Legal notice
This policy applies to customer-submitted artwork, logos, custom embroidery, laser engraving, personalized products, vintage patches, and other made-to-order products offered by Cold Creek Hat.
By submitting artwork, approving a design, or placing a custom order, the customer agrees to the following terms.
Customer-Submitted Artwork and Logos
Customers may submit logos, designs, text, and other artwork for custom embroidery and laser engraving.
By submitting artwork to Cold Creek Hat, the customer confirms that:
- The customer owns the artwork or has received permission to reproduce and use it.
- The artwork does not violate another party’s copyright, trademark, privacy, publicity, or other legal rights.
- The customer has the authority to authorize Cold Creek Hat to reproduce the artwork for the requested order.
- Any names, logos, slogans, photographs, characters, or branded materials included in the design may be legally used for the requested purpose.
The customer grants Cold Creek Hat limited permission to reproduce, modify, digitize, convert, resize, and otherwise prepare the submitted artwork as reasonably necessary to complete the requested order. This permission applies only to order preparation, production, fulfillment, recordkeeping, and future reorders requested by the customer.
Submitting artwork does not transfer ownership of the customer’s original design to Cold Creek Hat.
Unauthorized Artwork
Cold Creek Hat is not responsible for independently verifying the ownership of every customer-submitted design.
The customer is responsible for obtaining any necessary licenses, permissions, or authorizations before submitting artwork. The customer accepts responsibility for disputes, demands, losses, or claims resulting from artwork the customer was not authorized to use.
Cold Creek Hat may pause, cancel, or refuse an order if there is reason to believe the submitted material may violate another party’s rights or applicable law.
Right to Refuse a Design or Order
Cold Creek Hat reserves the right to refuse artwork or orders that are:
- Unlawful or potentially infringing
- Threatening, hateful, harassing, or discriminatory
- Obscene or otherwise inappropriate
- Unsafe or unsuitable for the requested product
- Too detailed, unclear, or low-quality for the selected production method
- Incompatible with available equipment, materials, or product dimensions
- Misleading about an affiliation, endorsement, certification, or authorization
If an order cannot be accepted, Cold Creek Hat will notify the customer and explain the available next steps.
Artwork Preparation Fees
Artwork may require preparation before it can be embroidered or engraved.
Embroidery Digitizing
A one-time $30 digitizing fee applies to each new embroidery design. This process converts the submitted artwork into a specialized stitch file that can be read by embroidery equipment.
Once created, the embroidery file will be saved for future orders using the same design. Changes to the design, dimensions, placement, stitch structure, or other production details may require additional setup or digitizing fees.
Laser Artwork Conversion
A high-quality black-and-white SVG or other vector file is preferred for laser engraving.
If submitted artwork is not a usable vector file or is not of sufficient quality for production, a $20 artwork conversion fee will apply. Additional charges may apply if the design requires extensive recreation or modification. Any additional cost will be disclosed before the work is completed.
Ownership of Prepared Files
Digitizing, conversion, and setup fees pay for the labor required to prepare artwork for Cold Creek Hat’s equipment and production process. These fees do not purchase or transfer ownership of the customer’s original artwork.
Unless otherwise agreed in writing, production-ready stitch files, machine files, engraving settings, and other files created specifically for Cold Creek Hat’s equipment remain internal production files and are not automatically provided to the customer.
Completed artwork preparation, digitizing, vector conversion, and setup services are non-refundable.
Design Proofs and Customer Approval
Cold Creek Hat may provide a digital proof or request written confirmation before beginning production. A proof may show the proposed design, placement, size, wording, or general appearance of the finished product.
Customers are responsible for reviewing all order details carefully, including:
- Spelling, punctuation, and dates
- Names and contact information
- Design content and orientation
- Product style, size, and color
- Thread or engraving selections
- Design dimensions
- Placement
- Quantity
Production may begin after the customer provides approval or otherwise confirms the final order details. Approval by email or another written method constitutes authorization to proceed.
Cold Creek Hat is not responsible for errors that appeared in an approved proof or in information supplied and confirmed by the customer.
Approval Delays
Estimated production times do not begin until Cold Creek Hat has received all required artwork, information, payments, and approvals.
A delay in providing artwork, responding to questions, approving a proof, or confirming order details may delay production and delivery. Cold Creek Hat cannot guarantee the original estimated completion date when customer approval or required information is delayed.
Changes After Approval
Contact Cold Creek Hat immediately if you need to request a change after approving an order.
Changes are not guaranteed once artwork preparation, material ordering, or production has begun. Approved changes may require additional design, setup, material, or production fees and may result in a revised turnaround estimate.
If production has already been completed, the customer may be responsible for the cost of reproducing the affected items.
Production Variations
Digital proofs and screen previews are visual references and may not exactly represent the finished product.
Reasonable variations may occur because of:
- Differences between screen colors and physical materials
- Thread, material, wood, leather, or product color variations
- Natural characteristics within engraved materials
- Differences in hat construction, seams, curves, and panel shapes
- Minor variations in design placement or dimensions
- Adjustments required to make a design suitable for embroidery or engraving
- Supplier or manufacturing variations between product batches
These reasonable production differences are not considered defects.
Cold Creek Hat will use its professional judgment when making minor adjustments necessary to produce the design safely and effectively. Material changes to the requested design will be discussed with the customer when practical before production.
Vintage Patches
Patches identified as vintage are authentic, previously manufactured items that are generally more than 20 years old. Many were originally produced for advertising, uniforms, businesses, farms, organizations, or events.
Cold Creek Hat acquires vintage patches through sources such as estate sales, warehouse closing auctions, antique stores, specialized dealers, and private individuals. These patches are repurposed and offered for lawful resale.
Cold Creek Hat does not manufacture, recreate, or reproduce patches identified as vintage.
Vintage Condition and Availability
Vintage patches may show signs of age, storage, fading, discoloration, handling, previous use, or other imperfections. These characteristics are part of the patch’s history and do not make the item defective when visible in the product photographs or disclosed in the product description.
Customers should review all available photographs and product details before ordering. Because many vintage patches are one of a kind or available in limited quantities, an identical replacement may not be available.
Trademark and Affiliation Disclaimer
Names, logos, trademarks, service marks, and other branded elements appearing on vintage patches belong to their respective owners.
Cold Creek Hat is an independent reseller and is not affiliated with, authorized by, sponsored by, or endorsed by the companies, organizations, teams, government entities, or other trademark owners represented on the vintage patches unless a relationship is expressly stated.
The appearance of a trademark on an authentic vintage item is used to identify and describe that item and its original design.
Questions About This Policy
Questions about submitted artwork, proofs, vintage patches, production requirements, or custom orders may be directed to:
Cold Creek Hat
Email: coldcreekhat@gmail.com