Legal & Policies
Important information about using IndieCrowdfund
IndieCrowdfund — Terms of Service
Last Updated: May 17, 2026
Welcome to IndieCrowdfund.com, a crowdfunding and project-launch platform operated by IndieCrowdfund, Inc. ("IndieCrowdfund," "we," "our," or "us"). These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your access to and use of IndieCrowdfund.com, our services, applications, and related tools (collectively, the "Services").
By accessing or using the Services, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree, you may not use IndieCrowdfund.
1. What IndieCrowdfund Is
IndieCrowdfund is a platform where creators can publish projects, raise funding, offer rewards, and communicate with supporters ("Backers"). IndieCrowdfund facilitates these interactions but does not itself run or guarantee the success of any project.
We are not a store, a bank, or an investment service. We provide tools; creators are responsible for their own projects and for fulfilling commitments made to backers.
IndieCrowdfund supports the full spectrum of sequential art created by independent creators — from traditional Western comics and graphic novels to manga-style works, OEL (Original English Language) manga, manhwa, manhua, webcomics, and hybrid traditions blending Eastern and Western storytelling. We formally recognize anime-influenced and manga-style sequential art as a legitimate and established part of Western comics culture, and such campaigns are fully eligible to launch on the platform.
2. Eligibility
To use IndieCrowdfund, you must:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Have the legal capacity to form a binding contract
- Not be barred from using the Services under applicable law
Creators launching projects must also comply with our Creator Guidelines and local financial regulations.
3. User Accounts
To use certain features, you must create an account. You agree to:
- Provide accurate and up-to-date information
- Maintain the security of your account
- Be responsible for all activity conducted under your credentials
We may suspend or terminate accounts that violate these Terms.
4. Launching Projects
Creators who launch a project on IndieCrowdfund agree to:
- Provide truthful and complete information about their project
- Set accurate funding goals, deadlines, and reward tiers
- Fulfill all rewards if the project is successfully funded
- Communicate clearly and promptly with backers about progress
Creators assume full legal responsibility for their commitments.
IndieCrowdfund does not guarantee reward delivery, shipping, timelines, or the quality of any product.
5. Backing Projects
When backers support a project:
- They are funding a creative process—not purchasing a guaranteed product
- They understand that delays, changes, or cancellations are possible
- They may be entitled to refunds only at the creator's discretion unless required by law
- They agree to read the full project description and associated risks
IndieCrowdfund is not responsible for disputes between creators and backers.
6. Fees, Payments, and Campaign Types
IndieCrowdfund charges platform and processing fees for funded projects. Fees are disclosed during project setup and may vary by region.
Creators may choose between two campaign funding models:
- All or Nothing: Funds are only collected if the campaign reaches its stated funding goal by the deadline. If the goal is not reached, no money changes hands and backers are not charged.
- Keep It All: The creator keeps all pledges regardless of whether the funding goal is reached. Backers are charged immediately at the time of their pledge.
Creators authorize IndieCrowdfund and its payment partners to:
- Collect funds from backers
- Deduct platform and processing fees
- Hold a rolling reserve where applicable (see below)
- Transfer net funds to the creator
Creators are responsible for all taxes, shipping costs, duties, and regulatory compliance.
7. Creator Verification & Due Diligence
IndieCrowdfund conducts thorough due diligence on all creators before approving campaigns. Our verification process includes:
- Identity Verification: New creators must provide a valid government-issued photo ID and a legitimate business filing from their state Secretary of State office. Returning creators with verified accounts may be exempt from re-submission.
- Social Media & Online Presence Audit: We log and verify all social media accounts linked to the creator. Our team searches other crowdfunding platforms (Kickstarter, Indiegogo, GoFundMe, etc.) to review the creator's previous campaign history.
- Fulfillment History Review: We review backer comments, reviews, and public feedback on all prior campaigns across all platforms. We contact creators directly when discrepancies or concerns are identified.
- Internal Documentation: All verification findings, correspondence, and review decisions are documented internally and retained for compliance and audit purposes.
- Payment Account Verification: Creators must add a valid PayPal payout email (for standard campaigns), complete bank account setup through Divinity Payments (for NSFW/adult content campaigns), or connect a Whop account (for Whop-processed campaigns) to receive payouts.
Automatic Disqualification
Creators are automatically disqualified from launching on IndieCrowdfund if:
- They have three or more unfulfilled campaigns on any crowdfunding platform
- They have any campaign that is more than one year past its stated delivery date, regardless of fulfillment status
IndieCrowdfund reserves the right to request additional documentation, deny applications, or revoke access at any time based on verification findings.
8. Content Standards & Age Requirements
All campaigns on IndieCrowdfund are subject to our Content Guidelines, which establish content standards, eligibility criteria, and prohibited content policies for sequential-art campaigns. These guidelines apply regardless of the work's format, genre, or country of creative origin — including manga, OEL manga, manhwa, manhua, and other anime-influenced works.
8.1 Content Ratings
Every campaign must declare a content rating:
- ALL AGES — no violence, language, or themes beyond what is appropriate for young children.
- TEEN (13+) — mild action violence, moderate themes, no sexual content.
- MATURE (17+) — strong themes, graphic violence, horror. Suggestive content permitted only with verified adult characters. No explicit sexual content.
- ADULT (18+) — explicit sexual content permitted ONLY where all depicted characters are verifiably 18 or older. Subject to all character age verification requirements below and in our Content Guidelines.
8.2 Character Age — Absolute Standard
No character depicted in suggestive, romantic, or sexual content may be under the age of 18.
This applies universally — regardless of whether a character's age is explicitly stated, implied, or left ambiguous. When in doubt, the character must be treated as a minor and the content is not permitted.
8.3 Visual Standards — Skeletal Maturity
Written age labels alone are not sufficient. A character described as "18" but drawn with the skeletal proportions, facial structure, or body development of a child will be treated as a minor for the purposes of these Terms. Adult characters in suggestive or sexual content must demonstrate visual markers of skeletal and physiological maturity, including:
- Facial bone structure consistent with a fully developed adult.
- Body proportions consistent with adult skeletal development — appropriate limb-to-torso ratios and the absence of prepubescent body markers.
- Character height and build that does not suggest childhood or early adolescence.
- Absence of infantilizing visual cues — including oversized heads disproportionate to adult anatomy, underdeveloped or absent secondary sexual characteristics paired with childlike facial features, or costumes and staging that evoke childhood.
Heavily chibi, super-deformed, or simplified art styles that obscure these markers are not exempt. Full visual standards are detailed in our Content Guidelines § 4.
8.4 Ambiguous Age Policy
Where a character's age cannot be clearly established as 18 or older through both written documentation AND visual evidence of adult skeletal maturity, the character will be treated as a minor and the content will not be approved.
8.5 Pre-Launch Review
All campaigns undergo content review before going live. Standard review takes 3–5 business days. Campaigns flagged for potential policy concerns may be held for extended review. For MATURE or ADULT-rated campaigns featuring suggestive content, creators may be asked to provide written in-universe documentation establishing character age, visual evidence that the character's depiction meets the skeletal maturity standards above, or revisions if the initial submission does not meet visual standards.
Creators whose campaigns are rejected may submit a written appeal with supporting documentation within 14 days. Appeals are reviewed by a separate staff member from the original reviewer; appeal decisions are final.
9. Prohibited Activities
Users may not:
- Break any laws while using the platform
- Launch fraudulent or misleading projects
- Abuse, harass, or impersonate others
- Use the platform to launder money or engage in financial misconduct
- Upload malware, attempt hacks, or disrupt platform operations
- Use IndieCrowdfund to fund prohibited items (weapons, hate material, adult services, etc.)
In addition, the following content is strictly prohibited:
Zero-Tolerance: Sexualized Depictions of Minors
IndieCrowdfund maintains an absolute zero-tolerance policy toward any sexually suggestive or explicit depiction of a character who is, appears to be, or is contextually implied to be under 18 — regardless of stated fictional age, art style, or country of creative origin. This includes content commonly referred to as lolicon (sexualized depictions of minor-presenting female characters) and shotacon (sexualized depictions of minor-presenting male characters).
Pretextual adult-age claims (e.g., a character with unambiguous child anatomy labeled as "actually 500 years old"), swimsuit / lingerie / nude content featuring characters with minor-presenting anatomy, romantic or sexual framing between an adult character and a minor-presenting character, and use of artistic style to obscure intended age in sexual or suggestive contexts are all prohibited. Violations may be reported to appropriate authorities where legally required and will result in permanent account suspension.
- Hate speech — comics whose primary purpose is to dehumanize, degrade, or incite violence against individuals or groups based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or national origin. Villains, dark themes, and historical depictions of racism and atrocity are not automatically prohibited; context and intent matter. Comics that explore these themes critically are eligible. Comics that celebrate or promote them are not.
- Real-person violations — sexual or sexually suggestive depictions of real, identifiable living individuals without documented consent, and defamatory content presented as factual that targets real individuals.
- Intellectual property violations — campaigns that reproduce substantial portions of copyrighted work without authorization, or that present unlicensed derivative works as official or authorized products. Parody, criticism, and commentary are recognized as protected uses; fan comics operating clearly within parody and non-commercial traditions will be evaluated individually.
- Other prohibited material — disinformation campaigns disguised as comics or sequential art; content designed to facilitate real-world violence, illegal activity, or exploitation; and campaigns that misrepresent the nature of the product, creator credentials, or use of funds.
Violations may result in account termination and, where required by law, referral to appropriate authorities.
10. Intellectual Property
Creators retain ownership of their content but grant IndieCrowdfund a limited license to:
- Host, display, and distribute project content
- Promote and market the project on-site or via social channels
- Archive project pages permanently after campaigns end
Users may not copy, steal, or misuse other creators' content.
11. Platform Rights
IndieCrowdfund may:
- Remove content that violates these Terms
- Suspend or terminate accounts
- Modify or update the Services
- Interrupt access for maintenance or system upgrades
- Refuse service at our discretion
12. Disclaimers
IndieCrowdfund is provided "as is" without warranties.
We do not guarantee:
- Project success
- Creator performance
- Reward delivery
- Platform uptime
- Accuracy of user-submitted information
Use the platform at your own risk.
13. Limitation of Liability
To the fullest extent permitted by law:
- IndieCrowdfund is not liable for losses related to project failures, disputes, delays, or unfulfilled rewards
- Our total aggregate liability shall not exceed the fees paid to IndieCrowdfund in the prior 12 months
Some jurisdictions do not allow certain limitations; in such cases, the limitations apply to the maximum extent allowed.
14. Dispute Resolution
You agree to resolve disputes through binding arbitration, not in court. Class actions are waived. Local consumer rights may apply based on your jurisdiction.
15. Governing Law
These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Indiana, without regard to conflicts of law.
16. Changes to These Terms
We may update these Terms at any time. We will notify users by email or website notice. Continued use after changes means you accept the updated Terms.
17. Contact Information
IndieCrowdfund — Terms of Service
Last Updated: May 17, 2026
Welcome to IndieCrowdfund.com, a crowdfunding and project-launch platform operated by IndieCrowdfund, Inc. ("IndieCrowdfund," "we," "our," or "us"). These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your access to and use of IndieCrowdfund.com, our services, applications, and related tools (collectively, the "Services").
By accessing or using the Services, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree, you may not use IndieCrowdfund.
1. What IndieCrowdfund Is
IndieCrowdfund is a platform where creators can publish projects, raise funding, offer rewards, and communicate with supporters ("Backers"). IndieCrowdfund facilitates these interactions but does not itself run or guarantee the success of any project.
We are not a store, a bank, or an investment service. We provide tools; creators are responsible for their own projects and for fulfilling commitments made to backers.
IndieCrowdfund supports the full spectrum of sequential art created by independent creators — from traditional Western comics and graphic novels to manga-style works, OEL (Original English Language) manga, manhwa, manhua, webcomics, and hybrid traditions blending Eastern and Western storytelling. We formally recognize anime-influenced and manga-style sequential art as a legitimate and established part of Western comics culture, and such campaigns are fully eligible to launch on the platform.
2. Eligibility
To use IndieCrowdfund, you must:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Have the legal capacity to form a binding contract
- Not be barred from using the Services under applicable law
Creators launching projects must also comply with our Creator Guidelines and local financial regulations.
3. User Accounts
To use certain features, you must create an account. You agree to:
- Provide accurate and up-to-date information
- Maintain the security of your account
- Be responsible for all activity conducted under your credentials
We may suspend or terminate accounts that violate these Terms.
4. Launching Projects
Creators who launch a project on IndieCrowdfund agree to:
- Provide truthful and complete information about their project
- Set accurate funding goals, deadlines, and reward tiers
- Fulfill all rewards if the project is successfully funded
- Communicate clearly and promptly with backers about progress
Creators assume full legal responsibility for their commitments.
IndieCrowdfund does not guarantee reward delivery, shipping, timelines, or the quality of any product.
5. Backing Projects
When backers support a project:
- They are funding a creative process—not purchasing a guaranteed product
- They understand that delays, changes, or cancellations are possible
- They may be entitled to refunds only at the creator's discretion unless required by law
- They agree to read the full project description and associated risks
IndieCrowdfund is not responsible for disputes between creators and backers.
6. Fees, Payments, and Campaign Types
IndieCrowdfund charges platform and processing fees for funded projects. Fees are disclosed during project setup and may vary by region.
Creators may choose between two campaign funding models:
- All or Nothing: Funds are only collected if the campaign reaches its stated funding goal by the deadline. If the goal is not reached, no money changes hands and backers are not charged.
- Keep It All: The creator keeps all pledges regardless of whether the funding goal is reached. Backers are charged immediately at the time of their pledge.
Creators authorize IndieCrowdfund and its payment partners to:
- Collect funds from backers
- Deduct platform and processing fees
- Hold a rolling reserve where applicable (see below)
- Transfer net funds to the creator
Creators are responsible for all taxes, shipping costs, duties, and regulatory compliance.
7. Creator Verification & Due Diligence
IndieCrowdfund conducts thorough due diligence on all creators before approving campaigns. Our verification process includes:
- Identity Verification: New creators must provide a valid government-issued photo ID and a legitimate business filing from their state Secretary of State office. Returning creators with verified accounts may be exempt from re-submission.
- Social Media & Online Presence Audit: We log and verify all social media accounts linked to the creator. Our team searches other crowdfunding platforms (Kickstarter, Indiegogo, GoFundMe, etc.) to review the creator's previous campaign history.
- Fulfillment History Review: We review backer comments, reviews, and public feedback on all prior campaigns across all platforms. We contact creators directly when discrepancies or concerns are identified.
- Internal Documentation: All verification findings, correspondence, and review decisions are documented internally and retained for compliance and audit purposes.
- Payment Account Verification: Creators must add a valid PayPal payout email (for standard campaigns), complete bank account setup through Divinity Payments (for NSFW/adult content campaigns), or connect a Whop account (for Whop-processed campaigns) to receive payouts.
Automatic Disqualification
Creators are automatically disqualified from launching on IndieCrowdfund if:
- They have three or more unfulfilled campaigns on any crowdfunding platform
- They have any campaign that is more than one year past its stated delivery date, regardless of fulfillment status
IndieCrowdfund reserves the right to request additional documentation, deny applications, or revoke access at any time based on verification findings.
8. Content Standards & Age Requirements
All campaigns on IndieCrowdfund are subject to our Content Guidelines, which establish content standards, eligibility criteria, and prohibited content policies for sequential-art campaigns. These guidelines apply regardless of the work's format, genre, or country of creative origin — including manga, OEL manga, manhwa, manhua, and other anime-influenced works.
8.1 Content Ratings
Every campaign must declare a content rating:
- ALL AGES — no violence, language, or themes beyond what is appropriate for young children.
- TEEN (13+) — mild action violence, moderate themes, no sexual content.
- MATURE (17+) — strong themes, graphic violence, horror. Suggestive content permitted only with verified adult characters. No explicit sexual content.
- ADULT (18+) — explicit sexual content permitted ONLY where all depicted characters are verifiably 18 or older. Subject to all character age verification requirements below and in our Content Guidelines.
8.2 Character Age — Absolute Standard
No character depicted in suggestive, romantic, or sexual content may be under the age of 18.
This applies universally — regardless of whether a character's age is explicitly stated, implied, or left ambiguous. When in doubt, the character must be treated as a minor and the content is not permitted.
8.3 Visual Standards — Skeletal Maturity
Written age labels alone are not sufficient. A character described as "18" but drawn with the skeletal proportions, facial structure, or body development of a child will be treated as a minor for the purposes of these Terms. Adult characters in suggestive or sexual content must demonstrate visual markers of skeletal and physiological maturity, including:
- Facial bone structure consistent with a fully developed adult.
- Body proportions consistent with adult skeletal development — appropriate limb-to-torso ratios and the absence of prepubescent body markers.
- Character height and build that does not suggest childhood or early adolescence.
- Absence of infantilizing visual cues — including oversized heads disproportionate to adult anatomy, underdeveloped or absent secondary sexual characteristics paired with childlike facial features, or costumes and staging that evoke childhood.
Heavily chibi, super-deformed, or simplified art styles that obscure these markers are not exempt. Full visual standards are detailed in our Content Guidelines § 4.
8.4 Ambiguous Age Policy
Where a character's age cannot be clearly established as 18 or older through both written documentation AND visual evidence of adult skeletal maturity, the character will be treated as a minor and the content will not be approved.
8.5 Pre-Launch Review
All campaigns undergo content review before going live. Standard review takes 3–5 business days. Campaigns flagged for potential policy concerns may be held for extended review. For MATURE or ADULT-rated campaigns featuring suggestive content, creators may be asked to provide written in-universe documentation establishing character age, visual evidence that the character's depiction meets the skeletal maturity standards above, or revisions if the initial submission does not meet visual standards.
Creators whose campaigns are rejected may submit a written appeal with supporting documentation within 14 days. Appeals are reviewed by a separate staff member from the original reviewer; appeal decisions are final.
9. Prohibited Activities
Users may not:
- Break any laws while using the platform
- Launch fraudulent or misleading projects
- Abuse, harass, or impersonate others
- Use the platform to launder money or engage in financial misconduct
- Upload malware, attempt hacks, or disrupt platform operations
- Use IndieCrowdfund to fund prohibited items (weapons, hate material, adult services, etc.)
In addition, the following content is strictly prohibited:
Zero-Tolerance: Sexualized Depictions of Minors
IndieCrowdfund maintains an absolute zero-tolerance policy toward any sexually suggestive or explicit depiction of a character who is, appears to be, or is contextually implied to be under 18 — regardless of stated fictional age, art style, or country of creative origin. This includes content commonly referred to as lolicon (sexualized depictions of minor-presenting female characters) and shotacon (sexualized depictions of minor-presenting male characters).
Pretextual adult-age claims (e.g., a character with unambiguous child anatomy labeled as "actually 500 years old"), swimsuit / lingerie / nude content featuring characters with minor-presenting anatomy, romantic or sexual framing between an adult character and a minor-presenting character, and use of artistic style to obscure intended age in sexual or suggestive contexts are all prohibited. Violations may be reported to appropriate authorities where legally required and will result in permanent account suspension.
- Hate speech — comics whose primary purpose is to dehumanize, degrade, or incite violence against individuals or groups based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or national origin. Villains, dark themes, and historical depictions of racism and atrocity are not automatically prohibited; context and intent matter. Comics that explore these themes critically are eligible. Comics that celebrate or promote them are not.
- Real-person violations — sexual or sexually suggestive depictions of real, identifiable living individuals without documented consent, and defamatory content presented as factual that targets real individuals.
- Intellectual property violations — campaigns that reproduce substantial portions of copyrighted work without authorization, or that present unlicensed derivative works as official or authorized products. Parody, criticism, and commentary are recognized as protected uses; fan comics operating clearly within parody and non-commercial traditions will be evaluated individually.
- Other prohibited material — disinformation campaigns disguised as comics or sequential art; content designed to facilitate real-world violence, illegal activity, or exploitation; and campaigns that misrepresent the nature of the product, creator credentials, or use of funds.
Violations may result in account termination and, where required by law, referral to appropriate authorities.
10. Intellectual Property
Creators retain ownership of their content but grant IndieCrowdfund a limited license to:
- Host, display, and distribute project content
- Promote and market the project on-site or via social channels
- Archive project pages permanently after campaigns end
Users may not copy, steal, or misuse other creators' content.
11. Platform Rights
IndieCrowdfund may:
- Remove content that violates these Terms
- Suspend or terminate accounts
- Modify or update the Services
- Interrupt access for maintenance or system upgrades
- Refuse service at our discretion
12. Disclaimers
IndieCrowdfund is provided "as is" without warranties.
We do not guarantee:
- Project success
- Creator performance
- Reward delivery
- Platform uptime
- Accuracy of user-submitted information
Use the platform at your own risk.
13. Limitation of Liability
To the fullest extent permitted by law:
- IndieCrowdfund is not liable for losses related to project failures, disputes, delays, or unfulfilled rewards
- Our total aggregate liability shall not exceed the fees paid to IndieCrowdfund in the prior 12 months
Some jurisdictions do not allow certain limitations; in such cases, the limitations apply to the maximum extent allowed.
14. Dispute Resolution
You agree to resolve disputes through binding arbitration, not in court. Class actions are waived. Local consumer rights may apply based on your jurisdiction.
15. Governing Law
These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Indiana, without regard to conflicts of law.
16. Changes to These Terms
We may update these Terms at any time. We will notify users by email or website notice. Continued use after changes means you accept the updated Terms.