Terms and Conditions

Agreement

1.1 Instead of a written contract for you to sign, we ask you to accept a quotation and these terms. 1.2 Anything else only applies if it has been confirmed in writing. 1.3 We update these terms from time to time. The version that applies to your job is the one shown here when you accepted. 1.4 This agreement is between us. It cannot be passed on to anyone else without our written consent.

Ownership

2.1 Your book belongs to you. We do not own its content and we are not responsible for it. 2.2 If you are the author of the book, you confirm that its rights have not been given to anyone else. If you are not the author, you confirm that you have their written agreement. 2.3 You confirm the book does not contain anything obscene or defamatory. It also does not contain anything belonging to somebody else without their permission. 2.4 If there is ever an issue with your book's rights or content, you agree to cover all damages and legal costs we face as a result. This applies even after our agreement ends. 2.5 Once paid in full, the final design is entirely yours. Source files are available for a fee but will not include licensed fonts or images. 2.6 We may include a sample of your finished book on our site once published, unless you ask us not to.

Confidentiality

3.1 We take confidentiality very seriously. Your files are seen only by our staff and associates, all bound by confidentiality agreements. If you print or publish with us, we also share them with the printer and distributor. 3.2 We are happy to exchange our standard NDA. Or we can sign yours if its terms are sensible, but please note we cannot agree to destroy every copy of your files, as modern backups make that impossible. 3.3 All files are stored securely with trusted providers. 3.4 We do keep your files after your job is finished for changes or reprints. However, we cannot promise to hold them forever, so please do keep your own copies.

Payment

4.1 For design work, we request 50% of the quoted fee to start. The balance is then due at the end, once any changes are done. 4.2 Until your final payment is made, the files we send you for review include a background watermark. 4.3 Making final payment confirms you are entirely happy with the finished work. We then send your final unwatermarked files. 4.4 All payments are processed securely by PayPal. You can pay with any credit or debit card. You do not need a PayPal account. 4.5 UK customers are also charged VAT. 4.6 If you cancel your job, we will keep a portion of payment to cover work completed. 4.7 Publishing and printing are paid in full upfront. This is because costs paid on your behalf, such as ISBNs and registrations, cannot be refunded. 4.8 In the unlikely event that we need to cancel a job, we will refund you in full and neither of us will owe the other anything further.

Timescales

5.1 Your quotation shows how long each stage will take. Timing starts from when we receive your first payment. We stick to our timescales and will tell you straight away if anything holds us up. 5.2 These do not include the time you spend reviewing files, or any changes you ask for. 5.3 We cannot take responsibility for a fixed launch or event deadline. But we will always tell you how long our part takes, so you can plan around it. 5.4 Printing and distribution are handled by other companies. We work to their timescales, but will always chase any delays for you. 5.5 We cannot be held responsible for delays outside our control, like illness or a power cut.

Changes

6.1 Your quotation is based on the files and instructions you send us. When you accept, you confirm these are final. Anything updated after that may be charged. 6.2 Our services do not include proofreading. It is important to make your manuscript as accurate as possible before we begin. 6.3 For most services, we start with a sample. You can then ask for as many changes as you like before we complete the rest of the job. 6.4 We will always correct our own mistakes, and anything that does not match the approved sample, free of charge. 6.5 Other changes, such as text edits or new material, may be chargeable. These are always quoted first. A minimum fee applies. 6.6 Changes after we have supplied your final files are still possible, but cost more. 6.7 Even a small change means the whole file is rebuilt, which can occasionally knock something else out of place. We do our best to check, but it is vital you review the final version before approving it for print or publication, as your approval covers the whole book. 6.8 Each service page sets out its own changes policy in full.

Printing

Applies when using our print or publishing services

7.1 Your books are printed on demand by Ingram and Amazon. We are not the printer, but if there is a problem with a print order, we will take it up with them on your behalf. 7.2 Print on demand has manufacturing tolerances. Small variations in trim and color between copies are normal. 7.3 Books are printed to order. Once paid for they cannot be canceled or refunded. 7.4 Economy shipping is not tracked or insured. We cannot follow up on parcels lost or damaged in the post unless they have trackable shipping. 7.5 If copies arrive faulty, or damaged on a trackable delivery, please send us photos of the problem and the back page. These must be sent within 7 days of delivery so we can arrange replacements.

Publishing

Applies when using our publishing services

8.1 You give us the non-exclusive right to publish and sell your book worldwide. 8.2 If you use one of our ISBNs, we must be listed as the publisher. 8.3 We publish your book through Ingram and Amazon, and if there is a problem with distribution, we will take it up on your behalf. 8.4 If print costs rise, we will let you know by email. Occasionally we may need to raise your list price so your royalties do not fall below zero. 8.5 You keep 100% of your royalties. Sales appear in your Authorzone around the 15th of the following month. Royalties are paid monthly via PayPal. There is a standard 4-month delay while the money comes back through the retail chain. Small balances carry forward. 8.6 Your first year's distribution is included in your publishing fee. After that, there is a small annual renewal fee. If it is not renewed, we will email you to let you know your distribution has ended. 8.7 You can update your price and book details at any time, though retailers can take a few weeks to show changes. 8.8 Marketing your book is up to you, and we cannot be responsible for how well it sells. 8.9 Either of us can end this agreement with 90 days' notice by email. We will then stop distribution and pay any royalties due. If your book uses one of our ISBNs, you will need a new one to publish elsewhere.

Responsibilities

9.1 If you are ever unhappy with anything, please tell us and give us a fair chance to put it right. 9.2 Our total liability to you will never be more than the amount you have paid us for your job. 9.3 We are not liable for indirect or knock-on losses, such as the cost of a print run or lost sales. 9.4 If something goes wrong at one of the companies we work with, such as a printer or distributor, we will help you sort it out, but we cannot be held liable for it. 9.5 Nothing in these terms limits our liability for anything the law does not allow us to limit. 9.6 If any part of these terms turns out to be unenforceable, only that part is affected and the rest still stands. 9.7 Wordzworth is a UK company, and these terms are governed by the law of England and Wales.

Website

10.1 Everything on this website, from our text to our images, belongs to Wordzworth or is used with permission. Please do not copy or reuse it without asking us first. 10.2 Our help articles and calculators are for guidance only. The figures in your quotation are the ones that apply to your job. 10.3 We do our best to keep the site working, but cannot promise it will always be available or free of errors. We are not liable for any loss arising from its use.

Privacy

11.1 We respect your privacy and will never sell or misuse your personal information. 11.2 When you work with us, we may collect things like your name, email, address and phone number. We do not hold any financial information. 11.3 We keep your information only for as long as we need it to do your job and meet our own legal obligations, and only share it where genuinely necessary, for example with Ingram and Amazon to get your book printed and distributed. 11.4 We use cookies on this website. Some are essential, so you can log in and complete forms. Others help us see how visitors use the site and which of our ads work. Depending on where you are, you may be asked which cookies you are happy to accept. You can also block cookies in your browser at any time, though parts of the site may not work properly. 11.5 Just email us if you would like to know what information we hold, or would like it corrected or deleted. If you are still unhappy with how we have handled it, you can contact your local data protection regulator.