Terms and Conditions

1. Introduction

Welcome to USAIY Art Circle, a social impact initiative operated by USAIY Art Circle. By accessing or using our platform, you agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions. If you do not agree with any part of these terms, please do not use our services.

USAIY Art Circle is a digital gallery and auction platform designed exclusively for African artists and artists of African origin.

2. Eligibility

To use USAIY Art Circle as an artist, you must:

• Be an African artist or an artist of African origin
• Be at least 18 years of age or have parental/guardian consent
• Have the legal right to sell and transfer ownership of any artwork you list
• Provide accurate and complete registration information

3. Account Registration

You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials and for all activities that occur under your account. You agree to:

• Provide accurate, current, and complete information during registration
• Update your information to keep it accurate and current
• Notify us immediately of any unauthorized use of your account
• Not share your account credentials with others

4. Artwork Submissions

By uploading artwork to USAIY Art Circle, you represent and warrant that:

• You are the original creator of the artwork or have authorization to sell it
• The artwork does not infringe on any third-party intellectual property rights
• The artwork is not AI-generated
• The artwork does not contain illegal, harmful, or offensive content
• All information about the artwork (title, description, medium, etc.) is accurate

We reserve the right to remove any artwork that violates these terms or our community guidelines without prior notice.

5. Auctions and Sales

USAIY Art Circle hosts monthly curated auctions. By participating in auctions:

• Artists agree to fulfill sales within the specified timeframe
• Collectors agree to complete payment for won bids
• All sales are subject to our platform commission (details announced separately)
• Shipping and handling are the responsibility of the artist unless otherwise arranged

6. Subscription Plans

We offer various subscription tiers with different features:

• Free Tier: Basic access with limited uploads
• Growing Artist: Enhanced features with monthly/annual billing
• Lifetime Patron: One-time purchase for permanent access

Monthly subscriptions can be cancelled anytime, effective at the end of the billing period. Annual subscriptions may be eligible for prorated refunds within 30 days. Lifetime Patron purchases are non-refundable.

7. Intellectual Property

Artists retain full copyright and ownership of their artwork. By uploading to USAIY Art Circle, you grant us a non-exclusive, worldwide license to display, promote, and market your artwork on our platform and associated marketing materials.

The USAIY Art Circle name, logo, and platform design are the property of USAIY Art Circle and may not be used without permission.

8. Prohibited Activities

You agree not to:

• Upload artwork you do not own or have rights to sell
• Upload AI-generated artwork
• Engage in fraudulent bidding or price manipulation
• Use the platform for illegal activities
• Harass, threaten, or abuse other users
• Attempt to circumvent platform fees or commissions
• Use automated systems to access the platform without permission

9. Limitation of Liability

USAIY Art Circle and USAIY Art Circle are not liable for any disputes between artists and collectors, shipping damages, or issues arising from transactions conducted outside our platform.

We provide the platform "as is" and make no warranties regarding the availability, accuracy, or reliability of the service.

10. Termination

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate your account at any time for violations of these terms or for any reason at our discretion. Upon termination, your right to use the platform ceases immediately.

11. Changes to Terms

We may update these Terms and Conditions from time to time. We will notify users of significant changes via email or platform notification. Continued use of the platform after changes constitutes acceptance of the new terms.