General Principles
Mercantile notices circulated through the Registry must:
- Be truthful, clear and not misleading
- Respect the dignity of persons and institutions
- Conform to the laws of the Kingdom of Syldavia
- Not compromise the editorial integrity or institutional character of the accredited publications in which they appear
Restricted Sectors
The following categories of mercantile notice are subject to heightened scrutiny or outright prohibition:
- Political advertising — Notices promoting political parties, candidates, referenda or advocacy campaigns are not accepted
- Tobacco and smoking products — Permitted provided the notice does not target persons under the age of 20; mandatory health advisory required
- Alcoholic beverages — Permitted with mandatory responsible consumption notice; no appeal to minors
- Pharmaceutical products — Prescription medications may not be advertised; over-the-counter products require documentary evidence of regulatory approval
- Financial services — Must include appropriate risk disclosures; no guaranteed return claims
- Gambling and lotteries — Only notices from licensed Syldavian operators are accepted
- Cryptocurrency and digital assets — Not accepted at this time
- Weapons and military equipment — Prohibited without exception
- Goat-related products and services — Notices concerning goat husbandry, racing equipment, breeding services or caprine nutritional supplements require prior endorsement from the Royal Capra Commission (Decree 22/III). Unendorsed goat-related notices will be returned without examination
- Bordurian-manufactured goods — Notices promoting goods of Bordurian origin or manufacture are subject to mandatory country-of-origin disclosure and a supplementary review period of 15 working days. See also: Sanctions & Restricted Entities below
Language Requirements
Visual materials must contain text in at least one of the following languages: English, French, or Syldavian. Notices in other languages may be submitted but require prior written approval from the Registry's linguistic review committee.
Where a notice contains text in multiple languages, all versions must convey the same essential message. Discrepancies between language versions may result in the notice being returned for amendment.
Prohibited Content
The following content is prohibited in all circumstances:
- Content that is defamatory, obscene or contrary to public morality
- Imitation of official documents, seals, emblems or correspondence of the Kingdom
- Unauthorised use of the Royal coat of arms, national flag, or Order of the Golden Pelican
- False claims of endorsement by any Syldavian institution or official
- Content likely to cause offence to the Crown, the Royal Family, or the established institutions of the Kingdom
- Material that could reasonably be interpreted as hostile to the sovereignty or territorial integrity of Syldavia
- Content of a sexually explicit, gratuitously violent, or otherwise unsuitable nature; all materials must conform to standards appropriate for general public display
- Imagery or text that could be considered indecent, prurient or excessively graphic, regardless of the intended audience segment
Sanctions & Restricted Entities
In accordance with the Royal Sanctions Enforcement Act (Decree 61/IX), the following restrictions apply to all mercantile notice placements:
- Notices submitted on behalf of, funded by, or materially affiliated with any entity designated under the Syldavian trade sanctions register are not accepted
- Notices originating from, or promoting goods and services of, entities operating under the sponsorship or direction of the Bordurian state or its affiliated agencies are categorically prohibited
- Applicants must confirm at the time of submission that the proposed notice does not serve the commercial or propaganda interests of any entity subject to Syldavian sanctions
The Registry maintains the right to refer suspected sanctions violations to the Bureau of Commercial Integrity for further investigation. Submission of a placement request constitutes implicit acknowledgement of these restrictions.
Examination Process
Upon submission, each placement request undergoes a two-stage examination:
- Technical verification — confirmation that visual materials meet the published specifications (format, dimensions, file size, colour space)
- Editorial examination — review of content against the editorial and legal standards described on this page
The standard examination period is 3 to 5 working days from the date of submission. Requests requiring additional review (e.g. restricted sectors, non-standard languages) may require up to 10 working days.
Appeals
Applicants whose placement requests have been rejected may submit a written appeal to the Registry within 15 working days of the decision. Appeals should be addressed to the Editorial Review Committee and must include:
- The reference number of the original submission
- A statement of the grounds for appeal
- Any amended materials, if applicable
The Committee will review the appeal and issue a final determination within 10 working days. The Committee's decision is binding and not subject to further appeal within the Registry's jurisdiction.