Acceptable Use Policy

Last Updated: March 20, 2025

This Acceptable Use Policy ("Policy") is incorporated by reference into our Terms of Service and governs your use of our contest marketplace platform ("Platform"). This Policy is designed to ensure our Platform remains safe, secure, and compliant with applicable laws and Stripe's requirements.

Prohibited Content and Activities

The following content types and activities are strictly prohibited on our Platform. This list is comprehensive but not exhaustive, and we reserve the right to prohibit additional content types or activities at our discretion:

1. Illegal Activities

  • Engaging in any activity that violates any applicable law, regulation, or ordinance
  • Promoting, encouraging, or facilitating illegal activities
  • Violating sanctions, embargoes, or export control regulations
  • Engaging in activities related to money laundering or terrorist financing

2. Adult and Sexually Explicit Content

  • Pornography or sexually explicit materials of any kind
  • Nudity (except in non-sexual artistic contexts with prior approval)
  • Adult services, including escort services or dating services with sexual themes
  • Content depicting minors in inappropriate contexts
  • Sexually explicit communication or chat services
  • Adult toys, products, or related merchandise
  • Sexual wellness content with explicit imagery

2. Intellectual Property Violations

  • Infringing upon the intellectual property rights of others, including copyrights, trademarks, patents, trade secrets, or other proprietary rights
  • Uploading, posting, or distributing counterfeit or unauthorized replicas of branded products
  • Using unauthorized copyrighted materials in contest entries or products
  • Misappropriating the intellectual property of others

3. Adult Content

  • Pornography or sexually explicit materials
  • Content depicting minors in inappropriate contexts
  • Adult services, including escort services, dating services with a primary focus on sexual encounters, or sexually oriented massage
  • Sexually explicit communication or chat services

4. Gambling and Gaming

  • Illegal gambling, betting, or wagering activities
  • Lotteries not operated by government entities
  • Games of chance or skill that require payment and offer prizes of cash or other value
  • Fantasy sports leagues with cash prizes not complying with applicable fantasy sports regulations

5. Drugs and Controlled Substances

  • Illegal drugs or controlled substances
  • Drug paraphernalia
  • Prescription drugs without proper authorization
  • Substances designed to mimic illegal drugs
  • Products containing cannabis, marijuana, or CBD where prohibited by law

6. Weapons and Explosives

  • Firearms, ammunition, and firearm parts
  • Explosive materials and devices
  • Weapons designed to cause bodily harm
  • Instructions for making weapons or explosive devices

7. Financial and Payment Services

  • Unauthorized banking or financial services
  • Investment opportunities or equity crowdfunding not in compliance with securities laws
  • Virtual currency or cryptocurrency services without proper licensing
  • Money services businesses operating without appropriate licenses
  • Credit repair or debt settlement services not in compliance with applicable laws

8. Deceptive or Fraudulent Practices

  • Ponzi or pyramid schemes
  • Get-rich-quick schemes
  • Multi-level marketing programs that primarily reward recruitment over legitimate product sales
  • Misrepresenting products or services
  • Phishing, spoofing, or other fraudulent activities
  • Impersonating individuals or entities

9. Personal or Confidential Information

  • Selling, publishing, or distributing personal or confidential information without authorization
  • Doxxing or revealing private personal information about individuals
  • Harvesting or collecting sensitive personal data without consent

10. Harmful Content

  • Content promoting self-harm or suicide
  • Content advocating or glorifying violence or hatred against individuals or groups
  • Content containing threats or harassment
  • Malware, spyware, or other harmful code
  • Content designed to interfere with or disrupt computer systems

Content and Contest Monitoring

We employ multiple layers of content monitoring to ensure compliance with this Policy:

Automated Screening Systems

  1. AI-Based Content Analysis: All uploaded content is automatically scanned using advanced AI tools to detect prohibited material
  2. Text Analysis: Natural language processing to identify prohibited language, hate speech, and other policy violations
  3. Image Recognition: Computer vision systems to detect adult content, weapons, drugs, and other prohibited visual elements
  4. Code Scanning: Automated review of code submissions for malicious functionality, cryptocurrency mining, or other prohibited purposes
  5. Pattern Detection: Systems to identify suspicious behavioral patterns that may indicate fraud or abuse

Human Review Processes

  1. Pre-Publication Review: High-risk content categories receive human review before publication
  2. Random Sampling: Regular random sampling of content for human review to ensure policy compliance
  3. Escalation Queue: Content flagged by automated systems is reviewed by trained human moderators
  4. Expert Review: Specialized reviewers for technical content like code, financial services, etc.
  5. Continuous Training: Regular training of moderators on policy updates and new detection techniques

User Reporting and Community Moderation

  1. Report Functionality: Easily accessible reporting tools for users to flag potential violations
  2. Trusted Flagger Program: Enhanced reporting capabilities for verified high-quality reporters
  3. Rapid Response: Prioritized review of reported content
  4. Reporter Feedback: Updates provided to users who report violations
  5. Community Guidelines Education: Regular reminders and education about platform policies

Enforcement Actions and Appeals

  1. Graduated Response: Enforcement actions proportionate to violation severity and frequency
  2. Content Removal: Prompt removal of violating content
  3. Account Restrictions: Temporary restrictions for minor or first-time violations
  4. Account Termination: Permanent removal for serious or repeated violations
  5. Appeals Process: Structured process for users to appeal content moderation decisions
  6. Documentation: Detailed documentation of all enforcement actions for compliance purposes

Content and Contest Requirements

Contest Entries and Products

All contest entries and products offered on our Platform must:

  1. Comply with all sections of this Policy
  2. Respect intellectual property rights of third parties
  3. Be accurately represented and described
  4. Not contain malicious code or harmful functionality
  5. Function as described and for their intended purpose
  6. Not fall into any prohibited content categories

Software and Code

Software and code submitted as contest entries or sold as products must:

  1. Not contain malware, spyware, or undisclosed functionality
  2. Use appropriate licensing for any included open-source components
  3. Not violate export controls or sanctions regulations
  4. Be free from critical security vulnerabilities
  5. Include accurate descriptions of functionality and limitations
  6. Not enable or facilitate cryptocurrency mining, trading, or wallet functions
  7. Not enable or facilitate gambling or games of chance
  8. Not provide functionality for circumventing security measures
  9. Not collect user data beyond what's reasonably necessary and disclosed
  10. Not enable or facilitate any prohibited activities listed in this Policy

Media Content

Media content (images, videos, audio) must:

  1. Not infringe on copyright, trademark, or other intellectual property rights
  2. Not contain content prohibited under this Policy
  3. Be appropriately rated and labeled if containing mature themes
  4. Not misrepresent ownership or creation rights
  5. Comply with applicable privacy laws if depicting identifiable individuals
  6. Not contain sexually explicit or adult content
  7. Not depict violence, cruelty, or abuse
  8. Not contain hate speech or discriminatory content
  9. Not promote illegal or harmful activities

Enforcement and Monitoring

Consequences of Violations

Violations of this Policy may result in:

  1. Removal of prohibited content
  2. Temporary or permanent suspension of user accounts
  3. Forfeiture of contest prizes or product revenue
  4. Reporting to law enforcement authorities or regulatory bodies
  5. Legal action to recover damages or seek injunctive relief
  6. Additional documentation requirements for future contests
  7. Enhanced verification requirements for future transactions

Reporting Violations

Users should report violations of this Policy by:

  1. Using the "Report" function on the Platform
  2. Contacting our support team at [Support Email]
  3. Submitting a detailed report to [Abuse Email]

Jurisdiction-Specific Compliance

For users in jurisdictions with specific regulations:

  1. Additional documentation of contest criteria and winner selection may be required
  2. Jurisdiction-specific disclosures will be displayed where applicable
  3. Contest registration with authorities may be required for certain prize amounts
  4. Additional verification steps may be implemented as required by local law

Prohibited Contest Types

To further clarify, our Platform specifically prohibits the following types of contests:

  1. Chance-Based Contests: Any contest where winner selection involves random selection or chance rather than skill-based criteria.
  2. Entry Fee Contests: Any contest requiring payment from participants to enter. All contests on our platform are free to enter for freelancers.
  3. Gambling-Like Contests: Any contest structured to resemble gambling, betting, or games of chance.
  4. Adult Content Contests: Any contest soliciting adult, sexually explicit, or pornographic content.
  5. Cryptocurrency Development Contests: Any contest soliciting development of cryptocurrency trading platforms, mining software, wallet services, or similar applications.
  6. Gambling Development Contests: Any contest soliciting development of gambling applications, betting platforms, or casino games.
  7. Illegal Activity Contests: Any contest promoting or soliciting content related to illegal activities.
  8. Harmful Content Contests: Any contest soliciting content that could be harmful to individuals or groups.
  9. High-Risk Financial Services Contests: Any contest soliciting development of payday lending, high-interest loans, debt collection, or similar predatory financial services.
  10. Security Circumvention Contests: Any contest soliciting tools or methods to circumvent security measures, hack systems, or similar activities unless specifically structured as legitimate security research with appropriate safeguards.