Prohibited and Restricted Goods and/or Services
Appendix to the Merchant Public Offer No. 1
Prohibited Goods and/or Services
Offers must not include services and/or goods related to:
1. Illegal and Criminal Activities
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Criminal Activities:
- Incitement or encouragement of hatred, violence, racism, or religious intolerance.
- Promotion or facilitation of illegal activities, including fraud, sale of dangerous or prohibited goods, and unlawful violence.
- Propaganda or glorification of illegal violence or causing physical harm to people or property, especially towards any group based on race, religion, disability, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, or other immutable traits.
- Materials containing instructions for illegal operations, such as e-books describing the production of methamphetamines.
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Stolen Goods and Fraudulent Services:
- Stolen goods, including digital and virtual items.
- Fake certificates, identity services, and equipment designed to manipulate telecommunications (e.g., jammers).
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Fraud, Deception, and Misinformation:
- False representation with the intent to mislead.
- Dissemination of false or misleading information, especially related to health, civil processes, or financial fraud.
- Phishing, impersonation, or any actions aimed at fraudulently obtaining personal information.
- Deceptive marketing practices, including:
- Circumventing chargeback monitoring programs.
- Fake endorsements or services that facilitate deception.
- Ponzi schemes, chain letters, and other financial frauds.
- “Get rich quick” schemes or unrealistic promises of high profits with minimal effort.
- Dishonest business practices using fake reviews, aggressive sales tactics, or false endorsements.
2. Weapons, Drugs, and Hazardous Substances
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Weapons and Hazardous Substances:
- Weapons, firearms, ammunition, and explosives.
- Includes components like firing mechanisms, magazines, conversion kits, 3D-printed weapons, and misbranded replicas.
- Items such as pepper spray, stun guns, swords, katanas, machetes, and disguised knives.
- Lock-picking devices.
- Hazardous materials, including:
- Toxic, flammable, combustible, or radioactive substances.
- Dangerous chemicals and biological substances like cyanide, hydrofluoric acid, nitric acid, peptides, and research chemicals.
- Banned ozone-depleting substances (ODS) and E. coli cultures.
- Flammable materials like batteries, fireworks, and coolants.
- Weapons, firearms, ammunition, and explosives.
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Drugs and Related Products:
- Drugs, prohibited substances, steroids, and drug paraphernalia.
- Prescription medications and regulated medical devices without proper licensing (including contact lenses).
- Cannabis and related products:
- Includes CBD products exceeding allowable THC levels.
- Hydroponic equipment and other cultivation tools intended for growing marijuana.
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Tobacco Products and Related Items:
- Cigarettes, tobacco products, e-cigarettes, and related liquids.
3. Financial and Personal Data
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Unlicensed Financial and Legal Services:
- Unlicensed financial services, including:
- Binary options, microloans, and unsecured loans.
- Cryptocurrency exchanges, mining equipment, and high-risk securities (e.g., CFDs, spread betting, forex options).
- Insurance sales without appropriate licensing.
- Money transfer businesses, banking structures without physical presence, and unlicensed electronic wallets or e-money services.
- High-risk investment opportunities promising unrealistic returns.
- Debt payment and collection services, credit protection, and identity theft protection services.
- Money transfers, travelers' checks, and currency exchange services provided by non-financial institutions.
- Currency, stocks, securities, stamps, precious metals, and related products.
- Credit cards.
- Unlicensed financial services, including:
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Personal Data Violations:
- Unauthorized publication of personal data, including:
- Full names, images, contact information, financial and medical data.
- Any information that can identify a person without their consent.
- Unauthorized publication of personal data, including:
4. Ethical and Moral Violations
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Ethical and Moral Violations:
- Activities involving offensive statements or hate speech based on immutable traits.
- Dehumanization, humiliation, or negative portrayal of individuals based on race, gender, religion, etc.
- Exploitation of vulnerable populations.
- Business models resembling extortion or blackmail.
- Discriminatory and offensive materials such as Nazi, racist, or supremacist propaganda.
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Pornographic Content:
- Books, magazines, audio, video, websites, and streaming services considered offensive or sexual in nature.
- Fetish products and adult items.
- Entertainment venues like gentlemen’s clubs, strip clubs, nightclubs, and massage parlors of a sexual nature.
- Dating sites explicitly implying intimate services and escort agencies.
- Any AI-generated content meeting these criteria.
5. Intellectual Property Violations
- Intellectual Property Violations:
- Counterfeit products, replicas, or intentional infringement of intellectual property rights.
- Products or services facilitating unauthorized use of copyrighted materials, including copyright circumvention tools.
- Unauthorized sales of branded or designer goods, music, movies, software, or other licensed content.
- Essay writing services and similar services promoting academic dishonesty.
6. Violence, Cruelty, and Exploitation
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Violence and Cruelty:
- Depictions of violence and cruelty, including:
- Graphic scenes with blood, severe injuries, or death.
- Activities depicting murder, cruelty to animals, or other living beings.
- Depictions of violence and cruelty, including:
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Exploitation of Vulnerable Individuals:
- Offers exploiting or targeting vulnerable groups such as the elderly, disabled, or minors.
7. Gambling and High-Risk Activities
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Gambling and Games of Chance:
- Gambling activities, including:
- Casinos, lotteries, contests, and fantasy sports leagues with cash or material prizes.
- Any gambling services in the USA, legal or illegal.
- Skill games with monetary or material rewards.
- Lottery tickets.
- Gambling activities, including:
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High-Risk and Dishonest Practices:
- Any actions or practices that are dishonest, misleading, offensive, or violate laws or regulations.
- Network marketing involving misleading practices or aggressive sales techniques.
- Businesses making implausible claims or using fake reviews.
8. Government and Legal Norm Violations
- Government Documents and Licenses:
- Sale or transfer of government documents, certificates, and licenses.
9. Transport and Postal Regulation Violations
- Transit and Delivery-Related Items:
- USPS mailbags and other items related to transit and delivery.
10. Dishonest Business Practices
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Timeshares and Timeshare Services:
- Products and services related to timeshares, including management and servicing.
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Pawn Shops and Telemarketing Companies:
- Pawn shops and telemarketing companies selling third-party goods or services.
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Unregistered Charities and Crowdfunding Campaigns:
- Charities and campaigns that are not registered or lack proper authorization.
Restricted Goods and/or Services
Offers may include goods and/or services related to the following, but require additional review, approval, and compliance checks:
1. Alcohol Sales
- Alcohol sales as the primary product (e.g., liquor stores, bars, breweries, wineries) must comply with legal requirements and hold necessary licenses.
2. Veterinary Services
- Veterinary services must have appropriate licenses confirming their right to operate and meet all regulatory requirements.
3. Charity and Crowdfunding
- Registered charities and legitimate crowdfunding campaigns require verification of legal registration and alignment of stated goals with actual activities.
4. Environmental Impact
- Offers potentially affecting the environment must comply with environmental regulations and undergo additional compliance checks.
5. Educational Services
- Educational programs and courses, including online learning and certification, require quality standard verification and accreditation if needed.
- Distance learning platforms must adhere to student data privacy rules.
6. Human Rights and Political Content
- Offers related to human rights activities or political engagement require additional checks for legal compliance, including free speech laws and hate speech prevention.
- Services supporting civil rights and freedoms must meet ethical and legal standards.