Terms of Service

Welcome to Shelf Scout, a reader-engagement platform operated by DartFrog Books LLC (“DartFrog,” “we,” “us,” or “our”). These Terms of Service (“Terms”) govern your access to and use of Shelf Scout, including the Shelf Scout website, reader portal, books made available through Shelf Scout, and related services (collectively, the “Service”).

By creating a Shelf Scout account or accessing or using the Service, you agree to these Terms. If you do not agree to these Terms, you may not use Shelf Scout.

1. About Shelf Scout

Shelf Scout connects participating readers with books selected for the Shelf Scout program.

Readers may have opportunities to access books that match their reading interests, read those books, provide structured reactions about their reading experience, and participate in optional activities related to participating books.

Participation in Shelf Scout does not guarantee that you will be offered or receive access to any particular book or number of books.

2. Reader Accounts

You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials and for activity conducted through your account.

You agree to provide accurate information when creating and maintaining your Shelf Scout account.

Your Shelf Scout account is personal to you and may not be transferred, shared, sold, or made available to another person.

3. Access to Books

Books made available through Shelf Scout are provided solely for your personal reading and participation in the Shelf Scout program.

All copyrights and other intellectual property rights in books made available through Shelf Scout remain with their respective authors, publishers, or other rights holders.

Receiving access to a book through Shelf Scout does not transfer or grant you any ownership, copyright, publication, distribution, or other intellectual property rights in that book.

4. Protection of Book Files

Digital book files made available through Shelf Scout contain forensic watermarking or other identifying or security information designed to protect the work and discourage unauthorized distribution.

You may not:

• share a Shelf Scout book file or your access to that file with another person;
• upload or distribute the file through a website, social network, file-sharing service, cloud-storage link, forum, or other service;
• reproduce, sell, publish, distribute, or otherwise make the book available to others;
• remove, alter, circumvent, or attempt to defeat any watermark, security feature, or access restriction associated with the file; or
• use a Shelf Scout book for any purpose other than your own personal reading and participation in Shelf Scout.

Unauthorized distribution of copyrighted material may violate the rights of the author, publisher, or other rights holder and may result in immediate termination of your Shelf Scout account.

5. Reader Reactions

Shelf Scout allows readers to provide reactions about books and their overall reading experience using structured, pre-set response options.

Your responses should reflect your genuine reading experience. You are not required to provide positive reactions, recommend a book, or express any particular opinion.

Shelf Scout may aggregate structured reader responses with responses from other participating readers. Aggregated Shelf Scout response data is presented without identifying individual readers.

Shelf Scout may use aggregated and anonymous response data in connection with participating books, Shelf Scout reports, promotional materials, marketing, research, analysis, and operation or improvement of the Shelf Scout program.

6. Optional Written Messages

Shelf Scout may allow you to submit an optional written message or comment about a book.

Unlike aggregated Shelf Scout response data, a written message you voluntarily submit may be displayed or shared together with your Shelf Scout username.

By submitting a written message, you grant DartFrog permission to display, reproduce, and share that message and your associated Shelf Scout username in connection with Shelf Scout, the participating book, and communications with the book's publisher or author.

You retain ownership of your original written content.

Written messages must not contain unlawful, threatening, abusive, defamatory, obscene, or otherwise inappropriate content, or information that infringes another person's rights.

7. Optional Promotional Participation

Shelf Scout may invite readers to participate in optional promotional or launch-related activities for books they have read, including engagement with social-media posts.

Participation in these activities is voluntary. Shelf Scout does not require readers to post positive comments, recommend books, or provide public reviews.

Any activity conducted through a third-party platform is also subject to that platform's applicable terms and policies.

8. Reader Conduct

You agree not to misuse Shelf Scout or interfere with the operation or integrity of the Service.

You may not attempt to manipulate Shelf Scout response data, impersonate another reader, create fraudulent accounts, interfere with other users, gain unauthorized access to the Service, or use Shelf Scout for unlawful purposes.

9. Suspension or Termination

DartFrog may suspend, restrict, or terminate access to Shelf Scout if we reasonably believe a reader has violated these Terms, improperly distributed a book or other protected material, misused the Service, engaged in fraudulent or abusive activity, or otherwise acted in a manner that threatens the integrity or security of Shelf Scout.

You may discontinue your participation in Shelf Scout at any time.

10. Service Availability and Changes

Shelf Scout may change over time. We may add, modify, suspend, or discontinue features or functionality and may change how books, reader opportunities, or other aspects of the program are offered.

We do not guarantee uninterrupted or error-free availability of Shelf Scout.

11. Third-Party Services

Shelf Scout may use or interact with third-party services, including social-media platforms and technology providers.

DartFrog is not responsible for the availability, content, privacy practices, or operation of third-party services that we do not control.

12. Intellectual Property

Shelf Scout, including its name, branding, software, design, functionality, interfaces, and original content, is owned by DartFrog or its licensors and is protected by applicable intellectual property laws.

Nothing in these Terms grants you ownership of Shelf Scout or its intellectual property.

13. Disclaimer of Warranties

TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, SHELF SCOUT IS PROVIDED ON AN “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE” BASIS.

DARTFROG DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT.

WE DO NOT WARRANT THAT SHELF SCOUT WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, ERROR-FREE, COMPLETELY SECURE, OR THAT PARTICIPATION WILL RESULT IN ACCESS TO ANY PARTICULAR BOOK, BENEFIT, OPPORTUNITY, OR EXPERIENCE.

14. Limitation of Liability

TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, DARTFROG AND ITS DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, CONTRACTORS, AGENTS, AND AFFILIATES SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO YOUR USE OF SHELF SCOUT.

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

15. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. When we do, we will update the “Last Updated” date above.

We may provide additional notice of material changes when appropriate.

Your continued use of Shelf Scout following the effective date of updated Terms constitutes acceptance of those Terms to the extent permitted by applicable law.

16. Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed by the laws of the State of North Carolina.

17. Contact Us

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

DartFrog Books LLC / Shelf Scout
support@dartfrogbooks.com