Terms of Service

These terms are a deal between you and Middleman ("we", "us"). By using the Middleman website, web app, waitlist, or any Middleman link page, you agree to them. If you do not agree, do not use Middleman.

1. Who can use Middleman

• You must be 18 or older.
• You must live in the United States. Middleman is only offered in the US.
• Sellers need an account. You log in with a code we email you, so keep your email account safe. You are responsible for what happens on your account.
• Buyers do not need an account. You can pay with just an email, and save the unlock to an account later.
• You must give true info and not make extra accounts to get around a ban or fake ratings.

2. What Middleman does

Middleman has two features:

• Sell a secret. You write a secret and a short teaser and set a price. People with the link can pay to see the secret.
• Sell access. You lock a code or link, like a promo code, presale code, invite link, beta code, or download link, behind a price. People with the link can pay to get it.

You can post under your display name or anonymously. An anonymous post shows only your alias to buyers. It does not hide you from us, and these terms apply the same way. You are responsible for everything you post.

3. What you cannot post

You cannot use Middleman to post or sell:

• Threats of harm or violence.
• Blackmail or pressure, like "pay or I post this".
• Other people's private info, such as home addresses, phone numbers, ID or account numbers, or health info.
• Nude or sexual images or sexual content of any kind.
• Hate based on race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or where someone is from.
• Anything about a minor that is sexual or harmful.
• Things you know are false and that would hurt someone's reputation.
• Secrets you got by breaking the law or a promise you are legally bound by, like a work contract.
• Fake secrets. A secret must be real and match its teaser.
• Codes or links that are not yours to sell, that do not work, or that do not match the teaser.

A computer checks each new post for the worst of these rules, like threats or sexual content, and may block it. No person reviews posts before they go out, so passing that check does not mean we approve a post. Buyers rate what they unlock, and sellers with many low ratings lose trust on Middleman. We look into reports and payment disputes. We can remove any post, hold any payment, and close any account that breaks these rules.

4. Prices and the 50/50 split

• Sellers set the price, from $5.00 to $5,000.00.
• The buyer pays the price shown.
• The seller gets half of the price. Middleman keeps the other half. If the price has an odd number of cents, the extra cent goes to Middleman. Example: on a $20.00 sale, the seller gets $10.00 and Middleman gets $10.00.
• Founders: people who paid $5 on the waitlist before launch get 75% of the price for as long as Middleman runs, and Middleman keeps 25%. Example: on a $20.00 sale, a founder gets $15.00. Founder spots are limited, and the deal closes when they are gone. The deal is tied to the email used to pay, so sell from an account with that same email. It ends if that $5 is refunded or charged back. Founders can get the $5 back any time before launch.
• Card processing fees come out of Middleman's share.
• You are responsible for any taxes on money you earn. Stripe may send you a tax form.

5. Payments and payouts

• Stripe processes all payments. When you pay or get paid, you also agree to Stripe's terms.
• To get paid, sellers must set up a Stripe account from their Wallet and give Stripe the info it asks for.
• After a sale, the seller's half is held for 3 days, or 7 days during a seller's first 30 days. If there is no open report, we send it to the seller's Stripe account, and Stripe sends it to their bank once a week, on Mondays.
• If there is an open report, the money stays on hold while we review it, for up to 14 days.
• Money earned before you finish Stripe setup waits in your Wallet until setup is done.

6. Refunds

• All sales are final, except as listed here.
• If a buyer reports a post and we find it was fake or misleading, the code did not work, or it broke these rules, we refund the buyer in full and the seller gets nothing for that sale.
• If a seller was already paid for a sale we refund, we can take that amount back from their Stripe account.
• If a buyer files a chargeback with their bank, the seller's half for that sale is frozen until it is settled, or taken back from their Stripe account if it was already paid. If we win, the seller gets it. If the buyer wins, the seller does not.
• To ask for a refund, use the Report button on the link page or email support@themiddleman.app within 30 days.

7. Your content

You own what you write. You give us permission to store it, show it to people with the link and to buyers, and use it to run, check, and improve Middleman. We do not sell your words to anyone. You promise you have the right to share what you post.

8. Reports and removal

Anyone can report a post from its link page. We review reports and may remove posts, refund buyers, hold payouts, or close accounts. If you think we got it wrong, email support@themiddleman.app.

9. Deleting your account

To delete your account, email support@themiddleman.app from your account email. Your posts are taken down and your words are wiped. We keep basic payment records that the law requires us to keep. Money on hold when you delete your account may be refunded to buyers.

10. No promises

Middleman is offered "as is". We do our best to keep it working, but we do not promise it will always be available or free of errors. We are not responsible for what sellers post, for codes or links that stop working because of someone else, or for how people react to a secret.

11. Limit on our liability

To the extent the law allows, our total liability to you for any claim is limited to the larger of $100 or the amount Middleman kept from your sales or purchases in the 12 months before the claim.

12. Disputes

If you have a problem, email support@themiddleman.app first and we will try to fix it. These terms are governed by the laws of the State of Delaware and US federal law.

13. Changes

We may update these terms. If the change is big, we will tell you on the site or by email before it takes effect. If you keep using Middleman after that, you accept the new terms.

14. Contact

Questions? Email support@themiddleman.app.