API Terms of Use

1. Attribution

Applications using the HalalBites API must visibly display:

• • The official HalalBites logo.
• • The text “Powered by HalalBites”.
• • A clickable link to https://halalbites.co.

Attribution must remain visible anywhere HalalBites restaurant data is displayed.

2. API Key Security

You are responsible for safeguarding your API key. You agree to:

• • Keep your API key confidential.
• • Never expose your API key in public repositories, client-side JavaScript, or publicly accessible applications.
• • Notify HalalBites immediately if your API key is compromised.

You are responsible for all activity performed using your API key.

3. Rate Limits and Fair Use

All API keys are subject to rate limits, request quotas, and fair usage policies. HalalBites may throttle requests, temporarily suspend access, or permanently revoke API access if usage negatively impacts the service, other users, or violates these Terms.

4. Acceptable Use

You agree not to:

• • Abuse or overload the API.
• • Circumvent rate limits or security measures.
• • Attempt unauthorized access to HalalBites systems.
• • Reverse engineer or exploit the API.
• • Use bots or automated tools to scrape data outside of the official API.
• • Use the API for illegal, fraudulent, or harmful purposes.
• • Distribute malware, spam, or other malicious content through the API.

5. Data Ownership and License

All restaurant information, ratings, reviews, images, metadata, and other API content remain the exclusive property of HalalBites and its contributors. HalalBites grants you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable license to use the API solely to develop applications that integrate with HalalBites. No ownership rights are transferred.

6. Data Storage and Caching

To ensure that users always receive accurate and up-to-date information, developers may only store API data under the following conditions.

Permitted Long-Term Storage

The following fields may be stored indefinitely:

• • Restaurant ID
• • Restaurant Name (Place Name)

These fields may be used for bookmarking, favorites, user collections, internal references, or linking back to HalalBites.

Temporary Caching

All other API data may only be cached for up to 24 hours, including but not limited to:

• • Restaurant addresses
• • Coordinates
• • Phone numbers
• • Website URLs
• • Opening hours
• • Certification status
• • Alcohol-free status
• • Zabiha status
• • Cuisine information
• • Photos
• • Ratings
• • Reviews
• • Menus
• • Pricing
• • Distance calculations
• • Operating status
• • Any other metadata returned by the API

After 24 hours, this information must be refreshed from the HalalBites API before it is displayed to users.

Prohibited Storage

You may not:

• • Permanently store the complete HalalBites dataset.
• • Build or maintain your own permanent copy of HalalBites restaurant information.
• • Synchronize the API into your own long-term database.
• • Continue displaying stale API data after the cache period expires.
• • Use cached data if the API indicates the restaurant has been removed or updated.

7. Restrictions on Data Use

You may not:

• • Copy or mirror the entire HalalBites database.
• • Create, maintain, or improve a competing restaurant directory, search engine, review platform, mapping service, or restaurant discovery application using HalalBites data.
• • Sell, sublicense, redistribute, license, or commercially resell API data without prior written permission.
• • Remove or obscure HalalBites branding or attribution.
• • Misrepresent or alter restaurant information returned by the API.

8. Restaurant Certifications

Applications must accurately display certification information returned by the API. This includes, but is not limited to: Fully Halal, Zabiha Halal, Certified Halal, and Alcohol Free.

Certification information may not be modified, removed, hidden, or presented in a misleading manner.

9. Required Links

Where practical, applications should include a link back to the corresponding HalalBites restaurant page or the HalalBites website.

10. Commercial Use

Commercial applications are permitted. However, HalalBites reserves the right to require a separate commercial agreement, licensing arrangement, or enterprise plan for applications with high usage, large audiences, or commercial distribution.

11. API Changes

HalalBites may add, modify, or remove endpoints, request formats, response formats, authentication methods, or usage limits at any time. Reasonable efforts will be made to notify developers before introducing breaking changes.

12. Availability

The API is provided on an “AS IS” and “AS AVAILABLE” basis. HalalBites makes no guarantees regarding uptime, availability, compatibility, response times, or uninterrupted service.

13. Monitoring

HalalBites may monitor API usage for security, abuse prevention, analytics, troubleshooting, and enforcement of these Terms.

14. Suspension and Termination

HalalBites reserves the right to suspend, limit, or permanently revoke API access at any time, with or without notice, including but not limited to:

• • Violation of these Terms
• • Excessive or abusive usage
• • Security concerns
• • Fraudulent or illegal activity
• • Protection of HalalBites, its users, or its infrastructure
• • Any reason deemed necessary at HalalBites’ sole discretion

15. Disclaimer

Restaurant information is community-contributed and may change at any time. HalalBites does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, reliability, or availability of any API data. Developers are responsible for determining whether API data is suitable for their application.

16. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, HalalBites shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, consequential, special, exemplary, or punitive damages arising from or relating to the use of the API.

17. Governing Law and Venue

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without regard to its conflict of laws principles. Any legal action or proceeding arising out of or relating to these Terms or the use of the HalalBites API shall be brought exclusively in the state or federal courts located in the State of New York. By using the API, you consent to the personal jurisdiction and venue of those courts.

18. Changes to These Terms

HalalBites may update these Terms at any time. Continued use of the API after changes become effective constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.

19. Contact

Questions regarding the HalalBites API or these Terms may be directed to: support@halalbites.co