# Terms & Conditions
_Trade Standard Corporation (TSC) — Commercial Certainty Infrastructure_
**Effective date:** [INSERT ON PUBLICATION] · **Last updated:** [INSERT]
> **[LEGAL REVIEW REQUIRED]** — This is a publication-ready first draft describing how the TSC platform actually operates. It must be reviewed by a qualified solicitor and, for regulated payment activity, by a financial-services adviser before public reliance.
## 1. About these Terms
These Terms govern access to and use of the Trade Standard Corporation platform (the "Platform") operated by Trade Standard Corporation ("TSC", "we", "us"). By registering a company, creating an account, or acting as an Authorised Representative, you agree to these Terms on behalf of the company you represent.
## 2. What TSC is (and is not)
TSC is **Commercial Certainty Infrastructure**: it qualifies businesses, structures transactions, records commission transparently and coordinates settlement so that legitimate transactions complete with confidence. TSC is the **Broker of Record** for qualifying transactions conducted through the Platform. TSC is **not** a bank, is **not** a licensed escrow agent, and does **not** provide investment, legal or tax advice. **[LEGAL REVIEW REQUIRED — regulated-activity perimeter.]**
## 3. Eligibility & registration
Accounts are for businesses acting in the course of trade. You must provide accurate company information and keep it current. TSC operates a continuous **Qualification** process (legal, identity, authority, operational, financial and transaction qualification); your access to features may depend on your qualification and Commercial Certainty status.
## 4. Authorised Representatives
A company may invite individuals to act as **Authorised Representatives**. Only representatives whose authority has been verified by the company (and recorded on the Platform) may act with authority in Deal Rooms or be named as commission recipients. The company remains responsible for the acts of its representatives. Authority may be revoked at any time; a full audit history is retained.
## 5. Commercial Deal Rooms
Deal Rooms are structured workspaces for negotiating and executing transactions, including milestones, documents and messaging. Each Deal Room identifies the acting Authorised Representative for each party. TSC provides infrastructure and coordination; the underlying commercial contract is between the transacting parties.
## 6. Commission & the Commission Ledger
Every qualifying transaction carries a **Commission Ledger** recording the total commission available, every recipient, each percentage and amount, and the full amendment history. Commission is **allocated, not invented** — it reflects amounts that already exist in the commercial terms. TSC applies a configurable minimum allocation as Broker of Record. Once accepted by all parties the Ledger becomes **immutable**; amendments create new, auditable versions. See the Commission & Settlement Policy.
## 7. Settlement (Secure Settlement)
Settlement operates through a single buyer payment into the designated TSC settlement account, held securely until all contractual release conditions are satisfied, then distributed to all recipients per the Commission Ledger. During the current launch phase, receipt and release of funds are **administrator-verified operational controls**; the workflow is identical to future automated provider settlement. TSC is not a licensed escrow provider and holds funds solely as an operational settlement control. **[LEGAL REVIEW REQUIRED — client-money / safeguarding treatment.]**
## 8. Fees
Subscription fees provide access; brokerage commission is TSC's primary consideration and is settled through the Commission Ledger. Founder Programme and Founder Privilege benefits are described in the Founder Programme Terms.
## 9. Acceptable use
You agree to the Acceptable Use Policy. Fraud, misrepresentation, hidden commission, unauthorised representation and circumvention of the Platform are prohibited and may result in suspension and loss of Commercial Certainty standing.
## 10. Intellectual property
The Platform, Commercial Certainty methodology, scores and content are owned by TSC. You retain ownership of your own company data and uploaded evidence, granting TSC a licence to process it to provide the service.
## 11. Liability
To the maximum extent permitted by law, TSC is not liable for the commercial performance of counterparties, for losses arising from transactions between users, or for indirect or consequential loss. Nothing excludes liability that cannot be excluded by law. **[LEGAL REVIEW REQUIRED — liability caps.]**
## 12. Suspension & termination
We may suspend or terminate access for breach, fraud risk, or legal requirement. Immutable ledger and audit records are retained as required.
## 13. Governing law
These Terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales, subject to legal confirmation of the operating entity's jurisdiction. **[LEGAL REVIEW REQUIRED.]**
## 14. Contact
hello@trade-standard.org
# Privacy Policy (UK GDPR)
_Trade Standard Corporation (TSC)_
**Effective date:** [INSERT] · **Last updated:** [INSERT]
> **[LEGAL REVIEW REQUIRED]** — First draft aligned to UK GDPR / Data Protection Act 2018. Confirm controller identity, ICO registration and lawful-basis mapping before publication.
## 1. Controller
Trade Standard Corporation is the data controller for personal data processed on the Platform. Contact: hello@trade-standard.org. **[LEGAL REVIEW REQUIRED — registered entity & ICO registration number.]**
## 2. What we collect
- **Account data:** name, business email, role, country.
- **Company data:** company profile, industries, registration and contact details.
- **Authorised Representative data:** names, business emails, titles, permissions and authority status.
- **Evidence documents:** KYC, proof of funds, company/tax registration, banking letters, inspection, insurance and compliance documents you upload.
- **Transaction data:** Deal Rooms, messages, milestones, Commission Ledgers and Settlement records.
- **Technical data:** authentication tokens, log and usage data.
## 3. Why we process it (lawful bases)
- **Contract:** to operate your account, Deal Rooms, Commission Ledger and settlement.
- **Legitimate interests:** qualification, Commercial Certainty scoring, fraud prevention and platform security.
- **Legal obligation:** anti-fraud, KYC/AML-style checks and record-keeping. **[LEGAL REVIEW REQUIRED — AML applicability.]**
- **Consent:** optional communications; withdrawable at any time.
## 4. Commercial Certainty & automated processing
We calculate a **deterministic** Commercial Certainty score from verifiable signals (verification, authority, evidence, capability, track record). Scoring is rule-based and explainable; AI is used only to explain, recommend and predict — never to invent scores. You can see exactly which factors affect your score and how to improve it. You may contact us about any scoring decision.
## 5. Sharing
We share data with counterparties in a transaction only as necessary to execute it (e.g. the acting representative, agreed commission recipients). We use processors for hosting/database (Supabase), email delivery (SMTP provider) and, in future, regulated payment providers. We do not sell personal data.
## 6. International transfers
Data may be processed outside the UK by our processors under appropriate safeguards (e.g. IDTA/SCCs). **[LEGAL REVIEW REQUIRED — transfer mechanism.]**
## 7. Retention
Account and company data are retained while your account is active. Immutable Commission Ledger, settlement and audit records are retained for legal and evidential purposes for [INSERT PERIOD]. **[LEGAL REVIEW REQUIRED.]**
## 8. Your rights
Under UK GDPR you have rights of access, rectification, erasure, restriction, portability and objection, and the right to complain to the ICO (ico.org.uk). Some records (e.g. immutable ledgers) may be retained where we have a legal basis to do so.
## 9. Security
Data is encrypted in transit (HTTPS/TLS). Evidence documents are stored in a private store with access controls. Access is role-restricted and audited.
## 10. Contact
hello@trade-standard.org
# Commission & Settlement Policy
_Trade Standard Corporation (TSC)_
> **[LEGAL REVIEW REQUIRED]** — Describes the Commission Ledger and Settlement Engine as implemented. Confirm client-money and Broker-of-Record treatment.
## 1. Broker of Record
Every qualifying transaction executed through TSC operates under TSC's brokerage infrastructure. TSC is the **Broker of Record**: it provides the qualification, negotiation, documentation, governance and settlement infrastructure that enables the transaction. Commission belongs to TSC because the transaction is conducted through TSC.
## 2. Commission is allocated, never invented
TSC identifies commission that **already exists** in the commercial terms (e.g. a per-unit fee or a percentage of contract value) and proposes a transparent allocation. TSC never fabricates commission amounts.
## 3. The Commission Ledger
Each Deal Room contains a Commission Ledger recording: total commission available; every recipient and recipient type (TSC, authorised representative, party company, other); each percentage and amount; the basis of calculation; every amendment, approval and timestamp.
**Integrity rule:** the sum of all allocations must always equal the total commission available. No hidden commission, no secret recipients, no unidentified intermediaries. Only verified Authorised Representatives may be named as recipients.
**Minimum allocation:** TSC receives a configurable minimum share as Broker of Record and may receive 100% where no authorised representatives contribute.
**Immutability:** once accepted by all parties the Ledger is locked. Any change creates a new version; prior versions are preserved in the audit history.
## 4. The Settlement Engine (Secure Settlement)
Buyers never pay multiple parties. Instead:
1. The buyer transfers the agreed settlement amount **once** to the designated TSC settlement account.
2. Receipt is verified and the funds are marked **Funds Secured**; the Settlement Engine locks the funds against the transaction and records the audit trail.
3. Contract milestones, inspections and approvals proceed exactly as under automated escrow.
4. When all release conditions are satisfied, settlement is approved and the Engine calculates the distribution from the immutable Commission Ledger — supplier payment, broker commissions, introducer commissions, the TSC fee and any other approved recipients.
5. Release is confirmed, a payment reference recorded, and every recipient marked **Paid**.
All actions are timestamped, immutable and fully auditable.
## 5. Launch configuration (Admin-Verified Settlement)
Until TSC is connected to a regulated payment provider, an authorised administrator confirms receipt and release of funds as an internal operational control. The workflow, UI and business logic are identical to future automated settlement. TSC is not a licensed escrow provider. **[LEGAL REVIEW REQUIRED — safeguarding of funds.]**
## 6. Future provider integration
Settlement is provider-independent. When a regulated provider (e.g. Airwallex or equivalent) is connected, the two administrator actions — verify incoming funds and release payments — are replaced by API calls that pay all recipients simultaneously and update the Ledger and audit history automatically. No redesign, workflow change or migration is required.
## 7. Disputes
Where a dispute arises before release, funds remain secured and are not distributed until the dispute is resolved in accordance with the parties' contract. **[LEGAL REVIEW REQUIRED.]**
# Commercial Certainty Methodology
_Trade Standard Corporation (TSC)_
## 1. Purpose
Commercial Certainty is the platform's governing measure: the probability that a legitimate transaction will complete successfully. It is **deterministic and explainable** — every point is tied to a verifiable signal, and every recommended action shows the exact improvement it delivers.
## 2. Hierarchy
Commercial Certainty is not a single number. It is a weighted roll-up of **pillars**, each removing a specific uncertainty:
| Pillar | Weight | Uncertainty removed |
|---|---|---|
| Legitimacy | 22% | Whether this is a genuine, verified business |
| Authority | 8% | Who is authorised to act for the company |
| Financial | 18% | Whether funds and the ability to pay are real |
| Documentation | 15% | Whether documentation is complete and consistent |
| Capability & Execution | 17% | Whether the business can deliver and complete |
| Track Record | 15% | History of successful completion |
| Engagement & Readiness | 5% | Responsiveness and commercial commitment |
Each pillar is composed of sub-factors. The overall score = round(Σ pillar weight × pillar score).
## 3. How the score changes
Every verified action — company verification, evidence upload (KYC, proof of funds, registration, inspection, insurance, compliance), verifying an Authorised Representative, listing capability, completing transactions — increases the relevant pillar and therefore the overall score. The Platform shows **Current score → Projected score → benefit** before and after each action, and explains which uncertainty was removed and how many points were gained.
## 4. Deal-level certainty
Each Deal Room carries its own certainty across four pillars — Counterparty, Payment (Commission Ledger status), Documentation and Execution (milestones) — plus a completion-probability assessment.
## 5. Role of AI
AI never invents or overrides scores. AI only **explains** the score, **recommends** improvements, **predicts** completion probability and **coaches** users toward higher certainty. All scoring inputs are auditable.
## 6. Fairness
TSC does not judge participants; it measures alignment with Commercial Certainty and always offers a path to improve. Trust and Capacity are maintained as independent measures feeding the overall score.
> **[LEGAL REVIEW REQUIRED]** — Confirm automated-decision transparency wording under UK GDPR Article 22 where scores materially affect access.
# Acceptable Use Policy
_Trade Standard Corporation (TSC)_
## 1. Purpose
TSC exists to make fraud, fake brokerage and hidden commission commercially difficult. This policy sets the standards every participant must meet.
## 2. You must
- Provide accurate company, identity and financial information and keep it current.
- Only act, or allow others to act, with properly verified authority (see Authorised Representatives).
- Ensure all commission is disclosed and recorded on the Commission Ledger.
- Upload genuine, unaltered evidence documents.
- Use Deal Rooms and Settlement in good faith to complete legitimate transactions.
## 3. You must not
- Misrepresent identity, authority, funds, products or documentation.
- Create or conceal off-Platform commission, secret recipients or unidentified intermediaries.
- Circumvent TSC to avoid commission after being introduced through the Platform.
- Upload forged, stolen or misleading evidence, or manipulate Commercial Certainty signals.
- Use the Platform for money laundering, sanctions evasion or any unlawful trade. **[LEGAL REVIEW REQUIRED — sanctions/AML.]**
- Attempt to access other companies' data, admin functions or authentication endpoints.
## 4. Enforcement
Breaches may result in reduced Commercial Certainty standing, loss of verification, suspension of settlement, account suspension or termination, and referral to authorities where required. Immutable ledger and audit records are retained.
## 5. Reporting
Report suspected abuse to hello@trade-standard.org.
# Founder Programme Terms
_Trade Standard Corporation (TSC)_
## 1. Overview
The Founder Programme recognises the earliest verified businesses on TSC. It comprises two distinct benefits: the **Founding Business** award and the **Founder Privilege Code**.
## 2. Founding Business award
The first **120 verified businesses** (the configurable programme threshold) are automatically awarded, upon successful company verification:
- a sequential **Founding Business number** (e.g. #47);
- a permanent **Founding Business badge**; and
- **two months free** subscription (configurable).
Awards are made automatically in verification order while places remain. The number of remaining places is shown on the Platform. Once the threshold is reached, no further Founding Business awards are made.
## 3. Founder Privilege Code
A confidential Founder Privilege Code may be issued by TSC. A business that enters a valid code (at registration or via its company profile) receives:
- a **lifetime free subscription**;
- **zero transaction fees**; and
- a **Founder badge**.
Codes are confidential, non-transferable and may be rotated or disabled by TSC at any time. Misuse or unauthorised sharing may void the benefit.
## 4. Eligibility & integrity
Benefits require and are conditional on genuine verification. TSC may withdraw Founder benefits where verification was obtained by misrepresentation or where the Acceptable Use Policy is breached.
## 5. Zero transaction fees — scope
"Zero transaction fees" waives TSC's platform transaction fee. It does **not** waive commission recorded on the Commission Ledger owed to third-party recipients, nor third-party payment/settlement costs. **[LEGAL REVIEW REQUIRED.]**
## 6. Changes
TSC may amend the programme prospectively. Benefits already granted to a Founding Business or via a redeemed Privilege Code will be honoured in accordance with these Terms.
## 7. Contact
hello@trade-standard.org