Our Commitment to This Community

Art Thou was created to be a genuine, creative, and safe space for artists and art lovers across every country. We believe that when a buyer purchases a piece of art, they deserve to receive exactly what they were shown. We believe that when a creator pours their time, skill, and soul into a piece, they deserve to be paid fairly and protected from bad-faith claims.

This policy exists to uphold both of those beliefs equally. We do not take sides by default. We follow evidence.

The 7-Day Buyer Protection Window

Upon confirmed delivery of any item purchased through Art Thou, the buyer enters a 7-day protection window.

• The buyer may open a dispute within the first 24 hours of confirmed delivery if the item does not match what was listed.
• Opening a dispute is entirely optional. If no dispute is opened within 24 hours, the transaction completes and the creator is paid.
• The buyer may cancel their dispute at any time before Day 6. Upon cancellation, the creator is paid immediately and the case is permanently closed.
• Both parties will be notified at each stage with full transparency.

What Constitutes a Valid Dispute

• The item received is materially different from what was photographed or described in the listing.
• The item is counterfeit or mass-produced when listed as an original handmade work.
• The item arrived damaged beyond reasonable shipping wear and was not disclosed prior to purchase.
• The creator deliberately misrepresented dimensions, materials, condition, or origin.
• The item received is a completely different product than what was ordered.

What Creators Must Provide as Evidence

When a dispute is filed, the creator has 48 hours to respond with supporting evidence:

• Photographs or video of the creation process
• Original listing photos compared to photos of the shipped item
• Shipping receipts, packing photos, or video of the item being packaged
• A signed certificate of authenticity or written statement of originality
• Any third-party verification, gallery records, or provenance documentation

Fraud, Deception & Sabotage

The following result in immediate and permanent removal from Art Thou with no appeal:

• Sending a product that is knowingly fake, counterfeit, or not the item shown in the listing.
• Replacing the original item with a lesser item before shipping.
• Fabricating process photos or falsifying a certificate of authenticity.
• A buyer filing a false damage claim or attempting to keep an item while obtaining a refund.
• Either party attempting to bribe, threaten, or coerce the other party or the Art Thou review team.
• Any harassment directed at the other party during or after a dispute.
• Creating a new account after a permanent ban. This will result in legal action where applicable.

If our team finds evidence of sabotage from either side — the decision is final and irreversible.

How Refunds Are Processed

If a refund is approved, it will be issued to the buyer's original payment method within 3 to 5 business days of the decision. If the creator is vindicated, their full payment is released within 24 hours. Art Thou does not charge any additional fee for dispute resolution.

Appeals & Final Decisions

Either party may submit a formal appeal within 48 hours of a decision if new evidence has come to light. Appeals are reviewed by a senior Art Thou team member separate from the original reviewer. Cases involving confirmed fraud are not eligible for appeal.

Anti-Manipulation & Offer Integrity

Art Thou operates a competitive offer marketplace — not a licensed auction. All offer activity must be genuine. The following are strictly prohibited and result in immediate permanent removal:

• A creator placing offers on their own listing directly or through any third party to artificially inflate the price. This is offer manipulation and is illegal in most jurisdictions.
• Coordinating with friends, family, or other accounts to place fake competing offers on a listing.
• Withdrawing a listing after genuine offers have been placed without a verifiable reason.
• Misrepresenting an item as a 1-of-1 original when copies, prints, or duplicates exist.
• All 1-of-1 listings must include proof of originality — process photos, a signed statement, or a certificate of authenticity — before going live.
• Starting offer prices must be genuine. Hidden reserve prices are not permitted. What buyers see is what the offer opens at.
• Art Thou holds all offer payments in escrow until the 7-day buyer protection window closes.

Copyright & DMCA Takedown Policy

Art Thou respects intellectual property rights and complies fully with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. If you believe any content on Art Thou infringes your copyright, you may submit a formal takedown request by contacting us at legal@artthou.com with the following information:

• A description of the copyrighted work you believe has been infringed
• The URL or location of the infringing content on Art Thou
• Your contact information including name, address, and email
• A statement that you have a good faith belief that the use is not authorized
• A statement that the information in your notice is accurate and that you are the copyright owner or authorized to act on their behalf

Upon receiving a valid DMCA notice, Art Thou will remove the infringing content within 48 hours and notify the creator. Creators who repeatedly infringe copyrights will be permanently removed from the platform. Art Thou operates under the safe harbor provisions of the DMCA and is not liable for content uploaded by creators provided we act promptly upon receiving valid notices.