Terms and Conditions

Welcome to Inkshift. By using our free manuscript critique service ("Service"), you agree to the following terms and conditions ("Terms"). Please read them carefully.

1. Acceptance of Terms & Governing Law

By accessing or using Inkshift, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms and our separate Privacy Policy, which is incorporated by reference. You also agree to comply with all applicable laws and regulations. If you do not agree with these Terms or the Privacy Policy, please do not use the Service.

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Province of British Columbia, Canada, without regard to its conflict of law principles. You agree to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts located in British Columbia for the resolution of any disputes arising out of or relating to these Terms or the Service.

Inkshift is currently operated as a general partnership based in British Columbia, Canada.

2. Use of the Service

Inkshift allows you to upload original fiction manuscripts ("Your Content") to receive critiques generated by artificial intelligence ("AI Critiques"). AI Critiques may include feedback on structure, characters, prose, market positioning, and publishing considerations. Your uploaded manuscript drafts are automatically and permanently deleted from our active systems shortly after the AI Critique generation is complete. The generated AI Critiques are saved to your account for your future access, subject to the data retention details in our Privacy Policy.

3. Accounts, Privacy, and Data

To use the Service, you must sign in via Google. By doing so, you authorize us to collect your name and email address as provided by Google for account creation, identification, communication, and support purposes.

We use analytics tools, including Google Analytics, to understand how users interact with the platform and improve the Service.

Our collection, use, storage, security, and protection of your personal information (including name, email, and any data derived from your use of the Service) and Your Content during processing are governed by our Privacy Policy. The Privacy Policy provides detailed information on:

• Data handling practices (collection, storage, security, deletion).
• Use of third-party services (including Google Sign-In, Google Analytics, and the specific AI technology provider(s) used for generating critiques).
• Data retention periods for critiques and account information.
• Your rights regarding your personal data (e.g., access, correction, deletion of your account and associated critiques).

Please review the Privacy Policy carefully.

4. Content Ownership and License Grant

You retain full ownership and all intellectual property rights to Your Content (your manuscript).

By submitting Your Content to the Service, you grant Inkshift a limited, temporary, non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license solely for the purpose of:

• Transmitting Your Content to the AI processing engine.
• Processing and analyzing Your Content to generate the AI Critique.
• Providing the generated AI Critique back to you via your account.

This license terminates automatically once the AI Critique is generated and your manuscript draft is deleted as described in Section 2.

Crucially, we will not use Your Content (your manuscript) to train any AI models.

AI Critiques generated from Your Content are stored for your reference within your account. Separately, and only with your explicit, opt-in permission requested at the time of submission or critique delivery, we may ask to use anonymized excerpts of your AI Critique (not your manuscript) for our promotional materials or service improvement examples. You are under no obligation to grant this permission, and your use of the Service is not conditional on granting it.

5. User Conduct, Eligibility, and Prohibited Uses

You represent and warrant that you own or have the necessary rights, licenses, consents, and permissions to submit Your Content and grant the license described in Section 4.

You agree not to use the Service to upload, transmit, or process any content that:

• Infringes on any third party's copyright, trademark, patent, trade secret, or other proprietary rights.
• Is defamatory, libelous, obscene, pornographic, offensive, hateful, or inflammatory.
• Is illegal, promotes illegal activity, or violates any applicable local, provincial, national, or international law.
• Contains viruses, malware, or other harmful code.

You must be at least 18 years old, or the age of legal majority in your jurisdiction if older than 18, to create an account and use the Service.

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate your account and access to the Service without notice if you violate these Terms.

6. Disclaimer of Warranties

The Service and the AI Critiques are provided on an "AS IS" and "AS AVAILABLE" basis, without warranties of any kind, either express or implied. The AI Critiques are generated by artificial intelligence and are intended for informational and suggestive purposes only.

Inkshift and its operators do not warrant that:

• The Service will function uninterrupted, securely, or be available at any particular time or location.
• Any errors or defects will be corrected.
• The AI Critiques will be accurate, complete, reliable, suitable for any particular purpose, or meet your specific requirements.
• The feedback provided will guarantee publication, literary success, or improvement in writing quality.

Your use of the AI Critiques and any decisions made based on them are solely at your own discretion and risk.

7. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, Inkshift and its operators (including partners, employees, agents, suppliers, or affiliates) shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, including without limitation, loss of profits, data, use, goodwill, manuscript content, or other intangible losses, resulting from: (a) Your access to or use of, or inability to access or use, the Service; (b) Any conduct or content of any third party on the Service; (c) Any content obtained from the Service, including any reliance placed on AI Critiques; (d) Unauthorized access, use, or alteration of your transmissions or content (including Your Content during its temporary processing); (e) Any errors, inaccuracies, or omissions in the AI Critiques. This limitation of liability applies whether the alleged liability is based on warranty, contract, tort (including negligence), statute, or any other legal theory, even if Inkshift has been advised of the possibility of such damage. Your use of the Service is entirely at your own risk.

8. Changes to Terms

We reserve the right, at our sole discretion, to modify or replace these Terms at any time. If a revision is material, we will make reasonable efforts to provide at least 30 days' notice prior to any new terms taking effect (e.g., by posting a notice on the Service or sending an email to the address associated with your account). What constitutes a material change will be determined at our sole discretion. By continuing to access or use our Service after those revisions become effective, you agree to be bound by the revised terms. If you do not agree to the new terms, you must stop using the Service.

9. Contact Information

For any questions, concerns, or comments about these Terms or the Service, please contact us at hello@inkshift.io.

Last updated: April 9th, 2025