Rinkya Authentic — Terms of Service

1. Definitions

For purposes of these Terms:

• "Authentication" means an expert opinion rendered by Rinkya based on the evidence available at the time of inspection.
• "Item" means the physical object submitted by a user for review under the Service.
• "User" means any individual or entity that submits an Item to the Service or otherwise uses the Service.
• "Authentication Result" means Rinkya's conclusion regarding an Item, which may include Authenticated, Not Authenticated, or Inconclusive / Unable to Authenticate.
• "Inconclusive" means that, based on the available evidence, Rinkya cannot reasonably reach a definitive conclusion.
• "Record" means the digital verification record created by Rinkya, which may include photographs, imaging data, descriptive metadata, hashes, timestamps, and verification status.
• "Seal" means a tamper‑evident label or other physical indicator applied to an Item or its packaging.

2. Nature of the Service

2.1 The Service consists of the physical inspection of submitted Items, evidence capture, documentation, and issuance of an Authentication Result and Record.

2.2 Authentication is an expert opinion based on the evidence reasonably available at the time of inspection. It is not a statement of absolute fact, warranty, guarantee, or promise of authenticity, value, provenance, or condition. Authentication Opinions are rendered using the fine-art attribution scale (By / Attributed to / Studio of / Workshop of / Circle of / etc.) described in Rinkya's published Methodology.

2.3 The Service does not certify monetary value, appraised value, investment performance, insurability, merchantability, or future market acceptance. Nothing on this site is investment advice.

2.4 No Authentication Result shall be construed as legal advice, appraisal, or title verification.

3. Appraisal Services

3.1 Rinkya may offer appraisal services as a separate engagement from authentication. An appraisal is an independent opinion of value and is a distinct deliverable from an Authentication Result.

3.2 Appraisal fees are based solely on the scope and complexity of the engagement and are never contingent upon, or calculated as a percentage of, the appraised value.

3.3 Appraisals are prepared in conformance with the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) and applicable professional guidelines.

3.4 Appraisal opinions are rendered independently and are not influenced by the authentication outcome, the User's expectations, or the intended use of the appraisal.

4. Service Timeline

4.1 An estimated turnaround time will be provided at intake. Estimates are not guaranteed and do not create a binding commitment to deliver by a specific date.

4.2 Items requiring external analysis, specialist consultation, or additional research may require extended processing time.

4.3 Rinkya will communicate material delays promptly and provide updated estimates when reasonably possible.

4.4 Live status is available on the tracking page for every submission.

5. Eligibility and Submission

5.1 Rinkya may limit the categories of Items eligible for the Service and may reject any submission at its discretion.

5.2 Users represent and warrant that:

• They have the legal right to submit the Item.
• The Item submitted is the same Item described in the application.
• All information provided is accurate to the best of their knowledge.

5.3 Items submitted in a condition materially different from what was represented may be rejected or result in cancellation of the Service.

6. Handling, Inspection, and Repackaging

6.1 Users authorize Rinkya to handle, inspect, photograph, image, and document the Item as reasonably necessary to perform the Service.

6.2 Certain Services may require opening, unsealing, or removing Items from existing packaging. Rinkya will ask the User for consent before doing so. If the User declines, Rinkya may return the Item, or may be unable to complete a proper authentication, and the Authentication Result may be limited to Inconclusive / Unable to Authenticate. Users acknowledge that Items may not be returnable to their original unopened state.

6.3 Except in cases of gross negligence or willful misconduct, Rinkya is not responsible for changes in value resulting from necessary inspection or resealing.

7. Independent Certifiers

7.1 Certifier Program. The Rinkya Authentic Platform (the "Platform") publishes Authentication Opinions rendered by two categories of experts:

(a) Rinkya Staff Certifiers — authenticators who are employees of Rinkya and render opinions directly under Rinkya's supervision; and

(b) Independent Certifiers — qualified professional authenticators who operate independently under their own brand and who use the Platform to publish their Authentication Opinions. Independent Certifiers are not employees, agents, or partners of Rinkya.

7.2 Identification. The name and credentials of the Certifier responsible for any given Authentication Opinion are shown on each Record and on the Certifier's public profile page, which includes the Certifier's background, credentials, and published record history.

7.3 Responsibility Allocation. Each Independent Certifier is solely responsible for:

(a) The professional content of their Authentication Opinion, including attribution, condition grading, catalogue notes, and commentary;

(b) The accuracy of the credentials and biographical information published on their Certifier profile; and

(c) Their own professional conduct in performing authentication services.

Rinkya is solely responsible for:

(a) The operation, security, and availability of the Platform;

(b) The issuance and integrity of physical seals, QR hologram labels, and label numbering;

(c) The blockchain anchoring and digital preservation of published Records; and

(d) The Record publication workflow, including verification and transfer flows.

7.4 Independent Contractor Status. Independent Certifiers are independent contractors. Nothing in the Terms or on the Platform shall be construed as creating any employment, partnership, joint venture, agency, or fiduciary relationship between Rinkya and any Independent Certifier, or as making Rinkya vicariously liable for the professional acts or omissions of any Independent Certifier, or as making any Independent Certifier vicariously liable for any failure of the Platform.

7.5 Claims Against Authentication Opinions. Any claim, complaint, or dispute arising from the professional content of an Authentication Opinion (including claims of incorrect attribution, incorrect grading, or professional negligence) should be directed to the Certifier named on the relevant Record, who is the author of the opinion. Rinkya may, at its discretion, assist in mediating such disputes but is not liable for the content of Authentication Opinions rendered by Independent Certifiers.

7.6 Claims Against the Platform. Any claim, complaint, or dispute arising from the operation of the Platform itself (including data loss, security incidents, failure to publish, blockchain anchoring errors, or misuse of labels) should be directed to Rinkya. Independent Certifiers are not liable for the operation of the Platform.

7.7 Professional Liability Insurance. Independent Certifiers may maintain professional liability (errors and omissions) insurance, and Rinkya may require it for certain categories, item values, or program tiers. Rinkya does not guarantee the existence, sufficiency, coverage, or enforceability of any individual Certifier's insurance. Users are encouraged to consider a Certifier's credentials, track record, and available recourse when relying on any Authentication Opinion.

8. Authentication Results and Reliance

8.1 Possible outcomes include: Authenticated, Not Authenticated, Inconclusive / Unable to Authenticate.

8.2 An Inconclusive result is not a failure and does not imply that an Item is inauthentic.

8.3 Authentication Results reflect Rinkya's opinion at the time rendered. Users acknowledge that reasonable experts may disagree and that conclusions may change if new or contradictory evidence becomes available.

8.4 Users agree not to rely on Authentication Results as the sole basis for any purchase, sale, insurance placement, valuation, or investment decision.

8.5 Certifier-Specific Opinions. Where an Authentication Opinion is rendered by an Independent Certifier, the opinion represents the professional judgment of the Certifier named on the Record and not a corporate position of Rinkya. Users acknowledge that different Certifiers may reach different conclusions on the same Item, and that Rinkya does not warrant uniformity across independent professional opinions. Users are encouraged to review the Certifier's profile, credentials, and methodology before relying on any Authentication Opinion.

9. Examinations, Opinions, and Remote Services

9.1 Photo Reviews are opinions only. A Photo Review is a written professional opinion based solely on images and information you provide. It is not a certification, creates no public record, is non-transferable, and may not be reproduced, cited, or distributed to any third party, including in listings or sales materials.

9.2 Remote Examination Records are examined remotely. A Remote Examination Record reflects a live video examination only. It is not equivalent to in-hand certification, includes no condition grading, and its conclusions are limited to the language stated on the record. Each record discloses what was and was not examined.

9.3 Conclusions may be revised. Every opinion and record reflects the evidence available at the time of issuance and may be revised if new evidence emerges.

9.4 Fees compensate the examination, not the outcome. All examination and opinion fees are non-refundable regardless of the conclusion reached. Refunds are issued only where Rinkya is unable to render the service.

9.5 Discretionary credit. Where an examination concludes an item is not authentic, Rinkya may, at its sole discretion, credit the fee toward a future service. Any such credit is a courtesy and not an entitlement, has no cash value, is non-transferable, expires twelve months from issuance, and is not available for services paid in whole or part with a credit.

9.6 Scheduling. A missed live session may be rescheduled once at no charge. Thereafter the fee converts to a service credit subject to 9.5's conditions.

9.7 Recording. Live sessions are recorded, and the recording and stills become part of the permanent examination evidence. Consent to recording is a condition of the service.

9.8 Recording of live sessions. Live examination sessions are recorded. The recording may include the customer's image, voice, and statements made during the session. Recordings are stored privately, are accessible only to authorized Rinkya personnel, are never published, and never form part of any public record or certificate. They are retained as examination evidence and are used only to establish what was examined and how, including where the validity of a record is questioned.

9.9 Erasure of personal footage. A customer may request deletion of session recordings insofar as they depict that customer. Rinkya will delete such recordings on request, and will retain in their place a non-identifying attestation recording the date, duration, and certifier of the session, a cryptographic hash of the deleted file, and confirmation that the required verification steps were performed. Examination imagery of the item itself, which does not identify any person, is part of the permanent examination record and is retained. Deletion under this section does not affect the validity of any record already issued. Rinkya may decline or defer a request where retention is necessary to establish, exercise, or defend a legal claim, including while a record is subject to dispute.

9.10 Identity attestation. At the start of a live session the customer will be asked to state their name and to confirm details already held on their order. The customer warrants that statements made are true. Rinkya does not verify identity documents and does not represent that the identity of any customer has been independently verified. A record obtained through a false statement of identity may be revoked without refund.

9.11 Application of the seal. Where a seal is issued for customer application, it must be applied during the scheduled application session, on camera, under the direction of the certifier. A seal applied before that session is void, the associated serial will be retired and cannot be reissued, no examination record will be published, and no refund will be given.

9.12 Use of examination materials. Images, video, and measurements produced in the course of an examination may be used by Rinkya to develop and improve its authentication methods, including automated and machine-learning systems. Such use is internal and non-identifying: materials used for this purpose are limited to the item examined and exclude any footage depicting the customer. This section does not grant Rinkya the right to publish or display a customer's item, which is governed separately by the consent given at intake.

10. Fees, Refunds, and No Chargebacks

10.1 Users must pay all applicable Service fees as specified by Rinkya.

10.2 Except where expressly stated otherwise, fees are non-refundable once inspection, evidence capture, or analysis has begun.

10.3 Users agree not to initiate chargebacks or payment disputes for Services properly rendered. Improper chargebacks may result in denial of future services.

10.4 Authentication and grading fees are flat, published, and never contingent on the outcome of the examination or the value of the item.

11. Shipping, Insurance, and Risk of Loss

11.1 Users are responsible for proper packaging, declared value accuracy, and insurance coverage when shipping Items to Rinkya.

11.2 Risk of loss transfers to Rinkya only upon confirmed physical receipt and transfers back to the User upon tender to the outbound carrier.

11.3 Rinkya is not an insurer and assumes no responsibility for carrier loss, customs seizure, delay, or damage except to the extent required by law.

11.4 While Items are in Rinkya's physical custody, Rinkya shall exercise reasonable professional care consistent with industry standards for handling collectibles and fine art. Rinkya's liability for loss of or damage to an Item during custody shall not exceed the lesser of (a) the documented replacement cost or (b) the declared value at the time of submission, and only to the extent such loss or damage is not covered by the User's own insurance.

11.5 Rinkya maintains appropriate bailee insurance coverage for Items in its physical custody. Users are encouraged to maintain their own insurance coverage at all times. Rinkya will provide notice before any relocation of the facility where Items in its custody are held.

11.6 International shipments, customs, and import charges. If your item travels to or from an address outside the United States, you are responsible for all customs duties, import taxes, VAT, brokerage charges, and any related government or carrier fees, in both directions. We declare international return shipments as your own property returned to you after an authentication service, not as a sale; customs authorities in some countries may nevertheless assess charges, and any such charges are yours. If a shipment is refused, returned, or abandoned because customs charges were not paid, any storage, return, or redelivery costs are also your responsibility.

12. Seals, Records, Verification, and Intellectual Property

12.1 If applied, Seals link an Item to its Record solely at the time of certification.

12.2 Any removal, damage, alteration, transfer, or attempted reuse of a Seal immediately voids the certified state of the Item.

12.3 Records may be publicly viewable. Rinkya makes no representation regarding third-party interpretation, acceptance, or reliance on Records.

12.4 All photographs, imaging, documentation, and Records created as part of the Service are the intellectual property of Rinkya. Users are granted a non-exclusive, revocable license to display Records only in direct connection with the certified Item and without modification.

12.5 Third-Party Intellectual Property. Character names, series titles, studio and brand names, trademarks, and artwork appearing in listings, Records, and examination materials are the property of their respective owners. They are used solely to identify and describe the physical item examined or sold. No affiliation with, or sponsorship or endorsement by, any rights holder is claimed or implied. Rinkya reproduces images of items solely for identification, provenance documentation, examination evidence, and the sale of the physical item. Rights holders with concerns about any image or Record may contact authentic@rinkya.com.

12.6 No Intellectual Property Rights Transferred. The sale or authentication of an item transfers or licenses no copyright, trademark, or other intellectual property right in any underlying artwork, character, or work. Purchasing an item entitles the buyer to own, display, and resell the physical object; it does not permit reproduction, merchandising, or other commercial exploitation of the underlying artwork.

12.7 Copyright Notices and Takedown. Rinkya responds to notices of alleged copyright infringement under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. Notices should be sent to Rinkya's designated Copyright Agent at authentic@rinkya.com or by mail to Rinkya, Inc., 10105 E Via Linda Ste 103, PMB 3067, Scottsdale, AZ 85258, and should include: identification of the copyrighted work; the URL or location of the material claimed to be infringing; the complainant's contact information; a statement of good-faith belief that the use is not authorized by the rights holder; a statement, under penalty of perjury, that the information in the notice is accurate and that the complainant is authorized to act for the rights holder; and a physical or electronic signature. Rinkya will remove or disable access to material identified in a valid notice and will terminate the accounts of repeat infringers.

13. Sales by Rinkya and Authenticity Guarantee

13.1 Scope. This Section applies where Rinkya is the seller of an item offered through the Platform, including marketplace listings sold by Rinkya and private sales concluded by Rinkya. Where an item is offered by any other seller, that seller's own terms of sale govern the sale.

13.2 Authenticity Guarantee.

(a) Meaning of "Authentic." "Authentic" means that an item is what the heading of its description states it to be, in every collectible category the Platform sells. By way of illustration and without limiting the rule: (i) where the heading identifies an original production cel, drawing, or background, an original, hand-painted piece created during and for the production of the identified work; (ii) where the heading identifies a licensed reproduction, limited-edition piece, or sericel, a genuine example of that stated class; (iii) where the heading identifies a fan-made original, a genuine hand-painted original work as stated, and not a print or a misdescribed studio piece; (iv) where the heading identifies an autographed item, an item bearing a genuine autograph of the named person; (v) where the heading identifies a prototype, production-used, or screen-used piece, a genuine example of that stated origin; and (vi) where the heading identifies a graded or third-party-certified item, an item whose stated grade and certification are genuine. Rinkya identifies reproduction and derivative classes as such when sold.

(b) The Guarantee. Rinkya guarantees, as an independent contractual undertaking concerning Rinkya's own future conduct, and separate and distinct from any warranty relating to the item itself, that upon a Qualifying Claim, Rinkya will rescind the sale and refund the full purchase price, including fees.

(c) Qualifying Claim. A claim is a Qualifying Claim only if: (i) it is presented to Rinkya in writing within four (4) years after the sale date; (ii) it is shown that the item is not Authentic; and (iii) the item is returned to Rinkya in the same condition in which it was received, shipped in appropriate protective packaging and insured for the full purchase price. These requirements are substantive conditions of Rinkya's obligation under this guarantee, not procedural prerequisites to suit.

(d) Breach and accrual. Rinkya's obligation under this guarantee arises only upon a Qualifying Claim. This guarantee is breached only if Rinkya fails or refuses to rescind and refund within thirty (30) days after a Qualifying Claim is established, and no cause of action on this guarantee accrues before that failure or refusal.

(e) Time to sue. Any action for breach of this guarantee must be commenced within one (1) year after the failure or refusal described in (d), and not afterward.

(f) Transfer. This guarantee extends to any current owner holding a completed ownership transfer on the item's certificate.

(g) Remedies for description claims. The remedies for any claim that an item sold by Rinkya is not Authentic or does not conform to its heading description, however styled, are limited to the rescission and refund provided by this guarantee. This limitation of remedies does not make this guarantee a warranty of the item; the guarantee remains the independent undertaking stated in (b).

(h) Records. A Record evidences the opinion rendered at examination as of its date. The continued availability or display of a Record is not a new, continuing, or repeated representation or warranty, and does not extend or restart any period in this Section.

13.3 Related-Party Items (◆). Items marked ◆ are offered for sale by a related party: they are owned by Rinkya, by a principal of Rinkya, or by the Certifier who authenticated or graded them. This ownership is disclosed at the point of sale. ◆ items are authenticated and graded under the same published methodology and evidence standards as all other items, and their Records are public and permanently verifiable. Neither Rinkya nor any Certifier issues an appraisal or value opinion on an item in which they hold an ownership interest. ◆ items sold by Rinkya carry the Authenticity Guarantee in this Section.

13.4 Price Privacy. Transaction amounts for private sales are confidential. Rinkya records them for the owner's documentation and does not publish them or use them as comparables unless the owner elects to publish.

13.5 Comparable Sales. Comparable sales shown on any Record are reported third-party transactions, sourced and dated. They are not an appraisal and not a statement of the item's value.

14. Cancellations, Refusals, and Incomplete Submissions

14.1 Rinkya may cancel or refuse the Service at any stage if:

• The Item does not meet eligibility requirements.
• The Item differs materially from the submission description.
• Required information, access, or documentation is missing.
• Fraud, misrepresentation, or prohibited conduct is suspected.

14.2 If inspection has not yet begun, Rinkya may refund fees at its discretion. Once inspection or evidence capture has begun, fees are non-refundable unless otherwise stated.

14.3 Returned Items shall be shipped at the User's expense unless otherwise agreed.

15. Prohibited Conduct

Users may not:

• Submit Items solely to obtain documentation, images, or Records without intent to retain certification.
• Submit altered, substituted, or intentionally misrepresented Items.
• Remove, transfer, or reuse Seals or labels on different items.
• Misuse Authentication Results or Records to deceive others or misrepresent scope, certainty, or endorsement.
• Represent Rinkya Authentic as a guarantee of value, provenance, or future resale success.

18. Indemnification

Users agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Rinkya, its officers, directors, employees, advisors, and contractors from any claims, losses, damages, or expenses arising out of:

• Submission of the Item;
• Use or misuse of Authentication Results or Records;
• Breach of these Terms; or
• Violation of any law or third-party rights.

19. Privacy

Rinkya's handling of personal information and submission data is governed by its Privacy Policy, which is incorporated by reference.

20. Personal Information, Retention, and Erasure

20.1 We collect the minimum personal information the service requires: contact details to administer submissions, transactions and ownership records, and the provenance details an owner chooses to record. We do not collect government identification or street addresses of record owners. If you subscribe to the Rinkya Authentic Newsletter, we also hold the email address you signed up with, on a confirmed opt-in basis, until you unsubscribe; every issue carries an unsubscribe link.

20.2 Certificates are permanent records about an item. Personal information is not part of the permanent record: nothing personal is written to any blockchain, and a certificate's public page identifies an owner only as "Private Collection" unless 20.3 applies.

20.3 A person's name appears on a public certificate only after that person confirms it themselves through their signed-in owner access. Consent may be withdrawn at any time with effect for the future.

20.4 We retain personal information only as long as the purpose it was collected for requires, as described in our retention policy, and transactional records no longer than required for tax, dispute and guarantee administration.

20.5 A person may request erasure of their personal information. On a verified request we remove it from the live service without undue delay, except information we are required or reasonably need to retain under 20.4, which is redacted when that need ends.

20.6 Erasure removes information about the person; it does not alter the certificate, images, findings or blockchain anchors concerning the item. A non-personal record that an erasure occurred is retained.

20.7 Backup copies expire on a rolling schedule and are not edited in place; erased information ages out of backups automatically. Records held by third-party providers (such as email delivery logs) are governed by those providers' terms.

22. Force Majeure and Changes to Terms

22.1 Rinkya shall not be liable for delays or failures caused by events beyond reasonable control, including natural disasters, labor disruptions, carrier failures, customs actions, or governmental orders.

22.2 Rinkya may update these Terms at any time by posting revised Terms. Continued use of the Service constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.

23. Abandoned Items

23.1 If a User fails to arrange return shipment, pay required fees, or accept delivery within thirty (30) days after notice, the Item may be deemed abandoned.

23.2 Rinkya may, at its sole discretion, store, dispose of, donate, or otherwise handle abandoned Items without liability.

24. Assignment, Severability, and Survival

24.1 Users may not assign these Terms without Rinkya's prior written consent. Rinkya may assign these Terms freely.

24.2 If any provision is found unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.

24.3 Sections relating to liability, intellectual property, indemnification, dispute resolution, the Authenticity Guarantee, and abandoned Items shall survive termination or completion of any Service or sale.

25. Contact Information

Rinkya, Inc.
10105 E Via Linda Ste 103, PMB 3067
Scottsdale, AZ 85258
authentic@rinkya.com