CREATOR TERMS OF SERVICE

1. Acceptance of Terms

By registering as a creator on Gutterspace ("the Platform"), you agree to be bound by these Creator Terms of Service in addition to our general Terms of Service. If you do not agree to these terms, do not register as a creator.

These Creator Terms govern your use of the Platform as a content publisher, including uploading, pricing, selling, and managing comic content. In the event of a conflict between these Creator Terms and the general Terms of Service, these Creator Terms take precedence for creator-specific matters.

2. Creator Account

To publish content on Gutterspace, you must create a creator account with accurate and complete information. You are responsible for:

• Maintaining the security of your account credentials
• All activity that occurs under your account
• Keeping your contact and payout information up to date
• Completing Stripe Connect onboarding to receive payouts

You must be at least 18 years old to register as a creator. By creating a creator account, you represent and warrant that you meet this age requirement.

3. Creator Content & Copyright

You retain full ownership and copyright of all content you upload to Gutterspace. We do not claim any ownership rights to your work. By publishing content on the Platform, you grant Gutterspace a limited, non-exclusive, worldwide license to:

• Display, distribute, and promote your content on the Platform
• Create thumbnails, previews, and sample pages for marketing purposes
• Include your content in platform-wide promotional materials (e.g., featured collections, newsletters)

This license exists solely for the purpose of operating and promoting the Platform. It terminates when you remove your content or delete your account, except where content has already been purchased by readers (see Section 9).

You represent and warrant that you own or have obtained all necessary rights, licenses, and permissions for every element of the content you upload, including artwork, lettering, dialogue, and any third-party assets.

4. Platform Fees

Gutterspace charges a platform fee on each sale, deducted automatically before payout:

Stripe payment processing fees (typically 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction) are separate and paid by the buyer. These fees are set by Stripe and are outside Gutterspace's control.

Your net earnings per sale are: sale price minus the platform fee minus Stripe processing fees. A detailed breakdown is always visible on your creator dashboard.

5. Payments & Payouts

All payments are processed through Stripe. To receive payouts, you must complete Stripe Connect onboarding and maintain a Stripe account in good standing. By using Stripe Connect, you also agree to Stripe's Connected Account Agreement.

• Payouts are processed on Stripe's standard schedule (typically rolling basis, with a short holding period for new accounts)
• Minimum payout thresholds are determined by Stripe and vary by country
• You are responsible for reporting income and paying any applicable taxes on your earnings
• Gutterspace does not withhold taxes on your behalf unless legally required to do so

If your Stripe Connect account becomes restricted or disabled, payouts will be paused until the issue is resolved. Gutterspace is not responsible for delays caused by Stripe account issues.

6. Refunds

Buyers may request a refund within 24 hours of purchase under the conditions described in our Refund Policy. Eligible refund reasons include:

• Duplicate or accidental purchases
• Technical issues that prevent the content from being accessed or read
• Content that is substantially different from its listing description
• Unauthorized purchases from a compromised account

When a refund is approved, the corresponding creator payout is adjusted. You will not be charged additional fees for legitimate refunds. However, a pattern of frequent refund requests on your content may trigger a review of your listings.

7. Prohibited Content

The following content is strictly prohibited on Gutterspace. Uploading prohibited content will result in immediate removal and may result in account termination:

• Child sexual abuse material (CSAM) — Any sexual depiction of minors, whether photographic, illustrated, or AI-generated, is prohibited with zero tolerance
• Non-consensual intimate imagery — Revenge porn or any intimate images shared without the subject's consent
• Real-world violence — Content that depicts, promotes, or glorifies real acts of violence against identifiable individuals
• Hate speech — Content that attacks, demeans, or incites violence against individuals or groups based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or other protected characteristics
• Illegal activity — Content that promotes, facilitates, or provides instructions for illegal activities
• Copyright infringement — Content that infringes on the intellectual property rights of others (see Section 8)
• Malware or malicious content — Files that contain viruses, trojans, or other harmful code
• Fraud or deception — Content designed to scam, mislead, or defraud readers

For detailed content rating guidelines and what is permitted at each rating level, see our Content Guidelines.

8. DMCA & Copyright Compliance

Gutterspace complies with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). As a creator, you are expected to:

• Only upload content you own or have explicit rights to publish
• Respond promptly to any DMCA notices related to your content
• Not upload fan art, derivative works, or adaptations without proper licensing

If a valid DMCA takedown notice is filed against your content, we will:

1. Remove or disable access to the allegedly infringing content
2. Notify you of the takedown and provide a copy of the notice
3. Record the takedown against your account

Repeat infringers will lose their accounts. Two or more confirmed DMCA strikes may result in permanent account termination at our discretion. For full details, see our DMCA Policy.

9. Account Deletion

You may request deletion of your creator account at any time by contacting us. When your account is deleted:

• Soft delete — Your account is deactivated and your public profile, creator page, and unpurchased listings are removed from the Platform
• Purchased content preserved — Comics that have been purchased by readers will remain accessible to those buyers. Removing access to paid content would harm readers who made legitimate purchases. Your name may be displayed as the creator of these works
• Outstanding payouts — Any pending earnings will be paid out according to the standard payout schedule before account closure is finalized
• Data retention — We retain transaction records as required by financial regulations and tax law. Personal data not required for these purposes is deleted within 30 days

Gutterspace may also terminate your account for repeated or severe violations of these terms. In cases of termination for cause, outstanding payouts may be withheld pending investigation.

10. Modifications to These Terms

We may update these Creator Terms from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, services, or legal requirements. When we make material changes:

• We will notify you via email at least 30 days before changes take effect
• A summary of changes will be posted on the Platform
• Continued use of creator features after the effective date constitutes acceptance

Exception: Your founding creator fee rate (7%) is permanent and will never be modified. This commitment is not subject to change under this section.

Contact

Questions about these Creator Terms? Contact us at hello@gutterspace.io.