Terms & Conditions of Service

Cover/Book Design Services Terms and Conditions

Client herein refers to author/publisher/customer
COFFIN PRINT DESIGN herein refers to Lee Taylor  (Lee Taylor Book Design)

Publishing Rights

1. The client confirms that they have the legal rights and permissions to reproduce and publish all materials that will be included in the work. This includes any text, logos, images, and any other elements they supply or purchase for use in the project. The client is solely responsible for the materials and validity of copyright and ownership claimed by the client. The client agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Lee Taylor (COFFIN PRINT DESIGN) from all libel, copyright, and permissions infringement action resulting from materials the client provides. The book must not be a public domain work, unless the client is the original author.

2. Rights to client supplied materials: See #15.

Confidentiality

1. All client materials are considered confidential and used by COFFIN PRINT DESIGNS only for producing the project (or estimate). Client materials will not be shared except as agreed to in writing by the client for purposes of seeking an estimate for work, or for a review.

Semi-Custom Covers (pre-designed, customizable)

The eight bullets below comprise the entire agreement for Semi-Custom covers

• Each cover is UNIQUE to your book—once sold they are retired and won’t be resold.

• Customization takes 24–48 hours excluding weekends and holidays.

• Once paid in full the client owns the rights to the cover art as shown for purposes of publishing their book, and for promotional materials for the book. You may not sell individual pieces of art shown on the cover as these are licensed by the photographer/illustrator.

• You receive up to three (3) round of revisions to your supplied title/author info. if needed. No other rounds of revisions or changes to text or art are included in the pre-designed price, but can be arranged for an additional fee.

• Client is responsible for submitting accurate information and is responsible for proofreading.

• Designer errors will be corrected at no charge.

• Attribution: Cover design by Lee Taylor / Coffin Print Book Design (with live link in e-books) on copyright page is appreciated, but not required.

• Returns/cancellation— all sales are final.

Custom Design Services—deliverables (not pre-designed)

1. Ebook and Print book design service fee includes the following:

   1. Ebook resolution jpg file formatted appropriately for ebook

   2. Web-resolution jpg of the flat cover image suitable for use on website or social media

   3. Purchase of stock imagery for use on the cover from stock companies COFFIN PRINT DESIGN currently contracts with (specific image requests, or images from other companies may incur additional fee, at cost)

   4. Digital delivery of all finished cover image files

   5. Cover design service may include stock imagery manipulation, custom title design, or other decoration, may include original artwork, illustration, but no copywriting, editing or other services that are not described above.

   6. Full cover layout of paperback format (front/spine/back covers) to client’s printer’s specifications. Client must supply finished layout page count, printer’s template or specs, or link to printer’s website for obtaining template/specs or contact information for printer.

   7. High-resolution press ready PDFs to printer’s specs are supplied for client to send to the printer.

   8. 3-d book image suitable for promotional use

   9. ISBN barcode applied to back cover from your supplied ISBN #. (Note: some online printers prefer to use their own barcode).

Client Responsibilities

1. Proofing—Client is solely responsible for proofing all designs/layouts/text provided by COFFIN PRINT DESIGNS  and assuring that all design elements, text, photos, etc. are present, accurate, and correct, including: spelling, grammar, ISBN, price, necessary markings, logos, branding compliance, etc.

2. Client acknowledges that they will receive digital proofs (PDFs) to approve. It is strongly suggested that clients obtain printed proofs from the printer for approval prior to approving book for sale or ordering bulk copies. If client declines printed proofs they affirm that they will personally approve the printer’s digital proofs. If Lee Taylor is asked to approve proofs without author review, client accepts responsibility for any errors.

Ownership Rights

1. Upon receipt of full payment, this confers to the client exclusive rights to use the final cover design artwork/page layout in PDF, JPG or other publishing ready format for their book publishing or promotional materials.

COFFIN PRINT DESIGNS Rights of First Refusal.

1. The client understands that they may not alter the cover design in any way, except to change the size for printing or display. They may request the design be altered by COFFIN PRINT DESIGNS, who has the right to do, or refuse the work. If COFFIN PRINT DESIGNS declines, the client may have the design altered by another service provider. The client understands that such alterations will incur additional costs.

2. The client agrees to abide by the terms of any license agreement for any images purchased by COFFIN PRINT DESIGNS (or themselves) for the work through a third-party image provider. The rights purchased for the book cover (or interior spot images) includes the rights to print runs (or downloads) of up to 500,000 units. For books of over 500,000 units, additional licensing fees may apply. Images used for the cover (or spot) are royalty free, creative commons licensed, or in the public domain; however the creator or seller/publisher of the image holds copyright to the image. The client may not use the image for any purpose other than for the book cover design.
   The working files for your cover/book are archived. Should COFFIN PRINT DESIGNS decline the opportunity to make further revisions, you may request the working files to be conveyed to you. (Time limit—some files may not be retained over 5 years.)

3. COFFIN PRINT DESIGN retains the right to use the client’s final book cover design, author name, book title, in his portfolio, on his website and in promotional pieces to market and promote his services.

4. COFFIN PRINT DESIGN retains copyright and ownership of all design elements and unused draft designs.

5. For any client-supplied materials subject to intellectual property rights by a third party the client will secure the appropriate rights to use the materials before asking the designer to incorporate the materials into the work. Should any intellectual property rights dispute occur involving said materials, the client assumes full legal and financial responsibility.

Attribution/Credit Liability

1. COFFIN PRINT DESIGNS (Lee Taylor ) will not be liable for incidental, indirect, consequential, special, punitive, or exemplary damages of any kind, including loss of revenues or profits, loss of business or reputation, or loss of data, in any way related to his services. COFFIN PRINT DESIGNS  is not responsible for any claim, loss, or injury based on errors or any other inaccuracies appearing on his site or in his clients’ written documents, including without limitation as a result of any breach of the terms and conditions of this agreement.

Payment

1. The client agrees to pay at least initial deposit of £25 or 25% of full charge before the work begins. The remaining balance plus any agreed to extra charges is due within 30 days if issuing, or final cover/book proof files. COFFIN PRINT DESIGN will not release complete files until final payment is received. Any other additional services requested will then enter into a new contract and require additional fees. I retain the right to discontinue, withhold, or suspend services for any account should payment not be made in the order specified in the agreement, or should payment not be cleared by the bank.

Cancellation

1. The client or I may cancel this agreement at anytime by providing written notice to the other party. If either party cancels the agreement after work has commenced, neither party is under further obligation and the contract is considered terminated.

2. “Kill fee.” If the client should stop the work once design has begun the client agrees to pay up to 50% of the total estimated cost or the designer’s hourly rate plus expenses to the point when work was ceased. This is to cover costs and lost billable time. The client will have no rights to any mockups, comps or design elements created for the cancelled project, and agrees to destroy them.

Modification of agreement

1. Modification of any provision of this agreement is not valid or enforceable unless confirmed in writing and signed by all parties in hardcopy or e-signature. 

Severability

1. The finding of any provision in this agreement to be invalid or unenforceable does not render the remaining provisions invalid or unenforceable.

Complete agreement

1. This agreement is the entire agreement of all parties. No additional promises or conditions, written, or oral, apply to this agreement that are not included herein.