Terms of Service

Last Updated: July 1, 2025

This Terms of Service Agreement (the “Agreement”) governs your relationship with BridgeWay Publishing, a U.S.-based publishing service provider headquartered at 12808 W Airport Blvd, Sugar Land, TX 77478 (“BridgeWay,” “we,” “our,” or “us”). By using our services, submitting content, or accessing our platform, you are entering into a legally binding contract with BridgeWay Publishing, either individually or as an authorized representative of a business, author, or organization (in which case “you” shall refer to that entity).

PLEASE READ THIS AGREEMENT CAREFULLY. BY USING OUR WEBSITE OR ANY RELATED SERVICES, YOU AGREE TO THE TERMS SET FORTH HEREIN. IF YOU DO NOT AGREE TO THESE TERMS, YOU MAY NOT USE OUR SERVICES.

We reserve the right to update or revise these Terms of Service at any time, with reasonable notice provided via email or our website. Continued use of our services after such notice constitutes your acceptance of the revised terms. If you disagree with the changes, you must discontinue use and request termination as outlined below.

1. Definitions

For purposes of this Agreement:

  • a) Author Content: Includes all manuscripts, illustrations, photographs, cover art, book metadata, biographical data, promotional text, and other material you submit to BridgeWay Publishing in connection with our services.
  • b) BridgeWay Services: Refers to all services provided by BridgeWay Publishing including but not limited to editorial, formatting, design, distribution, eBook conversion, marketing, printing, ISBN registration, and author website support.
  • c) Book Formats: Includes print books, eBooks, audiobooks, or any other digital or physical format used for publication.
  • d) Distribution Channels: Refers to all third-party retailers, marketplaces, and platforms (e.g., Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, etc.) through which BridgeWay distributes your content.
  • e) Metadata: Includes title, subtitle, author name, description, keywords, categories, ISBNs, BISAC codes, and other identifiers provided or generated in connection with your Book.
  • f) Licensee: Any third party authorized by BridgeWay to publish, distribute, promote, or sell your Book(s) under the terms outlined herein.
  • g) Territory: Refers to the global market unless otherwise limited by your distribution preferences submitted through your account.

2. Scope and Authorization

You appoint BridgeWay Publishing as your authorized service provider and non-exclusive distributor for the Author Content you submit. You retain full copyright ownership of your work. However, you grant BridgeWay the rights necessary to fulfill the services you purchase, including but not limited to:

  • Formatting and producing your content in print and/or digital formats.
  • Distributing your Book(s) via online and offline retailers.
  • Promoting, marketing, and showcasing your Book(s) on our website, through promotional channels, or third-party affiliates.
  • Collecting payments, managing sales data, and remitting royalties as outlined in Section 5.

You may continue to distribute and sell your Author Content independently. However, you may not use competing third-party aggregators or distributors for the same content BridgeWay is managing on your behalf without revoking BridgeWay’s distribution rights first.

3. Rights and License

By submitting Author Content, you grant BridgeWay and its authorized Licensees the non-exclusive, sublicensable, worldwide right to:

  • a) Reproduce, reformat, and prepare your content for printing, eBook conversion, and/or audiobook production.
  • b) Distribute and sell your Book(s) in physical or digital formats via various retail channels, websites, libraries, and wholesale networks.
  • c) Use and display metadata and promotional excerpts (“Samples”) for marketing and catalog purposes.
  • d) Share preview sections or review copies with potential customers, bookstores, and media outlets.
  • e) Use the author’s name, likeness, and bio in promotional materials, provided they were submitted voluntarily.
  • f) Create derivative formats (e.g., audiobooks) using AI narration or human voice talent, if explicitly authorized by you during service signup.
  • g) Modify metadata (not manuscript) to meet distributor or marketplace formatting requirements.

This license is revocable only upon cancellation of services, subject to the terms outlined in Section 4.

4. Term and Termination

This Agreement becomes effective upon your first use of our services and remains in force until terminated.

Termination by You: You may terminate this Agreement by submitting a written request to info@bridgewaypublishing.com. Include your name, registered email, and the title(s) you wish to remove from distribution. Please allow 5–10 business days for processing. Retailer and partner platforms may take up to 6 weeks to delist your titles.

Termination by BridgeWay: We reserve the right to suspend or terminate your access and services at any time if you breach this Agreement, submit fraudulent material, violate our Content Policy, or fail to pay applicable fees.

Upon termination, BridgeWay will cease distribution of the specified title(s) but is not liable for ongoing availability in retail caches or third-party systems.

5. Royalties and Payments

5.1 Royalty Structure

For books sold through BridgeWay’s third-party retail distribution network (including but not limited to Amazon, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, IngramSpark), you will receive:

  • eBooks: 100% of the net proceeds received by BridgeWay, after the retailer’s fees and applicable taxes are deducted.
  • Print Books (POD): A fixed royalty per unit, based on the retail price minus printing cost, distributor margin, and applicable taxes or fees.
  • Audiobooks (if applicable): If authorized by you, BridgeWay will remit 75% of net proceeds received from retail partners on audiobooks generated and distributed through our platform.

“Net proceeds” are defined as the amount received from the retailer after deducting their commission, processing fees, and any promotional discounts or third-party charges.

BridgeWay does not take a commission from eBook or audiobook sales. For print books, pricing and margin schedules are disclosed during the production setup and are subject to changes based on printing costs and global market rates.

5.2 Direct Sales and Author Webstore

If you sell books through BridgeWay’s author store or a direct-to-reader page hosted by us:

  • eBooks: You receive 85% of the transaction amount after payment processing fees and taxes.
  • Print Books: You receive a set amount per copy based on your agreed pricing and cost parameters.

You may set your own prices for direct sales. We recommend pricing competitively in line with similar titles in your genre and format.

5.3 Payment Threshold and Schedule

Royalties are paid monthly via ACH direct deposit, PayPal, or check (U.S. only), provided your account balance exceeds the minimum threshold of $25 USD. You may adjust this threshold at any time through your author dashboard.

Payments are made within the first 7 business days of each month for the prior month's royalties. Payments held under the threshold will roll over until the threshold is met.

5.4 Withholding and Taxes

All authors must submit a valid W-9 (U.S.) or W-8BEN (non-U.S.) tax form before receiving payments. BridgeWay is required to report royalty earnings to the IRS and may withhold taxes in compliance with U.S. federal tax regulations.

You are solely responsible for reporting your income and paying taxes in your local jurisdiction. BridgeWay does not provide legal or tax advice.

6. Author Representations and Obligations

By submitting Author Content to BridgeWay, you represent and warrant that:

  • You are the original author, rights-holder, or authorized representative of the work.
  • You have secured all rights, permissions, and licenses required for any third-party content (e.g., images, music, co-authors).
  • Your content does not infringe upon the intellectual property or privacy rights of any person or entity.
  • Your submission is not defamatory, libelous, or in violation of applicable law.
  • Your book does not contain harmful misinformation, hate speech, or materials that promote illegal or unsafe conduct.
  • You have not used AI-generated content without appropriate disclosures and editing for accuracy.

You are responsible for the accuracy of your content, metadata, and marketing materials. BridgeWay is not liable for any editorial errors, factual inaccuracies, or legal disputes arising from the Author Content.

7. Content Policy

BridgeWay reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to reject, suspend, or remove Author Content from its website, platforms, or distribution network for any of the following reasons:

  • The content violates copyright, trademark, or publicity rights.
  • The content is found to be plagiarized, pirated, or otherwise fraudulent.
  • The content includes hate speech, graphic violence, illegal activity, or adult content not labeled appropriately.
  • The content violates the terms of third-party retailers or Licensees.
  • The content is generated using deceptive SEO practices or spam tactics.
  • The content presents health, financial, or legal advice without proper disclaimers.

We believe in creative freedom but also maintain ethical and professional publishing standards. We reserve the right to modify metadata or refuse distribution through any partner at any time if the content violates their terms or industry norms.

If your content is rejected or delisted, you will be notified with the reason. Service fees are not refundable if the rejection occurs after file delivery or fulfillment.

8. Fees and Pricing Adjustments

The services you order from BridgeWay (e.g., editing, design, formatting, publishing, distribution) are subject to fees published on our website or quoted via proposal. These fees are payable upfront unless otherwise agreed in writing.

BridgeWay reserves the right to adjust service fees at any time. If pricing changes affect services not yet fulfilled, you will be notified in advance and given the option to cancel or proceed under the new terms.

Coupons, discounts, and promotions are non-transferable, non-refundable, and expire 90 days after issue unless stated otherwise.

9. Withdrawal of Content

You may request removal of any Book or Author Content previously submitted to BridgeWay at any time during the term of this Agreement. To do so, please submit a written request to info@bridgewaypublishing.com with:

  • Your full name
  • Email address associated with your account
  • The exact title(s) you wish to remove
  • Subject line: “Withdrawal of Title – [Title Name]”

Upon receipt of your request, BridgeWay will begin the delisting process with our retail partners. Please note that full removal from all third-party channels may take up to 6 weeks or longer, especially with international and library distribution networks.

Withdrawal does not affect prior transactions or royalties already accrued. BridgeWay is not liable for residual listings, caches, or listings on unauthorized third-party websites outside of its control.

10. Promotional Use and Author Identity

10.1 Use of Author Name, Likeness, and Bio

By submitting Author Content, you grant BridgeWay a non-exclusive right to use your name, image, biography, and submitted promotional assets in marketing your work. This includes use in:

  • Book landing pages
  • Social media posts
  • Digital ads, email campaigns
  • Catalogs, newsletters, and trade materials

These uses are intended solely to promote the sale and visibility of your book and are not compensated separately unless otherwise agreed in writing.

10.2 Use of Book Metadata and Samples

BridgeWay may display short excerpts (“Samples”) of your content online or in marketing campaigns to promote your book. Samples will not exceed 10% of your manuscript unless explicitly authorized by you.

BridgeWay and its partners may format, compress, or alter metadata for marketing purposes, such as to fit platform requirements or align with genre-specific discovery tags.

11. Ownership and Intellectual Property

You retain full copyright ownership of all submitted Author Content.

BridgeWay Publishing makes no claim to ownership of your manuscript or associated creative works. All rights not expressly granted to BridgeWay in this Agreement remain yours.

However, you grant us the limited rights necessary to fulfill the services you have ordered, including the creation of derivative files (e.g., print-ready PDFs, EPUBs, MOBI, MP3s) and to manage distribution and royalty tracking.

BridgeWay reserves the right to archive copies of submitted content and materials for legal, compliance, and accounting purposes, even after withdrawal.

12. Account Access and Responsibilities

You are solely responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account login credentials and for all activities conducted through your account. You agree to:

  • Provide accurate, current, and complete registration information.
  • Promptly update your account if your contact, payment, or tax details change.
  • Notify BridgeWay immediately of unauthorized access or suspected breaches.

If you allow agents or representatives to access your account, you assume full responsibility for their actions. BridgeWay is not responsible for errors made by third parties with authorized account access.

BridgeWay reserves the right to suspend or terminate accounts found to be compromised, abusive, or in violation of this Agreement.

13. Prohibited Conduct

You agree not to use BridgeWay’s services, website, or distribution tools for any unlawful, abusive, or unethical purposes. This includes but is not limited to:

  • Uploading content that infringes on the rights of others.
  • Plagiarizing or submitting works that are not your own.
  • Distributing libelous, pornographic, hateful, or defamatory material.
  • Creating fake accounts or engaging in click fraud.
  • Using metadata to deceive or manipulate search rankings (SEO spamming).
  • Uploading viruses, malware, or other harmful code.
  • Harassing or threatening BridgeWay employees or partners.

Violations may result in immediate termination of services, removal of content, forfeiture of royalties, and legal action where applicable.

14. Availability of Services

BridgeWay services are offered on an “as-is” and “as-available” basis. While we aim for uninterrupted access to your dashboard, files, and reports, we do not guarantee continuous uptime, and planned maintenance or technical issues may cause temporary outages.

BridgeWay may also modify or discontinue parts of the website, services, or tools without prior notice. You are encouraged to keep backup copies of all your work.

BridgeWay is not responsible for any data loss, missed opportunities, or reputational harm due to outages, delays, or technical issues beyond our control.

15. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law:

  • BridgeWay shall not be liable for any incidental, indirect, special, consequential, or punitive damages, including loss of revenue, data, goodwill, or anticipated profits.
  • BridgeWay’s total liability for any claims arising out of or related to this Agreement shall not exceed the amount of fees actually paid to you for book sales over the past six (6) months.
  • BridgeWay is not responsible for errors or delays caused by third-party retailers, distributors, printers, or payment processors.
  • No advice or information provided by BridgeWay constitutes a guarantee or warranty regarding sales, reviews, or book success.

Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion or limitation of certain damages. If this applies to you, some or all of these exclusions may not apply, but liability will remain limited to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law.

16. Dispute Resolution and Governing Law

This Agreement is governed by the laws of the State of Texas, without regard to its conflict of laws principles. You agree that any disputes or claims arising out of or relating to this Agreement, your use of our services, or any content published through BridgeWay shall be resolved in the state or federal courts located in Fort Bend County, Texas, and you hereby consent to the exclusive jurisdiction of those courts.

16.1 Informal Dispute Resolution

Before initiating any formal legal proceeding, both parties agree to attempt to resolve disputes informally by contacting the other party in writing and allowing up to 30 days for resolution. You may send your notice to:

12808 W Airport Blvd Sugar Land, TX 77478
Email: info@bridgewaypublishing.com

BridgeWay may contact you via the email address on file in your author account.

17. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless BridgeWay Publishing and its affiliates, employees, contractors, and partners from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, judgments, costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorney’s fees) arising out of or related to:

  • Any breach of your representations or warranties under this Agreement
  • Your violation of any law or the rights of a third party
  • Infringement or alleged infringement of any intellectual property or privacy rights
  • Any content you submit or distribute through BridgeWay’s services
  • Disputes or claims related to co-authors, collaborators, or third-party content suppliers

We reserve the right to control the defense of any matter subject to indemnification at your expense.

18. Copyright Infringement – DMCA Policy

BridgeWay Publishing respects intellectual property laws and expects its users to do the same.

18.1 Copyright Complaints

If you believe that any book or material on our platform infringes your copyright, you may submit a DMCA-compliant takedown notice to our designated agent. Your notice must include:

  • Your full name and signature (physical or digital)
  • Identification of the copyrighted work
  • Identification of the infringing material
  • A statement of good faith belief that the use is unauthorized
  • A statement, under penalty of perjury, that the information is accurate and you are authorized to act
  • Contact information (email, address, phone)
Designated Agent – DMCA Compliance

12808 W Airport Blvd Sugar Land, TX 77478

Email: info@bridgewaypublishing.com

18.2 Counter Notice

If you believe your material was removed in error, you may file a counter notice. It must include:

  • Your signature
  • Identification of the material removed and its location
  • A statement under penalty of perjury of your good faith belief the removal was a mistake
  • Your name, address, and consent to jurisdiction in Texas
  • A statement agreeing to accept service of process from the complainant

BridgeWay will forward valid counter notices to the original complainant and restore content in 10–14 business days unless the complainant files legal action.

False notices or counter-notices may result in legal liability under the DMCA.

19. General Provisions

19.1 Relationship of the Parties

This Agreement does not create a joint venture, agency, employment, or partnership relationship between you and BridgeWay Publishing. You are acting as an independent content provider.

19.2 Entire Agreement

This Agreement, along with our Privacy Policy and any signed service proposals or statements of work, constitutes the entire understanding between you and BridgeWay regarding your use of our services.

19.3 Assignment

You may not assign or transfer this Agreement without our prior written consent. BridgeWay may assign this Agreement in the event of a corporate sale, merger, or acquisition.

19.4 Force Majeure

BridgeWay is not liable for delays or failures caused by events beyond its reasonable control, including acts of God, war, cyberattacks, labor disruptions, internet outages, or government actions.

19.5 Severability

If any provision of this Agreement is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the remainder shall remain in full force and effect.

19.6 No Waiver

No failure or delay by BridgeWay in exercising any right shall constitute a waiver of that right.

20. U.S. Government Users

BridgeWay Publishing complies with applicable U.S. federal procurement laws and does not intentionally solicit or display advertising on federal agency content.

If you are using BridgeWay services on behalf of a U.S. government agency, additional restrictions and exceptions may apply. These include:

  • No endorsement: Use of BridgeWay does not constitute government endorsement of our services or content.
  • Indemnity clauses: To the extent prohibited by federal law, indemnity obligations in this Agreement shall not apply to federal agencies.
  • Record retention: BridgeWay will cooperate with any federal requirements for access, control, and preservation of official records as required by the Federal Records Act.
  • Data security: BridgeWay follows standard commercial security practices and will reasonably cooperate with agencies to meet FISMA compliance upon request.

Please contact info@bridgewaypublishing.com if your agency requires a custom addendum for federal procurement compliance.