Terms of service

Effective Date: June 5, 2026
Last Updated: August 27, 2026

These Terms of Use govern your access to and use of the DEEP Publishing, a division of DEEP Films Entertainment, LLC’s website, online store, author pages, reader programs, forms, newsletters, events, digital content, and any other online service, feature, or platform that links to or displays these Terms of Use, collectively referred to as the “Site” or “Services.”

These Terms of Use are a legal agreement between you and DEEP Publishing. By accessing or using the Site, creating an account, submitting a form, making a purchase, joining a mailing list, participating in a giveaway, applying for a reader program, or otherwise interacting with DEEP Publishing through the Services, you agree to be bound by these Terms of Use and all policies referenced in them.

DEEP Publishing  (“We”, “Us”, “Our”) reserves the right, at our discretion, to change, modify, add, or remove portions of these terms of use at any time. Please check these terms of use periodically for changes. Your continued use following the posting of changes to these terms of use will mean you accept those changes. Additional terms and conditions may apply to the purchase of products, such as shipping and return policies (e.g., https://www.deep-publishing.com/refunds).

These Terms of Use apply to this website and any other website, application, or other online service that links to these Terms of Use, including author websites and online services, however accessed and/or used, that are operated or otherwise made available by DEEP Publishing.  

If you do not agree to these Terms of Use, do not use the Site or Services.

1. About DEEP Publishing

DEEP Publishing is the publishing division of DEEP Films Entertainment, LLC and is a publishing company that creates, publishes, markets, sells, and distributes books, signed editions, special editions, merchandise, digital content, reader experiences, and related creative products.

DEEP Publishing’s online store may be powered by third-party platforms, payment processors, shipping providers, fulfillment partners, email marketing providers, analytics providers, and other service providers that help us operate the Site and provide the Services.

2. Additional Policies

These Terms of Use incorporate by reference any additional policies, terms, guidelines, or notices posted on the Site, including but not limited to:

  • Privacy Policy
  • Return, Refund, and Replacement Policy
  • Shipping Policy
  • Product descriptions and preorder terms
  • Giveaway, ARC, influencer, reviewer, ambassador, or reader program rules
  • Wholesale or bulk order terms
  • Any additional terms displayed at checkout or on specific product pages

If there is a conflict between these Terms of Use and a specific product page, checkout notice, program rule, or written agreement signed by DEEP Publishing, the more specific terms will control for that specific product, order, program, or agreement.

3. Changes to These Terms

DEEP Publishing reserves the right to update, modify, add, or remove portions of these Terms of Use at any time. When we make changes, we will update the “Last Updated” date above.

Your continued use of the Site or Services after changes are posted means you accept the updated Terms of Use. You are responsible for reviewing these Terms periodically.

4. Site Access and Limited License

DEEP Publishing grants you a limited, revocable, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to access and use the Site and its content for personal, noncommercial purposes only.

This license does not include the right to:

  • Resell or commercially exploit the Site or its content
  • Copy, reproduce, distribute, modify, display, publish, license, or create derivative works from the Site or its content
  • Use product listings, descriptions, images, prices, metadata, reviews, or other Site content for commercial purposes
  • Use data mining, scraping, bots, crawlers, artificial intelligence training tools, or similar extraction methods
  • Download or copy account information for the benefit of another business
  • Frame or mirror any part of the Site without written permission
  • Use DEEP Publishing’s name, trademarks, logos, designs, book titles, cover art, character names, series names, slogans, or other protected materials without written permission
  • Interfere with or attempt to interfere with the proper operation of the Site

  • Bypass security measures, checkout limits, access restrictions, or technical protections

Any unauthorized use of the Site or its content automatically terminates the license granted to you.

5. Intellectual Property Ownership

The Site and all content available on or through the Site are owned by DEEP Publishing, its authors, licensors, vendors, partners, or content providers.

Protected content may include, without limitation:

  • Text
  • Book descriptions
  • Book titles
  • Series names
  • Character names
  • Cover art
  • Illustrations
  • Graphics
  • Photographs
  • Videos
  • Audio
  • Digital downloads
  • Logos
  • Trademarks
  • Service marks
  • Trade names
  • Website design
  • Product images
  • Marketing copy
  • Social media content
  • Reader program materials
  • ARC materials
  • Bonus content
  • Digital files
  • Merchandise designs
  • Software, code, and site functionality

All such content is protected by copyright, trademark, trade dress, moral rights, unfair competition, and other intellectual property laws.

You may view, print, or download limited portions of the Site for personal, informational, and noncommercial use only, provided you do not remove or alter any copyright, trademark, or proprietary notices.

Except as expressly allowed by these Terms or by applicable law, you may not copy, reproduce, publish, display, distribute, transmit, modify, adapt, create derivative works from, sell, license, or exploit any DEEP Publishing content without prior written permission.

6. Trademarks and Brand Materials

DEEP Publishing, DEEP Publishing logos, imprint names, series names, book titles, slogans, trade names, graphics, and related brand elements are trademarks, service marks, trade dress, or protected brand materials of DEEP Publishing or its licensors.

You may not use DEEP Publishing’s name, logos, trademarks, book covers, character names, series names, or brand materials in any advertising, publicity, merchandise, website, social media account, domain name, username, product listing, or commercial material without prior written permission.

You may link to the DEEP Publishing website in a lawful and non-misleading way, provided the link does not falsely imply sponsorship, endorsement, partnership, affiliation, or approval by DEEP Publishing.

DEEP Publishing reserves the right to request removal of any link, reference, or use of its brand materials at any time.

7. Product Information

We do our best to display accurate product information, including titles, descriptions, formats, prices, availability, preorder status, release dates, images, colors, specifications, and shipping timelines.

However, we do not guarantee that all product information is complete, current, error-free, or identical to the final product. Books and related products may vary slightly from website images or descriptions due to printing, manufacturing, packaging, photography, lighting, screen settings, author signing variations, supply chain changes, or production updates.

For signed books, personalized books, limited editions, special editions, preorder-exclusive editions, and handmade or specially prepared items, small variations may occur and do not necessarily qualify as defects.

DEEP Publishing reserves the right to correct errors, update product information, revise pricing, change availability, limit quantities, cancel orders where legally permitted, or refuse orders that contain incorrect information, suspected fraud, abuse, or unauthorized activity.

8. Orders, Payments, and Checkout

By placing an order, you represent that:

  • You are legally able to make the purchase
  • The information you provide is accurate and complete
  • You are authorized to use the payment method provided
  • You agree to pay all charges associated with your order, including product price, shipping, taxes, and applicable fees
  • You have reviewed the product description, preorder terms, shipping information, return policy, and final sale terms before completing checkout

Payment may be processed by third-party payment providers. DEEP Publishing does not intentionally store full payment card numbers on its own servers.

Prices, promotions, discounts, and availability are subject to change without notice. Discounts, coupon codes, and promotional offers may not be applied retroactively unless DEEP Publishing approves otherwise in writing.

DEEP Publishing reserves the right to refuse, limit, cancel, or review any order for any reason, including suspected fraud, payment issues, incorrect pricing, inventory errors, abuse of promotions, resale concerns, violation of these Terms, or other business reasons.

9. No Customer-Requested Cancellations

All sales are final once an order is placed. DEEP Publishing does not accept customer-requested cancellations.

Once an order is submitted, it may begin processing immediately. Orders cannot be canceled because a customer changed their mind, ordered the wrong item, entered the wrong quantity, missed a discount code, entered the wrong shipping address, or no longer wants the item.

If DEEP Publishing is unable to fulfill an order, cannot ship, or is otherwise required by law to cancel or refund an order, we will notify the customer and issue any required refund to the original payment method.

10. Shipping, Delivery, and Risk of Loss

Shipping timelines are estimates unless expressly stated otherwise. Release dates, preorder timelines, delivery windows, and shipping estimates may change due to printing, production, author signing schedules, supply chain issues, warehouse processing, carrier delays, weather, customs, or circumstances outside DEEP Publishing’s control.

Customers are responsible for entering the correct shipping address at checkout. Shipping address changes are not accepted after an order is placed.

DEEP Publishing is not responsible for orders shipped to an incorrect or incomplete address provided by the customer. If an order is returned to us due to an incorrect or incomplete address, the customer will be responsible for any reshipping costs.

DEEP Publishing is not responsible for packages that are lost, stolen, delayed, or missing after the carrier marks them as delivered. If tracking shows delivered but you cannot locate your package, please check with your household, neighbors, mailroom, leasing office, package locker, local post office, or carrier.

International customers, if applicable, are responsible for customs duties, taxes, import fees, brokerage fees, and any other charges imposed by their country or carrier.

11. Returns, Refunds, and Replacement

All sales are final. DEEP Publishing does not accept returns, exchanges, or customer-requested cancellations.

If your item arrives damaged, defective, or incorrect, email contact@deep-publishing.com immediately upon delivery, but no later than 7 days after delivery.

Subject line: Replacement Request – Order #[Order Number]

Please include:

  • Your full name
  • Order number
  • The item affected
  • A clear description of the issue
  • Photos of the damaged, defective, or incorrect item
  • Photos of the packaging

DEEP Publishing will review the information provided and determine whether the item qualifies for a replacement under this policy.

If approved, DEEP Publishing will replace the item. Submitting a damaged, defective, or incorrect item request does not guarantee approval. We reserve the right to decline a replacement request based on the issue, proof provided, item availability, product type, order history, and the circumstances of the request.

If the item is out of stock or a replacement is not available, DEEP Publishing will issue a refund to the original payment method. After a refund is issued, it may take 5–10 business days to appear, depending on your bank, card issuer, or payment provider.

See our full Return, Refund, and Replacement Policy here

12. Preorders

Preorder items are products made available for purchase before their official release, fulfillment, or shipment date.

By placing a preorder, you acknowledge that:

  • The product may not ship immediately
  • Estimated release dates and shipping timelines may change
  • Your payment may be charged at checkout
  • Preorder-exclusive, signed, limited, personalized, special edition, or final sale items will not be cancelable or returnable unless required by law.
  • If your order includes both preorder and in-stock items, the order may ship together when all items are available unless otherwise stated

13. Digital Products and Downloadable Content

Digital products, including ebooks, bonus content, downloadable files, digital art, digital guides, media files, or other digital materials, are licensed, not sold, unless otherwise stated.

Digital products are for personal, noncommercial use only. You may not copy, reproduce, share, upload, distribute, resell, modify, publicly display, publicly perform, or create derivative works from digital products unless DEEP Publishing gives written permission.

DEEP Publishing does not guarantee that digital products will remain available indefinitely. You are responsible for downloading and saving any purchased digital product within the access period provided, if any.

Digital products are not eligible for return, exchange, customer-requested cancellation or refund.

If a digital file is inaccessible, or incorrect, email contact@deep-publishing.com immediately upon delivery, but no later than 7 days after delivery.

Your email must include your full name, order number, the digital product affected, photos, and a clear description of the issue. DEEP Publishing will review the information provided and determine whether the digital product qualifies for a replacement under this policy.

If approved, DEEP Publishing will replace the inaccessible, or incorrect digital file. If the approved replacement digital file is unavailable, DEEP Publishing will issue a refund to the original payment method.

See our full Return, Refund, and Replacement Policy here

14. Accounts and Security

If you create an account on the Site, you agree to provide true, accurate, current, and complete information.

You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account login information, password, and any activity under your account. You agree not to share your account credentials with anyone.

You must notify DEEP Publishing immediately if you believe your account has been accessed without authorization or if you become aware of any security issue.

DEEP Publishing may suspend, restrict, or terminate your account if we believe the information provided is inaccurate, incomplete, fraudulent, unauthorized, or in violation of these Terms.

15. User Submissions

The Site or our related platforms may allow you to submit, upload, post, tag, share, send, or otherwise provide content, including but not limited to reviews, comments, testimonials, messages, photos, videos, social media posts, feedback, survey responses, giveaway entries, ARC applications, influencer content, reader program submissions, or other materials.

These are referred to as “User Submissions.”

You retain ownership of your original User Submissions. However, by submitting, posting, tagging, sharing, or sending User Submissions to DEEP Publishing, or by using a DEEP Publishing hashtag, tagging DEEP Publishing, submitting content through a DEEP Publishing form, or otherwise providing content for consideration, you grant DEEP Publishing a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free, fully paid, transferable, sublicensable license to use, reproduce, repost, display, distribute, publish, edit, crop, adapt, create derivative works from, and otherwise use your User Submissions in connection with DEEP Publishing’s business, marketing, advertising, publicity, social media, website, newsletters, retail pages, reader programs, and promotional activities, in any media now known or later developed.

This license includes the right to use your name, username, social media handle, likeness, voice, review, caption, testimonial, and other identifying information you choose to provide in connection with the User Submission.

You represent and warrant that:

  • You own or have all rights necessary to submit the User Submission
  • Your User Submission does not infringe any copyright, trademark, privacy right, publicity right, or other right of any person or entity
  • You have obtained permission from any person shown, named, quoted, tagged, or identifiable in the User Submission
  • If a minor appears in or is identified in the User Submission, you have obtained permission from the minor’s parent or legal guardian
  • Your User Submission is accurate to the best of your knowledge and is not misleading
  • Your User Submission does not contain unlawful, defamatory, obscene, harassing, threatening, hateful, abusive, pornographic, violent, or otherwise objectionable material
  • Your User Submission does not contain viruses, malware, spam, or commercial solicitation

  • Your User Submission does not impersonate any person or entity or falsely imply an affiliation with DEEP Publishing

User Submissions are not confidential. Please do not submit anything you consider confidential, proprietary, or private.

DEEP Publishing is not required to publish, repost, review, preserve, return, or respond to any User Submission. DEEP Publishing may remove, refuse, edit, moderate, or delete User Submissions at any time and for any reason.

User Submissions do not necessarily reflect the views of DEEP Publishing.

16. Reviews, Testimonials, ARCs and Social Media Content

If you submit a review, testimonial, comment, social media post, tag, message, photo, video, or other content about DEEP Publishing, our authors, or our products, you agree that DEEP Publishing may use that content for marketing, publicity, advertising, promotional, website, retail, newsletter, and social media purposes, subject to applicable law.

DEEP Publishing may quote, excerpt, repost, display, or otherwise use public reviews, public social media posts, tagged content, submitted testimonials, and voluntarily provided feedback.

If you receive an ARC, PR package, giveaway item, review copy, or promotional product, you are responsible for complying with applicable disclosure rules, including disclosing any free product, material connection, or relationship where required by law or platform rules.

Receiving a review copy, ARC, PR package, giveaway item, or promotional product does not guarantee future selection, reposting, partnership, or continued participation.

Participants and recipients retain ownership of their original content.

By accepting an ARC, review copy, PR package, promotional product, complimentary product, or other benefit from DEEP Publishing, you agree that any photograph, video, recording, review, unboxing, reaction, testimonial, post, caption, story, livestream, or other content that you create and publicly post featuring, discussing, displaying, or promoting DEEP Publishing, its authors, books, products, campaigns, ARCs, or PR packages (“ARC Content”) may be used by DEEP Publishing as provided in this Section.

This permission also applies when you directly submit or send content to DEEP Publishing; send DEEP Publishing a link to the content; tag or mention DEEP Publishing, Rebecca Ihim, a DEEP Publishing author, or an account designated by DEEP Publishing; use a DEEP Publishing or campaign-designated hashtag; participate in a DEEP Publishing promotion; or submit content for entry, verification, points, prizes, recognition, or another promotional benefit.

You grant DEEP Publishing, DEEP Films Entertainment, LLC, and their respective affiliates, authors, licensees, advertising agencies, contractors, service providers, successors, designees, and social-media and advertising partners a nonexclusive, worldwide, royalty-free, fully paid, transferable, sublicensable, and, to the extent permitted by law, irrevocable license to:

  • Reproduce, download, save, host, publish, repost, display, perform, distribute, transmit, and otherwise use the ARC Content;
  • Crop, resize, retouch, caption, subtitle, dub, translate, excerpt, shorten, rearrange, combine, adapt, reformat, enhance, and otherwise edit or create promotional derivatives from the ARC Content;
  • Remove, mute, or replace music, audio, backgrounds, captions, graphics, platform elements, or other material contained in the ARC Content;
  • Combine the ARC Content with DEEP Publishing’s trademarks, book covers, product images, text, graphics, audio, video, calls to action, links, pricing, promotional claims, or other advertising materials; and
  • Use the ARC Content in organic and paid advertising, sponsored posts, boosted posts, whitelisted or partnership advertisements where separately authorized by the applicable platform, promotional campaigns, trailers, compilations, retail and bookstore materials, websites, email, newsletters, social media, digital platforms, presentations, publicity, press materials, and other marketing or commercial communications in any media now known or later developed.

This license includes permission to use your name, public social-media handle, profile image, image, likeness, appearance, voice, statements, and publicly displayed biographical information as they appear in or are reasonably necessary to identify the ARC Content and its original creator.

DEEP Publishing may exercise these rights without additional payment, royalties, notice, inspection, approval, attribution, or further permission, except where prohibited by law. DEEP Publishing is not required to use any ARC Content and may stop using it at any time.

You represent that you created or control the rights you grant under this Section and have permission from every identifiable person appearing in the ARC Content. You must not knowingly submit content that infringes another person’s copyright, trademark, privacy, publicity, contractual, or other rights. If a minor appears in the ARC Content, you must have authorization from the minor’s parent or legal guardian.

You must clearly and conspicuously disclose any material relationship with DEEP Publishing in accordance with applicable law and platform requirements, including when you receive a free ARC, PR package, gift, payment, points, prize, discount, special access, or another benefit.

17. Unsolicited Materials

Unless DEEP Publishing has specifically requested materials from you in writing, please do not send unsolicited manuscripts, proposals, artwork, concepts, ideas, pitches, characters, stories, scripts, marketing ideas, illustrations, designs, products, or other creative materials.

DEEP Publishing does not accept responsibility for unsolicited materials and is not required to review, return, protect, acknowledge, or compensate you for them.

If you submit unsolicited materials despite this policy, you acknowledge that:

  • The submission is not confidential
  • DEEP Publishing has no obligation to review or respond
  • DEEP Publishing may already be developing similar ideas independently
  • You are not entitled to compensation, credit, ownership, or any business relationship based on the submission
  • No contract, fiduciary duty, confidential relationship, or obligation is created by your submission

18. Giveaways, Promotions, ARC Programs, Influencer Programs, and Reader Programs

DEEP Publishing may offer giveaways, contests, sweepstakes, ARC programs, influencer campaigns, reviewer programs, ambassador programs, street teams, insider opportunities, wholesale opportunities, reader campaigns, or other promotions.

Each program may have additional rules, eligibility requirements, deadlines, restrictions, and terms. By participating, you agree to follow those rules.

DEEP Publishing reserves the right to accept, reject, remove, suspend, disqualify, or decline any participant at any time where permitted by law, including for suspected fraud, abuse, ineligibility, failure to follow instructions, misuse of materials, resale of promotional items, or conduct that DEEP Publishing determines may harm the program, brand, author, readers, or business.

ARCs, PR packages, review copies, promotional items, and giveaway items are not for resale.

Participation in any program does not guarantee selection, partnership, endorsement, reposting, continued participation, or future opportunities.

19. Wholesale and Bulk Orders

DEEP Publishing may offer wholesale, bulk, bookstore, school, library, organizational, or partner order opportunities through a wholesale form or separate written process.

Submitting a wholesale or bulk request does not guarantee approval. DEEP Publishing may approve, reject, limit, modify, or cancel wholesale or bulk requests in its discretion.

Wholesale, bulk, and partner orders may be subject to separate terms, including pricing, minimum quantities, payment deadlines, resale restrictions, shipping terms, return terms, and approval requirements.

20. Prohibited Uses

You agree not to use the Site or Services to:

  • Violate any law, regulation, or third-party right
  • Commit fraud or attempt unauthorized transactions
  • Interfere with the Site’s operation or security
  • Access or attempt to access accounts, systems, or data without authorization
  • Use bots, scrapers, crawlers, data extraction tools, or automated purchasing tools without permission
  • Circumvent purchase limits, checkout restrictions, access controls, or security measures
  • Resell products in violation of product-specific restrictions
  • Upload or transmit malware, viruses, harmful code, or spam
  • Harass, threaten, abuse, defame, or impersonate others
  • Post unlawful, obscene, hateful, sexually explicit, violent, defamatory, misleading, or infringing content
  • Use DEEP Publishing’s content, products, books, covers, characters, trademarks, or brand materials in a misleading or unauthorized way
  • Train artificial intelligence systems, machine learning models, or similar technologies using DEEP Publishing content without prior written permission
  • Use, copy, scrape, download, reproduce, extract, or process DEEP Publishing content, books, excerpts, cover art, artwork, product descriptions, metadata, reviews, images, or other materials for the purpose of training, developing, fine-tuning, prompting, testing, improving, or operating artificial intelligence systems, machine learning models, datasets, large language models, or similar technologies without DEEP Publishing’s prior written permission.
  • Use the Site or Services for any commercial purpose not approved by DEEP Publishing

DEEP Publishing may suspend or terminate access for violations of these Terms.

21. Third-Party Websites, Platforms, and Services

The Site may contain links to third-party websites, platforms, retailers, social media pages, payment processors, shipping providers, review platforms, embedded tools, or other services.

These links are provided for convenience only. DEEP Publishing does not control and is not responsible for third-party websites, services, content, policies, privacy practices, security, accuracy, or availability.

Your use of third-party services is governed by their own terms and policies.

A link to a third-party website does not imply endorsement, sponsorship, partnership, affiliation, or approval by DEEP Publishing unless expressly stated.

22. Privacy

Your use of the Site and Services is also governed by DEEP Publishing’s Privacy Policy, which explains how we collect, use, share, and protect personal information.

By using the Site or Services, you acknowledge that your information will be handled as described in the Privacy Policy.

23. Copyright Complaints and DMCA Notices

DEEP Publishing respects the intellectual property rights of others. If you believe that material available on or through the Site infringes your copyright, you may send a written notice to DEEP Publishing’s designated copyright contact.

Your notice should include:

  • A physical or electronic signature of the copyright owner or a person authorized to act on the owner’s behalf
  • Identification of the copyrighted work claimed to have been infringed
  • Identification of the material claimed to be infringing and information reasonably sufficient to allow us to locate it
  • Your name, mailing address, telephone number, and email address
  • A statement that you have a good faith belief that the disputed use is not authorized by the copyright owner, the copyright owner’s agent, or the law
  • A statement, made under penalty of perjury, that the information in your notice is accurate and that you are the copyright owner or authorized to act on the copyright owner’s behalf

Copyright notices may be sent to:

DEEP Publishing
Attn: Copyright / DMCA Notice
Email: contact@deep-publishing.com

DEEP Publishing may remove or disable access to allegedly infringing material and may terminate accounts or access for repeat infringers where appropriate.

24. Permissions Requests

If you would like to quote or otherwise use material from a DEEP Publishing book, website, product, author page, cover, image, excerpt, or other protected content, you must request permission in writing.

Permission requests should include:

  • Book title
  • Author name
  • ISBN
  • Exact material requested
  • How you plan to use it
  • Format
  • Territory
  • Audience size, or expected reach
  • Publication date or deadline

Submitting a request does not guarantee approval. Permission is granted only if DEEP Publishing provides written approval.

25. Disclaimer of Warranties

Your use of the Site, Services, and content is at your own risk.

To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Site, Services, content, products, information, and materials are provided “as is” and “as available,” without warranties of any kind, whether express, implied, or statutory.

DEEP Publishing disclaims all warranties, including but not limited to warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, title, non-infringement, accuracy, reliability, availability, security, and uninterrupted or error-free operation.

DEEP Publishing does not warrant that:

  • The Site will be uninterrupted, secure, or error-free
  • Defects will be corrected
  • The Site or servers are free of viruses or harmful components
  • Product descriptions, images, availability, prices, release dates, or shipping timelines will always be accurate or current
  • User Submissions or third-party content will be accurate, reliable, or appropriate
  • The Site will meet your expectations or requirements

Some jurisdictions do not allow limitations on implied warranties, so some of these limitations may not apply to you.

26. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, DEEP Publishing and its owners, officers, directors, employees, contractors, authors, licensors, vendors, service providers, affiliates, successors, and agents will not be liable for any indirect, incidental, consequential, special, exemplary, punitive, or similar damages arising from or related to your use of, or inability to use, the Site, Services, products, content, or these Terms.

This includes, without limitation, damages arising from:

  • Errors, inaccuracies, or omissions
  • Interrupted access
  • Delays
  • Lost data
  • Unauthorized access
  • Viruses or harmful code
  • Product availability
  • Shipping delays
  • Third-party platforms
  • User Submissions
  • Reliance on Site content
  • Lost profits
  • Lost business opportunities
  • Reputational harm
  • Emotional distress
  • Loss of goodwill

To the fullest extent permitted by law, DEEP Publishing’s total liability for any claim arising from or related to the Site, Services, products, content, or these Terms will not exceed the amount you paid to DEEP Publishing for the product or service giving rise to the claim, or one hundred dollars ($100), whichever is greater.

Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion or limitation of certain damages, so some limitations may not apply to you.

27. Indemnification

You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless DEEP Publishing, its owners, officers, directors, employees, contractors, authors, licensors, vendors, service providers, affiliates, successors, and agents from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, costs, and expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, arising out of or related to:

  • Your use of the Site or Services
  • Your violation of these Terms
  • Your User Submissions
  • Your violation of any law or third-party right
  • Your infringement of intellectual property, privacy, publicity, or other rights
  • Your misuse of DEEP Publishing content, products, brand materials, or services
  • Any activity under your account
  • Any false, inaccurate, misleading, or incomplete information you provide

DEEP Publishing reserves the right to assume the exclusive defense and control of any matter subject to indemnification, and you agree to cooperate with our defense of such claims.

28. Release

If you have a dispute with another user, customer, participant, reviewer, influencer, program applicant, third-party platform, carrier, vendor, or other third party, you release DEEP Publishing and its owners, officers, directors, employees, contractors, authors, licensors, vendors, service providers, affiliates, successors, and agents from claims, demands, damages, losses, and liabilities arising out of or related to that dispute.

29. Termination

DEEP Publishing may suspend, restrict, or terminate your access to the Site, Services, account, programs, or purchases where permitted by law, with or without notice, if we believe you have violated these Terms, engaged in fraud or abuse, created risk or harm, interfered with the Site, violated intellectual property rights, misused promotional programs, or acted in a way that may harm DEEP Publishing, our authors, customers, readers, partners, or business operations.

Upon termination, your right to use the Site and Services will immediately stop.

Sections that by their nature should survive termination will survive, including intellectual property, user submissions, disclaimers, limitation of liability, indemnification, governing law, dispute resolution, and any payment obligations.

30. Force Majeure

DEEP Publishing will not be responsible for delays, failures, or damages caused by events beyond our reasonable control, including but not limited to:

  • Acts of God
  • Weather events
  • Natural disasters
  • Fire
  • Flood
  • Power outages
  • War
  • Terrorism
  • Civil unrest
  • Labor disputes
  • Strikes
  • Supply chain disruptions
  • Printer delays
  • Manufacturing delays
  • Author signing delays
  • Fulfillment delays
  • Carrier delays
  • Customs delays
  • Government actions
  • Pandemics or public health emergencies
  • Internet, hosting, or platform failures
  • Payment processor failures
  • Shopify or third-party service interruptions
  • Shortages of materials, transportation, labor, fuel, or energy

31. Governing Law

These Terms of Use and any dispute arising from or related to the Site, Services, products, or these Terms will be governed by the laws of the State of Texas, without regard to conflict-of-law principles.

You agree that any dispute arising out of or relating to these Terms, the Site, Services, or products will be brought in the state or federal courts located in Texas, unless otherwise required by law.

If any provision of these Terms is found to be unlawful, void, or unenforceable, that provision will be enforced to the fullest extent permitted by law, and the remaining provisions will remain in full force and effect.

DEEP Publishing’s failure to enforce any provision of these Terms does not waive our right to enforce that provision or any other provision later.

32. No Waiver

Any failure by DEEP Publishing to enforce any right or provision of these Terms will not constitute a waiver of that right or provision.

Any waiver must be in writing and signed by DEEP Publishing.

33. Severability

If any part of these Terms is determined to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, the remaining portions will continue in full force and effect.

The invalid or unenforceable provision will be interpreted or modified to the fullest extent permitted by law to reflect the original intent of the provision.

34. Entire Agreement

These Terms of Use, together with the Privacy Policy, Return, Refund, and Exchange Policy, Shipping Policy, product terms, program rules, checkout terms, and any other policies referenced on the Site, constitute the entire agreement between you and DEEP Publishing regarding your use of the Site and Services.

These Terms supersede any prior or contemporaneous communications, understandings, or agreements regarding the Site or Services, except for any separate written agreement signed by DEEP Publishing.

35. Contact Us

For questions about these Terms of Use, contact:

DEEP Publishing
Email: contact@deep-publishing.com

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PART II: Promotion Rules

Please read these Official Promotions, Challenges, Rewards, and Giveaway Rules carefully before entering or participating in any promotion offered by DEEP Publishing.

These Official Rules apply to promotions offered by DEEP Publishing, a division of DEEP Films Entertainment, LLC (“DEEP,” “Sponsor,” “we,” “us,” or “our”), including giveaways, sweepstakes, contests, challenges, reader missions, referral competitions, The Selection, The Common Elite Test, prize promotions, points programs, gifts, rewards, PR-package offers, ARC opportunities, and similar promotional experiences that link to or reference these Official Rules (each, a “Promotion”).

By entering or participating in a Promotion, you agree to these Official Rules, the specific announcement or campaign notice for that Promotion, our Terms of Service, and our Privacy Policy.

The announcement for each Promotion will provide the details that apply specifically to that Promotion, including its opening and closing dates, eligibility requirements, method of entry or participation, goal, prize or reward, winner-selection method, and any participation limits. Those Promotion-specific details are incorporated into these Official Rules.

If a Promotion announcement conflicts with these Official Rules, the Promotion announcement controls only with respect to the specific dates, prize, goal, participation method, judging method, or other campaign-specific term clearly stated in that announcement. These Official Rules control all other matters. No term will be interpreted or changed to unfairly favor a particular participant.

1. SPONSOR

Promotions are sponsored by DEEP Publishing, a division of DEEP Films Entertainment, LLC.

Questions concerning a Promotion may be sent to contact@deep-publishing.com with the name of the Promotion in the subject line.

2. ELIGIBILITY

Unless a specific Promotion announcement states otherwise, Promotions are open only to legal residents of the fifty United States and the District of Columbia who are eighteen years of age or older at the time of entry or participation.

Promotions are void outside the eligible territory and wherever prohibited, taxed, licensed, registered, bonded, or otherwise restricted by law unless Sponsor has satisfied the applicable requirements.

Employees, officers, directors, and contractors who are directly involved in administering or judging a Promotion, along with members of their immediate families and households, are not eligible to win that Promotion.

Sponsor may require reasonable proof of age, identity, residence, account ownership, eligibility, compliance, or tax information before confirming a participant or awarding a prize. A participant is not a confirmed winner until Sponsor completes verification.

3. PROMOTION PERIOD

Each Promotion begins and ends on the dates and times stated in its announcement. Unless otherwise stated, all times are stated in Central Time (“CT”). Sponsor’s designated website, form, order system, platform, or electronic records will serve as the official timekeeping system.

Late, incomplete, misdirected, corrupted, unverified, or improperly submitted entries or activities will not qualify. Proof that a message, form, post, or email was sent does not establish that Sponsor received or verified it.

Activity completed before a Promotion begins will not count unless the Promotion announcement clearly states that specified earlier activity is eligible. 

4. TYPES OF PROMOTIONS

DEEP may offer different types of Promotions. The announcement will identify how a prize or reward is earned.

Skill and Performance Challenges

In a skill or performance challenge, prizes are awarded according to verified performance, a published points system, objective results, or disclosed judging criteria. No random drawing is used to determine the winner unless a separate random sweepstakes is expressly identified.

Sweepstakes and Random Giveaways

In a sweepstakes or random giveaway, winners are selected by chance from eligible entries. No purchase is necessary to enter or win, and a purchase will not increase the odds of winning. The announcement will provide a free method of entry, the entry limit, the drawing date, the prize, and any other applicable terms.

Gifts and PR-Package Offers

A gift-with-purchase or complimentary PR-package upgrade is a sales offer rather than a random giveaway when every qualifying order receives the advertised item according to the disclosed eligibility and inventory terms. No random winner is selected unless the announcement expressly describes a sweepstakes.

Points, Fictional Resources, and Reader Experiences

DEEP may award points, Outfits, Zones, status, access, inventory, advantages, or other fictional or promotional resources as part of a reader experience. Unless expressly identified as a tangible prize, these items have no cash value, are not property, cannot be purchased, sold, assigned, transferred, inherited, or redeemed for cash or merchandise, and do not create additional odds in a random drawing.

5. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY WHEN STATED

When a Promotion is described as requiring no purchase, no purchase or payment is necessary for the participant to enter or win.

Some skill-based referral or recruitment challenges may count a qualifying purchase made independently by a recruited person. If so, the Promotion announcement will state this requirement. A statement that the competing participant does not have to make a purchase does not mean that a recruited person’s purchase will qualify unless the announcement expressly says so.

6. ENTRIES, ACCOUNTS, AND PARTICIPATION LIMITS

Participants must follow the exact entry or participation instructions in the Promotion announcement.

Unless otherwise stated, each participant may participate only through one identity and one account. Entries or activities generated by bots, scripts, automated systems, fictitious identities, stolen identities, mass-created accounts, account sharing, purchased engagement, fake followers, or other manipulation are prohibited.

Sponsor may limit the number of entries, referrals, posts, points, claims, gifts, or prizes available to a person, household, email address, telephone number, social-media account, payment method, shipping address, or order, as stated in the applicable announcement.

7. THE SELECTION AND RECRUITMENT CHALLENGES

When The Selection or another DEEP challenge requires participants to recruit new Commoners, the Promotion announcement will state the collective goal, the definition of a Qualifying Recruit, the verification method, the prize amount, the challenge period, and the method for determining the winner.

Unless otherwise stated, a Qualifying Recruit must be a real, unique person who is at least eighteen years old, satisfies the announced recruitment requirement during the Promotion Period, and is properly attributed to one eligible participant through Sponsor’s designated form, referral field, link, code, or other system.

A single recruit may count for only one participant. Self-referrals, duplicate identities, fabricated people, participant-funded or reimbursed sham transactions, household recycling, unauthorized use of another person’s information, fraudulent orders, and activity created primarily to manipulate the result will not qualify.

If a purchase is part of the published Qualifying Recruit requirement, canceled, refunded, fraudulent, fictitious, charged-back, self-funded, reimbursed, or unauthorized orders will not count. Sponsor may contact a purported recruit or review relevant order and payment records to verify eligibility and attribution.

If two participants claim the same recruit, Sponsor’s earliest valid recruit-controlled attribution record will determine which participant receives credit. Screenshots, private messages, or participant-created lists do not override Sponsor’s verified records.

The collective cash prize or reward will unlock only if the verified collective goal stated in the Promotion announcement is reached before the deadline. If the goal is not reached, a conditional prize or reward will not be awarded unless Sponsor announces a lawful alternative that does not disadvantage participants.

When the announcement states that the highest-performing participant wins, the eligible participant with the greatest number of verified Qualifying Recruits will receive the unlocked prize. No random drawing will determine that winner.

If eligible participants are tied, the participant who first reached the tied final number of verified Qualifying Recruits will rank higher. If a tie remains because the relevant records are identical or unavailable, Sponsor may use a preannounced, equally administered skill-based tie-breaker. 

Previously recruited Commoners count only when the Promotion announcement expressly states that they count and identifies the applicable period and verification method.

8. THE COMMON ELITE TEST AND POINTS

When The Common Elite Test or another DEEP Promotion uses points to determine rank, verified points determine participant ranking. More points mean a higher ranking; points do not represent random chances or lottery entries unless a separate sweepstakes clearly says otherwise.

The Promotion announcement or official points page will state the available activities, point values, limits, verification requirements, deadline, prizes and number of winners.

Points will not be awarded or removed in a manner intended to favor a particular participant. Sponsor may correct documented clerical, technical, attribution, fraud, or scoring errors and will apply the same correction method to similarly situated participants.

Where a prize is awarded for the “most impressive,” “most creative,” or similar submission, Sponsor will evaluate eligible submissions according to the criteria identified in the announcement, which may include originality, quality, creativity, relevance, effort, storytelling, and compliance with the prompt. 

9. PR PACKAGES, ARCS, AND COMPLIMENTARY UPGRADES

Eligibility for a PR package, ARC, complimentary upgrade, promotional copy, gift, or similar benefit is governed by the specific offer announcement.

For direct DEEP Publishing offers, an eligible order receives the advertised complimentary upgrade only if it is placed during the offer period, satisfies the stated product and customer requirements, and is confirmed by Sponsor before the allocated supply is exhausted.

“Guaranteed while supplies last” means that once Sponsor confirms the complimentary upgrade for an eligible order while inventory remains, Sponsor will reserve an upgrade for that order, subject to cancellation, refund, chargeback, fraud, an invalid or undeliverable address, legal restrictions, or a disclosed substitution of comparable or greater value.

For Amazon or participating independent bookstore offers, the announcement will state whether packages are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis or through a random giveaway. If recipients are selected randomly, a free method of entry will be provided and proof of purchase will not be the only way to enter.

Images may be illustrative. Package contents, shipping dates, claim deadlines, eligible formats, participating retailers, quantity limits, and permitted substitutions will be described in the applicable announcement. A complimentary product does not require a positive review.

ARCs, review copies, PR packages, promotional products, and giveaway items are not for resale unless Sponsor expressly authorizes resale in writing.

10. WINNER AND RECIPIENT DETERMINATION

The method used to determine winners or recipients will be stated before the applicable Promotion closes.

Skill-challenge winners will be determined by verified results, points, rank, or published judging criteria. Sweepstakes winners will be selected through a random process from eligible entries. First-come promotional items will be allocated according to Sponsor’s verified receipt or confirmation records.

Odds of winning a sweepstakes depend on the number of eligible entries received. Skill-contest results do not depend on random odds.

Sponsor’s decisions are final to the extent permitted by law, but nothing in these Rules waives non-waivable consumer rights.

11. PRIZES, REWARDS, AND TAXES

The applicable announcement will state the number and description of prizes or rewards, any restrictions, and the approximate retail value when applicable.

Prizes are nontransferable and may not be assigned, sold, or redeemed for cash unless Sponsor expressly permits it. If an advertised prize becomes genuinely unavailable, Sponsor may substitute a prize of equal or greater approximate retail value.

Winners are responsible for all federal, state, and local taxes arising from a prize. Sponsor may require a completed Form W-9 or other legally required documentation and may issue applicable tax forms.

Sponsor will never require a winner to pay an undisclosed fee, provide a bank password, or send cryptocurrency to receive a legitimate prize.

12. WINNER NOTIFICATION AND PRIZE DELIVERY

Potential winners will be contacted through the email address, telephone number, social-media account, or other contact method associated with their participation.

Unless Sponsor provides another deadline, a potential winner must respond within five business days after Sponsor sends the notification. Sponsor may require proof of eligibility, a declaration or affidavit, tax documentation, and a lawful liability or publicity release.

If a potential winner cannot be contacted, fails to respond, is ineligible, refuses required verification, violates these Rules, or has a notification or prize returned as undeliverable, the prize may be forfeited. Sponsor may select an alternate using the same method originally used to determine the winner.

Sponsor will use reasonable efforts to deliver prizes within the period stated in the Promotion announcement. Delivery timing may be affected by manufacturing, fulfillment, carrier, customs, address, or other circumstances beyond Sponsor’s reasonable control.

13. HONEST REVIEWS, POSTS, AND ENDORSEMENT DISCLOSURES

No DEEP incentive, point award, gift, prize, ARC, PR package, or promotional opportunity is conditioned on a positive review, positive rating, particular sentiment or scripted praise.

Participants must express their honest opinions and actual experiences. A participant should not claim to have read, used, received, or experienced a book or product when that is not true.

Anyone who receives points, prizes, cash, gifts, free products, discounts, status, special access, or another benefit in connection with a public post must clearly disclose that relationship.

An appropriate disclosure may include: “I may earn points or prizes from DEEP Publishing for this post,” “Gifted by DEEP Publishing,” or another clear statement accurately describing the relationship.

The disclosure must appear near the beginning of a written post or verbally in a video when appropriate. A disclosure hidden in a profile, placed after “more,” buried among hashtags, or available only through a link may be insufficient.

Participants must also comply with the rules of the platform on which content is posted.

14. USER-GENERATED CONTENT AND PERMISSION TO USE POSTS

Participants retain ownership of their original content.

By directly submitting content to a Promotion, sending content to Sponsor for Promotion verification, tagging DEEP Publishing or Rebecca Ihim in connection with a Promotion, or using a Promotion-designated hashtag as a method of participation, the participant grants Sponsor and its designees a nonexclusive, worldwide, royalty-free, fully paid, transferable, and sublicensable license to reproduce, repost, publish, display, distribute, crop, edit, caption, format, adapt, translate, and create promotional derivatives from that submitted content in any media for Promotion administration, advertising, publicity, archival, website, newsletter, retail, and social-media purposes, without additional payment, notice, approval, or attribution, except where prohibited by law.

Sponsor will not knowingly use this license to materially misrepresent a participant’s expressed opinion or falsely imply an endorsement.

Participants represent that they own or have permission to use everything contained in a submission; that the submission is truthful and lawful; that it does not infringe copyright, trademark, privacy, publicity, contract, or other rights; and that they have permission from every identifiable person shown, named, quoted, or recorded. If a minor appears in submitted content, the participant must have permission from the minor’s parent or legal guardian.

Sponsor may reject or remove content that is unlawful, infringing, defamatory, fraudulent, hateful, threatening, harassing, obscene, dangerous, misleading, or otherwise in violation of these Rules.

15. CHARACTER-NAMING AND CREATIVE PRIZES

If a prize offers a winner the opportunity to inspire or name a fictional character, the prize is the opportunity for Sponsor and the author to use a mutually approved fictional name in a future installment, subject to editorial, legal, publisher, retailer, and production requirements.

Unless the Promotion announcement expressly states otherwise, such a prize does not guarantee use of the winner’s likeness, biography, personality, life story, preferred characterization, favorable portrayal, speaking role, plot outcome, specific book number, publication date, continued publication of the series, royalties, copyright ownership, manuscript approval, employment, or any ownership interest in the character or work.

Sponsor and the author retain final creative and editorial control. The winner may be required to sign a separate name and publicity permission. If legal clearance or future publication becomes impossible, Sponsor may provide a disclosed substitute prize of equal or greater approximate retail value.

16. PROHIBITED CONDUCT AND DISQUALIFICATION

Sponsor may disqualify a participant or entry for ineligibility; fraud; fabricated information; duplicate identities; bots or automated activity; purchased or fake engagement; infringement; harassment; threats; bribery; collusion; manipulation; interference with administration; unauthorized access; chargeback or refund abuse; failure to make required disclosures; violation of platform rules; or violation of these Official Rules.

Sponsor may investigate suspected misconduct and request reasonably necessary proof. Sponsor will document material disqualifications and apply the same standards to similarly situated participants.

Lawful criticism, an honest negative opinion, or Sponsor’s personal dislike of a participant will not, by itself, be a basis for disqualification.

17. TECHNICAL FAILURES, SUSPENSION, MODIFICATION, OR CANCELLATION

Sponsor is not responsible for lost, delayed, corrupted, misdirected, inaccessible, or incomplete transmissions caused by systems outside Sponsor’s reasonable control.

If fraud, illegality, security problems, platform failures, technical errors, disasters, government action, or another circumstance beyond Sponsor’s reasonable control materially impairs a Promotion, Sponsor may suspend, extend, modify, or cancel the Promotion to preserve fairness and legality.

When legally and practically possible, Sponsor will award available prizes based on eligible activity received before the impairment using the originally announced method.

18. PRIVACY

Information submitted in connection with a Promotion will be handled according to the DEEP Publishing's Privacy Policy.

Sponsor may collect and use information reasonably necessary to administer a Promotion, including names, contact information, mailing addresses, social-media handles, entry content, referral or order-verification information, eligibility information, scores, communications, and tax or fulfillment information.

Sponsor may share necessary information with administrators, judges, fulfillment vendors, carriers, service providers, professional advisers, platforms, or governmental authorities as permitted or required by law.

19. PUBLICITY

Except where prohibited by law, a verified winner may consent to Sponsor’s use of the winner’s name, city and state, social-media handle, likeness, voice, statements, submitted content, and prize information for Promotion publicity without additional compensation.

Where publicity consent cannot lawfully be required, it will be optional and will not affect prize eligibility. 

20. RELEASE AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

To the fullest extent permitted by law, participants release and hold harmless Sponsor, its parent company, affiliates, authors, administrators, agencies, vendors, platforms, officers, directors, employees, contractors, representatives, successors, and agents from claims, losses, injuries, liabilities, costs, or damages arising from participation in a Promotion or the acceptance, possession, use, or misuse of a prize.

This release does not apply to claims that cannot lawfully be waived or to liability resulting from gross negligence, willful misconduct, or a violation of law. Nothing in these Official Rules limits non-waivable statutory or consumer rights.

21. SOCIAL-MEDIA AND THIRD-PARTY PLATFORMS

Unless expressly stated otherwise, Promotions are not sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Telegram, Goodreads, YouTube, Amazon, Shopify, Wix, Google, or any other third-party platform.

22. GOVERNING LAW AND DISPUTES

To the extent permitted by law, these Official Rules and disputes arising from a Promotion are governed by the laws of the State of Texas, without regard to conflict-of-law principles.

Before filing a legal action, the parties agree to send written notice of the dispute and attempt in good faith to resolve it informally for ninety days.

If any provision is found invalid or unenforceable, it will be limited to the extent necessary to make it enforceable, and the remaining provisions will remain effective.

23. WINNERS LIST

Where required by law or offered in a Promotion announcement, a winners list may be requested within ninety days after the Promotion closes by emailing contact@deep-publishing.com with the Promotion name and “Winners List” in the subject line.

Sponsor may provide a winner’s first name, last initial, city, or state unless applicable law requires additional information.

24. CHANGES TO THESE OFFICIAL RULES

Sponsor may update these Official Rules prospectively. 

The version in effect when a Promotion begins will govern that Promotion unless a lawful change is reasonably necessary to correct an error, comply with law, address fraud or technical failure, or preserve fair administration. No update will be used to manipulate a result or deny a prize already earned under the published terms.

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