Vendor Verification & Trust Policy

1. Purpose

Ubuntu Market is committed to providing a safe, transparent, and trustworthy online marketplace for buyers and sellers. This Vendor Verification & Trust Policy establishes the requirements for becoming and remaining a verified vendor on the Ubuntu Market platform. This policy helps protect customers, vendors, and Ubuntu Market by ensuring that vendors are properly identified, legally compliant, and committed to selling authentic and lawful products and services.

2. Scope

This policy applies to:

• Individual traders
• Sole proprietors
• Registered businesses
• Companies
• Service providers
• Community organisations selling products or services through Ubuntu Market

Every vendor must complete the verification process before offering products or services for sale.

3. Legal Basis

Ubuntu Market operates in accordance with applicable German and European Union laws, including:

• Regulation (EU) 2022/2065 (Digital Services Act)
• General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
• German Civil Code (BGB)
• German Commercial Code (HGB)
• German Digital Services Act implementation requirements

The Digital Services Act requires online marketplaces serving EU consumers to collect and make reasonable efforts to verify certain information about traders before allowing them to sell on the platform.

4. Verification Principles

Ubuntu Market follows five verification principles:

• Identity
• Transparency
• Authenticity
• Accountability
• Consumer Protection

5. Required Vendor Information

Every vendor must provide accurate and complete information, including:

6. Identity Verification

Ubuntu Market may request one or more of the following:

• Passport
• National Identity Card
• Residence Permit
• German Residence Permit (Aufenthaltstitel)
• Driving Licence (where permitted)

Documents must be valid, not expired, and clearly identify the vendor.

7. Business Verification

Business vendors may also be required to provide:

• Trade Registration (Gewerbeanmeldung)
• Commercial Register Extract (Handelsregisterauszug), where applicable
• VAT registration
• Business licence, if required
• Professional licences for regulated activities

Ubuntu Market may verify this information against official public registers where available.

8. Product Verification

Ubuntu Market reserves the right to request documentation proving that products:

• are legally sold
• comply with EU product safety requirements
• are authentic
• are correctly labelled
• comply with import regulations

Additional documentation may be required for: Food, Cosmetics, Health products, Children's products, and Electrical goods.

9. Verification Badge

Verified vendors may receive a Verified Vendor badge. The badge indicates that Ubuntu Market has completed its verification process based on the information and documents provided by the vendor. The badge does not guarantee product quality or future performance.

10. Vendor Responsibilities

Verified vendors agree to:

• Provide truthful information.
• Keep account information current.
• Sell only lawful products and services.
• Respect consumer rights.
• Comply with German and EU laws.
• Deliver products as advertised.
• Respond promptly to customer enquiries.
• Cooperate with Ubuntu Market during investigations.

11. Ongoing Monitoring

Ubuntu Market may conduct periodic reviews, including:

• Document updates
• Identity re-verification
• Business registration checks
• Product compliance reviews
• Customer complaint reviews
• Fraud monitoring

Failure to cooperate may result in account restrictions.

12. Fraud Prevention

Ubuntu Market uses risk-based measures to detect:

• Identity fraud
• Fake businesses
• Counterfeit goods
• Multiple fraudulent accounts
• Stolen payment methods
• Misleading product listings

Accounts suspected of fraud may be suspended while investigations are conducted.

13. Suspension or Removal

Ubuntu Market may suspend or terminate a vendor account if the vendor:

• provides false information
• fails verification
• sells prohibited or illegal products
• repeatedly breaches marketplace policies
• infringes intellectual property rights
• engages in fraud or deceptive practices

Where appropriate, vendors will be informed of the reasons for enforcement actions and given an opportunity to respond, consistent with applicable law and Ubuntu Market's procedures.

14. Data Protection

Verification information is processed in accordance with Ubuntu Market's Privacy Policy and applicable data protection laws.

Verification documents are securely stored, accessible only to authorised personnel, retained only for as long as necessary, and protected against unauthorised access.

15. Reporting Concerns

Customers may report:

• fake vendors
• counterfeit products
• misleading listings
• suspicious activity
• identity misuse

Reports may be submitted through the Ubuntu Market Trust & Safety Centre.

16. Policy Updates

Ubuntu Market may amend this policy to reflect:

• changes in legislation
• regulatory guidance
• marketplace developments
• security improvements

The latest version will always be available on the Ubuntu Market website.