Terms of Service

1. Acceptance of Terms

Welcome to ButterNovel! By accessing or using our website and services, you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"). If you do not agree to these Terms, please do not use our services.

We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. Your continued use of ButterNovel after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the modified Terms.

2. Description of Services

ButterNovel is a free online platform that provides:

• Access to read millions of user-generated novels and stories
• Tools for writers to publish and share their creative works
• Community features including comments, ratings, and social interactions
• Personalized reading recommendations

3. User Accounts

3.1 Account Creation

To access certain features, you must create an account. You agree to provide accurate, current, and complete information during registration and to update such information to keep it accurate.

3.2 Account Security

You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials and for all activities that occur under your account. You must immediately notify us of any unauthorized use of your account.

3.3 Age Requirement

You must be at least 13 years old to create an account. If you are under 18, you must have parental or guardian consent to use our services.

4. User Content

4.1 Content Ownership

You retain all ownership rights to content you submit, post, or display on ButterNovel ("User Content"). By submitting User Content, you grant us a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use, reproduce, modify, distribute, and display your content on our platform.

4.2 Content Responsibilities

You are solely responsible for your User Content. You represent and warrant that:

• You own or have the necessary rights to submit the content
• Your content does not infringe on any third-party rights
• Your content complies with these Terms and applicable laws

4.3 Prohibited Content

You may not submit content that:

• Infringes on intellectual property rights or plagiarizes others' work
• Contains hate speech, harassment, or promotes violence
• Contains explicit sexual content involving minors
• Promotes illegal activities or terrorism
• Contains spam, malware, or phishing attempts
• Impersonates another person or entity
• Violates privacy rights of others

4.4 Content Rating

Writers must accurately rate their content for mature themes, violence, or explicit content. Failure to properly rate content may result in content removal or account suspension.

5. Acceptable Use Policy

You agree not to:

• Use our services for any illegal purpose
• Attempt to gain unauthorized access to our systems
• Interfere with or disrupt the services or servers
• Use automated systems (bots) without our permission
• Collect information about other users without consent
• Create multiple accounts to manipulate ratings or views
• Engage in harassment, bullying, or abusive behavior
• Circumvent any access restrictions or security features

6. Intellectual Property Rights

6.1 ButterNovel's Rights

All rights, title, and interest in ButterNovel's services, including our logo, design, text, graphics, and software, are owned by us or our licensors and are protected by copyright, trademark, and other laws.

6.2 Copyright Infringement

We respect intellectual property rights and expect our users to do the same. If you believe content on ButterNovel infringes your copyright, please contact us with:

• Identification of the copyrighted work
• Location of the infringing material
• Your contact information
• A statement of good faith belief that the use is not authorized
• A statement that the information is accurate and you are authorized to act

Send copyright notices to: copyright@butternovel.com

7. Content Moderation

We reserve the right to review, monitor, and remove any content that violates these Terms or is otherwise objectionable. However, we are not obligated to monitor all content and are not responsible for user-generated content.

Violations may result in content removal, account suspension, or permanent ban without notice.

8. Privacy

Your use of ButterNovel is also governed by our Privacy Policy. Please review our Privacy Policy to understand our practices regarding your personal information.

9. Disclaimers

9.1 Service "As Is"

ButterNovel is provided "as is" and "as available" without warranties of any kind, either express or implied, including but not limited to warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or non-infringement.

9.2 User Content Disclaimer

We do not endorse, support, represent, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any user-generated content. Views expressed in user content do not represent our views.

9.3 No Guarantee of Service

We do not guarantee that our services will be uninterrupted, secure, or error-free. We may modify, suspend, or discontinue any aspect of our services at any time without notice.

10. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, ButterNovel and its affiliates 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 of our services.

11. Indemnification

You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless ButterNovel, its affiliates, and their respective officers, directors, employees, and agents from any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, and expenses (including attorney's fees) arising out of or related to your use of our services, your User Content, or your violation of these Terms.

12. Termination

We may terminate or suspend your account and access to our services immediately, without prior notice or liability, for any reason, including if you breach these Terms.

You may terminate your account at any time by contacting us. Upon termination, your right to use the services will immediately cease, but your User Content may remain available on our platform unless you request deletion.

13. Dispute Resolution

13.1 Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with applicable laws, without regard to conflict of law principles.

13.2 Arbitration

Any dispute arising out of or relating to these Terms or our services shall be resolved through binding arbitration, except that either party may seek injunctive relief in court for intellectual property infringement.

14. General Provisions

14.1 Entire Agreement

These Terms constitute the entire agreement between you and ButterNovel regarding the use of our services.

14.2 Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will remain in full force and effect.

14.3 Waiver

Our failure to enforce any right or provision of these Terms will not constitute a waiver of such right or provision.

15. Contact Information

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