Escrow Policy

"Funding Party" — the party that deposits funds into escrow (typically the brand, but may be either party in a creator-to-creator deal).

"Delivering Party" — the party responsible for completing the agreed-upon deliverables.

"Platform Fee" — the service fee Pitchfork charges on each escrowed deal, disclosed before the Funding Party confirms the deposit.

"Deal Desk" — the in-app workspace where both parties negotiate terms, exchange counters, and close deals with a documented paper trail.

1. Deposit.Once both parties close a deal in Deal Desk, the Funding Party's payment is captured and held by Pitchfork via Stripe Connect. Funds are not transferred to the Delivering Party at this stage.
2. Delivery.The Delivering Party marks the deal as "Delivered" in Deal Desk once the agreed-upon deliverables are complete.
3. Review Window. The Funding Party has seven (7) calendar days from the delivery notification to review the deliverables and either approve the release or open a dispute.
4. Auto-Release. If the Funding Party takes no action within the 7-day review window, funds are automatically released to the Delivering Party on day eight (8).
5. Approval. If the Funding Party explicitly approves the deliverables, funds are released to the Delivering Party immediately.

• On a full release, the Platform Fee is deducted before the payout to the Delivering Party.
• On a full refund, the Platform Fee is refunded to the Funding Party.
• On a partial split, the Platform Fee is prorated based on the portion released to the Delivering Party.

Either party may open a dispute during the 7-day review window (or within 48 hours of auto-release for good cause). The dispute process works as follows:

1. Evidence Submission. Each party has three (3) business days to submit evidence supporting their position through Deal Desk. Evidence may include screenshots, files, messages, timestamps, and any other relevant documentation.
2. Review. Pitchfork reviews the submitted evidence and the deal record. We aim to reach a resolution within ten (10) business days of receiving all evidence.
3. Possible Outcomes:
   • Full Release — funds released to the Delivering Party.
   • Full Refund — funds returned to the Funding Party, including the Platform Fee.
   • Partial Split — funds divided between the parties based on the portion of deliverables completed, with a prorated Platform Fee.
4. Notification. Both parties are notified of the resolution via email and in-app notification.

If the Delivering Party fails to mark the deal as "Delivered" within fourteen (14) calendar days of the agreed delivery date, the Funding Party may request cancellation. Upon cancellation for non-delivery:

• The full escrowed amount is refunded to the Funding Party.
• The Platform Fee is refunded.
• The Delivering Party's account may be flagged for review.

If either party disagrees with the dispute resolution, they may request binding arbitration as described in Section 14 of our Terms of Service. Pitchfork's dispute resolution is a good-faith effort to resolve matters fairly, but it does not waive either party's right to pursue arbitration.

Mutual collaborations with no monetary exchange (for example, content swaps or co-promotions) do not use escrow. These deals are documented through Deal Desk with scope agreements and optional NDAs, but no funds are held.

We may update this Escrow Policy from time to time. Material changes will be communicated via email and in-app notification at least thirty (30) days before they take effect. Continued use of platform-held escrow after the effective date constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

Questions about this policy? Reach us at legal@getpitchfork.co.