Community Guidelines

Our Principles

StudioLedger exists so creators and marketmakers can work together with trust. Every contract is escrow-protected. Every completed job mints a credential. Every dispute has a resolution path. These guidelines exist to keep the platform a place where good work gets done and good people get paid.

We don't gatekeep relationships. We don't police who you work with outside the platform. At 0.98%, the fee isn't why you're here — the protection is.

1. Who These Guidelines Apply To

These guidelines apply to all users of StudioLedger, including creators (service providers), marketmakers (buyers), and arbitrators. They cover all activity on the platform: profiles, contracts, milestones, deliverables, messages, marketplace listings, proposals, negotiations, and dispute proceedings.

These guidelines supplement the Terms of Service, particularly Section 10 (User Conduct) and Section 15 (Community Guidelines). Where the ToS and these guidelines overlap, the ToS takes precedence.

2. Professional Conduct

2.1 Communication

Treat every interaction as a professional engagement. This means:

• Respond to contract messages and milestone reviews within reasonable timeframes. If you're unavailable, communicate that.
• Be direct and specific in feedback. "This doesn't work" is unhelpful. "The colour palette doesn't match the brief — see section 3 of the scope document" gives the creator something to act on.
• Disagreements about scope, quality, or timelines are normal. Handle them through the contract messaging system, not through personal attacks.

What's not acceptable: threats, harassment, discriminatory language, doxxing, or any communication intended to intimidate rather than resolve.

2.2 Responsiveness

Escrow has a CancelAfter date. Milestones have deadlines. The platform works when both parties show up.

• Creators: If you can't meet a milestone deadline, say so before the deadline passes. A renegotiated timeline is better than a missed delivery.
• Marketmakers: Review submitted deliverables within the agreed review period. Holding up approval without feedback wastes everyone's time and ties up escrow funds.

The platform does not enforce response times (yet), but chronic unresponsiveness may be considered in dispute resolution.

2.3 Language

English is the primary platform language. Contracts and communications in other languages are permitted where both parties agree, but dispute evidence must be submitted in English or with a certified translation.

As StudioLedger expands to new markets (Japanese, Spanish, Portuguese — Phase 2-3), these requirements will evolve.

3. Honest Representation

3.1 Profiles

Your profile must accurately represent who you are and what you do. This means:

• Use your real name or a consistent professional identity
• Skills listed must reflect your actual capabilities
• Portfolio samples must be your own work (or clearly attributed if collaborative)
• Do not misrepresent credentials, qualifications, or experience

3.2 Proposals and Briefs

When submitting a proposal or posting a brief:

• Be realistic about timelines, budgets, and scope
• Don't bid on work you know you can't deliver
• Don't post briefs with no intent to hire (price-fishing)
• Be upfront about budget constraints or non-negotiable requirements

3.3 AI Disclosure

If your deliverables contain AI-generated content (text, images, code, audio, video), you must disclose this in the contract and deliverable description. See Terms of Service, Section 10.4.

This is a disclosure requirement, not a ban. AI tools are legitimate. Concealing their use is not.

4. Contract Integrity

4.1 Good Faith

Both parties must act in good faith throughout the contract lifecycle:

• Don't create contracts solely to move funds (escrow manipulation — see ToS Section 10.3)
• Don't submit empty or placeholder deliverables to trigger approval flows
• Don't withhold approval to pressure the creator into free additional work
• Don't collude with another user to game fees or reputation

4.2 Scope Creep

The contract scope is what was agreed in the milestones. If you need more:

• Marketmakers: Create a new milestone or renegotiate the existing contract. Don't ask for "just one more thing" outside the agreed scope.
• Creators: If a request falls outside scope, say so and offer a change order. Don't silently absorb extra work and then dispute the payment.

4.3 Deliverable Quality

Deliverables should meet the standard described in the contract. The platform does not judge quality — that's between the parties. But:

• Deliberately low-effort deliverables designed to collect escrow funds are grounds for dispute and account action
• Deliverables must be the creator's own work (or properly attributed/licensed)
• File formats, specifications, and technical requirements agreed in the contract must be met

5. Dispute Conduct

5.1 Filing Disputes

Disputes exist for genuine disagreements, not as leverage. File a dispute when:

• Deliverables don't meet the agreed scope or quality
• A party is unresponsive and the CancelAfter date is approaching
• You have evidence of fraud, misrepresentation, or contract violation

Don't file disputes to:

• Pressure a creator into doing more work for free
• Avoid paying for work that was delivered as agreed
• Retaliate against a bad review or negative feedback

5.2 Evidence

When submitting dispute evidence:

• Be factual. Timestamps, screenshots, contract references, and deliverable hashes are stronger than opinions.
• Don't fabricate, alter, or selectively present evidence
• Don't submit confidential information about unrelated third parties
• Evidence submitted to the platform is preserved for a minimum of 7 years (AUSTRAC requirement)

5.3 Arbitrator Conduct

If you serve as a community arbitrator (Phase 2+):

• You must have no financial interest in the outcome
• You must not have a current or recent working relationship with either party
• Disclose any potential conflict of interest immediately
• Review all evidence before reaching a decision
• Decisions must be reasoned and documented
• Do not discuss ongoing cases outside the arbitration panel

Arbitrator eligibility requires MCC holdings and a clean conduct record. See ToS Section 15.2.

6. Content Standards

6.1 Profile and Marketplace Content

Content on your profile, portfolio, and marketplace listings must not include:

• Illegal content (in any jurisdiction where StudioLedger operates)
• Sexually explicit material (unless the contract specifically involves adult content production between consenting adults, clearly labelled)
• Content promoting violence, terrorism, or extremism
• Discriminatory content targeting race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, disability, or national origin
• Malware, phishing links, or deceptive URLs
• Spam or unsolicited commercial messages

6.2 Deliverables

Deliverable content standards are governed by the contract between the parties. The platform does not pre-screen deliverables. However, deliverables uploaded to Platform-hosted surfaces (previews, portfolio samples) must comply with Section 6.1.

6.3 Intellectual Property

Respect other people's work. Don't upload content you don't have rights to. See the IP Policy for the full takedown process.

MCCs are transaction records. They prove work was delivered and paid for. They do not certify originality. See IP Policy, Section 4.

7. Account Integrity

7.1 One Person, One Account

Each person may have one account. You may operate as both creator and marketmaker from the same account (role switching is built in). Creating multiple accounts to circumvent limits, fees, or enforcement actions is grounds for immediate termination.

7.2 Account Security

You are responsible for your account. This includes:

• Keeping your Google OAuth credentials secure
• Securing any connected wallet (Xaman, MetaMask, Phantom, GemWallet, Crossmark)
• Reporting unauthorised access immediately
• Not sharing your account with others

7.3 Platform-Managed Wallets

If the platform manages your XRPL wallet (default for Google OAuth users), you trust StudioLedger with custodial responsibility. We take this seriously. See the Escrow Terms for custody details and risk disclosures.

8. Enforcement

8.1 Graduated Response

We prefer education over punishment, but we will act when necessary:

• First violation (minor): Warning via email and in-app notification. The warning is recorded.
• Second violation or serious first offence: Account restriction — you may be unable to create new contracts, post listings, or submit proposals for up to 30 days.
• Third violation or severe offence: Account suspension pending review. Active contracts are frozen; escrow funds remain locked.
• Fraud, harassment, illegal activity, or repeat serious violations: Permanent termination. Active escrows proceed to cancellation or admin resolution.

8.2 What Triggers Immediate Action

Some behaviours skip the graduated response:

• Fraud or escrow manipulation
• Threats of violence
• Doxxing or publishing private information
• Sanctions evasion or money laundering
• Submitting fabricated dispute evidence
• Creating multiple accounts after termination

8.3 Appeals

If your account is restricted, suspended, or terminated, you may appeal by emailing legal@studioledger.ai within 14 days. Include:

• Your account email
• The enforcement action you're appealing
• Why you believe the action was unwarranted
• Any supporting evidence

Appeals are reviewed within 10 business days. The review decision is final.

8.4 Reporting Violations

To report a violation, use the in-app reporting function (when available) or email legal@studioledger.ai with:

• The user you're reporting
• A description of the violation
• Screenshots or evidence (if available)
• The contract or listing ID (if applicable)

All reports are reviewed. We do not disclose the identity of reporters to the reported party unless required by law.

9. Platform Behaviour We Commit To

These guidelines aren't one-directional. Here's what StudioLedger commits to:

• We will not change contract terms, release escrow, or mint MCCs without proper authorisation
• We will process disputes fairly and within documented timeframes
• We will not sell your data or use analytics cookies without your consent
• We will communicate enforcement actions clearly with reasons
• We will maintain and update these guidelines as the community evolves
• We will never position fee avoidance as a reason to restrict platform-to-platform contact. The protection is the product — not the lock-in.

10. Changes to These Guidelines

We may update these guidelines as the platform grows. Material changes will be communicated via the dashboard and email. Your continued use of the platform after changes are posted constitutes acceptance.

11. Contact

For questions, reports, or appeals:

Email: legal@studioledger.ai Entity: StudioLedger Pty Ltd ACN: 696 549 809 ABN: 31 696 549 809