TERMS & CONDITIONS

1. PUBLISHING RIGHTS

1.1 The client acknowledges he/she has obtained all rights and permissions to publish materials to be used in the project and shall be solely responsible for the materials and the validity of copyrights, trademarks, and ownership claimed by the client. The client agrees to indemnify, hold harmless and defend ZAQ Publishing & Media, LLC (dba: ZAQ Designs & Publishing) and its employees from any and all libel and copyright and permission infringement action resulting from materials the client provides. The book material client provides must not be a public domain work (unless the client is the original author).

2. CONFIDENTIALITY

2.1 All client information and materials are considered confidential and only for use by ZAQ Publishing & Media, LLC (dba: ZAQ Designs & Publishing) to provide a quote or complete a project. Client information and project materials will not be given out or shared with any third party unless otherwise requested by the client. 

3. COVER DESIGN SERVICES

3.1 ZAQ Publishing & Media, LLC’s (dba: ZAQ Designs & Publishing) fee for the design of a print book cover includes the following:

  • A complete paperback book cover, the design and layout of the front, back, and spine set to the client’s printer specifications. The client must supply or direct ZAQ Publishing & Media, LLC (dba: ZAQ Designs & Publishing) to the printer’s template with specifications or written specs.
  • A high-resolution, print-ready PDFs of the cover and/or interior files to send to the client’s printer.
  • A web-resolution jpeg and png files formatted for an eBook cover.
  • Smaller images and 3d mockups of the book cover are suitable for promotional use.
  • An ISBN barcode was created and placed on the back cover if required. The client must supply ZAQ Publishing & Media, LLC (dba: ZAQ Designs & Publishing) with a set of ISBN numbers.
  • Purchases of stock images for use in the book cover design. (If a client has specific image requests, additional charges may apply.)
  • Digital delivery of the print-ready and final cover and/or interior files.

3.2 ZAQ Publishing & Media, LLC’s (dba: ZAQ Designs & Publishing) fee for the design of an eBook cover includes the following:

  • A web-resolution jpeg and png files formatted for an eBook cover.
  • Smaller images of the book cover are suitable for promotional use.
  • Purchases of stock images for use in the book cover design. (If a client has specific image requests, additional charges may apply.)
  • Digital delivery of the final cover and/or interior files.

The book cover design service does not include custom artwork or illustrations, copywriting or text editing services, or anything else not specified in the included list above.

4. EDITING SERVICES

4.1 When providing proofreading services, the editor will correct punctuation, grammar, spelling, usage, typos, and capitalization. Proofreading does not include fact-checking or any other services not specified in this agreement.

4.2 ZAQ Publishing & Media, LLC’s (dba: ZAQ Designs & Publishing) fee for proofreading services is based on per word. Please contact ZAQ Designs & Publishing for a rate sheet.

4.3 When providing copyediting services, the editor will correct punctuation, grammar, spelling, usage, typos, and capitalization. The editor may also note problems with clarity, consistency, and word choice. Copyediting does not include fact-checking or any other services not specified in this agreement.

4.4 ZAQ Publishing & Media, LLC’s (dba: ZAQ Designs & Publishing) fee for copyediting services is based on per word. Please contact ZAQ Designs & Publishing for a rate sheet.

4.5 The editor will make corrections using Microsoft Word Track Changes and return the edited file electronically to the client upon receipt of final payment. The client is responsible for accepting or rejecting all changes once copyediting is complete.

4.6 All documents are edited with high standards. Editors provide the best possible service to the best of their ability and cannot guarantee that the written documents are “perfect” or “without error.” ZAQ Publishing & Media, LLC (dba: ZAQ Designs & Publishing) provides no guarantee that the client’s work will be completely error-free.

4.7 ZAQ Publishing & Media, LLC (dba: ZAQ Designs & Publishing) retains the right to use the client’s name and book title on ZAQ Designs’ portfolio, website galleries, and social media sites to promote our services.

5. OWNERSHIP RIGHTS

5.1 Upon receipt of full payment, ZAQ Publishing & Media, LLC’s (dba: ZAQ Designs & Publishing) grants the client exclusive license to use the final cover design artwork (PDFs, JPEGs, or any other publishing-ready formats) for his/her book and/or eBook cover and associated promotional materials.

5.2 The client understands and agrees that he/she does not have the right to alter or modify the final cover design in any way except to change the size for printing or digital display. If the client desires any design alterations, he/she will consult ZAQ Publishing & Media, LLC (dba: ZAQ Designs & Publishing). The client understands and agrees that additional payments may be required to make any new design alterations.

5.3 The client agrees to abide by the terms of any license agreement for any photo(s) or graphics purchased by ZAQ Publishing & Media, LLC’s (dba: ZAQ Designs & Publishing) through a third-party photo stock agency for use in the client’s book cover design. The cost of the selected design packages includes the license to use the photo(s) and graphics. The license is limited to a print run of 500,000 units. For books with a print run of over 500,000, additional licensing fees may apply. Photo(s) or graphics used for the client’s cover are royalty-free; however, the photographer and artist still owns the copyright to those photographs and graphics. The photo(s) or graphics cannot be distributed in any manner other than in the book cover design.

5.4 ZAQ Publishing & Media, LLC (dba: ZAQ Designs & Publishing) retains the right to use the client’s final book cover and/or interior designs, name, and book title in ZAQ Publishing & Media, LLC (dba: ZAQ Designs & Publishing) portfolio, website gallery, and social media sites to promote our services. ZAQ Publishing & Media, LLC (dba: ZAQ Designs & Publishing) retains copyright and ownership of all design concepts and draft materials.

5.5 If the client supplies ZAQ Publishing & Media, LLC (dba: ZAQ Designs & Publishing) with materials subject to intellectual property rights by a third party, the client will secure the appropriate rights to use the materials before directing the designer to incorporate them into his/her project. Should any intellectual property dispute arise involving materials the client provides, the client assumes full legal and financial responsibility.

6. ATTRIBUTION

6.1 ZAQ Publishing & Media, LLC (dba: ZAQ Designs & Publishing) requires cover and interior designs credit to appear on the copyright page of the client’s book. An example credential would be: “Cover and interior design by John Doe of ZAQ Designs – www.zaqdesigns.com.”

7. CLIENT RESPONSIBILITIES

7.1 The client is fully responsible for proofing the book cover and interior designs provided by ZAQ Publishing & Media, LLC (dba: ZAQ Designs & Publishing). It is strongly suggested that the client requests proof from the printer before publishing or ordering any copies of the book. At no time will ZAQ Publishing & Media, LLC (dba: ZAQ Designs & Publishing) be held financially or legally responsible for any problems, costs, fees, or expenses incurred by the client as a result of using the book cover and/or interior design.

8. LIABILITY

8.1 ZAQ Publishing & Media, LLC (dba: ZAQ Designs & Publishing) is not liable for incidental, indirect, consequential, special, punitive, or exemplary damages of any kind, including loss of revenues or profits, loss of business or reputation, or loss of data, in any way related to our services. ZAQ Publishing & Media, LLC (dba: ZAQ Designs & Publishing) is not responsible for any claim, loss, or injury based on errors or any other inaccuracies appearing on our site or in our clients’ written documents, including without limitation as a result of any breach of the terms and conditions of this agreement.

9. PAYMENT

9.1 Client agrees to pay an initial deposit of 50% of the total cost before any work or projects commence. The remaining balance is due upon approval of the final book cover and/or interior designs or the completion of manuscript editing. ZAQ Publishing & Media, LLC (dba: ZAQ Designs & Publishing) will not release final files to the client or other parties until final payment has been received. The final payment is also the final approval of the project, and this contract will be considered fulfilled and thus, terminated. ZAQ Publishing & Media, LLC (dba: ZAQ Designs & Publishing) have the right to discontinue, withhold, or suspend services for any account should payments not be paid for a contracted job in the order specified in this agreement.

10. CANCELLATION POLICY

10.1 The client or ZAQ Publishing & Media, LLC (dba: ZAQ Designs & Publishing) may cancel the project agreement per these terms and conditions at any time by providing formal written notice to the other party. Written notice can be through email or PDF doc. If either the client or ZAQ Publishing & Media, LLC (dba: ZAQ Designs & Publishing) cancels a project before work has started, neither the client nor ZAQ Publishing & Media, LLC (dba: ZAQ Designs & Publishing) is under further obligation to the other, and the project agreement/contract will be considered canceled. If the client paid a deposit of 50% before any work was done and the project agreement is canceled, ZAQ Publishing & Media, LLC (dba: ZAQ Designs & Publishing) will refund the deposit without any obligation.

10.2 If the client should stop or cancel a book cover and/or interior design project once it has started, the client agrees to forfeit a 50% deposit of the project total amount. This is to cover resources and time invested during the design project up to the point of cancellation. The client will not have any rights to the concepts or mockups sent to the client and agrees to destroy them. If the client should stop or cancel an editing job once it has started, the client will pay for the work completed through the date of cancellation. 

11. COMPLETE AGREEMENT

11.1 This project agreement is the entire agreement of all parties. No additional promises or conditions, written or oral, apply to this agreement that is not included herein.

12. MODIFICATION OF AGREEMENT

12.1 Modification of any provisions of this project agreement is not valid and enforceable unless confirmed in writing and signed by all parties either in hardcopy or by e‐signature.

13. SEVERABILITY

13.1 The finding of any provision of this project agreement to be invalid or unenforceable does not render the remaining provisions invalid or unenforceable.