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 or adapted by mutual written agreement, as documented in email communications between Darling Axe and the client, ensuring flexibility and responsiveness to our clients' 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 query critique and hook assessment services performed by David Griffin Brown, full payment is required upfront.
• For full-length editorial work such as developmental editing and line editing performed by David Griffin Brown, half the cost is charged to book and the remainder once the work is complete.
• For services coordinated through our network of independent editors, payment arrangements, including any refund or cancellation terms, are made directly between the client and the editor.

Cancellation and Refunds

This policy applies to services managed directly by Darling Axe, including beta reading, proofreading, and editing work undertaken personally by David Griffin Brown. (Refund and cancellation terms for projects with our network editors are set directly by your editor.)

All payments for Darling Axe-managed services are non-refundable, reflecting the time and professional judgment invested in each project. If Darling Axe is unable to complete a commissioned project, any portion of payment for work not yet performed will be refunded. Beyond this, refund requests arising from early cancellation or other extenuating circumstances will be considered on a case-by-case basis, at Darling Axe's discretion. Clients are encouraged to reach out as early as possible to discuss any concerns about a project's scope or progress.

Intellectual Property & Confidentiality

All work produced or reviewed by our services remains the intellectual property of the client. For projects referred to a network editor, the initial writing sample you submit is reviewed by Darling Axe to assess fit and assign an appropriate editor. Once a project begins, your manuscript and related materials are handled directly between you and your editor going forward; Darling Axe does not retain copies of full manuscripts handled this way, beyond the initial sample, unless otherwise agreed.

We uphold a strict non-disclosure policy to protect the confidentiality of all client materials. 

For services managed directly by Darling Axe, 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 human editors—whether working directly with Darling Axe or as part of our independent editor network—based on their personal expertise and perspective. No editor's substantive feedback is generated or replaced by AI.

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 as editing work taken on specifically by David Griffin Brown, or managed projects such as beta reading and proofreading. For these services, Darling Axe's liability for any claim is limited to the amount paid by the client for the specific service in question. Disputes related to services provided by our network of independent editors should be addressed directly with the respective editor; Darling Axe is not a party to that engagement and assumes no liability for work performed by network editors.

These Terms, and any dispute arising from your use of this site or our services, are governed by the laws of British Columbia, Canada, and you agree to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of British Columbia for resolution of any such dispute.

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