Effective: June 24, 2026
These Website Terms of Use (“Terms”) govern your access to and use of AuthorShelf.com, the AuthorShelf Author Portal, and related website features (collectively, the “Website”). AuthorShelf (“AuthorShelf,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) operates this Website. By using the Website, you agree to these Terms and our Privacy Policy.
1. Acceptance & Scope
By browsing, registering, or using the Website, you confirm that you are at least 18 years old, have legal capacity to contract, and accept these Terms. If you do not agree, do not use the Website.
2. Use of the Website
You may use the Website only for lawful purposes connected to exploring or managing AuthorShelf publishing services. You may not interfere with site security, attempt unauthorized access, scrape or harvest data, introduce malware, or use automated tools without our written permission.
3. Intellectual Property
AuthorShelf property. The Website design, branding, logos, layout, software, workflows, documentation, and all content we create (excluding your materials) are owned by AuthorShelf or its licensors and protected by intellectual-property laws.
Your content. You retain ownership of manuscripts, images, and other materials you submit (“User Content”). You grant AuthorShelf a limited, non-exclusive license to host, process, and use User Content solely to operate the Website and deliver services you purchase under the Services Agreement.
4. User Submissions & Content Guidelines
You are responsible for User Content you upload or transmit. You represent that you have the rights to submit it and that it does not infringe third-party rights or violate law. We may remove content that is unlawful, infringing, abusive, or inconsistent with production guidelines communicated in the Portal. Content Guidelines and indemnity provisions in the Services Agreement and Portal User Agreement apply to publishing workflows.
5. Purchases — Services Agreement Controls
All publishing packages, editorial services, marketing services, subscriptions, and paid production work are governed exclusively by the AuthorShelf Services Agreement, presented and accepted at checkout (including e-sign). These Website Terms do not define package deliverables, timelines, royalties, or production outcomes. Illustrative marketing copy on the Website is not a guarantee of sales, reviews, rankings, or distribution results.
6. Author Portal — Portal User Agreement Controls
Portal access — including project visibility, messaging, file uploads, approvals, and royalty tools — is subject to the Author Portal User Agreement, accepted at registration. Lifetime portal access included with qualifying packages is described in your Services Agreement and Portal User Agreement, not in these Website Terms alone.
7. Disclaimers
THE WEBSITE AND PORTAL ARE PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE” WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, WHETHER EXPRESS, IMPLIED, OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT. WE DO NOT WARRANT UNINTERRUPTED, ERROR-FREE, OR SECURE OPERATION.
8. Limitation of Liability
TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, AUTHORSHELF AND ITS OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, AND AFFILIATES SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE, OR EXEMPLARY DAMAGES ARISING FROM OR RELATED TO THESE TERMS OR YOUR USE OF THE WEBSITE.
OUR TOTAL AGGREGATE LIABILITY FOR ANY CLAIM ARISING FROM OR RELATED TO THESE WEBSITE TERMS OR YOUR USE OF THE WEBSITE SHALL NOT EXCEED THE GREATER OF (A) ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($100.00) OR (B) THE TOTAL FEES YOU ACTUALLY PAID TO AUTHORSHELF FOR WEBSITE-ONLY MATTERS IN THE TWELVE (12) MONTHS PRECEDING THE CLAIM. CLAIMS RELATING TO PURCHASED PUBLISHING SERVICES ARE SUBJECT TO THE LIABILITY LIMITS IN THE SERVICES AGREEMENT.
9. Indemnification
You agree to indemnify and hold harmless AuthorShelf from claims, damages, losses, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising from your User Content, your use of the Website, or your breach of these Terms or applicable Content Guidelines.
10. Governing Law
These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Tennessee, without regard to conflict-of-laws principles.
11. Binding Arbitration & Class Action Waiver
Any dispute arising out of or relating to these Terms or the Website shall be resolved by binding, individual arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association under its Commercial Arbitration Rules in Knoxville, Tennessee, before a single arbitrator.
Class waiver: YOU AND AUTHORSHELF AGREE THAT EACH MAY BRING CLAIMS ONLY IN AN INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY AND NOT AS A PLAINTIFF OR CLASS MEMBER IN ANY PURPORTED CLASS, COLLECTIVE, OR REPRESENTATIVE PROCEEDING.
Either party may seek injunctive relief in a court of competent jurisdiction to protect intellectual property or prevent irreparable harm. This arbitration agreement survives termination.
12. Updates with Notice
We may update these Terms by posting a revised version on the Website with a new effective date. Material changes may also be communicated by email or Portal notice where required. Continued use after the effective date constitutes acceptance.
13. Privacy
Our data practices are described in the Privacy Policy.
14. Contact
AuthorShelf Inc. — Maryville, TN
Email: admin@authorshelf.com