Terms of service.
The rules of PaintedByUs, written plainly. By using PaintedByUs you agree to these terms.
The marketplace
PaintedByUs is a marketplace for original, human-made artwork. We are not the artist or the buyer — we connect them and handle payment, verification, and disputes.
What can be listed
Only original, one-of-one artwork made by the listing artist, or by an artist the listing gallery represents. A gallery listing must name the artist who made the piece, and by listing it the gallery confirms it holds that artist's authority to sell it. No AI-generated work, no prints, no digital downloads, no NFTs, no reproductions. Listings that violate this are removed; repeat violations result in account closure.
Zero-tolerance AI policy
PaintedByUs exists to sell genuinely human-made art. Submitting AI-generated, AI-assisted, or AI-finished work including pieces where a generative model produced the composition, the rendering, or substantial parts of the final image is a material breach of these terms. By listing on PaintedByUs, you confirm that every piece is made by you, or by the named artist you represent, by hand, without generative AI. We use automated detection, metadata checks, process-photo review, and community reports to enforce this. Where we determine that a listing is AI-generated, the consequences are: (1) the listing is permanently delisted, (2) the artist's account is closed without refund of any platform fees, (3) any pending payouts are forfeited and any completed sales may be refunded to the buyer at our discretion, (4) the artist is permanently banned from re-registering, and (5) the artist's name and basis for removal may be added to a public delisting register. Where the listing belongs to a gallery, these consequences apply to the gallery account. Decisions are made by human review and are final.
Verification
Selling on PaintedByUs is by invitation. Artist and gallery accounts can only be opened with an invite, issued at our discretion after an application or directly by us. An invite works once, only for the email address it was sent to and the account type it names, and expires 30 days after it is sent. Artists agree to identity and process verification before listing. We may request government ID, work-in-progress photos, timelapses, materials documentation, or a video studio walkthrough. Artists are placed on a tiered badge system Bronze (basic), Silver (process verified), Gold (studio verified) with lower commission at higher tiers. Verified status can be revoked at any time if evidence emerges to the contrary, and badges may be downgraded or removed without notice. Galleries must be verified before any of their listings are visible to buyers. Gallery verification may include an in-person visit or a live video walkthrough of the gallery's space. Verification can be withdrawn; when it is, the gallery's listings are hidden, and orders already in progress complete as normal.
Community reporting
Every listing carries a Report button. Buyers and fellow artists may flag work they believe to be AI-generated, stolen, or otherwise in breach of these terms. Reports are reviewed by a human within a reasonable time. Reporting in good faith is encouraged; mass-reporting, coordinated reporting, or reporting submitted to harass a competing artist is itself a breach of these terms and may result in account suspension.
Fees
The current platform fee is 8% of each sale, plus standard payment-processing fees from Stripe. There are no listing or membership fees. We will give at least 30 days' notice before changing the fee structure.
Payments, escrow and payouts
Buyers pay securely through Stripe at checkout. Funds are not released to the artist immediately — they are held in escrow on the platform until the order is complete. The artist's payout (the sale price less the 8% platform fee) is released to their connected Stripe account once the buyer confirms receipt, or automatically if the buyer takes no action within the confirmation window after delivery. This protects both sides: buyers know their money is held until the piece arrives, and artists know payment is secured before they ship. For gallery listings, the payout goes to the gallery's connected account. Any arrangement between a gallery and the artists it represents is between them; PaintedByUs is not a party to it.
Shipping and fulfillment
Artists, or the representing gallery, pack and ship each piece directly, typically within 3–5 business days of a sale. Shipping is calculated at checkout based on destination and the piece's dimensions. Where a carrier label is purchased through the platform, tracking is recorded automatically and signature confirmation is required on higher-value orders. Title and risk of loss pass to the buyer on delivery; the seller is responsible for packing work safely for transit.
Returns
Buyers may return artwork within 14 days of delivery, in its original condition and packaging. The buyer covers return shipping unless the piece arrived damaged or materially not as described, in which case PaintedByUs arranges a remedy. Original, made-to-order, and commissioned works follow the same window unless otherwise agreed in writing between buyer and artist.
Disputes
If something goes wrong the piece doesn't arrive, arrives damaged, or isn't as described the buyer can open a dispute on the order. Opening a dispute places a hold on the escrowed funds while we review. We weigh the evidence from both sides, including carrier proof-of-delivery where available, and resolve in good faith: a refund to the buyer, release to the artist, or a partial outcome. Our resolution is final, and is separate from any rights you may have with your payment provider.
Intellectual property
Artists retain full copyright in their work, including work listed by a gallery that represents them. A gallery confirms it has the artist's permission to use the images it uploads. Listing on PaintedByUs grants us a limited, non-exclusive license to display the images and details you upload for the purpose of marketing and operating the marketplace. Buying a physical artwork transfers ownership of that physical piece — it does not transfer copyright or reproduction rights unless the artist agrees in writing. You must own or have permission to use everything you upload.
Termination
Either party may close their account at any time. Listings and pending orders are handled fairly: shipped work continues to settle through escrow; unshipped or cancelled orders are refunded to the buyer and the artwork is relisted.
Liability
PaintedByUs is provided as-is. We're not responsible for the conduct of buyers or artists outside the platform, for shipping damage beyond what carrier and insurance policies cover, or for indirect, incidental, or consequential losses. Nothing in these terms limits liability that cannot be limited under applicable law.
Changes to these terms
We may update these terms as the platform evolves. For material changes, we'll notify registered users by email and update the date below. Continuing to use PaintedByUs after a change means you accept the updated terms. This is a plain-language summary of how the marketplace works; for specific legal advice, consult a professional.
Last updated: 2026-09-15.