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KAPALA LLC

PRIVACY POLICY

Effective Date: February 13, 2026

This Privacy Policy ("Policy") describes how Kapala LLC, a Tennessee limited liability company ("Kapala," "we," "us," or "our"), collects, uses, stores, shares, and protects personal information in connection with our web-based platform, web application, websites (including kapala.me and all subdomains), APIs, interactive maps, digital memorials, tour features, navigation tools, marketplace, and all associated features and functionality (collectively, the "Service").

This Policy applies to all users of the Service, including Cemetery Operators (cemetery and memorial site operators who maintain accounts and subscriptions), Contributors (individuals who submit content to memorial pages), and Visitors (individuals who browse or use the Service without an account). Capitalized terms not defined herein have the meanings given in our Terms of Service.

By accessing or using the Service, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to the collection, use, and disclosure of your information as described in this Policy. If you do not agree with this Policy, please do not access or use the Service.

1. Information We Collect

We collect different categories of information depending on how you interact with the Service. The information we collect falls into three categories: information you provide directly, information collected automatically, and information received from third parties.

1.1 Information You Provide Directly

Cemetery Operator Account Registration

When a Cemetery Operator creates an account, we collect:

  • Full name of the authorized representative
  • Email address
  • Phone number
  • Cemetery or organization name
  • Cemetery address
  • Organization type (nonprofit or for-profit)
  • Account credentials (password, stored in hashed form)

Additionally, our payment processor (Stripe, Inc.) collects financial and tax information on our behalf during the onboarding process, including tax identification number (EIN), bank account details, and payment method information. Kapala does not directly store credit card numbers, bank account numbers, or tax identification numbers — this information is collected, processed, and stored by Stripe in accordance with Stripe's privacy policy.

Contributor Submissions

When a Contributor submits content to a memorial page (such as photographs, stories, or tributes), we collect:

  • Full name
  • Email address

We do not collect a Contributor's relationship to the deceased individual or any other demographic information at the time of submission. We may use the Contributor's email address to communicate about their submission or about the Service.

Marketplace Purchases

When you make a purchase through the Marketplace (flowers, work orders, digital memorials, or tours), we collect:

  • Full name
  • Email address
  • Delivery address (typically the cemetery address, not a personal address)
  • Card message or special instructions

Payment information (credit card numbers, billing details) is collected and processed directly by Stripe or, for flower orders, transmitted to our third-party florist partner (FloristOne) via their API. Kapala does not store payment card information on its servers. For flower orders, we transmit payment authorization tokens to FloristOne to complete the transaction; we do not retain card details after transmission.

Memorial and Cemetery Data

Cemetery Operators may upload or enter information about deceased individuals, including names, dates of birth and death, biographical details, inscriptions, plot locations, family relationships, veteran status, and photographs. This information relates exclusively to deceased individuals and is not considered "personal information" of living persons under most privacy laws. However, we treat this data with the respect and care it deserves given its sensitive nature.

Communications

If you contact us via email, phone, or through the Service, we collect the content of your communications and any information you choose to provide.

1.2 Information Collected Automatically

When you access or use the Service, we automatically collect certain technical and usage information:

  • Device and Browser Information: IP address, browser type and version, operating system, device type, and unique device identifiers.
  • Usage Data: Pages visited, features used, actions taken (e.g., uploads, searches, map interactions), timestamps, session duration, and referring URLs.
  • Location Data: If you enable location services, we collect your real-time GPS coordinates to power navigation, map positioning, compass, and tour features. As described in our Terms of Service, location data is used in real time only and is not stored, logged, or retained after your session.

1.3 Information from Third Parties

  • FamilySearch: If you use the genealogy integration feature, you authenticate directly with FamilySearch. Data flows from FamilySearch into Kapala (e.g., ancestor records, family tree information); Kapala does not transmit your personal data to FamilySearch.
  • Cloudflare: Our content delivery and security provider (Cloudflare) may collect and process IP addresses, request headers, and other technical data in the course of providing security and performance services. This processing occurs in accordance with Cloudflare's privacy policy.
  • Public Records: In the course of building and populating the Service's memorial database, we may collect information about deceased individuals from publicly available sources such as government databases, cemetery records, and genealogical archives.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

  • Service Delivery and Operations: To operate, maintain, and provide the features and functionality of the Service, including account management, authentication, memorial page creation, interactive maps, navigation, cemetery management tools, and Marketplace transactions.
  • Payment Processing: To process Subscription payments, Marketplace purchases, and commission remittances to Cemetery Operators through our payment processor (Stripe) and third-party fulfillment partners (FloristOne).
  • Communications: To send transactional communications, including order confirmations, receipts, delivery notifications, account verification emails, password resets, and service-related notices. We may also send administrative communications about changes to the Service, our Terms, or this Policy.
  • AI-Generated Content (Memorial Assist): To generate memorial text and biographical summaries through our Memorial Assist feature, we transmit certain information about deceased individuals to OpenAI via their API, as further described in Section 4.
  • Security and Fraud Prevention: To detect, prevent, and respond to fraud, abuse, security incidents, and technical issues.
  • Improvement and Analytics: To understand how users interact with the Service, identify trends, troubleshoot issues, and improve features and performance.
  • Legal Compliance: To comply with applicable laws, regulations, legal processes, or governmental requests, and to enforce our Terms of Service.

3. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Kapala uses a minimal set of cookies and similar technologies. We do not currently use third-party analytics services (such as Google Analytics), advertising pixels (such as Facebook Pixel), retargeting tools, or behavioral tracking technologies.

The cookies and similar technologies we use include:

  • Session Cookies (Essential): PHP session cookies that maintain your authenticated session while using the Service. These are strictly necessary for the Service to function and expire when you close your browser or after a period of inactivity.
  • Cloudflare Cookies (Essential/Performance): Cookies set by Cloudflare for security purposes (e.g., bot detection, DDoS protection) and performance optimization. These are necessary for the secure delivery of the Service.

We do not use cookies for advertising, cross-site tracking, or behavioral profiling. Because we only use strictly necessary and security cookies, a cookie consent banner is not currently required under most applicable laws. If we introduce non-essential cookies in the future (such as analytics or marketing cookies), we will update this Policy and implement appropriate consent mechanisms.

You can configure your browser to block or delete cookies at any time. However, blocking essential cookies may prevent you from using certain features of the Service, such as account login.

4. How We Share Your Information

Kapala does not sell your personal information. We share information only in the limited circumstances described below:

4.1 Service Providers and Partners

  • Stripe, Inc. (Payment Processing): We share your name, email, and transaction details with Stripe to process payments. Stripe independently collects and stores payment method details, tax identification numbers, and bank account information for Cemetery Operators. Stripe's use of your information is governed by Stripe's Privacy Policy.
  • FloristOne (Flower Order Fulfillment): For flower orders placed through the Marketplace, we transmit to FloristOne: the purchaser's name and email, the deceased individual's name, the cemetery name and address, GPS coordinates for delivery navigation, delivery instructions, product details, a card message, and a payment authorization token. FloristOne processes this information to fulfill the order. Kapala does not control FloristOne's use of this data after transmission.
  • OpenAI (AI Content Generation): For the Memorial Assist feature, we transmit the following information about deceased individuals to OpenAI via their API: full name, birth surname, original name, birthplace, date of birth, date of death, place of death, gravesite inscription, plot and gravesite details, biographical text, family member names and relationships (with birth/death years), veteran status, and whether the individual is considered famous. This information relates to deceased individuals, not to the living user requesting the content. OpenAI processes this data under their API data usage policy, which states that data submitted via the API is not used to train OpenAI models.
  • Cloudflare (Security and Content Delivery): Cloudflare processes IP addresses, request headers, and other technical data to provide DDoS protection, security, and content caching. Cloudflare's processing is governed by Cloudflare's Privacy Policy.
  • Oracle Cloud (Infrastructure): Our servers and databases are hosted on Oracle Cloud infrastructure located in Chicago, Illinois, USA. Oracle provides infrastructure services and does not access the content of our databases.
  • Lighthouse / IPFS (Web3 Storage) (Decentralized Storage): User Content (photographs, stories, tributes) is encrypted and stored on the InterPlanetary File System (IPFS) via Lighthouse. Content is encrypted before upload; only Kapala holds the decryption keys.
  • Esri, Carto, and OpenStreetMap (Mapping and GIS): These services provide mapping data, geocoding, and geographic information system functionality. Technical data such as map tile requests and coordinates may be processed by these providers in the course of rendering maps.
  • ERPNext / Frappe (Email Communications): We may use ERPNext/Frappe to send certain transactional emails via standard email protocols (IMAP/SMTP). Recipient email addresses and message content are processed by these tools.

4.2 Cemetery Operators

When you make a Marketplace purchase (flowers, work orders, digital memorials) associated with a specific cemetery, the Cemetery Operator may receive your name, email address, and order details in connection with fulfilling the transaction. Cemetery Operators are bound by our Terms of Service to use this information solely for lawful purposes related to the operation of their cemetery. Kapala does not control how Cemetery Operators use this information after it is provided to them.

4.3 Legal and Safety Disclosures

We may disclose your information if we believe in good faith that disclosure is necessary to:

  • Comply with applicable law, regulation, legal process, or governmental request;
  • Enforce our Terms of Service or other agreements;
  • Protect the rights, property, or safety of Kapala, our users, or the public;
  • Detect, prevent, or address fraud, security, or technical issues; or
  • Respond to an emergency involving danger of death or serious physical injury.

4.4 Business Transfers

In the event of a merger, acquisition, reorganization, conversion to a different entity type (such as LLC to corporation), bankruptcy, or sale of all or a portion of our assets, your information may be transferred to the acquiring entity. We will notify affected users of any such transfer and any resulting changes to this Policy by email (if available) or by posting a prominent notice on the Service. The acquiring entity will be bound by the terms of this Policy with respect to information collected prior to the transfer, unless you consent to different terms.

4.5 Aggregated and Anonymized Data

We may create, use, and share aggregated or anonymized data that does not identify you personally for any lawful purpose, including analytics, research, product development, and marketing. Once data has been aggregated or anonymized, it is no longer considered personal information and may be used without restriction.

5. Data Storage, Security, and Retention

5.1 Where We Store Your Data

Your information is stored on servers located in the United States, specifically on Oracle Cloud infrastructure in Chicago, Illinois. User Content (photographs, stories, tributes) is additionally encrypted and stored on IPFS via Lighthouse decentralized storage. Content is temporarily held in our database during processing and is deleted from the database after successful upload to IPFS. Pointers (IPFS content identifiers) are retained in our database to reference the stored content.

5.2 Security Measures

Kapala employs industry-standard security measures to protect your information, including:

  • HTTPS/TLS encryption for all data in transit;
  • Encryption of User Content before storage on IPFS;
  • Hashed and salted storage of account passwords;
  • Cloudflare DDoS protection, bot detection, and web application firewall;
  • Role-based access controls limiting internal access to personal data;
  • Stripe PCI-DSS compliant payment processing (Kapala does not store payment card data).

While we take reasonable measures to protect your information, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is completely secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security, and you use the Service at your own risk. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials and for any activity that occurs under your account.

5.3 Data Retention

We retain personal information for the following periods:

  • Cemetery Operator Account Data: Retained for the duration of the active Subscription and for a minimum of ninety (90) days following cancellation to allow for data export. After this period, account data may be deleted or anonymized at Kapala's discretion, subject to any legal retention obligations.
  • Contributor and Marketplace Customer Data: Name and email are retained as long as the associated transaction record or User Content remains on the Service. If User Content is removed from public display, associated personal data may be retained for a reasonable period for legal and record-keeping purposes.
  • User Content on IPFS: User Content stored on IPFS is encrypted. If deletion is requested and approved, Kapala will discard the encryption keys, rendering the content functionally inaccessible and unreadable, even though the encrypted data may persist on the distributed network.
  • Transaction Records: Payment transaction records are retained for a minimum of seven (7) years for tax, accounting, and legal compliance purposes.
  • Automatically Collected Data: Server logs and technical data are retained for up to twelve (12) months, after which they are deleted or anonymized.

When we no longer need to retain your personal information and no legal obligation requires its retention, we will securely delete or anonymize it.

6. Your Rights and Choices

Depending on your location and applicable law, you may have certain rights regarding your personal information. Kapala honors the following rights for all users, regardless of location, to the extent commercially reasonable:

6.1 Access and Portability

You may request a copy of the personal information we hold about you. Cemetery Operators can access and export their core record data through the Service (see Section 12.4 of our Terms of Service). For all other users, please submit a request to [email protected], and we will provide your personal information in a commonly used, machine-readable format within thirty (30) days.

6.2 Correction

You may request that we correct inaccurate or incomplete personal information. Cemetery Operators can update their account information directly through the Service. Contributors and Marketplace customers may submit correction requests to [email protected]. Note that User Content stored on IPFS cannot be edited after submission due to the blockchain-based storage architecture; corrections require removal of the original content and submission of corrected content.

6.3 Deletion

You may request that we delete your personal information by contacting [email protected]. We will honor deletion requests unless retention is required for:

  • Compliance with legal, tax, or regulatory obligations;
  • Completion of a pending transaction;
  • Detection or prevention of fraud or security incidents;
  • Exercise or defense of legal claims; or
  • Internal record-keeping required by law.

For User Content stored on IPFS, deletion is accomplished by discarding the encryption keys, which renders the content permanently unreadable. The encrypted (and now inaccessible) data may continue to exist on the distributed IPFS network, but cannot be decrypted or viewed by anyone, including Kapala.

6.4 Objection and Restriction

Where applicable under law (including GDPR), you may object to the processing of your personal information or request that we restrict processing in certain circumstances. Submit such requests to [email protected].

6.5 Communication Preferences

You may opt out of promotional or marketing communications by following the unsubscribe link in any such email or by contacting us. You cannot opt out of transactional communications (such as order confirmations, receipts, and account security notices) while maintaining an active account or pending transaction.

6.6 Cookie Controls

You can configure your browser to block or delete cookies. Because we currently use only essential cookies (session and security cookies), blocking them may prevent you from logging in or using certain features.

7. Kapala's Role: Data Controller and Data Processor

Kapala may act as either a data controller or a data processor, depending on the context:

  • Data Controller: Kapala is the data controller for personal information we collect directly from Visitors, Contributors, and Marketplace customers, as well as for Cemetery Operator account information. As the controller, we determine the purposes and means of processing this information.
  • Data Processor: When Cemetery Operators upload or enter data into the Service (such as burial records, plot information, and administrative records), Kapala acts as a data processor on behalf of the Cemetery Operator. In this capacity, we process data only in accordance with the Cemetery Operator's instructions and our Terms of Service. The Cemetery Operator remains the data controller for such data and is responsible for ensuring that it has a lawful basis for providing the data to Kapala.

Cemetery Operators who require a formal Data Processing Agreement ("DPA") may request one by contacting [email protected]. In the absence of a separate DPA, this Policy and the Terms of Service govern Kapala's processing of data on behalf of Cemetery Operators.

8. Information About Deceased Individuals

A significant portion of the information processed through the Service relates to deceased individuals (names, dates, biographical details, photographs of gravesites, etc.). Under most privacy laws, information about deceased persons is not considered "personal information" or "personal data" and is not subject to the same protections as information about living individuals. Nevertheless:

  • We treat information about deceased individuals with respect, care, and sensitivity;
  • We provide Cemetery Operators with moderation tools to manage memorial content;
  • Family members and other interested parties may request corrections to memorial information or removal of specific content by contacting [email protected]; and
  • AI-Generated Content about deceased individuals is identified as such on the Service (see Section 11 of our Terms of Service).

9. Children's Privacy

The Service is not directed to children under the age of thirteen (13), and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we become aware that we have collected personal information from a child under 13 without parental consent, we will take steps to delete such information promptly. If you believe a child under 13 has provided us with personal information, please contact us at [email protected].

10. State-Specific Disclosures (United States)

10.1 California (CCPA/CPRA)

If you are a California resident, you have the following rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act, as amended by the California Privacy Rights Act ("CCPA"):

  • Right to Know: You may request that we disclose the categories and specific pieces of personal information we have collected about you, the categories of sources, the purposes for collection, and the categories of third parties with whom we share it.
  • Right to Delete: You may request that we delete personal information we have collected from you, subject to certain exceptions.
  • Right to Correct: You may request that we correct inaccurate personal information.
  • Right to Opt Out of Sale/Sharing: Kapala does not sell personal information for monetary consideration. We do not share personal information for cross-context behavioral advertising or targeted advertising purposes.
  • Right to Non-Discrimination: We will not discriminate against you for exercising any of your CCPA rights.

Categories of Personal Information Collected: Identifiers (name, email, IP address); Internet or electronic network activity (browsing data, usage data); geolocation data (real-time, not stored); and commercial information (transaction records).

Sensitive Personal Information: We do not collect sensitive personal information as defined under the CCPA (such as Social Security numbers, financial account credentials, precise geolocation for profiling, racial or ethnic origin, or biometric data) for purposes to which the right to limit applies.

To submit a CCPA request, contact us at [email protected]. We will verify your identity before fulfilling your request. You may designate an authorized agent to submit a request on your behalf.

10.2 Other U.S. States

Residents of Colorado, Connecticut, Virginia, Utah, and other states with comprehensive privacy laws may have similar rights to access, correct, delete, and port their personal information, as well as the right to opt out of targeted advertising and profiling. Kapala does not engage in targeted advertising, sale of personal information, or profiling that produces legal or similarly significant effects. To exercise any applicable state privacy rights, contact us at [email protected].

11. International Users (GDPR)

If you are located in the European Economic Area ("EEA"), the United Kingdom ("UK"), or Switzerland, the following additional provisions apply:

11.1 Legal Basis for Processing

We process your personal data on the following legal bases:

  • Contract: Processing necessary to perform our agreement with you (e.g., providing the Service, processing transactions).
  • Legitimate Interests: Processing necessary for our legitimate interests (e.g., improving the Service, security, fraud prevention), where those interests are not overridden by your rights and freedoms.
  • Consent: Where you have provided consent (e.g., optional marketing communications). You may withdraw consent at any time.
  • Legal Obligation: Processing necessary to comply with applicable law.

11.2 Your GDPR Rights

Under the GDPR, you have the right to:

  • Access your personal data and receive a copy;
  • Rectify inaccurate or incomplete personal data;
  • Erase your personal data ("right to be forgotten"), subject to legal exceptions;
  • Restrict processing of your personal data;
  • Data portability (receive your data in a structured, machine-readable format);
  • Object to processing based on legitimate interests or for direct marketing;
  • Withdraw consent at any time, without affecting the lawfulness of processing prior to withdrawal; and
  • Lodge a complaint with your local data protection supervisory authority.

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at [email protected]. We will respond within thirty (30) days, or within the timeframe required by applicable law.

11.3 International Data Transfers

Your personal data is transferred to and processed in the United States, which may not provide the same level of data protection as your country of residence. When we transfer personal data from the EEA, UK, or Switzerland to the United States, we rely on:

  • Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) approved by the European Commission, where applicable; and/or
  • Your explicit consent to the transfer, which you provide by using the Service.

You may contact us for more information about the safeguards we use for international transfers.

12. Do Not Track Signals

Some web browsers transmit "Do Not Track" (DNT) signals to websites. Because there is no uniform standard for interpreting DNT signals, and because Kapala does not currently engage in cross-site tracking or behavioral advertising, the Service does not specifically respond to DNT signals. However, your privacy choices are respected through the minimal tracking practices described in Section 3.

13. Cemetery Operator Responsibilities

Cemetery Operators who access Marketplace customer information (such as the names and email addresses of individuals who purchase flowers, work orders, or digital memorials associated with their cemetery) are responsible for:

  • Using such information solely for lawful purposes related to the operation of their cemetery and the fulfillment of Marketplace transactions;
  • Complying with all applicable privacy laws in their jurisdiction with respect to any personal information they receive through the Service;
  • Not using customer email addresses for unsolicited marketing or promotional communications unless the customer has separately consented to receive such communications; and
  • Implementing reasonable security measures to protect any personal information received through the Service.

Kapala is not responsible for a Cemetery Operator's use or misuse of personal information after it has been provided through the Service. If you have concerns about a Cemetery Operator's handling of your information, please contact both the Cemetery Operator directly and Kapala at [email protected].

14. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, the Service, or applicable law. When we make material changes, we will:

  • Update the "Effective Date" at the top of this Policy;
  • Post the revised Policy on the Service; and
  • Make reasonable efforts to notify registered Cemetery Operators via email at least fifteen (15) days prior to the effective date of material changes.

Your continued use of the Service after the effective date of any revised Policy constitutes your acceptance of the changes. We encourage you to review this Policy periodically.

15. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us at:

Kapala LLC
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (615) 852-5458

For data protection inquiries from the EEA, UK, or Switzerland, please direct your correspondence to the same contact and include "GDPR Request" or "Data Protection Inquiry" in the subject line.

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