- PART A: Section 1 (Definitions), Section 5.4 (Proprietary Rights of Shopify), Section 6 (Confidentiality), Section 7 (Disclaimer of Warranty), Section 8 (Limitation of Liability and Indemnification), and Section 9 (General Provisions)
- PART B: Section 6 (Relationship between VAP and Merchant);
- PART C.2: Section 4 (Reporting and Audit); and
- PART D: Section 3.3 (Relationship), Section 3.5 (Taxes), Section 3.6 (Audits).
In addition, any provisions of this Agreement that by their nature are intended to survive, will survive termination.
5. Intellectual Property Rights
Which means
Partners may promote Shopify using the creative materials provided by Shopify. The creative materials of Shopify belong to Shopify, cannot be changed and must be used only to promote the Shopify Services and Shopify brand.
5.1. Shopify Creative
- All Shopify Creative will be solely created and provided by Shopify unless otherwise agreed to by Shopify in writing in advance. Shopify will provide Partner with copies of or access to Shopify Creative. The Shopify Creative may also be accessible from the Partner Program website and the Shopify brand guidelines (“Shopify Trademark Usage Guidelines”). By using the Shopify Creative, you indicate your acceptance of our Shopify Trademark Usage Guidelines and you understand that a violation of these guidelines or this Agreement will result in the termination of your license or permission to use the Shopify Creative. The Shopify Creative is provided “as is” and without warranty of any kind.
- Partner may display Shopify Creative on the Websites solely for the purpose of marketing and promoting the Service and any Shopify brands permitted by Shopify and by Shopify Related Entities during the term of this Agreement, or until such time as Shopify may, upon reasonable prior notice, instruct Partner to cease displaying the Shopify Creative. Partner may not alter, amend, adapt or translate the Shopify Creative without Shopify’s prior written consent. Nothing contained in any Shopify Creative will in any way be deemed a representation or warranty of Shopify or of any of Shopify Related Entity. The Shopify Creative will at all times be the sole and exclusive property of Shopify and no rights of ownership will at any time vest with Partner even in such instances where Partner has been authorized by Shopify to make changes or modifications to the Shopify Creative.
5.2. Shopify Trademarks
Which means
Shopify owns the Shopify Trademarks entirely and Partner agrees to use them only in accordance with the Agreement.
During the term of this Agreement, Shopify hereby grants to Partner a limited, revocable, non-exclusive, non-sublicensable and non-transferable license to display the Shopify Trademarks solely as necessary to perform Partner’s obligations under this Agreement. Partner acknowledges and agrees that: (a) it will use Shopify’s Trademarks only as permitted under this Agreement; (b) it will use the Shopify Trademarks in a lawful manner and in strict compliance with all format(s), guidelines, standards and other requirements prescribed by Shopify in writing from time to time, including but not limited to the Shopify Trademark Usage Guidelines; (c) the Shopify Trademarks are and will remain the sole property of Shopify; (d) nothing in this Agreement will confer in Partner any right of ownership in the Shopify Trademarks and all use thereof by Partner will inure to the benefit of Shopify; (e) Partner will not, now or in the future, apply for or contest the validity of any Shopify Trademarks; and (f) Partner will not, now or in the future, apply for or use any term or mark confusingly similar to any Shopify Trademarks.
5.3. Restrictions on Partner’s Use of the Shopify Trademarks
Which means
Partners cannot use “Shopify”, or the “S” shopping bag design, or any other Shopify Trademarks in the name or design of the Partner’s business or logo, or any Partner product or service (including Apps or Themes) without permission. Partner will not buy search engine advertising, trademarks or domain names that use “Shopify” or other Shopify Trademarks.
Notwithstanding Section 5.2, Partners will not:
- use the Shopify Trademarks or variations or misspellings thereof in Partner’s business name, logo, branding, advertising, social media or domain name (including without limitation top-level domains, sub-domains and page URLs), products or services (including without limitation, in the name or design of any Application or Theme), unless granted express written permission by Shopify in advance of each use; or
- purchase or register search engine or other pay-per-click keywords (such as Google Ads), trademarks, email addresses or domain names that use the Shopify Trademarks or any variations or misspellings thereof that may be deceptively or confusingly similar to the Shopify Trademarks. Partner is strongly encouraged to add the Shopify Trademarks as negative keywords to help prevent violation of this Section.
5.4. Proprietary Rights of Shopify
Which means
All of the information, property and intellectual property you have access to as a result of your participation in the Partner Program belongs entirely to Shopify.
As between Partner and Shopify, the Shopify Creative, Shopify Trademarks, all demographic and other information relating to Merchants including Referred Merchants, prospective Partners and Partners, the Services, the Shopify API, Merchant Data, and all software, documentation, hardware, equipment, devices, templates, tools, documents, processes, methodologies, know-how, websites, and any additional intellectual or other property used by or on behalf of Shopify or Shopify Related Entities or otherwise related to the Service, Shopify Partner Program, Shopify or Shopify Related Entities, together with all copyrights, trademarks, patents, trade secrets and any other proprietary rights inherent therein and appurtenant thereto (collectively, “Shopify Property”) will be and remain the sole and exclusive property of Shopify. To the extent, if any, that ownership of any Shopify Property does not automatically vest in Shopify by virtue of this Agreement, or otherwise, and vests in Partner, Partner hereby transfers and assigns to Shopify, upon the creation thereof, all rights, title and interest Partner may have in and to such Shopify Property (and waives any and all moral rights, as applicable), including the right to sue and recover for past, present and future violations thereof.
5.5. Shopify’s Use of Partner’s Intellectual Property
Partner grants to Shopify a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free, transferable and sub-licensable right and licence to use and display in any manner the Partner's trademarks, service marks, logos, trade names, copyrighted content, graphic files, images and other intellectual property, in connection with and for the purpose of performing its obligations and exercising its rights under this Agreement. In addition, at Shopify's discretion, Shopify may use any such intellectual property for the purposes of promoting or marketing Partner, Partner's products or services, or as otherwise agreed to with Partner.
6. Confidentiality
Which means
Both Shopify and Partner agree to use Confidential Information only to perform the obligations of the Agreement. Confidential Information must be protected and respected. Merchant Data and Customer Data is Shopify’s Confidential Information.
- “Confidential Information” will include, but will not be limited to, any and all information associated with a Party’s business and not publicly known, including specific business information, technical processes and formulas, software, customer lists, prospective customer lists, names, addresses and other information regarding customers and prospective customers, product designs, sales, costs (including any relevant processing fees), price lists, and other unpublished financial information, business plans and marketing data, and any other confidential and proprietary information, whether or not marked as confidential or proprietary. For the avoidance of doubt, as between Shopify and Partner, Merchant Data and Customer Data is the Confidential Information of Shopify.
- Each Party agrees to use the other Party’s/ies’ Confidential Information solely as necessary for performing its obligations under this Agreement and in accordance with any other obligations in this Agreement including this Section 6. Each Party agrees that it will take all reasonable steps, at least substantially equivalent to the steps it takes to protect its own proprietary information, to prevent the duplication, disclosure or use of any such Confidential Information, other than (i) by or to its employees, agents and subcontractors who must have access to such Confidential Information to perform such Party’s obligations under this Agreement, who each will treat such Confidential Information as provided in this Agreement, and who are each subject to obligations of confidentiality to such Party that are at least as stringent as those contained in this Agreement; or (ii) as required by any law, regulation, or order of any court of proper jurisdiction over the Parties and the subject matter contained in this Agreement, provided that, if legally permitted, the receiving Party will give the disclosing Party prompt written notice and use commercially reasonable efforts to ensure that such disclosure is accorded confidential treatment. Confidential Information will not include any information that the receiving Party can prove: (A) was already in the public domain, or was already known by or in the possession of the receiving Party, at the time of disclosure of such information; (B) is independently developed by the receiving Party without use of or reference to the other Party’s/ies’ Confidential Information, and without breaching any provisions of this Agreement; or (C) is thereafter rightly obtained by the receiving Party from a source other than the disclosing Party without breaching any provision of this Agreement.
7. Disclaimer of warranty
Which means
Shopify makes no warranties about the Shopify Partner Program, the Plus Partner Program, the Service, the Shopify API, the Shopify Trademarks, Ads, or the Shopify Creative.
The Shopify Partner Program, the Service, the Shopify Trademarks, the Shopify Creative, Ads (including delivery and related reporting) and the Shopify API (including without limitation the Sales Channel SDK and the Shopify Billing API) are provided “as-is”. Shopify makes no warranties under this Agreement, and Shopify expressly disclaims all warranties, express or implied, including, but not limited to, warranties of merchantability, non-infringement or fitness for a particular purpose. Without limiting the foregoing, Shopify further disclaims all representations and warranties, express or implied, that the Service, the Shopify API, the Shopify Trademarks, the Shopify Creative, or the Shopify API (including without limitation the Sales Channel SDK and the Shopify Billing API) satisfy all of Partner’s or Merchant’s requirements and or will be uninterrupted, error-free or free from harmful components.
8. Limitation of Liability and Indemnification
Which means
Shopify is limiting its liability with regard to the Shopify Partner Program, the Plus Partner Program, the Service, the Shopify API, the Shopify Trademarks, the Shopify Creative, the relationship between the Partner and any Merchant, and Shopify’s obligations under the Agreement. If there is a liability owed to the Partner by Shopify, Shopify will provide no more than the Fees that were paid to Partner in the past six months.
8.1. Limitation of Liability
Shopify, and the Shopify Related Entities, will have no liability with respect to the Shopify Partner Program, the Service, the Shopify API, the Shopify Trademarks, the Shopify Creative or Shopify’s obligations under this Agreement or otherwise for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or exemplary damages, including but not limited to, damages for losses of profits, goodwill, use, data or other intangible losses resulting in any way from the Service, the Shopify API, the Shopify Trademarks, the Shopify Creative, or Partner’s participation or inability to participate in the Shopify Partner Program, even if Shopify has been advised of the possibility of such damages. In any event, Shopify’s, and the Shopify Related Entities’, liability to Partner under this Agreement for any reason will be limited to the Fees paid to Partner by Shopify during the six (6) month period immediately preceding the event giving rise to the claim for damages. This limitation applies to all causes of action in the aggregate, including, but not limited to, breach of contract, breach of warranty, negligence, strict liability, misrepresentations, and other torts. The relationship between a Merchant and a Partner is strictly between the Merchant and the Partner, and neither Shopify or the Shopify Related Entities are obligated to intervene in any dispute arising between the Merchant and the Partner. Under no circumstances will Shopify, or the Shopify Related Entities, be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential, punitive, extraordinary, exemplary or other damages whatsoever, that result from or relate to the Partner’s relationship with any Merchant. These limitations will apply even if Shopify or the Shopify Related Entities have been advised of the possibility of such damages. The foregoing limitations will apply to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.
8.2. Partner Indemnification
Which means
Partner will cover all costs associated with a claim made against, or liabilities incurred by, Shopify if it is caused by Partner’s breach of this Agreement (including the Acceptable Use Policy), Partner’s gross negligence or wilful misconduct, promises made by Partner to third parties about Shopify, Partner’s use of the Shopify API, Partner’s products or services, Partner’s infringement or violation of the intellectual property or other rights of a third party, Partner’s violation of applicable law, or Partner’s relationship with a Merchant.
Partner agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless Shopify and any Shopify Related Entities and the directors, officers, employees, subcontractors and agents thereof (each, an “Indemnified Party”, and collectively, the “Indemnified Parties”), with respect to any claim, demand, cause of action, debt or liability, including reasonable attorneys’ fees (collectively, “claims”), to the extent that such claim is based upon or arises out of: (a) Partner’s breach of any representation, warranty, obligation or covenant under this Agreement; (b) Partner’s gross negligence or wilful misconduct; (c) any warranty, condition, representation, indemnity or guarantee relating to Shopify and Shopify Related Entities granted by Partner to any Merchant, prospective Partner or other third party; (d) Partner’s use of the Shopify API, (including without limitation the Sales Channel SDK and Shopify Billing API); (e) Partner’s breach of any term of this Agreement (including any documents it incorporates by reference) or a Merchant Agreement; (f) any third party claim that Partner’s products or services, including without limitation any Application, Theme, or Channel Platform infringes the intellectual property or other rights of a third party; (g) Partner Taxes, including any audits or penalties related thereto; (h) the performance, non-performance or improper performance of the Partner’s products or services, including without limitation, any Application or Theme or Channel Platform; (i) Partner’s relationship with any Merchant; and (j) any breach of applicable law by the Partner.
8.3. Notice of Indemnification
Which means
Shopify will notify Partner of any claims and may choose to assist in the defense.
In claiming any indemnification under this Agreement, the Indemnified Party will promptly provide Partner with written notice of any claim which the Indemnified Party believes falls within the scope of the indemnifications provided under this Agreement. The Indemnified Party may, at its own expense, assist in the defense if it so chooses, provided that Partner will control such defense and all negotiations relative to the settlement of any such claim and further provided that in settling any claim the Partner will not make any admission on behalf of the Indemnified Party or agree to any terms or conditions that do or reasonably could result in any admission by, or the imposition of any liability upon, the Indemnified Party without the prior written approval of the Indemnified Party.
8.4. Non-exclusive remedies
Which means
Which means: If Partner breaches its obligations with respect to Partner’s responsibilities (Section 2), making direct payment to Shopify if Partner doesn’t use the Shopify Billing API (Section 3.2.5), Shopify’s intellectual property or other proprietary rights (Section 5) or confidentiality (Section 6), Shopify has rights outside of “breach of contract”.
In the event of any breach or threatened breach by Partner of any provision of Sections 2, 3.2.5, 5 or 6 above, in addition to all other rights and remedies available to Shopify under this Agreement and under applicable law, Shopify will have the right to (a) immediately enjoin all such activity, without the necessity of showing damages or posting bond or other security, (b) immediately terminate this Agreement and Partner’s access to the Partner Program, (c) receive a prompt refund of all amounts paid to Partner under this Agreement, and (d) be indemnified for any losses, damages or liability incurred by Shopify in connection with such violation, in accordance with the provisions of this Section 8.
9. General provisions
Which means
In case something serious happens outside the control of either Shopify or Partner, both will be excused from performance of duties to the extent that such event affects either Party’s ability to perform such duties.
9.1. Force Majeure
If the performance of any part of this Agreement by either Party is prevented, hindered, delayed or otherwise made impracticable by reason of any flood, riot, fire, judicial or governmental action (including, but not limited to, any law, regulation or embargo prohibiting the performance contemplated under this Agreement or the failure or refusal of a government agency to issue a license required for any performance pursuant to this Agreement), labour disputes, act of God or any cause beyond the reasonable control of that Party, the Party will be excused from such performance to the extent that it is prevented, hindered or delayed by such cause. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Party prevented from performing under this Agreement by a force majeure event will nevertheless use its best efforts to recommence its performance under this Agreement as soon as reasonably practicable and to mitigate any damages resulting from its non-performance under this Agreement.
9.2. Independent Contractors
Which means
Both Shopify and Partner are independent contractors in respect of each other. There is no relationship of agents, representatives or otherwise between you and Shopify, except when Shopify is dealing with Merchant payments, credits and refunds on your behalf, or unless we say we are expressly doing something on your behalf in this Agreement.
The Parties to this Agreement are independent contractors. Except with respect to the collection and transfer of payments, credits or refunds between Merchants and Partner, or as otherwise expressly stated in this Agreement, neither Shopify or any Shopify Related Entity is an agent, representative or related entity of the Partner. Neither Shopify nor the Partner will have any right, power or authority to enter into any agreement for, or on behalf of, or incur any obligation or liability of, or otherwise bind, the other Party, except where the Partner expressly authorizes Shopify to act on its behalf in this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, Partner expressly authorizes Shopify to act on its behalf for the purposes of collecting and remitting payment, credits or refunds between Merchant and Partner. This Agreement will not be interpreted or construed to create an association, agency, joint venture or partnership between the Parties or to impose any liability attributable to such a relationship upon either Party.
9.3. Non-Exclusivity
Which means
Both Shopify and Partner are non-exclusive to each other and each can enter into similar arrangements with others, as long as that Party does not use the other Party’s confidential information.
Nothing in this Agreement is intended to create, nor will it be construed as creating, any exclusive arrangement between the Parties to this Agreement. This Agreement will not restrict either Party from entering into similar arrangements with others, provided it does not breach its obligations under this Agreement by doing so, including without limitation, any confidentiality obligations.
9.4. Notice
Which means
Notice is considered to be sent on the day it is emailed or hand delivered, 2 days after it is given to a courier, or 5 days after it is placed in the mail.
Any notice, approval, request, authorization, direction or other communication under this Agreement will be given in writing and will be deemed to have been delivered and given for all purposes (a) on the delivery date if delivered personally, or by email to Partner’s email address listed in the Partner Account, and to legal@shopify.com; (b) two (2) business days after deposit with an internationally recognized commercial overnight courier service, with written verification of receipt; or (c) five (5) business days after deposit in certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, postage and charges prepaid. Notice will be sent to the Partner at the address provided in the Partner Account, and to Shopify at 151 O’Connor Street, Ground floor, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K2P 2L8 Attention: Legal Department.
9.5. No Waiver
Which means
If a provision is not enforced by any Party, it does not mean that they are waiving their rights to enforce that provision in the future.
The failure of any Party to insist upon or enforce strict performance by another Party of any provision of this Agreement or to exercise any right under this Agreement will not be construed as a waiver or relinquishment to any extent of such Party’s right to assert or rely upon any such provision or right in that or any other instance; rather, the same will be and remain in full force and effect. Each waiver will be set forth in a written instrument signed by the waiving Party.
9.6. Entire Agreement
Which means
This Agreement and the documents it links to and references are the entire agreement governing the relationship between Shopify and Partner under the Partner Program, and it replaces any previous agreements.
This Agreement, including any completed application form and all guidelines and other documents linked or otherwise incorporated or referenced in this Agreement, sets forth the entire agreement and supersedes any and all prior agreements, written or oral, of the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof (including, but not limited to, any prior version of this Agreement). Neither Shopify nor the Partner will be bound by, and each Party specifically objects to, any term, condition or other provision that is different from or in addition to the provisions of this Agreement (whether or not it would materially alter this Agreement) and which is proffered by another Party in any correspondence or other document, unless the Party to be bound thereby specifically agrees to such provision in writing.
This Agreement may be available in languages other than English. To the extent of any inconsistencies or conflicts between this English Agreement and the Agreements available in another language, the most current English version of the Agreement will prevail.
9.7. Assignment
Which means
Partner cannot assign away or transfer this agreement to another party without Shopify’s consent.
All the terms and provisions of this Agreement will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Parties to this Agreement and to their respective heirs, successors, permitted assigns and legal representatives. Shopify will be permitted to assign this agreement without notice to or consent from Partner. Partner will have no right to assign or otherwise transfer this Agreement, or any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement, to any third party without Shopify’s prior written consent, to be given or withheld in Shopify’s sole discretion. Transfer can include acquisition, merger, change of control, or other forms of transfer. To submit a request for Shopify’s consent to assignment or transfer, contact Shopify Partner Support in the Partner Dashboard.
9.8. Applicable Laws
Which means
This agreement is covered by the laws of Ontario, Canada. If anything were to go wrong, Ontario is where the issue would be litigated.
This Agreement will be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the Province of Ontario and the laws of Canada applicable therein, without regard to principles of conflicts of laws. The United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods will not apply to this Agreement and is hereby expressly excluded.
The parties irrevocably and unconditionally submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the Province of Ontario with respect to any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with this Agreement.
9.9. Patent Non-Assertion
Which means
You agree not to sue us for patent infringement.
Partner and its affiliates covenant not to assert patent infringement claims against Shopify, Shopify Related Entities, or Shopify products and services including the Shopify API.
9.10. Competitive or Similar Materials
Which means
Which means: Shopify may develop products or services that compete with Partner’s products or services so long as Shopify does not use Partner’s Confidential Information.
Shopify is not precluded from discussing, reviewing, developing for itself, having developed, acquiring, licensing, or developing for or by third parties, as well as marketing and distributing materials, products or services which are competitive with Partner’s products or services, including without limitation any Application or Theme, regardless of their similarity to Partner’s products or services, provided that Shopify does not use Partner’s Confidential Information in so doing.
9.11. Feedback
Which means
If you provide Shopify with Feedback about the Partner Program, Shopify API, Shopify Creative or the Service, we will own this Feedback and we can use it without restriction.
If Partner provides any feedback (including identifying potential errors and improvements) to Shopify concerning the Partner Program, the Shopify API, the Shopify Creative or any aspects of the Service (“Feedback”), Partner hereby assigns to Shopify all right, title, and interest in and to the Feedback, and Shopify is free to use, reproduce, disclose, and otherwise exploit the Feedback without attribution, payment or restriction, including to improve the Partner Program, Shopify API, the Shopify Creative or the Service and to create other products and services. Shopify will treat any Feedback as non-confidential and non-proprietary. Partner will not submit any Feedback that it considers confidential or proprietary.
9.12. Beta Services
From time to time, Shopify may, in its sole discretion, invite Partner to use, on a trial basis, potential new services or features that are in development and not yet available to all Partners or Merchants (“Beta Services”). Beta Services may be subject to additional terms and conditions, which Shopify will provide to Partner prior to Partner’s use of the Beta Services. Such Beta Services and all associated conversations and materials relating thereto will be considered Confidential Information of Shopify and subject to the confidentiality provisions of this Agreement. Shopify makes no representations or warranties that the Beta Services will function. Shopify may discontinue the Beta Services at any time in its sole discretion. Shopify will have no liability for any harm or damage arising out of or in connection with a Beta Service.
9.13. Service Providers
Which means
Partner can work with third parties, but is responsible for any breach of this Agreement by those third parties.
Partner may work with service providers as necessary to facilitate Partner’s performance under this Agreement. Partner acknowledges and agrees that Partner is responsible for all of its service providers’ acts or omissions in relation to Partner’s performance of the Agreement, and any act or omission by Partner’s service provider amounting to a breach of this Agreement will be deemed to be a breach by Partner.
9.14. Industry Standards
Which means
If Partner has access to Merchant Data, Partner will only use it to provide services to the Merchant, will not communicate with Merchant’s customers unless explicitly allowed, only keep Merchant Data for as long as necessary to provide its services to the Merchant, use industry standard security measures to protect against security breaches and comply with all laws. If Partner suspects any breach of Merchant Data, Partner will notify Shopify immediately.
- Partner’s networks, operating system and software of its web servers, routers, databases, and computer systems (collectively, “Partner System”) must be properly configured to Internet industry standards so as to securely operate Partner’s Website, Applications and Themes, as applicable. If Partner does not completely control some aspect of the Partner System, Partner will use all influence that Partner has over the Partner System to do so. Partner must diligently correct any security deficiency and disconnect immediately any known or suspected intrusions or intruder.
- In addition, if Partner has access to Merchant Data, Partner: (i) will only use or store such information for the purpose of providing the Partner’s services to the Merchant to whom the Merchant Data relates, and will not share, sell, disclose or otherwise provide such information to any third party, except as provided for in this Agreement; (ii) will not communicate with Customers directly or indirectly, provided however that Partner may contact Customers if the information is obtained from another source, such as from the Customers themselves; (iii) will only store such information for as long as reasonably necessary to provide the Partner’s services to the Merchant to whom the Merchant Data relates; (iv) will use industry standard measures to protect against unauthorized access to, disclosure or use of such information; (v) will comply with all applicable laws and regulations relating to the protection and privacy of personally identifiable information in Partner’s provision of the Partner’s services; and (vi) will notify Shopify of any actual or suspected breach or compromise of Merchant Data (a “Data Breach”) immediately upon, but no later than twenty-four (24) hours of, becoming aware of such occurrence, by reporting an issue to Shopify Partner Support via email at https://help.shopify.com/questions/partners. Upon learning of the Data Breach, at its own cost, Partner will: (A) promptly remedy the Data Breach to prevent any further loss of Merchant Data; (B) investigate the incident; (C) take reasonable actions to mitigate any future anticipated harm to Shopify, the Shopify Related Entities, Merchants or Customers; and (D) regularly communicate the progress of its investigation to Shopify and cooperate to provide Shopify with any additional requested information in a timely manner.
9.15. Severability
Which means
If a provision in this Agreement isn’t enforceable for any reason, the rest of the Agreement will still be enforceable.
If any provision of this Agreement is, for any reason, held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, then such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability will not affect any other provision of the Agreement, and the Agreement will be construed as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained within the Agreement.
9.16. Shopify Asia’s Role and a Description of Shopify Entities
Which means
You can treat Shopify Inc. as acting on behalf of all Shopify entities that are parties to this Agreement. Our lawyers instructed us to tell you a bit about ourselves.
- In certain circumstances and as necessary, Shopify Inc. may perform this Agreement as agent for Shopify Asia, in which case, the liability of each Shopify Entity will be several for the purposes of this Agreement.
- Shopify Inc. is a corporation formed under the laws of Canada, with offices located at 151 O’Connor Street, Ground floor, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K2P 2L8.
- Shopify Asia is a corporation formed under the laws of Singapore, with its offices located at 77 Robinson Road, #13-00 Robinson 77, Singapore 068896.
Part B - Additional Terms Applicable to Referral Partners
This Part B contains terms applicable to Referral Partners generally.
1. FTC Guidelines
Which means
Partner should ensure that it follows all FTC requirements that apply to Partner and its activities as a Referral Partner.
- The Federal Trade Commission in the United States (“FTC”) has guidelines for governing endorsements and testimonials. These rules are aimed at increasing transparency between endorsers and consumers. As a member of the Partner Program with Shopify, Partner receives compensation for the Referred Merchant referrals made to Shopify. This may establish a “material connection” according to FTC rules, which creates an obligation for Partner to provide disclosure to consumers.
- Full compliance with these guidelines requires, among other things, that (a) Partner clearly and conspicuously disclose that Partner is being compensated for referring Referred Merchants to Shopify, and (b) Partner not engage in misleading or deceptive advertising. For further information Partner should refer to the statement released by the FTC regarding these guidelines.
2. Revenue Sharing Plans for Referral Partners
Which means
Referral Partners cannot buy search engine advertising, trademarks or domain names that mention or use “Shopify” or other Shopify logos and cannot engage in any fraudulent, spam or low quality marketing activities.
- The “Reference Plan” is a revenue sharing plan applicable to Partners that introduce Shopify to a Referred Merchant through a Development Store associated with the Referral Partner’s Partner Dashboard. Under the Reference Plan, a Partner is entitled to a percentage of certain revenue received from such Referred Merchant, to be determined by Shopify in its sole discretion, with Shopify being entitled to the remaining percentage. A description of the current revenue share percentages applicable to Partners and amounts eligible to be included in the Partner’s revenue share is available at: help.shopify.com/partners/getting-started/how-to-earn. Shopify reserves the right to revise the revenue share applicable to the Reference Plan, and any ongoing obligations to receive revenue share from time to time, at its sole discretion, upon reasonable prior notice to Partner. Such notice will be provided by email, posting a notice on the Shopify blog, or in the Partner Dashboard.
- The “Bounty Plan” is a bonus plan that pays Partner a fixed, one-time payment (“Bounty”) when the Partner introduces Shopify to a Referred Merchant using the Partner Affiliate Link. The Bounty Plan is not applicable in respect of the Shopify Plus plan. Unless otherwise agreed to in writing by Shopify, under the Bounty Plan, when a Referred Merchant is referred by a Partner to a Shopify plan (other than Shopify Plus), Partner will receive a fixed one-time Bounty of two hundred percent (200%) of one-month’s subscription revenue received from such Referred Merchant. Any Bounty payable to a Partner will be paid in two parts. The first half of the Bounty will be paid within 30 days after the Referred Merchant pays Shopify their first monthly subscription fee. The second half of the bounty will be paid within 30 days of the end of the calendar month in which the first half of the Bounty was paid. The Bounty Plan may also apply where a Referred Merchant is introduced to Shopify by more than one Referral Partner. See help.shopify.com/partners/getting-started/how-to-earn for more details. Shopify reserves the right to revise the revenue share amounts applicable to the Bounty Plan from time to time, at its sole discretion, upon reasonable prior notice to Partner. Such notice will be provided by email, posting a notice on the Shopify blog or in the Partner Dashboard.
- For each Referral Merchant, Partner will be entitled to receive Fees from either the Reference Plan or the Bounty Plan, but not both. Where Partner introduces Shopify to a Referred Merchant through a Development Store associated with the Referral Partner's Dashboard, the Partner will be entitled to receive Fees in accordance with the Reference Plan. Where a Partner introduces Shopify to a Referred Merchant through the Referral Partner’s Affiliate Link, the Partner will be entitled to receive Fees in accordance with the Bounty Plan. Whether the Partner receives Fees in respect of a Referred Merchant under either the Reference Plan or the Bounty Plan is at Shopify’s sole and absolute discretion. To learn more about the Reference Plan and Bounty Plan, please visit help.shopify.com/partners/how-to-earn.
- Shopify reserves the right to (i) demand and receive information from Referral Partners about any Referred Merchant, including but not limited to information with respect to traffic sources and methods used to acquire the Referred Merchant, and (ii) assess the legitimacy and qualification of such Referred Merchant for the purposes of determining whether a Fee is payable for such Referred Merchant. Shopify will not be responsible to pay any Fees for a Referred Merchant owned in whole or in part by a Referral Partner or Referral Partner’s employer (whether full-time, part-time, term or any other employment type relationship).
3. Responsibilities
Referral Partners will use their best efforts to (i) promote and market Shopify, and (ii) identify for Shopify prospective Referred Merchants.
4. Unauthorized and Prohibited Activities
Which means
Developers cannot (1) provide incentives in exchange for reviews of their Apps or Themes, (2) include code in Apps that is not related to the services provided by the App (including code for the purposes of cryptocurrency mining), or (3) distribute an App or Theme with the purpose of criminal or unlawful activity.
- A Partner will not:
- promote or advertise Shopify or Shopify Related Entities on coupon, deal, or discount sites or on GTP/Get Paid to Click or other incentivized sites, or display any offer code on a public-facing page or through the use of a “click to display” offer code;
- use its Affiliate Link directly in any pay-per-click advertising;
- purchase search engine or other pay-per-click keywords (such as Google Ads), trademarks or domain names that use the Shopify Trademarks or the names or trademarks of any Shopify Related Entities or any variations or misspellings thereof that may be deceptively or confusingly similar to the Shopify Trademarks or the names or trademarks of any Shopify Related Entity;
- create or participate in any third party networks or sub-affiliate networks without the express written permission of Shopify;
- use or encourage any means of delivering fraudulent traffic, including but not limited to use of bots or toolbar traffic, cookie stuffing, or use of false or misleading links;
- use direct linking to any page on any Shopify website, without prior written permission from Shopify; or
- mask its referral sites or use deceptive redirecting links.
5. Development Stores
During the development of a Merchant Store by the VAP on behalf of a Merchant, the VAP may designate the store as a Development Store. A Development Store is not publicly visible and is not subject to monthly subscription fees. A Development Store cannot be used to process orders on behalf of the Partner or the Merchant; provided, however, that Development Stores may be used to process test orders. A Development Store is deemed to become a Merchant Store upon the earlier of: (a) the payment of monthly subscription fees for the store by either the VAP or Merchant; and (b) the transfer by the VAP of ownership of the Development Store to the Merchant, at which time the VAP or the Merchant’s use of the Merchant Store will be subject to the Shopify Terms of Service.
6. Relationship between VAP and Merchant
The services provided by a VAP to a Merchant are the responsibility of the VAP and not of Shopify. It is the VAP’s responsibility to ensure that there is a Merchant Agreement in place between the VAP and Merchant for the services to be provided by the VAP to the Merchant, and that the Merchant Agreement includes appropriate remedies in the event of non-payment by Merchant for services rendered by the VAP, provided that any such remedy that includes the withholding of the transfer of ownership of the Development Store or Merchant Store to the Merchant will be enforced by Shopify at its sole discretion. In the event of a dispute between the VAP and the Merchant, Shopify is not obligated to intervene in any such dispute. Under no circumstances will Shopify be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential, punitive, extraordinary, exemplary or other damages whatsoever, that result from or relate to the transfer of ownership of the Development Store or Merchant Store to the Merchant by Shopify, or the VAP’s relationship with any Merchant. These limitations will apply even if Shopify has been advised of the possibility of such damages. The foregoing limitations will apply to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.
Part C - Additional Terms Applicable to Developers
This Part C contains terms applicable to Developers generally. Section C.1 contains additional terms applicable to Theme Developers. Section C.2 contains additional terms applicable to App Developers. Section C.3 contains additional terms applicable to Channel Developers. Section C.4 contains additional terms applicable to Payment Gateway Developers.
1. Access to the Shopify API
Access to and use of the Shopify API is governed by the Shopify API Terms.
2. Unauthorized and Prohibited Developer Activities
Which means
Developers cannot (1) provide incentives in exchange for reviews of their Apps or Themes, (2) include code in Apps that is not related to the services provided by the App (including code for the purposes of cryptocurrency mining), or (3) distribute an App or Theme with the purpose of criminal or unlawful activity.
Without limiting the restrictions outlined elsewhere in this Agreement or in the Shopify API Terms, Developers will not:
- Prohibit reviews, limit the content, type of or forum for reviews, or solicit or permit reviews that are fake, inaccurate, irrelevant, misleading, being used improperly for commercial gain, posted in exchange for a financial or other gain, posted multiple times (whether from the same or more than one account), misleading as to the reviewer's identity or their connection to the Application or Theme being reviewed, or reviews that contain or link to prohibited or illegal content. Reviews on the Shopify App Store and Shopify Theme Store are meant to be unbiased, useful and trustworthy. Shopify reserves the right to take any action it deems necessary in respect of a Partner engaged in any of this behaviour, including the right (but not the obligation) to remove or edit reviews;
- Include code in any Application which performs any operations not related to the services provided by the Application, whether or not Developer has obtained Merchant consent to do so, and whether or not the Application obtains consent from the end user to do so. For the avoidance of doubt, this prohibited activity includes: embedding or incorporating code into any Application which utilizes the resources (including CPU resources) of another computer, including for the purposes of cryptocurrency mining; using code that is intended to misrepresent website content to falsify SEO metrics; and injecting obfuscated code into into, or otherwise through, an App, Theme, any Partner Program resource or activity, or the Service;
- Develop or distribute the Application or Theme in any way in furtherance of criminal, fraudulent, or other unlawful activity, or otherwise violate the Shopify Acceptable Use Policy; or
- Create multiple Applications that offer substantially the same services.
- Replace or change credit card input fields or any other similar component or field within the Shopify Checkout, without Shopify's prior written consent.
3. Additional Shopify Trademark License for Developers
Developers may use the Shopify Trademarks licensed in Section 5.2 for the sole purpose of notifying Merchants that the Application or Theme is compatible with the Service.
4. Use of the Shopify Billing API
Unless otherwise agreed to by Shopify in writing, if a Developer will create and issue charges to Merchants relating to the Merchants’ use or installation of the Developer’s Application, whether in the form of monthly subscription fees, cost-per-acquisition, cost-per-click, percentage commission or otherwise, Developer must use the Shopify Billing API. The Shopify Billing API includes software to help Developers manage billing charges to Merchants for use of Developer’s Applications. It is the Developer’s responsibility to: (i) obtain Merchant consent to create and issue such charges and (ii) bill the Merchant in compliance with the Merchant Agreement, applicable legal requirements and card network payment rules.
C.1. Additional Terms Applicable to Theme Developers
Which means
Theme Developers can develop and submit Themes to be made available for Shopify Merchants in the Shopify Theme Store. Shopify can remove a Select Theme at any time for any reason. The Theme must not infringe any third party rights.
1. Theme Requirements
- Theme Developers are permitted to develop Themes for Merchants to be distributed in the Shopify Theme Store. Select Themes (as defined in Section 2 below) developed for Shopify Merchants, may be made accessible to Shopify Merchants only through the Shopify Theme Store. The Theme Developer selects the purchase price for the Theme, provided that the price is within Shopify’s current Theme pricing guidelines. All Themes are subject to approval and acceptance by Shopify and Shopify retains the right to remove a Select Theme from the Shopify Theme Store at any time and for any reason.
- Theme Developers must follow all Shopify guidelines set out at https://shopify.dev/themes/store/requirements with respect to their Theme.
- Each Theme Developer represents and warrants that it has obtained all necessary right, title and interest in and to the images, fonts, designs, plugins, templates, software or other assets that are distributed with a Select Theme in the Shopify Theme Store. Theme Developer further represents and warrants that no part of the Theme will violate or infringe upon any copyright or any other rights whatsoever of any third party.
2. Revenue Sharing Plans and Fees for Theme Developers
Which means
A Theme Developer pays 0% of the total revenues on the first USD $1 million for their Select Themes and pays 15% of the total revenues exceeding the USD $1 million threshold.
- The “Theme Plan” is a revenue sharing plan which allocates revenue between Shopify and a Theme Developer whose Theme has been selected to be sold through the Shopify Theme Store (each such Theme, a “Select Theme”). Unless otherwise indicated in this Agreement, in any Additional Terms, agreed to by Shopify in writing or required by Shopify from time to time, the Theme Plan will apply as follows:
- A Theme Developer owes Shopify, per calendar year, (a) zero percent (0%) of the first USD $1 million of the total revenues from the sale of the Theme Developer’s Select Themes (“USD $1 million threshold”), and (b) fifteen percent (15%) of any such revenues exceeding the USD $1 million threshold.
- The Theme Plan applies to Theme Developers in accordance with the requirements set out at: https://shopify.dev/themes/store/revenue-share, or as otherwise set out by Shopify from time to time.
- For the purposes of this Section C.1.2.1:
- if a Theme Developer has more than one Associated Theme Developer Account, the USD $1 million threshold will be calculated based on the total revenues from the sale of all Select Themes of the Theme Developer and all Associated Theme Developer Accounts;
- the calendar year resets annually at 00:00 ET on January 1, regardless of a Theme Developer’s time zone; and
- any gross Theme revenues for a Partner Account will be set to USD $0.00 on September 15, 2021 at 13:00 ET and on January 1 of each subsequent calendar year.
3. Additional Shopify Trademark Use Rights for Theme Developers
Notwithstanding Section 5.3 of Part A, Theme Developers may use the Shopify Trademarks and may refer to Shopify and the Service in the promotion of their Select Theme for the sole purpose of notifying Merchants that the Select Theme is compatible with the Service.
C.2. Additional Terms Applicable to App Developers
Which means
Shopify can remove a Public Application at any time for any reason.
1. App Requirements
- All Applications may only be installed or otherwise initiated directly on or through the Service.
- All Applications must comply with all laws applicable to it, are subject to approval and acceptance by Shopify, and Shopify retains the right to remove any Application from the Shopify App Store at any time for any reason.
- App Developers must follow all Shopify guidelines set out here: https://shopify.dev/apps/store/requirements with respect to their App.
- App Developer represents and warrants that the U.S. export control classification number of each of their Apps is “EAR99”, unless App Developer has provided a different U.S. export control classification number to Shopify in respect of the applicable App.
- App Developers that are no longer able to offer, maintain or support a Public Application, must provide proper notice to Merchants and follow the proper guidelines to sunset the Public Application, as set out here: https://shopify.dev/apps/store/success/support/sunsetting.
2. Revenue Sharing Plans and Fees for App Developers
Which means
An App Developer that has met certain registration requirements, pays 0% of the total revenues on the first USD $1 million for their Public App and pays 15% of the total revenues exceeding the USD $1 million. An unregistered App Developer pays 20% of the total revenues for their Public App.
- The “App Plan” is a revenue sharing plan that allocates revenue between Shopify and an App Developer for a Public Application. A. For App Developers that have registered in accordance with the requirements set out by Shopify. Unless otherwise indicated in this Agreement, in any Additional Terms, agreed to by Shopify in writing or required by Shopify from time to time, the App Plan will apply as follows:
- An App Developer owes Shopify fifteen percent (15%) of the total revenues from the sale of, subscription to or charges relating to or passing through the App Developer’s Public Applications.
- For the purposes of this Section C.2.2.1.A: (a) if, in the previous calendar year, an App Developer (1) earned less than USD $20 million in total revenues through the Shopify App Store and (2) together with its affiliates, earned less than USD $100 million in gross company revenue, the App Developer will owe Shopify zero percent (0%) of the first USD $1 million of the revenues set forth in the preceding section. (b) if an App Developer has more than one Associated Developer Account, the USD $20 million threshold set forth in subsection (a)(1) above will be calculated based on the total revenues from the sale of, subscription to, or charges relating to or passing through all Public Applications of the App Developer and all Associated Developer Accounts; (c) the calendar year resets annually at 00:00 ET on January 1, regardless of an App Developer’s time zone; and (d) any gross App revenues for a Partner Account will be set to USD $0.00 upon completion of App Store registration and on January 1 of each subsequent calendar year.
- Fees. Unless otherwise agreed to in writing by Shopify: (a) each Partner Account is subject to a one-time, non-refundable USD $19 App Store Registration Fee upon submission for registration under this Section C.2.2.1.A; and (b) any Public Application that is accepted by Shopify for sale or distribution through the Shopify App Store is subject to a 2.9% Processing Fee.
B. For App Developers not covered under Section C.2.2.1.A. Unless otherwise indicated in this Agreement or agreed to by Shopify in writing, under the App Plan, an App Developer is entitled to eighty percent (80%) of the total revenues from the sale of, subscription to or charges relating to the Public Application, with Shopify being entitled to the remaining twenty percent (20%)
3. Additional Shopify Trademark Use Rights for App Developers
Notwithstanding Section 5.3 of Part A, App Developers may use the Shopify Trademarks and may refer to Shopify and the Service in the promotion of their App for the sole purpose of notifying Merchants that the App is compatible with the Service.
4. Reporting and Audit
Which means
All App Developers must issue charges to Merchants via the Shopify Billing API unless Shopify otherwise agrees. App Developers that do not use the Shopify Billing API must inform Shopify of total Application sales each quarter. Shopify can audit an App Developer’s records to ensure the App Developer is remitting revenue to Shopify in accordance with the App Plan.
- All App Developers that create and issue charges to Merchants for the Merchant’s use of the Developer’s Application must use the Shopify Billing API unless otherwise agreed to by Shopify in writing. App Developers that Shopify has exempted from using the Shopify Billing API will, within 30 days following the end of the Developer’s fiscal quarter, submit to Shopify via email at app-commissions@shopify.com a report indicating total revenues for the previous quarter.
- Shopify will have the right to appoint an independent auditor approved by App Developer, such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed, under appropriate non-disclosure conditions, to audit App Developer’s records to confirm App Developers’ compliance with this Agreement. If such audit reveals non-compliance by App Developer with the terms and conditions of this Agreement the independent auditor appointed by Shopify will provide Shopify and App Developer with a report (along with supporting documentation) indicating the amount by which App Developer has overstated or understated the payments due by App Developer and any other failures by App Developer to fulfill its obligations under the Agreement. Prompt adjustment will be made by the proper Party to compensate for any overpayments or underpayments disclosed by any such audit. Shopify will bear all of the costs of any such audit, unless such audit reveals underpayment by, or overpayment to, App Developer by more than five percent (5%) for the audited period, in which case, App Developer will reimburse Shopify for all of the reasonable costs of such audit. In addition to the foregoing audit rights, Shopify will also have the right to use the capabilities of the Service to confirm the revenue associated with Apps offered by the App Developer.
C.3. Additional Terms Applicable to Channel Developers
1. Channel Requirements
- Channel Developers are permitted to develop Channel Applications that integrate Channel Platforms with the Service. The Channel Applications may only be distributed or sold in the Shopify App Store. All Channel Applications are subject to approval and acceptance by Shopify, and Shopify retains the right to remove a Channel Application from the Shopify App Store at any time for any reason.
- Channel Developers must follow all UI patterns and Shopify guidelines as provided to Channel Developer by Shopify with respect to their Channel Application (“Integration Requirements”). If at any time, in Shopify’s sole discretion, the Channel Application fails to meet the Integration Requirements, Shopify will have the right to: (i) delay acceptance of the Channel Application until all Integration Requirements are met, or (ii) terminate Channel Developer’s access to the Sales Channel SDK.
- In addition to and without limiting the generality of Section 6.1 of the Shopify API Terms, the Merchant Agreement for Merchants who use the Channel Application must also include terms that specify: (i) any and all charges associated with the Merchant’s use of the Channel Application; and (ii) any eligibility criteria that the Merchant must meet prior to the Merchant’s acceptance to use the Channel Application, and to the extent reasonably practicable, provide examples of such eligibility criteria and information respecting Channel Developer’s review and appeal process, if applicable.
- If Channel Developer will create and issue charges to Merchants for Merchants’ use of the Channel Application, whether in the form of cost-per-acquisition, cost-per-click, percentage commission or otherwise, Channel Developer must use the Shopify Billing API. It is the Channel Developer’s responsibility to: (i) obtain Merchant consent in the Merchant Agreement to create and issue such charges, and (ii) bill the Merchant in compliance with applicable legal requirements and card network payment rules. Amounts owing to Channel Developer for a Merchant’s use of the Channel Application will be paid in the same manner as amounts are paid to App Developers under the App Plan, as outlined in Part A, Section 3.2.
- If Channel Developer creates and issues a charge to Merchants for Merchants’ use of the Channel Application, Shopify may incur processing fees to process each such charge. Channel Developer will remain fully responsible for any such processing fees that Shopify may incur. Upon request from Channel Developer, Shopify will advise Channel Developer of such processing fees. The Parties agree that the total amount of any processing fees incurred by Shopify will be set-off against any Fees payable to Channel Developer in the relevant Payment Period.
- Channel Developer must comply with any terms, guidelines or approval processes required pursuant to any card network rules, and applicable laws or regulations.
- Channel Developer represents, warrants, and covenants that, where applicable, it will at all times be certified as compliant with all provisions of the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (“PCI-DSS”) or any successor standards or requirements applicable to its performance as a Channel Developer under this Agreement. Channel Developer will, upon Shopify’s reasonable request, deliver reasonable evidence to Shopify of Channel Developer’s compliance with PCI-DSS.
- If Channel Developer has access to Merchant shipping information via the Service, including rates or time in transit information (“Shipping Information”), Channel Developer: (i) will only store, access, use or process Shipping Information as necessary to provide Merchants with shipping services as directed by Merchant and under no circumstance will Channel Developer aggregate Shipping Information for multiple Merchants, or for any particular Merchant, for any purpose; and (ii) will use at least industry standard measures for the protection of proprietary and confidential information to protect against unauthorized access to, disclosure of or use of Shipping Information. To the extent that the Shipping Information includes information of UPS Market Driver, Inc., and no further, then UPS Market Driver, Inc. will be a third-party beneficiary with all rights and privileges of Shopify under this Section C.3.1.8 and is entitled to enforce this Section C.3.1.8 directly against Channel Developer.
2. Revenue Sharing Plans for Channel Developers
Unless otherwise agreed to in writing by the Parties, Channel Developers who use the Checkout API to integrate the Channel Application into the Service will retain 100% of the revenues from Merchant charges billed through the Shopify Billing API as described in Section C.3.1(d) above.
3. Sales Channel SDK
- Channel Developer will apply to Shopify for access to the Sales Channel SDK, which will be granted or denied in Shopify’s sole discretion.
- The Shopify API Terms apply to Channel Developer’s use of the Sales Channel SDK. In addition to, and without limiting the generality of the restrictions in Section 2.3 of the Shopify API Terms, with respect to the Sales Channel SDK, Channel Developer will:
- upon request from Shopify, provide Shopify with a report setting out the number of, and location of, all copies of the Sales Channel SDK;
- not use the Sales Channel SDK for any purpose other than for the Channel Program and the development of the Channel Application; and
- not use the Sales Channel SDK to develop products or services that will compete with Shopify’s products or services.
4. Term and Termination for Channel Applications
Subject to the following, Channel Developer agrees to maintain its Channel Application for twelve (12) months from the date that the Channel Application is made available by Shopify in the Shopify App Store:
- Beginning on the six-month anniversary of the Channel Application being published in the Shopify App Store, the Parties may terminate this Agreement at any time if it is mutually agreed, after good faith negotiations, that (i) there is insufficient adoption of the Channel Application by Merchants; or (ii) maintaining the Channel Application is commercially or technically unfeasible for either Shopify or Channel Developer.
- Any Party may terminate the Agreement immediately in the event another Party commits a material breach of the Agreement and fails to cure such breach within thirty (30) days of receiving written notice thereof. If the breach is cured (or waived by the non-breaching Party) within the specified cure period, then the Agreement will continue in full force and effect pursuant to its terms.
C.4. Additional Terms Applicable to Payment Gateway Developers
- Payment Gateway Developers are permitted to develop Payment Gateway Integrations that integrate a payment gateway and the Service. Payment Gateway Integrations may be made available to Merchants privately or, if approved by Shopify, publicly within the Merchant’s admin and Shopify’s public list of payment gateways. Payment Gateway Developer must comply with the Shopify API Terms and the Shopify Hosted Payment SDK guidelines. For the avoidance of doubt, Payment Gateway Integrations that (a) use the Shopify Hosted Payment SDK, and (b) do not bypass any component of Shopify Checkout other than the collection of payment details and payment processing, do not violate Section 2.3.18 of the Shopify API Terms.
- If a Payment Gateway Integration is not made publicly available, the Payment Gateway Developer may permit Merchants to privately install the Payment Gateway Integration, by providing Merchants with a shareable installation link.
- If a Payment Gateway Developer’s Payment Gateway Integration meets the criteria set out in the Shopify Hosted Payment SDK guidelines: help.shopify.com/api/sdks/hosted-payment-sdk/publish-gateway#private for public listing by Shopify, the Payment Gateway Developer may apply to Shopify for a public listing. Depending on a number of factors determined and assessed by Shopify in its sole discretion, including transaction volume and Payment Gateway Integration adoption rates, Shopify may make the Payment Gateway Integration available to all Merchants via the Merchant’s admin and list the Payment Gateway Integration in Shopify’s public list of payment gateways.
- Payment Gateway Developer must comply with any terms, guidelines or approval processes required pursuant to any card network rules, and applicable laws or regulations.
- Payment Gateway Developer represents, warrants, and covenants that, where applicable, it will at all times be certified as compliant with all provisions of the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (“PCI-DSS”) or any successor standards or requirements applicable to its performance as a Payment Gateway Developer under this Agreement. Payment Gateway Developer will, upon Shopify’s reasonable request, deliver reasonable evidence to Shopify of Payment Gateway Developer’s compliance with PCI-DSS.
C.5. Additional Terms Applicable to Payments Developers
1. Payments Applications
- Designation. From time to time Shopify may allow payment providers to become a Payments Developer and permit them to develop a Payments Application. A payment provider can apply to become a Payments Developer through the Payments Platform Onboarding Form.
- Approval. All Payments Applications are subject to Shopify's review and approval to ensure compliance with our guidelines, API documentation, and other standards that we deem necessary to protect the integrity of Shopify’s payments ecosystem. Shopify has the sole discretion of the approval or denial of any Payments Application.
- Revenue Share. As part of the Payments Application approval process, all Payments Developers must enter a Revenue Share agreement.
- Invoicing and Withholding Tax. Shopify will invoice Payments Developers by the tenth (10) business day following the end of the previous month. Payment will be made by Payments Developer to Shopify within thirty (30) days following the date of invoice. Any payments made by Payment Developer to Shopify will be made free and clear of, and without deduction or withholding for, any withholding taxes of any taxing jurisdictions. If withholding taxes must be withheld from any payment to Shopify, Payment Developer shall increase the payment to Shopify such that the amount received by Shopify is the same as it would have been if no withholding taxes were withheld.
2. Public Listing
- If a Payments Application meets the criteria set out in the Payments Platform Developer Guidelines for public listing by Shopify, the Payments Developer may apply to Shopify for a public listing. Shopify will review such Payments Applications and depending on a number of factors determined and assessed by Shopify in its sole discretion, including transaction volume and Payments Application adoption rates, Shopify may approve the Payments Application inclusion in Shopify’s public list of payment gateways and make the Payments Application available to Merchants via Merchants admin.
- If a Payments Application is not approved for public listing , the Payments Developer may permit Merchants to install the Payments Application, by providing Merchants with a shareable installation link.
3. Requirements
- Use of our API. Payments Developers must only use the Payments Apps APIs as specified in the Payments Platform Developer Guidelines and may not use any other Shopify APIs unless granted permission from Shopify. Payments Developer acknowledges that Shopify will update the Payments Apps APIs at its discretion. It is the Payments Developer’s responsibility to install any updated version of the API as set forth in the Shopify API Versioning Guidelines.
- Compliance with Shopify API Terms. Payments Developers must comply with the Shopify API Terms. For the avoidance of doubt, Payments Applications that (a) are available in Shopify’s payments ecosystem, and (b) do not bypass any component of Shopify Checkout other than the collection of payment details and payments processing, do not violate Section 2.3.18 of the Shopify API Terms.
- Minimum Support Commitment. Payments Application must provide industry standard service levels to merchants. The Payments Application must at a minimum be operational and available on a twenty-four hour, seven days a week (24x7) basis at least 99.95% of the time in any measurement period. Payments Applications must provide servicing support to all Merchants and are required to provide Shopify with an email address which can be used by Merchants to contact the Payments Application directly for support. In the event of outages or issues, payment developers must respond within 2 hours.
- Adhere to the Payments Platform Developer Guidelines. To help guide you through the development of your Payments Application and to offer the best possible experience for our Merchants, we maintain a list of requirements under Payments Platform Developer Guidelines and best practices that Payments Developers must follow. Every Payments Developer must adhere to these guidelines and every Payments Application must meet the technical and other specifications that it describes.
- Sync Data to Shopify. All payments and order data received from transactions processed on the Payments Application must be automatically synced to Shopify as specified in the Payments Platform Developer Guidelines.
- New Payments Application Feature Approval. Any updates or changes to an existing Payments Application, including the addition of new product features or new payment methods, must be submitted for review and approval.
- Merchant Flexibility. Payments Applications must allow for Shopify Merchants to terminate their agreement with the payment provider within 7 days’ notice, without any penalty, fine, or other consequence.
- Settlements. All Payments Applications must settle transactions for the Merchants within a maximum of 5 days, as outlined in the Payments Platform Developer Guidelines.
4. Risk, Fraud & Compliance
- Maintain a Risk & Fraud Program. Payments Applications are responsible for monitoring and managing risk and fraud. If Payments Application is being used by what Shopify deems as an unreasonably high percentage of Merchants who are engaging in fraudulent or high risk behaviour, as determined in Shopify’s sole discretion, Payments Application agrees to collaborate with Shopify to implement and develop preventive measures to mitigate such risk. If Payments Application fails to collaborate with Shopify, or fails to take additional steps to reduce risk and fraud in a manner that we deem appropriate, we may take governance action against the Payments Application.
- Requests for and Sharing of Information. You agree to share certain information about you and your Payments Application with Shopify. This includes you sharing information: (i) about transactions for regulatory or compliance purposes in the form and manner set forth in the Payments Platform Developer Guidelines or as may be otherwise requested from time to time; (ii) that Shopify deems necessary, in our sole discretion, for the management and maintenance of Shopify’s ecosystem; (iii) that Shopify deems necessary, in our sole discretion, to conduct our risk management process.
- Compliance with Applicable Laws, Regulations & Standards. Payments Developer must comply with any terms, guidelines or approval processes required pursuant to any card network rules, and applicable laws or regulations. Payments Developer represents, warrants, and covenants that, where applicable, it will at all times be certified as compliant with all provisions of the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (“PCI-DSS”) or any successor standards or requirements applicable to its performance as a Payments Developer under this Agreement. Payments Developer will, upon Shopify’s reasonable request, deliver reasonable evidence to Shopify of Payments Developer’s compliance with PCI-DSS.
5. Unauthorized & Prohibited Activities
A Payments Developer and Payments Application will not engage in the activities listed below.
- Fees. Refer to any fee, expense or other cost as a Shopify fee on its invoices to Merchants, or offer any low promotional or introductory rate without express written disclosure of the offer terms, including, but not limited to, the offer period and the increased Merchant rate following the expiration of the promotional or introductory offer.
- Share access. Redistribute, share, sell or generate revenue from sharing access with other developers to Payments Platform, without Shopify’s approval. The access provided to the Payments Apps APIs is to be used only by the Payments Developer to which access was granted.
- Manipulate performance. Create fake or fraudulent Merchants, orders or sales in order to portray a higher volume of traffic.
- Use of vaulted or store credit cards. Store payment credentials for any use other than for the transaction that the credentials were provided and for the transaction and services that Shopify has approved the Payments Application to conduct.
- Privacy & Data Usage. Use Merchant data in any way that is not explicitly and accurately disclosed to the Merchant. Shopify may request and Payments Developer will provide a description of the manner in which Payments Developer collects and uses Merchant data. Payments Developer must provide Shopify with any changes or updates to how they collect and use data in connection with their Payments Application. Payments Developer acknowledges that Shopify may share a summary of how data is collected and shared by the Payments Application in our communications with Shopify Merchants.
6. Termination, Suspension and Removal from the Payments Platform
Shopify may at its sole discretion remove your Payments Application from Shopify’s public list of payment gateways, suspend or terminate your access to the Payments Platform and your participation in Shopify’s payments ecosystem, or take any other action that we deem necessary for the violation of any clause in this Section “Additional Terms Applicable to Payments Developers.” For the avoidance of doubt, this Section does not preclude the termination rights set forth in Section 4 “Termination” of this Agreement.
C.6. Additional Terms Applicable to Blockchain Developers
1. App Requirements
- Blockchain Developers are permitted to develop Blockchain Applications that integrate blockchain-based functionalities and the Service. Applications that constitute both a Blockchain Application and another type of Application (including but not limited to a Payments Application) are subject to the terms of this section as well as the terms that govern that other type of Application.
- Approval. All Blockchain Applications are subject to Shopify's review and acceptance to ensure compliance with our guidelines, API documentation, and other standards that we deem necessary to protect the integrity of Shopify’s blockchain ecosystem. Shopify retains the right to remove a Blockchain Application from the Shopify App Store at any time for any reason. Blockchain Applications may only be distributed in the Shopify App Store.
- Blockchain Apps APIs. Blockchain Developers must comply with the Shopify API Terms. To help guide you through the development of your Blockchain Application, we maintain a list of requirements under Blockchain Developer Guidelines that Blockchain Developers must follow. Every Blockchain Developer must adhere to these guidelines and every Blockchain Application must meet the technical and other specifications that it describes. Blockchain Developers may only use the Blockchain Apps APIs as specified in the Blockchain Developer Guidelines and may not use any other Shopify APIs unless granted permission from Shopify. Blockchain Developer acknowledges that Shopify will update the Blockchain Apps APIs at its discretion. It is the Blockchain Developer’s responsibility to install any updated version of the APIs.
- Minimum Support Commitment. Blockchain Applications must provide industry standard service levels to merchants. The Blockchain Application must at a minimum be operational and available on a twenty-four hour, seven days a week (24x7) basis at least 99.95% of the time in any measurement period. Blockchain Applications must provide servicing support to all Merchants and are required to provide Shopify with an email address which can be used by Merchants to contact the Blockchain Application directly for support.
2. Risk, Fraud & Compliance
- Maintain a Risk & Fraud Program. Blockchain Applications are responsible for monitoring and managing risk and fraud. If the Blockchain Application is being used by what Shopify deems as an unreasonably high percentage of Merchants who are engaging in fraudulent or high risk behavior, as determined in Shopify’s sole discretion, Blockchain Application agrees to collaborate with Shopify to implement and develop preventive measures to mitigate such risk. If Blockchain Application fails to collaborate with Shopify, or fails to take additional steps to reduce risk and fraud in a manner that we deem appropriate, we may take governance action against the Blockchain Application.
- Requests for and Sharing of Information. You agree to share certain information about you and your Blockchain Application with Shopify. This includes you sharing information: (i) about blockchain transactions for regulatory or compliance purposes or as may be otherwise requested from time to time; (ii) that Shopify deems necessary, in our sole discretion, for the management and maintenance of Shopify’s ecosystem; (iii) that Shopify deems necessary, in our sole discretion, to conduct our risk management process.
- Compliance with Applicable Laws, Regulations & Standards. Blockchain Developer must comply with any terms, guidelines or approval processes required pursuant to any applicable laws or regulations.
3. Unauthorized and Prohibited Activities
- Fungible Tokens. Blockchain Applications cannot mint, support, sell, transfer or modify any form of fungible tokens unless they have been approved as a Payments Developer and Payments Application.
- Secondary Sales and Royalties. Blockchain Applications cannot support any secondary sales of non-fungible tokens, or the creation, minting or sale of any non-fungible tokens that contain secondary-level or transferable royalties.
- Securities and Other Financial Instruments. Blockchain Applications cannot facilitate the minting, sale or marketing of non-fungible tokens that may be classified as securities or other forms of regulated financial instruments.
- Privacy and Data Usage. Blockchain Applications cannot write or store any personal data on-chain, or directly within the blocks of blockchain. Blockchain Applications must not use Merchant data in any way that is not explicitly and accurately disclosed to the Merchant. Blockchain Developer must provide Shopify with any changes or updates to how they collect and use data in connection with their Blockchain Application. Blockchain Developer acknowledges that Shopify may share a summary of how data is collected and shared by the Blockchain Application in our communications with Merchants.
4. Termination, Suspension and Removal
Shopify may at its sole discretion remove your Blockchain Application from Shopify’s public list of payment gateways, suspend or terminate your access and your participation in Shopify’s blockchain ecosystem, or take any other action that we deem necessary for the violation of any clause in this Section “Additional Terms Applicable to Blockchain Developers.” For the avoidance of doubt, this Section does not preclude the termination rights set forth in Part A, Section 4 “Termination” of this Agreement.
5. Indemnification
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Agreement, the indemnification obligations outlined in this Section C.6.5 shall apply exclusively to Blockchain Developers and their activities as related to Blockchain Applications, thereby replacing Part A, Sections 8.2 and 8.3, of the Agreement in such instances. Where an App Developer’s Application classifies as both a Blockchain Application and another type of Application (including without limitation a Payments Application), the indemnification obligations in this Section C.6.5 shall control. For the avoidance of doubt, Part A, Sections 8.2 and 8.3, of the Agreement shall continue to govern and apply to non-Blockchain Developers and activities that are not specifically related to Blockchain Applications. This Section C.6.5 shall survive any termination or expiration of the Partner Agreement.
- Partner Indemnification. Partner agrees to indemnify, hold harmless, and upon Shopify’s request, assume the defense of, Shopify and any Shopify Related Entities and the directors, officers, employees, subcontractors and agents thereof (each, an “Indemnified Party”, and collectively, the “Indemnified Parties”), with respect to any claim, demand, cause of action, debt, losses, or liability, whether or not foreseeable, including but not limited to any costs of investigation, reasonable attorneys’ fees, and court costs (collectively, “claims”), arising from or relating to the following: (a) Partner’s breach of any representation, warranty, obligation or covenant under this Agreement; (b) Partner’s negligence or willful misconduct; (c) any warranty, condition, representation, indemnity or guarantee relating to Shopify and Shopify Related Entities granted by Partner to any Merchant, prospective Partner or other third party; (d) Partner’s use of the Shopify API (including without limitation the Sales Channel SDK and Shopify Billing API); (e) Partner’s breach of any term of this Agreement (including any documents it incorporates by reference) or a Merchant Agreement; (f) any violation of any law or regulation by Partner; (g) any third party claim that Partner’s products or services, including without limitation any Application, Theme, or Channel Platform, does not comply with any law or regulation or infringe the rights, including but not limited to intellectual property rights, of any person; (h) Partner Taxes, including any audits or penalties related thereto; (i) the performance, nonperformance or improper or defective performance of Partner’s products or services, including without limitation, any Application or Theme or Channel Platform; and (j) Partner’s relationship with any Merchant. The Indemnified Party’s recovery under this agreement shall not be subject to a duty to mitigate any losses suffered.
- Notice of Indemnification. In claiming any indemnification under this Agreement, the Indemnified Party will promptly provide Partner with written notice of any claim which the Indemnified Party believes falls within the scope of the indemnifications provided under this Agreement. Failure to give such prompt written notice shall not relieve Partner of its indemnification obligations, except and only to the extent that Partner forfeits rights or defenses by reason of such failure. Partner may, at its own expense, assist in the defense if it so chooses, provided that, unless Partner has been asked to assume control of the defense under the section above, Indemnified Party will control such defense and all negotiations relative to the settlement of any such claim. For any claim in relation to which Indemnified Party has assumed control of the defense, Partner shall fully cooperate with Indemnified Party in connection therewith and shall reimburse Indemnified Party promptly and periodically for the costs properly incurred in defending against the claim (including attorneys’ fees and expenses) and remain responsible to Indemnified Party for any claims indemnified under the section above. For any claim in relation to which Partner has assumed control of the defense, Indemnified Party shall fully cooperate with Partner in connection therewith and may employ, at any time, separate counsel to represent it; provided, that Partner is responsible for the costs and expenses of such separate counsel. Partner shall not enter into any settlement or agreement with any person that affects the Indemnified Party’s rights or binds the Indemnified Party in any way without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party.
Part D – Additional Terms Applicable to the Partner Directory and the Shopify Plus Partner Program
In addition to the terms applicable to all Referral Partners, as set out in Part B, the following terms apply to the Partner Directory and Partners accepted into the Plus Partner Program.
1. Partner Directory
- Directory. Partners may be listed in the Partner Directory. Merchants may contact Partners listed in the Partner Directory.
- Communications. Partner acknowledges and agrees that Shopify receives and can review all communications exchanged via the Partner Directory or in any reply emails that originate within the Partner Directory (directly or indirectly) between Partner and Merchant. As a participant in the Partner Directory, Partner consents to being contacted by Merchants at the email address provided by Partner to Shopify.
- Relationship. The services provided by a Partner via the Partner Directory are the responsibility of the Partner and not of Shopify. It is the Partner’s responsibility to ensure that there is a Merchant Agreement in place between the Partner and Merchant for the services to be provided by the Partner to the Merchant, and that the Merchant Agreement includes appropriate remedies in the event of non-payment by Merchant for services rendered by the Partner, provided that any such remedy that includes the withholding of the transfer of ownership of the Development Store or Merchant Store to the Merchant will be enforced by Shopify at its sole discretion.
- Reviews. Merchants are able to submit reviews and ratings on their experience with a Partner. An Partner’s rating is calculated based on reviews posted by Merchants. Partners may not solicit or permit reviews that are fake, inaccurate, irrelevant, misleading, being used improperly for commercial gain, posted in exchange for a financial or other gain, posted multiple times (whether from the same or more than one account), misleading as to the reviewer's identity or their connection to the Partner being reviewed, or reviews that contain or link to prohibited or illegal content. Reviews are meant to be unbiased, useful and trustworthy. Shopify reserves the right to take any action it deems necessary in respect of a Partner engaged in any of this behaviour, including the right (but not the obligation) to remove or edit Merchant reviews.
2. Plus Partner Program
- Designation. From time to time Shopify may designate certain of its Partners as a “Plus Partner”, to be listed on the Plus Partner Program site. A Plus Partner will be required to execute a Plus Partner Program addendum. The granting of a Plus Partner designation is entirely within Shopify’s discretion.
- Revenue Sharing Plan. The revenue sharing plan for the Plus Partner Program is set out in a Plus Partner addendum.
3. Removal of Designation
Which means
Shopify can designate Partner as a Plus Partner in the Plus Partner Program resources. These designations are at Shopify’s discretion, and can be removed at any time and for any reason. If Shopify removes the designation, Partner must immediately stop referring to itself as a “Shopify Plus Partner”.
Shopify may remove the Plus Partner designation at any time and for any reason, in its sole and absolute discretion, effective immediately upon notice to the relevant Plus Partner. Upon notice of the revocation of such designation by Shopify, Shopify will remove Partner from the Plus Partner Program resources, and Partner will immediately cease referring to itself as a Plus Partner on any Website or otherwise.
Part E – Additional Terms Applicable to Ads in the Shopify App Store
In addition to the terms applicable to Developers elsewhere in this Agreement, the following terms apply to Ads.
1. Fees
- Auctions. The price Developers pay for an Ad, and whether or not the Developer wins an auction for an Ad to be displayed, will be based upon (1) the daily budget set by the Developer in the Partner Dashboard, (2) the amount bid for various keywords and (3) a confidential relevance score created by Shopify to ensure that Merchants and other users see Ads that are relevant and valuable to them. Shopify will solely determine which Ads will be shown and nothing in this Agreement guarantees that Developer will win any auctions to display their Ads, have their Ads displayed or get any impressions or clicks. All bids entered by Developer are binding offers from Developer which may be accepted or rejected by Shopify in its sole discretion.
- Pricing. The Developer will be charged for an Ad on a cost per click basis.
- Payments. The Developer will provide a payment method to Shopify and hereby authorizes Shopify to automatically charge such payment method for Ads purchased in compliance with this Agreement. Developer may not set-off any of its payments for Ads against any other amounts due to Developer under this Agreement. Except as otherwise agreed in writing by Shopify, Developer’s payment method may be charged by Shopify (1) each time the Developer reaches $100 in Ad fees, including if necessary, multiple times per day, or (2) every thirty (30) days, whichever comes first.
2. Ads
- Content. Most of the content of the Ads will be generated by Shopify and will not be customizable by the Developer. Ad names and all other content provided by Developer must comply with Shopify’s Acceptable Use Policy. You hereby grant Shopify a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide, fully paid license to store, use, reproduce and display any Ad names or other content provided by Developer for purposes of delivering the Ads and managing the service herein. Except as expressly set forth herein, nothing in this Agreement will be deemed to be a transfer, license or assignment of any intellectual property rights.
- Keywords. While the Developer may request certain triggering keywords for the Ads and negative triggering keywords as well, Shopify may prohibit and block the use of any keywords in its discretion. If broad keywords are selected by Developer, the actual triggering keywords implemented will be determined by Shopify in its sole discretion.
3. Reporting
- Reporting. Shopify will provide the Developer with access to reporting through the Partner Dashboard. Shopify’s reporting is the sole and definitive measure of payment obligations for the Ads. All data in such reporting, and all usage and conversion data generated as a result of the Ads, is owned by Shopify. Developer may only use the reporting and metrics provided by Shopify to Developer for the performance and management of this Agreement and for its internal business purposes. Such reporting may not be shared by Developer with any third parties (other than on a confidential basis to its accountants and financial advisors).
- Disputes. In the event that Developer disputes any reporting, Developer must notify Shopify in writing within seven (7) days of the date the report is first made available to Developer by Shopify, otherwise the Developer acknowledges the accuracy of such reporting and waives any claims based upon such reporting thereafter.
- Fraud. The Developer agrees not to engage in, encourage, assist or authorize any third party to generate fraudulent traffic with respect to the Ads of any party, including but not limited to, through the use of bots or other means.
