Terms and Conditions | DCM Grading

1. Acceptance of Terms

These Terms and Conditions ("Terms") constitute a binding agreement between you and Dynamic Collectibles Management LLC ("DCM," "we," "our," or "us"). By accessing or using our card grading service at dcmgrading.com or through our iOS and Android mobile applications (the "Service"), you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree to these Terms, please do not use the Service.

We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. We will notify you of any changes by posting the updated Terms on this page. Your continued use of the Service after such modifications constitutes your acceptance of the updated Terms.

2. Description of Service

DCM Grading provides AI-powered visual condition analysis of trading cards through our proprietary DCM Optic™ technology, including Pokémon, Magic: The Gathering, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Lorcana, One Piece, Star Wars, sports cards, and other collectible card categories. The Services are designed as a fast, accessible, and unbiased way to evaluate the visible condition of a trading card — you submit photographs through the website or mobile app and receive a grade and sub-grades in minutes.

By using the Service, you understand and agree that:

DCM grades are based on photographic analysis. Our AI evaluates the centering, corners, edges, and surface condition visible in the images you submit. We do not perform physical inspection of cards.
Image quality affects accuracy. Lighting, focus, angle, glare, and camera capability influence what the AI can detect. We provide a confidence score (A–D) with every grade so you understand the level of certainty for a particular evaluation.
DCM grades are independent. They are produced by our DCM Optic™ system and reflect our published grading methodology. They are not issued by, affiliated with, or endorsed by any other grading service.
DCM does not authenticate cards. The Services evaluate visible condition only. We do not verify whether a card is genuine, counterfeit, altered, reprinted, restored, or otherwise tampered with. You should not rely on the Services to determine authenticity.
Market value estimates are informational. Where shown, estimated values are derived from third-party sales data and reflect general market signals at the time of lookup. They are not appraisals and do not guarantee resale price.
Grading methodologies vary across providers. Because every grading service uses its own methodology and standards, a DCM grade may differ from a grade you would receive from another provider. This is true of any independent grading evaluation.
Describe DCM grades accurately when sharing them. When you share or list a card with a DCM grade — for example in a marketplace listing or social post — you agree to describe it accurately as a "DCM Optic™ AI grade" (or substantially similar language) so others understand which service produced the evaluation.

3. Verification and Customizable Holders

DCM Grading is a digital-first grading service. When a card is graded, we generate a unique certificate number ("Cert ID"), a permanent digital record that includes the front and back photographs of the card at the time of submission, the assigned grade, the sub-grades, and other metadata. Every record is publicly verifiable by scanning the QR code on a DCM label or by entering the Cert ID at dcmgrading.com/search.

We do not produce or supply a physical slab or sealed holder as part of our grading service. Instead, you choose your own holder — a magnetic one-touch, toploader, or other protective case — and apply a DCM label that you design and print yourself. This DIY approach is intentional: it lets you customize how you display, store, and share your graded cards without the cost, wait time, and one-size-fits-all limitations of mail-in grading. We believe collectors should own the experience end to end.

Because DCM does not provide a tamper-evident physical slab, you and any party you transact with should understand the following:

The Cert ID identifies a specific card at the time of grading. It is permanently linked to the photographs we captured. Anyone can scan the QR code on the label or look up the Cert ID at dcmgrading.com/search to see what the card looked like when it was graded.
The physical holder is user-supplied and user-sealed. DCM cannot certify that a specific physical holder, at a specific point in time after grading, contains the same card that received the original DCM grade. Responsibility for the integrity of the holder rests with the user.
Buyers should verify before transacting. When considering the purchase of a DCM-graded card, you should scan the QR code on the label or search the Cert ID at dcmgrading.com/search and compare the photographs on file to the physical card in the holder. Differences in appearance, serial numbering, foil pattern, surface defects, or back image may indicate the card in the holder is not the one DCM graded.
You assume the risk of customization, modification, and reuse. Users who customize, modify, reuse, transfer, or share holders bearing DCM labels acknowledge this risk and assume full responsibility for any misrepresentation, fraud, or loss arising from doing so. DCM is not a party to such transactions and is not liable for any loss resulting from the substitution of cards within user-supplied holders or from any user's misrepresentation of a card's grading status.
Fraudulent representation is misuse of the Services. Knowingly misrepresenting a card as having been graded by DCM (when it has not been), knowingly presenting a card in a DCM-labeled holder as the card associated with a Cert ID (when it is not), or otherwise misusing DCM grading records to deceive third parties is a violation of these Terms and may also violate consumer protection, fraud, and intellectual property laws. We may cooperate with law enforcement, affected parties, and platform operators (such as marketplaces) in investigating and responding to misuse.

4. User Accounts

4.1 Account Creation

To use our Service, you must create an account. You may register using:

Email and password
Apple Sign In, Google authentication, or other third-party authentication services we may offer

4.2 Account Security

You are responsible for:

Maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials
All activities that occur under your account
Notifying us immediately of any unauthorized access or security breach

4.3 Account Eligibility

You must be at least 18 years old to use this Service. By creating an account, you represent and warrant that you are 18 years of age or older and have the legal capacity to enter into these Terms. If you are under 18, you may not use the Service.

4.4 Account Deletion

You may delete your account at any time through one of these methods:

In the mobile app: Open the Account tab and tap Delete My Account, then confirm.
On the website: Visit dcmgrading.com/account and use the account-deletion option.
By email: Send a deletion request to admin@dcmgrading.com from the email address associated with your account.

Account deletion is permanent. We delete your cards, card images, account information, and unused credits. Transaction records may be retained in anonymized form to comply with tax and financial recordkeeping requirements.

5. Acceptable Use

5.1 Permitted Use

You may use the Service to:

Upload images of your trading cards for grading analysis
View and manage your grading history
Access features and functionality we provide

5.2 Prohibited Activities

You agree not to:

Upload images that violate intellectual property rights
Upload inappropriate, offensive, or illegal content
Use the Service for any fraudulent or deceptive purpose
Attempt to gain unauthorized access to our systems or other users' accounts
Interfere with or disrupt the Service or servers
Use automated scripts, bots, or scrapers without permission
Reverse engineer, decompile, or disassemble any part of the Service
Resell or commercialize the Service without authorization
Impersonate any person or entity
Attempt to manipulate or game the grading system through misleading photographs, false condition reports, or repeated re-submissions

6. Intellectual Property

6.1 Our Intellectual Property

The Service, including its design, functionality, text, graphics, logos, and software, is owned by DCM and protected by copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws. You may not copy, modify, distribute, or create derivative works without our express written permission.

6.2 Your Content and License Grant

You retain ownership of the images and content you upload to the Service. However, by uploading content, you grant DCM a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free, transferable license to use, store, process, reproduce, modify, and display your content for the following purposes:

Providing AI grading analysis and generating grading reports
Improving and training our AI models and algorithms
Operating, maintaining, and enhancing the Service
Complying with legal obligations

You represent and warrant that you have all necessary rights to upload the content and grant us this license, and that your content does not infringe any intellectual property rights, violate any laws, or contain offensive, inappropriate, or illegal material.

6.3 Third-Party Trademarks and Copyrights

All trading card designs, artwork, logos, brand names, and associated intellectual property are the exclusive property of their respective manufacturers and licensors. This includes, but is not limited to:

Pokémon: The Pokémon Company, Nintendo, Game Freak, Creatures Inc.
Magic: The Gathering: Wizards of the Coast, Hasbro
Yu-Gi-Oh!: Konami
Disney Lorcana: The Walt Disney Company, Ravensburger
Sports Cards: Panini, Topps, Upper Deck, Fanatics, Leaf, and respective leagues (NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL, etc.)
Other TCGs and CCGs: Their respective publishers and rights holders

DCM makes no claim of ownership over any card imagery, artwork, designs, or branding depicted in user-uploaded photographs. The display of trademarked card images on our platform is solely for the purpose of providing our grading analysis service. All trademarks and copyrights remain the property of their respective owners.

Users are solely responsible for ensuring they have the legal right to photograph and upload images of cards they submit for grading. DCM is not responsible for any intellectual property violations arising from user-uploaded content.

6.4 DCM Outputs and Ownership

All grading outputs, analyses, and assessments generated by DCM are the exclusive intellectual property of DCM. This includes, but is not limited to:

All grades, scores, and numerical assessments produced by our DCM Optic™ AI technology
Condition labels, descriptions, and written analyses
Digital certificates, labels, and grading reports
Centering measurements, surface analyses, and defect assessments
Card identification data and metadata extracted during analysis
Any derivative works, compilations, or aggregated data derived from grading activities

While you may view and share your grading results for personal, non-commercial purposes, you may not reproduce, distribute, modify, or create derivative works from DCM outputs without our express written permission. The methodologies, algorithms, and processes used to generate grading results are proprietary trade secrets of DCM.

6.5 Use in Marketing and Promotional Materials

By using the Service and setting your graded cards to "Public" visibility, you grant DCM the right to use, display, reproduce, and distribute images of your graded cards and associated grading results for marketing, promotional, educational, and demonstration purposes. This includes, but is not limited to:

Featuring graded cards on our website, including the homepage and gallery sections
Social media posts and advertisements across all platforms
Marketing emails, newsletters, and promotional campaigns
Press releases, case studies, and media materials
Trade show displays, presentations, and demonstrations
Educational content showcasing grading examples and quality standards

To opt out of marketing use: You may set your cards to "Private" visibility at any time through your account settings. Private cards will not be displayed publicly or used in marketing materials. However, DCM Grading retains the right to use anonymized or aggregated data from all grading activities for internal analytics, service improvement, and general statistical purposes.

DCM will not sell your uploaded card images to third parties. Marketing use is limited to promoting DCM Grading services and demonstrating our grading capabilities.

7. Payment and Fees

DCM operates on a pay-per-use and/or subscription-based model. Certain features may be offered free of charge, while premium features require payment.

7.1 Pricing and Billing

We will provide clear notice of pricing before you incur any charges
You authorize us to charge your designated payment method for all applicable fees
Subscription fees are billed in advance on a recurring basis (monthly, annually, or as otherwise specified)
Pay-per-use fees are charged as services are consumed
Prices are subject to change with reasonable advance notice

7.2 Refund Policy

All payments are nonrefundable, except where required by applicable law. We do not provide refunds or credits for:

Partial subscription periods
Unused credits or grading quota
Dissatisfaction with grading results
Account termination or suspension

If you experience technical issues or service disruptions, please contact us at admin@dcmgrading.com and we will work to resolve the issue. In exceptional circumstances, we may provide refunds or credits at our sole discretion.

7.3 Payment Processing

Payments are processed through Stripe, our secure third-party payment processor. We do not store your complete credit card information on our servers.

8. Disclaimers and Limitations of Liability

8.1 "AS IS" Disclaimer

THE SERVICE IS PROVIDED ON AN "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" BASIS WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO:

IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY
IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE
WARRANTIES OF NON-INFRINGEMENT
WARRANTIES THAT THE SERVICE WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED OR ERROR-FREE
WARRANTIES REGARDING THE ACCURACY OR RELIABILITY OF GRADING RESULTS

WE MAKE NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES ABOUT THE SUITABILITY, RELIABILITY, AVAILABILITY, TIMELINESS, OR ACCURACY OF THE SERVICE FOR ANY PURPOSE.

8.2 Accuracy of AI Grading

CARD GRADING INVOLVES PROFESSIONAL JUDGMENT AND NO GRADING SERVICE — WHETHER AI-POWERED OR MANUAL — CAN GUARANTEE ABSOLUTE ACCURACY OR CONSISTENCY. Our assessments:

Represent DCM's independent assessment based on our proprietary methodology and standards
May differ from grades issued by other grading providers, as each service applies its own criteria
Are based on analysis of user-submitted images and may be affected by image quality, lighting, or obstructions
Should be considered alongside other factors when making financial decisions regarding trading cards

YOU ASSUME ALL RISK ASSOCIATED WITH RELYING ON OUR GRADING ASSESSMENTS. WE ARE NOT LIABLE FOR ANY LOSSES OR DAMAGES RESULTING FROM DECISIONS MADE BASED ON OUR GRADING RESULTS.

8.3 Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, DCM GRADING SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, OR ANY LOSS OF PROFITS OR REVENUES, WHETHER INCURRED DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, OR ANY LOSS OF DATA, USE, GOODWILL, OR OTHER INTANGIBLE LOSSES RESULTING FROM:

Your use or inability to use the Service
Reliance on any grading assessments provided by the Service
Unauthorized access to your account or data
Any third-party content or conduct on the Service

8.4 Service Availability

We do not guarantee that the Service will be available at all times without interruption. We may suspend or terminate the Service for maintenance, updates, or other reasons without liability.

9. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless DCM, its officers, directors, employees, and agents from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, and expenses, including reasonable attorneys' fees, arising out of or in any way connected with:

Your use of the Service
Your violation of these Terms
Your violation of any rights of another party
Content you upload to the Service

10. Termination

10.1 Termination by You

You may terminate your account at any time by contacting us or using the account deletion feature in the Service (see Section 4.4).

10.2 Termination by Us

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate your access to the Service immediately, at any time, with or without notice, with or without cause, including but not limited to if:

You violate these Terms or any applicable laws
Your use of the Service poses a security, legal, or reputational risk
You engage in fraudulent, abusive, or illegal activities
Your payment method fails or your account becomes delinquent
We discontinue the Service or specific features

We may suspend or terminate accounts without prior notice when we determine, in our sole discretion, that such action is necessary to protect the Service, other users, or our business interests.

10.3 Effect of Termination

Upon termination, your right to use the Service will immediately cease. We may delete your account and all associated data. Provisions of these Terms that by their nature should survive termination will survive.

11. Privacy

Your use of the Service is also governed by our Privacy Policy, available at dcmgrading.com/privacy. Please review the Privacy Policy to understand how we collect, use, and protect your information.

12. Dispute Resolution

12.1 Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Georgia, United States, without regard to its conflict of law provisions.

12.2 Jurisdiction

Any legal action or proceeding arising out of or relating to these Terms or the Service shall be brought exclusively in the state or federal courts located in Georgia, United States, and you consent to the personal jurisdiction of such courts.

12.3 Arbitration

Any dispute arising from these Terms or the Service shall be resolved through binding arbitration in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association, conducted in Georgia, United States, except where prohibited by law.

12.4 Class Action Waiver

You agree to resolve disputes with us on an individual basis and waive your right to participate in class actions or class-wide arbitration.

13. Miscellaneous

13.1 Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and DCM.

13.2 Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue in full force and effect.

13.3 Waiver

Our failure to enforce any right or provision of these Terms will not be considered a waiver of those rights.

13.4 Assignment

You may not assign or transfer these Terms without our prior written consent. We may assign our rights and obligations without restriction.

13.5 Contact Information

For questions about these Terms, please contact us at:

Dynamic Collectibles Management LLC
Email: admin@dcmgrading.com
Website: https://dcmgrading.com

14. Updates to Service

We reserve the right to modify, suspend, or discontinue any part of the Service at any time without notice. We may also impose limits on certain features or restrict access to parts of the Service.

15. Third-Party Marketplace Integrations

DCM may offer features that allow you to list your DCM-graded cards on third-party marketplaces such as eBay. By using these integration features, you agree to the following additional terms:

15.1 DCM Is Not a Party to Marketplace Transactions

DCM provides marketplace listing tools solely as a convenience feature to help you list your DCM-graded cards. DCM is not a party to any transaction that occurs on third-party marketplaces. All sales, purchases, and related activities are conducted exclusively between you and the buyer through the respective marketplace platform. DCM does not participate in, facilitate, mediate, or guarantee any aspect of these transactions.

15.2 No Liability for Marketplace Transactions

DCM GRADING SHALL NOT BE HELD LIABLE FOR ANY DISPUTES, CLAIMS, DAMAGES, LOSSES, OR ISSUES ARISING FROM YOUR MARKETPLACE LISTINGS OR SALES. This includes, but is not limited to:

Buyer complaints, disputes, or negative feedback
Return requests, refund demands, or chargebacks
Shipping delays, damage, or lost packages
Payment processing issues or fund holds
Listing violations, policy infractions, or account actions taken by the marketplace
Marketplace fees, taxes, or other financial obligations
Claims of item not as described, authenticity disputes, or condition disagreements
Any other matters related to your marketplace activity

15.3 Grading Opinions in the Context of Sales

DCM grades represent our independent visual condition assessment at the time of grading based on DCM's proprietary standards and methodology. Grades are assessments and are not guarantees of market value, future market performance, or buyer satisfaction. Card condition may change after grading due to handling, storage, or environmental factors. Buyers may have different assessments regarding condition, and you are solely responsible for handling any disputes that may arise from differences in condition perception. DCM will not intervene in buyer-seller disputes regarding grading accuracy.

15.4 Your Responsibilities When Using Marketplace Integrations

When using DCM's marketplace integration features, you are solely responsible for:

Listing Accuracy: The accuracy of all listing information, including titles, descriptions, prices, images, condition descriptions, and shipping terms
Platform Compliance: Compliance with all marketplace terms of service, listing policies, seller standards, and applicable laws and regulations
Customer Service: Handling all buyer communications, inquiries, and customer service matters
Fulfillment: Packaging, shipping, delivery, and any shipping-related issues
Returns and Refunds: Processing returns, issuing refunds, and handling post-sale disputes
Financial Obligations: All marketplace fees, payment processing fees, taxes, duties, and any other costs associated with your sales
Legal Compliance: Ensuring you have the legal right to sell the items you list and that your sales comply with all applicable consumer protection laws
Account Standing: Maintaining your marketplace account in good standing

15.5 Indemnification for Marketplace Activities

In addition to the general indemnification provisions in Section 9, you specifically agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless DCM, its officers, directors, employees, and agents from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, costs, or expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising from or related to:

Your use of marketplace integration features
Any transactions conducted through third-party marketplaces
Disputes with buyers, marketplaces, or payment processors
Claims that items sold did not match their described condition
Any violation of marketplace policies or applicable laws
Intellectual property claims related to your listings

15.6 Marketplace Account Responsibility

You are responsible for maintaining your marketplace accounts (such as eBay) in good standing. DCM is not responsible for any actions the marketplace may take against your account, including but not limited to listing removals, selling restrictions, fee assessments, fund holds, or account suspensions. Any consequences resulting from your use of marketplace integration features are your sole responsibility.

15.7 Integration Service Availability

DCM provides marketplace integration features "as is" and makes no guarantees regarding their availability, accuracy, or functionality. We may modify, suspend, or discontinue marketplace integration features at any time without notice. We are not responsible for any losses resulting from integration service interruptions, errors, or discontinuation.

15.8 Third-Party Platform Terms

Your use of third-party marketplaces is also subject to those platforms' terms of service, policies, and user agreements. It is your responsibility to review and comply with all applicable third-party terms. In the event of any conflict between these Terms and third-party marketplace terms, the more restrictive provision shall apply to your use of DCM's integration features.