Self Publishing Service Agreement

THE AUTHOR OF THE BOOK HEREBY UNDERSTANDS AND AGREES TO THE FOLLOWING TERMS:

This Self-Publishing Service Agreement (“Agreement”) is entered into by and between the Author and Taneesha and Prachi NextGen Publication (hereinafter referred to as the “Publisher”), operating through its imprints Samant Publishing, Taneesha Publishing and Lumora Scholars Publishing.

EFFECTIVE DATE AND AUTHOR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

This Agreement shall become effective from the date on which the Publisher commences the book publishing process or publishing work for the Author’s book. The commencement of the publishing process shall ordinarily be linked to the date on which the Author’s payment for the selected Self-Publishing Plan is received and cleared by the Publisher.

The Author acknowledges that this Agreement shall become effective upon payment of the applicable Self-Publishing Plan or other publishing charges, and that the Author has carefully read, understood and accepted all terms and conditions contained in this Agreement.

The Author further confirms that he/she has reviewed the Self-Publishing Service Agreement available on the Publisher’s official website before commencing the publishing process. In case of any doubt, it shall be the Author’s sole responsibility to obtain clarification or complete information from the Publisher before proceeding. The Publisher shall not be responsible for any matter merely because the Author did not read, understand or enquire about any term or condition that was available in this Agreement or otherwise communicated by the Publisher.

The Author may submit the manuscript and related materials to the Publisher through the official communication channels designated by the Publisher, including official email or WhatsApp communication where applicable.

Taneesha and Prachi NextGen Publication operates as a for-profit self-publishing service provider. Accordingly, all services offered by the Publisher are chargeable unless specifically stated otherwise in writing or included in the Author’s selected publishing plan. The Publisher is under no obligation whatsoever to offer any service free of cost.

The Author wishes to publish his/her work (“Work”) through one of the Publisher’s imprints and has accordingly approached the Publisher with a request to publish and distribute the Work. Upon this request and the representations made by the Author, the Publisher has agreed to publish and distribute the Work, either directly or in collaboration with third parties, in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement. If at any time the Publisher assigns or licenses its rights to a third party, such third party shall also be bound by the terms of this Agreement.

The Author voluntarily submits the manuscript to the Publisher for self-publishing services, including pre-press work, printing and distribution.

The Publisher shall endeavour to print and bring the submitted manuscript into circulation generally within 30 to 90 Working Days from the date on which the Author’s payment is cleared, provided that there are no outstanding dues, pending approvals, delays attributable to the Author, or circumstances beyond the reasonable control of the Publisher. The above period does not include the time required for delivery of books to the Author by post or courier.

In exceptional circumstances, publication may be delayed due to matters beyond the Publisher’s reasonable control, including, without limitation, unavailability of paper, flood, acute power crisis, festival holidays, strike by press workers, disruption of printing facilities, logistics issues, governmental restrictions or other known or unknown circumstances. In such circumstances, the Publisher shall make reasonable efforts to keep the Author informed and to complete the publishing process as soon as reasonably practicable.

Publication may also be delayed where the Author delays approval of the cover or interior PDF proof, repeatedly requests revisions to the cover or interior PDF, provides incomplete or unsuitable materials, or submits a manuscript without necessary editing and proofreading. Any delay attributable to the Author shall not be treated as a delay or breach by the Publisher. The Publisher shall not be liable for any delay, additional cost or claim arising due to the Author’s delay in approving proofs, repeated revision requests, incomplete materials or submission of an unedited manuscript. All such delays and consequences shall be solely borne by the Author.

The Author represents that the manuscript and all materials supplied for publication are lawful and do not infringe the rights of any third party.

IMPRINT RELATIONSHIP STATEMENT

The Publisher, Taneesha and Prachi NextGen Publication, operates its publishing services through the Imprints Samant Publishing, Taneesha Publishing and Lumora Scholars Publishing.

Each Imprint is a trade name/brand under which the Publisher may provide publishing, printing, distribution and related services. All services, rights, responsibilities, invoices, receipts, royalty payments and contractual obligations under this Agreement are administered by Taneesha and Prachi NextGen Publication, irrespective of the Imprint through which the Author’s book is published.

1. DEFINITIONS

1.1 “Affiliates” means, in relation to any Party, any Person that directly or indirectly Controls, is Controlled by, or is under common Control with such Party. For the purposes of indemnification and protection of the Publisher, Affiliates shall also include the Publisher’s owners, shareholders, officers, directors, employees, parent entities, subsidiaries, affiliated companies, licensees, distributors, advertisers, Internet service providers, attorneys, accountants and other persons or entities to whom the Publisher extends rights, licences or warranties in connection with the production, dissemination, transmission, promotion, publication or distribution of the Work.

1.2 “Agreement” means this Self-Publishing Service Agreement together with any schedules, appendices, annexures or exhibits attached to it, and includes any amendments, modifications, additions or deletions made in accordance with this Agreement.

1.3 “Applicable Law” means any applicable statute, law, regulation, ordinance, rule, judgment, order, decree, clearance, approval, directive, guideline, policy, governmental requirement or other legal requirement imposed by any Government Authority having jurisdiction over this Agreement, the Publisher, the Author, the Work or any matter covered by this Agreement.

1.4 “Authorized Intermediaries” means third-party intermediaries authorized by the Publisher to publish, distribute and/or sell Printed Books through Internet stores, online retail platforms, distributors or websites.

1.5 “Author” means the author as recognized under applicable provisions of the Indian Copyright Act, 1957, as amended or updated from time to time.

1.6 “Working Day” means a day other than Saturday or Sunday on which commercial banks are open for business in Haridwar, Uttarakhand, India.

1.7 “Confidential Information” includes business, marketing, technical, scientific or other information, sales reports and user information relating to end-users disclosed by either Party, whether in writing, orally or through any other mode, irrespective of whether such information has been marked or expressly communicated as confidential, where the circumstances indicate that such information is confidential or would reasonably be understood to be confidential. Confidential Information shall not include information that is required to be disclosed pursuant to Applicable Law, that is publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Agreement, disclosed to professional advisers to the extent reasonably necessary, that is general or non-specific in nature, or that was independently developed or obtained by a Party without reference to the Confidential Information of the other Party.

1.8 “Customer” means any Person who purchases a Printed Book directly from the Publisher or through Authorized Intermediaries or Other Intermediaries.

1.9 “Distribute” or “Distribution” includes selling, exchanging, distributing, transferring, advertising, storing, managing, hosting, displaying, making available, marketing or otherwise facilitating access to or distribution of Printed Books in any manner.

1.10 “Effective Date” means the date on which this Agreement becomes effective in accordance with the Effective Date provisions stated at the beginning of this Agreement, ordinarily upon commencement of the publishing process following clearance of the applicable payment.

1.11 “Intellectual Property Rights” or “IPR” means all rights associated with works of authorship, including copyrights, moral rights, neighbouring rights and derivative works, whether arising by operation of law, treaty, contract, licence or otherwise, together with registrations, applications, renewals, extensions, continuations, divisions and reissues thereof, whether registered or unregistered.

1.12 “Minimum Selling Price” or “MSP” means the minimum selling price determined by the Publisher for the sale and distribution of a Printed Book, taking into account applicable production, printing, packing, distribution and other applicable costs, including applicable taxes or levies, returns, payment-processing charges, marketplace charges, shipping and handling charges and other applicable distribution-related costs. The MSP is the minimum price or cost level required for the applicable distribution arrangement and may be revised in accordance with this Agreement.

1.13 “Maximum Retail Price” or “MRP” means the maximum retail price printed or otherwise designated for a Printed Book, inclusive of applicable taxes or levies, as applicable, and as finalized in accordance with the pricing mechanism applicable to the book.

1.14 “Other Intermediaries” means intermediaries other than Authorized Intermediaries appointed or used by the Publisher for distribution of Printed Books, including book retailers, wholesalers, libraries, book clubs and other entities engaged in selling or circulating Printed Books.

1.15 “Printed Book” means the Work as published and Distributed by the Publisher, whether directly or through its authorized printing, distribution, retail or other partners.

1.16 “Tax” means any applicable service tax, VAT, GST or other statutory tax, levy, duty or charge applicable from time to time.

1.17 “Term” means the duration of this Agreement as provided under Section 19.

1.18 “Territory” means the territory of the Republic of India, unless global or international distribution is specifically included in the selected publishing plan or otherwise agreed.

1.19 “Works” or “Content” means any literary work, writing, report, abridgement, version or other material supplied by the Author for publication and in respect of which the Author has the requisite rights to use, license, publish, exploit, reproduce, distribute and otherwise provide the same to the Publisher for publication and distribution, including the material identified in the applicable metadata and/or ISBN.

1.20 “Imprint” means a trade name or brand under which a book is published and operated by a parent publishing house. For the purposes of this Agreement, the Publisher’s Imprints are Samant Publishing, Taneesha Publishing and Lumora Scholars Publishing.

1.21 “Selected Imprint” or “Applicable Imprint” means the Imprint through which the Author’s book is actually published under the publishing plan selected by the Author.

2. APPOINTMENT AND GRANT OF RIGHTS

2.1 The Author hereby appoints Taneesha and Prachi NextGen Publication, through the applicable Selected Imprint, to publish, print and distribute the Work in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

2.2 The Author grants to the Publisher a non-exclusive licence during the Term to exercise such rights as are reasonably necessary to publish, print, reproduce, distribute and make the Work available for sale under this Agreement.

2.2.1 During the Term and subject to the Author’s instructions and the applicable publishing plan, the Publisher shall undertake to publish, print and distribute the Work in exchange for the consideration payable by the Author under this Agreement and the selected publishing plan.

2.2.2 The Author grants the Publisher the right to publish details, information, announcements or posts relating to the Author’s book through the Publisher’s official social media pages/accounts, official blog, website or other official communication channels.

2.3 The Publisher may perform its publishing, printing, distribution or related obligations directly or through third-party service providers, printers, distributors, retailers, platforms, licensees or other business partners. If the Publisher assigns or licenses any applicable rights or services to a third party, such third party may exercise the relevant rights subject to the terms applicable to such third-party arrangement.

3. AUTHOR WARRANTIES

The Author represents and warrants to the Publisher as follows:

3.1 The Work, including the manuscript, pictures, images, drawings and other materials submitted to the Publisher, is the Author’s own work or is otherwise lawfully owned, licensed or authorized for publication by the Author. The Author has full power, authority and legal right to enter into this Agreement and to grant the rights contemplated herein.

3.2 Entering into and performing this Agreement does not conflict with any other contract, understanding, obligation or arrangement between the Author and any other person or entity.

3.3 The Work is not in the public domain and is original except for those portions for which the Author has obtained legally effective written licences, permissions or other lawful rights.

3.4 The Work, as submitted and published by the Publisher, does not and will not infringe or violate any personal or proprietary rights of any person or entity, including copyrights, trademark rights, trade-secret rights, contractual rights, privacy rights or publicity rights.

3.5 The Work and all rights in the Work are free from liens, claims, interests or rights of any third party.

3.6 The Author shall remain solely responsible for the legal status, originality and contents of the Work. If any representation or claim made by the Author is found to be incorrect, the Author shall be solely responsible for dealing with the resulting claim, complaint, dispute or legal proceeding. The Publisher shall not be legally responsible for the Author’s Work or for claims arising from the Author’s content, materials or representations.

3.7 The Work is not defamatory, obscene or otherwise unlawful and does not contain recipes, formulas, instructions, recommendations or other information that is intended or reasonably likely to cause injury to a reader, user, third person or organization.

3.8 The Author confirms that all pictures, images, illustrations, abstracts, clip art and other visual materials supplied by the Author for the cover or interior of the book are provided by the Author and that the Author has the necessary rights and permissions to use them. If any such material infringes the copyright or other rights of any person or institution, the Author shall be solely responsible for such infringement, and the Publisher shall have no responsibility for such matter, whether arising before or after publication.

3.9 Where the Author commissions or requests special cover artwork, character illustrations, story illustrations, event illustrations, drawings or similar creative material from the Publisher, its designers or other professionals, such specially commissioned material shall remain subject to the ownership and payment terms agreed for that service. Where the applicable creative work is specifically created for the Author on demand and the applicable charge has been paid by the Author, the copyright in such commissioned cover art or picture shall remain with the Author, unless otherwise expressly agreed in writing.

3.10 All information and materials submitted to the Publisher are accurate to the best of the Author’s knowledge.

3.11 The Author confirms that the book does not fall within the following categories, which the Publisher does not ordinarily print or distribute:

3.11.1 Erotic, adult, pornographic or obscene books.

3.11.2 Books propagating the ideology of terrorist organizations or containing unlawful content, content contrary to Applicable Law, or content that the Publisher reasonably considers contrary to the interests of the nation.

3.11.3 Books containing personal attacks, allegations or hatred against real persons, organizations or communities, or books containing legal case histories or solicitations concerning past, present or planned future litigation involving real persons, organizations or communities.

3.11.4 Books that postulate, propagate or promote superstition or superstitious thinking, including astrology, palmistry, feng shui, black magic, horoscopes, numerology, Vastu Shastra and other forms of magic remedies.

3.12 The Content of the Book has been supplied and approved by the Author and shall be published, printed and Distributed substantially “as is”, subject to the agreed publishing services. The Publisher does not endorse the Content or warrant the accuracy, reliability or completeness of the Author’s Content, views, statements, observations or information. The Author shall fully indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Publisher and its Affiliates against any and all claims, demands, losses, damages, costs and expenses (including reasonable legal fees) relating to the Content of the Work or infringement of Intellectual Property Rights in or relating to the Content.

Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement, the Publisher shall not be liable whatsoever for any errors, omissions, claims, losses, damages of any kind (including indirect, incidental, special, consequential or punitive damages), costs or expenses arising out of or relating to the Content of the Work, the Author’s materials, or the publication and distribution of the Work, whether arising from negligence or otherwise. The Author shall remain solely and exclusively responsible for all such matters in the present and in the future.

Each representation and warranty made under this Agreement shall be deemed to continue to be made by reference to the facts and circumstances existing when such representation or warranty is applicable.

3.13 EDITOR/COMPILER AND CO-AUTHORS OF A COMPILATION/ANTHOLOGY

In the case of a compilation or anthology in which an editor or compiler brings together works or contributions from multiple co-authors, the Publisher shall not be responsible or liable to individual co-authors in relation to matters that are the responsibility of the editor or compiler.

Requests for amendments, changes, suggestions or other instructions relating to the compilation or anthology shall be communicated to the Publisher only through the editor or compiler. The Publisher shall not be required to communicate directly with individual co-authors. If a co-author contacts the Publisher directly, the Publisher shall not be obligated to respond to that co-author, and the editor or compiler shall remain responsible for communicating with the co-authors.

Co-authors may communicate suggestions or amendment requests through the editor or compiler. Printed copies shall be delivered to the co-author, editor or compiler only in accordance with instructions received from the editor or compiler and the applicable shipping policy. Where a co-author’s mistake, refusal to accept delivery, incorrect address or similar circumstance results in additional delivery, return or penalty charges, such charges shall be borne by the concerned co-author through the editor/compiler or by the editor/compiler, as applicable. The Publisher shall not be liable for such costs.

Any courier or delivery complaint raised by a co-author shall be communicated through the editor or compiler. The Publisher shall not be responsible for direct handling of such complaints from individual co-authors. Overall responsibility for communication, coordination, delivery-related matters and other responsibilities toward the co-authors shall remain with the editor or compiler.

In the case of a compilation or anthology, royalties payable under the applicable publishing arrangement shall be released only to the bank account of the editor/compiler or the duly designated representative. Sales reports, publication budgets, royalty information and other confidential information relating to the compilation or anthology shall be shared only with the editor/compiler or designated representative.

If there is more than one editor or compiler, the editors/compilers may jointly select one editor or compiler as the representative. The selected representative shall be responsible for the compilation/anthology and for communications with the Publisher on behalf of the editorial/compilation team and co-authors. The Self-Publishing Service Agreement for the compilation/anthology may be executed with the selected representative, and royalty payments may be released to the bank account of that representative. Where there are multiple editors/compilers, the ISBN application for the compilation/anthology may be made in the name of the selected editorial/compiler representative, and the representative’s name may be used for promotional or administrative work relating to the compilation/anthology.

If the editor/compiler fails to fulfil responsibilities toward co-authors, attempts to evade such responsibilities, seeks to unilaterally amend the compilation/anthology, or improperly directs co-authors to the Publisher for matters that are the responsibility of the editor/compiler, the Publisher reserves the right to suspend sale of the compilation/anthology, withhold accrued royalties and/or terminate the Agreement with the editor/compiler without prior notice.

Note: Section 3.13 shall not apply to editors or compilers appointed for in-house compilations/anthologies that are compiled, organized and published by Taneesha and Prachi NextGen Publication. Section 3.13 shall also not apply to co-authors involved in such in-house compilations/anthologies.

4. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE PUBLISHER

The Publisher represents and agrees as follows:

4.1 The Publisher shall make royalty payments payable under this Agreement in accordance with the applicable royalty terms and timelines.

4.2 The Publisher shall provide sales and earned royalty reports in accordance with the reporting provisions of this Agreement.

4.3 The Publisher shall not materially alter, edit, add to or delete material from the manuscript supplied by the Author without the Author’s prior consent. Minor typographical or formatting corrections may be made by the Publisher where reasonably necessary for publication.

4.4 The Publisher shall provide the services and facilities included in the Self-Publishing Plan selected by the Author, subject to the terms, limitations and specifications applicable to that plan.

5. AUTHOR’S RESPONSIBILITY FOR ERROR-FREE PUBLICATION

It is the sole responsibility of the Author to provide an error-free, professionally edited and properly typed manuscript in Unicode or Mangal fonts, as applicable, for the publishing process. The Publisher shall not be responsible or liable for errors contained in the Author’s manuscript or approved materials, whether identified before or after publication. Such errors include, without limitation, grammatical mistakes, language and style errors, incorrect wording, font-size issues, cover or interior layout issues arising from Author-approved material, paragraph-formatting errors, typographical errors, and other content-related or manuscript-related errors.

The Publisher shall proceed with printing and distribution after obtaining the Author’s approval of the final cover and interior proof. The Author acknowledges that, once the book has been published, amendments or corrections to the published edition may not be made under the original publishing process, and the Author shall not claim future correction or revision of the already published edition as part of the original publishing service.

The Author must carefully review and approve the final proof before publication. By giving approval, the Author confirms that the Author has examined the manuscript, cover, interior layout and other applicable publication materials and accepts full responsibility for errors appearing in the final approved version. The Publisher shall not be liable for claims or disputes concerning errors in the Author-approved content, formatting or publication materials.

6. PLANS AND BILLING

All official invoices, receipts, royalty payments and publishing-related financial transactions under this Agreement shall be issued or processed in the name of Taneesha and Prachi NextGen Publication. Publishing services may be marketed and delivered under the Selected Imprint.

All self-publishing plans and add-on services are paid services unless expressly stated otherwise. The Author shall be charged for the selected publishing plan, product or add-on service. Unless otherwise specified in a customized plan, standard self-publishing plans are generally based on book size 5.5 inch × 8.5 inch, full Black & White interior, 60–70 GSM White or Natural-Shade interior paper, and 230–250 GSM cover. If the Author requires a book size larger than 5.5 inch × 8.5 inch or specifications different from the standard plan, additional charges may apply. Where the Author’s requirements differ from the standard publishing plans, the Publisher may provide a customized publishing plan upon request. The Author shall make payment for the selected publishing plan, customized plan and applicable add-on services in 100% advance, unless otherwise agreed in writing.

The Author may obtain additional publishing services not included in the selected plan by paying the applicable additional charges. The Publisher is not required to display an exhaustive list of every add-on service or every minor service detail on its websites. The Author may request details from the Publisher through official communication channels. General details concerning publishing plans, services and facilities may be communicated through the Publisher’s official website, email or WhatsApp communication. The Author acknowledges that it may not be practically possible to publish every minor or individual operational detail on the website. The Author shall therefore make reasonable efforts to review the available information and ask the Publisher for clarification where required before commencing the publishing process.

If a publishing facility has not been expressly included in the selected plan or communicated in writing by the Publisher, the Publisher shall not be obligated to provide that facility without additional payment. Where possible, the Publisher may provide an additional facility upon payment of an applicable additional charge. If the Publisher is unable to provide a requested facility, the Publisher shall have the right to reject the request.

Once the publishing process has commenced, payments shall generally be non-refundable except as expressly provided under the applicable Refund and Cancellation Policy. The Author acknowledges that the Publisher and its professional team devote time and resources to consultancy, design, editing, layout, publishing, printing, distribution and related activities. If the Author postpones or abandons publication after the process has commenced, any refund shall be governed exclusively by the applicable Refund and Cancellation Policy.

All payments must be made only to the official bank account or official payment channel of Taneesha and Prachi NextGen Publication, including NEFT/RTGS, bank draft or direct deposit, as applicable. The Author shall not make payment to an unauthorized mediator or third party. If the Author pays an unauthorized person or incorrect bank account, the Publisher shall not be responsible for the resulting loss.

The Author confirms that he/she has read and understood the publishing facilities included in the selected plan. Any facility not included in the selected plan and not expressly communicated in writing by the Publisher shall not be treated as an included facility. The Author accepts the applicable terms and conditions of the selected publishing plan.

7. ADD-ON SERVICES

The Author acknowledges that the Publisher is a for-profit publishing service provider and may provide additional services for additional charges. Add-on services may include, without limitation, editing, proofreading, typing, image insertion, special interior design, colour conversion, PDF conversion, custom cover design, character design, sketching, illustration, promotional services, copyright registration, international distribution, and other publishing-related services requested by the Author. The Publisher reserves the right to accept or decline any request for an add-on service depending on availability, technical feasibility, resources, content or other circumstances. The Author shall be bound by the Publisher’s decision regarding the availability of any add-on service.

8. SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

The Author shall follow the submission procedures communicated through the Publisher’s official website or official email. The Author shall send the manuscript only to the official email address or communication channel designated by the Publisher. If the Author sends the manuscript to an incorrect email address, unauthorized mediator or other unintended recipient, the Publisher shall not be responsible for any misuse, loss or unauthorized access resulting from the Author’s negligence. The Author shall remain responsible for ensuring that the manuscript is submitted through the correct official channel.

If the Publisher determines that the manuscript is not eligible for publication under the Publisher’s policies, Applicable Law, technical requirements or publishing standards, the Publisher shall have the right to refuse publication. The Publisher’s decision regarding publication eligibility shall be final for the purpose of accepting or refusing the manuscript for publication.

9. COPYRIGHT

The copyright and other Intellectual Property Rights in the Author’s original Work shall remain with the Author. The Author grants the Publisher a non-exclusive, worldwide licence to print, publish and distribute the Work in accordance with this Agreement and the selected publishing plan. The copyright holder of the Book shall remain the Author, or a nominated legal heir or family member designated by the Author, subject to Applicable Law. The Author retains all rights not expressly granted to the Publisher under this Agreement.

The Author retains the right to sell or license movie/film rights relating to the Book to any filmmaker or movie producer without requiring prior permission from the Publisher, as the Publisher’s rights are limited to the publishing, printing and distribution rights granted under this Agreement. The Author shall bear all responsibility for any profits, losses, obligations or disputes arising from any separate transaction relating to movie/film rights. The Author also retains the right to translate the Book into any other language and publish the translated version anywhere in the world without obtaining prior permission from the Publisher.

10. DISTRIBUTION OF BOOKS

After the Author reviews and approves the applicable proofs, the Book may be made available for sale through Amazon, Flipkart and/or applicable global distribution networks, depending upon the publishing plan selected by the Author. Domestic and global distribution services may differ according to the selected plan and may also be purchased separately where offered. Global distribution may generally take approximately three to six months for a Book to become available through relevant international distribution networks. The Publisher shall have the right to print and distribute the Book directly or through authorized third-party printers, distributors, retailers and other business partners.

10.1 Domestic Distribution

Listing of the Book on domestic online marketplaces such as Amazon and Flipkart may ordinarily take approximately 15 to 90 days, although the actual period may be shorter or longer depending on workload, marketplace processing, technical issues and other circumstances. The availability of the Book on Amazon, Flipkart or any other domestic marketplace shall depend upon the publishing plan selected by the Author. Continued availability on any particular platform is not guaranteed and remains subject to the policies and decisions of the respective marketplaces and distribution partners.

The Publisher does not guarantee that the Book will never show as out of stock on Amazon, Flipkart or any other marketplace. A Book may temporarily appear out of stock because of technical problems, marketplace issues, inventory synchronization, low sales performance, distribution-partner decisions or other known or unknown reasons. Where the Author reports such an issue, the Publisher shall make reasonable efforts to restore availability where the matter is within its control.

10.2 Global Distribution

Under Global Distribution, the Author may not receive individual links for every online or offline store because the Book metadata may be distributed by the Publisher’s global distribution partner through metadata feeds to printing partners, libraries, bookstores and retail networks worldwide. The global distribution partner may not provide individual store links to the Publisher. Once the Book metadata is submitted for global distribution, it may take approximately 6 to 8 weeks for the Book to appear on relevant global retail platforms. This timeline may be shorter or longer depending on the retailer, distributor, time of year and other circumstances. During the metadata-distribution period, temporary irregularities may occur, including incorrect information, temporary disappearance of the title, missing purchasing options or missing cover images. Such temporary irregularities may occur during the retailer’s processing period and do not by themselves constitute a failure of the Publisher’s service.

The Publisher submits Book metadata to its global distribution partner, after which the distribution partner broadcasts the metadata through its network. The timing and manner in which metadata is uploaded, displayed, changed or updated by international retailers and e-commerce platforms are outside the Publisher’s control. The Publisher does not control how Amazon Global or other international e-commerce platforms display or update Book information. The Publisher may submit metadata corrections or updates, but the relevant retailer or platform retains control over whether and when such information is updated.

The Author acknowledges that the Publisher and its global distribution partner are not obligated or able to make the Book available on every international, national or local e-commerce website. Each platform may independently determine whether it will list, stock, sell or continue selling the Book according to its own policies, selection criteria, technical systems and business decisions. Accordingly, the Publisher does not guarantee availability of the Book on every e-commerce platform worldwide. The global distribution partner is not responsible for marketing or promoting the Book unless marketing or promotion is expressly included in the applicable agreement or selected service. The Publisher and its global distribution partner shall not be responsible for actions or omissions of third-party platforms, retailers or distributors operating under their own laws, policies and business procedures.

11. AUTHOR’S COPIES

If Author Copies are not included in the selected Self-Publishing Plan, the Publisher shall not be obligated to provide even one free copy to the Author. The Author shall not have a future claim for free copies merely because the Book has been published. Where Author Copies are included in the selected plan, the copies shall ordinarily be dispatched within 15 Working Days of publication by courier or India Post, as applicable under the selected plan. The Author shall not be charged for the shipping of the Author Copies specifically included in the selected plan.

If the Author requests copies in addition to the copies included in the selected plan, additional copies may be supplied at a subsidized cost subject to the applicable terms. For additional copies ordered after publication: subsidized pricing shall generally apply only where the Author orders at least 30 copies; where fewer than 30 copies are ordered, the applicable MRP may be charged; shipping, courier/postage and packaging charges shall be payable by the Author; additional copies shall ordinarily be made available within 15–20 Working Days, excluding delivery time. The Author may calculate applicable subsidized costs using the Publisher’s applicable MRP/price calculator.

12. MINIMUM SELLING PRICE / MRP OF BOOK

The minimum selling price of the Book is determined by taking into account applicable distribution, production, printing and related costs. The Author may use the Publisher’s applicable pricing calculator to calculate the minimum selling price and related earnings. The Author may set the selling price of the Book at a price higher than the applicable minimum selling price, subject to the applicable platform and distribution requirements. If any loss arises because the Author chooses or requests a selling price below the applicable minimum cost or required minimum selling price, such loss shall be borne by the Author. The Author accepts the minimum selling price calculated under the applicable pricing mechanism.

The applicable pricing calculator may cover, among other specifications, 5.5 inch × 8.5 inch, 6 inch × 9 inch, 8 inch × 11 inch, full Black & White interior, 60–70 GSM White or Natural-Shade interior paper, and 230–250 GSM cover paper. The Author agrees that the minimum selling price may change as per current or future market conditions, changes in service charges related to packing and delivery, increase or decrease in production cost, availability of paper, or increase in printing service charges by partner printing presses/companies. In such circumstances the Publisher shall under no circumstances be responsible for any liability arising from any difference between past or present calculations and future calculations. The Author agrees that if the minimum selling price of the Book increases in the future, the Author shall have no objection to the revised minimum selling price, and the Publisher shall always have the right to increase the minimum selling price as per the above circumstances.

The MRP for distribution in India is set in Indian Rupees (INR) and is valid only for sales within India. Books will not be sold outside India at this price. For global sales, the applicable global royalty calculator available on the Publisher’s website shall apply. For global distribution, the MRP is calculated in USD and determined under the Global Connect Program, which may vary depending on the currency or distribution cost of each country. The Author’s royalty is determined according to the MRP set in USD under the Global Connect Program.

13. ROYALTY PAYMENTS

The royalty payable to the Author shall be governed by the specific publishing plan selected under the respective Imprints of Taneesha and Prachi NextGen Publication. Each Imprint may offer distinct publishing plans with their own royalty structures. The applicable royalty terms, including payment percentages and distribution types (domestic or global), shall be communicated to the Author at the time of plan selection and documented accordingly. The Author may refer to the Royalty Calculator available on the Publisher’s website to estimate the net profit per copy based on the selected plan.

Net profit means the amounts that the Publisher actually receives from sales of the Book through distributors or distribution networks, after deduction of book production cost, packing material cost, distribution charges, returns, taxes, credit/debit card facilitation charges, other fixed marketplace charges, shipping and handling charges, and NEFT/RTGS banking charges for royalty payments to the Author. If the books are sold to the Author directly by the Publisher or the Author has received the books at subsidized cost, no royalty shall be payable to the Author in respect of such copies.

The Publisher shall calculate and accrue royalties payable to the Author in accordance with this Agreement. Royalty payments shall be made once the Author’s accumulated payable royalties reach a minimum payout threshold of Rs. 2,000 (Two Thousand Rupees). Royalties accrued below the minimum payout threshold shall be carried forward to subsequent accounting periods and shall be paid once the threshold is met.

Although sales statements for domestic sales shall be provided on a monthly basis through the Author Dashboard, royalty payments for domestic sales shall be processed on a quarterly basis. Royalty payments for global sales shall be processed on a semi-annual basis. Payments shall be made within ninety (90) Working Days following the end of the applicable period. Payment shall be made via electronic bank transfer through NEFT/IMPS in Indian currency (INR).

Royalty payment deadlines for domestic sales: January–March within 90 Working Days after the end of March; April–June within 90 Working Days after the end of June; July–September within 90 Working Days after the end of September; October–December within 90 Working Days after the end of December. Royalty payment deadlines for global sales: January–June within 90 Working Days after the end of June; July–December within 90 Working Days after the end of December.

14. SELLING RIGHT OF AUTHOR

The Author may purchase additional copies from the Publisher at a subsidized cost for personal use or for independent sale. As the cost of printing and publishing is borne by the Author, the Author has full authority and right to sell independently all copies received as free copies or paid copies.

15. SALES ARE NOT GUARANTEED

The Author acknowledges and agrees that Taneesha and Prachi NextGen Publication is a Self-Publishing Service Provider and not a bestseller service provider, bookseller, marketing services provider or promotion services provider. The Publisher does not guarantee that any Author’s book will become a bestseller. As a Self-Publishing Service Provider, the Publisher can only guarantee the self-publishing services included in the selected plan, including publishing services, cover design, interior layout, pre- and post-publication customer support, and Print-on-Demand (POD) services that aim to keep the Book available with inventory management, together with payment of royalty within the stipulated time frame as per this Agreement.

The Publisher does not guarantee the sale of any Author’s book, as the Publisher cannot control the subjective purchasing decisions of consumers or booksellers. The Publisher does not guarantee or promise sales, nor any minimum sales results. The success of the Book is dependent on numerous factors, and the Publisher makes no promises regarding the number of sales or the impact of its services.

Therefore, the Author acknowledges and agrees that if the Book does not sell, the Publisher shall not be held responsible. Online stores such as Flipkart, Amazon and global distribution partners or their network of e-commerce stores do not guarantee sales to the Publisher. The Author shall not make any claim against the Publisher in the present or future on account of lack of sales.

16. STATEMENTS / REPORTS

The Publisher shall provide the Author with monthly statements for domestic sales and semi-annual statements for global sales, including details of net copies sold and net revenue, as well as pending royalty payments, where applicable. Statements shall be delivered to the Author through the Author Dashboard. If the Author’s book is not sold in any applicable period, no sales statement or related communication shall be provided for that period. A sales report or statement shall be provided only if books have been sold in that period (even if a single copy is sold).

The deadline for providing the monthly sales statement for domestic sales shall be between the 15th and 25th day of every month. The deadline for providing the semi-annual sales statement for global sales is as follows: January–June within 60 Working Days after the end of June; July–December within 60 Working Days after the end of December.

The Author must respect the sales reports provided by the Publisher, as such reports are based on data received from distributors and retail sellers on which the Publisher itself relies. If the Author is unable to trust the sales reports shared by the Publisher, the Author may terminate this Agreement in accordance with the applicable termination provisions. Following termination, the Publisher may remove the Author’s Book from partner stores and distribution channels. No refund shall be issued merely because the Author terminates the Agreement after publication, subject to the Refund and Cancellation Policy. Publishing services already provided, including designing, layout, publishing and applicable inventory-management services, shall not become refundable merely because the Author later terminates the Agreement.

The Publisher shall not accept screenshots of orders, bills or online purchase confirmations submitted by the Author, relatives, friends or other persons as independent proof of royalty entitlement. An order may subsequently be cancelled or returned even after an order screenshot has been generated. Royalty shall be calculated only on actual verified sales reported through the applicable marketplace, distributor or retailer. No royalty shall be payable on cancelled orders. For the purposes of royalty calculation, an online order shall be treated as a valid sale only when it has been processed in accordance with the applicable marketplace/distribution system and is reflected as an actual verified sale in the distributor or retailer records. The Publisher and its distributors/retailers shall not disclose buyers’ names, addresses or other personal information to the Author where such disclosure is restricted by privacy policies, law or contractual obligations. Accordingly, royalty shall not be determined on the basis of screenshots or other private order-related information supplied by the Author.

17. STOCK MANAGEMENT

The Self-Publishing Plans offered through the Publisher’s Imprints are generally based on Print-on-Demand (POD) methodology unless otherwise specified. Under POD, the Publisher works with printing service partners in India and/or internationally to print and fulfil orders as required. POD is intended to help keep the Author’s Book available for ordering without requiring the Publisher to maintain unlimited physical inventory at a single location.

Under Premium plans, the Publisher may, at its discretion, maintain a limited stock of printed copies of the Author’s Book in order to facilitate timely fulfilment and delivery of orders. The decision regarding the quantity of such stock, if any, and the duration for which it is maintained shall rest solely with the Publisher, based on operational requirements, sales performance and other relevant factors.

For domestic distribution, the Publisher shall make reasonable efforts to keep the Book available through relevant e-commerce platforms such as Amazon and Flipkart, subject to platform, distributor, printing and technical conditions. The Publisher does not guarantee uninterrupted availability at every moment.

18. MARKETING & PROMOTION POLICY

The Publisher is a self-publishing service provider and provides marketing and promotional services separately where such services are offered. Paid advertising or promotional services on platforms such as Google, Facebook, Amazon, Flipkart or other platforms that charge for advertising are not included in standard publishing packages unless expressly stated. Promotional and marketing services may be purchased as optional add-on services for additional charges.

The Author acknowledges that payment for any promotional or marketing service does not guarantee that the Book will become a bestseller, achieve any particular sales volume or ranking, maintain any particular ranking, or achieve any particular commercial result. The success of a promotional campaign depends upon numerous external factors and is not solely controlled by the Publisher. The Publisher shall not be liable for claims, losses, damages or expectations relating to sales, visibility, ranking or bestseller status resulting from promotional services.

The Author is free to independently promote the Book through social media, digital advertising, book signings, public appearances or other marketing activities. All costs, risks, strategies and liabilities associated with independent promotion undertaken by the Author shall remain the Author’s responsibility. The Publisher shall not be responsible for the success or execution of independent promotional activities undertaken by the Author or third parties engaged by the Author. The Publisher’s role in a paid Marketing & Promotion service shall be limited to the setup, execution and delivery of the promotional activity specifically agreed upon. Professional advisory, strategic consulting or services outside the agreed scope shall not be included unless expressly agreed and paid for. The Author may independently engage third-party marketing agencies, consultants or marketing professionals. The Publisher shall not be responsible for disputes, claims, costs or results arising from such independent arrangements. The Author acknowledges and agrees that the Marketing & Promotion Policy published by the Publisher forms part of this Agreement and shall apply to applicable marketing and promotional services.

19. TERM OF AGREEMENT

The Term of this Agreement shall begin on the Effective Date and continue until terminated in accordance with this Agreement. If the Author terminates the Agreement while the Publisher or its distributor has printed Books remaining in stock, the Author may purchase the remaining stock by paying the applicable amount. If the Author does not purchase the remaining stock, the Publisher may sell the remaining Books at a discounted price or otherwise dispose of them for the purpose of recovering applicable printing, production and related costs. The Author shall not object to such recovery measures or claim ownership of the remaining stock without paying the applicable amount.

20. AMENDMENT OF AGREEMENT

The Publisher reserves the right to modify, update, amend or supplement any rule, term, condition or part of this Self-Publishing Service Agreement and to introduce new rules or provisions as circumstances, business requirements, market conditions, operational requirements, Applicable Law or other conditions may require. Updates to this Agreement may be published on the Publisher’s official website. Notice of material updates may also be communicated to the Author by official email or official Authors WhatsApp group, where applicable.

The Author acknowledges that publishing services may continue over a long period and that operational, commercial, technical, distribution and legal conditions may change. Accordingly, the Author agrees that updated terms published by the Publisher may become applicable to existing Authors in accordance with this Section, particularly where the Author continues to use or benefit from the Publisher’s services after the update.

The Author acknowledges that the cost of Author Copies and the minimum selling price may change due to present or future market conditions, changes in packing and delivery charges, increases or decreases in production costs, paper availability, increases in printing charges by partner printing presses or companies, and other legitimate changes in production or distribution costs. The Publisher shall not be liable merely because a previous calculation differs from a later calculation resulting from such changes. The Author accepts that pricing and cost calculations are subject to such changes.

Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, the following specific provisions shall apply in relation to any revision of the minimum selling price:

20.1 Increase in Minimum Selling Price

If the production or distribution cost of the Book increases due to market conditions, packing or delivery charges, production costs, paper availability, printing charges imposed by partner printing presses/companies or other applicable cost increases, the Publisher shall have the right to increase the minimum selling price. The Publisher shall inform the Author before applying the revised minimum selling price.

20.2 Refusal to Accept Minimum Selling Price Revision

If the minimum selling price needs to be increased due to applicable cost increases and the Author does not agree to the revised minimum selling price, the Publisher shall have the right to remove the Author’s Book from sale on applicable online e-commerce websites and/or distribution channels.

20.3 Publication of Updates

Any addition, amendment or update to this Agreement may be published on the Publisher’s official website. The Author agrees to review applicable updates published by the Publisher.

20.4 Application to Existing Agreements

Subject to Applicable Law, an updated or amended Agreement published by the Publisher may apply to previously published Authors and existing Self-Publishing Service Agreements in accordance with this Section.

20.5 Author’s Refusal to Accept Future Revisions

If the Author does not agree to a printing-cost revision, royalty revision or other updated or amended term of this Agreement, the Author may stop using the Publisher’s services. In such circumstances, the Publisher shall have the right to terminate this Agreement in accordance with this Agreement. No refund shall be payable merely because the Author does not accept a future revision after services have been provided or the Book has been published. Following termination, if Books belonging to the Author remain in stock with the Publisher or its distributor, the Author shall be required to pay for such remaining Books if the Author wishes to receive them. If the Author does not raise an objection to an updated Agreement after receiving or being notified of the update and continues to use or receive publishing services from the Publisher, such continued use may be treated as acceptance of the applicable updated terms, subject to Applicable Law.

21. TERMINATION

This Agreement may be terminated only in accordance with the following provisions.

21.1 Material Breach

If either Party materially breaches any term, representation or warranty of this Agreement, the non-defaulting Party may issue written notice providing 60 Working Days to remedy the breach. If the breach is not remedied within the applicable notice period, the non-defaulting Party may terminate the Agreement with immediate effect.

Either Party may terminate the Agreement with immediate effect by written notice where the other Party:

21.1.1 files a voluntary petition in bankruptcy or insolvency;

21.1.2 makes a general assignment of its rights or assets for the benefit of creditors;

21.1.3 has a receiver or trustee appointed over its business or property; or

21.1.4 is adjudicated bankrupt or insolvent.

21.2 Publisher’s Termination Rights

The Publisher reserves the right to terminate this Agreement in the following circumstances:

21.2.1 The Author breaches any term or condition of this Agreement.

21.2.2 The Publisher reasonably believes, in its discretion, that the Author’s actions may expose the Author, other authors or the Publisher to legal liability or are contrary to this Agreement, Applicable Law or the Publisher’s publishing policies.

21.2.3 If the Author attempts to harass, blackmail, abuse, threaten or otherwise improperly pressure the Publisher or its employees through phone calls, email, WhatsApp or visits to the Publisher’s office without reasonable cause, the Publisher may terminate this Agreement by giving 30 days’ prior written notice.

21.2.4 If the Author refuses to accept the terms and conditions of this Agreement during the publishing process or after publication, the Publisher shall reserve the right to terminate the Agreement.

21.2.5 If the Author fails to sign and return this Agreement within 30 days after receiving it or fails to provide an official email address for communication of the Agreement, the Publisher may terminate the Agreement. Where the Book has already been published without the required signed Agreement being returned, the Publisher shall retain the right to terminate the publishing arrangement if the Author has not accepted the applicable contractual terms.

21.3 If the Author does not trust or accept the sales reports provided by the Publisher through the Author Dashboard or any other official channel, the Publisher may terminate this Agreement by giving 30 days’ prior written notice.

21.4 If new terms are added, existing terms are amended or this Agreement is updated in the future and the Author refuses to accept the applicable changes, the Publisher may terminate this Agreement by giving 30 days’ prior written notice, subject to the provisions of Section 20.

21.5 If a change in law, regulation, rule, policy, procedure, business condition or other circumstance beyond the Publisher’s reasonable control causes the publishing business or the applicable service to become commercially unprofitable, impracticable or unfeasible, or if the Publisher becomes insolvent due to force majeure circumstances, this Agreement may automatically terminate to the extent permitted by Applicable Law. The Publisher shall not be liable to the Author merely because the Agreement terminates due to such circumstances beyond the Publisher’s reasonable control.

21.6 If the Author no longer wishes to use the self-publishing services of the Publisher, the Author may terminate this Agreement by giving 30 days’ prior written notice.

22. EFFECTS OF TERMINATION

Upon termination or expiry of this Agreement:

22.1 Closure Period

For a period of 90 Working Days, or until the remaining Books in the Publisher’s stock have been sold, whichever is applicable under the circumstances (“Closure Period”), the Publisher shall be entitled to continue exercising the rights reasonably necessary to close the distribution and stock position of the Book.

22.2 Accrued Rights and Obligations

Termination or expiry shall not affect any rights, obligations or liabilities accrued before the date of termination. The Parties shall fulfil and perform all obligations incurred prior to such date, unless the nature of or reason for termination dictates otherwise, or the Parties agree otherwise. Termination or expiry shall not affect the coming into force or the continuance in force of any provision which is expressly or by implication intended to come into or continue in force on or after such termination or expiry.

22.3 Remaining Stock

If the Author terminates this Agreement before expiry of its Term for reasons not attributable to the Publisher, or does not wish to renew after the Agreement expires, and at the time of such termination Books of the Author remain in stock, the Author shall pay for the Books remaining in stock. The Publisher shall deliver the remaining Books to the Author after payment is received. If the Author does not purchase the remaining Books in stock, the Publisher may continue to sell the remaining Books to recover the cost of such Books.

22.4 No Refund on Termination

No refund or payment of any kind shall be given by the Publisher for publishing charges or other add-on services after the Agreement is terminated. The Publisher has provided services for the publishing charges and add-on service charges paid by the Author, and has delivered printed books to the Author where applicable. For more information, refer to the Refund and Cancellation Policy on the Publisher’s website. The Publisher shall pay only the royalties earned by the Author in a time-bound manner as stipulated under this Agreement.

22.5 Author’s Acknowledgement on Termination by Publisher

The Author declares and agrees that if the Agreement is terminated by the Publisher, no payment shall be made to the Author under any circumstances, nor shall the Author claim any refund in the future, as the Author is well aware that the self-publishing services have been provided by the Publisher in lieu of the payment made by the Author.

22.6 Survival

All rights and obligations that by their nature or as stated are intended to continue beyond termination shall survive.

22.7 Cumulative Remedies

The rights and remedies provided herein to the Parties shall not be exclusive and are in addition to any other rights and remedies available to the Parties under law.

23. CONFIDENTIALITY

Both Parties agree not to disclose Confidential Information to any third party except with the prior written consent of the other Party. Both Parties undertake not to divulge or communicate to any Person (unless required by Applicable Law) or use or exploit for any purpose whatsoever any Confidential Information which any Party may receive or obtain as a result of entering into this Agreement. This obligation and restriction shall continue to apply for a period of one year after the termination or expiry of this Agreement.

24. INDEMNIFICATION

The Author agrees to fully indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Publisher and its Affiliates from and against any losses, lost profits, damages, liabilities, judgments, awards, decrees, settlements or expenses (including without limitation reasonable attorney’s fees and court costs) arising from, connected with, or by reason of any breach or alleged breach of any of the representations and warranties set forth in this Agreement. The Author shall not be liable for any matter independently inserted into the Work by the Publisher or its licensees without the Author’s authorization. All warranties and indemnifications made by the Author herein shall survive termination of this Agreement or any licence under this Agreement.

25. GENERAL PROVISIONS

25.1 Governing Law and Jurisdiction

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of India. The Parties irrevocably submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts at Haridwar, Uttarakhand, India for the adjudication of any and all disputes arising out of or relating to this Agreement.

25.2 Severability

If any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, such provision shall be modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it valid and enforceable, or if modification is not possible, such provision shall be severed from this Agreement. The remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.

25.3 Entire Agreement

This Agreement (together with the selected publishing plan and any policies expressly referred to herein) constitutes the entire agreement between the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior discussions, negotiations, representations and agreements relating thereto, whether written or oral.

25.4 Waiver

No failure or delay by either Party in exercising any right, power or remedy under this Agreement shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right preclude any other or further exercise of that or any other right.

25.5 Acceptance of Agreement

This Agreement shall be accepted by the Publisher through email only. If the Author sends this Agreement through any other medium, it shall be unacceptable. The Author shall be bound to send the scanned PDF copy of this Agreement through his/her personal email after signing the printed copy of this Agreement.

The Author declares and agrees that the Author shall print the Self-Publishing Service Agreement sent by the Publisher by email at his/her own expense, sign the printed Agreement, create a PDF of the signed Agreement using a computer or mobile scanner application, and share the Agreement PDF copy on the official email of the Publisher. The Author declares and agrees that he/she is fully aware that the Author must use his/her own resources to print, sign and scan the Agreement. No expense or facility shall be provided by the Publisher for printing, scanning or sharing the Agreement.

The Author declares that he/she is the Publishing Right Holder and that all necessary rights in the proposed book are reserved with him/her. The Author accepts all the terms and conditions of this Self-Publishing Service Agreement and certifies that he/she has carefully read the Self-Publishing Service Agreement available on the Publisher’s website. The Author gives consent and certifies that he/she is fully aware that the Self-Publishing Service Agreement available on the Publisher’s website became effective after payment of the book publishing charges. The Author consciously certifies that he/she has agreed to all the terms and conditions of this Agreement and has made 100% advance payment for the book publishing services.

(End of Agreement)