Story Metro

Story Metro is a digital reading and audiobook platform focused on clean, curated content for families and readers seeking high-standard stories.

This Agreement governs the distribution, monetization, analytics access, and content standards for all works submitted by the Author.

The Author retains all right, title, and interest in and to their submitted works, including but not limited to:

• manuscripts
• ebooks
• audiobooks
• cover art
• metadata
• series branding
• associated intellectual property

Nothing in this Agreement transfers ownership of the Author's copyright or intellectual property to Story Metro.

The Author grants Story Metro a non-exclusive, worldwide, revocable license to host, display, distribute, promote, stream, and make the submitted works available through the Story Metro platform for the duration of this Agreement.

The Author remains free to sell, license, publish, or distribute the work through any other platform, retailer, website, or channel.

For subscription-based reading and listening activity on the Story Metro platform:

For any direct purchases that are linked out to the Author's own personal website, storefront, or approved third-party sales page:

• 100% of the purchase revenue belongs to the Author
• Story Metro does not claim commission on linked direct purchases made outside the platform unless otherwise agreed in writing

Story Metro uses a reader-engagement royalty pool model.

A subscriber is considered an Author Reader when that subscriber spends more than thirty (30) minutes in a calendar month engaging with that Author's content, whether through reading, listening, or approved interactive consumption.

Once that threshold is met, a proportional portion of that reader's monthly subscription royalty pool will be allocated to the Author.

Story Metro reserves the right to determine the exact allocation methodology using reasonable engagement-based calculations, including but not limited to:

• total minutes consumed
• percentage of reader time spent with the Author
• number of qualifying sessions
• anti-fraud weighting
• multi-author allocation formulas

Story Metro may update the allocation methodology from time to time to ensure fairness, platform sustainability, and fraud prevention. Analytics and reporting provided through the Author dashboard will reflect these calculations.

Royalty payouts shall be issued monthly in arrears after the applicable reporting period closes. Payouts will generally occur within thirty (30) days following the end of each calendar month, subject to payment processor timing, fraud review, chargeback windows, and applicable tax documentation.

Story Metro may withhold or delay payouts in cases involving:

• suspected fraud
• unusual engagement activity
• refund or chargeback review
• incomplete tax or payment information
• violation of platform policies

Story Metro does not charge any onboarding, upload, annual, or participation fee to Authors under this Agreement.

Authors receive access to platform tools including, where available:

• reader analytics
• engagement statistics
• readership trends
• content performance dashboards
• royalty reporting

These tools are included as part of participation on the platform.

At the time each book, audiobook, or work is uploaded, the Author must affirmatively certify that the submitted work complies with the Story Metro Clean Reads Rubric. This certification is made by checking the required acceptance box during upload.

The Author represents and warrants that each submitted work complies with Story Metro's content standards, including restrictions relating to:

• explicit sexual content
• graphic violence
• excessive profanity
• otherwise prohibited material under the rubric

Story Metro reserves the sole right to review, flag, remove, suspend, or reject any content that does not meet platform standards. Repeated violations may result in account suspension or termination.

The Author represents and warrants that:

• they own or control all rights necessary to distribute the submitted work
• the work does not infringe any copyright, trademark, privacy, publicity, or other legal right
• the work is accurate as described
• all uploaded content complies with applicable law

The Author is solely responsible for all submitted materials.

The Author agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Story Metro, its officers, members, employees, and affiliates from any claim, liability, damage, loss, cost, or expense arising from:

• copyright infringement claims
• content disputes
• defamation claims
• clean-read misrepresentation
• unauthorized uploads
• legal violations by submitted content

This includes reasonable attorneys' fees.

Either party may terminate this Agreement at any time upon written notice.

Story Metro may immediately suspend or terminate access for:

• breach of this Agreement
• content policy violations
• fraud
• abusive conduct
• legal or compliance concerns

Upon termination, Story Metro will cease future distribution of the Author's works within a commercially reasonable period. Any unpaid accrued royalties earned prior to termination will remain payable subject to normal payout rules.

By checking the acceptance box during book upload or author onboarding, the Author acknowledges and agrees that this electronic acceptance constitutes a legally binding signature and forms an enforceable contract.