1. Scope of Services

APUBS Publishing and Services OPC Pvt. Ltd ("Publisher") will provide exactly the services outlined in your selected publishing package. The specific deliverables are legally bound to the package selected during the submission process.

• Standard Services (Included in all packages): ISBN assignment, barcode generation, professional cover design (basic tier), comprehensive proofreading (English language), formatting & beautification, eBook conversion, and distribution on 20+ prominent platforms worldwide.
• The selected publishing package is priced at ₹7,000 INR.

2. Author Rights, Security & Data Privacy

• Absolute Copyright Retention: The Author retains 100% intellectual property rights, copyright, and moral rights of their submitted work. APUBS claims zero ownership over the author's creative content, characters, or universe.
• ISBN Ownership: The ISBN assigned to each format of the book shall exclusively belong to the Author and is permanently attached to their title.
• Manuscript Security: APUBS guarantees strict data confidentiality. The author's unedited and edited manuscript files will never be shared, sold, or distributed to third parties outside of the contracted editorial and printing staff.
• Non-Exclusive Grant: The Author grants APUBS a limited, non-exclusive right to format, print, publish, distribute, and market the book on their behalf. The Author remains free to pursue other publishing or media contracts simultaneously.

3. Royalties & Revenue Processing

• The Author holds absolute right to 100% of the net royalties generated from all sales across all distributed platforms.
• Royalty payouts are processed autonomously on a monthly basis once the minimum threshold is met.
• The minimum payout threshold is strictly preserved at ₹1,000 INR for authors within India and ₹5,000 INR for authors outside India.
• Full financial transparency is guaranteed through the live updated Author Dashboard ecosystem.

4. Package Payment Terms & Structuring

• A standardized down payment of 70% (₹4,900) of the selected package total is contractually due to begin project onboarding and initial production.
• The remaining 30% (₹2,100) is strictly due ONLY when the book is ready to print — specifically, after the Author reviews and explicitly approves the final formatted manuscript and cover proofs.
• APUBS holds the final print files until the balance is cleared via the Author Dashboard.

5. Publisher Rights & Acceptable Use

• Right of Refusal: APUBS reserves the right to decline publication or terminate this agreement if the manuscript is found to contain explicit hate speech, promotes illegal activities, or violates established community standards.
• Formatting Adjustments: The Publisher reserves the right to make necessary typographical, formatting, and structural file adjustments required to meet the strict technical standards of global printing and digital distribution platforms (e.g., KDP formatting rules).
• Marketing Usage: The Publisher is granted the right to use the book's cover image, Author's name, and publicly available synopsis for promotional purposes across APUBS marketing channels.

6. Timelines & Distribution Protocol

• Standard publication turnaround is guaranteed at 15–30 business days from the receipt of the final approved manuscript and the initial down payment.
• APUBS will list the Author's book on partner platforms to maximise global reach. As distribution is non-exclusive, the Author acknowledges that retail platforms (e.g., Amazon, Apple Books) maintain independent control over final retail pricing variations and discounting algorithms, for which APUBS cannot be held legally liable.

7. Content Warranty & Indemnification

• The Author explicitly warrants that the submitted work is entirely original, true, and does not infringe upon any third-party copyrights, trademarks, or intellectual property rights.
• The Author agrees to fully indemnify and hold harmless APUBS Publishing, its officers, and affiliates from any legal claims, financial damages, or expenses arising from the content of the book, including defamation suits or copyright infringement claims.
• The Author bears sole legal responsibility for obtaining and documenting formal permissions for any copyrighted material, images, lyrics, or intellectual property used within the manuscript.

8. Cancellation & Exit Clause

• Pre-Production Exit: If the Author cancels the contract before any editorial or design work has formally begun, a full refund of the down payment will be seamlessly issued, minus standard payment gateway processing fees.
• In-Production Exit: Once proofreading, formatting, or cover design work has demonstrably commenced, the initial 70% installment becomes non-refundable to cover expended labor costs.
• Post-Publication Exit: The Author may completely withdraw their book from global distribution at any time after publication by providing a formal 30-day written notice to APUBS via the dashboard or official support channels.

9. Governing Law

• This legally binding agreement is governed exclusively by the laws of India. Any disputes or legal proceedings shall be subject strictly and solely to the jurisdiction of the competent courts in Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir.