Terms of Service.

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing and using Dottegigs ("the Platform"), you accept and agree to be bound by the terms and provisions of this agreement. If you do not agree to these terms, please do not use the service.

2. Description of Service

Dottegigs is a freelance marketplace that connects clients with skilled freelancers. Dottegigs is a product of Dotte Labs. Our platform facilitates posting projects (gigs), submitting proposals, forming contracts, and recording the work process. We process payments for platform credits and fees through third-party providers; we do not currently process, hold, or guarantee payments between clients and freelancers (see Section 6).

3. Relationship Between Users

Dottegigs provides a marketplace and related tools that help clients and freelancers find each other, communicate, form agreements, and manage work. Dottegigs is not a party to any gig, proposal, contract, or separate agreement between users unless we expressly say so in writing.

Clients and freelancers are solely responsible for deciding whether to work together, the terms of their working relationship, the scope of services, deadlines, deliverables, compensation, approvals, confidentiality obligations, intellectual property terms, and any other project-specific terms.

3.1 No Employment, Agency, or Partnership With Dottegigs

Nothing in these Terms or in any use of the Platform creates an employment, agency, partnership, joint venture, franchise, fiduciary, or representative relationship between Dottegigs and any user. Dottegigs does not hire, employ, supervise, direct, control, or monitor freelancers in the performance of services for clients.

3.2 User Classification and Compliance

How clients and freelancers describe their relationship is up to them, but legal classification may depend on applicable law and the facts of the working arrangement. Users are responsible for determining whether a freelancer is acting as an independent contractor, employee, consultant, vendor, agency, or in another capacity.

Users are also responsible for any taxes, permits, registrations, licenses, insurance, benefits, employment obligations, withholding, reporting, or other legal requirements that apply to their relationship or work.

3.3 Separate Agreements Between Users

Clients and freelancers may enter into separate written agreements, including confidentiality, non-disclosure, intellectual property assignment, invention assignment, data protection, or service agreements. Those agreements are between the users and must not conflict with these Terms or require Dottegigs to take on obligations we have not expressly accepted in writing.

4. User Accounts

4.1 Account Creation

To use our services, you must:

• Provide accurate and complete information
• Maintain the security of your account credentials
• Be at least 18 years old
• Have the legal capacity to enter into contracts

4.2 Account Responsibilities

You are responsible for:

• All activities that occur under your account
• Maintaining the confidentiality of your password
• Notifying us immediately of any unauthorized use
• Ensuring your account information is current and accurate

5. User Obligations

5.1 General Obligations

Users agree to:

• Use the platform in good faith and for lawful purposes
• Not engage in fraudulent, deceptive, or illegal activities
• Respect intellectual property rights
• Maintain professional conduct in all communications
• Not upload malicious content or viruses

5.2 Client Obligations

Clients must:

• Provide clear project requirements
• Pay for completed work as agreed
• Communicate promptly and professionally
• Respect freelancer's intellectual property

5.3 Freelancer Obligations

Freelancers must:

• Deliver work that meets project specifications
• Meet agreed-upon deadlines
• Provide high-quality work
• Maintain professional communication
• Respect client's intellectual property

6. Payment Terms

6.1 Service Fees

Dottegigs charges fees for platform actions, such as posting gigs, submitting proposals, or accessing paid features. These fees are typically paid in credits and are charged when the paid action is completed, not as a commission on payments between users. The current fee structure is shown before you complete a paid action and may be updated with notice.

6.2 Payment Processing and User-to-User Payments

Payments for platform credits or fees may be processed by third-party payment providers. Those providers have their own terms, fees, settlement timelines, and failure modes.

PAYMENT GUIDANCE: Dottegigs does not currently hold funds on behalf of users, guarantee payment, guarantee delivery, or act as an escrow provider for user-to-user payments. Clients and freelancers are responsible for agreeing payment terms directly and using written milestones, invoices, receipts, approvals, and reputable independent safeguards where appropriate. Native escrow support is planned but is not currently available unless a specific platform feature expressly states otherwise.

6.3 Refunds

Refunds are handled according to our refund policy. Disputes should be resolved through our dispute resolution process before requesting refunds.

7. Intellectual Property

7.1 Platform Content

All content on the Platform, including but not limited to text, graphics, logos, and software, is owned by Dottegigs or our licensors and is protected by copyright and other intellectual property laws.

7.2 User Content

You retain ownership of content you submit to the platform. By submitting content, you grant us a license to use, display, and distribute it as necessary for platform operation.

8. Related Policies

The following policies form part of these Terms and provide more detail about common marketplace issues:

• Fees, Credits & Refunds Policy for credits, fees, cancellations, refunds, chargebacks, and beta payment limitations
• Intellectual Property Policy for client materials, freelancer deliverables, pre-existing work, portfolio rights, and IP complaints
• Privacy Policy for personal data, cookies, verification data, and data rights
• Dispute Resolution Policy for filing, reviewing, mediating, and appealing disputes

9. Acceptable Use

This Acceptable Use section applies to all use of Dottegigs, including profiles, gigs, proposals, messages, files, reviews, contracts, payments, and support interactions. You must use the Platform in good faith, comply with applicable law, respect other users, and avoid activity that harms the marketplace or the people using it.

9.1 Professional Conduct

Users must communicate and work professionally. This means you may not:

• Harass, threaten, abuse, discriminate against, or intimidate another user
• Misrepresent your identity, qualifications, work history, company, or location
• Pressure another user into unsafe, unlawful, or unfair terms
• Share another user's private information without permission
• Use the Platform to send spam, phishing messages, or unrelated promotions

9.2 Prohibited Work

You may not post, offer, request, or perform work that involves:

• Illegal goods, illegal services, fraud, money laundering, or deceptive activity
• Malware, credential theft, unauthorized system access, or security abuse
• Academic dishonesty, fake reviews, impersonation, or forged documents
• Adult sexual services, exploitation, or content involving minors
• Hate, violence, threats, harassment, or targeted abuse
• Work that infringes intellectual property, privacy, or data protection rights

You also may not violate applicable laws or regulations, post inappropriate or illegal content, or use automated tools to access the Platform except where we permit it below.

9.3 Platform Integrity

Users may not interfere with the Platform or manipulate marketplace trust signals.

• Do not scrape, crawl, reverse engineer, or overload the Platform without permission
• Do not create fake accounts or coordinated accounts to manipulate activity
• Do not bypass security, rate limits, moderation, or verification checks
• Do not upload viruses, malware, or files designed to disrupt systems

9.4 Identity and Verification

We may request identity, business, phone, email, payment, tax, or other verification information where needed for trust, safety, payments, fraud prevention, compliance, or dispute review.

You must provide accurate information. Refusing verification, providing false documents, or failing verification may lead to limits, payment holds, suspension, or account closure.

9.5 Reviews and Feedback

Reviews must reflect genuine work and honest experience. Users may not:

• Post fake, misleading, retaliatory, or paid reviews
• Threaten negative reviews to force payment, refunds, or extra work
• Offer compensation in exchange for a specific rating or review
• Review yourself, your own company, or coordinated accounts you control

9.6 Off-Platform Circumvention

Users who meet through Dottegigs may not use the Platform to avoid applicable fees, safety processes, or payment records by moving the same relationship off-platform in bad faith.

We may limit accounts that use Dottegigs to find work or talent while intentionally bypassing Platform payments, contracts, or dispute records.

9.7 Moderation and Enforcement

We may remove content, restrict features, pause payments where permitted, request more information, warn users, suspend accounts, close accounts, or report serious conduct to relevant authorities where appropriate.

9.8 Reporting Violations

If you see unsafe, unlawful, deceptive, or abusive activity, contact our Trust and Safety team with the account, gig, message, or contract details and any supporting evidence.

10. Termination

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate your account at any time for violations of these terms. You may also terminate your account at any time. Upon termination, your right to use the platform ceases immediately.

11. Disclaimers and Limitation of Liability

11.1 Service Disclaimers

The platform is provided "as is" without warranties of any kind. We do not guarantee the quality, safety, or legality of work performed through our platform. Dottegigs is not liable for financial outcomes or disputes arising from direct transactions between users. Users should rely on clear written terms, records, and independent safeguards appropriate to the work.

11.2 Limitation of Liability

Dottegigs' liability is limited to the amount of fees paid by you in the 12 months preceding the claim. We are not liable for indirect, incidental, or consequential damages.

12. Dispute Resolution and Mediation

We encourage users to resolve disputes directly. If resolution is not possible, disputes will be handled through our dispute resolution process. Legal action should be a last resort.

MEDIATION LIMITATIONS: As the Platform does not currently hold funds or provide escrow, our ability to resolve financial disputes is limited to mediation and account-level actions. Dottegigs cannot facilitate direct refunds or guarantee payments unless a specific platform feature expressly states otherwise. By using the service, users acknowledge that direct payment arrangements remain their responsibility.

13. Governing Law

These terms are governed by the laws of your applicable jurisdiction. Any legal action should be brought in the courts of the relevant jurisdiction unless otherwise required by law.

14. Changes to Terms

We may modify these terms at any time. Material changes will be communicated via email or platform notification. Continued use constitutes acceptance of the new terms.

15. Contact Information

For questions about these Terms of Service, please contact us at: