1. Introduction
1. Intrduction
Welcome to The Lobster (“we,” “our,” or “us”). We are committed to protecting your personal data and respecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use The Lobster application (the “App”), visit our website, or otherwise interact with our services. This Privacy Policy is part of and incorporated into The Lobster’s Terms and Conditions (“Terms”), available at [link to Terms]. Capitalised terms not defined in this Privacy Policy have the meanings given to them in the Terms.
By using the App or our website, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy.
2. Information We Collect
2.1 Personal Data
We may collect personally identifiable information, such as:
Name
Email address
Account login details
Artist profile information (biography, profile image, social media links)
Audio files, music, images, and other materials you upload to the App ("User Content")
User Content metadata (song titles, descriptions, credits, genre tags, and co-contributor information)
Location data (used to display your artist profile to nearby fans)
2.2 Non-Personal Data
We may collect non-identifiable information, including:
Browser type
IP address
Device information
Pages visited and time spent on the site
2.3 Cookies and Tracking Technologies
We use cookies and similar technologies to enhance your experience. You can control cookie preferences through your browser settings.
2.4 User Content and Music Data
When you upload User Content to the App, we collect and process:
Audio files and associated recordings
Metadata you provide, including song titles, album names, credits, descriptions, and genre classifications
Technical data generated from your uploads, such as file format, bitrate, duration, and file size
Streaming and playback data associated with your User Content (e.g., number of plays, listener demographics in aggregate form)
We process this data to host, store, stream, and distribute your User Content in accordance with the licence you grant under the Terms, and to provide you with analytics about your content's performance on the App.
2.5 Location Data
We collect your location data when you enable location services on your device. We use this data to display your artist profile to fans in your geographic area. Location data is stored securely and is not shared with third parties except as described in Section 5. You may disable location services through your device settings at any time, though doing so may limit certain features of the App.
2.6 Third-Party Data in User Content
Your User Content may contain personal data of third parties, such as images or recordings of other individuals. You are responsible for ensuring that you have obtained all necessary consents from such individuals before uploading User Content containing their personal data. The Lobster processes such data on the basis of the licence you grant under the Terms and your representation that you hold the required consents.
3. How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect in the following ways:
To provide, operate, and maintain the App and our website, including hosting and streaming User Content
To improve user experience and develop new features
To communicate with you (including customer support and updates)
To comply with legal obligations
To detect and prevent fraud or security issues
To display your artist profile and User Content to other users, including through location-based features that show your profile to nearby fans
To provide you with analytics about your User Content's performance
To use aggregated or de-identified data for analytics, research, and product improvement
To enforce our Terms, including processing DMCA takedown requests
4. Legal Basis for Processing (UK & GDPR Compliance)
If you are located in the UK or EEA, we process your data under the following lawful bases:
Your consent: for marketing communications and any other processing where we specifically request your consent. You may withdraw consent at any time.
Performance of a contract: to provide the App, host and stream your User Content, maintain your account, and fulfil our obligations under the Terms.
Legal obligations: to comply with applicable laws, respond to lawful requests, and process DMCA notices.
Legitimate interests: to improve the App, provide aggregated analytics, display location-based profiles, detect fraud, and enforce our Terms, where those interests are not overridden by your data protection rights.
5. Sharing Your Information
We do not sell your personal data. We may share your information with:
Other users of the App who access your User Content through the App’s streaming and discovery features
Service providers and partners who assist in operating the App, including hosting, streaming infrastructure, and analytics providers
Sublicensees, where required to distribute or stream your User Content in accordance with the licence granted under the Terms
Legal authorities when required by law or in response to valid legal process
Copyright holders or their agents in connection with copyright infringement claims under our DMCA policy
Business transfers (e.g., mergers or acquisitions)
6. Data Retention
We retain your personal data only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this policy, unless a longer retention period is required by law. Specifically:
Account data is retained for the duration of your account and deleted within 30 days of account termination, except where retention is required for legal or compliance purposes.
User Content is retained for as long as it remains on the App. Following removal or account termination, User Content may be retained for a reasonable period necessary to remove it from The Lobster’s systems, consistent with the Terms.
Aggregated or de-identified data may be retained indefinitely, as it cannot be used to identify you.
7. Data Security
We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your data. However, no method of transmission over the Internet is 100% secure.
8. Your Data Protection Rights
Depending on your location, you may have the following rights:
Access your personal data
Request correction or deletion
Object to processing
Request data portability
Withdraw consent at any time
Request restriction of processing
If you are located in the UK, you also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) at ico.org.uk.
To exercise your rights, contact us at: admin@thelobsterapp.com
9. Third-Party Links
Our website may contain links to third-party websites. We are not responsible for their privacy practices.
10. Children’s Privacy
The App is not intended for individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect data from anyone under 18. If we become aware that we have collected personal data from a person under 18, we will take steps to delete that information promptly.
11. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this policy from time to time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated revision date.
12. Contact Us
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, you can contact us:
Email: admin@thelobsterapp.com
13. Analytics and Advertising
We use third-party analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics) and internal analytics to understand how users interact with the App and our website. These services may collect information sent by your device, including pages or screens visited, time spent, User Content played or streamed, and interactions with features. We use this data to improve the App and to provide artists with aggregated performance metrics for their User Content.
14. International Transfers
Your data may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your country of residence, including the United States. Where we transfer data outside the UK or EEA, we rely on appropriate safeguards such as Standard Contractual Clauses approved by the European Commission or the UK Information Commissioner’s Office, or transfers to countries that have received an adequacy decision. You may request a copy of the safeguards in place by contacting us at admin@thelobsterapp.com.