Terms of Service

1. Scope of These Terms

These Terms govern use of the Site and general interactions initiated through the Site.

Certain publishing, editing, design, production, distribution, marketing, promotional, creative, consultation, or other services may be governed by a separate written agreement, proposal, order form, invoice, statement of work, or other contractual document between you and Sage Publications LLC.

If a separate written agreement expressly conflicts with these Terms regarding a specific paid service or project, the terms of that separate agreement will control with respect to that conflict.

Nothing contained on the Site replaces or modifies the specific terms of a separately executed agreement unless expressly stated in writing.

2. Eligibility and Authority

By using the Site, you represent that:

• You have the legal capacity to agree to these Terms;
• Any information you provide is accurate to the best of your knowledge;
• If you act on behalf of an author, business, organization, estate, or other person or entity, you are authorized to act on that party's behalf; and
• Your use of the Site complies with applicable law.

If you do not have authority to act for another person or entity, you may not submit materials or enter into commitments on that party's behalf.

3. Permitted Use of the Site

You may use the Site only for lawful purposes and in accordance with these Terms.

You agree not to:

• Use the Site in violation of any applicable federal, state, local, or international law or regulation;
• Infringe, misappropriate, or violate the intellectual-property, privacy, publicity, contractual, or other rights of another person;
• Submit material that you do not have the legal right or authority to submit;
• Introduce malicious code, viruses, malware, or other harmful technology;
• Attempt to gain unauthorized access to the Site, servers, systems, networks, accounts, or data;
• Interfere with or disrupt the operation or security of the Site;
• Use automated systems, scraping tools, bots, or similar technology in a manner that materially disrupts the Site or collects information unlawfully;
• Impersonate Sage Publications LLC, an employee, another user, author, or other person;
• Provide intentionally false or misleading information;
• Use the Site for fraud, unlawful solicitation, harassment, abuse, or deceptive conduct; or
• Reproduce, republish, commercially exploit, or distribute protected Site content except as permitted by law or with our prior written authorization.

We may restrict or suspend access to the Site when reasonably necessary to protect the Site, our users, our business, or third parties.

4. Sage Publications Intellectual Property

Unless otherwise stated, the Site and its original content, including its text, website design, graphics, logos, branding, layout, images owned or licensed by Sage, software, documentation, original marketing materials, and other Site content are owned by, licensed to, or lawfully used by Sage Publications LLC and are protected by applicable copyright, trademark, and other intellectual-property laws.

These Terms do not transfer ownership of Sage Publications LLC's intellectual property to you.

You may access and use the Site for its intended purposes. You may not reproduce, distribute, modify, publicly display, sell, license, or create derivative works from protected Site content except with our prior written authorization or as otherwise permitted by law.

All third-party names, trademarks, book covers, photographs, excerpts, or other materials appearing on the Site remain the property of their respective owners where applicable.

5. Author and Client Ownership of Submitted Materials

Sage Publications LLC does not obtain ownership of an author's manuscript, book, artwork, photographs, illustrations, or other original materials merely because those materials are submitted through the Site.

Except as otherwise provided in a separately executed written agreement, you retain whatever intellectual-property rights you lawfully own in materials you submit to Sage Publications LLC.

Submitting materials does not constitute an assignment or transfer of copyright or other ownership rights to Sage Publications LLC.

6. Limited Permission to Review and Process Submitted Materials

When you voluntarily submit a manuscript, book file, photograph, illustration, biography, cover, synopsis, project file, or other material (“Submitted Material”), you grant Sage Publications LLC a limited, non-exclusive permission to access, reproduce, store, review, transmit, and process the Submitted Material only as reasonably necessary to:

• Evaluate your inquiry or submission;
• Communicate with you about the submission;
• Prepare proposals or recommendations requested by you;
• Perform services you have requested or contracted for;
• Facilitate editing, design, formatting, production, printing, distribution, marketing, or related services where applicable; and
• Maintain reasonable business and project records.

Where reasonably necessary to perform requested services, Submitted Material may be made available to authorized personnel, contractors, vendors, or service providers working on behalf of Sage Publications LLC, subject to appropriate contractual, confidentiality, or data-protection obligations where applicable.

This limited permission does not constitute a transfer of ownership.

7. Your Responsibility for Submitted Materials

By submitting any material to Sage Publications LLC, you represent and warrant that:

• You own the material or have sufficient authorization to submit and use it;
• The submission does not knowingly infringe another person's copyright, trademark, privacy, publicity, contractual, or other legal rights;
• You have obtained any permissions reasonably necessary for third-party photographs, illustrations, quotations, artwork, or other protected content included in the submission;
• The material is not knowingly unlawful, defamatory, fraudulent, or malicious; and
• Information you provide concerning ownership, authorship, or permissions is materially accurate.

Sage Publications LLC is not responsible for independently verifying every ownership claim, permission, attribution, or representation made by a submitting party.

We may request documentation of ownership or permission where reasonably necessary.

8. Manuscript Submissions and Review

Submitting a manuscript or other work through the Site does not guarantee:

• Acceptance;
• Publication;
• An offer of services;
• Representation;
• Distribution;
• Marketing placement;
• Commercial success;
• Sales;
• Reviews;
• Awards;
• Retailer placement;
• Traditional-publisher interest;
• Literary-agent interest;
• Film, television, theatrical, or other adaptation interest; or
• Any particular financial or commercial result.

Any publishing or related services ultimately offered by Sage Publications LLC may be subject to a separate agreement.

Submission of a manuscript through the Site does not, by itself, create a publisher-author relationship, agency relationship, partnership, joint venture, fiduciary relationship, or exclusive representation relationship.

9. Confidentiality of Submitted Materials

Sage Publications LLC will handle personal information and submitted materials in accordance with our Privacy Policy and any applicable written agreement.

However, submitting materials through a general website form does not, by itself, create a separate nondisclosure agreement or attorney-client, fiduciary, or other legally privileged relationship.

If a project requires specific confidentiality obligations beyond our ordinary business practices, those obligations should be documented in a separate written agreement.

You should not submit passwords, Social Security numbers, full payment credentials, medical records, or other highly sensitive information unless expressly requested through an appropriate secure method.

10. Publishing and Related Services

Information about publishing, editing, production, distribution, marketing, promotional, creative, consultation, or related services appearing on the Site is provided for general informational purposes.

The specific services, deliverables, schedule, price, revisions, payment terms, ownership provisions, cancellation provisions, and other project requirements applicable to a client may be set forth in a separate written agreement or transaction document.

Descriptions appearing on the Site do not create obligations beyond those expressly agreed to in an applicable written agreement.

11. No Guarantee of Commercial Results

Publishing and marketing outcomes depend on numerous factors beyond the control of Sage Publications LLC.

Unless expressly guaranteed in a separately signed written agreement, Sage Publications LLC does not guarantee any particular:

• Number of book sales;
• Revenue or royalties;
• Bestseller status;
• Search ranking;
• Review or review score;
• Media coverage;
• Bookstore or library placement;
• Retail inventory;
• Distributor acceptance;
• Publisher or literary-agent offer;
• Film or adaptation offer;
• Licensing transaction;
• Award;
• Audience size;
• Publicity result; or
• Return on investment.

Any examples, projections, case studies, estimates, strategies, or anticipated outcomes discussed on the Site or during preliminary communications are informational and should not be interpreted as guarantees of future performance.

12. Third-Party Platforms, Retailers, Distributors, and Service Providers

Certain services may involve third-party platforms, printers, retailers, distributors, payment processors, hosting providers, communication providers, fulfillment providers, or other independent service providers.

Those third parties may have their own terms of service, privacy policies, content requirements, review processes, pricing, production schedules, distribution criteria, account requirements, and operational policies.

Sage Publications LLC does not control the independent decisions, systems, uptime, acceptance criteria, search algorithms, inventory decisions, delivery schedules, or policies of third-party platforms.

We are not responsible for a third party's independent acts or omissions except to the extent responsibility cannot lawfully be excluded or a separate written agreement expressly provides otherwise.

13. Pricing, Payments, Refunds, and Project Terms

Prices displayed or discussed through the Site may be subject to change before a binding purchase or service agreement is completed.

Payment schedules, deposits, installment arrangements, refunds, cancellations, chargebacks, project commencement requirements, and other financial terms applicable to a particular service will be governed by the relevant service agreement, proposal, invoice, order form, payment authorization, statement of work, or other written transaction document.

In the event of a conflict concerning a specific transaction, the applicable written transaction or service agreement will control.

You are responsible for reviewing the financial terms applicable to a purchase before authorizing payment.

14. Electronic Communications

When you voluntarily communicate with us electronically, you consent to receive responses and service-related communications electronically where permitted by law.

Electronic communications may include email, website messages, or other methods you have requested or authorized.

Marketing communications are subject to separate consent and opt-out requirements where applicable.

You are responsible for providing accurate contact information and for notifying us if your contact information changes.

15. Sage Publications SMS Communications

16. Privacy

Your privacy is important to us.

Our collection, use, retention, and disclosure of personal information are governed by the Sage Publications LLC Privacy Policy, available at: https://sagepub.us/privacy

The Privacy Policy is incorporated into these Terms by reference to the extent applicable.

17. Third-Party Links

The Site may contain links to websites, services, applications, retailers, social-media platforms, or other resources operated by third parties.

Such links are provided for convenience or informational purposes and do not necessarily constitute an endorsement.

We do not control third-party websites and are not responsible for their availability, security, privacy practices, content, products, or services.

Your use of a third-party website or service is subject to that third party's terms and policies.

18. Disclaimer of Warranties

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Site and its general informational content are provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis.

Sage Publications LLC does not warrant that:

• The Site will always be available or uninterrupted;
• The Site will be free from every error or technical defect;
• All information will always be complete or current;
• The Site will be free of viruses or other harmful components; or
• Use of the Site will produce any particular publishing, financial, commercial, or other result.

Nothing in these Terms excludes warranties or consumer rights that cannot lawfully be excluded.

Specific representations and warranties concerning paid services, if any, will be governed by the applicable written service agreement.

19. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, Sage Publications LLC and its officers, employees, contractors, and authorized representatives will not be liable for indirect, incidental, special, exemplary, punitive, or consequential damages arising solely from the use of or inability to use the Site, including loss of profits, revenue, opportunity, goodwill, or data.

This limitation does not apply to liability that cannot lawfully be limited or excluded.

Liability relating to a specific paid publishing or professional service may be subject to additional or different provisions contained in the applicable written service agreement.

20. Indemnification

To the extent permitted by applicable law, you agree to indemnify and hold harmless Sage Publications LLC and its officers, employees, and authorized representatives from third-party claims, liabilities, damages, judgments, and reasonable costs arising from:

• Submitted Material that you did not have the right to provide;
• Your material infringement of a third party's intellectual-property or other legal rights;
• Your unlawful use of the Site;
• Your intentional fraud or material misrepresentation; or
• Your material violation of these Terms.

This section does not require you to indemnify Sage Publications LLC for claims caused by Sage Publications LLC's own unlawful conduct to the extent such limitation would be prohibited by law.

21. Copyright and Intellectual-Property Concerns

Sage Publications LLC respects intellectual-property rights.

If you believe material appearing on our Site infringes rights you own or are authorized to enforce, please contact us and provide sufficient information for us to review the concern, including:

• Your name and contact information;
• Identification of the protected work;
• Identification of the material at issue;
• The location of the material on our Site; and
• An explanation of your claimed rights.

Submitting a report does not guarantee any particular outcome, but we will review legitimate notices in good faith.

22. Suspension or Termination of Site Access

We may suspend, restrict, or terminate access to all or part of the Site where reasonably necessary because of:

• Unlawful activity;
• Security concerns;
• Fraud or suspected fraud;
• Material violation of these Terms;
• Abuse of the Site;
• Threats to our systems or other users; or
• Legal or regulatory requirements.

Termination of Site access does not automatically terminate or modify rights or obligations contained in a separately executed service agreement.

23. Changes to the Site

We may modify, update, suspend, or discontinue portions of the Site from time to time.

We do not guarantee that every feature, page, service description, or function will remain permanently available.

Where a change affects an existing contractual obligation, the applicable written agreement will continue to govern unless lawfully modified.

24. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms periodically to reflect changes in our services, business practices, website, technology, legal obligations, or regulatory requirements.

The updated version will be posted on this page with a revised Last Updated date.

Changes will apply prospectively unless applicable law or a separate agreement provides otherwise.

Where applicable law requires additional notice or consent for a material change, we will provide such notice or obtain consent as required.

25. No Waiver

A failure by Sage Publications LLC to enforce a provision of these Terms on one occasion does not constitute a waiver of that provision or of our right to enforce it later.

Any waiver must be made by an authorized representative where required.

26. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is determined to be unlawful, invalid, or unenforceable, that provision will be enforced to the maximum extent permitted by law or severed as appropriate.

The remaining provisions will continue in effect.

27. Assignment

You may not assign rights or obligations arising solely under these Terms in a manner that materially affects Sage Publications LLC without our consent, except where applicable law provides otherwise.

Sage Publications LLC may assign these Terms in connection with a merger, reorganization, sale of substantially all relevant assets, or similar business transaction, subject to applicable law.

28. Relationship of the Parties

Use of the Site does not create an employment relationship, partnership, joint venture, franchise, agency, fiduciary relationship, or other special relationship between you and Sage Publications LLC.

Any representation, publishing, or other professional relationship must arise from a separate agreement where applicable.

29. Governing Law

These Terms will be governed by the laws of the State of Wyoming and applicable federal laws of the United States, without regard to conflict-of-law principles, except to the extent that applicable consumer-protection or other mandatory law provides you with non-waivable rights.

Nothing in these Terms is intended to waive any legal right that cannot lawfully be waived.

30. Entire Agreement Regarding Site Use

These Terms, together with the Privacy Policy and any additional policies expressly incorporated by reference, constitute the general agreement governing use of the Site.

For a particular paid service or project, a separately executed contract, proposal, order form, invoice, or statement of work may contain additional terms and will control to the extent expressly applicable to that service or transaction.

31. Contact Us

Questions regarding these Terms may be directed to:

For SMS assistance, reply HELP to a Sage Publications LLC text message.

To request that SMS communications stop, reply STOP or contact us using the information above.