Terms of Service

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using the TeaTrade platform ("Platform"), including the Creator Hub, Brand Dashboard, and all associated services, you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"). If you do not agree, you may not use the Platform.

2. Platform Description

TeaTrade operates a vetted marketplace connecting tea-specialist content creators with brands. The Platform provides creator verification (via knowledge-based assessment), social media metric verification, campaign matching, escrow payment processing, and content review workflows.

3. Eligibility

You must be at least 18 years old and capable of entering into a legally binding agreement. Creator accounts require successful completion of the TeaTrade vetting assessment. Brand accounts require a valid business email and payment method.

4. Account Responsibilities

You are responsible for maintaining the security of your account credentials. You agree to provide accurate information during registration and to keep your profile current. TeaTrade reserves the right to suspend or terminate accounts that violate these Terms or engage in fraudulent activity.

5. Creator Obligations

Creators agree to: (a) provide authentic, original content as specified in campaign briefs; (b) meet agreed deadlines; (c) maintain the social media accounts linked to their profile; (d) not misrepresent their metrics, audience, or expertise. Violation may result in account termination and forfeiture of pending payments.

6. Brand Obligations

Brands agree to: (a) provide clear, complete campaign briefs; (b) fund escrow before campaign commencement; (c) review submitted content within the specified review period; (d) not use creator content beyond the agreed scope without additional compensation.

7. Payments & Escrow

All campaign payments are processed through Stripe. When a brand posts a brief, the full budget is held in escrow via Stripe Checkout. Upon brand approval of delivered content, the creator payout is released automatically. A platform fee of 12% is deducted from each transaction. Disputes are reviewed by an independent TeaTrade panel within 48 hours. Refunds are issued to brands only when a dispute is upheld.

8. Creator Withdrawals

Creators must complete Stripe Connect onboarding to receive payments. The minimum withdrawal amount is £50. Payouts to connected bank accounts typically arrive within 2–3 business days. TeaTrade is not responsible for delays caused by banking institutions or Stripe.

9. Intellectual Property

Creators retain ownership of their content. By delivering content through a campaign, creators grant the commissioning brand a licence to use that content as specified in the brief. TeaTrade retains no ownership rights over creator content.

10. Social Media Data

When you connect social media accounts (Instagram, TikTok, etc.), TeaTrade accesses public profile information and engagement metrics solely for verification and matching purposes. OAuth tokens are encrypted at rest using AES-256-GCM. We request read-only permissions and never post on your behalf.

11. Prohibited Conduct

You may not: (a) use the Platform for unlawful purposes; (b) circumvent escrow by arranging off-platform payments; (c) create multiple accounts; (d) scrape, crawl, or reverse-engineer any part of the Platform; (e) harass, impersonate, or defraud other users.

12. Limitation of Liability

TeaTrade provides the Platform on an "as is" basis. To the maximum extent permitted by law, TeaTrade shall not be liable for indirect, incidental, or consequential damages arising from your use of the Platform. Our total liability shall not exceed the fees paid to TeaTrade in the 12 months preceding the claim.

13. Termination

Either party may terminate their account at any time. Upon termination, pending escrow obligations will be honoured. TeaTrade may suspend or terminate accounts immediately for violations of these Terms.

14. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales. Any disputes shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.

15. Changes to Terms

TeaTrade reserves the right to modify these Terms at any time. Material changes will be communicated via email or Platform notification. Continued use of the Platform after changes constitutes acceptance.

16. Contact

For questions regarding these Terms, contact us at [email protected].