Know Your Artists Policy & Artist Verification

Last Updated: May 30, 2026

Shadowbox Merch Services is committed to building a trusted, artist-first merchandise platform that protects artists, fans, rights holders, payment partners, and the broader music community. To help prevent fraud, impersonation, unauthorized merchandise sales, payment abuse, and other harmful activity, we maintain a Know Your Artists Policy.

This policy explains how we verify artists, labels, artist representatives, management companies, and other storefront operators before and during their use of our platform.

1. Purpose of This Policy

Our Know Your Artists process is designed to help us:

• Confirm that storefront operators are who they say they are;
• Verify that they have the right to sell merchandise associated with the artist, brand, name, likeness, trademarks, artwork, logos, or other materials used on a storefront;
• Reduce the risk of impersonation, counterfeit merchandise, unauthorized sales, payment fraud, and other deceptive activity;
• Protect fans from misleading or fraudulent storefronts;
• Maintain compliance with payment processor, marketplace, tax, fraud prevention, and legal obligations;
• Preserve the integrity of our platform and the artist merchandise ecosystem.

2. Who This Policy Applies To

This policy applies to all individuals and entities that create, operate, control, or benefit from an artist storefront on Shadowbox Merch Services, including:

• Individual artists;
• Bands and musical groups;
• Record labels;
• Artist managers and management companies;
• Merchandising companies;
• Artist estates, trusts, or authorized representatives;
• Business entities operating on behalf of artists or rights holders;
• Any other person or entity seeking to sell artist-related merchandise through our platform.

3. Information We May Collect

As part of our Know Your Artists process, we may request information reasonably necessary to verify identity, authority, ownership, payment details, tax status, and platform eligibility.

Depending on the nature of the applicant, this may include:

Individual Artists or Representatives

• Legal name;
• Stage name, artist name, or band name;
• Date of birth;
• Mailing address;
• Email address and phone number;
• Government-issued identification;
• Tax information;
• Payment account information;
• Social media profiles, official websites, or other public-facing artist profiles;
• Evidence of authority to act on behalf of an artist, band, estate, or rights holder.

Businesses, Labels, or Organizations

• Legal business name;
• Trade name or "doing business as" name;
• Business address;
• Business registration number or entity identification number;
• Tax identification information;
• Ownership or control information;
• Authorized representative information;
• Payment account information;
• Business registration documents;
• Proof of rights or authority to sell merchandise associated with a particular artist, label, brand, catalog, or intellectual property.

4. Verification of Artist Authority and Rights

Because our platform supports artist merchandise, we may require evidence that a storefront operator has the legal right to create and operate a storefront using the relevant artist name, likeness, logos, artwork, trademarks, copyrights, or other brand assets.

Depending on the circumstances, we may request:

• Confirmation from the artist or authorized representative;
• Management, label, merchandising, or licensing agreements;
• Written authorization from the artist, band, estate, label, or rights holder;
• Proof of ownership or control of relevant intellectual property;
• Links to official websites, verified social media accounts, streaming profiles, or other public profiles;
• Prior catalog, release, touring, or merchandise history;
• Other documentation reasonably necessary to confirm authority.

We may reject or suspend any storefront if we cannot verify that the applicant has the necessary rights or authorization.

5. Payment and Tax Verification

To help prevent fraud, chargebacks, tax issues, and misdirected funds, we may verify that payment accounts and tax information are connected to the person or business that has been approved to operate the storefront.

This may include verifying:

• Bank account ownership;
• Payment processor account information;
• PayPal, Stripe, or other payment account details;
• Tax forms or tax identification numbers;
• Business entity information;
• Beneficial ownership information, where applicable.

We may delay payouts, request additional information, or suspend payment activity if payment details appear inconsistent, incomplete, suspicious, or unauthorized.

6. Fraud Prevention and Risk Screening

We may use internal tools, third-party service providers, public records, payment processor tools, and fraud prevention technologies to evaluate risk.

This may include reviewing:

• Identity verification results;
• Business registration records;
• Sanctions, watchlist, or politically exposed person screening, where applicable;
• IP address, device, browser, and location indicators;
• Payment account consistency;
• Domain, email, or account history;
• Social media and online presence;
• Prior fraud, chargeback, infringement, or abuse indicators;
• Unusual storefront, order, or payout activity.

The presence of a risk indicator does not automatically mean an account is fraudulent. However, it may result in additional review, documentation requests, delayed approval, payout holds, account limitations, suspension, or denial of access to the platform.

7. Enhanced Due Diligence

In some cases, we may conduct enhanced due diligence before approving or continuing to support a storefront.

Enhanced due diligence may apply where:

• Documentation is incomplete, inconsistent, or difficult to verify;
• The applicant is acting on behalf of another artist, estate, label, or rights holder;
• The artist name, brand, or intellectual property is widely known or commercially significant;
• There is a heightened risk of impersonation, counterfeit merchandise, or rights disputes;
• Payment information does not match the approved account holder;
• We detect suspicious login, location, device, order, or payout activity;
• We receive complaints from fans, artists, labels, rights holders, payment partners, or other third parties.

Enhanced due diligence may include requests for additional documentation, direct confirmation from rights holders, business ownership information, proof of authorization, or other information we reasonably determine is necessary.

8. Ongoing Monitoring

Our Know Your Artists process does not end after initial approval. We may continue to monitor storefronts and account activity to protect artists, fans, rights holders, and the platform.

Ongoing review may occur when:

• A storefront is launched or materially changed;
• New artwork, logos, artist names, or brand assets are added;
• Sales or payout activity changes significantly;
• A dispute, infringement claim, or complaint is received;
• Payment information is changed;
• New users are added to an account;
• We detect suspicious or unusual behavior;
• Required information becomes outdated or incomplete.

We may request updated information at any time as a condition of continued access to the platform.

9. Consequences of Failing Verification

We may decline, suspend, restrict, or terminate access to the platform if we are unable to verify identity, authority, rights, payment details, or other required information.

This may include:

• Rejecting a storefront application;
• Delaying storefront launch;
• Removing or disabling specific products;
• Restricting account features;
• Holding or delaying payouts where permitted by law and our agreements;
• Suspending or terminating an account;
• Canceling orders;
• Refunding customers;
• Reporting suspected fraud, infringement, or unlawful activity to payment processors, service providers, rights holders, or legal authorities where appropriate.

10. Accuracy of Information

Applicants and storefront operators are responsible for providing accurate, current, and complete information.

By applying for or using a storefront on Shadowbox Merch Services, you represent and warrant that:

• All information you provide is truthful, accurate, and complete;
• You are authorized to act on behalf of any artist, business, label, estate, or rights holder you claim to represent;
• You have the necessary rights, permissions, licenses, and approvals to sell the merchandise offered through your storefront;
• Payment and tax information you provide is accurate and belongs to the approved individual or business;
• You will promptly notify us of any material changes to your information, authority, ownership, rights, payment details, or tax status.

11. Protection of Information

We collect and use verification information in accordance with our Privacy Policy and applicable law.

We use reasonable administrative, technical, and organizational safeguards designed to protect verification information from unauthorized access, misuse, loss, or disclosure. We may share information with service providers, payment processors, fraud prevention vendors, legal advisors, rights holders, or authorities where necessary to operate the platform, comply with law, investigate disputes, prevent fraud, enforce our agreements, or protect our users.

12. Relationship to Other Platform Policies

This Know Your Artists Policy works together with our other policies and agreements, including our:

• Terms of Service;
• Privacy Policy;
• Seller Agreement or Artist Storefront Agreement;
• Intellectual Property Policy;
• Acceptable Use Policy;
• Payment and Payout Policy;
• Counterfeit and Unauthorized Merchandise Policy, if applicable.

If there is a conflict between this policy and a separate written agreement between you and Shadowbox Merch Services, the written agreement will control to the extent of the conflict.

13. Questions

If you have questions about this Know Your Artists Policy or need help completing our verification process, please contact us at:

Email: getverified@shadowboxmerch.com