Terms & Conditions
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Last updated: July 2026
These Terms & Conditions (“Terms”) govern the use of the Socia & Socius website and all purchases made through the online shop operated by Joshua Ying-Zhe Maurer (“the Artist”, “we”, “us” or “our”).
By accessing the website, placing an order or purchasing a product through the online shop, you agree to be bound by these Terms together with our Privacy Policy, Shipping & Returns Policy and any other policies referenced on this website.
If you do not agree with these Terms, please refrain from using this website or placing an order.
These Terms apply to all visitors of the website and all customers purchasing products or services offered through it.
1. Website & Scope
The Socia & Socius website serves as both an online gallery and an online shop.
Through this website you may:
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Browse original artworks;
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Purchase eligible fine art prints and other products through the webshop;
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Download selected digital products where offered;
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Submit enquiries regarding original artworks or collaborations.
Original artworks displayed on this website are generally not purchased directly through the webshop unless expressly stated otherwise. Their availability, pricing and purchase process may differ from products offered through the online shop.
We reserve the right to modify, update or discontinue any part of the website, products or services at any time without prior notice.
2. Products & Availability
All artworks, prints and other products are offered subject to availability.
While we make every reasonable effort to ensure that product descriptions, photographs, dimensions and colors accurately represent each work, slight variations may occur due to factors such as screen settings, lighting, printing processes or the handmade nature of original artworks.
Such variations do not constitute a defect.
Certain products are released as limited editions. Once an edition has sold out, it may no longer be available unless expressly stated otherwise.
We reserve the right to limit the quantity of products available for purchase and to discontinue products or collections at any time.
3. Prices
Unless stated otherwise, all prices displayed on the website are shown in Euro (EUR).
Prices include Austrian VAT where applicable.
Shipping costs, customs duties, import taxes and similar charges are not included unless expressly stated during checkout.
Prices may be updated or adjusted at any time. Changes do not affect orders that have already been confirmed.
4. Orders
By placing an order through the webshop, you confirm that the information provided during checkout is accurate and complete.
After an order has been placed, you will receive an automatic order confirmation by email. This confirmation acknowledges receipt of your order but does not necessarily constitute acceptance of the order.
A purchase contract is concluded once your order has been accepted and confirmed by us or, where applicable, once the ordered product has been dispatched.
We reserve the right to decline or cancel orders in exceptional circumstances, including but not limited to:
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Products becoming unavailable;
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Pricing or technical errors;
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Suspected fraudulent activity;
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Violations of these Terms.
If payment has already been received for an order that cannot be fulfilled, any amount paid will be refunded using the original payment method.
5. Payment
Payments are processed through secure third-party payment providers made available during checkout.
By submitting payment information, you confirm that you are authorized to use the selected payment method.
We do not store complete credit card or payment information on our own servers.
Should a payment fail or be declined, we reserve the right not to process or dispatch the corresponding order until successful payment has been received.
6. Shipping & Delivery
Shipping, delivery estimates, customs information, returns and refunds are governed by our separate Shipping & Returns Policy, which forms part of these Terms.
By placing an order, you acknowledge that estimated delivery times are approximate and may vary depending on production schedules, shipping providers, customs procedures or other circumstances beyond our reasonable control.
Risk of accidental loss or damage passes to the customer upon delivery in accordance with applicable law.
7. Right of Withdrawal
Consumers residing within the European Union may have a statutory right of withdrawal for eligible purchases in accordance with applicable consumer protection legislation.
The conditions, exclusions and practical procedures for exercising this right are described in our Shipping & Return Policy.
Nothing in these Terms limits any mandatory statutory rights applicable under Austrian or European law.
8. Original Artworks
Original artworks displayed on this website are presented for informational and exhibition purposes unless expressly stated otherwise.
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Where an original artwork is available for purchase, the sale is generally arranged through direct correspondence rather than the online shop. Availability, pricing, shipping arrangements and payment terms may therefore differ from webshop purchases.
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At the Artist's sole discretion, payment plans may be offered for selected original artworks. Any such arrangement must be agreed in writing between the Buyer and the Artist and will specify the applicable payment schedule and any other agreed terms.
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Where a payment plan has been agreed, the Artist may reserve the artwork for the Buyer while the agreed installments are paid. If the Buyer fails to make an agreed payment within the specified timeframe, the Artist reserves the right to terminate the payment plan, cancel the reservation and make the artwork available to other interested buyers, unless otherwise agreed in writing or required by applicable law.
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If a payment plan is terminated before completion, any payments already received will generally be refunded to the Buyer within a reasonable period, unless otherwise agreed in writing or unless deductions are permitted by applicable law.
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Due to the handmade nature of original artworks, minor variations in texture, brushwork, color and other characteristics form part of the artistic process and do not constitute defects.
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Where provided, a Certificate of Authenticity forms part of the artwork and should be retained by the Buyer. Certain original artworks may also incorporate additional authentication technologies, including secure NFC authentication, as described in the accompanying documentation.
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Ownership of the physical artwork remains with the Artist until the purchase price has been paid in full. Unless otherwise agreed in writing, original artworks are delivered only after full payment has been received.
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The purchase of an original artwork transfers ownership of the physical artwork only. All copyrights and other intellectual property rights remain exclusively with the Artist unless expressly agreed otherwise in writing.
9. Fine Art Prints
Fine art prints offered through the webshop are produced using high-quality printing processes and materials selected by the Artist.
Unless otherwise stated, prints are produced as limited editions. Once an edition has sold out, no further prints from that edition will be produced.
Each print is produced on demand rather than held in stock, ensuring that every print is newly produced and prepared specifically for its collector.
Minor differences in color, texture or appearance resulting from different screens, printing processes or materials are normal and do not constitute defects.
Frames and interior styling shown in product photographs are for illustrative purposes only unless expressly included in the product description.
10. Digital Downloads
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From time to time, this website may offer complimentary or paid digital products, including wallpapers and other downloadable content.
Unless expressly stated otherwise, all digital downloads are licensed for personal, non-commercial use only.
Digital products may not be:
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Reproduced or redistributed;
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Sold, sublicensed or transferred to third parties;
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Used for commercial purposes;
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Modified and redistributed as original works;
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Made available for public download.
The purchase or download of any digital product does not transfer ownership of the underlying intellectual property.
Due to their nature, digital products may not be eligible for cancellation or refund once access or download has been provided where permitted by applicable law.
11. Intellectual Property
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All content published on this website, including but not limited to artworks, illustrations, photographs, graphics, logos, videos, texts, product descriptions and website design, is protected by copyright and other applicable intellectual property laws.
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Unless expressly stated otherwise, all intellectual property rights remain the exclusive property of Joshua Ying-Zhe Maurer.
No part of this website or its contents may be copied, reproduced, distributed, published, modified or used for commercial purposes without prior written permission.
The purchase of an original artwork, fine art print or digital product transfers ownership of the physical item only and does not transfer any copyright or other intellectual property rights unless expressly agreed in writing.
Customers may display purchased artworks or prints privately in their homes or offices but may not reproduce, scan, digitise, commercially exploit or otherwise use them beyond the rights granted under applicable copyright law.
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12. Acceptable Use of the Website
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You agree to use this website only for lawful purposes.
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You must not:
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Use the website in any manner that violates applicable law;
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Interfere with the operation or security of the website;
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Attempt to gain unauthorized access to any part of the website or its systems;
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Upload malicious software, viruses or harmful code;
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Use automated tools to scrape or systematically extract website content without permission;
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Infringe the intellectual property rights of the Artist or any third party.
We reserve the right to restrict or terminate access to the where these Terms are violated or where such action is reasonably necessary to protect the website, its users or our legitimate interests.
13. Third-Party Services
This website may contain links to third-party websites, services or platforms, including payment providers, social media platforms or external content.
These third-party services operate independently from Socia & Socius. We are not responsible for the content, availability or privacy practices of external websites and recommend reviewing their respective terms and policies before using their services.
The inclusion of external links does not constitute an endorsement of the linked website or its operators.
14. Privacy
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The collection and processing of personal data through this website is governed by our Privacy Policy.
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By using this website or placing an order, you acknowledge that your personal data may be processed in accordance with our Privacy Policy and applicable data protection legislation, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
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15. Limitation of Liability
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We make every reasonable effort to ensure that the information provided on this website is accurate and up to date. However, we do not guarantee that all content will always be complete, accurate or free from errors.
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To the extent permitted by applicable law, we shall not be liable for indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising from the use of this website or from delays or interruptions beyond our reasonable control.
Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits liability for intent, gross negligence, personal injury, fraudulent misrepresentation or any liability that cannot be excluded under applicable Austrian or European law.
Your statutory warranty rights and mandatory consumer rights remain unaffected.
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16. Changes to the Terms
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We reserve the right to update or amend these Terms & Conditions from time to time in order to reflect changes to our business, legal requirements or the services offered through this website.
The version published on this website at the time of your purchase shall apply to your order.
Your continued use of this website after updated Terms have been published constitutes acceptance of those changes.
17. Severability
If any provision of these Terms is found to be invalid, unlawful or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect. The invalid provision shall be replaced, where legally possible, by a valid provision that most closely reflects the original economic and legal intent.
18. Governing Law
These Terms & Conditions shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the Republic of Austria, excluding its conflict of law provisions and the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG). Where you are a consumer residing within the European Union, any mandatory consumer protection provisions applicable in your country of residence shall remain unaffected.
19. Contact
If you have any questions regarding these Terms & Conditions or any products offered through this website, please contact:
Joshua Ying-Zhe Maurer
Socia & Socius