FAQ

Our team of professionals pay attention to every detail of your story.

Step 1: Your Story.

Our trained interviewers conduct interviews in person or via zoom to record your treasured memories. Really, these are just lovely conversations as you take us down memory lane. We are kind, curious, knowledgeable, trustworthy and very respectful of your feelings and privacy, abiding by strict confidentiality policies. We are also very proud of our methodology here at Plantain. After all, our directors initially led careers in Psychology, Anthropology, and Global Health Research.

Step 2: Our Writers.

We bring your memories to life using your own words and tone, all the while placing your story within historical contexts. The aim here is to create an authentic narrative through which your personality shines through. You can edit your story, as and when you wish.

Step 3: Our Researchers.

One of the perks of working with Plantain is our research expertise. That’s why we dedicate some of our time to uncovering contextual and genealogical/historical records that can add that special touch, helping build the framework of your personal story, and helping it connect with younger generations. Indeed, we believe that stories only ever come to life once placed within the wider context of the time.

Step 4: Our Designers.

For your story to resonate, it has to be matched with outstanding design. Our top-class creative designers take over your project, artfully combining your narrative with memorabilia (restored photographs, documents, letters, etc.), and pairing these with the fonts, colours, and illustrations that best speak to you. The result is a bespoke heirloom, as unique and as beautiful as your story.

If you have any questions, simply get in touch!

Because all of our projects are custom made, we cannot give you an estimate without speaking with you first. The cost will depend on how many interviews you would like us to conduct, how much writing is involved, how much research you would like us to carry out, whether you would like a fully bespoke design, and how many prints you want. Bespoke packages vary significantly in scope, and we have completed projects for as little as US100 and up to US65,000 for larger projects. Our most popular packages focus on interviews with one person and take 8-9 months.

Ultimately, we believe everyone should celebrate their (hi)story beautifully. We tailor all of our packages to suit specific needs and circumstances - there’s something available to everyone - so please contact us for a free consultation.

We are frequently asked to assist at various stages of publication by some who have already started the process (editing, book design services, and printing). If this is what you are interested in then contact us.

Previously, it has taken us a few weeks to several months to complete a project. The turnaround time will depend on the scale of your project, how busy we are, and certain specifications you may opt for (or out of).

All you have to do is head over to our contact page and request a callback. It is straightforward after that and we’ll walk you through the steps from there.

We have created packages for clients that have come from all over. We also ship internationally. However, please note that books are heavy and customs and import taxes are billed to the receiver.

We have celebrated personal memories and histories through bespoke projects of unmatched quality. We strive to create timeless packages through superb craftsmanship and customer service, and you will be hard-pressed to find a company that offers our excellence elsewhere. We care about what we make, and it all starts with extending this care to the families we work with. We focus on building long-term relationships and our service is 100% personalised. Take a look at our testimonials to read it from our clients’ perspective.

Corporate history books are typically commissioned for a company anniversary celebration - say, 20, 50 or even 100 years in existence - or as excellent retirement gifts. On many an occasion, we have been approached by businesses initially seeking personalized business gift ideas, but our books have gone on to be used to:

• Pay tribute to founding members.

• Make powerful impressions by beautifully sharing corporate histories.

• Invest in, and craft corporate vision for, the future.

• Gain competitive advantages by capturing the human dimensions that define your business.

• Ensure brand integrity by giving marketing teams the long perspective.

• Motivate and inspire loyalty by imparting history, values and challenges.

• Create and manage archives for the company’s future use.

If there is a mistake we are responsible for, we will do everything we can to rectify the order. Please see our Terms of Service below for more details.

We recommend that you head over to the Contact page and request a callback.

Capturing and celebrating a life story is unique and we encourage each customer to speak with us first to address any possible questions.

We get this a lot but none of our customers has ever regretted going down this path. We find that every person, family, and company has a story to tell - it is an investment for all generations, so don’t let your history go untold!

Yes!

Yes! We have unearthed thousands of fascinating historical documents from archives all over the world. Our researchers are savvy, critical thinking, supportive and flexible. They’re also experts at conveying genealogical and historical material in a way that is fun and insightful.

The books we craft are private so we can only send you short samples. Please contact us at letstalk[at]plantain.me if you would like to take a more detailed read.

No. We usually take payment in instalments. But paying the full cost upfront significantly speeds up your project.

Please read our Terms of Service below for full details.

We can conduct interviews via Zoom.

Thank you for choosing Plantain to help capture your story. We are excited to create a beautiful, meaningful book that you will treasure for years to come.

These are the Terms & Conditions ("Terms") under which Plantain Publishing LLP and Plantain Publishing LLC operate (“Plantain” or “Us” or “We”), whether you are a Client or Contributor. Following your first payment, you are deemed to have accepted these Terms, creating a legally enforceable agreement. Please ensure you read, understand, and are happy with these Terms before ordering a product or participating in a project with Us. We draw your attention, in particular, to clauses 2.7, 4.5, 4.6, 5.3, 5.4, 5.5, 5.6, 5.7, 5.8, 5.9 and 5.11.

These Terms cover the creation of your book for non-commercial, private circulation. If you're interested in publishing your book commercially, We'd be happy to provide you with a separate Commercial Rights Agreement.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to our team at letstalk@plantain.me.

1. DEFINITIONS

"Book" or "Books" means the final output, whether long or short form and whether printed or in electronic format (including hard-drives, image files, e-books, PDFs and any other digital formats, whether now known or hereafter devised), created by Plantain using the Client's or Contributor's input.

"Associates" means any person or entity that works with or for Plantain in connection with the Project, including but not limited to employees, contractors, freelancers, writers, editors, designers, illustrators, photographers, and other service providers engaged by Plantain.

"Client" ("You")means the person, group of people or an organisation or anything else purchasing the Project. The Client may be either(i) the person the Book is about or the person We are creating the Book with, if it is about a group of people or a third person or an organisation or anything else; in this case, the Client is the main source of Content whether that is provided verbally, in writing, image and/or otherwise; OR (ii) purchasing the Project on behalf of the person(s) the Book is primarily about, in which case, You confirm that You have disclosed information about the Project to them, have their consent to proceed and have their agreement to these Terms.

"Content" means any text, audio, photographs, illustrations, video, etc. supplied by the Client or any Contributors selected by either the Client or Plantain or one of its Associates.

"Contributor" means a person who has contributed any Content or has been interviewed as part of creating a Book.

"Contract" or "Agreement" means this legally-binding Terms & Conditions agreement between You and Us for the supply of the Goods and Services.

"Fees" means all payments due from the Client to Plantain in connection with the Project, including but not limited to the costs for creating the Book.

"Final Project Cost" means the total amount invoiced for the creation of the Book, including all services rendered.

"Goods," "Services," "Goods & Services" or "Project" means the goods and services agreed in written form that We supply to You of the number and description as set out in the invoice whether paid for online, by phone, bank transfer, or otherwise.

"Plantain" ("Us" or "We") refers to either Plantain Publishing LLP, a company registered in England and Wales (Company No. OC431854) for Clients primarily residing in North America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East; or Plantain Publishing LLC, a company registered in Trinidad and Tobago (Company No. C2016122901647) for Clients primarily residing in South America and the Caribbean. The applicable entity will be specified on your invoice and project documentation. Both entities operate under these same Terms & Conditions.

"Plantain Intellectual Property" means any processes, photographs, illustrations, video, audio, design layouts, fonts, design concepts, templates, or other elements that Plantain or one of Plantain's subcontractors has written, drawn, used or crafted to make an original work. This includes "Original Historical Narratives" which means contextual information written in standalone blurbs in the Book about historical periods, events, or cultural phenomena researched and written by Plantain that provides broader societal or temporal perspective to the Client's personal narrative; it does not include historical narrative interwoven into the Client's story. For clarity, Plantain Intellectual Property also includes processes, design concepts, templates, layouts, and formatting that Plantain has developed and may reuse in other projects.

"Project" means the entire process of creating the Book, from initial consultation to final delivery.

"Written Content" means any written text included in the Book. For clarity, this refers to the narrative story captured in the Book which may include content from interviews and historical research which is interwoven into the narrative. It does not include Plantain Intellectual Property as defined above.

2. GOODS, SERVICES & PROCESS

2.1. Every book We create is completely custom-made for You. The description of the Goods and Services and the Process to create them is as set out on the invoice, website, in catalogues, brochures, or other forms of advertisement. As all our projects are custom-made, there may be some discrepancies in the Goods, Services and Processes supplied and variations shall not be a defect or breach of contract. Plantain reserves the right to adapt or adjust the process in good faith to enhance the final outcome.

2.2. Your story is unique, and We'll need your help to tell it. This means it is your responsibility to be timely and efficient in providing Us with information through interviews and sharing relevant documents and photos, providing Us with clear and timely feedback and helping Us to coordinate interviews and collection of memorabilia from Contributors. We’ll guide You in selecting and preparing high-quality materials. The quality of the scans will impact the images produced in the Book, and We cannot be held responsible for image quality or content accuracy resulting from substandard materials if You choose not to follow our guidelines or if You delay in providing such materials. The higher the quality of materials You provide, the better your final Book.

2.3. It is our responsibility to help You tell your story in the most beautiful and appropriate way that reflects your intentions. Plantain will ensure efficient submission of work to be reviewed and respond in a timely manner to the Client.

2.4. We want to help You portray your story exactly as You’d like, so We offer 2 rounds of revisions for both the narrative and the design. In each stage it is your responsibility to provide feedback by the date agreed upon by both parties and sign off on the work done by Plantain. If no feedback is received within this period the clauses in 5.9 may be instated. The rounds of revision are as follows:

First Round: This is the stage where You can make substantial edits to ensure your Book is produced just as You like. If You are unsure about any content in the text, the flow of the narrative, the images selected, the colours and font style, Plantain will be delighted to make suggestions and help You make the right choices. The first draft will be approved by You via email before We continue to the Second Round of revision.

Second Round: This is the stage where You ensure You are happy with all the details of your Book before We go to print. During this round, We will incorporate all the changes You requested in the first round. The final Book, including a final fact check by You, will be approved in an email by the Client before printing. With the Client's approval of the PDF proof of (i) the narrative and/or (ii) of the design, the Client confirms that he/she accepts the Book(s) quality and agrees that no further comments will be entered or changes requested unless requested as an Additional Change After Approval.

Additional Changes After Approval:If You have already approved a component of your Book (such as the direction or tone of narrative, narrative content and story arc, design concepts, design elements and design layout) but then decide You would like more substantial changes in a further round of revisions, We will provide You with a quote and revised timeline for this additional work. No changes will be applied without your written approval.

2.5. We want You to be happy with your Project. If You are dissatisfied with any aspect, please let Us know within 7 days of receipt of the content You are disatisfied with by emailing letstalk@plantain.me. We’ll make every reasonable effort to address Your concerns and You agree to provide Us with the opportunity to rectify any dissatisfaction. After 7 days, if you have not expressed dissatisfaction We will assume that You approve of the content submitted to You and any changes You have after this will be considered an Additional Change After Approval as outlined in clause 2.4.

2.6. Please note that errors can slip through the cracks for any book, even the most successful bestsellers. While We strive for perfection and will do our best to catch every error, We can't guarantee a completely error-free book. What We can promise is careful attention to detail and quality at every step.

2.7. Unless otherwise agreed in writing, Books are for private circulation and not intended for general publication. Our role is to bring the Client’s story into Book form, and We are entitled to rely on the Clients, and any Contributors selected, being accurate and fair in telling their story. We are not publishers to the public and We do not undertake a publishing risk analysis, conduct in-depth investigations of anything the Client or Contributors tell Us, and while We use reliable, credible, vetted sources such as peer reviewed journals and work produced from trustworthy academic or cultural sources, We do not conduct in-depth historical/socio-political analysis (all of which would add considerable cost to the Project). If You would like to publish your Book commercially, for-profit, in most cases, We can grant You these rights by agreeing to additional terms in a Commercial Rights Agreement.

2.8. Upon completion of the Project and receipt of full payment of all Fees, Plantain will deliver to the Client:
i. A print-ready PDF file of the final Book;
ii. The archive of Client Assets as described in clause 6.4;
iii. The Written Content in an editable file format; 
iv. Digital copies of any photographs or archival materials sourced during the Project (subject to any third-party copyright restrictions); and
v. All printed Books ordered through Plantain.

2.9. Plantain will host the files outlined in clause 2.8.i, 2.8.ii, 2.8.iii and 2.8.iv for 3 years at no additional cost, after which they will be deleted. We will send You an email notice to the email We have on record for You 30 days before these are deleted. It is the Client's responsibility to download and store these files.

2.10. If the Client decides to work with Plantain to order additional Books, these will be provided subject to payment of the applicable additional charges, including possible re-design fees if necessary.

3. CONFIDENTIALITY

3.1. All information provided by You to Plantain and our Associates to produce the Book, shared orally, in written format or otherwise will not be disclosed or published unless written approval is received by the Client and Contributors. All third parties, such as sub-contracted Associates, will agree to sign non-disclosure agreements as a requirement for employment with Plantain. This obligation shall survive the termination of this Agreement except where disclosure is required by law or court order.

3.2. All processes, business plans, technology, tools, methods, and other materials used by Plantain in the process of creating the Book are proprietary and confidential, and will not be disclosed or published by You, and remain under the ownership of Plantain. This obligation shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

3.3. Plantain processes personal data in accordance with the UK Data Protection Act 2018 and the UK GDPR. We collect and process personal data including, but not limited to: contact information (e.g., name, address, phone number, email), payment details, content provided for the Book, interview recordings and transcripts, photographs, memorabilia, and related correspondence. We process your personal data:

• For the performance of our contract with You;

• To comply with our legal obligations (e.g., financial record-keeping);

• Where necessary for our legitimate interests (e.g., client support and archival purposes).

Your data may be transferred securely between our UK and Trinidad & Tobago offices and may be stored on secure cloud platforms in various jurisdictions, in accordance with GDPR-compliant safeguards. You have the right to:

• Access and correct your personal data;

• Request erasure under certain circumstances;

• Restrict or object to certain processing;

• Request data portability.

We retain your personal data for the duration of the Project. After completion, We retain content necessary for reprints for 3 years, financial records as required by tax law, and basic client records for up to 20 years for archival and client reference purposes.

4. FEES AND PAYMENT

4.1. Payments are made by submitting your credit or debit card details on our online payment platform or via a transfer of funds into Plantain's accounts. We will provide You with our banking details, and all transaction fees, bank charges, and currency conversion costs are the sole responsibility of the Client. Plantain is not liable for delays caused by third-party payment processors.

4.2. Unless We agree otherwise in writing, payments are typically scheduled as follows:

Bespoke books: 35% to start the project

• 25% upon approval of a sample of writing (one chapter unless otherwise agreed upon in writing)

• 25% upon approval of the final narrative

• 15% upon approval of the design concept of the Book 

The final PDF of your Book will only be released once full payment has been received.

Printing: Printing costs are dependant on the number of copies, final design, materials selected and length of your Book. We will guide You through selecting all the materials to create a beautiful, high-quality Book within your budget. The payment schedule is dependant on the printers selected. If You decide to use printers of your choosing, We may agree to work with them for an additional fee.

4.3. All invoices must be paid within 7 business days. If payments are delayed, We will pause work on your Project until payment is received.

4.4. Any estimate is valid for a maximum period of 14 days from its date unless We agree via email to withdraw it at an earlier time or extend the period. We have the right to change our estimate and services at any time after your estimate expires.

4.5. Changes in scope: If Your Project starts to extend outside the scope of work agreed on or You request any additional services outside our agreed upon scope of work, We will always inform You of these additional costs before implementing any changes. The upgrades will begin once You have agreed to these changes via email to letstalk@plantain.me and your payment is received.

4.6. Missed meeting/interview fees: We conduct research in preparation for each meeting and set aside time especially for You, so if You need to cancel a meeting/interview, please let Us know at least 24 hours in advance. Otherwise, a $95 fee will apply (except in cases of emergency or other reasons outlined in clause 8.5).

5. CANCELLATIONS & REFUNDS

5.1. You may cancel the Project by emailing Us a Cancellation Notice at letstalk@plantain.me with the subject line "Project Cancellation." Your cancellation request will be processed within 3 business days, and You will receive a confirmation email. You are not required to provide Us with a reason for cancellation.

5.2. Our services are fully customized to your specifications, and by making your payment, You expressly request that We begin work immediately on your Project. If You qualify for a refund, this will be processed within 14 days of the cancellation confirmation. We will use the same payment method You used for the original transaction when possible. If We cannot refund using the original payment method, We will contact You for alternative payment details.

5.3. If You cancel your project within 48 hours of your first payment: You will receive a full (100%) refund.

5.4. If You cancel your project after 48 hours but within 14 days of your first payment: We start work immediately upon receiving your first payment. This includes assembling a team, background research, and project and creative planning. At this stage, You will receive a partial refund of 50% of your initial payment to cover our investment into your Project.

5.5. If You cancel your project after 14 days of your first payment: After 14 days of your first payment, You will no longer be eligible for a refund. This reflects our upfront investment in your project, the resources committed and our opportunity costs to ensure its successful execution.

5.6. Without prejudice to clause 5.3, We will deal fairly with any cancellation. If it was necessary due to exceptional or unfortunate circumstances through no fault on your part (see clause 8.5), We may consider including an extended timeline without penalty nor reducing any sums owed to Us as is appropriate and reasonable. In all events, We will not be obliged to reduce or refund fees to the extent We have committed expenditure on the Project.

5.7. If You are cancelling your Project due to any dissatisfaction with any aspect of our Goods, Services and Process, please email Us within 7 days of You receiving the component of your Project that You are dissatisfied with at letstalk@plantain.me. After 7 days, We will assume that You are happy with your Project and any changes will be deemed as Additional Change After Approval. If You email Us within the 7 day period, We'll discuss your specific concerns in detail and make every reasonable effort to address your concerns, including making revisions within the scope of the original project brief and making reasonable efforts to align the work with your expectations. You agree to give Us clear feedback and a fair chance to remedy this situation. If You still believe there are legitimate quality issues related to professional standards (not subjective preferences) and the issue is not related to a direction or concept You previously approved, We may revise the work at no additional cost, or provide a partial refund for the specific component that fails to meet professional standards. 

5.8. If You have approved the narrative direction or design concepts and later decide You want to change direction, this is not grounds for refund or cancellation. In such a circumstance, We can provide a quote for revisions to change direction. No refunds will be provided for work You have previously reviewed and approved, work that meets professional standards but doesn't align with your changed preferences, work that You have not submitted any dissatisfaction about within 7 days of receiving it and work completed according to the agreed project brief. Standard cancellation terms, 5.3, 5.4, 5.5, apply if You choose to terminate the project.

5.9. In the event that Plantain cancels the Project We will email You a Cancellation Notice with the subject line "Project Cancellation." We may cancel the Project:

• Immediately for any reason where You are in breach of these Terms and it has not been remedied or where We find there has been unreasonable behaviour towards one of our staff or Associates.

• If due to reasons in clause 8.5, Plantain is unable to continue the Project. In this event, You will be refunded for the amount of work paid for but not completed.

• If We are unable to contact You after 2 attempts in writing via email and 2 attempts by telephone over 30 days.

• If You miss scheduled meetings or deadlines (such as submitting memorabilia or feedback) more than 2 times without proper notice.

• If your project does not progress for more than 60 days due to a circumstance outside of the control of Plantain Publishing (such as You providing explanations for delays that do not fall under clause 8.5. which include You being busy, or You not abiding by deadlines for providing feedback or information to move your project forward).

• If after attempts set out in clauses 5.7. and 5.8. We determine We are no longer the right fit for your needs.

• In the above circumstances outlined, the relevant actions in clauses 5.3, 5.4. and 5.5. apply.

5.10. On cancellation of the Project, the Agreement will terminate except with respect to any provision, such as Confidentiality and Copyright & Intellectual Property, that is expressly stated or by its nature is intended to survive termination including, without limitation.

5.11. Reinstatement: If after cancellation, You would like to reinstate your Project, please reach out to Us via email at letstalk@plantain.me. It takes substantial resources for our team to restart a Project once it has been stopped. You agree that, to reinstate a Project, We shall be entitled to (i) a reinstatement fee for our team to refamiliarise themselves with your project; (ii) to submit a new timeline and scope of work to cover any additional costs that may arise (this may include us having to train new team members and account for increases in our prices of a similar projects during the time your Project was cancelled). The amount of these fees will be decided at our sole discretion.

6. COPYRIGHT & INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

(Term: life of the copyright. Geographic scope: worldwide)

6.1. You retain ownership of all original content (text, photographs, etc.) that You or your Contributors provide to Us. By providing content, You and any Contributors grant Plantain a worldwide, non-exclusive royalty-free licence to use, adapt, reproduce, and distribute that content as needed solely for the purpose of creating your Book. This licence ensures Plantain and its Associates can incorporate your content into the Book. It does not transfer ownership of your original content to Plantain.

6.2. For clarity, this Agreement does not establish a "work made for hire" relationship. Plantain creates the Book as an independent service provider that assigns specific rights and licences to the Client as outlined in these Terms.

6.3. During the Project different types of assets may be created or used: (i) Client Assets (ii) Plantain’s Intellectual Property (iii) Written Content and (iv) the final Book. Each of these components is associated with different rights which are detailed in clauses 6.4, 6.5, 6.6 and 6.7.

6.4. Client Assets:

• During the Project, We will create an archive of assets that may include:
  i. Unedited audio or visual recordings from interviews conducted by Plantain
  ii. Personal memorabilia and photos that have been retouched by Plantain
  iii. Written materials submitted by You that have been edited or rewritten by Plantain
  iv. Oral history excerpts extracted and written by Plantain

• For the aforementioned assets, where any law (English, European Union or otherwise) grants copyright to Us or one of our Associates, We hereby assign (on our own behalf and as agent for our Associates) to the Client all commercial and non-commercial exploitation rights of these assets, subject to payment in full of the Fees.

• The Client may modify the Client Assets without limitation such as to make derivatives as films, other books and or any other media. Such modification shall not constitute a Joint Work unless agreed upon by all parties. Specifically, Plantain does not seek to publish any Client Assets to which rights are being assigned and will not seek royalties or any profit from the commercial sale of these Assets or derivatives made from the Assets.

• Upon payment in full, We will provide You with these assets via a file storage service.

• We will host these files for 3 years at no additional cost, after which they will be deleted. It is your responsibility to download and store these files during this time.

6.5. Plantain's Intellectual Property:

• Plantain explicitly retains full ownership of all Plantain Intellectual Property created for the Book, including but not limited to:
  i. The Plantain name, concept, processes and methodologies
  ii. The format, design, and layout of the Book
  iii. Original illustrations created for the Book
  iv. Original Historical Narratives
  v. Any other Plantain intellectual property used to create or incorporated into the Book

• Upon payment in full of all Fees, Plantain grants to the Client a worldwide, non-exclusive, perpetual, irrevocable non-commercial licence to include this Plantain Intellectual Property in the Client's Book and in direct derivatives of the Book (such as translations, new editions, films or audiobook versions). This licence is limited to use within the context of the Client’s story told in the Book and does not permit extraction or repurposing of Plantain Intellectual Property for other non-related projects such as using a book illustration or design for a completely unrelated product. Any use of these assets other than within the context of the Client’s story told in the Book, such as in marketing material not related to the story in the Book, must be agreed upon with Plantain in writing.

• Plantain retains all moral rights in the Plantain Intellectual Property, including rights of attribution and integrity.The Client agrees to respect these moral rights by ensuring that Plantain Intellectual Property is not distorted, mutilated, or modified in a way that would be prejudicial to Plantain's honour or reputation.The Client agrees to provide proper attribution to Plantain as specified in Section 6.7. ii. of this Agreement.

6.6. Written Content:

• During the Project, We will collaborate with You to produce Written Content. Written Content means any written text drafts (excluding all Plantain Intellectual Property as defined in clause 6.5) included in the Book. For clarity, it is the narrative story captured in the Book which may include content from interviews and historical research which is interwoven into the narrative.

• Effective immediately upon receipt of full payment of all Fees, Plantain hereby assigns to the Client all copyright and related rights to the Written Content of the Book (specifically excluding all Plantain Intellectual Property as defined in clause 6.5) for non-commercial purposes. Specifically, therights granted to the Client include:
  i. The exclusive right throughout the world, in any language, in perpetuity to use and reproduce the Written Content in whole or in part with any publisher in any and all media of any nature whatsoever, whether now known or hereafter devised, worldwide and in any language translation for non-commercial purposes.
  ii. The exclusive right to prepare derivative works based on the Written Content for non-commercial purposes;
  iii. The exclusive right to distribute the Written Content for non-commercial purposes;
  iv. The exclusive right to perform the Written Content publicly for non-commercial purposes; and
  v. The exclusive right to display the Written Content publicly for non-commercial purposes
  vi. The Client may modify the Written Content without limitation. Such modification shall not constitute a Joint Work unless agreed upon by all parties. Specifically, Plantain does not seek to publish the Written Content to which rights are being assigned and will not seek royalties or any profit from the Written Content or any other derivatives made from the Written Content.
  vii. Plantain waives its moral rights in the Written Content to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, including but not limited to rights of attribution and integrity.

6.7. The final Book:

• The final Book represents a collaboration between You and Plantain, with elements owned by each party. Accordingly:
  i. You may reproduce and share the final approved Book in part or in its entirety, in print or in any and all media of any nature whatsoever, whether now known or hereafter devised, with friends, family members, and colleagues for non-commercial purposes.
  ii. If the Book, excerpts or any components outlined in clauses 6.5 and 6.6 are reprinted or reused (in print, video, digital or any other format), credit must be attributed to Plantain as: "Crafted by Plantain, www.plantain.me, letstalk@plantain.me" in a clearly legible font size of no less than 8 points, to appear on the Book's copyright page unless otherwise agreed in writing by both parties.
  iii. You may create modified, abridged, or derivative works based on the Book (such as film adaptations) for non-commercial purposes without permission from Plantain. The Client agrees to provide proper attribution to Plantain as specified in Section 6.ii. of this Agreement.
  iv. Any modified, abridged, or derivative works based on the Book (such as film adaptations) for commercial purposes must be discussed with Plantain and require a separate Commercial Rights Agreement signed by all parties.
  v. Modification of the Book shall not constitute a Joint Work unless agreed upon by all parties.
  vi. Plantain will not publish or distribute your Book without your express permission and under no circumstances will We sell your Book for monetary profit.
  vii. If You wish to publish your Book commercially for profit (such as on platforms like Amazon or in bookstores), Plantain can grant these rights through a separate Commercial Rights Agreement which contain additional terms for your and our legal protection. You may request a draft of this agreement at any time.

6.8. Plantain's Portfolio Rights:

• Plantain retains the right to:
  i. Keep a few copies of the printed Book for internal purposes
  ii. Display work from your Project in our portfolios (print and digital)
  iii. Submit such work to periodicals, investors, clients, competitions, and for use in marketing purposes

• All names and identifying details will be changed or omitted for anonymity unless We receive your written approval.

6.9. Use of external archives (e.g., newspaper articles) is subject to the source's rights agreements.

6.10. The Client may modify the Written Content and Client Assets without limitation. Such modification shall not constitute a Joint Work unless agreed upon by all parties. Specifically, Plantain does not seek to publish the Written Content or any Client Assets to which rights are being assigned and will not seek royalties or any profit from the non-commercial distribution of the Book or other derivatives made from the Written Content.

6.11. Upon cancellation of this Agreement:
i. The provisions of this Agreement that expressly or by implication survive termination shall continue in full force and effect
ii. Plantain shall deliver to the Client all completed or partially completed work-in-progress that has been approved and paid for
iii. For work not paid for, all rights remain with Plantain
iv. If You receive a refund for dissatisfaction, You will not own the work You were dissatisfied with
v. The Client shall pay all outstanding invoices within 14 days
vi. In respect of any work performed by Plantain but for which no invoice has been submitted, Plantain may submit an invoice which shall be payable within 14 days

6.12. If You wish to use any part of the Book for commercial purposes, You will need a separate Commercial Rights Agreement from Plantain. "Commercial purposes" includes but is not limited to: selling the Book or derivatives in any marketplace, using the Book or its content for advertising, promotional, or marketing purposes for any commercial enterprise, or licensing the content to third parties for a fee. The Commercial Rights Agreement will outline specific usage permissions for commercial exploitation, contain additional terms for your and our legal protection and mayinclude a Rights Transfer Fee which will be determined based on your specific project.

6.13. Succession of Rights:

i. In the event of the Client's death, all rights granted to the Client under this Agreement shall automatically transfer to the Client's estate and subsequently to the Client's heirs or beneficiaries according to the Client's will or applicable inheritance laws.
ii. The Client's estate, heirs, or beneficiaries shall be bound by all terms of this Agreement, including but not limited to attribution requirements, limitations on use of Plantain Intellectual Property, and payment obligations for any outstanding fees.
iii. If there are outstanding payments at the time of the Client's death, all rights shall remain with Plantain until such payments are made in full by the Client's estate.
iv. The Client may designate a specific individual or entity to receive the rights under this Agreement upon their death by providing written notice to Plantain. Such designation will supersede the automatic transfer provisions in section 6.11.i., provided it does not conflict with applicable laws of succession.
v. The Client's estate, heirs, or beneficiaries shall have the right to further assign or transfer the rights granted under this Agreement, subject to the same terms and conditions that apply to the Client.

6.14. Where required by the law of the Client's place of residence, the Client is responsible for registering their copyright interests at their own expense. This Agreement aims to protect your rights worldwide, but copyright laws vary significantly by country. The rights granted herein will be interpreted according to the applicable laws in each jurisdiction. In countries where aspects of this Agreement may not be enforceable due to local copyright laws, the provisions shall be modified only to the minimum extent necessary to comply with such laws while maintaining the original intent of this Agreement. In jurisdictions where moral rights cannot be waived, Plantain retains its moral rights as required by law but agrees not to enforce such rights in a manner that would prevent the Client from exercising the rights granted under this Agreement.

6.16. The Client may assign, transfer, or sublicence its rights under this Agreement to third parties, who will remain liable to Plantain for obligations as outlined in this Agreement. Plantain may assign or transfer its rights or obligations under the Agreement to any party accepting commensurate responsibilities upon written notice to the Client.

6.17. The Client warrants that they have obtained all necessary rights, permissions, and consents from all Contributors and individuals mentioned or depicted in the Book for the intended use. The Client further warrants that the content they have provided does not infringe upon the intellectual property rights, privacy rights, or other rights of any third party.

7. LIABILITY & INDEMNITY

7.1. The limitations in this section shall not apply to:

• Damages arising from Plantain's gross negligence or wilful misconduct

• Death or personal injury resulting from our or our Associates' negligence

• Any other liability that cannot be excluded or limited by applicable law

7.2. Neither party will be liable to the other for any loss of profits or economic loss, indirect, special, or consequential loss or damage or punitive damages of any kind arising out of or in connection with the Project, regardless of the form of action, whether in contract, tort, or otherwise.

7.3. Notwithstanding the enhanced risk profile of commercial publication or wider non-commercial distribution beyond circulation to family and friends, in no event shall Plantain's total liability under this Agreement exceed the Final Project Cost paid by the Client. Plantain shall not be liable for any indirect, consequential, special, or punitive damages arising out of or relating to this Agreement, regardless of the form of action, whether in contract, tort, or otherwise, and even if Plantain has been advised of the possibility of such damages. This limitation shall not apply to Plantain's indemnification obligations or in cases of gross negligence or wilful misconduct. For clarity, while We may provide editorial input in the production of your Project, ultimately, once You have approved any content, the final responsibility lies with You. 

7.4. Unless otherwise agreed in writing, Books are for private circulation and not intended for general publication. The Client acknowledges that We do not conduct in-depth investigations or thorough verification of anything the Client or Contributors tell Us or undertake a publishing risk analysis, and while We use reliable, credible, vetted sources such as peer reviewed journals and work produced from trustworthy academic or cultural sources, We do not conduct in-depth historical/socio-political analysis (all of which would add considerable cost to the Project). Your risks may increase if the Book is published or distributed more widely than originally intended. Your story, even in limited circulation, may offend some people, which can create risk of legal claims or emotional distress. If You wish to publish your Book commercially, please contact Us for additional guidance and a Commercial Rights Agreement.

7.5. The Client agrees to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Plantain and its Associates from and against any claims, losses, liabilities, damages, costs, and expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising fromthe non-commercial use of any of the materials in clauses 6.4, 6.5, 6.6, 6.7, including but not limited to:
i. Content provided by the Client that is defamatory, invasive of privacy, or infringes on third-party rights;
ii. The Client's breach of any warranties regarding ownership of Content;
iii. Any copyright or intellectual property infringement related to materials provided by the Client;
iv. Any violation of privacy laws regarding personal stories or information the Client chose to include;
v. Any inaccuracies or misrepresentations in the Content provided by the Client;
vi. Any claims related to non-commercial distribution; and
vii. Any consumer complaints or regulatory issues arising from non-commercial exploitation.

7.6. The indemnification obligation shall be proportional to the Client's responsibility for the claim and shall not apply to the extent a claim arises from Plantain's negligence or breach of these Terms. The Client's liability shall be limited to claims arising from content that has not been substantially modified by Plantain.

7.7. You agree to notify Us immediately if You become aware of any actual or potential claim against Plantain related to your Book. You agree to cooperate with Us in addressing such claims, with costs allocated based on the nature of the claim and respective responsibilities.

7.8. In the event of any dispute arising from this Project:

• The parties will first attempt good faith negotiation for a period of 60 days.

• If unsuccessful, the dispute will proceed to mediation with a mutually agreed mediator.

• Mediation must be initiated within 30 days of formal dispute notification.

• If mediation fails, disputes may be resolved through binding arbitration.

• The arbitration shall be conducted under the rules of the London Court of International Arbitration.

• The seat of arbitration shall be London, United Kingdom, unless otherwise specified.

• The arbitration shall be conducted in English by a single arbitrator who will be selected within 14 days from the initiation of the mediation. Unless otherwise agreed by the parties, each party shall bear its own costs and the arbitrator’s fees shall be split equally.

7.9. Nothing in this section shall prevent either party from seeking injunctive or other equitable relief for matters related to confidentiality, intellectual property, or preventing irreparable harm.

8. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

8.1. These Terms constitute the entire agreement between the parties and supersedes all previous agreements, understandings, and arrangements between them, whether written or oral, relating to its subject matter, for non-commercial projects.

8.2. No variations of the Agreement are effective unless made in writing and signed by the parties or their authorized agents.

8.3. If any provision or part-provision of these Terms is or becomes invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, it shall be deemed modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it valid, legal, and enforceable. If such modification is not possible, the relevant provision or part-provision shall be deemed deleted. Any modification to or deletion of a provision or part-provision under this clause shall not affect the validity and enforceability of the rest of these Terms.

8.4. No failure or delay by a party to exercise any right or remedy provided under these Terms or by law shall constitute a waiver of that or any other right or remedy, nor shall it prevent or restrict the further exercise of that or any other right or remedy. No single or partial exercise of such right or remedy shall prevent or restrict the further exercise of that or any other right or remedy.

8.5. Force majeure and Unforeseen Circumstances: For purposes of this Agreement, "Force Majeure Events" include, but are not limited to: Natural disasters (floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, etc.); Acts of war, terrorism, civil unrest, or public emergency; Government actions, including changes in law that materially affect performance; Pandemics, epidemics, or public health emergencies; Major infrastructure failures beyond a party's control; Labour disputes affecting a party or its essential suppliers; Any other event that is both unforeseeable and outside the reasonable control of the affected party. Neither party will be liable for any failure to perform or delay in performing obligations due to a Force Majeure Event. This includes, but is not limited to, delays in conducting interviews, writing and editing processes, design and production work, delivery of materials and any other aspect of the Project. A party affected by a Force Majeure Event must notify the other party in writing within 7 days of becoming aware of the event. The notification must include the description of the Force Majeure event, the expected duration of the impact, and explanation of how it affects performance and proposed mitigation measures. Both parties agree to use reasonable efforts to minimize the impact of the Force Majeure Event, continue performance of unaffected obligations, resume full performance as soon as reasonably possible and explore alternative methods of delivery where appropriate. If a Force Majeure event continues to prevent performance for more than 90 consecutive days:

• Either party may terminate the Project by providing 30 days' written notice.

• Termination will be processed in accordance with Section 5 of these Terms.

• The Client shall pay for all work completed prior to termination.

• Plantain shall deliver all completed work to the Client.

Upon cessation of a Force Majeure Event, Plantain will:

• Notify the Client within 7 days. 

• Provide a revised timeline for Project completion. 

• Resume services as soon as reasonably practicable.

• Work with the Client to adjust deliverables as necessary.

While not Force Majeure Events, the following personal circumstances may qualify for reasonable accommodations:

• Serious illness or hospitalization of the Client, Contributor, Plantain team members and Associates.

• Death in the Client's, Contributor’s, Plantain team members; and Associates’ immediate family.

• Documented medical emergencies.

• Other severe personal hardships, evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

In such cases, Plantain may, at its discretion, offer extended timelines or temporary project suspension without penalties.

8.6. Any provisions that by their nature are intended to survive shall survive the termination or expiration of these Terms.

8.7. Except the Client and Plantain's Associates to the extent set out above (Named Third Parties), no person who is not a party to the Agreement shall have any rights under it. The consent of the Named Third Parties shall not be required to make any variation to the Agreement.

8.8. Any words following the terms 'including', 'include', 'in particular', 'for example' or any similar expression shall be construed as illustrative and shall not limit the sense of the words, description, definition, phrase or term preceding those terms. A reference to one gender shall include a reference to the other genders.

9. GOVERNING LAW & JURISDICTION

9.1. These Terms & Conditions, and the relationship between You and Plantain, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales, without regard to conflict of law principles, unless specifically stated otherwise in writing.

9.2. For clients contracting with Plantain Publishing LLP (primarily those residing in North America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East), the laws of England and Wales shall apply exclusively. For clients contracting with Plantain Publishing LLC (primarily those residing in South America and the Caribbean), the laws of England and Wales shall apply, except where mandatory consumer protection laws in the client’s place of residence would provide greater consumer protection or unless otherwise stated in writing between Plantain and the Client.

9.3. You agree that any dispute, claim, or controversy arising out of or relating to these Terms or the Project shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales, unless We mutually agree otherwise in writing.

9.4. Nothing in these Terms shall prevent Plantain from seeking injunctive or other equitable relief in any jurisdiction where You reside or where harm to Plantain may be occurring.

9.5. The provisions of clauses 7.7 and 7.8 regarding dispute resolution (negotiation, mediation, and arbitration) shall apply before either party initiates court proceedings, except in cases requiring urgent injunctive relief.

9.6. If any provision of these Terms would be unenforceable under the laws of the country where You reside, and if mandatory consumer protection or other laws of that country must apply to your use of our Services, then the laws of your country will apply to those specific provisions, but only to the minimum extent required by such laws, and all other provisions shall remain governed by the laws of England and Wales.

9.7. The language of this Agreement is English. If this Agreement is translated into any other language, the English version shall prevail in case of conflict or ambiguity.

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By making your first payment, You acknowledge that You have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms & Conditions. We're looking forward to creating something beautiful together!

Last updated 15 April 2025

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