Acceptable Use Policy

1. Purpose

This Acceptable Use Policy outlines the permitted and prohibited uses of ShopKatalog. By using our platform, you agree to comply with this policy. Violations may result in account suspension or termination and potential legal action.

2. General Conduct Standards

All users must:

• Use the platform for lawful purposes only
• Treat other users with respect and professionalism
• Provide accurate and truthful information
• Comply with all applicable laws and regulations
• Respect intellectual property rights
• Maintain the security of their accounts

3. Prohibited Activities

3.1 Fraudulent Activities

You may not:

• Engage in any form of fraud or deception
• Create fake accounts or impersonate others
• Manipulate reviews, ratings, or feedback
• Engage in price manipulation or bidding fraud
• Process fraudulent transactions or payments
• Use stolen credit cards or payment information

3.2 Prohibited Content

You may not post, upload, or transmit:

• Illegal, harmful, or offensive content
• Content that promotes violence, terrorism, or hatred
• Discriminatory or harassing content
• Sexually explicit or pornographic content
• Content that infringes intellectual property rights
• Spam, advertising, or unsolicited communications
• Malware, viruses, or malicious code
• False or misleading information

3.3 Pharmaceutical and Regulated Substances

As detailed in our Prohibited Items Policy, you may NOT list or promote:

• Pharmaceuticals, medications, or prescription drugs
• Dietary supplements or health supplements
• CBD, cannabis, or THC products
• Performance-enhancing drugs
• Any substance making medical or health claims

3.4 System Abuse

You may not:

• Attempt to hack, breach, or compromise platform security
• Use automated systems (bots, scrapers) without permission
• Overload or disrupt platform infrastructure
• Circumvent security measures or access controls
• Reverse engineer platform software
• Interfere with other users' access to the platform
• Attempt to bypass content moderation systems

3.5 Data Mining and Scraping

You may not:

• Scrape or harvest user data without permission
• Use platform data for competing services
• Collect email addresses or contact information for spam
• Build databases from platform content

3.6 Market Manipulation

You may not:

• Artificially inflate prices or create false scarcity
• Coordinate with others to manipulate markets
• Create fake demand or false bidding activity
• Engage in anti-competitive practices

3.7 Harassment and Abuse

You may not:

• Harass, threaten, or intimidate other users
• Engage in discriminatory behavior
• Dox or share private information about others
• Engage in hate speech or targeted harassment
• Cyberstalk or persistently contact unwilling users

4. Seller-Specific Requirements

4.1 Product Listings

Sellers must:

• Create accurate, honest product listings
• Use appropriate categories and tags
• Provide clear, representative product images
• Include complete product information
• Honor advertised prices and terms
• Comply with the Prohibited Items Policy

4.2 Order Fulfillment

Sellers must:

• Ship orders promptly as promised
• Provide accurate tracking information
• Package items securely
• Honor return and refund policies
• Resolve disputes professionally

4.3 Communications

Sellers must:

• Respond to buyer inquiries within 48 hours
• Communicate professionally and respectfully
• Provide accurate order status updates
• Not request off-platform communications to avoid fees

5. Buyer-Specific Requirements

Buyers must:

• Make purchases in good faith
• Provide accurate shipping information
• Complete payment promptly
• Not abuse return or refund policies
• Not file fraudulent payment disputes
• Communicate respectfully with sellers

6. Intellectual Property

6.1 Respecting Rights

You must:

• Not sell counterfeit or pirated items
• Obtain necessary rights to use trademarks and copyrights
• Not infringe on others' intellectual property
• Remove infringing content promptly when notified

6.2 Platform Content

ShopKatalog's name, logo, and platform content are protected by intellectual property laws. You may not use them without written permission.

7. Privacy and Data Protection

You must:

• Respect the privacy of other users
• Not share others' personal information
• Comply with data protection laws (GDPR, CCPA, etc.)
• Use personal data only for legitimate purposes
• Secure any customer data you collect

8. Content Moderation

ShopKatalog employs both automated systems and human moderators to enforce this policy:

• AI-powered content scanning for prohibited items and keywords
• Automated detection of suspicious patterns and activities
• Manual review of reported content
• Proactive monitoring of high-risk categories

Attempts to circumvent moderation systems will result in immediate account termination.

9. Enforcement

9.1 Violation Response

Depending on the severity and frequency of violations, we may:

• Issue warnings
• Remove violating content
• Suspend account privileges
• Temporarily suspend accounts
• Permanently ban accounts
• Withhold payments or refunds
• Report violations to law enforcement
• Pursue legal action

9.2 Appeals

If you believe enforcement action was taken in error, you may appeal through our support system. Appeals will be reviewed, but decisions are final and at our sole discretion.

10. Reporting Violations

If you encounter violations of this policy, please report them through:

• The report button on listings or profiles
• Our support contact form
• Email to our support team

We take all reports seriously and investigate promptly. Reporter identity is kept confidential where possible.

11. Cooperation with Authorities

We cooperate with law enforcement and regulatory authorities. We may report illegal activities and provide user information when legally required or when necessary to protect safety and security.

12. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Acceptable Use Policy at any time. Material changes will be communicated through the platform. Continued use after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

13. Contact

Questions about this policy? Contact us through the support channels provided on the platform.