These Author Terms are effective as of October 03, 2025
1. Introduction
Welcome to Stardust Literacy! These Author Terms ("Terms") govern your use of the Stardust Literacy platform ("Platform") as an author or creator. By publishing content on the Platform, you agree to these Terms, our general Terms of Service, and Privacy Policy.
These Terms outline your rights to create and monetize content, our rights as the Platform operator, and important rules for participation. If you do not agree, please do not publish content on the Platform.
We encourage creativity, engagement, and community building while maintaining a safe and fair environment for all users.
2. Eligibility and Accounts
To become an author on the Platform:
- Age Requirement: You must be at least 18 years old or have parental consent if between 13-17
- Account Creation: Create a verified account with accurate information
- Verification: We may require identity verification for exlusive features
- Compliance: Adhere to all applicable laws and Platform guidelines
- No Prior Bans: Not have been previously banned or suspended without reinstatement
You are responsible for maintaining the security of your account and notifying us of any unauthorized access.
3. Content Ownership and Rights
You retain ownership of your original content, but grant us certain rights:
3.1 License Granted
- A worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to host, display, distribute, and promote your content on the Platform
- Permission to use excerpts for marketing purposes
- Rights to moderate, edit for formatting, or remove content that violates guidelines
3.2 Content Restrictions
- No plagiarized, copyrighted, or infringing material without permission
- No hate speech, violence, explicit content beyond Platform limits, or illegal material
- Content must comply with our Community Guidelines
Violations may result in content removal, account suspension, or legal action.
4. What Authors Can Do With Their Books
As an author, you have flexibility in managing your works:
- Publishing: Upload, edit, and publish stories, chapters, and series
- Pricing: Set prices for premium content or opt into monetization programs
- Promotion: Share links, create reading lists, and engage with readers
- Collaboration: Co-author works with other verified authors
- Analytics: Access insights on views, engagement, and earnings
- Export: Get your content for personal use or publishing elsewhere (subject to Platform policies)
- Deletion: Remove your books at any time, though residual data may remain in backups
- Adaptations: Pursue adaptations (e.g., audio, film) outside the Platform, provided you notify us if it impacts Platform rights
Authors are encouraged to build communities, Update books weekly , and reply comments to boost engagement.
5. Elite Program
The Elite Program offers enhanced visibility and monetization for high-quality books:
5.1 Applying for Elite
- Submit your book via the author dashboard with at least 5 chapters and 10,000 words
- Meet quality standards: Originality, grammar, engagement potential
- Review process typically takes 7-14 days
5.2 Automatic Elite Designation
We may designate books as Elite without your consent if they demonstrate high engagement (e.g., consistent views, comments, and reading progress over 30 days). This helps promote exceptional content. You can opt out within 7 days of notification.
5.3 Elite Benefits
- Priority in recommendations and search results
- Higher earnings potential through premium features
- Exclusive badges and promotional tools
5.4 Earnings for Elite Books
Elite books earn significantly higher revenue from paid views. Free views no longer count toward earnings calculations on your elite books as readers can only read 3 chapters, though they will still appear in your book's total views for tracking engagement. This ensures that authors benefit from high-quality, monetizable engagement while still being able to see overall readership.
Elite status can be revoked if engagement drops or guidelines are violated.
6. Earnings and Engagement
Earnings are strictly based on engagement metrics to ensure fair compensation for valuable content:
6.1 Engagement Factors
| Metric |
Description |
| Reading Progress |
Percentage of book completed by users; higher completion rates boost earnings |
| Comments & Interactions |
Number and quality of reader comments, likes, and shares |
| Author Replies |
Your responses to comments; active engagement increases multipliers |
| Views & Reads |
Paid views count fully; free views earn at a reduced rate |
| Other Factors |
Retention rate, bookmarking, recommendations to others, and overall user satisfaction scores |
6.2 Changes to Earnings Calculation
Effective October 03, 2025: We no longer count free views on Elite books in earnings calculations, as data shows users often don't fully read the book in free mode. However, free views on non-Elite books still contribute to earnings at a base rate.
Earnings are calculated monthly using a proprietary algorithm. Minimum payout threshold is R100.
7. Payments
We process payments securely and promptly:
- Standard Timeline: Payments are made within 3 business days of the payout request
- Delays: In case of verification or minor issues, payments may take up to 7 days
- Extended Delays: If there are significant issues (e.g., disputes, tax compliance), payments may take up to 30 days; we will notify you in advance
- Methods: Paid via PayPal, bank transfer, or other approved methods
- Taxes: You are responsible for reporting and paying taxes on earnings
- Fees: Platform does not retains any commission on earnings; payment processor fees may apply
Payouts are available at any time during business days. We reserve the right to withhold payments for violations or investigations.
8. Author Responsibilities
As an author, you agree to:
- Maintain high-quality, original content
- Engage respectfully with readers and other authors
- Disclose sponsored content or affiliations
- Report bugs, violations, or issues promptly
- Not manipulate engagement (e.g., fake accounts, bots)
- Comply with all laws, including copyright and defamation
- Update your content to fix errors or respond to feedback
Failure to meet responsibilities may affect earnings, Elite status, or account access.
10. Termination
Either party may terminate your author status:
- Your Termination: Delete your account or stop publishing
- Our Termination: For violations, inactivity, or at our discretion with notice
- Effects: Outstanding earnings paid; content may remain if public
Upon termination, licenses granted to us survive for existing content.
11. Disputes and Governing Law
These Terms are governed by South African law. Disputes shall be resolved through arbitration in Johannesburg.
- Contact us first to resolve issues informally
- No class actions; individual arbitration only
- We are not liable for indirect damages
12. Changes to These Terms
We may update these Terms periodically. Changes will be posted with an updated date.
- Material changes notified via email or Platform
- Continued use constitutes acceptance
- Review periodically for updates
Empowering Creators: We are committed to supporting authors in building their audience and monetizing their passion. Thank you for contributing to Stardust Literacy's vibrant community.
