Terms of Service

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using the Custom Graphic Novels website and services, you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service and all applicable laws and regulations. If you do not agree with any of these terms, you are prohibited from using or accessing our services.

2. Description of Services

Custom Graphic Novels provides custom illustration and bookbinding services to create personalized graphic novels based on customer-provided stories, photos, and specifications. Our services include:

• Story consultation and development
• Character design and illustration
• Professional layout and formatting
• Premium printing and hand-binding
• Delivery of finished graphic novels

3. Account Registration

To place an order, you may be required to create an account. You agree to:

• Provide accurate, current, and complete information
• Maintain and update your information to keep it accurate
• Maintain the security of your password and account
• Notify us immediately of any unauthorized use of your account
• Accept responsibility for all activities that occur under your account

4. Orders and Payments

4.1 Placing Orders

When you place an order, you are making an offer to purchase our services. We reserve the right to accept or decline your order for any reason. All orders are subject to availability and our acceptance.

4.2 Pricing

All prices are displayed in USD and are subject to change without notice. The price you pay will be the price displayed at the time of your order, subject to the terms of any promotions or discounts applied.

4.3 Payment Terms

Payment is required before work begins on your project. We accept major credit cards and other payment methods as indicated on our website. Payment options include:

• Full Payment: Pay the entire amount upfront
• Milestone Payments: 50% deposit to begin, 50% upon completion

4.4 Rush Orders

Rush delivery (expedited production) is available for Premium and Heirloom collections with advance planning. Rush orders incur an additional 30% fee.

5. Production Process and Timeline

5.1 Timelines

Production timelines vary by collection:

• Signature Collection: 4-5 weeks total (2-3 weeks digital + 2 weeks printing)
• Premium Collection: 5-6 weeks total (3-4 weeks digital + 2 weeks printing)
• Heirloom Collection: 8-10 weeks total (4-6 weeks digital + 4 weeks hand-crafting)

These timelines are estimates and may vary based on project complexity, revision requests, and production capacity. We will keep you informed of any delays.

5.2 Customer Responsibilities

You agree to:

• Provide all required content, photos, and information in a timely manner
• Respond to our consultation questions and revision requests promptly
• Review and approve character designs and art style samples
• Understand that delays in providing feedback may extend production timelines

5.3 Revisions

All collections include:

• 2 revision rounds during script development
• 2 revisions for character design
• 2 revisions for art style design

Additional revisions beyond these limits may incur extra charges. Final illustrations are not shown until completion as part of our surprise element.

6. Intellectual Property Rights

6.1 Your Content

You retain ownership of the stories, photos, and personal content you provide. By submitting content to us, you grant Custom Graphic Novels a non-exclusive, worldwide license to use, reproduce, modify, and display your content solely for the purpose of fulfilling your order.

6.2 Our Work

Custom Graphic Novels retains ownership of all artwork, illustrations, designs, and creative elements created for your project. Upon full payment, you receive a personal, non-transferable, non-exclusive license to use the final graphic novel for personal, non-commercial purposes only.

6.3 Portfolio and Marketing

We may showcase completed projects (with customer permission) in our portfolio, website, and marketing materials. We will not disclose personal information from your story without your explicit consent.

7. Cancellations and Refunds

7.1 Cancellation by Customer

• Before work begins: Full refund minus 5% processing fee
• After script approval: 50% refund
• After character design approval: 25% refund
• After illustration begins: No refund

7.2 Cancellation by Us

We reserve the right to cancel any order if we determine that we cannot complete it to our quality standards or if you violate these terms. In such cases, you will receive a full refund for any payments made.

7.3 Refund Processing

Approved refunds will be processed within 10 business days to the original payment method.

8. Shipping and Delivery

Please see our Shipping & Returns Policy for detailed information about shipping methods, costs, delivery times, and our returns policy.

9. Quality Guarantee

We stand behind the quality of our work. If you receive a damaged product or if there are significant defects in printing or binding, please contact us within 30 days of delivery. We will replace the product at no additional cost.

This guarantee does not cover:

• Damage due to improper handling or storage
• Normal wear and tear
• Customer dissatisfaction with creative elements that were previously approved
• Color variations due to monitor calibration differences

10. Content Guidelines

You agree that all content you provide will not:

• Infringe upon any third-party rights, including copyrights, trademarks, or rights of publicity
• Contain illegal, harmful, threatening, abusive, or otherwise objectionable material
• Violate any applicable laws or regulations

We reserve the right to refuse service if submitted content violates these guidelines.

11. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, Custom Graphic Novels shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, or any loss of profits or revenues, whether incurred directly or indirectly, or any loss of data, use, goodwill, or other intangible losses resulting from:

• Your use or inability to use our services
• Any unauthorized access to or use of your personal information
• Any interruption or cessation of our services
• Any delays, errors, or omissions in our services

Our total liability shall not exceed the amount you paid for the specific order giving rise to the claim.

12. Indemnification

You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless Custom Graphic Novels, its officers, directors, employees, and agents from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, and expenses arising out of or in any way connected with your use of our services or violation of these terms.

13. Modifications to Terms

We reserve the right to modify these Terms of Service at any time. We will notify customers of material changes by posting the updated terms on our website and updating the "Last Updated" date. Your continued use of our services after such changes constitutes acceptance of the modified terms.

14. Governing Law

These Terms of Service shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California, United States, without regard to its conflict of law provisions.

15. Dispute Resolution

Any disputes arising from these terms or our services shall first be attempted to be resolved through good-faith negotiation. If negotiation fails, disputes shall be resolved through binding arbitration in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association.

16. Severability

If any provision of these Terms of Service is found to be unenforceable or invalid, that provision will be limited or eliminated to the minimum extent necessary so that the remaining terms remain in full force and effect.

17. Contact Information

If you have any questions about these Terms of Service, please contact us: