Code of Ethics

As a proud member of the Universal Autograph Collector's Club (UACC) we abide by these simple but essential rules:

1. UACC members are required to abide by all Federal, state and local laws and regulations related to the purchase , sale or other related transactions concerned with the securing  of autographs or autograph related items.

2. Transactions between members are to be conducted in accordance with the Code of Ethics.

3. Members on both sides of a disputed transaction brought before the Ethics Board are required to abide by the Board's decisions.

4. Members agree  not to knowingly purchase or sell any autographs or related items whose ownership is in doubt. Further, members are to report any information concerning suspected or known stolen autographs or related material to proper legal authorities. The seller is to pass on to the buyer clear title to all material sold.

5. Members are to fulfill any and all terms, oral or written, of any contract or agreement to purchase, sell or exchange autographs or related items, unless prompt and timely notice otherwise is given to the other party. Transactions and special terms and conditions of sale must be evidenced by written documentation.  Any transaction not documented to be "as-is" will be deemed to be a sale of authentic autographic or related material.

6. Members agree  not to knowingly sell, exchange or advertise for sale any autographed or related material which is forged or where the signature is a mechanical reproduction or is otherwise not genuine; or any autographed or related material which has been altered, repaired or otherwise altered from its original state, unless such state and or condition is clearly and expressly stated and described.

7. Transactions between members are required to have receipts or invoices issued upon request from either party, for the sale or exchange of  any autographed or related item. The receipt or invoice will state clearly a basic description of the item(s), the purchaser, the seller, and the prices, terms or any other relevant information.

8. The seller is required to state the terms in which he or she sells autographs or related material in a clear manner which includes a reasonable right to return items and a guarantee of full refund on returned material.

9. Sellers are required to advertise for sale only those items which are available at the time of such advertisement and will honor all prices published for a reasonable time after their publication.

10. Persons involved in consignments of autographs or related material are to have a written agreement involving all aspects of the sale of the material as well as payment to the consignor. The seller must agree not to alter any of the material he is handling on a consignment basis without  written approval from the consignor.

11. Members are required to refund the full purchase price of any autographed or related item at any time where lack of authenticity can be proven and where proof of purchase is supplied; however, requests for an extension of time to return purchased or exchanged autographs or related material shall not be viewed as an acceptable reason for delay of payment for said material beyond the agreed-upon terms of the transaction. This rule does not apply to "as-is" (as seen) material which has been properly documented under article (5) five.

12. Members are responsible for items sent to them for examination for possible purchase while they are in the member's possession. The sender is to supply a complete listing of all items included in the package. Should an offer to purchase prove to be unacceptable, the merchandise must be returned to the owner in the same or better manner than it was shipped.

13. Members are to provide the UACC their corporate or assumed names, as well and the names of the principals involved in businesses and full street address.

14. Members are to make every effort to prevent the theft of autographic material or its distribution.. Members shall cooperate with the law enforcement authorities and the UACC Ethics Board in an effort to recover and return the stolen materials and apprehend and prosecute those responsible for the theft, including but not limited to, providing the names of the parties involved.

15. The UACC will not tolerate knowingly false and or frivolous charges being brought against one of its members. Such action could result in sanctions against the complainant.

16. Members are required to comply with all intellectual property laws, including state, federal and common law, or risk expulsion from the UACC.

GUIDELINES

a) It is the UACC's hope that all matters brought before the Ethics Board can be speedily and voluntarily resolved to the satisfaction of all parties without Board action and/or the imposition of sanctions.

b) All disputes handled by the Ethics Board shall be handled with equal importance.

c) Written proof must be presented to the Ethics Board by the complainant that a valid attempt has been made to settle the disagreement before the Board shall accept the case.

d) The highest level of impartiality and fairness shall be observed by the Ethics Board members at all times.

e) It is not the function of the Ethics Board to decide the authenticity of any item. If any dispute concerns the question of authenticity, sufficient proof must be provided to the Ethics Board that the item in question is not authentic and that such proof has been brought to the attention of all parties involved in the dispute.

f) The UACC Ethics Board has the authority to level sanctions up to and including monetary fines and expulsion from the UACC.

g) No Ethics Board member shall act on or consider a case in which a conflict of interest with that member may exist. Any Ethics Board member may notify the Chairman in writing that a conflict exists and decline the case.

h) If at any point during the course of resolution of a UACC Ethics complaint, either party brings the matter to litigation, all complaint proceedings will be tabled until such time as the litigation has been adjudicated.

i) To insure continuity and accuracy, all communication by the Ethics Board must be done in writing.

j) The sanctioned party shall have the right to appeal an Ethics Board decision to the UACC Executive Board.