The Great Chestnut Experiment Affiliate Program Agreement
The Great Chestnut Experiment Affiliate Program Agreement
Last Updated: [Insert Date]
Welcome to The Great Chestnut Experiment Affiliate Program (the "Program"). This Agreement outlines the terms and conditions for participation in our Program. By signing up as an affiliate, you agree to comply with the terms set forth in this Agreement, as well as the ShareASale Terms of Use.
1. Enrollment in the Program
To begin the enrollment process, you must submit a complete and accurate application via the ShareASale network. We reserve the right to accept or reject any application at our sole discretion. Reasons for rejection may include, but are not limited to, sites that:
- Promote sexually explicit materials
- Promote violence or hate towards any persons or groups
- Promote illegal activities
- Violate intellectual property rights
2. Affiliate Responsibilities
- Promotion Methods: You agree to use ethical and legal promotional methods to market our products.
- Accurate Representation: All information about our products must be accurate and not misleading.
- Compliance with Laws: You must comply with all applicable laws, regulations, and guidelines, including the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) guidelines on endorsements and testimonials, CAN-SPAM Act, and relevant data protection laws such as GDPR and CCPA.
3. Commission and Payment
3.1 Standard Commission Rate
Affiliates will earn a standard commission of 12% on the total net sale amount for each completed and non-refunded order generated through their affiliate links.
3.2 Performance-Based Commission Increase
- Eligibility Criteria:
- Affiliates who achieve 20 or more completed and non-refunded sales within a calendar quarter (three-month period) qualify for an increased commission rate.
- Increased Commission Rate:
- Eligible affiliates will receive a commission rate of 15% on future sales made after qualifying.
- Effective Date:
- The increased commission rate will be applied automatically within seven (7) business days after the affiliate meets the eligibility criteria.
- Duration:
- The increased commission rate is permanent and does not require maintaining a specific sales volume in subsequent periods.
3.3 Sales Counting Towards Threshold
- Included Sales: All completed and non-refunded orders generated through your affiliate links.
- Excluded Sales:
- Sales made using unauthorized or expired promotional codes not provided or approved by us.
- Canceled, refunded, or fraudulent orders.
3.4 Notification
Affiliates will be notified of their commission rate change via email within seven (7) business days of qualifying.
3.5 Payment Schedule
Commissions will be paid out according to ShareASale's payment schedule and policies.
3.6 Reversals
We reserve the right to reverse commissions due to order cancellations, refunds, or violations of this Agreement.
4. Affiliate Links and Promotional Materials
- Approved Materials: Affiliates may only use promotional materials (banners, text links, images) provided or approved by us.
- Link Maintenance: It is your responsibility to ensure that your affiliate links are properly formatted and direct users to the correct landing pages.
5. Prohibited Activities
5.1 Trademark Usage
- Prohibited Use: Affiliates may not use our trademarks, including "The Great Chestnut Experiment," "Chestnog," and "CHESTNOG," in any domain names, social media account names, or URLs.
- Permitted Use: Affiliates may use our trademarks in promotional content and ad copy only with prior written approval.
5.2 Pay Per Click (PPC) Advertising
- Brand Bidding Prohibition: Affiliates are prohibited from bidding on our brand name, trademarks, or any variations or misspellings thereof on any PPC advertising platforms (e.g., Google Ads, Bing Ads).
- TM+ Bidding: Affiliates may not bid on our brand name combined with other keywords (e.g., "The Great Chestnut Experiment Coupons").
- Negative Keywords Requirement: Affiliates must add our brand keywords as negative keywords in their PPC campaigns.
- Ad Copy Restrictions: Use of our trademarks in ad copy is prohibited without prior written approval.
5.3 Unauthorized Use of Promotional Codes
- No Unauthorized Coupons: Affiliates may not promote unauthorized or expired coupons or deals.
- Coupon and Deal Sites: Affiliates operating coupon or deal sites are not permitted to join the Program.
- Prohibited Promotion Methods: "Click to reveal" strategies and similar tactics are prohibited.
5.4 Social Media Guidelines
- Platform Compliance: Affiliates must adhere to the terms and conditions of each social media platform they use for promotion.
- Account Naming: Affiliates may not create social media accounts using our brand name or trademarks.
- Content Guidelines: Content must be appropriate, professional, and align with our brand values. Misleading or inappropriate content is prohibited.
5.5 Email Marketing
- Permission-Based Marketing: All email communications must be sent to recipients who have explicitly opted in to receive emails.
- Compliance: Affiliates must comply with the CAN-SPAM Act and all other applicable laws.
- Required Inclusions: Emails must include a valid physical address and an option to unsubscribe or opt out of future communications.
5.6 Software and Cookie Stuffing
- Prohibited Software: Affiliates may not use any software, toolbars, browser extensions, or other devices that overwrite affiliate tracking cookies or deceive users.
- No Cookie Stuffing: Affiliates are prohibited from using cookie stuffing techniques that set tracking cookies without the user's informed consent.
5.7 Misrepresentation and Fraud
- No Misleading Claims: Affiliates must not make false or misleading claims about our products, services, or policies.
- Fraudulent Activities: Any form of fraud, including but not limited to fraudulent sales or leads, is strictly prohibited.
6. Intellectual Property Rights
- License: We grant you a non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable right to use our trademarks, logos, and approved marketing materials solely for the purpose of promoting our products within the terms of this Agreement.
- Restrictions: You may not modify our trademarks or marketing materials in any way without prior written consent.
7. Termination
- Termination by Either Party: Either party may terminate this Agreement at any time, with or without cause, by providing written notice to the other party.
- Immediate Termination: We reserve the right to
