[violet] wrote:Commercialism: It is prohibited to promote any commercial product on NS, or to promote products or sites unrelated to NS, even if they are free; a site or product is considered "commercial" if we believe it is primarily or substantially profit-driven. "Free" sites may still run ads, solicit donations, or otherwise raise revenue, so long as this appears primarily aimed at defraying costs rather than carrying on a commercial enterprise. In addition, players aren't permitted to use NS Store purchases to induce or reward in-game behavior. For more information, see here.
Mousebumples wrote:Expanded Rules on Commercialism
Promotion
Players aren't permitted to use NationStates for commercial purposes (i.e. making money). With regard to player posts (forums, RMBs, telegrams), players are not permitted to post content related to:Store Purchases as Currency
- Promoting a commercial product related to NS
- Promoting a free site or product unrelated to NS
- Promoting a commercial product unrelated to NS
Players aren't permitted to use NS Store purchases to induce or reward in-game behavior, such as (for example) running a raffle on their region where a random new member each day is rewarded with TG Stamps or coordinating a contest where the player with the most activity (i.e. RMB posts, endorsements, etc.) in a region is rewarded with something from the NS Store.
Players can buy NS Store purchases as gifts and may do so to help a friend or region-mate. What is not okay is when the players don't have a common goal, but rather one is motivated only by the reward of an NS Store purchase, and performing some action that benefits the buyer. In that case, it is a simple "pay for service" transaction and is prohibited.
Note that parts of the game that are not Store purchases (e.g. Trading Cards) can be used as rewards or inducements.
Prizes, Raffles, Giveaways
Just as players are not permitted to use NS Store purchases to induce or reward in-game behavior, the same applies to any raffle or giveaway that has monetary value. This includes but is not limited to gift cards, Steam codes, paid or referral perks in other games, and straight up cash prizes. It's still a "pay for service" transaction at best, or outright gambling at worst, and as such remains prohibited.
New text:
[violet] wrote:Commercialism: NS may not be used to promote products or services, with the exception of free products or services directly related to the site, such as a Discord channel for region members. Players may not post offers of NS Store purchases or other cash-equivalent items in exchange for anything, including for joining or remaining resident in a region. For more information, see here.
Mousebumples wrote:Expanded Rules on Commercialism
Promotion
Players aren't permitted to use NationStates for commercial purposes (i.e. making money). In particular, the explicit promotion of products and services is prohibited, with one exception: You may promote free products or services that are directly related to NationStates, such as a Discord channel for region members.
Store Purchases
While NS Store purchases can be gifted to other players, players aren't permitted to offer them in exchange for anything, including for joining or remaining resident in a region. For example, it's prohibited to offer Telegram Stamps to nations who are the most active in your region.
It is additionally prohibited to promote any kind of random giveaway or raffle of NS Store purchases for any purpose.
Players may offer non-NS Store in-game goods or services in raffles or as compensation for in-game behavior; for example, you may offer Trading Cards in exchange for joining a region.
Other Items of Monetary Value
The above rules on NS Store purchases also apply to any prizes or gifts that possess real-life financial value beyond NationStates, such as gift cards, Steam codes, paid or referral perks in other games, and straight up cash prizes: These may never be offered to others on the site or given away in raffles.
The main purpose of this is to prohibit in-game promotion of stamp/store purchase giveaways/rewards (whether the event is onsite or offsite). The wording of the rules are also simplified.