Selling through print on demand marketplace
| Fatwa #1217 | Category: Business & Trade | Country: India | Date: 11th September 2024 |
| Fatwa #1217 | Date: 11th September 2024 |
| Category: Business & Trade | |
| Country: India | |
Question
Assalaamu Alaikum.
I am using a print on demand marketplace called Redbubble where I have created a store and have uploaded lots of designs. If a customer chooses one or more of my designs on a particular merchandise mainly by looking at the mock-up images and places an order, then Redbubble uses third-party printers to manufacture the final product and makes use of shipping companies for the order delivery.
Redbubble mentions the artists as “sellers” on the website, user agreement etc while I as an artist only upload the artworks on the site and I do not make any transaction directly with any of the customers and I don’t even know who they are.
I tried to gain more knowledge regarding this and had sent a question to fatwa.ca. They told me that the transaction between me (artist) and Redbubble will be regarded as a Jua’la contract and the transaction between Redbubble and the customer will be as Istisna’ contract. They mentioned that if the conditions of Jua’la and Istisna’ contracts are fulfilled, then the income will be permissible.
However, when I had sent the question to Fatwa.ca, I had forgotten to mention that whenever someone places an order with my design on the product, Redbubble sends me emails that I have made a sale and that the manufacturing fee will be paid to the manufacturer on my behalf. In reality, I only get a percentage of the base price of the product when a sale is made.
Although Redbubble handles all of the tasks of hosting the website, marketing, payment processing, assigning third-party print providers, negotiating contracts with shipping companies, handling the customer service and bearing all risks associated with the business, Redbubble still mentions on each product page below each product image that this is “designed and sold by so and so seller”. In one of the FAQs, Redbubble also says that it is not my employer nor am I (artist) considered as a contractor.
I really do not know why are artists on print on demand marketplaces considered as sellers. However, the customers are well aware that all of the task related to selling is done by Redbubble and artists only upload the designs on the marketplace.
After mentioning all these details I wanted to know if the contracts will still be considered as jua’la and istisna’ contracts or since Redbubble calls me a seller, will I be regarded as someone who is selling something which is not in his/her possession?
I have a lot of anxiety regarding this matter because I have been working hard on this since March 2022 and have been earning well since the past year.
I am eagerly waiting for your response.
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
Since you have previously engaged fatwa.ca, we advise that you seek clarity from them once more. In our understanding, Redbubble calling you a ‘seller’ makes no difference. The Ju’ala and Isitisnaa contracts remain in place.
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Mufti Bilal Pandor
Concurred by
Mufti Muhammad Patel
Darul Iftaa Mahmudiyyah
Lusaka, Zambia