The popular crowdfunding site Kickstarter is still in the process of refining its mission and procedures. This week Kickstarter issued some new policy directives designed to reinforce the concept that "Kickstarter is not a store." From now on each project page will contain a new section in which those proposing the project will answer the question "What are the risks and challenges this project faces, and what qualifies you to overcome them?" The idea of adding this "Risk and Challenges" section is to reinforce the notion that the creators’ projects are in development.
Kickstarter also added a number of new guidelines for new hardware and design projects that will have little or no effect on most print projects, though it could possibly apply to certain game projects. The guidelines prohibit product simulations. Products can only be shown performing actions that they are able to perform in their current state of development, and product renderings are prohibited, with product images limited to photos of the prototype as it currently exists.
Kickstarter is also prohibiting offering multiple quantities of a reward with Hardware and Design projects, which can only offer rewards in single quantities or a sensible set of related products. This is similar to an earlier controversial ruling that banned all multiple quantity retailer rewards (see "Kickstarter Bans Retailer Rewards"), only to amend the policy for graphic novel and game projects in order to support independent retailers (see "Kickstarter Backs Down").
