Terms of Service

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using Sola, you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service. If you do not agree to these terms, please do not use our platform.

2. Platform Description

Sola is a digital marketplace that connects creators who sell digital products with buyers. We provide the platform infrastructure, payment processing, and hosting services. We do not create, own, or control the digital products listed on the platform.

3. Eligibility & Age Requirements

3.1 Minimum Age

You must be at least 18 years old to create an account and use Sola. By creating an account, you confirm that you are 18 years of age or older. We comply with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and do not knowingly collect information from anyone under 13. Users between 13-17 are not permitted to use Sola.

3.2 Account Creation

You may create an account using email/password or Google OAuth. During registration, you must provide your date of birth for age verification and accept these Terms of Service. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials.

3.3 Account Responsibilities

You are responsible for all activities that occur under your account. You must notify us immediately of any unauthorized use of your account. Providing false information during registration, including age information, may result in immediate account termination.

4. Cookie Policy & Consent

4.1 Cookie Usage

Sola uses cookies and similar tracking technologies to provide and improve our services. We classify cookies into four categories:

• Essential Cookies: Required for core functionality (authentication, security, shopping cart). These cannot be disabled.
• Functional Cookies: Enhance user experience (preferences, language settings).
• Analytics Cookies: Help us understand how users interact with our platform to improve services.
• Marketing Cookies: Track user behavior for targeted advertising and promotional campaigns.

4.2 Cookie Consent

Upon your first visit, we will ask for your consent to use non-essential cookies. You can customize your preferences, accept all cookies, or choose essential cookies only. You may change your cookie preferences at any time by clearing your browser cookies and revisiting the site.

4.3 Managing Cookies

You can control cookies through your browser settings. However, disabling essential cookies may prevent you from using certain features of the platform. Disabling non-essential cookies will not affect core functionality but may limit personalization features.

5. Creator Terms

5.1 Selling Requirements

To sell on Sola, you must set a shop name and provide accurate product information. You retain ownership of your digital products but grant us a license to display and distribute them on your behalf.

5.2 Payment & Fees

Creator Tiers: Sola offers three creator tiers with different marketplace fees:

• Free Tier: 7% marketplace fee + payment processing fees (Stripe: 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction)
• Pro Tier ($49/month): 4% marketplace fee + payment processing fees (Stripe: 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction)
• Ultimate Tier ($99/month): 2% marketplace fee + payment processing fees (Stripe: 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction)

Marketplace fees and payment processing fees are separate charges. Payments are processed through Stripe Connect Standard accounts, with funds flowing directly to creators. The marketplace fee is automatically deducted via Stripe's application fee system. Creators must complete tax ID verification to receive payouts.

5.3 Mockup Generation Features

Creator tiers include different mockup generation capabilities:

• Free Tier: 1 basic template-based mockup per product upload (t-shirt, mug, poster, or phone case based on product tags)
• Pro Tier: 2 professional AI-powered mockups per product upload via Dynamic Mockups API (t-shirt and canvas wall art), with automatic fallback to basic templates if API is unavailable
• Ultimate Tier: 4 professional AI-powered mockups per product upload via Dynamic Mockups API (canvas, t-shirt product shot, t-shirt worn, and additional variant), with automatic fallback to basic templates if API is unavailable

Storage Policy: Generated mockup preview images remain in your product gallery permanently. The source design file used to create mockups is automatically deleted after 24 hours to optimize storage costs. Mockup generation is optional—creators may upload their own custom mockup images instead.

5.4 Stripe Connect & Payment Responsibility

Sola uses Stripe Connect to facilitate payments. Each creator maintains their own Stripe account and is fully responsible for: (a) payment disputes and chargebacks, (b) refunds and customer service, (c) tax reporting and compliance, and (d) any negative balances or losses. Sola never holds creator funds—all payments flow directly from customers to creators via Stripe. Marketplace fees are automatically deducted via Stripe transfers.

5.5 Tax Reporting & 1099-K Forms

Electronic Tax Form Delivery (Default): If you meet the IRS reporting threshold in a calendar year (currently $5,000 for 2024, $2,500 for 2025), Sola is required by law to file Form 1099-K with the IRS and provide a copy to you. These thresholds are set by the IRS and may change annually. Some states have lower thresholds. Stripe handles these requirements automatically based on current IRS and state regulations. By default, all tax forms are delivered electronically through your Stripe Express Dashboard. You will receive email notification when forms are available (typically by January 31st of the following year).

Consent to Electronic Delivery: By creating a creator account and connecting your Stripe account, you automatically consent to receiving 1099-K tax forms electronically as the default delivery method. This consent is required to participate as a creator on the platform.

Delivery Preference Management: You may manage your tax form delivery preferences (electronic only, paper mail, or both) through your Stripe Express Dashboard settings at any time. To request paper mail delivery in addition to or instead of electronic delivery, log into your Stripe account and update your tax form delivery preferences. Note that requesting paper mail delivery may incur additional fees charged directly by Stripe, not by Sola.

Access to Forms: You can access your 1099-K forms at any time by logging into your Stripe Express Dashboard at dashboard.stripe.com. Forms remain accessible for download throughout the year and in subsequent years for your records.

Tax Information Accuracy: You are responsible for ensuring your tax identification number (SSN/EIN) and business information in your Stripe account are accurate and up to date. Incorrect information may result in tax reporting errors or delays in receiving your 1099-K forms.

Additional Tax Obligations: The 1099-K form is only one part of your tax reporting requirements. As a self-employed creator, you may be required to file additional tax forms (such as Schedule C, Schedule SE, Form 1040, and Form 1040-ES) and pay quarterly estimated taxes. Sola does not provide these forms—you are solely responsible for obtaining and filing them. For educational resources about your tax obligations, visit our Tax Resources page. We strongly recommend consulting a qualified tax professional for advice specific to your situation.

5.6 Prohibited Content

You may not sell products that: (a) infringe on intellectual property rights, (b) contain malicious code or viruses, (c) violate applicable laws, (d) promote illegal activities, or (e) contain adult or offensive content without proper labeling.

5.7 Product Quality

You agree to provide accurate descriptions, working files, and appropriate licenses for your products. Misrepresentation may result in account suspension.

6. Buyer Terms

6.1 Purchases

All purchases are final. By purchasing a product, you agree to the license terms specified by the creator (Personal, Commercial, or Extended).

6.2 License Compliance

You must use purchased products in accordance with the license type you selected. Unauthorized use or redistribution is prohibited.

6.3 Download Access

After purchase, you receive lifetime access to download your purchased files. We reserve the right to remove access if fraudulent activity is detected.

7. Licensing

7.1 Personal License

Personal licenses allow use for personal, non-commercial projects only. You may create physical items for yourself or as gifts, but not for sale. No resale or redistribution of digital files permitted.

7.2 Commercial License

Commercial licenses allow use for business purposes and creating physical products to sell (mugs, shirts, stickers, etc.). Unlimited physical products may be created and sold. No resale or redistribution of the digital files themselves permitted.

7.3 Commercial with Resale License

Commercial with Resale licenses allow use for both physical AND digital products. You may sell, share, or redistribute the files as-is or modified, bundle them into design packs, or include them in digital products you sell. You may not claim original copyright or authorship.

7.4 Full Resale License

Full Resale licenses grant unrestricted commercial use with full resale rights. You may sell, modify, bundle, or redistribute the files without limitation. You may not claim original copyright or authorship.

8. Sola Reserve Subscription Service

8.1 Subscription Overview

Sola Reserve is a premium subscription service that provides members with exclusive access to free digital products. Two subscription tiers are available:

• Monthly Tier: $9.99/month - Access to monthly exclusive freebies
• Unlimited Tier: $19.99/month - Unlimited access to all Reserve exclusive content

All subscriptions are billed monthly through Stripe.

8.2 Subscription Benefits

Active Sola Reserve members receive unlimited access to download all products marked as "Sola Reserve Exclusive" at no additional cost. Product availability and selection are subject to change monthly without notice.

8.3 Cancellation & Refunds

Cancellation Policy: You may cancel your Sola Reserve subscription at any time through your subscription management settings. When you cancel, your subscription will be scheduled to end at the end of your current billing period. You will continue to have full access to all Reserve benefits until that date.

Refund Policy: Sola Reserve subscriptions are non-refundable. No refunds or credits will be provided for partial months or unused time. This includes situations where you cancel before the end of your billing period.

Reactivation: If you cancel your subscription but change your mind before the end of your current billing period, you may reactivate your subscription at any time. This will restore your auto-renewal and your subscription will continue without interruption.

Post-Cancellation Access: After your subscription ends, you will retain access to any Reserve products you previously downloaded, but you will no longer be able to download new Reserve-exclusive content or access subscriber-only features.

8.4 Price Changes

We reserve the right to change subscription pricing with 30 days' notice to existing subscribers. Price changes apply to new subscribers immediately.

8.5 Creator Revenue Sharing

Revenue Split: Subscription revenue is split 50/50 between Sola and the creator pool after Stripe processing fees (approximately 3%). Creators who submit Reserve exclusives participate in monthly revenue sharing based on download performance.

Payout Eligibility: To qualify for monthly payouts, creators must:

• Have at least one freebie with 25 or more downloads in the month
• Only the top 5 performing freebies per creator count toward earnings
• Payouts are calculated and distributed on the 1st of each month at 2 AM UTC
• Creator share is proportional to downloads compared to total qualifying downloads

Earnings Dashboard: Creators have access to a real-time earnings dashboard showing:

• Current month download statistics for all Reserve submissions
• Estimated payout based on current performance
• Top 5 performing freebies with qualification status
• Total revenue pool and creator share percentage
• Historical payout records

Transparency: All download counts and earnings calculations are visible to creators through the Reserve tab in their dashboard. Payout amounts are estimates until final reconciliation on the 1st of each month.

9. Sola Reserve Creator Revenue Share Program

9.1 Program Overview

The Sola Reserve Creator Revenue Share Program ("Program") provides eligible creators with the opportunity to earn monthly revenue by contributing free digital products ("Reserve Freebies") to the Sola Reserve subscription service. Participation in this Program is voluntary and subject to the terms set forth below.

9.2 Revenue Pool Structure

Pool Creation: Each calendar month, Sola collects all Sola Reserve subscription revenue from both Monthly Tier ($9.99/month) and Unlimited Tier ($19.99/month) subscriptions. After deduction of payment processing fees charged by Stripe (approximately 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction), the remaining net revenue ("Net Subscription Revenue") is divided as follows:

• Sola Platform Share: 50% of Net Subscription Revenue
• Creator Pool: 50% of Net Subscription Revenue (the "Monthly Creator Pool")

The Monthly Creator Pool is distributed among eligible creators based on download performance as calculated according to Section 9.3.

9.3 Payout Calculation Formula

Individual creator payouts are calculated using the following formula:

Example: If the Monthly Creator Pool is $1,000, you have 100 qualifying downloads, and all creators combined have 1,000 total qualifying downloads, your payout would be: (100 ÷ 1,000) × $1,000 = $100.

9.4 Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for monthly payouts under this Program, creators must meet all of the following requirements:

• Active Creator Account: Maintain an active, compliant creator account in good standing
• Stripe Connect Onboarding: Complete Stripe Connect Standard account setup to receive payouts
• Minimum Download Threshold: Each Reserve Freebie must receive at least 25 unique downloads during the calendar month to qualify for revenue sharing
• Top 5 Freebies Only: Only your five (5) best-performing Reserve Freebies (by download count) are eligible to contribute to your monthly earnings
• Content Compliance: All Reserve Freebies must comply with Sola's Content Policy, Prohibited Content guidelines, and DMCA requirements

Downloads below the 25-download threshold do not count toward your qualifying download total and will not contribute to your revenue share for that month.

9.5 Payout Timing and Distribution

Calculation Date: Payouts are calculated automatically on the 1st day of each month at 2:00 AM UTC.

Distribution Method: Eligible payouts are distributed directly to your Stripe Connect account. Stripe may impose additional processing time (typically 2-7 business days) before funds appear in your bank account, depending on your payout schedule settings.

Minimum Payout: Sola reserves the right to implement a minimum payout threshold (e.g., $10.00) to reduce administrative costs. Earnings below this threshold may be carried forward to subsequent months until the minimum is reached.

Failed Payouts: If a payout fails due to invalid banking information or incomplete Stripe Connect onboarding, you will be notified via email. You must resolve the issue within 90 days or forfeit unclaimed earnings.

9.6 Transparency and Reporting

Creators have access to a real-time Reserve Earnings Dashboard showing:

• Current month download statistics for all submitted Reserve Freebies
• Download count for each freebie and qualification status (above/below 25 threshold)
• Top 5 performing freebies for the month
• Estimated payout based on current performance metrics
• Total Monthly Creator Pool size and your projected share percentage
• Historical payout records and transaction history

Important: All earnings displayed in the dashboard are estimates until final reconciliation occurs on the 1st of the month. Actual payouts may vary based on final download counts and total creator pool participation.

9.7 Tax Reporting and Withholding

You are solely responsible for all tax obligations arising from earnings received through this Program. Sola may issue Form 1099-K or other tax documents as required by applicable law. If you are a non-U.S. creator, you may be required to complete IRS Form W-8BEN or similar tax documentation through Stripe.

Sola reserves the right to withhold taxes as required by federal, state, or local law. For educational information about your tax obligations as a self-employed creator, including forms you may need to file independently (Schedule C, Schedule SE, Form 1040-ES), visit our Tax Resources page. Sola is not a tax advisor and strongly recommends consulting a qualified tax professional.

9.8 Program Modifications and Termination

Right to Modify: Sola reserves the right to modify the revenue split percentage, eligibility requirements, payout formula, minimum thresholds, or any other aspect of this Program at any time with thirty (30) days' advance written notice to participating creators.

Notice Method: Notice of Program changes will be provided via email to your registered account email address and through in-app notifications in your Creator Dashboard.

Program Termination: Sola reserves the right to suspend or terminate the entire Revenue Share Program at any time with sixty (60) days' advance notice. In the event of termination, all earned payouts through the effective termination date will be honored.

Continued Participation: By continuing to participate in the Program after notice of modifications, you agree to the updated terms. If you do not agree to the modifications, you may discontinue participation by ceasing to submit Reserve Freebies.

9.9 Dispute Resolution

If you believe there is an error in your download counts, payout calculation, or eligibility determination, you must submit a written dispute to support@solamarketplace.com within thirty (30) days of the disputed payout date.

Disputes must include: (a) your creator account email, (b) the month in question, (c) specific download or calculation discrepancies, and (d) any supporting documentation. Sola will investigate and respond within fifteen (15) business days. Sola's determination shall be final and binding.

9.10 Prohibited Activities

The following activities are strictly prohibited and will result in immediate disqualification from the Revenue Share Program and potential account termination:

• Artificially inflating download counts through bots, automated scripts, or incentivized downloads
• Creating multiple accounts to circumvent the top-5-freebies limitation
• Uploading plagiarized, stolen, or rights-infringing content as Reserve Freebies
• Coordinating with other users to manipulate download metrics
• Any other fraudulent or deceptive practices designed to manipulate payout calculations

Violations may also result in forfeiture of all unpaid earnings and potential legal action.

9.11 No Guarantee of Earnings

Important Notice: Participation in the Sola Reserve Creator Revenue Share Program does not guarantee any specific level of earnings. Payouts depend entirely on: (a) the total Monthly Creator Pool size, which fluctuates based on subscriber count and retention, (b) your Reserve Freebie download performance relative to other creators, and (c) meeting all eligibility requirements.

Sola makes no representations or warranties regarding potential earnings. Past performance of other creators is not indicative of future results.

10. Sola Boost Advertising Program

10.1 Boost Overview

Sola Boost is an internal advertising system that allows creators to promote their products. Boosted products display a "💫 Boosted" badge and receive priority placement in search results and browse pages.

10.2 Boost Pricing & Payment

Sola Boost advertising costs $0.99 per day per active campaign. Ad costs accumulate daily and are tracked in your creator dashboard under "Ad Balance."

10.3 Ad Cost Collection from Sales

Automatic Deduction: Ad costs are automatically deducted from your next sale after they accumulate. For example:

• You run a Boost campaign for 3 days = $2.97 in ad costs
• Your ad balance shows -$2.97 (negative balance = amount owed)
• When you make a sale for $10.00, the $2.97 is deducted from that sale
• You receive your normal earnings minus the ad cost

Transparency: Every order receipt and dashboard entry shows a clear breakdown:

• Platform Fee (7%, 4%, or 2% based on your creator tier)
• Ad Balance Payment (if applicable - the accumulated ad costs being collected)
• Stripe Processing Fees
• Net Earnings (what you actually receive)

This ensures complete transparency and allows you to track exactly where your earnings go. Ad costs are never hidden in marketplace fees.

10.4 Backup Monthly Billing (Fallback Only)

On the 1st of each month at 1 AM UTC, we conduct automated billing reconciliation as a backup. This only applies if you have unpaid advertising expenses that were NOT deducted from sales (e.g., if you had no sales to deduct from):

• We will attempt to charge your payment method on file
• If no payment method is available or payment fails, your shop will be suspended
• You will receive both email and in-app notifications about the suspension
• All billing events are logged in our audit trail for transparency
• You can reactivate your shop by adding a valid payment method

Payment Method Requirement: To use Sola Boost advertising, you must maintain a valid payment method on file as a backup. We only store Stripe payment method identifiers—no actual card data is stored on our servers.

10.5 Shop Suspension Policy

If your shop is suspended for unpaid advertising costs, you will lose access to selling privileges until payment is made. Your products will remain visible to buyers, but new sales will be disabled. To reactivate your shop, update your payment method in Account Settings.

10.6 Advertising Standards

Boosted products must comply with all platform rules and accurately represent the product being sold. We reserve the right to reject or suspend Boost campaigns that violate our policies, contain misleading information, or promote prohibited content.

10.7 FTC Disclosure

Boosted products are clearly labeled with a "💫 Boosted" badge to comply with Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations requiring disclosure of paid advertising. This badge cannot be removed or hidden.

11. Payments & Refunds

11.1 Payment Processing

All payments are processed securely through Stripe. We do not store payment card information on our servers.

11.2 Taxes

Stripe Tax automatically calculates and collects applicable sales tax, VAT, or GST based on your location.

11.3 Refund Policy

General Policy: Due to the digital nature of products, all sales are final. Once a digital product is downloaded, no refunds are available as the product has been delivered and cannot be returned.

EU Customers - 14-Day Withdrawal Right

Right to Withdraw: Customers located in the European Union have the right to withdraw from a purchase within 14 days of the transaction date, as required by the EU Consumer Rights Directive (2011/83/EU).

Waiver for Digital Content: However, you expressly acknowledge and agree that you lose your right of withdrawal once you begin downloading the digital content. By checking the consent box at checkout stating "I agree to immediate access and acknowledge that I will lose my right to withdraw once I download this digital product," you:

• Give your express consent to immediate performance of the contract (delivery of digital content)
• Acknowledge that you will lose your right of withdrawal once you begin downloading
• Understand that after downloading, the purchase becomes final and non-refundable

Before Download: If you are an EU customer and have NOT yet downloaded the product, you may exercise your withdrawal right within 14 days by contacting the creator directly or platform support at support@thesolamarketplace.com.

Resolving Issues: If you experience issues with a product before downloading, please contact the creator directly. Creators may choose to offer refunds or solutions on a case-by-case basis at their sole discretion. All refund requests must be made directly to the seller.

Platform Intervention: Sola reserves the right to intervene and mandate refunds only in cases of fraudulent listings, defective products, or violations of these terms.

12. Promotional Tools & Buyer Management

12.1 Discount Codes & Sales

Creators may create discount codes and promotional sales for their products through the Creator Dashboard. Discount codes can be configured with the following parameters:

• Discount Type: Percentage-based discounts (e.g., 20% off) or fixed-amount discounts
• Product Scope: Apply to specific products or all products in your shop
• Validity Period: Set start and end dates for promotional periods
• Usage Limits: Limit the number of times a code can be used (total or per customer)
• Minimum Purchase Requirements: Require a minimum order value for discount eligibility

Creator Control: You may modify or deactivate discount codes at any time. Codes cannot be retroactively applied to completed purchases. Buyers who use valid discount codes at checkout receive the discount immediately at the time of purchase.

Platform Fees: Sola's marketplace fee is calculated on the final sale price after discounts are applied. Creators bear the full cost of promotional discounts.

12.2 Bundle Deals

Creators may create product bundles that offer multiple products at a discounted combined price. Bundle requirements:

• Minimum Products: Bundles must include at least 2 products from your shop
• Pricing Rules: Bundle price must be lower than the sum of individual product prices
• License Compatibility: All products in a bundle must offer compatible license types
• Availability: If any product in a bundle is removed or made unavailable, the entire bundle becomes inactive

Buyers who purchase bundles receive access to all included products and their associated licenses. Bundle purchases are treated as single transactions and cannot be partially refunded.

12.3 Email Marketing

Creators may send promotional emails to subscribers who have opted in to receive marketing communications. Email marketing is subject to the following rules:

12.3.1 Subscriber Consent

You may only email users who have explicitly subscribed to your email list by clicking "Follow" on your shop page and checking the email subscription option. Users must be able to unsubscribe at any time via a clear, functional unsubscribe link in every email.

12.3.2 Email Quota System

To prevent spam and maintain platform integrity, creator email quotas are enforced based on tier:

• Free Tier: 1,000 emails per month (total recipients across all campaigns)
• Pro Tier: 5,000 emails per month
• Ultimate Tier: 10,000 emails per month

Quotas reset on the 1st of each month at midnight UTC. Unused quota does not roll over. The quota system uses atomic reservation to prevent concurrent over-quota sends and race conditions.

12.3.3 CAN-SPAM Compliance

All marketing emails sent through Sola must comply with the CAN-SPAM Act. Required elements include:

• Accurate "From," "To," and "Reply-To" information
• Clear identification of the message as an advertisement (if applicable)
• Your shop name and physical postal address in the footer
• A clear, conspicuous unsubscribe mechanism that processes opt-outs within 10 business days
• Prohibition on sending emails after a user has unsubscribed

Violation Consequences: CAN-SPAM violations may result in email feature suspension, account termination, and legal liability. Sola is not responsible for creator violations of email marketing laws.

12.3.4 Prohibited Email Content

You may not send emails containing: (a) deceptive subject lines, (b) misleading header information, (c) malicious links or attachments, (d) adult content without proper warnings, (e) pyramid schemes or get-rich-quick offers, or (f) content that violates Sola's content policies.

12.4 Buyer Blocking

Creators have the ability to block specific buyers from purchasing products or interacting with their shop. This feature is designed to protect creators from abusive, fraudulent, or problematic buyers.

12.4.1 Blocking Requirements

When blocking a buyer, you must provide a reason from the following categories:

• Harassment or Abuse: Threatening, harassing, or abusive behavior
• Fraudulent Activity: Suspected fraud, chargebacks, or payment disputes
• Content Misuse: Violation of license terms or unauthorized redistribution
• Spam or Excessive Contact: Repeated unwanted contact or spam
• Other: Other legitimate business reasons (requires detailed explanation)

All block actions are logged with timestamps, reasons, and creator notes for administrative review and dispute resolution.

12.4.2 Effects of Blocking

When a buyer is blocked:

• They cannot purchase any products from your shop
• They cannot leave reviews on your products
• They cannot subscribe to your email list or follow your shop
• Your products will not appear in their search results or recommendations

Important: Blocking does not affect products the buyer previously purchased. They retain access to all previously purchased files and licenses.

12.4.3 Dispute Process

Blocked buyers may appeal the block by contacting Sola support at support@solamarketplace.com. Appeals must include:

• The shop name that blocked them
• A clear explanation of why they believe the block was unjustified
• Any supporting evidence or documentation

Sola will review the block reason, creator notes, transaction history, and review history. If the block is determined to be retaliatory, discriminatory, or otherwise unjustified, Sola may remove the block. If the block is upheld, the decision is final.

12.4.4 Admin Review & Misuse Prevention

Sola reserves the right to review all buyer blocks for compliance with platform policies. Abuse of the blocking feature may result in:

• Warning: First-time misuse receives a written warning
• Feature Suspension: Repeated misuse may result in temporary or permanent loss of blocking privileges
• Account Suspension: Systematic discrimination or retaliatory blocking may result in shop suspension

Prohibited Blocking Reasons: You may not block buyers based on: (a) protected characteristics (race, religion, gender, nationality, disability, etc.), (b) negative but legitimate product reviews, (c) requests for refunds or support, or (d) any discriminatory or retaliatory reasons.

13. Intellectual Property

Creators retain full ownership of their products. By uploading to Sola, creators grant us a non-exclusive license to host, display, and distribute their products. The Sola name, logo, and platform design are our intellectual property.

14. DMCA Copyright Policy & Enforcement

14.1 Copyright Compliance

Sola respects the intellectual property rights of others and expects users to do the same. We comply with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) and will respond to valid takedown notices.

14.2 Filing a DMCA Takedown Notice

If you believe your copyrighted work has been infringed, you may file a DMCA takedown notice at /dmca.html. Your notice must include: (a) description of the copyrighted work, (b) identification of the infringing material, (c) your contact information, (d) a good faith statement, and (e) an electronic signature under penalty of perjury.

14.3 Counter-Notices

If your content was removed due to a DMCA takedown and you believe it was removed in error, you may file a counter-notice through your creator dashboard. Counter-notices must include: (a) your physical address, (b) a statement explaining why the takedown was incorrect, (c) consent to federal court jurisdiction, and (d) a sworn statement under penalty of perjury.

14.4 Three-Strike Enforcement Policy

14.5 Consequences of Account Suspension

Upon receiving three upheld DMCA violations, your account will be permanently suspended with the following consequences:

• All products are immediately unpublished and removed from the marketplace
• All pending payouts are permanently forfeited - your available balance will be set to zero
• You are permanently banned from selling on Sola
• Your Stripe Connect account may be flagged for policy violations

Important: Counter-notices that are upheld will remove one strike from your account and restore the affected product. However, false DMCA claims or abuse of the counter-notice system may result in immediate account termination.

14.6 Payout Forfeiture Policy

By accepting these terms, you acknowledge and agree that: (a) suspended accounts forfeit all pending payouts and available balances, (b) forfeited funds are not recoverable under any circumstances, (c) you are solely responsible for ensuring your products do not infringe on others' copyrights, and (d) Sola is not liable for any losses resulting from copyright enforcement actions.

14.7 Designated DMCA Agent

For copyright inquiries or legal matters, contact our designated DMCA agent at: legal@thesolamarketplace.com

15. Prohibited Activities

You may not: (a) attempt to circumvent payment systems, (b) upload malware or malicious code, (c) scrape or harvest user data, (d) impersonate others, (e) manipulate reviews or ratings, (f) engage in fraudulent transactions, or (g) abuse support systems.

16. Content Moderation

We reserve the right to remove products, suspend accounts, or take other action if content violates these terms. We may review products before or after listing.

17. Disclaimers

The platform is provided "as is" without warranties of any kind. We do not guarantee product quality, creator reliability, or uninterrupted service. We are not responsible for disputes between buyers and creators.

18. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, Sola shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages arising from your use of the platform.

19. Termination

We may suspend or terminate your account at any time for violations of these terms. You may delete your account at any time through your account settings.

20. Changes to Terms

We may update these terms at any time. Continued use of the platform after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated terms.

21. Sanctions & Export Compliance

By using Sola, you represent and warrant that you are not: (a) located in, ordinarily resident in, or organized under the laws of any country or region subject to comprehensive U.S. sanctions (currently Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, and the Crimea, Donetsk, and Luhansk regions of Ukraine); (b) identified on any U.S. government restricted party list, including the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (SDN List) maintained by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC); or (c) owned or controlled by such persons.

You agree not to use Sola to facilitate transactions with sanctioned individuals, entities, or countries. Creators may not sell products that are subject to U.S. export control restrictions, including certain encryption software, technical data, or items on the Commerce Control List, without proper authorization.

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate accounts that violate sanctions or export control laws. We may share information with law enforcement or government agencies as required to comply with applicable laws.

22. Contact

For questions about these terms, please visit our Contact page.