Most Popular and General Reasons for Account Deactivation and Suspension

[DailyLifeImages]

Recently I saw many people posting about their account suspension and deactivation. So I thought to ask Community Experts about every reason of account suspensions that they knew about as they respond to every post so they may have more knowledge about this topic then new contributors like me. Other people can also tell if they know something but Experts should correct if someone is wrong. This will help other newbie contributors also.
Some points Which I know are that 1) If someone got many sales at once like rcently a contributor got around 200 images sold in only 2 days. So his account got blocked! 2) I am not confirmed of this but I think if someone uses the same payment method on another contributor account even though the first account got suspended or blocked, then this account will also be blocked. (Experts may correct me if I am wrong).

*Please respond in bullet points. It's easy to read. 
Thank You

[daniellei4510 · Accepted solution]

We really don't know the backstory as to why some accounts are suspended temporarily or permantly unless or until someone getting their account re-established comes here to explain what happened. The two reasons you posted are potentially valid, but I'm sure there are other reasons, such as numerous customer complaints for low quality assets, regularly using the names of other artists (for AI), persistent use of copyrighted material, etc. Don't confuse Community Experts with Adobe employees. We are anything but. We are volunteers, contributors like yourself, subject to the same rules and regulations as other contributors (if not more so) and aren't privy to the underpinnings of how Adobe does its business "behind the scenes." 

[Ricky336 · Accepted solution]

This is where you need to read the Adobe Stock guidelines. Most questions are answered there. 😊

• User guide: https://helpx.adobe.com/stock/contributor/user-guide.html
• Learn and support:  https://helpx.adobe.com/support/stock-contributor.html

[Jill_C · Accepted solution]

1. Violating the Adobe Stock Contributor Agreement. Read it carefully, then read it again.

2. Suspicious sales activity. If an account that usually gets 2-3 sales a day suddenly gets 100-200 a day, that can trigger an investigation. 
3. Fraudulent sales. Schemes can include taking out Free Trial subscriptions and using those to license assets in one's account. Or using a "service" that does so on your behalf. Or using stolen credit cards to license many assets on an account. Or licensing your own assets. There are probably other such illegal schemes, but of course Adobe isn't going to discuss those publicly and give anyone more ideas...

4. Reports of poor quality assets in an account by Buyers or others can trigger a review of the account.

5. Uploading assets on which you're not the legal owner, i.e IP violations.

6. Using trademarked or otherwise protected terms and names in your title and keywords.

7. Creating AI assets that mimic the style or cite the style of other artists - also an IP violation.

8. Spamming the database with many similar assets.

9. Uploading assets you've obtained from another free stock source such as unsplash. 
10. Falsifying product releases or model releases.

11. Providing misleading titles and keywords.

12. Creating multiple accounts to upload the same type of assets, or submitting the same assets on multiple accounts.

13. Any type of Fraud !

14. Ignoring the various guidelines on the Help pages. Not knowing or understanding the guidelines is no defense. 

15. Other violations of the Contributor Agreement- read no. 1 again...

There may be other reasons for temporary or permanent blocking of accounts, but not many Contributors come here to confess after they've been blocked. 

[Abambo · Accepted solution]

fraud!

[Nancy OShea · Accepted solution]

Adobe may temporarily suspend or permanently terminate a Stock Contributor account for any of the following:
1) Suspicious sales or refund activity,
2) They received an official infringement complaint or "take down" notice from a 3rd party,

3) Repeated customer complaints about poor quality assets.
4) Suspected violation of Stock Contributor User Terms,
5) A technical problem that only Stock Support can fix.

If you don't hear anything within 15 business days (check your spam folder for reply), send a follow-up inquiry.
Meanwhile work on other projects. Submit to other microstock services if you wish.

[DailyLifeImages]

Can you explain the 2nd point more. When does a contributor get these type of notices and from whom? 

[Abambo]

The contributor does not get the notification. They get their account suspended. See here: https://helpx.adobe.com/stock/contributor/help/how-to-report-suspected-misuse-of-your-intellectual-p....

[Nancy OShea]

Can you explain the 2nd point more. When does a contributor get these type of notices and from whom? 

By @DailyLifeImages

=========

Infringement complaints and "take down" notices go directly to Adobe.  Contributors aren't privy to personal data for privacy reasons.  If Adobe received a "take down" notice and you don't agree, you can appeal it by providing valid proof of asset ownership.  You may wish to consult with a lawyer before you respond.

[jacquelingphoto2017]

@DailyLifeImages 

Accounts are suspended due to Adobe contributor terms and condition violation. No company would suspend an account for legitimate sales spike. 

It is unlikely the company would penalize a contributor for using the same payment method for multiple accounts when a contributor is allowed to create multiple accounts. 

We are community experts, volunteers whom don't have access to others account since we are not staff members. Hence, we are not privileged to the reason an individual's account is suspended. What I do know is that there are contributors who report sales spike without an account suspension.

Best wishes

Jacquelin

[DailyLifeImages]

If you are following the post the post of @NepdaR where he mentioned that hid account got suspended second time. When he was asked about sales, he told that he got 200 sales which made him 192$ in 2 days. I think that's why ho get suspended sa adobe thinks of irregular sales activity.

I think a contributor could only make another contributor account if he will upload different assets on another account. As of my knowledge. Now if same contributor uplaods same assets types in different account and entered same payment method so I think it will lead to the suspnsion of account. 

[Abambo]

I think a contributor could only make another contributor account if he will upload different assets on another account. As of my knowledge. Now if same contributor uplaods same assets types in different account and entered same payment method so I think it will lead to the suspnsion of account. 

By @DailyLifeImages

That's nonsense. You get suspended if you have unusual sales pattern. Like one "account" licensing all your assets multiple times, to blast the sales numbers. Or multiple test accounts buying your assets. There are possibilities to detect most of those patterns as fraudulent. You should not think that Adobe has not the tools to detect this. But it's not possible to detect that on the fly, during the fraudulent transactions. When yo ask for a payout, a short check of your sales history will reveal the fraud.

[DailyLifeImages · Accepted solution]

I got to know another reason of account suspension. And Adobe is very strict about it. By the way this reason was discussed by another contributor recently, whose account got blocked because of the same reason. 
So the reason is that you use any brand name in title and keywords.
Here's the screenshot of the response of Adobe which the contributor got after making this mistake.

[Jill_C]

There have been numerous communications from Adobe on this subject for several months now, including at one time a reminder on the submission page. 

[Abambo]

Yes, using brand names in your keywords and titles can lead to suspensions. Using brand names in an unauthorized way is a grave offence. Most of these IP violations get caught during moderation, but as the contributor, you are responsible for such offences.

[Jill_C]

It's also possible that Contributors modify their Titles and Keywords after the asset has been accepted to utilize those prohibited brand names. Of course, they do so at the risk of permanent suspension of their account.

[Abambo]

It's also possible that Contributors modify their Titles and Keywords after the asset has been accepted to utilize those prohibited brand names. Of course, they do so at the risk of permanent suspension of their account.

By @Jill_C

Yes, that's probably the best explanation not to catch those words, as I'm sure that Adobe has a database of (registered) trade names and checks all entries against those during submission. They detect even the strangest and most unknown trademarks.

[jacquelingphoto2017]

I'll just add a qualification here.

Brand names can be used in the title and keywording of assets that are submitted as Illustrative Editorial if the brand product is included in the picture. For example a bottle of Grace Ketchup is included as a subject element of an Illustrative Editorial asset, you include the brand name "Grace" in both the caption and keywording.

Brand names are not allowed in the caption and keywording of assets submitted for commercial purpose. Also, it would not be relevant in the caption and keywording of Illustrative Editorial assets that do not capture the brand product. Irrelevant keywording is a violation of the the guidelines.

Best wishes

Jacquelin

[Starlight Express Art]

They Have a missunderstanding .i create a new accoutn just a second pass account was de activated with out any file.

[Jill_C]

Why are you posting in this unrelated thread?

[jacquelingphoto2017]

Hi @Starlight Express Art ,

You need to contact Adobe directly using the contact us link provided about your deactivated account. Forum experts are unable to assist you about this matter. 

In the future, please create a new thread with your question. We will receive it as prompt as we do when you post on an active threads.

Best wishes

Jacquelin