Terms of Service

1. Scope of Services

AnimArts ("we", "us", "the studio") provides creative and technical services across the following categories:

• Live2D VTuber Models — character art, rigging, physics, expressions, multi-platform export
• 3D VTuber Models — Blender modelling, VRChat avatars, VRM/FBX export, full-body tracking setup
• AI Interactive Platforms — character chatbots with Live2D / 3D rendering, voice synthesis, lip-sync, monetisation
• AI Streaming Bots — Twitch / YouTube / TikTok / Kick / Bilibili automated character bots
• Stream Overlays — branding packs, alerts, stinger transitions, emote sets, scene templates
• Game Integration — Unity / Unreal Engine character integration with SDK setup
• Web Development — portfolio sites, e-commerce, fan-club platforms (Next.js / Astro / SvelteKit)
• Three.js / WebGL 3D Websites — immersive 3D web experiences, AR mode, product configurators
• Custom AI Services — RAG chatbots, multi-agent systems, fine-tuning, custom AI tools
• Video Editing — Premiere Pro / After Effects / DaVinci Resolve, monthly editing subscriptions, motion graphics, thumbnails

These Terms apply to every service we offer. Service-specific clauses are noted in dedicated sections below.

2. Commission Work vs Contract Work

AnimArts operates two distinct engagement models:

Commission (One-Off)

A finite project with a defined deliverable, fixed price, and final delivery date. Examples: a single Live2D model, a 3D VRChat avatar, a one-off YouTube video edit, or a complete website launch. Once delivered and approved, the commission is closed.

Contract (Ongoing / Subscription)

A recurring engagement billed monthly (or per agreed cycle) with rolling deliverables. Examples: monthly video editing packages (4 / 8 / 12 videos per month), AI platform maintenance retainers, web hosting + content updates, ongoing community management.

• Contract work is governed by a separate Service Level Agreement (SLA) attached to the inquiry confirmation.
• Either party may cancel a contract with 14 days written notice before the next billing cycle.
• Pre-paid contract work is non-refundable for the current cycle but no further charges apply post-cancellation.

3. Quote, Acceptance & Booking

1. Quote Request — Use our calculator at /pricing/<service> or contact form. We respond within 24 hours.
2. Quote Validity — All quotes are valid for 14 days. Pricing may be re-quoted thereafter to reflect current rates or scope changes.
3. Acceptance — Reply to the quote email or confirm via the magic-link tracker URL. Acceptance constitutes a binding agreement to these Terms.
4. Booking Slot Reservation — A non-refundable booking deposit (typically 30 % of total) reserves your slot in our queue. The remaining balance is invoiced as work progresses (see Payment Terms).
5. Project Reference ID — Every accepted commission receives a unique AA-YYYY-NNNN reference. Use this in all communication and invoice references.

4. Payment Terms (Pakistan-Friendly)

AnimArts is based in Pakistan (PKT, UTC+5). All prices are quoted in USD unless otherwise agreed.

Accepted Payment Methods (in priority order)

1. Upwork — Recommended for international clients; built-in escrow + milestone protection.
2. Payoneer — Direct international transfer, low fees.
3. Wise (TransferWise) — Multi-currency direct deposit.
4. Local PK options — Bank transfer, JazzCash, Easypaisa for domestic clients.
5. Cryptocurrency — USDT / BTC / ETH accepted on prior agreement.
6. PayPal — Currently NOT supported as PayPal does not operate in Pakistan. Please use Upwork or Payoneer instead.

Payment Schedule

• Commission work: 30 % deposit on booking, 40 % at midpoint review, 30 % on final delivery (before source-file handover).
• Contract work: invoiced in advance for each billing cycle (monthly by default).
• Projects under $200: 100 % paid upfront.
• Projects over $5,000: bespoke milestone schedule agreed in writing.

Late Payment

Invoices are due within 7 days of issue. Work pauses on overdue invoices. Late fees of 2 % / month may apply after 30 days overdue.

5. Timeline & Delivery

Delivery estimates shown on the calculator and quote are good-faith targets, not guarantees. Real timelines depend on:

• Client responsiveness on revisions and approvals (we typically need replies within 48-72 hours to maintain pace)
• Scope changes mid-project (each change re-baselines the timeline)
• Asset readiness (PSDs, references, voice samples, source footage delivered on time)
• Third-party dependencies (AI provider API outages, hosting setup, domain DNS propagation)

Rush Delivery

A rush addon (typically +30 %) reduces delivery time by ~50 %. Available subject to current queue capacity.

Delivery Format

• Live2D: .cmo3, .can3, layered PSD, VTube Studio-ready folder
• 3D Model: .vrm, .fbx, optional .blend source, Unity package on request
• AI Platform / Web Dev: GitHub repo + deployment access + handover documentation
• Video Editing: .mp4 exports + project files (Premiere .prproj, After Effects .aep)
• Overlays: 1-click install files for OBS Studio / Streamlabs / StreamElements

6. Revisions & Changes

Each tier includes a specific number of revision rounds (see your tier card). Additional revisions billed at $30-100 / round depending on complexity.

What Counts as a Revision

• Included: minor tweaks within the original brief (colour adjustments, expression timing, parameter tuning, copy edits)
• Not included (= scope change, re-quoted): changing character design after rigging starts, swapping framework mid-build, adding new features beyond the agreed brief, complete redesigns

Approval & Sign-Off

Each milestone requires written approval (email reply, Discord message, or tracker URL confirmation) before we proceed. Silence after 7 days = implicit approval.

7. Live2D Service Specifics

• Client must own or have full commercial rights to the original artwork (PSD or art reference). We don't trace, copy, or rig stolen art.
• For "Drawing Only" tier, we deliver a rig-ready PSD; client is responsible for finding their own rigger.
• For "Rigging Only" tier, client provides PSD with proper layer separation per Live2D Cubism standards.
• VBridger, iFacialMocap, VTube Studio, and other third-party tools are configured but not licensed by us — client may need to purchase those separately.
• Final model is tested on the client's chosen tracking app before delivery.

8. 3D Model Service Specifics

• Default output: VRM 1.0 + FBX. Other formats (glTF, USD, Unity package) available as addons.
• VRChat avatars are tested in-game on PC AND Quest before delivery (where applicable).
• Full-body tracker setup (HaritoraX / SlimeVR / Mocopi / Vive) requires client to own the hardware. We provide configuration only.
• Third-party shaders (lilToon, Poiyomi Pro) are setup with the model but require the client to maintain their own license / Patreon subscription where applicable.

9. AI Interactive Platform & AI Services Specifics

API Costs Are the Client's Responsibility

OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, ElevenLabs, and other API costs are billed directly to your account using your API keys. We help you set up usage tracking and budget alerts. Sample monthly costs: $5-50 for low-volume chatbots, $200-2,000 for production multi-tenant platforms.

Data Ownership

• You own all conversation data, user data, and uploaded content.
• Data is stored in your own database / vector store (Pinecone, Weaviate, Postgres) — we don't retain copies.
• If we use your data for testing during development, it's deleted within 30 days of project closure.

Model Quality Disclaimer

AI outputs are inherently probabilistic. We tune prompts, evaluations, and safety filters but cannot guarantee 100 % accurate, brand-safe, or factually correct outputs. Client is responsible for human moderation and disclaimer placement.

10. AI Streaming Bot Specifics

• Streaming platform Terms of Service (Twitch, YouTube, TikTok, Kick) take precedence — bots must comply with each platform's chatbot rules.
• We do not guarantee the bot will not be banned by the platform if used in violation of their ToS (spam, automated viewer manipulation, etc.).
• Cluster / 24/7 deployment addons require client to maintain hosting credentials and bear cloud costs.
• Voice synthesis costs (ElevenLabs, OpenAI Realtime) are recurring and billed to the client's account.

11. Stream Overlays Specifics

• Overlays are delivered as 1-click install files for OBS Studio, Streamlabs, and StreamElements where supported.
• Custom emote packs comply with Twitch / Discord size + format requirements (28×28, 56×56, 112×112).
• Stinger transitions require OBS Studio 28+ or compatible streaming software.
• Audio assets (sound design, stinger SFX) are royalty-free and licensed for client's stream use only — not for resale.

12. Web Development & Three.js Specifics

• Source code is delivered via GitHub repository (or zipped archive on request). Client owns 100 % of the code.
• Hosting is set up on the client's chosen provider (Vercel, Netlify, Cloudflare Pages, AWS) — client owns the account and bears recurring costs.
• Domain registration + DNS configuration is the client's responsibility unless explicitly included in scope.
• For e-commerce builds: Stripe / Shopify accounts must be set up by the client; we configure the integration.
• Three.js builds: 3D model assets must be provided by the client OR commissioned separately under our 3D Model service.
• Bug fixes within the support period (14-90 days depending on tier) are free; new features billed separately.

13. Video Editing Service Specifics

• Subscription tiers (4 / 8 / 12 videos per month) are contract work — billed monthly in advance, cancellable with 14 days notice.
• Unused video credits do NOT roll over to the next month.
• Client must provide raw footage via shared cloud drive (Google Drive, Dropbox, Frame.io) within agreed deadlines for monthly delivery to stay on schedule.
• Source project files (.prproj, .aep) are delivered with each video.
• Royalty-free music / SFX libraries used (Storyblocks, Artlist) are licensed under the studio's subscription — client receives use rights for delivered videos but may not extract assets for separate use.
• Voiceover recording sessions count against the monthly cycle (typically 1 session ≈ 1 video credit).

14. Intellectual Property & Usage Rights

What Client Receives

On full payment, the client receives a perpetual, worldwide, non-exclusive license to use the delivered work for:

• Personal / Streaming Use (default) — Live streams, recorded content, social media, personal projects.
• Commercial Streaming Use (Standard tier and up) — Monetised streams, sponsorships, merchandise modelling.
• Full Commercial License (addon, +$200) — Resale, brand sponsorship, NFT minting, derivative works.
• Full IP Transfer (Custom / Ultimate tier or addon) — Client becomes copyright owner; we retain only portfolio rights.

What AnimArts Retains

• Right to display the work in our portfolio and marketing materials (with credit to client unless NDA signed).
• Underlying techniques, scripts, and reusable code components.

NDA / Private Commission

Non-disclosure clause available on request (+$0 for high-tier projects, +$50 for lower tiers). When signed, we will not display the work publicly.

15. Source Files & Handover

• Source files (Cubism .cmo3, Blender .blend, GitHub repo, Premiere .prproj) are delivered upon final payment unless otherwise agreed.
• Source files are provided "as-is" with reasonable documentation; we do not provide ongoing support for client modifications without a maintenance contract.
• For AI / web platforms, complete handover includes: GitHub repo access, environment variable list, deployment runbook, and 1-hour video walkthrough.

16. Modifications & Maintenance

Post-delivery support periods (14-90 days depending on tier) cover:

• Bug fixes for issues that existed at delivery
• Compatibility tweaks for tracking apps / platforms updating during the support window
• Minor adjustments (colour, parameter, threshold tuning)

NOT covered (require new commission or maintenance contract):

• New features added after delivery
• Major redesigns
• Migrations to new platforms / engines
• Recovery from client-side modifications gone wrong

Maintenance Contracts

Available at $80-500 / month depending on service. Includes priority support, monthly check-ins, and discounted hourly rate for ad-hoc work.

17. Cancellation & Refunds

Client-Initiated Cancellation

• Before work starts: Booking deposit is non-refundable (covers slot reservation cost).
• During work: Client pays for work completed to date (pro-rated). Remaining payments cancelled. Work-in-progress files NOT delivered unless paid.
• After delivery: No refund once final files delivered + accepted.

AnimArts-Initiated Cancellation

We reserve the right to cancel commissions without penalty if:

• Client violates these Terms (abuse, fraud, illegal content)
• Client requests work that violates our ethical guidelines (deepfakes of real people without consent, hate speech, CSAM, etc.)
• Communication breakdown (no reply for 30+ days)
• Force majeure (illness, hardware failure, etc. — partial refund issued)

If we cancel, all payments for incomplete work are refunded within 7 days.

18. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law:

• Total liability for any claim is limited to the amount paid by client for the specific commission / contract cycle.
• We are NOT liable for indirect, consequential, or punitive damages including: lost profits, lost data, lost streaming revenue, lost subscribers, or third-party service outages.
• We are NOT liable for client's misuse of delivered work (violating platform ToS, harmful AI deployments, etc.).
• For AI services: we provide the system but make no guarantees of output accuracy, brand safety, or model uptime (which depend on third-party providers).

19. Force Majeure

Neither party is liable for delays or failures caused by events beyond reasonable control: natural disasters, war, internet/power outages affecting Pakistan, third-party API outages, hardware failures, or serious illness. In such events, timelines are paused; if a force majeure event continues for over 60 days, either party may cancel without penalty.

20. Confidentiality

We treat all client information (project briefs, brand assets, unreleased designs, business data) as confidential. We will not disclose it to third parties except:

• To subcontractors bound by equivalent confidentiality terms (rare, only on prior client approval)
• When legally compelled (court order, etc.)
• Aggregated, anonymised data for portfolio statistics ("we built 50+ Live2D models in 2026")

For sensitive projects, request a separate Mutual NDA before sharing details.

21. Privacy & Data Protection

• Inquiries submitted via our forms are stored in Firebase Firestore (Google Cloud, EU/US servers).
• We retain inquiry + project data for 3 years post-completion for tax / accounting / portfolio reasons, then delete.
• Client-uploaded media (PSDs, footage, references) is stored on Cloudflare R2 during the project and deleted within 90 days post-delivery unless retention is requested.
• You may request data deletion at any time by emailing animarts.ayn@gmail.com — we comply within 30 days subject to legal retention requirements.
• We use Plausible / privacy-respecting analytics. No third-party trackers, no ad networks.

22. Governing Law & Dispute Resolution

These Terms are governed by the laws of Pakistan. Any dispute arising from these Terms or any service shall first be attempted to resolve through good-faith negotiation. If unresolved within 30 days, disputes are submitted to:

• For projects via Upwork: Upwork's dispute resolution + arbitration process.
• For direct contracts under $5,000: Online mediation through a mutually-agreed mediator.
• For direct contracts over $5,000: Arbitration in Karachi or Islamabad, Pakistan, under the Arbitration Act 1940.

23. Changes to These Terms

We may revise these Terms periodically. Material changes will be communicated to active clients via email at least 14 days before taking effect. Continued use of our services after the effective date constitutes acceptance.

Last updated: April 30, 2026.

24. Contact

Questions about these Terms? Reach out:

• Email: animarts.ayn@gmail.com
• Inquiry form: animarts.com/contact
• Track existing project: animarts.com/track

We respond within 24 hours during business days (Mon-Sat, PKT).