§5.3 - Merchant Guilds and Grant of Commercial License

(a) Merchant guilds may be recognized within Rivermarch as lawful commercial entities upon petition to the Council and approval by majority vote.

(b) Recognition shall require:

(i) Submission of a Guild Charter outlining leadership, purpose, code of conduct, and area of commerce;
(ii) Demonstrable benefit to the economy, infrastructure, or arcane security of Rivermarch;
(iii) Oath of compliance with the Codex, particularly Titles III, IV, and V.

(c) Recognized guilds shall be entered into the Register of Chartered Organizations and afforded rights to operate, arbitrate internal disputes, and petition the Council on matters of trade and regulation.

(d) No foreign guild may operate within Rivermarch without formal recognition or treaty compact. Violations shall be grounds for seizure of assets and expulsion.

§5.3.2 - Grant of Commercial License

(a) A commercial license shall be required for:

(i) Operation of permanent or itinerant shops, stalls, or forges;
(ii) Sale of goods or services in public markets or through private enterprise;
(iii) Transport or export of bulk goods exceeding local subsistence threshold;
(iv) Manufacture, enchantment, or resale of magical goods, potions, or talismans.

(b) Licenses shall be issued by the Office of Commerce under the Treasurer’s direction, and must include:

(i) Holder’s name, business classification, and trade location;
(ii) Description of goods or services offered;
(iii) Tax tier, magical tier (if applicable), and inspection schedule.

(c) Licenses shall be valid for one (1) year and subject to renewal, suspension, or revocation.

§5.3.3 - Guild Privileges and Limitations

(a) Recognized guilds may, with Council permission:

(i) Set internal codes of pricing, apprenticeship, and quality;
(ii) Host festivals, auctions, or exhibitions;
(iii) Establish guildhalls and tradehouses within approved zones.

(b) Guilds may not:

(i) Enforce laws, conduct arrests, or impose penalties beyond member expulsion or fines;
(ii) Bar non-guild individuals from lawful competition, markets, or Council-petitioned activities;
(iii) Collude to fix prices, withhold essential goods, or defraud the public.

(c) Breach of limitations shall subject the guild to inquiry, public censure, or dissolution.

§5.3.4 - Dispute Resolution and Arbitration

(a) Guilds may resolve internal disputes through recognized arbitration councils, whose rulings shall be binding unless challenged by petition to the Magisterial Bench.

(b) Inter-guild or merchant-to-guild disputes may be heard by the Council, tribunal, or a licensed Arbiter-at-Trade.

(c) Fraud, magical tampering, or manipulation of arbitration shall be subject to tribunal and classified as Commercial Deception under §4.1.3.

§5.3.5 - Suspension and Revocation of License

(a) A commercial license may be suspended or revoked upon:

(i) Repeated violations of civic law or trade regulation;
(ii) Failure to pay assessed levies, taxes, or fees under §5.2;
(iii) Endangerment of public health, safety, or arcane integrity;
(iv) Use of goods or services to advance seditious, cultic, or extradimensional causes.

(b) Suspension shall be effective immediately upon order from the Treasurer, subject to appeal before tribunal.

(c) Revocation shall require tribunal ruling or Council vote, and may be permanent or conditional upon restitution.

§5.3.6 - Unlicensed Commerce

(a) Any individual or entity engaged in trade or service without a valid commercial license shall be in violation of the Codex and subject to:

(i) Immediate closure of operation and confiscation of stock;
(ii) Fine not to exceed ten (10) times the assessed annual license fee;
(iii) Prohibition from future license for up to one (1) year.

(b) Repeat offenses may be tried under §4.1.3 as Economic Subversion.