ArtRewards is a curated marketplace built on trust, authenticity, and integrity. To preserve the standards that make the platform a credible place to buy and sell original art, certain works and content may never be listed. This page clearly sets out what is prohibited, why these standards exist, and the consequences of breaching them. It is written to help sellers understand their obligations and to assure collectors of the care that goes into every listing.
Why These Standards Exist
Every work on ArtRewards is reviewed before it goes live, and our curatorial team holds each listing to a high standard. These rules protect artists from the misuse of their work, shield collectors from fraud and misrepresentation, and uphold the platform's compliance with the laws that govern the international art trade.
The standards below are not optional guidelines. They are firm requirements, and listings that breach them are removed.
Listings That Are Prohibited
The following categories of work may not be listed under any circumstances. Each strikes at the authenticity, legality, or rightful ownership on which the marketplace depends.
Works You Do Not Own or Have No Right to Sell
You may list only works to which you hold a clear and unencumbered title, or for which you have an express right to sell. Offering a work you do not own, or one subject to a competing claim or restriction, is prohibited. If a gallery agreement, consignment, or other arrangement limits your right to sell a piece, confirm your position before listing it.
Unlicensed Reproductions Presented as Originals
A reproduction, unauthorised copy, or multiple copies may never be presented as a unique original. Passing off a copy as an original misleads collectors and infringes the rights of the genuine creator. Where a work is part of an edition, it must be disclosed accurately as such, never disguised as a one-of-a-kind piece.
Works With False or Fabricated Attribution
Every work must be credited honestly to the artist who created it. Listings carrying false, fabricated, or misleading attribution are prohibited. This includes crediting a work to an artist who did not make it, or presenting a piece under an identity that is not your own.
Stolen, Looted, Sanctioned, or Disputed Cultural Property
Works that are stolen, looted, or subject to a dispute over ownership may not be listed. The same applies to cultural property whose provenance is questionable or whose removal from its country of origin cannot be properly established. ArtRewards has no tolerance for the trade in such objects, which carries profound legal and ethical consequences.
Works That Violate Export, Import, or Sanctions Laws
You must comply with all applicable laws governing the export, import, and international movement of art, as well as any sanctions regimes. Listings that would breach these laws are prohibited, and customs documentation must always accurately declare a work's value and nature.
Prohibited Content
Beyond the works themselves, the content within a listing and across the platform must meet our standards. The following are not permitted:
- Misleading attribution, including any claim about authorship, edition status, or provenance that cannot be substantiated
- Unauthorized reproductions, including images that copy or reproduce another artist's work without the right to do so
- Harmful or unlawful content, including material that is defamatory, abusive, threatening, obscene, or otherwise contrary to law
- Sanctions or disputed-ownership issues, including any content connected to sanctioned parties or to objects whose rightful ownership is in question
Listings are expected to be accurate, complete, and free of any claim the seller cannot support. Where information is found to be false or misleading, we will investigate and take appropriate action.
How We Enforce These Standards
ArtRewards reviews listings for quality and accuracy, though we do not independently verify every detail a seller provides. When we become aware of a prohibited work or content, we investigate and act accordingly.
Where a listing is found to breach these standards, our response may include:
- Correcting or pausing the listing, where an issue can be remedied
- Removing the listing from the platform entirely
- Suspending the seller's account, pending review of the matter
- Permanently terminating the account in cases of serious or repeated breaches
The measure we take reflects the nature and severity of the violation. Serious matters, such as the listing of stolen property or works that breach sanctions law, may also be referred to the appropriate authorities.
Your Responsibility as a Seller
The obligation to ensure a listing is lawful and accurate rests with you. Before listing any work, confirm that you hold the right to sell it, that its attribution is truthful, that its provenance is sound, and that its sale complies with all applicable laws. When in doubt, it is always wiser to seek guidance before a work goes live than to address a problem afterwards.
If you are uncertain whether a particular work or listing meets these standards, our team is glad to advise. A brief enquiry beforehand protects your collectors, your standing on the platform, and the integrity of the marketplace as a whole.
Need Help?
If you have a question about whether a work may be listed, or you wish to report content you believe is prohibited, please reach out. Our team is here to help.