Restricted Businesses
The following list describes specific categories of businesses and practices (collectively referred to here as “Restricted Businesses”) that are not permitted to use the Digilancer Platform and Services (the “Services”). In certain circumstances, an entity falling into one of these categories may be eligible for service only if it has secured explicit, written approval from Digilancer beforehand. However, any organization dealing in illegal goods or services will never be approved to use our Services.
When you register with us, you are affirming that you will not employ the Services to accept payments for any of the business types, practices, or activities outlined below, unless you have received advance written authorization from the Payment Services provider.
1. Illegal Products and Services
Any business or individual offering products or services deemed illegal under local, state, federal, or international law cannot use the Digilancer Services. This includes, but is not limited to, items explicitly prohibited by regulation (e.g., contraband, stolen property) or activities that facilitate or encourage illicit behavior (e.g., hacking tools, spam services, or money laundering).
2. Intellectual Property or Proprietary Rights Infringement
Unauthorized Use of Protected Content: This covers selling, distributing, or granting access to copyrighted music, movies, software, or other materials without permission from the rights holder.
Facilitation of Piracy: Businesses that create or enable tools designed to break copyright safeguards or distribute infringing content.
Trademark, Patent, or Trade Secret Violations: Any merchandise or service that encroaches on someone else’s registered trademarks, patents, or trade secrets.
Unauthorized Branding: Using the Payment Services’ name, logo, or brand in a way that could misrepresent an endorsement or relationship or otherwise harm the Payment Services’ reputation.
Implied Endorsements: Any actions suggesting the Payment Services sponsor or support a product or service when no such relationship exists.
3. Counterfeit or Unauthorized Goods
Fake or Knockoff Products: Goods deliberately made or labeled to pass off as authentic name-brand items.
Unauthorized Resale of Brand-Name Items: Offers of brand-name or designer products by sellers without the legal right or license to resell them.
Illegally Imported or Exported Products: Goods that fail to follow import/export controls or that breach customs regulations, duties, or safety requirements.
4. Gambling
Online Gambling and Betting: This includes any platforms that facilitate internet-based gaming or betting for tangible or monetary prizes.
Sports Forecasting or Odds Calculations: Providing or hosting sports pools, odds-making, or tipster websites that let users stake money.
Lotteries and Sweepstakes: Encompasses both legal and illegal raffles, prize draws, or betting systems with cash or valuable rewards.
Fantasy Sports Tournaments with Entry Fees: Unless legally exempted, these contests can be considered gambling activities, especially when there’s a buy-in, an expectation of winning money, or a prize that has real-world value.
5. Regulated or Illegal Products or Services
Marijuana or Cannabis-Related Ventures: Operations selling or distributing marijuana (including dispensaries), cannabis derivatives, or paraphernalia not approved under prevailing regulations.
CBD Products: Specifically includes the sale of CBD items in jurisdictions where local and federal laws restrict or prohibit such sales.
Illicit Drugs and Controlled Substances: Covers the sale or distribution of prescription medication, synthetic drugs, or research chemicals without regulatory compliance.
Restricted Goods: This category extends to tobacco or vaping products, firearms and ammunition, pyrotechnics, hazardous materials, and other goods or services whose legal status varies and is subject to state, federal, or international rules.
6. Adult Content and Services
Explicit Materials: Pornographic or obscene content, inclusive of visuals, text, or recordings depicting explicit sexual activities.
Sexually Oriented Services: Brothels, escort services, or live adult chat websites that host sexual content for a fee.
Sexual Products and Adult Entertainment: This also applies to sex toys, erotic massage establishments, topless bars, strip clubs, and adult-themed dating or membership platforms.
7. Unfair, Predatory, or Deceptive Practices
Get-Rich-Quick Schemes: Products or services that promise large financial gains with minimal effort or transparency.
Mug Shot or Pay-to-Remove Sites: Sites that post damaging personal information or images (like mug shots) and then charge a fee to remove them, exploiting reputational concerns.
No-Value-Added Services: Reselling any service—particularly government-provided services—without additional utility, or running operations that are, in Digilancer’s exclusive opinion, misleading, harmful, or exploitative toward consumers.
8. Aggregation
Unlicensed Funds Aggregation: Any initiative designed to hide or disguise the source of funds, including factoring or unapproved payment facilitation.
Pooling of Monies Owed to Third Parties: Engaging in any practice (licensed or otherwise) that collects payments intended for several third parties in a single account without authorization.
9. Drug Paraphernalia
Any paraphernalia designed or marketed for manufacturing, handling, or consuming controlled substances—for example, bongs, pipes, vaporizers, or hookahs. While some may be marketed as novelty or tobacco accessories, if they are meant to circumvent drug laws, they fall within this restriction.
10. Multi-Level Marketing
Pyramid and Ponzi Schemes: Any structure requiring downline recruits’ entry fees, with profits primarily reliant on further recruitment rather than a genuine exchange of goods or services.
Questionable MLM: Multi-level marketing that relies on unrealistic earnings claims or that is heavily predatory in nature.
11. Pseudo Pharmaceuticals
Unverified Health Products: Nutraceuticals or other items that claim to have therapeutic benefits not recognized or confirmed by relevant health or regulatory authorities.
False Medical Claims: Products sold on the basis of unproven medical research.
12. Social Media Activity
Fake Engagement: Selling or purchasing fake likes, shares, follows, or views for platforms like Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, etc.
Artificial Traffic Generation: Automated or purchased clicks to manipulate web traffic data or user engagement metrics.
13. Substances Designed to Mimic Illegal Drugs
Legal Highs: Substances such as salvia or kratom, intended to emulate the effects of illegal narcotics.
Designer Drugs: Similar substances often invented or altered to get around legal restrictions.
14. Video Game or Virtual World Credits
Third-Party Virtual Sales: Reselling in-game currency or items without being the rightful operator of that virtual environment.
Unauthorized RMT (Real Money Trading): Websites or services that transfer in-game assets to real-world money or objects not sanctioned by the game’s developer or platform operator.
Questions or Clarifications
If you are unsure whether your enterprise or activity qualifies as a Restricted Business under any of the above categories, or if you need more information about how these standards apply to your specific operations, feel free to contact us:
Digilancer
Attn: Compliance Department
99 Wall Street #3009
New York, NY 10005
We will be glad to discuss your circumstances and advise whether your business can use the Digilancer Platform and Services, including any additional compliance steps or approvals necessary for eligibility.