The Crafter’s Market Network

Operated by Hearthstone Enterprises, LLC

Purpose

The Crafter’s Market Network, operated by Hearthstone Enterprises, LLC (“the Network”), is committed to supporting creativity, originality, innovation, and ethical business practices. We respect the intellectual property rights of artists, creators, authors, designers, businesses, and other rights holders.

This Intellectual Property Policy outlines each vendor’s responsibilities regarding the products, designs, branding, artwork, photographs, advertising, and promotional materials displayed, marketed, or sold at Network events.

Participation in a Network event does not constitute legal approval of any product, design, trademark, or copyrighted work.

1. Vendor Responsibility

Vendors are solely responsible for ensuring that all products, artwork, logos, photographs, graphics, packaging, advertising, promotional materials, digital content, and merchandise offered for sale comply with all applicable intellectual property laws.

Participation in a Network event does not imply that the Network has reviewed, verified, or approved the legal ownership or licensing status of any product or design.

Each vendor accepts full responsibility for any intellectual property claims arising from their business or merchandise.

2. Ownership of Rights

Vendors may offer products for sale only if they:

Created the original work themselves;
Own the applicable intellectual property rights;
Have obtained the necessary licenses, permissions, or written authorization from the rights holder; or
Are otherwise legally authorized to reproduce, display, or sell the protected material.

Upon request, vendors should be prepared to provide documentation demonstrating their legal right to use protected material.

Failure to provide reasonable documentation may result in the removal of products from sale pending further review.

3. Prohibited Merchandise

Unless the vendor possesses documented legal authorization, the following items are prohibited:

Counterfeit merchandise.
Unauthorized reproductions of copyrighted artwork.
Unlicensed sports team logos or branding.
Unlicensed movie, television, streaming, or comic book characters.
Unlicensed music-related artwork, lyrics, or album imagery.
Unauthorized celebrity names, photographs, likenesses, or signatures.
Unlicensed video game characters or artwork.
Unauthorized corporate logos, trademarks, or branding.
Knockoff or imitation designer products.
Pirated books, software, movies, music, or digital media.
AI-generated content that knowingly infringes another person’s copyright, trademark, or other intellectual property rights.

This list is illustrative and is not intended to be exhaustive.

The Network reserves the right to prohibit any product believed to infringe upon another person’s intellectual property rights.

4. Fan Art

Many popular characters, franchises, logos, brands, and fictional works remain protected under copyright and trademark law, even when reproduced by hand or substantially modified.

Unless the vendor possesses appropriate authorization from the intellectual property owner, products featuring protected characters, logos, artwork, branding, or other protected elements should not be displayed, advertised, or sold at Network events.

5. Trademarks

Vendors may not use another person’s or company’s:

Name
Logo
Trademark
Service mark
Trade dress
Slogan
Brand identity

in any manner that could reasonably suggest sponsorship, affiliation, endorsement, authorization, or partnership without proper permission.

6. Copyrighted Material

Vendors may not reproduce, distribute, publicly display, advertise, or sell copyrighted works without authorization from the copyright owner unless otherwise permitted by applicable law.

Examples include, but are not limited to:

Artwork
Photography
Books
Illustrations
Digital graphics
Printed designs
Music
Written works
Video content

7. AI-Generated Content

The Network recognizes that many businesses use artificial intelligence tools to assist with creative work.

AI-assisted or AI-generated products are permitted provided that:

The content does not knowingly infringe upon another person’s intellectual property rights.
The vendor possesses the legal right to use and sell the generated content under the applicable platform’s license terms.
The work complies with all applicable copyright, trademark, licensing, and other intellectual property laws.

The vendor remains solely responsible for ensuring that AI-generated content may legally be used, marketed, and sold.

8. Reporting Potential Infringement

If organizers become aware of products that may infringe upon another person’s intellectual property rights, the Network may, in its sole discretion:

Request additional information from the vendor.
Request documentation demonstrating ownership or authorization.
Require the temporary removal of questioned products.
Require the vendor to discontinue offering the products during the event.
Remove the vendor from the event.
Decline future participation.

The Network is not required to make legal determinations regarding ownership and may act to protect the integrity, reputation, and legal interests of its events while concerns are reviewed.

9. Complaints from Rights Holders

If the Network receives a credible complaint from an intellectual property owner or an authorized representative alleging infringement, the Network may immediately require removal of the questioned products pending resolution.

The vendor is solely responsible for resolving any dispute directly with the rights holder.

Participation in a Network event does not create any obligation for the Network to defend or represent a vendor in any intellectual property dispute.

10. Indemnification

The vendor agrees to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless Hearthstone Enterprises, LLC, doing business as The Crafter’s Market Network, together with its members, managers, officers, employees, volunteers, contractors, venues, sponsors, community partners, and event affiliates from any claims, damages, liabilities, judgments, settlements, expenses, costs, or attorney’s fees arising from the vendor’s alleged or actual infringement of any copyright, trademark, patent, trade secret, publicity right, or other intellectual property right.

11. No Legal Advice

The Network does not provide legal advice regarding copyright, trademark, patent, licensing, or other intellectual property matters.

Vendors are encouraged to consult qualified legal counsel whenever they have questions regarding ownership, licensing, or the legality of products they intend to sell.

12. Policy Violations

Violations of this policy may result in one or more of the following actions:

Removal of specific products from display or sale.
Written warning.
Immediate removal from the current event.
Denial of participation in future events.
Permanent prohibition from participating in Network events.

The Network reserves the right to determine the appropriate response based on the nature, severity, and circumstances of each violation.

Decisions regarding product eligibility, intellectual property concerns, and policy enforcement are made solely by the Network and are final.

Our Commitment

The Crafter’s Market Network is dedicated to fostering creativity, originality, and ethical business practices.

By respecting the intellectual property rights of artists, makers, authors, designers, inventors, and businesses, we help create marketplaces where creativity is protected, innovation is encouraged, and customers can shop with confidence.

Together, we are building a marketplace that values honesty, professionalism, and respect for the work of others.

The Crafter’s Market Network is operated by Hearthstone Enterprises, LLC.