Maker Verified accepts good-faith concerns about certification compliance and use of the Maker Verified Mark. A submitted concern does not by itself establish wrongdoing.
COMPLAINTS & RECONSIDERATION
How Maker Verified reviews concerns and program decisions.
REPORTING A CONCERN
Good-faith concerns may be submitted by anyone.
A concern should relate to a possible material violation of the Maker Verified Standard or misuse of certification materials.
Anonymous reports may be reviewed, but the absence of contact information can make clarification and investigation more difficult.
What May Be Reported
Suspected prohibited AI use. False or misleading descriptions of authorship or production. Undisclosed manufacturing or outside production. Misuse of the Maker Verified Mark. Fake certification materials. Expired certification claims. A material change that may affect eligibility.
What to Include
Identify the certified artist or certification claim. Explain the concern clearly. Provide relevant dates and links. Include lawfully obtained supporting material. Do not submit harassment, speculation presented as fact, knowingly false allegations, stolen credentials, unlawful recordings, privileged material, malicious files or unrelated personal information.
HOW THE REVIEW PROCESS WORKS
A documented review with proportionate next steps.
A report may be closed when it is outside the program’s scope, unsupported, abusive, duplicative or immaterial.
Initial Assessment
Maker Verified determines whether the concern relates to the certification standard, contains enough information to evaluate and appears to require review.
Review of the Record
Relevant application information, declarations, interview notes, approved scope, public claims and prior concerns may be reviewed.
Request for Information
Maker Verified may request a response or targeted supporting information from the certified artist, reporter or another relevant source.
Interim Action When Necessary
Certification may be placed under review, and use of the Mark may be temporarily restricted or suspended when continued public display could materially mislead users. Interim action is not a final finding.
Decision
Maker Verified documents the material information reviewed, unresolved questions and the basis for the program decision.
POSSIBLE OUTCOMES
The response should match the seriousness of the record.
Before final adverse action, Maker Verified will ordinarily provide notice of the material concern and a reasonable opportunity to respond.
No Action
The available record does not establish a material violation.
Guidance or Correction
A minor or unintentional issue is corrected without suspension.
Conditional Status
Certification continues subject to a disclosure, limitation or process correction.
Suspension
Use of certification materials stops temporarily while a material concern is resolved.
Revocation
Certification ends because of a material violation, false statement, prohibited AI use, Mark misuse or failure to cooperate.
Future Ineligibility
Severe intentional fraud, counterfeit certification activity or repeated material violations may affect eligibility for future certification.
NOTICE & RECONSIDERATION
A reasonable opportunity to respond and correct the record.
Certification decisions are administrative program decisions. They are not court judgments or findings of civil or criminal fraud.
Notice & Response
Before final adverse action, Maker Verified will ordinarily provide notice of the material concern and a reasonable opportunity to respond. Immediate temporary action may be taken when reasonably necessary to prevent active deception, unauthorized Mark use, material public confusion, legal exposure or significant harm to the credibility of the program.
Requesting Reconsideration
An applicant or certified artist may request reconsideration of a denial, suspension or revocation within thirty days after receiving notice of the decision. The written request should identify the decision, explain the claimed factual or procedural error and provide relevant corrections, explanations or material new information.
Maker Verified will review the request in good faith. When practical, the reconsideration review may be conducted by someone other than the original decision-maker. The reconsideration decision is final within the program unless Maker Verified voluntarily agrees to an additional review.
PUBLIC STATUS & CONFIDENTIALITY
Public accuracy without unnecessary disclosure.
The registry may identify certification as active, conditional, under review, suspended, expired, surrendered or revoked.
Confidentiality
Maker Verified will avoid unnecessary disclosure of confidential application evidence, private communications and unproven allegations.
Correcting Public Claims
Maker Verified may issue a factual correction or contact a participating platform when reasonably necessary to stop Mark misuse or correct a materially misleading certification claim.
Program Scope
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 certification standard.
REPORT A GOOD-FAITH CONCERN
Help protect the meaning of Maker Verified certification.
Identify the certification claim, describe the concern and provide relevant dates, links and lawfully obtained supporting information.