Terms & Conditions
Last updated: March 2026Grade – General Terms of Service
1. Introduction
Grade operates as the merchant of record for performance-based creator services. This means that Grade acts as the contractual reseller, purchasing creator services on behalf of clients and reselling them. Grade collects the required tax documentation (W-9 or W-8BEN) from creators and submits 1099 forms on their behalf at year-end. These Terms of Service govern the relationship between Grade and all users of the platform, including clients, creators, administrators, and financial stakeholders. The purpose of this document is to establish clarity, predictability, and compliance across all operations, ensuring that performance-based compensation can occur safely, transparently, and globally.2. Scope of Services
Grade acts as the merchant of record for creator service transactions. When a client engages a creator through Grade, Grade contractually purchases the creator's services and resells them to the client. This structure means that the primary contractual and financial relationship for payments flows between Grade and the creator, and separately between Grade and the client. Our services include performance aggregation from supported APIs, real-time dashboards, automated global payout infrastructure, tax documentation and filing, fraud detection systems, and reporting suites designed for finance, compliance, and audit teams. As merchant of record, Grade handles all formal aspects of the transaction including invoicing, tax withholding, and regulatory compliance related to creator payments.3. User Roles and Responsibilities
Clients are responsible for defining campaign logic, funding their accounts, and selecting creators. Creators must provide accurate information, connect relevant accounts securely, and comply with applicable laws and platform regulations. As the merchant of record, Grade is the contractual counterparty to both clients and creators. Grade purchases creator services, resells them to clients, and assumes responsibility for accurate performance tracking, secure data handling, collecting W-9 and W-8BEN forms from creators, submitting 1099s on their behalf, compliant payout execution, and transparent reporting.4. Platform Access
All users must maintain secure login practices and ensure the confidentiality of credentials. Access may not be shared or transferred without appropriate authorization. Users are responsible for the accuracy of all information they provide, and Grade reserves the right to suspend accounts in cases of suspected misuse, misrepresentation, or unauthorized access.5. Performance Tracking & Data Integrity
Grade retrieves performance metrics through verified channels, including platform APIs and authenticated creator connections. The platform employs multiple verification layers to ensure data integrity, including anomaly detection, velocity checks, and fraud pattern analysis. In the event of suspicious or non-compliant performance activity, Grade may pause payouts, request verification, or adjust performance metrics to reflect organic activity only.6. Financial Handling, Wallets & Payout Execution
Clients must pre-fund their accounts. As the merchant of record, Grade receives funds from clients, holds them securely in segregated accounts, and disburses payments to creators once payout conditions are met. Grade is the seller in each transaction: clients pay Grade for creator services, and Grade separately compensates creators for their work. Payouts may be instant, daily, weekly, or at the conclusion of a campaign, depending on client configuration. Grade's financial workflows comply with international KYC/AML regulations, and identity verification may be required before funds are released. Fees related to transaction processing, currency conversion, or optional premium services may apply.7. Taxation, Documentation & Compliance
As the merchant of record, Grade collects the required tax documentation from creators, including W-9 forms (for US-based creators) and W-8BEN forms (for international creators). Grade submits 1099 forms on behalf of creators at year-end. The platform's compliance engine ensures that payouts and data flows meet relevant regulatory standards, including cross-border payment regulations and documentation obligations.8. Data Privacy & Security
Grade adheres to GDPR, CCPA, and industry-standard data protection frameworks. Information is encrypted in transit and at rest, with strict access controls and continuous monitoring. Data is processed solely for service delivery, compliance, and operational integrity. Grade never sells user data and limits data retention to what is legally required or operationally necessary.9. Intellectual Property
Grade does not claim ownership over content produced by creators or materials provided by clients. All intellectual property rights remain solely with the original owners. Although Grade acts as the merchant of record for the financial and contractual aspects of creator transactions, this does not extend to intellectual property rights. Any licensing, usage rights, or extended creative permissions must be defined separately between clients and creators.10. Fraud Prevention & Enforcement
The platform continuously monitors for activity indicative of fraud, including artificial inflation of views or engagement, bot-driven activity, repeated IP traffic patterns, and any behavior inconsistent with organic performance. Grade may freeze wallets, hold payouts, or terminate accounts involved in fraudulent behavior. Adjustments may be made to performance metrics that are deemed invalid or manipulated.11. Limitations of Liability
While Grade acts as the merchant of record for creator service transactions, Grade provides its platform and services "as is" and assumes no liability for losses caused by third-party platforms, creator misconduct, force majeure events, or inaccuracies in client-provided instructions. Grade's merchant of record role covers the financial, tax, and compliance aspects of creator payments, but does not extend to guarantees regarding the quality, delivery, or outcome of creator services. Grade's liability is limited to the total fees paid by the client over the preceding twelve months. Grade is not responsible for business decisions made based on analytics or reporting outputs.12. Termination & Suspension
Grade may suspend or terminate accounts for non-payment, fraud, data manipulation, or any violation of these Terms. Clients may terminate their relationship with Grade by providing written notice, subject to the settlement of all outstanding obligations. Upon termination, Grade will provide final reporting and release any remaining eligible payouts.13. Reporting & Audit Assurance
Grade provides detailed logs including payout summaries, transaction receipts, creator-level performance analytics, and audit-friendly exports. These materials are designed for finance departments, compliance teams, and external auditors requiring transparent verification of performance-based payments.14. Confidentiality
All parties agree to protect confidential information exchanged during the course of platform usage, including performance data, campaign information, financial records, and proprietary methodologies. Confidential information may not be disclosed to external parties except as required by law.15. Amendments to Terms
Grade reserves the right to update these Terms as necessary to reflect operational improvements, regulatory changes, or expansions of service scope. Continued use of the platform represents acceptance of updated Terms.16. Governing Law
These Terms are governed in accordance with the jurisdiction applicable to Grade's operating entity. Any disputes will be resolved in the courts of the same jurisdiction, unless otherwise agreed in writing.17. Service Levels & Support
Grade provides structured service levels including priority support, dedicated customer success channels, and defined escalation paths. Enterprise clients may receive SLA-backed uptime commitments, enhanced reporting suites, and dedicated account representatives. Grade strives to maintain high platform availability and transparent communication in the event of service interruptions.18. Acceptable Use Policy
Users may not engage in activities that harm platform integrity, including attempting to manipulate performance, reverse engineer systems, interfere with security features, submit falsified documentation, or use Grade for unlawful campaigns or activities. Violations may result in immediate suspension.19. Entire Agreement
These Terms constitute the full agreement between Grade and platform users, superseding any prior understandings or discussions. No waiver or modification is valid unless issued in writing by an authorized representative of Grade.