Terms & Conditions

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Last Updated: August 20, 2026

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These Terms & Conditions (“Terms”) govern your access to and use of the Audiobook Release website, audiobook production services, publishing and distribution services, digital products, client portals, and related services.b These services are provided by Audiobook Release LLC, doing business as Audiobook Release (“Audiobook Release,” “we,” “our,” or “us”). By accessing our website, purchasing or using our services, approving a project, or otherwise engaging Audiobook Release to perform services, you agree to these Terms and any applicable written quote, invoice, proposal, production agreement, or statement of work. If you do not agree to these Terms, please do not use our services.

 

1. About Our Services

Audiobook Release provides services that may include:

• Audiobook production

• Narrator casting and coordination

• Narration recording

• Editing, mixing, mastering, and quality control

• Self-narration coaching and recording guidance

• Audiobook publishing and distribution assistance

• Technical preparation for audiobook platforms

• Promotional landing pages and marketing assets

• Private audiobook delivery

• Audiobook trailers, samples, and related promotional materials

• Other audiobook-related production and consulting services

The exact services included in a project will be determined by the applicable quote, invoice, proposal, production agreement, or other written communication between Audiobook Release and the client. These Terms apply to authors, publishers, narrators, clients, customers, website visitors, and other users of our services where applicable.

 

2. Client Responsibilities

By using our services, you represent and agree that you:

• Will provide accurate and complete information regarding your project

• Own or have obtained all necessary rights and permissions for materials you submit

• Will not submit unlawful, infringing, fraudulent, defamatory, hateful, or otherwise prohibited content

• Will review requested materials and production stages in a timely manner

• Will provide accurate publishing information and metadata

• Will provide necessary pronunciation information and manuscript guidance

• Will communicate requested changes and corrections within applicable review periods

• Understand that project schedules depend partly upon your responsiveness and cooperation

You are responsible for the accuracy and legality of manuscripts, artwork, metadata, publishing information, trademarks, music, photographs, and other materials you provide.

 

3. Intellectual Property & Ownership

3.1 Client-Owned Materials

You retain ownership of manuscripts, book rights, artwork, and other original creative materials that you provide to Audiobook Release.

By providing materials to us, you grant Audiobook Release a limited right to use, reproduce, modify, process, transmit, and provide those materials to narrators, engineers, distributors, and service providers as reasonably necessary to perform the contracted services.

You represent that you have the legal authority to grant these rights.

 

3.2 Production Work Created by Audiobook Release

Until all amounts owed for a project have been paid in full, Audiobook Release retains its rights and interests in production work created by Audiobook Release for that project, including edited recordings, mixes, masters, and production files, to the extent permitted by law and applicable agreements.

Once full payment has been received, the client receives the ownership or usage rights to the completed audiobook production specified in the applicable project agreement.

This transfer does not include ownership of:

• A narrator's voice or vocal identity

• Rights outside the scope of the narrator's agreed performance

• Audiobook Release's production methods, systems, templates, software, workflows, or proprietary processes

• Third-party intellectual property

• Music, artwork, fonts, software, stock materials, or other assets licensed separately

• Raw working materials unless their delivery is specifically included in the project agreement

Any third-party material remains subject to its applicable licence.

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3.3 Portfolio and Promotional Use

Unless otherwise agreed in writing, Audiobook Release may:

• Identify completed titles as projects produced or serviced by Audiobook Release

• Display audiobook covers and publicly available project information

• Use reasonable excerpts from completed productions for portfolios, demos, reels, promotional materials, and examples of our work

We will not claim ownership of the client's underlying book or manuscript.

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4. Narrators & Voice Talent

4.1 Narrator Selection

When Audiobook Release assists with narrator casting, the client may be provided with auditions, samples, or other materials to assist with selection.

The client's approval of a narrator constitutes authorization for Audiobook Release and the narrator to proceed with the project.

 

4.2 Extended Samples

Audiobook Release may require or recommend approval of an extended sample before full production begins.

Approval of an extended sample confirms the client's acceptance of the narrator's general:

• Voice

• Tone

• Pacing

• Character approach

• Accent, where applicable

• Performance style

• Recording quality

Once the narrator or extended sample has been approved and substantial recording has begun, a request to replace the narrator or substantially change the approved performance direction may result in additional charges.

 

4.3 Narrator Recordings

Narrator recordings are licensed for use in the contracted audiobook and authorized promotion and distribution associated with that audiobook unless otherwise agreed in writing. The client does not acquire ownership of the narrator's voice, vocal identity, likeness, or the general ability to reproduce that voice.

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5. Manuscripts, Pronunciations & Author Changes

5.1 Final Manuscript

Unless otherwise agreed, the manuscript supplied for production should be the final approved manuscript.

Once recording has begun, changes to the manuscript requested by the client are considered author changes, not narration errors.

Author changes may result in additional narration, editing, engineering, administrative, or production charges.

 

5.2 Pronunciation Guidance

Before recording begins, the client is responsible for providing pronunciation guidance for unusual or potentially ambiguous material, including:

• Names

• Foreign-language words

• Technical terminology

• Invented words

• Acronyms

• Locations

• Brand names

• Specialized industry terminology

If pronunciation guidance was not provided before recording, corrections resulting from previously undisclosed pronunciation requirements may be treated as author changes and may incur additional fees.

Actual narrator mispronunciations contrary to supplied guidance or commonly accepted pronunciation may be corrected as part of standard production.

 

6. Review, Approval & Corrections

Clients are responsible for reviewing materials submitted for approval. Unless another review period is specified in writing, clients should provide approvals or correction requests within 30 days of receiving material for review. If we do not receive a response within 30 days, Audiobook Release may place the project on hold.

Extended inactivity may affect:

• Narrator availability

• Production scheduling

• Previously estimated completion dates

• Pricing

• Distribution schedules

If a project remains inactive for 90 days or more because the client has not responded, Audiobook Release may administratively close the project.

Reactivation may be subject to availability and a reasonable reactivation or administrative fee.

Administrative closure does not eliminate amounts already owed for completed work, narrator services, or expenses incurred.

 

7. Revisions

7.1 Standard Corrections

Standard corrections generally include:

• Narrator misreads

• Narrator mispronunciations where appropriate guidance was provided

• Missing words or phrases

• Repeated words caused by narration errors

• Technical production errors

• Adjustments necessary to satisfy applicable technical specifications

 

7.2 Client-Requested Revisions

Additional charges may apply to:

• Manuscript changes after recording begins

• Rewritten passages

• Added material

• Deleted or substantially reorganized material

• Changes in creative direction after approval

• Replacement of an approved narrator

• Large-scale re-recording requested for preference rather than error

• New pronunciation requirements supplied after recording

• Changes requested after final approval

Audiobook Release will make reasonable efforts to inform the client of significant additional charges before performing chargeable revision work.

 

8. Payments & Fees

Pricing will be established through the applicable quote, invoice, pricing plan, or production agreement.

Payment structures may include:

• Upfront payments

• Deposits

• Milestone payments

• Per-finished-hour pricing

• Flat-rate project pricing

• Final balances due before delivery

Payments must be made according to the agreed schedule.

If payment becomes overdue, Audiobook Release may:

• Pause production

• Withhold final files

• Suspend publishing or distribution work

• Suspend account or portal access

• Delay delivery

Rights and final deliverables that are conditioned upon full payment will not transfer until the applicable balance has been paid.

Clients remain responsible for authorized work already completed and costs already incurred.

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9. Narrator Fees & Cancellation

Once a narrator has been engaged or has begun work, the client may be responsible for narrator fees associated with work already performed.

If the client cancels the project, changes narrators after approval, or materially changes the project after narration begins, the client may be responsible for:

• Narration already completed

• Applicable narrator cancellation fees

• Re-recording costs

• Editing and engineering already completed

• Administrative and production work

• Other non-refundable project expenses

A client's decision not to use completed narration does not automatically eliminate payment obligations for authorized work already performed.

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10. Refunds & Cancellations

10.1 Refunds

Because audiobook production involves customized creative and technical services, payments generally become non-refundable once the corresponding work has begun.

Refunds may be considered when:

• Production has not begun

• A narrator has not been engaged

• No non-refundable expenses have been incurred

Approved refunds may be reduced by payment-processing fees, narrator expenses, third-party costs, or other non-refundable charges.

 

10.2 Cancellation

Clients may request cancellation in writing.

If cancellation occurs after production has begun, the client remains responsible for authorized services performed and expenses incurred through the cancellation date.

 

11. Project Timelines

Any completion date or production timeline provided by Audiobook Release is an estimate unless expressly guaranteed in a separate written agreement.

Project schedules may be affected by:

• Book length

• Project complexity

• Narrator availability

• Author revisions

• Client response times

• Re-recording requirements

• Technical issues

• Distribution platform processing

• Third-party delays

• Circumstances beyond our reasonable control

Audiobook Release will make reasonable efforts to meet estimated schedules and communicate significant known delays.

 

12. Publishing & Distribution Services

When Audiobook Release provides publishing or distribution assistance, you authorize us to submit applicable materials on your behalf.

Depending upon the service purchased:

• You retain applicable book rights and royalties

• You are responsible for supplying accurate metadata

• You are responsible for supplying required tax, payment, banking, or business information

• Third-party platforms determine their own acceptance and processing requirements

• Platform review and processing times are outside our control

Audiobook Release does not guarantee acceptance, continued availability, sales, placement, rankings, reviews, or financial performance on any third-party platform.

We are not responsible for third-party:

• Platform outages

• Processing delays

• Account restrictions

• Royalty delays

• Policy changes

• Content removals

• Technical failures

• Business closures or service interruptions

References to third-party platforms, companies, trademarks, or services do not imply sponsorship, affiliation, or endorsement unless expressly stated.

All third-party names and trademarks remain the property of their respective owners.

 

13. Private Audiobook Delivery

If Audiobook Release provides private audiobook delivery through podcast feeds, applications, download links, or similar technology:

• Access is limited to authorized listeners

• Clients and listeners may not unlawfully redistribute private feeds or files

• Access credentials and private links should not be publicly shared

• Compatibility may vary between devices and third-party applications

Audiobook Release is not responsible for problems caused by third-party applications, individual devices, internet connections, operating systems, or services outside our control.

 

14. File Storage & Retention

Audiobook Release is not a permanent archival or backup service.

We may retain project files, raw recordings, working sessions, masters, and related materials for a reasonable period following completion or termination of a project.

Unless a different retention period is agreed in writing, clients should download and securely store all final files promptly after delivery.

Audiobook Release does not guarantee indefinite retention of:

• Raw recordings

• Editing sessions

• Project files

• Source files

• Master files

• Previous revisions

• Client-uploaded materials

Files may be permanently deleted after a reasonable retention period.

Clients are responsible for maintaining their own permanent backups of delivered materials.

 

15. AI Voice Duplication & Voice Protection

Narrator voice recordings supplied, created, or made available through Audiobook Release may not be used without express written authorization for:

• AI voice cloning

• AI model training

• Machine-learning datasets

• Synthetic voice generation

• Text-to-speech voice creation

• Digital voice replicas

• Voice simulations

• Derivative synthetic voices

• Automated reproduction of a narrator's vocal identity

This prohibition applies to:

• Auditions

• Narration samples

• Raw recordings

• Studio recordings

• Edited narration

• Mastered audiobook files

• Outtakes and alternate takes

• Any other recording containing a narrator's performance

The client's rights are limited to authorized use of the narrator's performance in the contracted audiobook and related authorized promotion or distribution.

Purchasing audiobook production services does not grant the client the right to clone, synthesize, model, reproduce, or create a digital replica of a narrator's voice.

Unauthorized AI-related use may result in:

• Immediate suspension or termination of services

• Revocation of applicable usage rights where legally permitted

• Legal action

• Claims for damages

• Other remedies available under applicable agreements or law

These protections apply to narrators, contractors, and voice talent providing services through Audiobook Release.

16. Website & Account Use

Users may not:

• Attempt to gain unauthorized access to our website, systems, accounts, or client portals

• Interfere with website security or operation

• Introduce malicious code

• Use our website for fraudulent or unlawful purposes

• Scrape, harvest, systematically copy, or extract website content or data without authorization

• Attempt to circumvent security or access restrictions

• Impersonate another person or organization

• Use another user's account without authorization

Users are responsible for maintaining the security of their login credentials.

Audiobook Release may suspend or terminate accounts where misuse or unauthorized activity is suspected.

 

17. Audiobook Release Website Content

Unless otherwise indicated, website content created by Audiobook Release—including text, graphics, branding, layouts, original marketing materials, and other proprietary content—is owned by or licensed to Audiobook Release LLC.

You may not reproduce, distribute, commercially exploit, or substantially copy our proprietary website content without permission, except as permitted by law.

Client-owned book covers, audiobook excerpts, trademarks, and other third-party materials remain the property of their respective owners.

 

18. Third-Party Links & Services

Our website and services may contain links to or integrate with third-party websites, applications, payment processors, hosting providers, distributors, and other services.

Audiobook Release does not control those third parties and is not responsible for their:

• Content

• Security

• Availability

• Privacy practices

• Policies

• Terms

• Performance

Use of third-party services may be governed by separate terms between you and the third-party provider.

19. Electronic Communications & Approvals

You agree that communications relating to your project may occur electronically, including through:

• Email

• Client portals

• Website forms

• Electronic invoices

• File-sharing platforms

• Electronic signatures

• Other agreed electronic communication methods

Where permitted by applicable law, electronic approvals, authorizations, signatures, and confirmations may constitute valid authorization to proceed with project work.

Clients are responsible for reviewing communications sent to the contact information they provide.

 

20. Privacy

Our collection and use of personal information is governed by our Privacy Policy.

By using our website and services, you acknowledge that information may be processed as reasonably necessary to provide services, administer projects, communicate with users, process payments, and fulfil applicable legal obligations.

 

21. Disclaimer of Warranties

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, our website and services are provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis.

Audiobook Release does not guarantee:

• Audiobook sales

• Royalties

• Listener engagement

• Rankings

• Reviews

• Commercial success

• Acceptance by a particular platform

• Any specific financial result

Audiobook Release will make reasonable efforts to provide professional production services and prepare applicable audiobook files according to the technical requirements of the intended platform that are known to us at the time of production.

 

22. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, Audiobook Release LLC and its members, employees, contractors, and representatives will not be liable for indirect, incidental, special, exemplary, or consequential damages arising from the use of our website or services.

This includes, where permitted by law:

• Lost profits

• Lost royalties

• Lost sales

• Lost opportunities

• Third-party platform delays

• Platform outages

• Unauthorized third-party sharing

• Loss of data caused by third-party services

• Changes to third-party policies

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the total aggregate liability of Audiobook Release arising from a particular service or project will not exceed the amount actually paid to Audiobook Release for the service or project giving rise to the claim.

Nothing in these Terms excludes liability that cannot legally be excluded or limited.

 

23. Indemnification

To the fullest extent permitted by law, you agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless Audiobook Release LLC and its members, employees, contractors, representatives, and service providers from claims, damages, liabilities, losses, and reasonable costs arising from:

• Materials you provide

• Your violation of these Terms

• Your infringement of another person's intellectual property or other legal rights

• Your unauthorized use of narrator recordings

• False or inaccurate representations regarding ownership or publishing rights

• Your unlawful use of our services

This provision does not apply to the extent a claim results directly from Audiobook Release's own conduct for which indemnification cannot lawfully be required.

 

24. Force Majeure

Audiobook Release will not be responsible for delays or failure to perform caused by events beyond our reasonable control, including:

• Natural disasters

• Severe weather

• Fire

• Power or internet outages

• Serious illness or incapacity affecting essential personnel or talent

• Government actions

• War or civil disturbance

• Labor disruptions

• Cyberattacks

• Third-party service outages

• Distribution platform failures

• Other circumstances beyond our reasonable control

We will make reasonable efforts to resume affected services when practicable.

 

25. Suspension & Termination

Audiobook Release may suspend or terminate services or account access if:

• Payments are overdue

• These Terms are violated

• Fraudulent, unlawful, abusive, or threatening conduct occurs

• Submitted materials infringe third-party rights

• Continued work could expose Audiobook Release, its contractors, or narrators to unreasonable legal or financial risk

Where reasonably possible, we will provide notice before termination.

Termination does not eliminate payment obligations for authorized services already performed or expenses already incurred.

Provisions concerning intellectual property, payments, narrator rights, AI voice protection, limitations of liability, indemnification, and other provisions that by their nature should survive termination will continue after termination.

 

26. Governing Law & Disputes

These Terms and any dispute arising from the website or services of Audiobook Release LLC will be governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia, without regard to conflict-of-law principles.

To the extent permitted by applicable law, legal proceedings arising from these Terms or our services shall be brought in a court of competent jurisdiction located in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Before initiating formal litigation, the parties are encouraged to make a good-faith effort to resolve the dispute through direct written communication.

 

27. Changes to These Terms

Audiobook Release may update these Terms periodically.

The current version will be posted on our website with a revised “Last Updated” date.

Changes will apply prospectively from their effective date unless otherwise required by law.

Continued use of the website or services after updated Terms become effective constitutes acceptance of those Terms to the extent permitted by applicable law.

 

28. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found invalid, unlawful, or unenforceable, that provision will be enforced to the maximum extent permitted by law or severed where necessary.

The remaining provisions will continue in full force and effect.

 

29. Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with any applicable quote, invoice, proposal, production agreement, statement of work, Privacy Policy, and other written agreement between Audiobook Release and the client, constitute the agreement governing the applicable services.

If a specific signed production agreement or statement of work expressly conflicts with these general Terms, the specific written agreement will control with respect to that project.

 

30. Contact Information

Questions regarding these Terms & Conditions may be submitted through the Contact Us page on the Audiobook Release website.

Audiobook Release LLC
Virginia, United States