Terms of Service

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using Standby ("the Platform"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service. If you do not agree to these terms, you may not use the Platform. These terms apply to all users including talent (broadcast professionals) and organizations (event organizers and broadcast groups).

2. Description of Service

Standby is a marketplace that connects freelance esports broadcast talent, including casters, observers, producers, audio technicians, graphics operators, camera operators, replay operators, and stage managers, with organizations that hire broadcast production. The Platform facilitates discovery, booking, escrow-protected payments, and communication between parties. Standby is not a party to the engagement between talent and an organization; we do not employ talent and we do not provide broadcast services ourselves.

3. Accounts

You must create an account to use core features. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials and for all activity under your account. You must provide accurate and complete information during registration and keep your profile up to date. One person or legal entity may maintain only one account per role type.

4. Fees

Standby charges a flat platform fee of 8% on each booking. There are no subscriptions and no listing fees. The fee is calculated on the booking amount and is taken at the time funds are released from escrow: the talent is paid out their share via Stripe Connect and Standby retains the 8%. If a booking is refunded in full before the event under our Refund & Cancellation Policy, the platform fee is refunded with it; partial refunds are handled as described in that policy. Withdrawal fees or currency conversion fees charged by Stripe or your bank may apply depending on your payout method and region.

5. Payments, Escrow & Fund Handling

All payments are processed through Stripe. When an organization books talent, the organization funds the booking up front and Standby holds that payment in escrow: the money is held rather than paid straight through. Funds are released to the talent after the event finishes, or according to the payout window specified for the booking. By using the Platform, you authorize Standby to hold booking funds and to disburse or refund them in accordance with the booking, these terms, the Refund & Cancellation Policy, and the Dispute Policy.

Standby is not a bank. Holding funds in escrow is a payment-handling service for your booking, not a deposit or banking relationship. We do not pay interest on held funds and you are not entitled to any interest or earnings on money held in escrow. Standby is not a licensed financial advisor and nothing on the Platform is financial, investment, tax, or legal advice.

6. Disputes

If either party believes the other did not hold up their end of a booking, they may open a dispute. Opening a dispute freezes the escrowed funds until Standby resolves it. Both parties submit evidence, Standby reviews it against the booking terms, and Standby makes the final call on how the funds are allocated. The full process, time limits, and evidence rules are set out in the Dispute Policy, which is incorporated into these terms.

7. Refunds & Cancellations

Refunds and cancellations, including the timing tiers when an organization cancels, and how talent no-shows and replacements are handled, are governed by the Refund & Cancellation Policy, which is incorporated into these terms.

8. Chargebacks

Standby's escrow, refund, and dispute processes exist to resolve payment disagreements fairly. You agree not to initiate a card chargeback for a dispute that should go through the Dispute Policy or Refund & Cancellation Policy. Filing a chargeback instead of using these processes pulls funds out of escrow and undermines a fair outcome for the other side.

Chargebacks that you knew or should have known were not valid, for example disputing a charge for work that was delivered, or filing a chargeback in bad faith, are treated as fraud. Fraudulent chargebacks are grounds for immediate removal from the Platform, and Standby may contest the chargeback with the card network and pursue recovery of the disputed amount and any resulting fees or costs.

9. Trust & Safety and User Conduct

You agree not to:

• Misrepresent your skills, experience, or availability
• Use the Platform for any unlawful purpose
• Harass, abuse, or discriminate against other users
• Circumvent the Platform's payment system to avoid fees
• Create multiple accounts to manipulate ratings or reviews
• Submit fabricated, doctored, or misleading evidence in a dispute
• Share account credentials with third parties

The conduct we expect, how to report a bad actor, and our enforcement ladder are described in the Trust & Safety Policy, which is incorporated into these terms. Standby may warn, suspend, or permanently remove accounts that violate these terms, with immediate removal for fraud, scams, or fake evidence.

10. Intellectual Property

You retain ownership of content you upload to the Platform (profile information, images, etc.). By using the Platform, you grant Standby a non-exclusive, worldwide license to display and distribute your profile content solely for the purpose of operating the Platform. Broadcast content produced during engagements belongs to the engaging organization unless otherwise agreed in writing between the parties.

11. Disclaimers & "As Is" Service

The Platform is provided "as is" and "as available" without warranties of any kind, whether express or implied, including any implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or non-infringement. Standby is a marketplace facilitator and does not employ any talent or organization. We do not guarantee the quality, safety, reliability, or legality of any engagement arranged through the Platform, or that any booking will be fulfilled. You engage with other users at your own risk.

12. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, Standby is not liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, or for lost profits, lost bookings, or lost data, arising from use of the Platform or any engagement arranged through it. This includes any harm arising from the acts or omissions of another user, such as a no-show, poor performance, non-payment, or a payment dispute. Our total aggregate liability for any claim shall not exceed the platform fees you paid to Standby in the 12 months preceding the claim.

13. Indemnity

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Standby and its officers, employees, and agents from any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, and reasonable legal costs arising out of your use of the Platform, your engagements with other users, your content, or your breach of these terms or the policies incorporated into them.

14. Termination

Standby reserves the right to suspend or terminate accounts that violate these terms. Either party may close their account at any time. Upon termination, any pending escrow transactions will be completed according to the Refund & Cancellation Policy and the dispute resolution process. Sections that by their nature should survive, including Payments & Escrow, Chargebacks, Intellectual Property, Disclaimers, Limitation of Liability, and Indemnity, survive termination.

15. Changes to Terms

We may modify these terms at any time. Material changes will be notified via email or through the Platform. Continued use after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the revised terms.

16. Contact

For questions about these terms, contact us through the contact page.