Shapework.io – Terms and Conditions
Effective Date: 01/06/2025
Welcome to Shapework.io, a freelance services marketplace that connects digital talent from Ghana with clients primarily in the United Kingdom and the United States. These Terms and Conditions (“Terms”) govern your use of our website and services. Please read them carefully before using the Platform.
1. Definitions
- "Shapework.io" operating under Shapeways.io/ "We" / "Us" / "Our" refers to the digital freelance platform operated by Shapeways.io, a company registered in the United Kingdom, and Shapeways.io, a company registered in Ghana.
- "User" refers to any individual using the Platform, including both Freelancers and Buyers.
- "Freelancer" refers to registered users offering digital services via the Platform, primarily based in Ghana.
- "Buyer" refers to users purchasing services on the Platform, primarily based in the UK and US.
- "Service" means any freelance work offered, delivered, or completed through Shapework.io.
- "Stripe" is the third-party payment processor used by Shapework.io to receive payments from Buyers.
- "Wallet" refers to a virtual balance held in a Freelancer’s account, pending payout.
2. Eligibility
To use Shapework.io, you must:
- Be at least 18 years of age.
- Have the legal capacity to enter into a binding contract.
- Comply with all applicable laws and regulations in your jurisdiction.
3. User Accounts
- Users must create an account to access services.
- You are responsible for safeguarding your login credentials.
- You agree to provide accurate, up-to-date information.
- We reserve the right to suspend or terminate accounts at our discretion.
4. Services and Engagement
- Freelancers may list services ("Gigs") for sale on the Platform.
- Buyers may purchase services directly through the Platform.
- Shapework.io acts as an intermediary and is not a party to any service contract between Freelancers and Buyers.
5. Payments and Commission
- All payments from Buyers are collected through Stripe.
- Shapework.io deducts a 25% service fee from all transactions to cover platform, operational, and administrative costs.
- The remaining 75% is allocated to the Freelancer’s Wallet.
6. Freelancer Payouts
- Freelancers must accumulate a minimum of $100 USD in their Wallet before they can request a payout.
- Payouts are not automatic. Freelancers must manually request a payout through their account.
- Upon request, we withdraw funds from Stripe into our UK business account and then transfer to our Ghana account for disbursement to Freelancers.
- This manual process can take 7 to 14 business days from the date of request.
- Shapework.io is not responsible for delays caused by Stripe, banking institutions, or incorrect payout information provided by the Freelancer.
- Freelancers are solely responsible for reporting and paying any applicable taxes in their local jurisdiction.
7. Refunds and Disputes
- Buyers may request refunds in cases of:
- Non-delivery of work.
- Work delivered that does not meet agreed specifications.
- Disputes must be raised within 7 days after order delivery.
- Shapework.io may mediate disputes, and our decision will be final and binding.
- Refunds, if issued, will be returned via the original payment method used by the Buyer.
8. Prohibited Use
Users agree not to:
- Violate any laws or third-party rights
- Circumvent Shapework.io’s payment or commission system
- Submit unlawful, harmful, or plagiarized content.
- Accept payment from buyers outside of shapeworks.io platform
9. Intellectual Property
- Freelancers retain ownership of the original work they create, unless otherwise agreed in writing.
- Buyers are granted a non-exclusive license to use the work for its intended purpose upon full payment.
- Shapework.io retains all rights to the content and structure of the Platform.
10. Limitation of Liability
Shapework.io provides the Platform “as-is” and makes no warranties regarding service quality or availability. We are not liable for:
- Service failures between Buyers and Freelancers
- Payment processing issues caused by Stripe
- Delayed payouts due to bank or currency transfer issues
- Loss or corruption of data.
11. Account Termination
We reserve the right to suspend or permanently delete any account that:
- Violates these Terms
- Attempts to defraud Users or Shapework.io
- Acts in a manner deemed abusive, discriminatory, or unlawful.
12. Modifications
We may revise these Terms at any time. Continued use of the Platform after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.
13. Governing Law
These Terms are governed by the laws of both:
- The United Kingdom (where Shapework.io is legally incorporated under Shapeways.io),
- The Republic of Ghana (where our freelancer base and secondary registration are located).
Disputes shall be resolved in the courts of either jurisdiction, at Shapework.io’s discretion.
14. Contact Information
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us:
Shapework.io / Shapeways.io
Shapeways.io – Registered in England and Wales
Shapeways.io – Registered in the Republic of Ghana
Email: info@shapeways.io
Ghana Office: Babona Engen Filling Station, Weija Junction