Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy

1. Purpose of this policy

The HandCrafted Market supports independent makers, artists, designers and creative small businesses.

We recognise that artificial intelligence is increasingly used as a tool for marketing, administration, photography, design support and content creation.

We do not have a general ban on the use of AI.

Our concern is the integrity of the products being sold at our markets.

Products sold at The HandCrafted Market must reflect genuine creative input, skill, craftsmanship or production by the trader. We do not permit products where generative AI has effectively created the finished artwork, image or design and the trader has simply printed, transferred or reproduced it for sale.

This policy explains where we draw that line.

2. AI-generated images during registration

When registering to trade with The HandCrafted Market, applicants must provide genuine photographs of their actual products and, where requested, their stall setup.

AI-generated images must not be submitted in place of real photographs.

This includes AI-generated or simulated images of:

  • Products.
  • Artwork.
  • Craft items.
  • Market stalls.
  • Displays.
  • Packaging.
  • Product collections.

We review registration photographs so that we can assess the products you actually make and the way you intend to present them.

If AI-generated images are submitted instead of genuine photographs, we will be unable to complete the registration assessment.

We may ask you to provide genuine photographs before progressing the application.

If suitable photographs are not provided within the period stated in our correspondence, we may close the pending registration and remove the submitted information from our systems in line with our data retention procedures.

3. AI use is not banned

Traders may use AI as a supporting business tool.

Examples of acceptable uses may include:

  • Writing or improving social media posts.
  • Drafting product descriptions.
  • Creating marketing ideas.
  • Preparing promotional graphics.
  • Creating social media imagery.
  • Removing or changing photographic backgrounds.
  • Improving lighting or presentation in photographs.
  • Helping with spelling, grammar or written content.
  • Brainstorming product ideas.
  • Assisting with business administration.
  • Creating mock-ups for internal planning.

Using AI in these ways does not automatically affect your eligibility to trade with us.

The key issue is how the product being sold has been created.

4. Products must remain genuinely trader-created

Products sold at The HandCrafted Market must involve genuine creative or practical input from the trader.

We expect the trader to have carried out the main creative work behind the product.

We do not permit products where the main artwork, illustration, image or design has been generated by AI and then simply:

  • Printed.
  • Sublimated.
  • Engraved.
  • Cut.
  • Transferred.
  • Applied to clothing.
  • Applied to mugs or drinkware.
  • Applied to bags.
  • Applied to signs.
  • Printed onto cards or stationery.
  • Printed as wall art.
  • Reproduced onto merchandise.

Putting an AI-generated image onto a physical item does not make the design handcrafted for the purposes of The HandCrafted Market.

5. Examples of products we would not accept

Examples include:

  • AI-generated wall prints.
  • AI-generated illustrations sold as artwork.
  • AI-generated greeting card designs.
  • AI-generated character artwork.
  • AI-generated posters.
  • AI-generated digital paintings.
  • AI-generated photographs sold as photographic art.
  • AI-generated colouring pages or books.
  • AI-generated designs printed onto mugs.
  • AI-generated designs printed onto clothing.
  • AI-generated artwork engraved onto products.
  • AI-generated images printed onto coasters, signs or homeware.
  • Products where AI has generated substantially all of the visual design and the trader’s main role is producing or printing it.

This applies even if the trader has paid for commercial rights to use the generated image.

6. AI-assisted creative work

We recognise that the boundary between traditional design software and AI-assisted tools is changing.

AI assistance does not automatically make a product unacceptable.

For example, a trader may create their own original illustration and then use software containing AI features to:

  • Clean up an image.
  • Remove imperfections.
  • Adjust colours.
  • Remove a background.
  • Improve image quality.
  • Prepare artwork for printing.
  • Resize or format their own work.

The important distinction is where the core creative work comes from.

If the trader has created the underlying artwork or design and AI has played a supporting role, the product may be acceptable.

If AI has created the underlying artwork or design and the trader’s role is mainly selecting, editing, printing or reproducing it, the product will generally not be accepted.

7. Handmade products created using digital equipment

We do not consider the use of technology itself to be a problem.

Products made using equipment such as:

  • 3D printers.
  • Laser cutters.
  • Cricut and cutting machines.
  • Embroidery machines.
  • CNC machines.
  • Digital drawing tablets.
  • Photography equipment.
  • Graphic design software.

may be suitable for The HandCrafted Market.

We will look at the trader’s creative input, design work and production process.

For example, a trader who creates their own design and then uses a laser cutter, 3D printer or cutting machine to manufacture it is very different from somebody generating an image through AI and simply printing it onto merchandise.

8. Product photography and marketing

AI may be used to help market genuine products.

For example, traders may use AI or editing software to:

  • Change a background.
  • Create a styled setting around a genuine product.
  • Prepare social media graphics.
  • Create promotional content.
  • Improve the presentation of photographs.

However, marketing images must not deliberately misrepresent the product being sold.

Where requested, traders must be able to provide genuine photographs showing the physical product.

Registration photographs must always include real products rather than AI-generated replacements.

9. Stall setup photographs

Where we ask to see your stall setup, we need photographs of a real setup.

You may submit photographs from:

  • Previous markets.
  • Craft fairs.
  • Pop-up events.
  • Your own test setup at home.
  • A practice setup specifically created for your registration.

AI-generated stall images cannot be used as evidence of your setup because they do not allow us to assess how your actual stall will look.

10. Transparency

If we have concerns about how a product has been created, we may ask the trader to explain their process.

We may ask for information such as:

  • Original artwork.
  • Design files.
  • Sketches.
  • Work-in-progress photographs.
  • Photographs of the product being made.
  • Details of the software or equipment used.
  • Photographs of the finished physical product.

We will only request this where we need further information to assess compliance with our market requirements.

11. Products found at a market

If we believe products being sold at one of our markets have been substantially generated by AI, we may ask the trader about the production process.

Where we determine that a product does not meet this policy, we may require it to be removed from sale.

Depending on the circumstances, we may also:

  • Issue a warning.
  • Review the trader’s approved product range.
  • Cancel future bookings.
  • Suspend the trader’s account.
  • Decline future bookings or registrations.

Deliberately presenting AI-generated artwork as personally illustrated, painted, photographed, drawn or designed may result in stronger action.

12. New product ranges

Approval to trade does not mean that every future product introduced by a trader is automatically approved.

If you introduce a substantially different product range, we may ask to review it.

All products brought to our markets must continue to meet our handmade and product eligibility requirements.

13. If you are unsure

We recognise that AI tools are developing quickly and there will be situations that do not fit neatly into a single category.

If you are unsure, ask yourself:

Did I create the main design or product myself, with AI helping me — or did AI create the main design and I then turn it into a product?

The first may be acceptable.

The second will generally not be suitable for The HandCrafted Market.

If you are still unsure, contact us before producing stock or booking a market:

in**@*********************co.uk

14. Our approach

The HandCrafted Market reserves the right to decide which products are suitable for sale at our events.

We will consider:

  • Who created the original design.
  • The trader’s creative input.
  • The production process.
  • The level of craftsmanship involved.
  • The role AI played in producing the finished item.

Our aim is not to ban AI.

Our aim is to protect the handmade character of The HandCrafted Market and give customers confidence that the products they are buying genuinely reflect the creativity, skill and work of the trader behind the stall.