Content Policy, Affinity Cardworks

Content Policy

Affinity is a marketplace for fictional, illustrated artwork — original characters, fan art, and stylized illustration. We aim to be a permissive home for creative work, including mature content, with a small set of clear, objective rules. This page is the standard our moderators apply and the basis for every takedown. If something here is ambiguous, the specific rule wins over the general tone.

Fiction is allowed. Because every listing is a fictional illustration, we do not police themes, kinks, characters, or subject matter on the basis of taste or discomfort. "It's fiction" is a valid answer to almost every objection — with the narrow, non-negotiable exceptions in Rule 1.

1. Prohibited regardless of fiction

These are the only things that are banned outright. They are illegal or unacceptable to host even as fiction, so the fictional nature of the work is not a defense:

Sexual content involving minors, real or fictional. Any sexualized depiction of a minor is removed and the account actioned; we report illegal material to authorities as required by law. Characters in sexual or suggestive content must be depicted as adults.
Content that incites or instructs violence or self-harm, real or fictional, or genuine threats.
Content created to harass, dox, or defame a real, identifiable person.

2. No photorealism, no real people

This is an illustration marketplace. To keep the line between fiction and reality bright and easy to enforce:

No photorealistic work. Listings must read as illustration/art (drawn, painted, rendered, stylized 3D, etc.), not as a photograph. Work indistinguishable from a real photo isn't allowed.
No real, identifiable people. Don't depict actual individuals — celebrities, public figures, or private persons.
AI-assisted art is fine and welcome, as art, but the same two rules apply: it must not be photorealistic and must not depict a real person.

Why: a fiction-friendly policy only works if the content is unmistakably fiction. Photorealism and real people erase that line, so they're out, independent of subject matter.

3. Label mature content (18+)

Mark any listing with sexual, explicit, or otherwise adult content as NSFW in the listing editor. This is mandatory.
Correct labeling is how age-gating works: mislabeled mature content is the most common takedown reason and is corrected on sight.
The only place NSFW imagery is allowed to be uploaded is within the studio's galleries.

4. Respect others' rights

Sell work you made or have the right to sell. No copyright or trademark infringement — including reselling others' art as your own, or bootleg/counterfeit goods.
Fan art of copyrighted characters is permitted to the extent it's lawful transformative work; rights holders may still request removal, which we honor.
Rights-holder takedown and DMCA requests go through Contact.

5. List honestly

Titles, descriptions, materials/finishes, and previews must accurately represent what's for sale.
No spam, no misleading categorization, no bait-and-switch.

How we enforce this

We use post-moderation: listings go live immediately, and we act on reports.

Anyone can report a listing (the flag on a card or set) or a seller (on their storefront). Reports map to the rules above.
If a report is upheld, the listing is hidden from buyers and the seller is notified. Rule 1 violations also lead to account action.
Sellers may appeal a takedown; appeals are reviewed by the platform owner.
Most issues are objective (mislabeled maturity, photorealism, a real person, infringement) and resolved quickly. We default to leaving fictional work up.

Questions about a specific work or a takedown? Contact us. See also: Seller Guide · Terms.