1. Acceptance of Terms
By accessing or using BookVault ("Platform", "we", "us", "our"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"). If you do not agree to these Terms, you may not access or use our Platform.
We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. We will notify users of material changes via email or through the Platform. Your continued use after changes constitutes acceptance.
📋 Summary
By using BookVault, you agree to these terms. We may update them, and continued use means you accept the changes.
2. Definitions
"Platform"
BookVault digital marketplace accessible via web and mobile
"Content"
All digital products including ebooks, audiobooks, and related materials
"Seller"
User who uploads and sells Content on the Platform
"Buyer"
User who purchases Content from the Platform
"User"
Any person who accesses or uses the Platform
"Commission"
Platform fee deducted from each sale (60% to Seller, 30% Platform, 10% Referral)
3. Account Registration
3.1 Eligibility
You must be at least 18 years old to create an account. By registering, you represent that you are of legal age and have the capacity to enter into a binding contract.
3.2 Account Responsibilities
You are responsible for:
- Maintaining the confidentiality of your login credentials
- All activities that occur under your account
- Providing accurate and complete information
- Notifying us immediately of any unauthorized use
3.3 Account Types
- Buyer Account - Default account for purchasing Content
- Seller Account - Required to sell Content (requires additional verification)
- Affiliate Account - For earning referral commissions
3.4 Account Termination
We reserve the right to suspend or terminate accounts that violate these Terms, at our sole discretion.
4. Terms for Buyers
4.1 Purchases
When you purchase Content, you receive a non-exclusive, non-transferable, limited license to access and use the Content for personal, non-commercial purposes.
4.2 License Restrictions
You may NOT:
- Resell, redistribute, or sublicense purchased Content
- Share download links or files with others
- Remove or alter any copyright notices or watermarks
- Use Content for commercial purposes without permission
- Upload purchased Content to file-sharing sites or torrents
4.3 Download Limits
Each purchase includes up to 3 downloads. Additional downloads may be granted upon request for legitimate reasons (device failure, accidental deletion).
4.4 Refunds
Refunds are available within 30 days of purchase if:
- The Content is materially different from its description
- The Content file is corrupted or unreadable
- The purchase was made in error (accidental duplicate)
Refunds are not provided for "change of mind" after downloading.
4.5 Price Changes
Sellers may change prices at any time. Price changes do not affect completed purchases. We are not responsible for price differences between purchase and current price.
5. Terms for Sellers
5.1 Seller Eligibility
To become a Seller, you must:
- Complete identity verification
- Provide valid bank account information for payouts
- Agree to the Seller Agreement (incorporated by reference)
5.2 Content Requirements
All uploaded Content must:
- Be your original work or you must have rights to sell it
- Not infringe on any third-party intellectual property rights
- Comply with our Content Guidelines
- Be free of malware, viruses, or harmful code
- Be accurately described (title, description, category)
5.3 Commission Structure
For each sale, the revenue is distributed as follows:
- 60% to Seller - Credited to your wallet immediately
- 30% Platform Fee - For hosting, payment processing, and marketplace services
- 10% Referral Commission - Paid to referrer (if applicable)
5.4 Payouts
- Minimum payout amount: $20
- Payouts processed monthly (on the 1st of each month)
- Bank transfer fees may apply (deducted from payout)
- Payouts may be delayed for verification or fraud checks
5.5 Seller Warranties
By uploading Content, you warrant that:
- You own all rights or have proper license to sell the Content
- The Content does not violate any laws or third-party rights
- You will indemnify BookVault against any claims related to your Content
6. Payments and Fees
6.1 Payment Processing
We use third-party payment processors (Paystack, PayPal) to handle transactions. We do not store your full payment card details. All payment information is transmitted securely via SSL/TLS encryption.
6.2 Currency
All prices are in US Dollars (USD) unless otherwise stated. Currency conversion fees may apply for international transactions.
6.3 Taxes
You are responsible for any applicable taxes. Sellers are responsible for reporting and paying taxes on their earnings. BookVault may collect and remit sales tax/VAT where required by law.
6.4 Failed Payments
If a payment fails, we will notify you and provide options to update payment information. Access to Content may be suspended until payment is resolved.
7. Content Guidelines
7.1 Prohibited Content
The following Content is strictly prohibited:
- Pornography or sexually explicit material
- Content that promotes hate speech, violence, or discrimination
- Copyrighted material you don't have rights to sell
- Malware, viruses, or harmful code
- Scams, pyramid schemes, or fraudulent content
- Content that violates any applicable laws
- AI-generated content passed off as human-created without disclosure
7.2 Content Review
We reserve the right to review, reject, or remove any Content at our sole discretion. Content may be flagged for review by users or automated systems.
7.3 DMCA Compliance
We comply with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). To file a copyright complaint, contact dmca@bookvault.com with the required information.
8. Prohibited Conduct
Users may not:
- Use the Platform for any illegal purpose
- Attempt to gain unauthorized access to other accounts
- Interfere with or disrupt the Platform's operation
- Use automated tools (bots, scrapers) without permission
- Harass, threaten, or intimidate other users
- Post false or misleading reviews
- Manipulate prices through coordinated buying/selling
- Circumvent any security or access controls
- Resell or redistribute Platform access
⚠️ Violation Consequences
Violation of these terms may result in account suspension, termination, forfeiture of earnings, and/or legal action.
9. Intellectual Property
9.1 Platform Ownership
BookVault, its logos, design, code, and infrastructure are owned by us and protected by copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws. You may not copy, modify, or reverse engineer any part of the Platform.
9.2 User Content
You retain ownership of Content you upload. By uploading, you grant BookVault a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to:
- Display, distribute, and sell your Content on the Platform
- Use excerpts for promotional purposes
- Create thumbnails and previews
- Include in search results and recommendations
This license terminates when you remove your Content from the Platform.
9.3 Trademarks
"BookVault" and related marks are our trademarks. You may not use them without written permission.
10. Termination
10.1 By User
You may delete your account at any time from Account Settings. Upon deletion:
- Your personal information will be handled per our Privacy Policy
- Purchased Content will no longer be accessible
- Pending earnings will be forfeited if below minimum payout
- Listed Content will be removed from sale
10.2 By BookVault
We may terminate or suspend your account:
- For violation of these Terms
- For extended inactivity (12+ months)
- At our discretion with 30 days' notice
- Immediately for fraud or illegal activity
10.3 Survival
Sections related to intellectual property, disclaimers, liability, and disputes survive termination.
11. Disclaimers
THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND.
We do not guarantee that:
- The Platform will be uninterrupted or error-free
- Content is accurate, reliable, or of satisfactory quality
- Defects will be corrected
- The Platform is free of viruses or harmful components
We are not responsible for:
- User-generated Content or its accuracy
- Disputes between users
- Third-party links or services
- Loss of data or profits from Platform use
12. Limitation of Liability
TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW:
- BookVault's total liability shall not exceed the greater of $100 or the amount you paid us in the past 12 months
- We are not liable for indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages
- We are not liable for loss of profits, revenue, data, or goodwill
Some jurisdictions do not allow these limitations, so they may not apply to you.
13. Dispute Resolution
13.1 Governing Law
These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, United States, without regard to conflict of law principles.
13.2 Informal Resolution
Before filing a formal claim, you agree to contact us at legal@bookvault.com to attempt to resolve the dispute informally.
13.3 Arbitration
Any dispute not resolved informally shall be resolved by binding arbitration in accordance with the American Arbitration Association rules. Arbitration shall take place in Delaware.
13.4 Class Action Waiver
You agree to resolve disputes on an individual basis and waive any right to participate in a class action lawsuit or class-wide arbitration.