Effective Date: 01/01/2026
This Publishing Services Agreement (“Agreement”) is between:
Service Provider: [Full legal entity name], doing business as Bloom & Co. Publishing (“Company”)
Email: INFO@BLOOMCOPRESS.COM
and
Author/Client: [Full legal name] (“Author”)
Address: [Address]
Email: [Email]
The Company and Author are collectively the “Parties.”
Working Book Title: [Title]
Author/Pen Name: [Name]
Project Description: [Description]
The Company will provide only the services and deliverables identified in the attached Project Schedule, which forms part of this Agreement.
Services may include editing, proofreading, formatting, cover design, publication setup, printing coordination, distribution setup, marketing support, or consultation, as specifically selected.
Services not expressly included are excluded. Additional work requires written agreement on scope, price, and any revised schedule before it begins.
This Agreement is for publishing services. It does not establish an employment relationship, partnership, joint venture, or general authority to act on the Author’s behalf.
The Author will:
The Company may rely on instructions from the Author’s designated contact unless notified otherwise in writing.
Delays, incomplete materials, or changes requested by the Author may require a revised schedule and additional approved fees.
The Author retains ownership of the Author’s original manuscript and other Author-owned materials.
The Author grants the Company a nonexclusive license to reproduce, edit, format, transmit, and otherwise use submitted materials solely as reasonably necessary to perform the agreed services. This permission includes sharing materials with project personnel and service providers as necessary.
Publication, distribution, advertising, or use of the Author’s name and likeness is authorized only to the extent described in the Project Schedule or separately approved in writing.
No film, television, translation, merchandising, or other subsidiary rights are granted unless expressly stated in a separate signed agreement.
This Agreement does not transfer ownership of the Author’s copyright to the Company.
After full payment, the Company assigns to the Author its transferable copyright interest in original, custom final deliverables created specifically for the project and listed in the Project Schedule, excluding the materials described below.
The Company retains ownership of its preexisting materials, templates, methods, tools, and general know-how. The Author receives a nonexclusive license to use any such materials incorporated into the paid final deliverables as necessary to use those deliverables.
Fonts, stock images, software, and other third-party materials remain subject to their respective licenses. Editable source files are included only if expressly listed.
The Company will obtain from its subcontractors the rights reasonably necessary to provide the agreed deliverables.
The Author represents that:
The Author will disclose known disputes, ownership restrictions, prior exclusive grants, and relevant contractual obligations before work begins.
The Company’s editing or review does not constitute legal clearance of the manuscript. Legal review and permissions research are included only if expressly agreed and performed by appropriately qualified professionals.
The Company may request supporting permissions or ownership documentation.
If the Company receives a credible infringement, privacy, defamation, or similar claim, it may reasonably suspend affected work or seek removal of affected distribution listings while the issue is reviewed.
Where legally permitted, the Company will notify the Author and provide a reasonable opportunity to respond.
The Author will cooperate in resolving the claim. Any replacement content, revisions, or additional work requires written agreement regarding responsibility and cost.
The Company is not obligated to publish material it reasonably believes is unlawful or materially violates a platform’s requirements.
Suspension or removal does not determine which Party is legally responsible for a claim.
The included editing level and number of revision rounds are stated in the Project Schedule.
Editing and proofreading reduce errors but do not guarantee an error-free publication.
Before publication or production, the Author must approve in writing the final applicable:
Silence does not constitute final approval.
Approval may be provided by signed proof form or an email that clearly identifies the approved file versions.
Author-requested changes after approval may result in additional approved charges, revised timelines, or replacement production costs.
The Company remains responsible for correcting a material departure it introduces from the approved files. Responsibility for other errors or production defects will be assessed according to their cause and this Agreement.
Total Service Fee: $[Amount]
Initial Payment: $[Amount], due [Date/event]
Remaining Payments: [Amounts and due dates]
Applicable taxes, printing, shipping, platform charges, advertising expenditures, and other third-party costs are included only if expressly identified.
The Company will not incur additional chargeable expenses on the Author’s behalf without written authorization.
The Company may suspend work for overdue undisputed amounts after written notice and a reasonable opportunity to pay. Final deliverables may be withheld until agreed payments are complete, except where applicable law requires otherwise.
No late fee applies unless its amount and terms are expressly stated in the Project Schedule and permitted by law.
The Author should promptly identify a disputed invoice item. The Parties will work in good faith to resolve the dispute, and undisputed amounts remain payable.
The Author may cancel by written notice.
Upon cancellation, the Company may retain or collect payment for:
These amounts must not exceed the agreed project charges plus approved additional work and expenses.
Payments exceeding those amounts will be refunded within 30 days after the final accounting, unless a shorter period is legally required.
An initial payment is credited toward the project and is not automatically nonrefundable.
If the Company cancels without Author breach, it will refund unearned fees and provide completed paid deliverables, subject to applicable licensing restrictions.
If the Author alleges a material service defect, the Author should give written details and a reasonable opportunity for correction. If a material breach remains uncured after the period in Section 17, applicable termination and legal remedies remain available.
This section does not restrict refund rights that cannot legally be waived.
Printers, retailers, distributors, and other platforms may impose their own specifications, fees, review procedures, eligibility requirements, return policies, and payment schedules.
The Company does not control their independent decisions or guarantee acceptance, uninterrupted availability, delivery dates, or continued listings.
Placement with a distributor does not guarantee bookstore shelf placement, library acquisition, or retailer purchasing.
Minor production variations may occur within the selected printer’s specifications. The Company will reasonably assist with documented production defects and applicable vendor remedies.
The Company remains responsible for its own contractual obligations and conduct.
Payment for publishing services does not, by itself, create a royalty-sharing arrangement.
Unless a signed Distribution and Royalty Schedule states otherwise, sales accounts and proceeds will be controlled by and paid directly to the Author.
If the Company collects sales proceeds, the signed schedule must specify:
The Company will not apply an unstated royalty percentage or deduction.
The Company does not guarantee:
Examples, estimates, projections, and testimonials illustrate possible outcomes and are not promises.
The Company will perform the expressly agreed services with reasonable care and skill. This section does not excuse failure to provide those services.
Marketing services and advertising budgets must be stated in the Project Schedule.
The Author must approve claims about the book or Author that require factual confirmation.
The Company will not purchase fabricated reviews, misrepresent sales results, or promise favorable independent reviews.
Use of the Author’s project in the Company’s portfolio, testimonials, or promotional materials requires separate written permission.
Each Party will use reasonable care to protect nonpublic information received from the other Party and use it only for the project or another authorized purpose.
Necessary disclosures may be made to personnel, service providers, professional advisers, or authorities as permitted or required by law.
Confidentiality does not apply to information that is lawfully public, independently developed, lawfully received without restriction, or approved for disclosure.
Unpublished manuscripts will not be publicly released without authorization.
The Company will not submit unpublished manuscripts to generative AI services without the Author’s prior written approval identifying the proposed use and provider.
Personal-information handling is also described in the Company’s Privacy Policy. A later policy update does not automatically change this Agreement’s negotiated confidentiality obligations.
Final deliverables and delivery methods are specified in the Project Schedule.
Post-project file retention period: [Period]
The Company will notify the Author before its scheduled deletion of project files and provide a reasonable opportunity to obtain included deliverables.
The Author is responsible for maintaining independent backups. This obligation does not excuse the Company’s failure to exercise reasonable care while holding project materials.
TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, EACH PARTY’S TOTAL LIABILITY ARISING FROM THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT EXCEED THE TOTAL FEES PAID OR PAYABLE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT.
TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, NEITHER PARTY WILL BE LIABLE TO THE OTHER FOR INDIRECT, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, INCLUDING SPECULATIVE LOST SALES OR PROFITS.
These limitations do not apply to:
These provisions must be interpreted consistently with applicable consumer-protection law and do not waive nonwaivable rights.
The Author will indemnify the Company against third-party claims, damages, and reasonable defense costs to the extent caused by the Author’s breach of the ownership, permission, or content warranties in Section 4.
The Company will indemnify the Author against third-party claims, damages, and reasonable defense costs to the extent caused by infringement in original Company-created material supplied under this Agreement, excluding Author-provided content and claims caused by unauthorized modifications or use.
Neither Party is entitled to indemnification for the portion of a claim caused by its own breach, negligence, or misconduct.
The Party seeking indemnification must promptly notify the other Party, reasonably cooperate, and permit an appropriate defense. Delayed notice reduces the obligation only to the extent it materially prejudices the defense.
No settlement may admit fault, impose nonmonetary obligations, or leave liability on the protected Party without that Party’s written consent, which will not be unreasonably withheld.
Either Party may terminate for a material breach that remains uncured 15 days after written notice describing the breach.
A longer cure period may be agreed where correction reasonably requires more time and meaningful corrective work is underway.
Immediate suspension is permitted when reasonably necessary to address suspected unlawful activity, a serious security risk, or unauthorized use of protected materials.
Upon termination:
Neither Party is responsible for delay caused by events beyond its reasonable control, such as natural disasters, major outages, government restrictions, or transportation disruptions, if it promptly provides notice and takes reasonable steps to reduce the impact.
This provision does not excuse payment for work already performed.
If an interruption continues for more than 30 days, either Party may terminate affected services. Unearned payments will be refunded under Section 8.
The Parties will first attempt to resolve disputes through good-faith written communication.
If unresolved within 30 days after written notice, the Parties will attempt mediation with a mutually selected mediator. Mediation fees will be shared equally unless otherwise agreed or required by law.
These steps do not prevent:
If mediation does not resolve the dispute, either Party may pursue available court remedies.
North Carolina law governs, except where another applicable law cannot be displaced.
To the extent legally permitted, proceedings will be brought in state courts in Alamance County, North Carolina, or an appropriate federal court serving that county. Mandatory jurisdiction and venue protections remain applicable.
This Agreement does not require arbitration, waive jury-trial rights, or prohibit legally protected claims or complaints.
Each Party bears its own legal fees unless applicable law or a court order provides otherwise.
Contract notices must be sent to the email addresses listed above, with a copy by mail when reasonably necessary or legally required.
An email notice is effective when receipt is acknowledged or otherwise reasonably established. A failed-delivery message does not constitute notice.
Each Party must provide updated contact details promptly.
This Agreement and its signed schedules contain the entire agreement concerning this project and replace prior discussions on the same subject.
Changes require written acceptance by both Parties. Website updates do not unilaterally amend this Agreement.
A signed project-specific provision controls over a conflicting general provision only when the intended change is clearly identified.
If a provision is unenforceable, the remaining provisions continue to the extent legally permitted.
Failure to enforce a provision on one occasion does not waive future enforcement.
Each Party confirms that it has had an opportunity to review this Agreement, ask questions, and obtain independent advice.
The Parties agree to electronic signatures and electronic delivery of this Agreement, provided each receives a copy that can be retained.
The Agreement becomes effective when both Parties sign, unless a different effective date is expressly agreed.
Legal Name: ______________________________
Signature: ________________________________
Date: ____________________________________
Legal Entity Name: _________________________
Authorized Representative: _________________
Title: ____________________________________
Signature: ________________________________
Date: ____________________________________
Book Title: _____________________________
Agreement Date: _________________________
Included Services:
[Describe each service precisely.]
Final Deliverables and File Formats:
[List files, print copies, and whether editable source files are included.]
Excluded Services:
[List exclusions.]
Included Revision Rounds: _______________
Author Submission Deadline: _____________
Estimated Project Milestones:
[List milestones and dependencies.]
Proof Review Period: ____________________
Total Fee: $_____________________________
Payment Schedule: _______________________
Authorized Third-Party Expenses: _________
Printing Specifications and Quantity: _____
ISBN Owner and Publishing Imprint: _______
Retailer/Distribution Account Owner: ______
Approved Formats and Territories: ________
Distribution Term, if applicable: _________
Royalty Schedule Attached: Yes / No
File Retention Period: ___________________
Additional Agreed Terms:
[Insert terms.]
Author Initials: ______
Company Representative Initials: ______
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