Maker Verified Certification Agreement
Effective upon submission of this application
This Maker Verified Certification Agreement (“Agreement”) is entered into between Maker Verified, a Texas company doing business as Maker Verified (“Maker Verified,” “we,” “us,” or “our”), and the individual accepting this Agreement (“Applicant,” “you,” or “your”).
This Agreement governs your application, your participation in the Maker Verified certification program if approved, and your use of the Maker Verified name, certification status, seal, badge, logo, certificate, and related materials (“Certification Materials”).
1. Acceptance and Authority
By accepting this Agreement and submitting your application, you confirm that:
- You have had the opportunity to review and agree to this Agreement.
- You are authorized to submit the application and enter into this Agreement for the professional name identified in the application.
- Your application and Human Authorship Declaration are true, accurate, complete, and not misleading to the best of your knowledge.
- You consent to conduct this transaction electronically and intend your electronic acceptance to have the same legal effect as a handwritten signature.
This Agreement becomes binding when you submit your application. Submission does not guarantee approval or authorize you to represent yourself as Maker Verified.
2. Scope of Certification
Maker Verified evaluates whether the applicant’s disclosed creative process and working practices meet the Maker Verified Standards.
Certification applies only to the approved applicant, professional name, and disclosed creative process. It does not certify, authenticate, inspect, approve, appraise, warrant, or guarantee any individual artwork, product, edition, collection, commission, service, or other creative work.
Certification does not establish or guarantee the origin, ownership, authenticity, quality, value, legality, safety, merchantability, fitness, copyright status, or noninfringing nature of any particular work.
3. Application Review and Decision
Maker Verified may approve or deny an application based on the Maker Verified Standards, the application, the verification interview, and any additional information reasonably requested during review.
Maker Verified may deny an application if eligibility cannot be adequately determined, the disclosed process does not meet the applicable standards, or submitted information is incomplete, inconsistent, inaccurate, or misleading.
You may not use the Certification Materials unless and until Maker Verified provides written approval.
4. Continuing Compliance
If approved, you agree to comply with the Maker Verified Standards and your Human Authorship Declaration throughout your certification period.
Meaningful human authorship, judgment, skill, and creative control must remain central to your creative process. You may not use artificial intelligence to generate the original ideas, concepts, designs, imagery, writing, or other defining creative elements of work represented under your certified professional name, or to replace the human creative decisions that determine its final form.
Artificial intelligence may be used only for non-creative purposes permitted by the Maker Verified Standards, including administrative, scheduling, website, research-support, or other business functions that do not contribute creative content to the work.
You are responsible for ensuring that employees, collaborators, contractors, production partners, and others participating in your certified creative process comply with the applicable standards.
5. Material Changes and Reverification
You must promptly notify Maker Verified if your creative process or working practices materially change in a way that may affect your eligibility.
Material changes may include changes involving:
- Artificial intelligence, automated generation, or creative software;
- The development of ideas, concepts, designs, imagery, or writing;
- The degree of human creative direction or participation;
- Outside production, fabrication, fulfillment, or manufacturing;
- Employees, collaborators, contractors, or production partners; or
- Ownership or control of the certified creative practice.
Maker Verified may request updated information, supporting materials, clarification, or a follow-up interview to confirm continuing compliance. Failure to respond truthfully and within a reasonable stated timeframe may result in suspension or revocation.
Maker Verified is not required to continuously monitor your activities, inspect individual works, or independently investigate every statement you make.
6. Certification Period and Renewal
Certification remains active for the period stated in your approval notice unless suspended, revoked, surrendered, expired, or otherwise terminated.
Renewal is not automatic unless Maker Verified expressly states otherwise. Renewal may require updated information, a renewed declaration, a follow-up interview, payment of a disclosed fee, or other reasonable steps communicated before renewal is due.
7. Limited License
Upon approval, Maker Verified grants you a limited, nonexclusive, nontransferable, nonassignable, revocable license to use the approved Certification Materials during your active certification period and only in accordance with this Agreement and the current Maker Verified Brand and Mark Usage Guidelines.
Maker Verified retains all ownership rights in its name, marks, seal, badge, logo, certificate, certification system, standards, designs, and other intellectual property. No ownership interest is transferred to you.
8. Permitted Certification Claims
You may accurately state that your disclosed creative process and working practices have been certified under the Maker Verified Standards.
Certification may be used only in connection with the professional name and creative practice approved by Maker Verified.
You must not state or imply that Maker Verified inspected, authenticated, approved, or guaranteed a particular work.
When required by the Brand and Mark Usage Guidelines, certification must be accompanied by language substantially similar to:
“Maker Verified certifies the creator’s disclosed creative process and working practices. It does not certify individual works.”
9. Prohibited Uses
You may not:
- Use Certification Materials before approval, during suspension, after expiration, or after certification ends;
- Apply certification to an unapproved person, professional name, studio, business, organization, or creative process;
- Transfer, sublicense, sell, share, or authorize another party to use your certification;
- State or imply that Maker Verified certifies or guarantees a specific work, product, service, transaction, or creative result;
- State or imply that certification guarantees authenticity, quality, value, legality, safety, ownership, copyright status, or freedom from infringement;
- Alter or modify Certification Materials except as expressly permitted;
- Use Certification Materials in a false, deceptive, misleading, unlawful, defamatory, or confusing manner;
- Use certification for a creative process that materially differs from the approved process; or
- Use certification in a manner reasonably likely to harm the credibility, reputation, or integrity of Maker Verified.
10. Responsibility for Your Work and Business
You remain solely responsible for your creative work, products, services, advertising, sales, representations, warranties, customer communications, contracts, business practices, intellectual-property rights, taxes, and compliance with applicable law.
You are solely responsible for ensuring that your work and conduct do not infringe or violate another party’s copyright, trademark, patent, trade dress, publicity, privacy, contractual, or other rights.
Maker Verified is not a party to any transaction between you and a buyer, customer, collector, gallery, marketplace, platform, licensee, collaborator, or other third party.
11. No Insurance, Legal Representation, or Defense
Certification is not insurance, a warranty, a bond, an indemnity policy, or a guarantee against complaints, disputes, investigations, demands, or lawsuits.
Maker Verified does not provide legal advice, legal representation, insurance coverage, reimbursement, or a legal defense to applicants or certified participants.
You are solely responsible for responding to and defending any claim involving you, your work, your creative process, your certification claims, or your business activities.
Maker Verified does not become responsible for a claim merely because a third party relied on, referred to, or misunderstood the meaning or scope of certification.
12. No Warranty by Maker Verified
Maker Verified makes certification decisions using the information reasonably available through its application and review process. Maker Verified does not guarantee that every applicant statement is accurate, that a certified participant will remain compliant at all times, or that certification will prevent disputes or misunderstandings.
To the fullest extent permitted by law, the certification program, Certification Materials, website, directory, and related services are provided “as is” and “as available,” without express or implied warranties, including implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and noninfringement.
13. Indemnification
To the fullest extent permitted by law, you agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless Maker Verified, its affiliated entities, and their respective owners, officers, directors, employees, contractors, agents, licensors, successors, and assigns from third-party claims, demands, actions, liabilities, judgments, damages, losses, settlements, penalties, fines, costs, and reasonable attorneys’ fees arising out of or relating to:
- Your work, products, services, sales, advertising, representations, warranties, or business practices;
- Information you provide that is materially inaccurate, incomplete, false, or misleading;
- Your breach of this Agreement, the Human Authorship Declaration, the Maker Verified Standards, or the Brand and Mark Usage Guidelines;
- Your unauthorized, prohibited, false, or misleading use of the Maker Verified name, Certification Materials, or certification status;
- A claim that your work or conduct infringes, misappropriates, or violates another party’s rights;
- Your failure to disclose a material change;
- The acts or omissions of your employees, collaborators, contractors, representatives, production partners, or agents; or
- Your violation of applicable law.
Maker Verified will provide reasonably prompt notice of a covered claim. Maker Verified may participate in the defense through counsel of its choosing. You may not settle a claim in a manner that admits wrongdoing by Maker Verified, imposes an obligation on Maker Verified, or restricts Maker Verified’s rights without prior written consent.
14. Limitation of Liability
To the fullest extent permitted by law, Maker Verified and its affiliated entities, owners, officers, directors, employees, contractors, agents, licensors, successors, and assigns will not be liable for indirect, incidental, special, exemplary, punitive, or consequential damages, or for lost profits, revenue, business, opportunities, goodwill, reputation, or data arising from or relating to your application, certification, use of Certification Materials, a certification decision, a third party’s interpretation of certification, or a claim involving you or your work.
To the fullest extent permitted by law, Maker Verified’s total aggregate liability arising from or relating to this Agreement or the certification program will not exceed the greater of the amount you paid directly to Maker Verified during the twelve months preceding the event giving rise to the claim or one hundred dollars ($100.00).
These limitations apply regardless of the legal theory asserted but do not limit liability that cannot lawfully be limited or excluded.
15. Suspension, Revocation, and Corrective Action
Maker Verified may suspend, restrict, or revoke certification if it reasonably determines that:
- You no longer meet the Maker Verified Standards;
- You provided materially inaccurate, incomplete, false, or misleading information;
- You failed to disclose a material change;
- You misused Certification Materials or made misleading certification claims;
- You failed to cooperate with a reasonable compliance review;
- You breached this Agreement or another applicable program requirement; or
- Continued certification may mislead the public or materially harm the certification program.
When appropriate, Maker Verified may provide notice and an opportunity to correct a violation. Maker Verified may act immediately when prompt action is reasonably necessary to prevent deception, unauthorized use, public harm, legal exposure, or material damage to the program.
16. Effect of Suspension or Termination
Upon suspension, expiration, surrender, revocation, or termination, you must stop making certification claims and stop using the Certification Materials.
You must remove Certification Materials from websites, social-media profiles, advertising, digital listings, email signatures, signage, packaging, displays, printed materials, and other uses within the period specified by Maker Verified.
A phase-out period for previously produced physical materials is permitted only when expressly authorized in writing. No phase-out period is required for fraudulent, deceptive, or knowingly unauthorized use.
17. Public Certification Status
You authorize Maker Verified to identify your professional name, certification status, certification dates, approved category, website, and appropriate public-facing certification information in its directory or verification system.
Maker Verified may accurately identify certification as active, expired, suspended, surrendered, or revoked when reasonably necessary to prevent confusion or inaccurate certification claims.
Maker Verified will not be liable for accurately reporting your certification status or removing you from its directory after certification ends.
18. Complaints and Reviews
Maker Verified may receive and evaluate complaints relating to certification compliance or use of Certification Materials. A complaint does not by itself establish wrongdoing.
Maker Verified may request information from you, the complainant, or other relevant sources and may take reasonable interim action while reviewing a matter.
Maker Verified is not a court, arbitrator, insurer, law-enforcement agency, intellectual-property tribunal, or consumer-refund program and is not required to resolve disputes outside the scope of its standards.
19. Reconsideration
You may request reconsideration of a denial, suspension, or revocation within thirty days after receiving notice. The written request must identify the decision and provide relevant corrections, explanations, or supporting information.
Maker Verified will review the request in good faith. Its reconsideration decision is final unless Maker Verified voluntarily agrees to an additional review.
20. Changes to Standards and Requirements
Maker Verified may update its Standards, Brand and Mark Usage Guidelines, renewal requirements, and administrative procedures to address changes in technology, law, industry practices, consumer expectations, or program operations.
Material changes affecting active certification will be communicated using the contact information associated with your application or account. A reasonable compliance period will be provided when practical, except when immediate action is reasonably necessary.
Continued use of certification after the effective date of a communicated change constitutes acceptance of the updated requirement. You may surrender certification if you do not agree to continue under the revised requirements.
21. Intellectual Property and Submitted Materials
Maker Verified retains all rights, title, and interest in its name, marks, seal, badge, logo, certification system, standards, documents, designs, website content, and related intellectual property.
You may not register, claim ownership of, challenge, copy, create derivative certification marks from, or incorporate Maker Verified intellectual property into a business name, domain name, social-media handle, product name, trademark, or service mark. Goodwill arising from authorized use benefits Maker Verified.
You retain ownership of your professional name, work, photographs, writing, and other submitted content. You grant Maker Verified a limited, nonexclusive license to review, store, reproduce internally, and use submitted materials as reasonably necessary to evaluate your application, administer certification, investigate compliance, maintain records, and verify certification status.
22. Privacy, Records, and Communications
Maker Verified may collect, maintain, and process application information, interview notes, submitted materials, certification records, communications, and acceptance records as reasonably necessary to administer and protect the program. Additional information is provided in the Maker Verified Privacy Policy.
You consent to receive notices and program communications electronically at the email address provided in your application or account and agree to keep your contact information current.
Electronic notices are considered received when sent unless the sender receives notice that delivery failed.
23. Governing Law and Venue
This Agreement is governed by the laws of the State of Texas, without regard to conflict-of-law principles.
Any legal action arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the Maker Verified certification program must be brought exclusively in a state court located in Travis County, Texas, or, when federal jurisdiction exists, in the applicable United States District Court serving Travis County, Texas.
You and Maker Verified consent to the personal jurisdiction and venue of those courts.
24. Assignment and Relationship
You may not assign or transfer this Agreement, your application, certification, or license to use Certification Materials without Maker Verified’s prior written consent. A change in ownership or control may require a new application or review.
Maker Verified may assign this Agreement to an affiliated entity or successor in connection with a merger, reorganization, sale, or transfer of the certification program.
This Agreement does not create an employment, partnership, agency, franchise, fiduciary, joint-venture, endorsement, insurance, or legal-representation relationship. You have no authority to create obligations on behalf of Maker Verified.
25. General Terms
Failure or delay in enforcing a provision does not waive the right to enforce it later.
If any provision is held invalid or unenforceable, it will be modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it enforceable or severed if modification is not possible. The remaining provisions will remain in effect.
This Agreement, together with the Human Authorship Declaration, Maker Verified Standards, Brand and Mark Usage Guidelines, Privacy Policy, and any specific written approval conditions, constitutes the entire agreement governing your application and certification.
If these documents conflict, the following order controls:
- Specific written approval conditions;
- This Certification Agreement;
- The Maker Verified Standards;
- The Brand and Mark Usage Guidelines; and
- Other program policies.
Provisions concerning intellectual property, responsibility for your work and business, no insurance or legal representation, warranty disclaimers, indemnification, limitation of liability, certification status, governing law, venue, and provisions that by their nature should continue will survive denial of the application or termination of certification.
26. Electronic Acceptance
You agree that electronic records, notices, checkbox acceptance, and electronic signatures may be used in connection with this Agreement and the certification program.
You may save or print this Agreement before submitting your application and may request a copy from Maker Verified.
By checking the required agreement box and submitting your application, you confirm that you have had the opportunity to review this Agreement, agree to be legally bound by it, and intentionally provide your electronic acceptance.
