Terms of Service

1. Acceptance of Terms

Welcome to JC Publishing. These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your access to and use of our website (jcpublishu.com), services, and products. By accessing or using our services, you agree to be bound by these Terms and our Privacy Policy.

If you do not agree to these Terms, you may not access or use our services. We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time, and such modifications will be effective immediately upon posting. Your continued use of our services after any modifications constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.

2. Description of Services

JC Publishing provides comprehensive publishing services, including but not limited to:

• Self-Publishing Services: Guidance and support for authors who wish to self-publish their work
• Ghostwriting: Professional writing services for various genres and formats
• Editing Services: Developmental editing, copyediting, and proofreading
• Book Design: Cover design, interior layout, and formatting
• Publishing Consultation: Expert advice on publishing strategies and market positioning
• Workshops & Training: Educational programs for aspiring authors and writers
• Birth That Book™ Writers Guild: Membership program for writers
• It's A Book! Shower™: Book launch and celebration services

Services are subject to availability and may be modified or discontinued at any time without prior notice.

3. User Accounts and Registration

3.1 Account Creation

To access certain services, you may be required to create an account. You agree to:

• Provide accurate, current, and complete information
• Maintain and update your information as necessary
• Maintain the security of your account credentials
• Notify us immediately of any unauthorized access or security breach

3.2 Account Responsibility

You are responsible for all activities that occur under your account. You agree not to share your account credentials with others or allow others to access your account.

3.3 Account Termination

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate your account at any time for violation of these Terms, fraudulent activity, or any other reason at our sole discretion.

4. Intellectual Property Rights

4.1 Your Content

You retain all ownership rights to the content you provide to us, including manuscripts, images, and other materials ("Your Content"). By submitting Your Content, you grant us a limited license to:

• Use, reproduce, and modify Your Content solely for the purpose of providing our services
• Share Your Content with service providers necessary for project completion (editors, designers, printers)
• Create promotional materials featuring Your Content (with your explicit permission)

4.2 Our Content

All content on our website, including text, graphics, logos, images, software, and design elements ("Our Content"), is the property of JC Publishing and is protected by copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws. You may not:

• Copy, reproduce, or distribute Our Content without written permission
• Modify, create derivative works, or reverse engineer Our Content
• Use Our Content for commercial purposes without authorization
• Remove or alter copyright notices, trademarks, or proprietary markings

4.3 Trademarks

"JC Publishing," "Birth That Book™," and "It's A Book! Shower™" are trademarks of JC Publishing. You may not use these trademarks without our prior written consent.

5. Payment Terms

5.1 Fees and Pricing

Fees for our services are specified in individual service agreements or quotes. All fees are due according to the payment schedule outlined in your agreement. We reserve the right to modify our pricing at any time.

5.2 Payment Methods

We accept payment via credit card, debit card, bank transfer, and other methods as specified. By providing payment information, you represent that you are authorized to use the payment method.

5.3 Refunds and Cancellations

Refund and cancellation policies vary by service and are specified in individual service agreements. Generally:

• Deposits are non-refundable
• Cancellations must be made in writing
• Work completed prior to cancellation will be billed
• Custom services (ghostwriting, editing, design) are generally non-refundable once work has begun

5.4 Late Payments

Late payments may result in suspension of services, late fees (as permitted by law), and/or termination of your agreement. We reserve the right to pursue collection of unpaid amounts.

6. User Conduct and Prohibited Activities

You agree not to:

• Violate any applicable laws or regulations
• Infringe on the intellectual property rights of others
• Submit content that is defamatory, obscene, threatening, or hateful
• Harass, abuse, or harm other users or our staff
• Attempt to gain unauthorized access to our systems or networks
• Introduce viruses, malware, or other harmful code
• Use our services for illegal purposes or to facilitate illegal activities
• Impersonate others or misrepresent your affiliation
• Engage in spamming or unsolicited commercial communications
• Scrape, harvest, or collect user information without permission

7. Content Guidelines and Author Responsibilities

7.1 Content Standards

Content you submit must:

• Be your original work or properly licensed
• Not infringe on any third-party rights
• Comply with all applicable laws and regulations
• Not contain illegal, harmful, or offensive material

7.2 Author Representations

You represent and warrant that:

• You have the legal right to publish Your Content
• Your Content does not infringe on any copyright, trademark, or other intellectual property rights
• Your Content does not violate any privacy rights or contain defamatory statements
• You have obtained all necessary permissions for any third-party content

7.3 Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless JC Publishing from any claims, damages, or expenses arising from Your Content or your breach of these representations.

8. Service Delivery and Timelines

8.1 Project Timelines

Project timelines are estimates and may vary based on project complexity, client responsiveness, and other factors. While we strive to meet all deadlines, timelines are not guaranteed.

8.2 Client Cooperation

Timely completion of projects requires your cooperation, including:

• Providing complete and accurate information
• Responding to communications in a timely manner
• Reviewing and approving work products within specified timeframes
• Providing necessary materials and permissions

8.3 Delays

We are not liable for delays caused by circumstances beyond our control, including but not limited to: client delays, third-party service providers, technical difficulties, or force majeure events.

9. Confidentiality

We respect the confidentiality of your projects and personal information. We will not disclose Your Content or project details to third parties except:

• As necessary to provide services (e.g., sharing with editors or designers)
• With your explicit permission
• As required by law or legal process
• To protect our rights or the rights of others

For additional information about how we handle your information, please review our Privacy Policy.

10. Disclaimers and Limitations of Liability

10.1 Service Disclaimer

OUR SERVICES ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OR NON-INFRINGEMENT.

We do not guarantee:

• That our services will be uninterrupted or error-free
• That defects will be corrected
• That our website or servers are free of viruses or harmful components
• Commercial success of published works
• Specific sales, rankings, or reviews

10.2 Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, JC PUBLISHING SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR:

• Indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages
• Loss of profits, revenue, data, or business opportunities
• Damages exceeding the amount paid for the specific service giving rise to the claim

10.3 Publishing Success

We provide professional publishing services but cannot guarantee the commercial success of any published work. Sales, reviews, and market reception depend on many factors beyond our control.

11. Dispute Resolution

11.1 Informal Resolution

If you have a complaint or dispute, please contact us first at info@jcpublishu.com or (312) 970-0067. We will work in good faith to resolve the issue.

11.2 Arbitration

Any disputes not resolved informally shall be resolved through binding arbitration in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association. Arbitration shall take place in Chicago, Illinois.

11.3 Class Action Waiver

You agree to resolve disputes on an individual basis and waive the right to participate in class action lawsuits or class-wide arbitration.

11.4 Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Illinois, without regard to its conflict of law provisions.

12. Third-Party Services and Links

Our website may contain links to third-party websites or services. We are not responsible for:

• The content, accuracy, or practices of third-party websites
• Privacy policies of third-party services
• Transactions with third-party vendors
• Quality or reliability of third-party products or services

Your use of third-party services is at your own risk and subject to their terms and policies.

13. Modifications to Services and Terms

We reserve the right to:

• Modify, suspend, or discontinue any service at any time
• Update these Terms as necessary
• Change pricing and service offerings
• Impose limits on certain features or services

Material changes to these Terms will be communicated through our website or via email. Continued use of our services after changes constitutes acceptance.

14. Termination

We may terminate or suspend your access to our services immediately, without prior notice, for:

• Violation of these Terms
• Fraudulent or illegal activity
• Non-payment of fees
• Abusive or harassing behavior
• Any other reason at our sole discretion

Upon termination:

• Your right to use our services immediately ceases
• You remain responsible for any outstanding fees
• Certain provisions of these Terms survive termination (payment obligations, intellectual property rights, disclaimers, limitations of liability)

15. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable or invalid, that provision shall be limited or eliminated to the minimum extent necessary so that these Terms shall otherwise remain in full force and effect.

16. Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy and any individual service agreements, constitute the entire agreement between you and JC Publishing regarding the use of our services and supersede all prior agreements and understandings.

17. Contact Information

If you have questions about these Terms of Service, please contact us: