailing address here]. (As of now, we provide our support via email. If you need a physical address to send us correspondence, please request it via email.)

  • Contact Form: You may also contact us through the Contact Us form on our website (located here). Please note that for specific requests about your personal data, email is preferred so we can verify your identity and provide a clear record of the communication.

We are here to help and address any concerns you have about your privacy. Thank you for trusting Fight Directory with your information. We take that trust seriously and are committed to safeguarding your data as described above.

By using Fight Directory, you acknowledge that you have read and agree to this Privacy Policy. This Privacy Policy is effective as of April 7, 2025 (and remains in effect until updated by a subsequent version).