Authorship Marketplace
Terms & Conditions for Authors
Last updated: June 20, 2025
1. Definitions
- “Cuppa,” “we,” “our,” “us” – Cuppa AI LLC.
- “Author,” “you” – The individual or entity accepted into the Marketplace.
- “Customer” – A Cuppa subscriber who purchases review Credits.
- “Draft” – AI-generated content submitted to you for review.
- “Reviewed Work” – The final content you approve inside the Cuppa dashboard.
- “Profile Elements” – Your name, headshot, credentials, and bio.
- “Earned Balance” – Your total approved earnings, net of chargebacks or holds.
2. Scope
These Terms supplement and incorporate the Cuppa Platform Agreement. Creating an Author profile or accepting a request signifies acceptance of both documents.
3. Enrollment & Pricing
3.1 Free enrollment. Provide accurate credentials; Cuppa may request verification.
3.2 Set your own rates. You choose per-article price and turnaround and may update them prospectively at any time.
3.3 Independent contractor. Nothing herein creates an employment relationship— you remain responsible for your own taxes and compliance obligations.
4. Accepting Requests
4.1 Timely response. Accept or decline each request within the stated window (default = 24 hours).
4.2 Delivery commitment. On acceptance you must deliver the Reviewed Work by the agreed deadline.
4.3 One free minor-edit round. Customers may request minor changes once within seven (7) calendar days of delivery; substantive rewrites require a new Credit.
5. Author Responsibilities
5.1 Follow the brief. Adhere to the Customer’s instructions on tone, style, sources, and scope unless they conflict with law or professional ethics.
5.2 Review & vetting. Fact-check, correct inaccuracies, supply citations, and ensure compliance with industry standards and regulations.
5.3 Originality. Your additions must be original or properly attributed; no plagiarism.
5.4 Professional conduct. Communicate courteously and meet all deadlines.
6. License Grant
6.1 Upon marking a Draft “Approved,” you grant the Customer a perpetual, worldwide, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to display your Profile Elements and editorial comments solely with that Reviewed Work.
6.2 Any use of your likeness beyond the Reviewed Work (e.g., advertisements) requires separate written consent.
7. Payment
7.1 Earnings threshold. Payouts are issued only after your Earned Balance reaches USD $100.
7.2 Payout schedule. Qualifying balances are processed 15 days after the close of each calendar month (e.g., earnings for all Reviewed Works accepted in June are paid on July 15).
7.3 No marketplace fees. Cuppa charges Authors no platform or payout fees; any payment-processor transfer fees are your responsibility.
7.4 Tax responsibility. You are solely responsible for reporting and paying all applicable taxes; Cuppa may issue 1099-NEC (or local equivalent) where legally required.
8. Non-Solicitation & Marketplace Integrity
8.1 No off-platform deals. For twelve (12) months after each Reviewed Work, you will not solicit or accept work from that Customer outside the Marketplace without Cuppa’s written consent.
8.2 First violation — warning. Cuppa may freeze funds while investigating.
8.3 Repeated or egregious violations — suspension. Cuppa may terminate your account and withhold unpaid amounts tied to the violation.
9. Warranties & Indemnity
9.1 Your warranties. You warrant that (a) your credentials are accurate; (b) your edits are original and non-infringing; and (c) the Reviewed Work complies with applicable laws and guidelines.
9.2 Indemnity. You will indemnify and hold Cuppa and its Customers harmless from third-party claims arising out of breach of § 9.1.
10. Limitation of Liability
Cuppa’s aggregate liability to you will not exceed the fees actually paid to you for the specific Reviewed Work giving rise to the claim. Neither party is liable for indirect, incidental, punitive, or consequential damages.
11. Termination
Cuppa may suspend or terminate your account for material breach (including § 8), fraud, or legal-compliance reasons. Sections 6–12 survive termination.
12. Governing Law & Dispute Resolution
This Agreement is governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, U.S.A., excluding conflict-of-law rules. Any dispute shall be resolved by binding arbitration under the AAA Commercial Rules in Wilmington, Delaware. The prevailing party may recover reasonable attorneys’ fees.
13. Modifications
Cuppa may update these Terms with seven (7) days’ notice via the dashboard or email. Continued use of the Marketplace after the effective date constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.
Need a specific clarification? Email [email protected]—we’ll get you sorted.