Terms and Conditions

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Last Updated: 01.05.25 Governing Jurisdiction: Courts of England and Wales Version Control: Version 1

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 Agreement to Terms These Terms and Conditions (“Terms“) constitute a legally binding agreement between:
  • com(“Company,” “we,” “us,” or “our“), and
  • You, the individual or entity accessing, browsing, or registering for our website and services (“Services“).
1.2 Acceptance By using our Services, you:
  • Confirm that you have read, understood, and agreedto these Terms in their entirety.
  • Acknowledge that these Terms govern all interactionswith our platform, including but not limited to account registration, subscriptions, and content submissions.
1.3 Binding Contract These Terms form a valid and enforceable contract under the laws of England and Wales. If you do not agree to these Terms, you must immediately cease all use of our Services. 1.4 Modifications We reserve the right to modify these Terms. Material changes require notice per Section 15.1; non-material changes are effective immediately (a) Require 45 days’ notice via email and or dashboard alert (per Section 16.3); (b) Allow termination with pro-rata refund within 30 days of notice; (c) Take effect after the notice period unless rejected. 1.4.1 Non-material changes (e.g., typographical corrections) become effective immediately upon posting.

2. DEFINITIONS

In these Terms and Conditions, unless the context otherwise requires, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below: 2.1 “Company,” “We,” “Us,” or “Our” Means GoldenEdgeBooks.com, its legal representatives, successors, affiliates, and authorised agents. 2.2 “Author,” “User,” or “You” Refers to any individual, entity, or representative who:
  • Registers an account.
  • Accesses or uses the Services; or
  • Submits Content to the platform.
2.3 “Services” Encompasses all digital tools, resources, and features provided by the Company, including but not limited to:
  • Marketing tools(templates, analytics, guides).
  • Community forumsand networking events.
  • Promotional assistance(social media advisory, book launch support).
  • Author spotlight features(selected at the Company’s discretion).
2.4 “Content” Means any data, text, images, audio, video, or other media uploaded, submitted, or shared by Users on the platform, whether publicly or privately. 2.5 “Subscription” Denotes a recurring paid membership plan (monthly or annual) that grants access to premium or restricted Services, subject to these Terms. 2.6 “Personal Data” Has the meaning defined under Article 4 of the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018, referring to any information relating to an identifiable natural person.

3. SERVICES PROVISION

3.1 Nature of Engagement GoldenEdgeBooks.com (“Provider”) offers non-professional digital resources (“Services”) that: (a) Constitute general information only (not advice) (b) Are provided “as-is” without customisation (c) May be modified per Section 1.4 (Modification Clause). Modifications won’t substantially reduce core services during active subscriptions. (d) Do not create any client-service provider relationship 3.2 Service Components Provider may offer, without obligation: (a) Digital Tools
  • Pre-formatted templates (no suitability guarantee)
  • Automated analytics (data accuracy disclaimed per Section 11.3)
  • Generic strategy outlines (industry averages only)
(b) Community Features
  • User-generated forums (moderated at Provider’s discretion)
  • Optional virtual events (schedule subject to change)
  • Crowd-sourced knowledge bases (content not vetted)
3.3 Critical Exclusions Notwithstanding any other provision: 3.3.1 Services expressly exclude:
  • Customised marketing plans
  • Guaranteed results (see Section 10 – Limitation of Liability)
  • Professional advice (legal/tax/publishing)
3.3.2 Provider makes no representations regarding:
  • ROI or sales potential
  • Platform compatibility
  • Third-party service quality
3.4 User Covenants User expressly agrees: (a) To independently:
  • Verify all information
  • Assess legal compliance
  • Obtain professional advice
(b) That Provider is not liable for:
  • Implementation choices (linked to Section 13 – Indemnification)
  • Opportunity costs
  • Third-party reliance
3.5 Modification & Termination Rights 3.5.1 Provider may, without liability: (a) Modify non-core Service features with 30 days’ notice (see Section 1.4); (b) Temporarily restrict access for security/legal compliance (per Section 11.4); (c) Discontinue offerings with 90 days’ notice, offering comparable alternatives or refunds for prepaid periods exceeding 30 days. 3.5.2 No liability for modifications made in good faith under this Section, except as provided in Section 10.2 3.6 Third-Party Integration (a) Services may incorporate external platforms subject to:
  • Their separate terms
  • Availability changes
  • Compatibility issues
(b) Provider disclaims all responsibility for:
  • API modifications
  • Third-party content
  • Integration failures
3.7 Professional Services Disclaimer Without limiting Section 11: (a) No Service constitutes:
  • Legal services (nor attorney-client privilege)
  • Financial advice (nor fiduciary duty)
  • Publishing guarantees
(b) User must obtain independent:
  • Legal review of all contracts
  • Tax compliance verification
  • Industry-specific consultation
3.8 Intellectual Property All Services remain: (a) Provider’s exclusive property (b) Subject to license terms in Section 6 (c) Protected against:
  • Unauthorised use
  • Reverse engineering
  • Commercial exploitation
3.9 Integrated Protections This section works in conjunction with:
  • Section 10 (Termination)
  • Section 11 (Liability Cap)
  • Section 12 (Indemnification)
  • Section 7 (IP Rights)
  1. USER OBLIGATIONS
4.1 Users expressly agree not to: (a) Scrape, data-mine, or deploy automated access tools (b) Bypass paywalls or authentication systems (c) Monitor services for competitive purposes.” 4.2 Account Security:
  • Users liable for all account activities
  • Must implement two-factor authenticationif available

5. ACCOUNT REGISTRATION & SECURITY PROTOCOLS

5.1 Mandatory Registration Requirements

As a condition of accessing Services, you agree to: (a) Provide accurate, verifiable, and current registration data; (b) Maintain only one active account (no shared, group, or bot accounts permitted); (c) Submit to identity verification checks (e.g., government ID, 2FA) upon request.

5.2 Account Security & Unauthorised Access

You irrevocably accept full liability for: (a) All activities conducted under your credentials, regardless of authorisation; (b) Immediate notification of suspected breaches via secured channels (email to security@goldenedgebooks.com); (c) Financial losses resulting from negligence (e.g., weak passwords, unsecured devices).

5.3 Account Suspension/Termination Rights

We reserve the absolute right to suspend or terminate accounts without notice for: (a) Fraudulent activity (e.g., fake identities, payment disputes in bad faith); (b) Abuse of Services (per Section 7: Acceptable Use); (c) Chargeback initiation without prior dispute resolution attempts.

5.4 Post-Termination Obligations

Upon termination: (a) All access ceases immediately; (b) Outstanding fees remain payable (collections may ensue); (c) Data deletion requests must comply with GDPR Article 17 (see Section 10).

6. SUBSCRIPTIONS, PAYMENTS & REFUNDS

6.1 Payment Terms & Conditions

(a) All fees are:
  • Charged in GBP(VAT added where applicable).
  • Processed via Stripe/PayPal only(no third-party payments).
  • Subject to 5% monthly intereston late balances >30 days.
(b) Disputed Charges:
  • Disputed charges made in bad faith may incur reasonable administrative costs, not exceeding £15 per dispute or 10% of the disputed amount. This excludes valid claims under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 or payment errors attributable to the Company
  • Chargebackstrigger immediate suspension and legal review.

6.2 Auto-Renewal & Cancellation

(a) Renewals:
  • Processed 24 hours pre-expiration.
  • Billed at current published rates(email notice sent 45 days prior). (b) Cancellations:
  • Must be submitted ≥30 days before renewal.
  • No prorated refundsfor mid-cycle cancellations.

6.3 Refund Eligibility

Refunds only issued under:
Grounds Window Required Proof
Service non-delivery 14 days Detailed failure report
Unauthorised transaction 60 days Bank dispute case #
Statutory right (CRA 2015) 30 days Legal citation
Faulty digital content: 30-day repair/replacement window per CRA 2015, Section 42.

6.4  PAYMENT DEFAULT & REMEDIES

6.4.1  (a) Initial non-payment:
  • Services remain active for 14 calendar days (“Cooling off Period”)
  • Three (3) automated payment retry attempts
  • Daily SMS/email notifications sent
(b) Post-Cooling off Period:
  • Immediate suspension of all access
  • Accrual of 1.5% monthly interest on arrears
  • £20 reinstatement fee + outstanding balance required
6.4.2 Chronic Default Protocol Three (3) payment failures within 180 days triggers: (a) Mandatory prepayment for future services (b) Reduction of Cooling off Period to 5 business days (c) Security deposit requirement (1 month’s fee) 6.4.3 Collections Process For balances unpaid after 60 days: (a) We will issue a final written notice (per Section 16.3) with 14-day cooling off period; (b) If unresolved, may: (i) Refer to collections with15% maximum surcharge (per Late Payment Act 1998); (ii) Report to credit agencies only after 90 days of non-payment (Reporting follows FCA guidelines and allows 30 days’ dispute resolution.) (iii) Pursue legal action under S.69 County Courts Act 1984.

 

6.5 Consequences of Non-Payment

(a) >£100 delinquent balances may be:
  • Reported to credit agencies.
  • Referred to collections(+20% recovery fee). (b) Fraudulent non-payment will result in legal action.

(a) Downgrades: Effective at next billing cycle. (b) Grandfathered plans: Subject to 90-day notice for changes. (c) Enterprise tiers: Custom SLAs via separate written agreement

  1. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY PROTECTIONS
7.1 User Content License (a) You grant us:
  • A worldwide, royalty-free license to use User Content for the duration of its publication on the platform, terminating upon: (i) User’s valid erasure request under GDPR Article 17; or (ii) Account termination, except for anonymised derivative works or where retention is required by law.
  • Right to sublicense to partners/affiliates
  • No obligation to attribute or compensate
(b) Warranties:
  • You own all rights or have necessary permissions
  • Content doesn’t infringe third-party rights
  • Contains no illegal material
7.2 Company IP Restrictions (a) Absolute prohibitions:
  • No reverse engineering (Computer Misuse Act 1990)
  • No commercial exploitation without license
  • No removal of copyright notices
(b) Detection Measures:
  • Unauthorised use may result in: (i) Actual damages (calculated per Section 10.1); or (ii) Statutory damages under Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988; (iii) Injunctive relief.

8. ACCEPTABLE USE & TERMINATION

8.1 Prohibited Activities (a) Content Violations:
  • Illegal material (referencing UK Terrorism Act 2006)
  • Defamatory statements (Malicious Communications Act 1988)
  • Unlicensed copyrighted works (Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988)
(b) System Abuse:
  • Brute force attacks
  • Cryptocurrency mining
  • Creating fake accounts
8.2 Enforcement Protocol (a) Violation Response Matrix:
Severity Action Appeal Window
Minor Warning plus 7-day suspension 14 days
Major 60-day suspension and audit Mediation per section 14
Critical Immediate termination Judicial review only
For non-fraudulent breaches, Users will receive:
  1. Written notice specifying the breach.
  2. A 14-day cooling off period; and
  3. The right to appeal via arbitration (per Clause 13). Immediate termination applies only to:
  • Fraudulent activity.
  • Illegal content under UK Terrorism Act 2006; or
  • Systemic security breaches.
(b) Preservation Rights:
  • May retain violating content as evidence
  • Will cooperate with law enforcement requests
  • May disclose information to injured third parties
8.3 Termination Effects (a) Immediate:
  • Loss of all access rights
  • Forfeiture of unused subscription time
  • Removal from community features
(b) Surviving Obligations:
  • Payment of outstanding balances
  • IP license continues for existing uses
  • Confidentiality requirements
 

9. CONFIDENTIALITY & DATA PROTECTION

9.1 Confidentiality Undertaking (a) All users covenant to:
  • Maintain secrecy of Company’s trade secrets indefinitely
  • Implement industry-standard security measures (minimum AES-128 encryption)
  • Notify breaches within 24 hours via secure portal
(b) Exclusions:
  • Information already public domain
  • Independently developed knowledge
  • Court-ordered disclosures (with prior notice)
9.2 Data Processing Appendix Personal data processed under ‘legitimate interest’ will be reviewed biannually for necessity. (a) Lawful Bases Table:
Processing Activity Legal Basis Retention Period
Account Registration Contract 5 years post-termination
Payment Processing Legal Obligation 7 years
Marketing Analytics Legitimate Interest 2 years
(b) International Transfers:
  • SCCs with third-country vendors
  • UK ICO-approved safeguards
Transfers outside the UK use ICO-approved safeguards (SCCs or UK Addenda), with risk assessments for high-risk jurisdictions. 9.3 Data Subject Rights Users may exercise UK GDPR rights (access/erasure) by emailing dpo@goldenedgebooks.com. Responses will be provided within 30 calendar days as required by UK GDPR Article 12. Users may request structured, machine-readable copies of their data per UK GDPR Article 20.

10. TERMINATION PROTOCOLS

Account termination follows the protocols in Sections 5.3 (fraud) and 8.2 (content violations) 10.1 Scenario-Based Termination Examples
Trigger Notice Period Consequences
Payment Default 15 days Debt collection + credit report
Content Violation Immediate Evidence preservation
Account Inactivity 90 days Data anonymisation

11. LIABILITY FRAMEWORK ENHANCEMENTS

11.1 Liquidated Damages Schedule
Where actual damages are difficult to quantify, the parties agree the following are reasonable pre-estimates:
Confidentiality breach: £25,000 per incident (or actual loss, if higher);
IP infringement: 1.5× the direct revenue attributable to the breach. This clause does not limit statutory remedies
System Attack £100,000 plus remediation costs.
11.2 Insurance Requirements (a) Users generating >£100k annually must maintain:
  • Cyber liability coverage (£1m minimum)
  • Professional indemnity insurance
  • Proof of coverage upon request

12. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

12.1 Nothing excludes liability for: (a) Death/personal injury from negligence; (b) Fraud; (c) Statutory rights under Consumer Rights Act 2015. 12.2 Total liability capped at 125% of fees paid in the preceding 12 months. Exclusions: Loss of profits, data, or goodwill are expressly excluded unless caused by gross negligence.

13. INDEMNIFICATION

13.1 Expanded Liability Coverage You shall defend and indemnify GoldenEdgeBooks.com (including legal fees) against: (a) All third-party claims including:
  • Copyright infringement (DMCA/UKCDPA)
  • Data breaches (UK GDPR Articles 82-84)
  • Defamation/misrepresentation claims
This excludes:
  • Regulatory fines where Company is found directly liable under UK GDPR Article 83; and
  • Claims arising solely from Company’s breach of these Terms.
  • User remains liable for fines arising from their breach of data protection laws, except where Company’s negligence is proven.
User indemnifies Company for third-party claims (including legal fees) arising from:
  • User’s breach of these Terms; or
  • User Content’s unlawfulness. This excludes:
  • Fines/penalties imposed directly on the Company by regulators.
  • Claims caused by the Company’s negligence.
User’s indemnity obligations exclude claims arising solely from Company’s breach of these Terms. (b) Associated costs:
  • Legal fees (including appellate work)
  • Expert witness fees
  • Court-ordered damages
  • Compliance remediation costs
13.2 Enhanced Defence Process
Stage Your Obligations Timeframe
Notice Provide complete claim details 5 business days
Response Fund reasonable security deposit (maximum 20% of claimed damages 10 business days
Defence Weekly status reports Ongoing
Settlement Obtain written consent Pre-execution
Step-by-Step Indemnification Process (a) Notification:
  • Written claim detailing alleged damages
  • Supporting documentation
  • 30-day response window
(b) Defence:
  • User must fund all legal costs
  • Company controls proceedings
  • No settlements without consent
(c) Resolution:
  • Binding arbitration if unresolved
  • Costs awarded to prevailing party
13.3 False Claim Penalties (a) If indemnity demand is ruled frivolous:
  • You may recover legal costs + 20% premium
  • Future claims require escrow payment
(b) Malicious claims trigger:
  • Account termination
  • £25,000 liquidated damages
  • Potential defamation action

14. DISPUTE RESOLUTION SYSTEM

14.1 Tiered Resolution Pathway
  1. Mandatory Negotiation
  • 30-day cooling off period
  • Settlement offers without prejudice
  1. Mediation (London)
  • LCIA Rules
  • Split costs 50/50
  • Mediator selection within 14 days
  1. Arbitration (Alternative)
  • ICC Rules, London seat
  • Expedited procedure for claims <£100k
  • Final award enforceable under NY Convention
  1. Litigation
  • High Court of Justice, QB Division
  • Disclosure under CPR 31
  • Costs follow event principle
14.2 Special Provisions (a) Emergency arbitrator available for:
  • IP injunctions
  • Data protection breaches
  • Payment freezes
(b) Class Action Waiver: 14.2(b) Claims must be brought individually, except: (i) Where the Competition Appeal Tribunal permits collective proceedings; (ii) For group complaints to the ICO under UK GDPR; (iii) As otherwise required by the Financial Conduct Authority or other statutory regulator.

15. TERMS MODIFICATION FRAMEWORK

15.1 Change Categories
Change Type Notice Period Opt-Out Rights
Material (fee increases) 60 days Full refund if rejected
Operational (features) 30 days Service continuation
Legal (compliance) Immediate Termination without penalty
15.2 Version Control (a) Public archive of:
  • All historical versions
  • Redline comparisons
  • Effective dates
(b) Acceptance mechanisms:
  • Click-wrap for material changes
  • Browse-wrap for minor updates
  • Constructive notice for legal mandates

16. OFFICIAL COMMUNICATIONS & LEGAL NOTICES

16.1 Designated Contact Channels

All formal communications must be directed through the following authenticated channels:
Purpose Contact Method Response SLA
General Inquiries info@goldenedgebooks.com 5 business days
Legal Notices legal@goldenedgebooks.com 48 hours (urgent)
Copyright/DMCA Requests copyright@goldenedgebooks.com 10 business days
Data Protection Requests dpo@goldenedgebooks.com 30 calendar days (GDPR)
Payment Disputes billing@goldenedgebooks.com 7 business days

16.2 Legal Notice Requirements

Legal notices must be served: (a) By email to legal@goldenedgebooks.com with read receipt; AND (b) By registered post to: GoldenEdge Books Ltd 85 Great Portland Street First floor, London, W1W 7LT 16.2.1 Deemed received: (i) Email: 24 hours after sending (unless bounce-back); (ii) Post: 3 business days after mailing. (iii) Include:
  • “Legal Notice”in subject line
  • Full particulars of claim
  • Reference to relevant contract clauses

16.3 Electronic Communication Terms

(a) Deemed Receipt:
  • Emails: 24 hours after sending (unless bounce-back)
  • Account dashboard notices: Immediate upon posting
(b) Service Interruptions:
  • Technical failures don’t invalidate notices
  • Alternative contact methods must be used

16.4 Emergency Contact Protocol

For urgent matters (injunctions, data breaches):
  • Email: dpo@goldenedgebooks.com
  • Required information: » Nature of emergency » Relevant account details » Immediate harm being caused

16.5 Complaints Escalation Path

  1. First Response: CS Team (72 hours)
  2. Unresolved: Senior Management (14 days)
  3. Deadlock: Mediation per Section 13

17. GENERAL

17.1 Severability If any provision is invalid, the remainder remains enforceable. The parties will replace invalid terms with valid ones reflecting the original intent. 17.2 Third-Party Rights No rights under Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 unless expressly stated. 17.3 Force Majeure: Neither party is liable for delays caused by events beyond reasonable control (e.g., pandemics, cyberattacks), provided they notify the other party within 14 days.   17.4 Users may not assign rights under these Terms without written consent. Company may assign freely upon 30 days’ notice.   17.5 Sections 6 (Payments), 7 (IP), 9 (Data), 12 (Liability), and 13 (Indemnification) survive termination.   17.6 Notice of Breach Parties must notify material breaches within 14 days of discovery, with cure periods per Section 8.2.