Commercial Integrity

Media.com enables people and organizations to participate in commercial activity including advertising, creator monetization, sponsorships, payments, paid content, marketplace relationships and other commercial services.

Commercial activity carries additional responsibilities.

Users should be able to understand:

• who is behind a commercial activity;
• who benefits from it;
• whether a commercial relationship exists;
• what is being offered;
• what material conditions apply; and
• whether the person or organization is eligible to undertake the relevant activity.

Media.com therefore applies Commercial Integrity requirements in addition to its general Content & Conduct Standards.

Commercial activity may be subject to stricter requirements than ordinary publishing.

These Rules apply to commercial activity across Media.com, including:

• Media Ads;
• creator monetization;
• Support;
• Memberships;
• paid publications;
• sponsorships;
• branded content;
• affiliate relationships;
• product or service promotion;
• commercial profiles;
• transactions;
• payments and payouts;
• brand and creator marketplace activity;
• creator commerce;
• commercial APIs and data licensing;
• premium handles;
• fundraising;
• regulated commercial activity; and
• other revenue-generating or commercially motivated activity supported by Media.com.

These Rules establish baseline requirements applying across commercial activity.

Specialist Rules may impose more detailed or stricter requirements.

Relevant specialist Rules include:

• Advertising Standards;
• Branded Content & Sponsorship Disclosure;
• Creator Monetization Standards;
• Payments & Restricted Activity; and
• Prohibited & Regulated Goods and Services.

Where a specialist Rule addresses a particular subject, it ordinarily governs that subject.

These Commercial Integrity Rules continue to apply to matters not specifically addressed elsewhere.

The right to publish content on Media.com does not automatically include the right to:

• advertise it;
• monetise it;
• accept payments for it;
• sell a related product or service;
• promote it through a paid relationship; or
• access another commercial Media.com feature.

Different eligibility decisions may apply.

Media.com distinguishes between:

whether particular content may appear on Media.com;

whether an account, organization or activity may use Media.com's commercial features;

whether particular content or an account may generate creator revenue;

whether Media.com or its providers can process or pay the relevant funds; and

whether the person or organization may maintain or use the relevant Media.com account.

These are separate decisions.

A restriction in one area does not automatically mean that all other forms of access must be restricted.

A transaction, payout or payment feature may be unavailable because of:

• payment-provider requirements;
• banking requirements;
• sanctions;
• jurisdiction;
• regulatory requirements;
• verification;
• fraud controls;
• payment risk; or
• other legitimate restrictions.

A payment restriction does not by itself mean that the user violated Media.com's Rules.

Content may be allowed to appear organically but ineligible for paid advertising.

Rejection of an advertisement should not automatically create a Trust & Safety strike.

Content may remain available while being:

• ineligible for advertising revenue;
• ineligible for Support;
• ineligible for Membership revenue;
• restricted from paid access; or
• otherwise commercially restricted.

A monetization decision does not necessarily establish a content-policy violation.

Commercial activity should accurately identify the person or organization responsible for it where that information is material.

Do not materially misrepresent:

• who is selling;
• who is advertising;
• who is sponsoring;
• who is being paid;
• who ultimately benefits;
• who owns or controls the relevant business;
• who is authorised to represent an organization; or
• another material commercial relationship.

Commercial activity may involve different roles.

These may include:

• Creator or Publisher;
• Advertiser;
• Sponsor or Brand;
• Agency;
• Intermediary;
• Seller or Service Provider;
• Marketplace Participant;
• Payer;
• Payee;
• Payout Recipient;
• Beneficiary;
• Beneficial Advertiser;
• Affiliate;
• API Licensee; or
• another commercial participant.

One person or organization may perform more than one role.

Media.com may require relevant roles to be identified where necessary for transparency, safety, payment or legal compliance.

Agencies and legitimate intermediaries may act for clients where authorised.

They must not be used to conceal:

• the true advertiser;
• sponsor;
• beneficiary;
• seller;
• payer;
• regulated provider; or
• person subject to a Media.com restriction.

Material commercial relationships should be disclosed where users would reasonably understand content differently if they knew of the relationship.

Examples may include:

• sponsorship;
• payment;
• free products;
• free services;
• commissions;
• affiliate compensation;
• ownership interests;
• political funding; or
• another material benefit.

Branded Content & Sponsorship Disclosure provides the specialist requirements for sponsored publisher content.

Do not materially misrepresent:

• a product;
• service;
• price;
• benefit;
• risk;
• availability;
• eligibility;
• recurring charge;
• expected outcome;
• commercial relationship;
• regulatory status; or
• other material term.

Advertising Standards may impose stricter requirements on paid advertisements.

Commercial offers should disclose material conditions where omission would materially mislead users.

Relevant terms may include:

• price;
• fees;
• recurring billing;
• eligibility conditions;
• significant restrictions;
• cancellation conditions;
• material risks;
• availability;
• delivery requirements; or
• other information important to the transaction.

Media.com may require additional verification before allowing particular commercial activities.

Commercial verification may involve confirming matters such as:

• legal or business identity;
• organization authority;
• beneficial ownership;
• commercial role;
• regulatory licence;
• professional registration;
• jurisdiction;
• payment eligibility;
• age eligibility; or
• another relevant qualification.

Being a verified person or organization does not automatically mean that Media.com has verified:

• a professional licence;
• financial-services authorisation;
• medical registration;
• gambling licence;
• charity registration;
• product approval;
• right to undertake a regulated activity; or
• other commercial authority.

Verification answers the question: "Who is this?"

Commercial eligibility may separately ask: "Are they permitted to undertake this activity?"

Media.com's Verified Status does not mean Media.com:

• endorses a business;
• recommends an investment;
• guarantees a product;
• approves a service;
• certifies commercial claims;
• guarantees regulatory compliance; or
• guarantees that a transaction is safe.

Media.com may impose additional requirements on regulated industries.

These may include:

• licensing;
• registration;
• enhanced verification;
• jurisdictional restrictions;
• disclosures;
• age controls;
• targeting restrictions;
• payment restrictions;
• advertising restrictions; or
• other safeguards.

A product or service being lawful somewhere does not necessarily make it eligible for every Media.com commercial feature.

Media.com may prohibit or restrict categories independently of whether the underlying content may be discussed.

For example, Media.com may permit editorial discussion of a product while restricting:

• its sale;
• payment processing;
• creator monetization;
• sponsored promotion; or
• paid advertising.

Prohibited & Regulated Goods and Services provides the specialist framework for prohibited and regulated transactions.

Commercial activity must comply with Media.com's Safety Rules.

Commercial motivation does not create an exception for:

• exploitation;
• threats;
• trafficking;
• youth harm;
• non-consensual sexual content;
• dangerous activity;
• hate;
• harassment; or
• other prohibited conduct.

Do not use Media.com's commercial features for:

• scams;
• fraudulent transactions;
• fake fundraising;
• impersonation fraud;
• misleading commercial schemes;
• fabricated customers;
• fake sales;
• fraudulent payouts; or
• other deceptive schemes.

Fraud & Criminal Activity applies concurrently.

Do not manipulate Media.com's commercial systems through:

• fake transactions;
• fake customers;
• artificial purchases;
• fake Memberships;
• artificial Support;
• fake advertising activity;
• false marketplace demand;
• fabricated reviews;
• fake leads;
• artificial creator earnings; or
• other manipulative conduct.

Do not use:

• another account;
• another organization;
• an agency;
• nominee;
• related company;
• alternate payment arrangement;
• replacement advertiser account; or
• other structure

principally to circumvent a commercial restriction applying to the underlying person, organization or activity.

Account Integrity & Enforcement Evasion may apply concurrently.

Media.com should distinguish commercial evasion from legitimate:

• corporate groups;
• subsidiaries;
• agencies;
• franchises;
• partnerships;
• contractors;
• authorised representatives;
• payment arrangements; or
• other normal commercial structures.

Common ownership alone does not establish evasion.

Where Media.com enables creators or organizations to sell products, services or other eligible offerings, participants must:

• accurately identify the seller or provider;
• accurately describe the offering;
• comply with applicable category requirements;
• not use commerce features for prohibited goods or services;
• disclose material terms; and
• comply with applicable commercial and payment terms.

Media.com may introduce more specific Creator Commerce Rules if the feature becomes sufficiently substantial.

Media.com may operate marketplaces connecting:

• brands and creators;
• sponsors and publishers;
• businesses and service providers;
• creators and commercial partners; or
• other eligible participants.

Marketplace participation must not involve:

• fake opportunities;
• false identities;
• fraudulent briefs;
• undisclosed conflicts where disclosure is required;
• payment fraud;
• prohibited products or services;
• fake performance information; or
• commercial impersonation.

Brands, creators and agencies using a Media.com brand or creator marketplace must accurately represent:

• who they are;
• who they represent;
• the nature of the opportunity;
• compensation where stated;
• material deliverables;
• relevant commercial relationships; and
• other information necessary to avoid material deception.

A marketplace listing or match does not mean Media.com endorses either party.

Media.com may use systems to rank or match commercial opportunities.

A marketplace ranking, recommendation or match should not be interpreted as:

• endorsement;
• guarantee of performance;
• guarantee of payment;
• professional accreditation; or
• guarantee of commercial suitability.

Not every commercial disagreement is a Trust & Safety matter.

Ordinary disputes about:

• quality;
• delivery;
• interpretation of a contract;
• creative direction;
• deadlines;
• pricing;
• performance expectations; or
• other contractual matters

should not automatically become Policy violations.

Media.com may intervene where the conduct independently involves:

• fraud;
• deception;
• exploitation;
• payment abuse;
• impersonation;
• prohibited activity; or
• another Media.com Rule.

Media.com may charge fees for transactions, introductions, commerce or marketplace services.

Applicable fees should be governed by the relevant commercial terms.

A purely contractual fee dispute does not automatically constitute a Trust & Safety violation.

Media.com may allow or restrict off-platform completion of marketplace relationships according to applicable product terms.

Using an external service is not itself a Trust & Safety violation.

However, users must not move activity off-platform principally to facilitate:

• fraud;
• prohibited transactions;
• trafficking;
• enforcement evasion;
• payment abuse; or
• other prohibited conduct.

Media.com may charge fees for access to designated premium or high-value handles.

A Premium Handle does not by itself provide:

• ownership of a trademark;
• ownership of another person's identity;
• Verified Status;
• regulatory authorisation;
• endorsement;
• a permanent property right; or
• permission to impersonate another person or organization.

Media.com may restrict a Premium Handle where its use would:

• impersonate another person or organization;
• materially mislead users;
• infringe applicable rights;
• facilitate fraud;
• create significant safety concerns; or
• otherwise violate Media.com's Rules.

Verification or additional evidence may be required for certain handles.

Premium Handles may only be transferred where Media.com supports an approved transfer process.

A user must not use a handle transfer to evade:

• account restrictions;
• Verification requirements;
• identity rules;
• intellectual-property decisions; or
• other Media.com controls.

Media.com may license access to:

• content;
• source information;
• provenance information;
• public data;
• APIs;
• feeds;
• analytical products; or
• other commercial data services.

Commercial API or data users must comply with the applicable licence and access requirements.

Do not use commercial APIs or licensed data to:

• falsely claim Media.com endorsement;
• materially misrepresent source or provenance;
• exceed licensed rights through deception;
• bypass access restrictions;
• evade usage or billing controls;
• obtain restricted personal information;
• facilitate prohibited activity; or
• interfere with Media.com's systems.

Loss of API access because of:

• rate limits;
• commercial terms;
• unpaid fees;
• technical requirements;
• licence expiry; or
• contractual restrictions

does not automatically constitute a Trust & Safety violation.

Fraudulent or abusive circumvention may separately violate these Rules.

Commercial users of Media.com's provenance or source products must not present provenance information in a materially misleading way.

A Media.com source or provenance record does not necessarily mean that Media.com has independently verified the truth of every underlying factual claim.

Creators must have appropriate rights to commercially exploit products, content, branding or other material they sell or monetise.

Copyright & Intellectual Property applies concurrently.

Commercial activity must comply with Media.com's Privacy & Personal Information requirements.

Access to a commercial feature does not authorise:

• unlawful data collection;
• misuse of personal information;
• prohibited targeting;
• unauthorised disclosure; or
• other privacy violations.

Advertising targeting and audience data are subject to the specialist Advertising Standards and Privacy requirements.

Commercial Integrity does not create an independent right to use sensitive personal information.

Media.com may impose stricter commercial requirements for users under 18.

A person being eligible to hold a Media.com account does not automatically make them eligible for:

• creator monetization;
• adult commercial products;
• payment functionality;
• advertising purchases;
• commercial contracting; or
• other age-sensitive commercial features.

Some goods, services, advertisements or commercial features may require a user to be established as an Adult or satisfy another applicable age requirement.

Age Requirements & Age Assurance determines the underlying age status.

Users must not intentionally interfere with another person's legitimate commercial activity through deceptive platform abuse.

This may include:

• fake purchases designed to generate chargebacks;
• coordinated fraudulent complaints;
• fake leads;
• false marketplace enquiries;
• fabricated reviews;
• artificial ad activity; or
• other deceptive commercial interference.

Legitimate negative reviews, complaints, disputes and criticism remain permitted.

Commercial reviews and testimonials should reflect genuine experience where presented as such.

Fake reviews and artificial ratings may violate Spam, Fake Engagement & Platform Manipulation and other applicable Rules.

Media.com may permit eligible fundraising subject to additional safeguards.

Users must not materially misrepresent:

• the fundraiser;
• beneficiary;
• purpose;
• charitable status;
• intended use of funds; or
• other material information.

Specific products may have separate terms governing matters such as:

• fees;
• billing;
• refunds;
• payouts;
• revenue share;
• fulfilment;
• marketplace commissions;
• API usage;
• handle licensing;
• subscription conditions;
• contractual obligations; or
• other economic matters.

A breach of commercial terms is not automatically a Trust & Safety violation unless the conduct also violates these or another applicable Rule.

Media.com may impose commercial eligibility standards stricter than the general content Rules where reasonably necessary for:

• user protection;
• advertiser safety;
• payment-provider requirements;
• regulatory compliance;
• fraud prevention;
• commercial quality;
• marketplace integrity; or
• another legitimate commercial reason.

Such a restriction should not be represented as a content-policy violation unless one occurred.

Depending on the circumstances, Media.com may:

• take no action;
• request additional information;
• require Verification;
• require commercial or regulatory information;
• require disclosure;
• restrict a commercial category;
• restrict advertising;
• restrict monetization;
• restrict payments;
• restrict marketplace access;
• restrict API access;
• restrict Premium Handle eligibility;
• remove a commercial listing;
• temporarily suspend a commercial feature;
• permanently remove a commercial privilege; or
• take account-level action where an independent serious Rule violation exists.

Media.com is not required to apply these measures sequentially.

Where possible, Media.com should apply restrictions to the affected commercial feature rather than unnecessarily suspending unrelated account functionality.

For example:

• an advertiser may lose Media Ads access but retain their profile;
• a creator may lose monetization but retain publishing access;
• a payment feature may be unavailable while content remains online; or
• API access may be terminated without affecting the user's personal profile.

Broader enforcement may apply where the underlying conduct independently warrants it.

Users may report suspected Commercial Integrity violations through Media.com's reporting or support systems.

A report does not itself establish a violation.

Users may appeal eligible Commercial Integrity enforcement decisions.

Some commercial decisions may instead be subject to:

• payment review;
• advertiser review;
• marketplace dispute procedures;
• API support;
• contractual dispute procedures; or
• another product-specific process.

Media.com should identify the appropriate review pathway.

For more information, see Appealing a Media.com Decision and the applicable commercial terms.

These Rules should be read together with:

• Content & Conduct Standards;
• Advertising Standards;
• Branded Content & Sponsorship Disclosure;
• Creator Monetization Standards;
• Payments & Restricted Activity;
• Prohibited & Regulated Goods and Services;
• Verification;
• Fraud & Criminal Activity;
• Account Integrity & Enforcement Evasion;
• Spam, Fake Engagement & Platform Manipulation;
• Impersonation & Identity Abuse;
• Copyright & Intellectual Property;
• Source Attribution & Provenance;
• Privacy & Personal Information;
• Age Requirements & Age Assurance; and
• other applicable Media.com Rules, Policies and commercial terms.