Catawiki Live allows you to watch sellers present objects through a livestream while the objects are being auctioned on our online marketplace.

This Catawiki Live Buyer Policy explains how bidding, chat and livestreams work, what information you should rely on and what is expected from you when participating. Our Terms of Use, including our Buyer Terms, continue to apply in full. In the event of conflict, Catawiki Live Buyer Policy prevails only for the purpose of Catawiki Live. 

What is Catawiki Live?

Catawiki Live is a feature on our online marketplace where sellers present objects through a real-time livestream. You can watch the livestream, use the chat and place bids through Catawiki’s designated bidding interface.

Although the presentation and user experience may differ from a standard Catawiki auction, the auction itself continues to take place on our online marketplace and is governed by our Terms of Use.

How does bidding work during Catawiki Live?

You can place bids through:

• the standard bidding interface on the object page; or
• the bidding interface available within Catawiki Live.

Both interfaces are part of the same Catawiki bidding system.

If a valid bid is placed within 15 seconds before the scheduled closing time, the auction automatically extends by 10 seconds. Further bids placed during the final 15 seconds will extend the auction by another 10 seconds.

A bid is only valid when it is submitted through Catawiki’s designated bidding system. Statements made verbally during the livestream or through the chat, including statements that someone intends to bid, are not valid bids and have no legal effect. The timing, validity and outcome of all bids are determined exclusively by the official Catawiki bidding log. Bids and auction outcomes are determined solely through Catawiki’s bidding system in accordance with the Terms of Use.

How do the livestream and chat work?

The livestream and chat allow users to interact in real time during a Catawiki Live.

They are intended to support the presentation of objects and user engagement. They do not replace the object page or create a separate auction.

We may use language filters and other automated moderation tools to restrict or remove messages. We may also monitor activity and take action during or after a livestream.

Which information should I rely on?

You should always review the object page carefully before placing a bid. The object page is the authoritative source for information about the object, characteristics, condition and description. If anything shown or said during the livestream differs from the object page, the object page prevails.

Statements, demonstrations and responses during a livestream may be brief or may not address every question. 

Statements made by sellers or other users about an object’s value, estimated market price, rarity, provenance, authenticity, condition, potential increase in value or future resale potential are not verified by us and are not binding. 

Any such statements should not be interpreted as:

• financial, investment or professional advice; 
• a guarantee or representation; or 
• amendments or overrides to  the object page.

You should use your own judgement when deciding whether to place a bid. Do not rely on chat messages, livestream commentary or visible audience reactions as confirmation of an object’s value, authenticity, reserve price status or bidding activity.

Before placing a bid, make sure the object shown or discussed during the livestream is the same object that is currently available for bidding on the object page. Because the livestream takes place in real time, the object being shown or discussed may inadvertently not always correspond exactly with the object currently up for bidding. The object page and official bidding log always prevail.

How are disputes about livestream statements assessed?

If you and the seller disagree about something said or shown during a livestream, the object page remains the primary source for determining the object’s characteristics and the expectations arising from the sale.

Where we help resolve a dispute, we will generally assess it using:

• the object page
• information, including photographs and videos, submitted by you and the seller through our standard case-handling process

Livestream recordings and chat messages are not intended to be the primary record of contractual representations.

We may review recordings or chat messages where we consider this appropriate, including for fraud prevention, enforcement, marketplace integrity or where required by law. However, we are not generally required to review, preserve, provide or disclose livestream recordings to resolve a dispute between users.

How should I use the chat?

You must use the livestream and chat fairly and responsibly.

You must not use the chat to:

• signal bidding strategies;
• negotiate prices outside Catawiki’s designated bidding system;
• interfere with the auction;
• misrepresent bidding activity; or
• manipulate or distort the auction process.

You must also follow our Catawiki Live Community Guidelines.

What action can we take?

We may monitor livestreams and chat activity to help protect users and the integrity of our online marketplace.

Where necessary, we may:

• interrupt or suspend a livestream;
• restrict or disable chat functionality;
• remove content;
• remove users from the livestream;
• restrict or suspend access to Catawiki Live;
• apply other enforcement measures under our Terms of Use.

Are livestreams recorded?

We may record livestreams in full or in part.

A recording may include:

• video and audio from the livestream;
• objects and other visual content presented by the seller;
• chat messages and displayed usernames;
• on-screen elements and user interactions.

Recordings may be created automatically and without additional notice.

By participating in Catawiki Live, you acknowledge that your username, account image, chat contributions and visible interactions may be shown to other users in real time and included in a recording.

How may recordings be used?

We may use, reproduce, edit, excerpt, combine, archive and communicate livestream recordings for purposes including:

• moderation and enforcement;
• fraud prevention and investigations;
• training and quality control;
• product development and service improvement;
• marketing, promotional and communication activities relating to Catawiki Live or our online marketplace.

How is my personal data processed?

We may process personal data such as your username, account image, chat messages and visible interactions during Catawiki Live.

We process this information to:

• provide and operate the livestream and chat features;
• support real-time interaction;
• protect users and the integrity of our online marketplace;
• improve Catawiki Live.

This processing is based on our legitimate interest in providing the feature, supporting user interaction and protecting our online marketplace.

For more information, please read our Data Protection & Privacy Notice.