Content & Attribution Policy

Effective Date: February 1, 2026

Archade is the immutable registry of the built world. Accuracy is our core product.

This policy governs the classification of projects, the attribution of professional credit, and the resolution of disputes. It is designed to protect the intellectual property of firms while ensuring fair credit for individual contributors.

Visibility: Public content may appear in search, embeds, and as part of the structured data we make available so real people and real projects get the visibility they deserve. You can switch any entity to Private anytime; private content is not indexed, embedded, or used in that data. See How We Use Public Data and Dataset Opt-Out.

Platform Authority: Archade retains exclusive and final discretion over the classification, attribution, verification, and removal of all content on the platform. We reserve the right to downgrade trust levels, lock editing, or remove records to preserve the integrity of the index.

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1. Project Definitions & Taxonomy

We strictly categorize projects to prevent portfolio inflation. Misclassifying a project is a policy violation.

1.1 Built Projects

• Definition: Physical structures that have reached Substantial Completion or Occupancy.
• Requirements:
  • Physical Address: Must be verifiable on a map.
  • Completion Date: Year of completion.
  • Photographic Evidence: Real-world photography (not photorealistic renders).
• Verification Standard: High scrutiny. Subject to public fact-checking and firm verification.

1.2 Unbuilt / In Progress

• Definition: Projects currently under construction, stalled, or designed but never built.
• Labeling: Must be clearly labeled "Unbuilt," "In Progress," or "On the Boards."
• Evidence: Construction documents, site photos, or official press releases.

1.3 Conceptual / Academic / Competition

• Definition: Speculative designs, competition entries (lost), or student thesis work.
• Labeling: Must be labeled "Conceptual" or "Academic."
• Prohibition: It is strictly prohibited to present Conceptual work as "Built" to mislead potential Clients or Employers.

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2. Attribution Hierarchy: Who Gets Credit?

Architecture is collaborative. We enforce a strict hierarchy to resolving "ownership" disputes.

2.1 The Prime Contract Holder (The Author)

The Firm or Entity holding the contract with the Client is the Primary Author.

• In disputes between an Employee and a Firm regarding "Ownership," the Firm prevails absent a contract stating otherwise.
• Architect of Record (AOR) vs. Design Architect: Both must be credited if they are different entities.

2.2 Individual Contributors ( The Team)

Individuals are credited for their specific role.

• Role Accuracy: You must use accurate titles reflecting your role at the time of the project.
  • Correct: "Job Captain," "Junior Designer," "Intern."
  • Fraud: An Intern claiming "Lead Designer" or "Principal in Charge."
• Team Credit: If you upload a project, you are encouraged to tag other team members.

2.3 Joint Ventures (JV)

Projects delivered by a JV must credit all JV partners equally as Primary Authors.

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3. Prohibited Content

You may not upload content that contains:

• Hate Speech: Symbols or text promoting violence or discrimination.
• Sexual Content: Nudity or sexually explicit material.
• Private Data: Personal phone numbers, home addresses of private clients (unless public record), or sensitive security schematics.
• Malware/Spam: Corrupted files or SEO link farms.

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4. Media Standards & Client Confidentiality

4.1 Usage Rights

By uploading content, you warrant you have the rights to share it.

• Photography: You must credit the photographer. You must not upload photos you do not have a license for (e.g., ripping from magazines).
• Client Confidentiality:
  • You warrant that uploading construction docs, floor plans, or renderings does not violate Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) or Client Confidentiality.
  • Liability: Archade is not liable for your unauthorized disclosure of sensitive material. We will remove such content immediately upon receipt of a valid Takedown Notice.

4.2 AI & Synthetic Media

• Disclosure: Content significantly generated by AI (Midjourney, Stable Diffusion, etc.) must be marked "AI-Generated."
• Fraud: Presenting AI imagery as photographs of a built project is Fraud and grounds for immediate ban.

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5. Verification & Evidence

5.1 Trust Levels

• Verified (Green): Confirmed by the verified Firm or trusted third-party data source.
• Claimed (Blue): Asserted by a user with a verified professional domain email.
• Unverified (Gray): User-generated assertion. Disclaimer: "This listing is user-contributed."

5.2 Dispute Resolution Process

1. Notification: Disputing party submits a claim via the "Report" button.
2. Evidence Review: Trust & Safety reviews Tier 1 Evidence (Contracts, Official Sites) vs Tier 2 Evidence (Press).
3. Platform Lock: The page may be frozen or hidden during review.
4. Determination: Archade issues a binding decision.
   • Correction: Metadata is updated.
   • Transfer: Project ownership is moved to the correct firm.
   • Removal: Project is deleted.

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6. Enforcement Escalation

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Owner: Product Trust + Legal