Terms and Conditions

1. Services

1.1 The Designer provides book cover design services for publishing and promotional use, including eBook, paperback, hardcover, audiobook covers, and promotional graphics.

1.2 The Designer reserves the right to decline or cancel any project at their discretion.

2. Pricing

2.1 All listed prices are only base rates. The final amount may vary depending on scope, complexity, and requested formats.

2.2 Additional fees may apply for rush orders, extra formats, major revisions, or scope changes. The Client will always be informed before charges are applied. Pricing structures may differ for local and international clients due to currency and processing fees.

2.3 Special discounts available: 50% discount if the Client provides a fully licensed, non-AI image they own; 10% series discount applies only to additional series covers and format upgrades. Prices may change for future orders. All other add-ons remain at regular rates.

3. Payment Policy

3.1 Paperback/Hardcover projects require a non-refundable 50% downpayment before work begins. All payments are non-refundable once work has started. The remaining balance must be paid in full before final files are released, and proof of payment may be required.

3.2 For eBook/Audiobook-only orders, full payment required prior to file delivery and is non-refundable once paid. If the Designer cancels the project, a full refund will be issued regardless of stage.

3.3 If the Client becomes unresponsive for 14 days, the project may be considered abandoned and handled under Clause 7.3.

4. Turnaround Time

4.1 All timelines are estimates and are not guaranteed. They may vary depending on the complexity of the project, the number of revisions requested, the current workload, the responsiveness of the Client during the design process, and the Designer's availability.

4.3 Rush orders are subject to availability and may incur additional fees. Orders with a rush request are given priority in the processing queue.

4.4 Delay Compensation: If the Designer is unresponsive for one (1) month without prior notice, the Client may continue the project with a 50% discount on the cover price (excluding add-ons), or cancel the project with no further obligation. For Paperback/Hardcover projects under this clause, a full refund will be issued.

5. Delivery of Final Files

5.1 Final files are delivered via email or Google Drive in publishing-ready formats (JPEG, PNG, PDF). Source files (PSD or layered files) are not included.

5.2 The Client is responsible for reviewing all files before use or publication. For print projects, we strongly recommend requesting a physical or digital proof from the printer to confirm color accuracy, dimensions/alignments, and print quality. The Designer is not liable for printing errors, platform issues, or third-party technical problems. Only final composed files are provided—raw assets, fonts, and stock elements are not included.

6. Revisions

6.1 Minor Revisions Unlimited within the scope of the original design concept and during the active design process only — before final files are delivered. Includes small adjustments such as text, colors, and layout refinements.

6.2 Major Revisions Changes that significantly alter the design concept may incur additional fees (up to 50%+ of base price), covering up to two (2) revision rounds per charge, depending on complexity.

6.3 Post-Delivery Revisions Any revisions after final delivery are charged separately (starting at 50% of base price), covering up to two (2) revision rounds per charge, depending on complexity.

7. Premade Cover Policy

7.1 Premade covers are sold exclusively and marked as sold once purchased.

7.2 Covers may be reserved for up to 3 days. Unpaid reservations are automatically relisted.

7.3 For commissioned covers, if a project is cancelled, unpaid, or abandoned, the Designer may convert the work into a premade cover for resale, unless confidentiality applies.

8. Copyright & Ownership

8.1 All design work remains the intellectual property and copyright of the Designer. The Client is granted usage rights only, not ownership. Only the final approved design is licensed to the Client upon full payment. Drafts, unused concepts, and rejected materials remain the exclusive property of the Designer and may be reused, modified, or resold at the Designer's discretion.

8.2 The Designer may display completed work in portfolios and marketing. Reasonable posting delays may be requested for cover reveals.

8.3 Designs may not be copied, recreated, or modified by third parties without permission.

9. Usage & Stock Rights

9.1 Usage Rights
The Client may use the final design only for the specific project and approved formats purchased. Commercial use is permitted within this scope. Any additional formats, distribution methods, or uses beyond the agreed scope require prior approval and may incur additional fees.

Example: If the Client purchases the cover for ebook format only, the granted rights apply exclusively to ebook publishing

9.2 Stock Assets & Licensing
Designs may include licensed third-party assets (e.g., images, fonts, graphics) sourced from stock platforms such as Envato Elements, Freepik, Depositphotos, Canva Pro, etc. These assets are legally licensed by the Designer and used in accordance with the applicable license terms at the time of download or use. They may only be used as part of the final design. The Client may not extract, reuse, redistribute, or resell any individual asset.

Standard licenses generally cover digital use and printed materials related to the project (e.g., book covers, bookmarks, postcards, and other promotional inserts) within specified limits (Depositphotos only allows 500,000 copies under standard licenses). Uses beyond this scope—including but not limited to high-volume reproduction, extended distribution, or use on physical products (e.g., mugs, apparel, tote bags, or similar items), whether for sale or as promotional/free items—may require an extended or separate license.

Where required by the asset provider, the Client is responsible for obtaining the appropriate license. The Designer's license does not transfer to the Client where prohibited by the asset provider's terms.

9.3 Third-Party Disclaimer & Licensing Proof
All third-party assets remain the property of their respective owners and are subject to their individual licensing terms. Proof of licensing may be provided including certificates, download records, or reference links where applicable but does not transfer ownership or rights to the Client.

The Designer is not liable for misuse, use beyond the agreed scope, or any future changes to third-party licensing terms, but may assist in replacing affected assets where reasonably possible.

10. AI Usage Policy

10.1 The Designer does not intentionally use AI-generated elements. However, some stock platforms may include AI-generated materials that are not clearly labeled. If any such content is later identified, it will be replaced or revised at no additional cost.

10.2 Clients must not submit or upload Designer-created previews or final files to AI models or services for training, fine-tuning, enhancement, or derivative generation.

11. Client Responsibilities

11.1 The Client must provide accurate and complete information and is responsible for reviewing all files prior to approval.. The Designer is not liable for any delays, additional fees, or errors resulting from incorrect or unverified details that were not reported during the preview stage or before final delivery.

11.2 Any materials provided by the Client must be properly licensed or owned. The Client assumes full responsibility for any legal issues arising from such materials.

12. Data Storage

Files are stored for up to one (1) year after project completion. The Client is responsible for downloading and backing up files. The Designer does not guarantee file recovery after deletion.

13. Limitation of Liability

The Designer is not responsible for financial losses, printing errors, platform issues, sales performance, or any other problems that occur after the final design files have been delivered and approved.

The Designer's maximum liability is limited to the total amount paid by the client for the service.

14. Privacy, Terms Validity, and Dispute Resolution

Client information is kept confidential and used only for service purposes unless required by law. If any provision of these Terms is found invalid, the remaining provisions remain in full effect. Any concerns or disputes should first be addressed through direct communication.

14.1 Force Majeure: Neither party is liable for failure or delay caused by events beyond reasonable control (e.g., natural disasters, pandemic, government actions, strikes, fire, flood, utility or internet outages, or third‑party service failures) ("Force Majeure"). The affected party will promptly notify the other and use reasonable efforts to resume performance. If the Force Majeure continues for more than 60 days, either party may terminate the affected services and the Client will receive a prorated refund for any prepaid, unperformed work.

15. Credit

Credit to the Designer is greatly appreciated when the cover design is used. When giving credit, the Client may include an attribution in the book—such as on the back cover, copyright page, or another suitable location.

Format: “Cover design © Artsélily Covers” or via social media tagging @Artsé Lily.