Short answer: Group accounts must ensure transparency about their purpose to both clients and contributing artists, provide proper credit to creators, and adhere to the same rules as individual accounts, with the entire group held accountable for any policy violations by one member.
At VGen, we value transparency, fairness, and proper credit for all artists. While the majority of accounts on our platform are individual artists, we also welcome group accounts.
To ensure clarity and accountability, we have established specific policies for accounts acting as groups.
Below are answers to some common questions about these policies.
What is considered a group account?
A group account is any account that represents multiple artists*. Examples could be defined as "studios," or "brokerages."
*Please note that one-off, collaborative services or products may be individually disclosed and credited within the service or product name and description itself without the need to convert an account to a Group Account as long as you are personally contributing a significant amount to the deliverables of the service or product.
What is required for group accounts?
To maintain transparency, all group accounts must:
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Disclose the nature of the account by using a Group Account badge. Every group account must label itself correctly. There are 2 group account types that can be added during the artists' profile setup, or from the 'Edit Profile' modal:
- STUDIO = Run by an organization or groups that employs in-house artists+
- BROKER = Run by an individual or organization that subcontracts other out-of-house artists+
- Disclose the nature of undertaken projects to both clients and contributing artists. Whether hosted by an agency, studio, brokerage, or collaborative group, the organization producing the commission service or shop product must ensure that all clients and contributing artists are aware of the purpose and work structure of their undertaken projects.
- Credit contributing artists appropriately. Artists involved in a project must receive appropriate credit for their work in any relevant displays of their work (ie service samples, portfolio showcases) unless there is an agreement between the artist and the producing organization where credit is not required or belongs to the producing organization. Proof of any such agreements may be requested by staff at anytime.
What happens if one member of a group violates policies?
Accountability is shared among all members of a group. If one member of a group account violates our policies, the entire group will be held responsible. This ensures that all members of a group are committed to maintaining the integrity of the platform.
Do the same rules apply to group accounts as individual accounts?
Yes, the same rules and standards apply to all accounts, whether they are individuals or groups. However, group accounts have additional requirements to ensure transparency and proper credit for all artists involved.
What if I’m a brokerage or reseller?
If you are a brokerage or reseller, you must:
- Inform all contributing artists on a project - whether employed, contracted, or subcontracted - about the project's work structure, purpose, and intended use.
- Ensure the artists receive proper credit for their work.
- Maintain transparency about your role as a brokerage or reseller.
- Ensure the quality of work being advertised matches the quality of the work being delivered.
How can I ensure my group account complies with these policies?
To stay compliant:
- Clearly disclose the nature of your account by using the appropriate Group Account Status (added during the artists' profile setup, or from the 'Edit Profile' modal).
- Communicate openly with all contributing artists about project details and credit.
- Keep clear employment, contractor, and subcontractor agreements organized should we request to validate any work, credit, or disclosure agreements.
- Ensure all contributing artists on your team are credit appropriately anywhere their work is displayed on VGen (ie portfolio showcases, commission service samples, shop product media), unless you have explicit agreements in place where the they do not need to be individually credited
- Regularly review our policies to ensure ongoing compliance.
What happens if my group account fails to meet these requirements?
Failure to comply with these policies may result in warnings, suspension, or termination of the account. We take these rules seriously to protect the integrity of our platform and the rights of all artists.
Who can I contact if I have questions about group accounts?
If you have any questions or need clarification about group accounts, please reach out to our support team at help@vgen.co or visit our Help Center