Terms of service

Overview

This website is operated by Darling Axe Editing. Throughout the site, the terms “we”, “us”, and “our” refer to Darling Axe Editing, which encompasses the business operations of David Griffin Brown, including work personally undertaken by him and projects he manages directly. Darling Axe Editing also coordinates a network of independent freelancers who operate autonomously—managing their own clients, handling their own payments, and assuming liability for their work. While these freelancers are part of the broader Darling Axe brand, they are responsible for their own business activities and client interactions.

We offer this website, including all information, tools, and services available from this site to you, the user, conditioned upon your acceptance of all terms, conditions, policies, and notices stated here.

By visiting our site and/or purchasing a service from us, you engage in our “Service” and agree to be bound by the following terms and conditions (“Terms of Service”, “Terms”), including those additional terms and conditions and policies referenced herein and/or available by hyperlink. These Terms of Service apply to all users of the site, including without limitation users who are browsers, customers, and contributors of content.

Amendments to the Terms

These terms are dynamic and may be amended through mutual agreement as documented in our communications with you, including email, phone, or video chat. These dialogues can amend and adapt the terms applicable to the services rendered, ensuring flexibility and responsiveness to our client's needs.

Modifications to The Service and Prices

Prices for our services are subject to change without notice. We reserve the right at any time to modify or discontinue the Service (or any part or content thereof) without notice at any time. We shall not be liable to you or to any third-party for any modification, price change, suspension, or discontinuance of the Service.

Services

Descriptions of our services are available on specific pages within our site. These descriptions form part of the binding agreement and by contracting with us, you agree to all such descriptions and conditions as stated therein.

Payments and Billing

Payment policies vary by the type of service:

• For project-managed services like beta reading and proofreading, full payment is required upfront.
• For services coordinated through our core team of freelancers, payment arrangements are made directly between the client and the freelancer. All payments are deemed non-refundable except as explicitly stated in our cancellation and refund policy or under applicable law.

Cancellation and Refunds

At Darling Axe Editing, we are commissioned for our time and industry expertise. The work we deliver involves significant effort and embodies our professional judgment and insights. As such, all services rendered are inherently non-refundable, given the value embedded within the expert feedback we provide.

We understand that creative work is highly subjective, and receiving critical feedback can be challenging. If a client is dissatisfied or struggles to understand our assessment, we are committed to working collaboratively to clarify our perspectives and maximize the usefulness of our feedback. Although our fundamental aim is to uplift, energize, and inspire the artistic process, our critique might sometimes include recommendations for extensive revisions, including a ground-up rewrite. We recognize the emotional and practical implications of such feedback and are prepared to engage deeply with our clients to reach a mutual understanding and acceptance. Refunds are issued only if we fail to complete the commissioned work. However, in the face of disputes or disagreements, we prioritize dialogue and strive to ensure that our clients derive as much value as possible from our services, even in the most sensitive of circumstances.

 Generally, a deposit is considered non-refundable. Exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis, particularly in circumstances that require early cancellation. It is imperative that clients contact us at the earliest opportunity to discuss potential refunds.

Intellectual Property & Confidentiality

All work produced or reviewed by our services remains the intellectual property of the client. We uphold a strict non-disclosure policy to protect the confidentiality of all client materials. 

At Darling Axe Editing, we typically retain client materials on file to facilitate ongoing discussions and future editing rounds. This retention supports a seamless continuation of services and allows us to reference previous work to maintain consistency and quality in our engagements. Additionally, client files may be preserved automatically within archived emails and email folders, including sent items, as part of our standard communication practices.

Clients who prefer that their materials be removed from our systems after the completion of services must explicitly request this in writing. Upon receiving such a request, we will diligently purge the specified documents from all active files and email archives. This process ensures that we respect and comply with the client's preferences for privacy and data management while balancing the need for operational continuity in ongoing professional relationships.

Use of Artificial Intelligence

At Darling Axe Editing, we are committed to maintaining the human element that is critical to the art of editing and critique. All material is read, and all feedback is provided, by our editors, based on their personal expertise and perspective. Our editors' insights and suggestions are uniquely their own.

We may utilize artificial intelligence as a supplementary tool for specific tasks where automation does not compromise the integrity of our services. Potential uses include preliminary fact-checking, such as verifying historical details in fiction or translating text not in English. These tasks are akin to those traditionally handled by search engines, which are increasingly incorporating generative AI into their results.

It is important to note that while AI can assist in these ancillary capacities, the critical editorial work and the substantive feedback we provide are exclusively the product of our skilled human editors. This distinction is central to the value we offer our clients, ensuring that the feedback and editing services are authentic, personalized, and professionally accountable.

Liability and Disputes

Liability and dispute resolution will be handled directly by the party providing the service. Darling Axe Editing manages disputes only for services directly controlled by us, such editing work taken on specifically by David Griffin Brown, or managed projects such as beta reading and proofreading. Disputes related to services provided by our core team of freelancers should be addressed directly with the respective freelancer.

Privacy and Data Handling

At Darling Axe Editing, client work may be discussed internally for quality assurance and service placement purposes. While these discussions are crucial for maintaining our standards and accurately aligning team members with projects, all personally identifiable information is stringently protected. We employ reputable payment systems such as Shopify, PayPal, and Venmo, which adhere to high standards of data security to safeguard your personal details. Any payment-related information is processed through these systems, ensuring that your financial data remains secure and private. Beyond financial transactions, we are committed to protecting all personal data shared with us during our professional interactions, consistent with best practices in data privacy and security.

Contact Information

For any questions regarding these Terms of Service, please contact us at editors@darlingaxe.com.

Darling Axe Editing

3112 Steele St, Victoria, BC, Canada