Writer Terms & Conditions

Publishing Agreement | Meridian Literary Platform | Sialkot, Pakistan

Effective Date: June 2026

Platform: Meridian (meridian-books.vercel.app)

Contact: infomeridianlit@gmail.com | +92 305 4786000

Address: Wazirabad Road, P.O 51310, District Sialkot, Pakistan

1. Introduction

Welcome to Meridian. These Terms and Conditions ("Agreement") govern the relationship between Meridian ("Platform", "we", "us") and any author, writer, or creator ("Author", "you") who submits, publishes, or lists their work through Meridian's publishing services.

By submitting a manuscript or signing a publishing agreement with Meridian, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agreed to the terms set forth below. These terms apply to all publishing formats offered by Meridian, including student publications, self-publishing support, and platform-distributed books.

2. Eligibility

To publish with Meridian, you must:

• Be at least 18 years of age, or have written parental/guardian consent if you are a minor.
• Be the original author or legally authorized representative of the work being submitted.
• Provide accurate personal and contact information during the submission process.
• Agree to Meridian's content guidelines as outlined in Section 5 of this Agreement.

3. Manuscript Submission & Review

3.1 Submission Process

Authors interested in publishing with Meridian must submit their manuscript via the process described on the platform. Submission of a manuscript does not guarantee acceptance or publication. All manuscripts are officially accepted or rejected only after a formal review. Meridian reserves the right to accept or decline any manuscript at its sole discretion.

3.2 Review Timeline

Meridian will endeavour to provide a decision on manuscript submissions within a reasonable timeframe. Authors will be notified by email regarding the acceptance, rejection, or revision requirements for their work.

3.3 Revisions & Editing

Meridian may request revisions to a manuscript as a condition of acceptance. Authors retain the right to approve or decline editorial suggestions that materially alter the content or meaning of their work. Accepted editorial corrections (proofreading, formatting, layout) do not require separate author approval.

4. Copyright & Intellectual Property

4.1 Author Retains Copyright

Authors retain full copyright and intellectual property ownership of their work. Meridian does not claim ownership of any manuscript, book, or creative content submitted to or published through the platform.

4.2 Publishing License

By agreeing to publish with Meridian, you grant Meridian a non-exclusive, royalty-bearing license to:

• Print, produce, and distribute physical copies of your work.
• List and sell your book through Meridian's online store and associated distribution channels.
• Use your book title, cover, and excerpt (up to 500 words) for marketing and promotional purposes.
• Display your author name, short biography, and book information on the Meridian website and social media.

4.4 Original Work Warranty

You represent and warrant that: (i) you are the sole original author of the submitted work or have full legal rights to publish it; (ii) the work does not infringe any third-party intellectual property rights, copyright, trademark, or privacy rights; (iii) the work has not been previously published under an exclusive agreement that would conflict with this arrangement; and (iv) you have obtained all necessary permissions for any third-party content included within the work.

5. Exclusivity, Third-Party Sales & Independent Distribution

5.1 Exclusive Agreement

The publishing arrangement between the Author and Meridian is exclusive. As long as this Agreement remains active, Meridian is the sole authorized channel through which the Author's published work may be sold, listed, or distributed. This exclusivity is a material condition of this Agreement and applies from the date of signing until termination.

5.2 Prohibited Without Prior Consent

Without prior written consent from Meridian, the Author agrees not to:

• List, sell, or distribute their book through any third-party platform, marketplace, or website (e.g. Daraz, Amazon, other publisher websites, or personal e-commerce stores).
• Engage any third-party publisher, distributor, agent, retailer, or reseller to sell or distribute the work in any form.
• Sell physical or digital copies of the book independently, including through personal social media pages, WhatsApp, at public events, book fairs, school or university visits, exhibitions, or any private arrangement.

5.3 Requesting Permission to Sell Independently or via Third Party

If an Author wishes to sell their work independently or through a third party, they must contact the Meridian team in writing before doing so. Upon receiving such a request, Meridian will offer the Author one of the following two options:

Option A: Delisting. The Author agrees to delist their book from the Meridian platform. Upon confirmed delisting, the Author is free to sell or distribute their work through any channel they choose. Outstanding royalties at the time of delisting will be settled in accordance with Section 7 of this Agreement.

Option B: Continued Listing with Platform Fee. If the Author does not wish to delist their book from Meridian but still intends to sell or distribute through independent or third-party channels, the Author agrees to pay a platform continuity fee to Meridian. This fee compensates Meridian for maintaining the book's listing, marketing, and platform presence while the Author sells through other channels. The applicable fee will be communicated by Meridian at the time of the request and agreed upon in writing before the Author proceeds.

Meridian reserves the right to decline Option B at its discretion. In such cases, the Author must choose Option A (delisting) before proceeding with independent or third-party sales.

5.4 Breach of Exclusivity

If an Author is found to be selling or distributing their work through independent or third-party channels without prior written consent from Meridian, this will constitute a material breach of this Agreement. In such cases, Meridian reserves the right to:

• Immediately suspend or delist the Author's book from the Meridian platform.
• Withhold pending royalty payments pending resolution of the breach.
• Seek compensation for losses incurred as a result of the unauthorized sale or distribution.
• Terminate this Agreement immediately in accordance with Section 10.

Meridian will attempt to notify the Author and allow a cure period of 7 days before taking formal action, except in cases of repeated or deliberate breach.

6. Content Guidelines & Prohibited Material

Meridian is a literary platform committed to responsible publishing. The following content will not be accepted for publication:

• Content that is defamatory, libelous, or maliciously false about any identifiable person or organization.
• Content that incites hatred, discrimination, or violence on the basis of race, religion, ethnicity, gender, nationality, or other protected characteristics.
• Sexually explicit or obscene content not appropriate for general audiences.
• Content that violates Pakistani law or applicable international law.
• Plagiarized material or content that infringes existing copyrights without proper attribution or permission.
• Content promoting illegal activities, self-harm, or exploitation of minors.

Meridian reserves the right to reject or remove any content that violates these guidelines, even after publication, without prior notice.

7. Royalties & Revenue Sharing

7.1 Royalty Structure

Meridian will share a percentage of net sales revenue with the Author as agreed in the individual Publishing Package selected at the time of submission. Royalty rates and payment terms are specified in the separate Publishing Package Agreement signed between the Author and Meridian.

7.2 Payment of Royalties

Royalties will be calculated on net sales (the price received by Meridian after deducting printing, packaging, and platform costs). Royalty payments will be made to Authors on a quarterly basis, provided the minimum payment threshold of Rs. 500 has been reached. Payments below this threshold will be carried over to the next quarter.

7.3 Author Copies

Depending on the publishing package selected, Authors may receive a specified number of complimentary author copies. Additional copies may be purchased by the Author at cost price.

7.4 Sales Reporting

Authors will receive periodic sales reports detailing copies sold, revenue generated, and royalties payable. Meridian is committed to transparent reporting and will make records available upon written request.

8. Book Pricing

Meridian will set the retail price for published books in consultation with the Author. Final pricing decisions rest with Meridian, taking into account printing costs, platform fees, and market rates. Authors may suggest a recommended price, which Meridian will consider in good faith. Meridian reserves the right to offer promotional discounts and special pricing without author approval, provided such discounts do not reduce the Author's royalty share below the agreed rate.

9. Publishing Timeline & Responsibilities

9.1 Author Responsibilities

The Author agrees to:

• Submit a complete, final manuscript in the format requested by Meridian.
• Respond to editorial queries and revision requests within 14 working days.
• Provide a short author biography, photograph (if requested), and any other promotional materials requested by Meridian.
• Review and approve final proofs within 7 working days of receipt.
• Cooperate with Meridian for any promotional activities related to the book launch.

9.2 Meridian's Responsibilities

Meridian agrees to:

• Provide professional editorial, design, and printing services as per the agreed publishing package.
• List the book on the Meridian platform and associated distribution channels in a timely manner.
• Pay royalties to the Author in accordance with Section 6 of this Agreement.
• Maintain accurate sales records and provide transparent reporting.
• Represent the Author's work with professionalism and care.

10. Termination & Rights Reversion

Either party may terminate this Agreement with 30 days' written notice. Upon termination:

• The Author's work will be delisted from the Meridian platform within 30 days of the termination notice.
• All outstanding royalties owed to the Author at the time of termination will be calculated and paid within 60 days.
• Meridian will cease all printing and distribution of the work from the effective termination date.
• Any unsold physical stock at the time of termination will be the subject of separate written agreement between the parties.

Meridian may terminate this Agreement immediately, without prior notice, if the Author is found to have breached any representation, warranty, or material term of this Agreement.

11. Privacy & Data Use

Meridian will collect and process Author information (name, contact details, bank account for royalty payments) solely for the purposes of fulfilling this Agreement. Author information will not be sold or shared with third parties except as required to fulfil distribution, payment, or legal obligations. By entering into this Agreement, you consent to Meridian using your name, photograph, and biographical information for promotional purposes related to your published work. For full details, refer to Meridian's Privacy Policy available at meridian-books.vercel.app/privacy.

12. Governing Law & Dispute Resolution

This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. In the event of any dispute arising from this Agreement, both parties agree to first attempt resolution through good-faith negotiation. If negotiation fails, disputes shall be referred to the jurisdiction of the courts of Sialkot, Punjab, Pakistan.

13. Amendments to These Terms

Meridian reserves the right to update or modify these Terms and Conditions at any time. Authors will be notified of material changes by email. Continued participation in the platform following notification of changes constitutes acceptance of the revised terms. If an Author does not accept the revised terms, they may terminate this Agreement in accordance with Section 9.

14. Contact

For any queries regarding this Agreement, please contact:

• Email: infomeridianlit@gmail.com
• Phone / WhatsApp: +92 305 4786000
• Address: Wazirabad Road, P.O 51310, District Sialkot, Pakistan

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