Publisher & Author Terms

1 Who can publish with COBRAND

1. 1.1Any author, rights holder, or publisher may apply to list a book if they have the legal right to sell or license the book in the territories for which they request distribution.
2. 1.2Applications are open internationally. Approval is subject to identity checks, rights checks, content rules, payment support, and any country or payment restrictions that apply at the time.
3. 1.3COBRAND may ask for the applicant's legal name, contact details, proof of identity, proof of ownership or distribution rights, payout details, and other information reasonably needed to verify the account or comply with applicable requirements.
4. 1.4Every author or publisher must complete verification before a title is listed for sale.
5. 1.5A user may apply as an Author, a Publisher, or both. A publisher must have the right to distribute the books it submits.

2 What we accept

1. 2.1eBooks in PDF or EPUB, subject to technical requirements published by COBRAND.
2. 2.2Paperback and hardcover titles where the selected print and delivery service is available and the author or publisher can meet the required production conditions.
3. 2.3Fiction and nonfiction in categories listed by COBRAND.
4. 2.4Books in English, Nigerian languages, and other languages supported by COBRAND from time to time.
5. 2.5COBRAND may add or remove supported formats, categories, languages, countries, or delivery destinations as the platform develops.

3 What we do not accept

1. 3.1Books or other material that the submitting author or publisher does not have the right to sell, license, distribute, or promote.
2. 3.2Content that promotes violence or hatred against a protected or identifiable group, or that sexually exploits children.
3. 3.3Content that materially misleads buyers about the book, its author, its edition, its contents, or what the buyer will receive.
4. 3.4Plagiarised work or work that infringes another person's intellectual property rights.
5. 3.5Work presented as wholly original human writing when the author knows that required disclosure of generative or other AI assistance has been omitted under COBRAND's then-current content rules.
6. 3.6COBRAND may reject or remove content that is unlawful, fraudulent, or otherwise outside the platform rules published for the relevant service.

4 Pricing

1. 4.1The author or publisher sets the list price, subject to any technical, tax, currency, minimum-price, or print-cost limits that apply.
2. 4.2COBRAND may publish recommended price ranges by category. These are recommendations, not price control.
3. 4.3COBRAND supports pricing in the currencies made available in the Book Store. At launch, the current business rules are based on naira pricing and Nigerian bank payouts. As new payment rails become available, COBRAND may support additional currencies and payout methods.
4. 4.4If COBRAND funds a promotion from its own share, the author's contractual share will not be reduced solely because COBRAND chose to fund that promotion. Any author-requested discount will follow the pricing terms shown for that promotion.
5. 4.5Printed books may have a minimum workable price where COBRAND bears or arranges printing costs. The applicable floor will be calculated from a current print quote and disclosed before the title goes live.

5 What the author or publisher earns

5.1 eBooks

Paperback update: the Paperback Pricing Addendum 1.0 below replaces the original print-pricing provisions for paperbacks. The original provisions below continue to apply to hardcovers.

5.2 Paperback and hardcover — author or publisher supplied stock

The author or publisher supplies the stock. Delivery is charged to the buyer separately where applicable and is not deducted from the author or publisher share.

5.3 Paperback and hardcover — COBRAND-arranged printing

COBRAND obtains or uses a print quote and deducts the production cost of each copy from the cover price first.

5.4 Example

Paperback Pricing Addendum 1.0

An approved paperback may be sold while its ISBN is pending. Publishers must keep its ISBN information accurate and update it when available. Page verification, file approval, pricing requirements and acceptance of this addendum still apply.

COBRAND prints and dispatches approved paperback orders. Paperback delivery is available throughout Nigeria and is included in the listed price under the rates below. Hardcover orders follow the separate hardcover addendum.

This addendum applies to all paperback editions, regardless of the publisher's tier or print model. For paperbacks it replaces Sections 4.5, 5.2 to 5.4, and the separate-delivery provisions in Sections 6.2 and 6.3. Ebook and hardcover royalty provisions continue as before. Publishers accept this addendum separately in Publisher Studio; earlier consent records are retained.

Minimum paperback price

The system reads the page count from the uploaded interior PDF. Printing is charged at N12 per interior page, plus N15 for the cover. Cover pages are not added again to the interior PDF page count.

Delivery is N2,100 for the first paperback copy in an order and N0 for each additional copy, including copies of different paperback titles in the same order. Delivery is included in the pricing calculation and is not charged a second time under this model.

The minimum list price covers printing and delivery for one copy. A price exactly equal to the minimum is permitted and leaves no royalty on a single-copy sale. Prices in other currencies are converted using the store's exchange rates; a minimum is rounded upward so it covers the naira cost.

Paperback earnings

Printing and delivery costs are deducted from the paperback proceeds first. The remaining amount is shared 70 percent to the author or publisher and 30 percent to COBRAND. This paperback split applies to both standard and founding publishers. For orders containing multiple paperback copies, one delivery charge is calculated for the order and allocated across the copies; it is not deducted as a separate first-copy charge for every title.

Worked example: 200 pages at N15,000

COBRAND may revise the per-page printing and delivery rates. The current rates apply to new quotes and may require a listing price to be adjusted before a later sale. Rates and costs for an accepted paid order must be retained with that order; later changes do not recalculate its earnings. The example above updates with the configured rates.

Minimum list price = (interior pages x N12) + N15 cover + N2,100 delivery. An 80-page book has a minimum of N3,075.

Hardcover Pricing Addendum 1.0

This addendum replaces earlier print-cost and royalty provisions in sections 4.5, 5 and Appendix A for hardcover orders sold under this pricing model.

COBRAND prints and dispatches approved hardcover orders within the same delivery area as paperbacks. Hardcover pricing uses the current paperback per-page printing and delivery rates, plus an additional cover charge of N15 per finished hardcover copy. The cover charge applies once per copy. The final interior PDF provides the page count; cover pages are not counted again.

The minimum list price covers one copy's printing, additional hardcover cover charge and first-copy delivery. Printing (including the cover charge) and delivery are deducted first; the remaining amount is shared 70 percent to the author or publisher and 30 percent to COBRAND, for both standard and founding publishers. A mixed paperback/hardcover order shares one first-copy delivery charge, plus the additional-copy rate for subsequent copies.

Hardcovers require approved files, an independently verified PDF page count and your separate acceptance of this addendum. An approved hardcover may be sold while its ISBN is pending; publishers must update it when available. New or revised paperback manuscripts must have at least 75 pages. Previously approved shorter paperbacks can remain on sale with their original manuscript and print specifications. Drafts may be saved before pricing and file requirements are complete, but cannot be sold.

COBRAND can revise the cover charge and printing/delivery rates for future quotes. Costs and earnings already recorded for paid orders are retained. Earlier paperback and publisher consent records are unchanged.

6 Delivery

1. 6.1COBRAND may arrange or manage delivery for supported printed-book destinations. Delivery availability and cost depend on the destination, carrier, print method, and service available at the time of purchase.
2. 6.2Delivery fees are shown separately from the book price where the checkout system supports separate delivery charges.
3. 6.3Where the applicable print model says delivery is paid by the buyer separately, COBRAND will not deduct that delivery charge from the author or publisher share.
4. 6.4For author- or publisher-supplied stock, the seller is responsible for providing stock in the condition and quantity needed for fulfilled orders.

7 Payment

1. 7.1Earnings are calculated monthly based on completed sales and adjusted for refunds, chargebacks, payment reversals, fraud, or other valid corrections.
2. 7.2COBRAND aims to pay within 14 days after the end of each calendar month, subject to payment processing, verification, and any lawful hold or review.
3. 7.3The minimum payout threshold is 5,000 naira where the payout is made in naira. For other currencies or payout methods, COBRAND may publish a matching threshold for that method.
4. 7.4At launch, Nigerian bank payouts are supported. Authors and publishers outside Nigeria may apply, but payout is available only through the countries, currencies, and payment methods supported by COBRAND at the time. COBRAND will not promise a payout rail that it does not operate.
5. 7.5Currency conversion, transfer fees, payment-provider charges, taxes, or required withholding may affect the amount received where applicable. The applicable charge or rate should be disclosed by the relevant payment process where reasonably possible.
6. 7.6Authors and publishers can view their sales and earnings through the Book Store account tools provided by COBRAND.

8 Rights and licence

1. 8.1The author or publisher keeps ownership of the copyright and other intellectual property rights in the work. COBRAND does not take ownership of the work.
2. 8.2The author or publisher grants COBRAND a non-exclusive licence to host, sell, display, distribute, and promote the book through the Book Store and the channels used to market the Book Store, for as long as the title is listed and for any limited period reasonably needed to complete existing orders or preserve required business records.
3. 8.3Non-exclusive means the author or publisher may sell or license the same work through other platforms or channels unless a separate written agreement says otherwise.
4. 8.4The licence includes permission for COBRAND to use the title, cover, author name, publisher name, and short extracts from the book for Book Store pages, social media, advertising, editorial promotion, and other marketing directly related to the Book Store, at no additional licence fee.
5. 8.5The author or publisher confirms that the submitted work and all supplied materials do not knowingly infringe another person's rights and that they have the authority to grant the rights described here.
6. 8.6The author or publisher is responsible for claims arising from rights they did not have authority to grant. Nothing in this clause removes any responsibility that cannot legally be excluded.

9 Verification and account information

1. 9.1Before a title is listed, COBRAND may verify identity, contact information, rights, ownership, publisher authority, payout details, and other information needed for platform trust and compliance.
2. 9.2A user must keep submitted information accurate and update it when it changes.
3. 9.3COBRAND may place an account or title on hold while verification is incomplete or while a rights, payment, fraud, or compliance review is active.
4. 9.4Verification does not transfer ownership of a book to COBRAND and does not guarantee that a title will remain listed.

10 Leaving the platform and removing a title

1. 10.1An author or publisher may request removal of a listed title at any time. Except where immediate removal is required for legal, safety, rights, fraud, or serious policy reasons, the normal removal notice period is 30 days.
2. 10.2Buyers who already purchased a book keep access to a paid copy where the product and applicable law require or allow that access.
3. 10.3COBRAND may remove or suspend a title without notice where it breaches the content rules, a rights claim is made, verification information is false or materially incomplete, fraud or unlawful activity is suspected, or removal is required by law or a payment/technology provider.
4. 10.4Other removal decisions will be explained to the author or publisher in writing when reasonably possible.
5. 10.5Amounts already earned remain subject to normal adjustments for refunds, chargebacks, payment reversals, and other valid corrections.

11 What COBRAND owes the author or publisher

1. 11.1Clear sales records for transactions processed through the Book Store.
2. 11.2Payment according to the applicable payout terms, subject to lawful holds and adjustments.
3. 11.3Notice before material changes to these rules. COBRAND will aim to give at least 30 days' notice of material rule changes, unless a shorter period is required by law, security, a payment provider, or another urgent operational reason.
4. 11.4Existing listed books will be handled according to the version of the terms that applies to them, subject to any later mandatory change that must apply by law or to keep the service operating.

12 Refunds, chargebacks, and payment reversals

1. 12.1COBRAND will maintain a buyer refund and payment-reversal process for purchases made through the Book Store.
2. 12.2A refund, chargeback, fraud reversal, failed settlement, or similar payment reversal may reduce or reverse the earnings previously credited for that transaction.
3. 12.3For digital products, the refund rules will take account of applicable consumer law, payment-provider rules, and the product type.
4. 12.4COBRAND may hold related earnings temporarily while a payment dispute, fraud review, or chargeback is being resolved.

13 Taxes and legal compliance

1. 13.1Each author or publisher is responsible for their own taxes and reporting obligations arising from their income, subject to any tax that COBRAND is required to collect or withhold by law.
2. 13.2COBRAND may request tax or identity information where needed to make a payout or comply with applicable rules.
3. 13.3The exact tax treatment may differ by country. Authors and publishers should obtain local tax advice where necessary.

14 Privacy and data

1. 14.1COBRAND may collect and process account, identity, rights, payout, sales, and support information needed to operate the Book Store, verify users, make payments, prevent abuse, and meet legal obligations.
2. 14.2COBRAND will publish a separate Privacy Notice explaining how personal information is handled.
3. 14.3Sensitive identity or banking documents should be submitted only through the secure method COBRAND provides, not through public pages or public book fields.

15 Changes to these terms

1. 15.1COBRAND may update these terms as the Book Store, payment methods, supported countries, laws, or business rules change.
2. 15.2Material changes will normally be announced at least 30 days before they take effect, unless a shorter period is required for legal, security, or urgent operational reasons.
3. 15.3The version accepted by an author or publisher will be recorded with the acceptance date so that COBRAND can identify which version applied at the time of acceptance.

16 Disputes and governing law

1. 16.1The parties should first try to resolve disputes through COBRAND support and a written complaint process.
2. 16.3Nothing in these terms removes rights that cannot lawfully be excluded in the author's, publisher's, or buyer's country.

17 Acceptance and agreement record

1. 17.1By selecting the required acceptance boxes and submitting the publisher or author onboarding, the applicant confirms that they have read the applicable documents and agree to be bound by them from the time the account is approved or the title is accepted, as the final onboarding flow states.
2. 17.2COBRAND should record, for each acceptance, the user account, document name, document version, acceptance date and time, and other evidence reasonably needed to show which terms were accepted.
3. 17.3A user may be required to accept updated terms before continuing to use features affected by the update.

18 Publisher and Author Agreement Checklist

Before a user can submit a title for listing, the Book Store onboarding should present the applicable documents and require the user to read and accept them:

1. 1Publishing Terms and ConditionsThis document in full. Start at section 1.
2. 2Rights and Ownership DeclarationSection 8 — Rights and licence.
3. 3Royalty, Payout, Refund and Chargeback TermsSection 5 — earnings, section 7 — payment and section 12 — refunds and chargebacks.
4. 4Content and Platform RulesSection 2 — what we accept and section 3 — what we do not accept.
5. 5Privacy NoticeSection 14 states how account, identity, rights, payout and sales information is used.
6. 6Any country-specific or payout-specific notice that applies to the userWhere one applies to your country or payout method, it is shown during onboarding. Section 7.4 states which payouts are supported.

The separate Privacy Notice described in clause 14.2 has not been published yet. Until it is, section 14 above is the statement that applies. Nothing else stands in its place.

A Appendix A — Quick royalty summary