Terms and conditions for Alter Stories

The service "Alterstories.com" is offered over the internet by the company Alter Stories B.V.. The use of Alterstories.com is subject to the below terms and conditions. Using Alterstories.com constitutes acceptance of these terms and conditions.

Deviations from these terms and conditions is possible only by means of written confirmation by Alter Stories B.V..

Version 1.30.08.2016

Article 1. Use of the service

1.1 Alterstories.com website delivers a service for users that offers a predetermined variety of styles and storylines. The platform will allow users to explore their creativity for the continuation of fictional stories in a predetermined variety of styles and storylines. The service also allows you to get in contact with other users.

1.2 Alterstories.com is free to use. To be able to save data for later use, and to use other advanced functions, you first need to register. After completing registration, you can directly log into your account and use the service.

1.3 Alter Stories B.V. may publish (parts of) works on Alterstories.com that fall within the public domain. The copyrights on these works have lapsed and may be used and copied by everyone, without the need to obtain permission from its original maker. Therefore, they may also be incorporated in new stories or form the basis of a new storyline. You should however be aware that this may ultimately have an impact on your story as a whole. The more you make use of works that fall within the public domain, the less you can claim to be your own work. You can only become the copyright holder of parts that you have written yourself and that meet the originality requirement.

1.4 You must secure access to your account using the username and password against third parties. In particular you must keep the password strictly confidential. Alter Stories B.V. may assume that all actions undertaken from your account after logging in with your username and password is authorized and supervised by you. This means you are liable for these actions, unless and until you have notified Alter Stories B.V. that someone else knows your password.

1.5 Alterstories.com processes your personal data. You give your consent for all forms of processing within the scope of the service. However, Alterstories.com is not directed at people under the age of 13, and Alterstories.com does not knowingly collect any personal data from such people. If you are aware that a user under the age of 13 is accessing Alterstories.com, please contact us here report@alterstories.com or use our report system. Consult the privacy statement of Alter Stories B.V. for more information.

Article 2. Terms of use

2.1 You must be aged 13 or over to use Alterstories.com.

2.2 It is not permitted to use Alterstories.com for any purpose that violates applicable law or regulation or these terms of service. This includes (among others) the storage or transmission of data using the service that is slanderous, libelous or racist.

2.3 In addition, on Alterstories.com it is forbidden to:

  • use indecent language or submit storylines and/or works solely for the purpose of shocking other people;
  • publish information where it is unwanted (offtopic);
  • publish information that is primarily pornographic or erotic and without literary or artistic merit (even if legal under applicable law);
  • publish information in violation of copyright or hyperlinks to such information;
  • insert hyperlinks to any website. Storylines shall be screened and hyperlinks will automatically be deleted;
  • publish information that incites illegal activities, including but not limited to instructions to manufacture or create drugs, weapons and explosives.
  • assist others in violating third-party rights, for example by linking to hacking tools or tutorials for committing computer crime that are clearly written to carry out criminal acts (and not to defend against them);
  • violate the privacy of third party, for example by distributing their personal data without permission or clear need or the repeated harassment of third parties with unwanted communications;
  • exercise commercial activities;
  • write or submit content in any language other than English;
  • and to do anything that violates applicable netiquette.

2.4 Should Alter Stories B.V. discover that you violate any of the above, or receive a complaint alleging the same, then Alter Stories B.V. may intervene to end the violation. Alter Stories B.V. shall be entitled to give a written warning. Any failure to comply or other misconduct occurring after the warning has been issued, may result in removal from the service. A warning will remain valid for as long as Alter Stories B.V. considers necessary. Alter Stories B.V. does not pre-screen submitted content, but reserves the right (but not the obligation) in their sole discretion to refuse or remove any content that is made available via the service. In addition, Alter Stories B.V. is entitled, at its sole discretion and without prior notification, to close or temporarily disable accounts of users identified as repeatedly breaching these terms of service.

2.5 If in the opinion of Alter Stories B.V. the continued functioning of the computer systems or network of Alter Stories B.V. or third parties is actually or under threat of being damaged or jeopardized, for example through excessive transmission of e-mail or other data, leaks of personal data or virus activity, Alter Stories B.V. may take all steps it deems reasonably necessary to end or avert such damage or jeopardy. Alter Stories B.V. in particular is entitled to change your contributions at its own discretion.



2.6 Alter Stories B.V. is at all times entitled to file a criminal complaint for any offenses committed through or using the service. In addition, Alter Stories B.V. is entitled to supply your name, address, IP-address and other identifying data to a third party alleging that you violate its rights or these terms and conditions, provided the validity of the complaint is clear, no other way of obtaining this information exists and the third party has an evident interest in obtaining this information.

2.8 Alter Stories B.V. may recoup from you all damages it suffers as a result of your violation of these terms of use. You agree and hold harmless Alter Stories B.V. from all third-party claims arising out of your violation of these terms of use.

Article 3. Availability and maintenance

3.1 Alter Stories B.V. uses its best efforts to have the service available at all times but makes no guarantees about uninterrupted availability.

3.2 Alter Stories B.V. actively maintains Alter Stories. In case maintenance is reasonably expected to negatively impact availability, Alter Stories B.V. shall carry out such maintenance at night (between 12:00am and 03:00am PST ). Maintenance is announced in advance whenever possible. Emergency maintenance can take place at any time and without prior announcement.

3.3 Alter Stories B.V. may from time to time adapt Alter Stories. Your feedback and suggestions are welcome but ultimately Alter Stories B.V. decides which adaptations to carry out (or not). Alter Stories B.V. shall announce planned adaptations at least thirty days in advance.

3.4 Alter Stories B.V. has the right to terminate the service without prior notification. By using the service you agree that Alter Stories B.V. is under no obligation to return any information provided by you during your use of the service. Furthermore, in the event Alter Stories B.V. terminates the service, you agree that Alter Stories B.V. is under no obligation to offer a refund or any other type of compensation.

Article 4. Intellectual property

4.1 The service Alter Stories, the accompanying software as well as all information and images on the website is the intellectual property of Alter Stories B.V. and/or its licensors. None of these items may be copied or used without prior written permission of Alter Stories B.V., except and to the extent permitted by mandatory law.

4.2 Information you store or process using the service is and remains your property (or the property of your suppliers or licensors). Works created through the service may also constitute joint works. This will be the case in the event multiple users make contributions to the same storyline. Alter Stories B.V. receives an unlimited license for use of this information, including the right to sell (sublicense) the information to third parties and the right to use this information for other services of Alter Stories B.V..

4.3 The license of the previous clause is perpetual and irrevocable. The license remains in force after termination of the agreement. In exceptional circumstances where a serious reason calls for it, Alter Stories B.V. may decide to adapt or remove the information.

4.4 By making use of the service you acknowledge that, due to the nature of the service, your information may be altered and/or supplemented by other users of the service and/or third parties. Therefore, after information has been made publicly available through the service, it is no longer possible to remove or change said information. Information that has not been made publicly available may at all times be removed or changed.

4.5 If you send information to Alter Stories B.V., for example a bug report or suggestion for improvement, you grant Alter Stories B.V. a perpetual and unlimited license to use this information for the service. This does not apply to information you expressly mark as confidential.

4.6 Alter Stories B.V. as well as specially designated users of the service are entitled to correct any typographical errors and/or evident mistakes in the submitted contents. Additionally, Alter Stories B.V. is permitted to make minor and necessary amendments to storylines, such as changing sentences in order to make sure the different storylines overlap. Alter Stories B.V. shall inform you with regard to the necessary amendments that have been made. The foregoing does not affect your rights as a (joint) copyright owner.

4.7 In case Alter Stories B.V. discovers your contributions have been copied by third parties in combination with contributions of others, then Alter Stories B.V. is authorized to take legal action against such copying under its own or your name. All costs must be borne by Alter Stories B.V. but you must offer your cooperation if necessary. This clause does not forbid you from publishing your contributions elsewhere but is aimed at allowing Alter Stories B.V. to act against copying of (substantially) all contributions to Alterstories.com.

Article 5. Compensation for the service

5.1 The beta version of Alterstories.com is made available to you free of charge until the final version of Alterstories.com is released. To make full use of all functionalities of the final version of Alterstories.com a payment (in advance) may be required.

5.2 Payment is possible through direct debit order, by making a wire transfer to the account of Alter Stories B.V. , by creditcard, PayPal money transfer, or as explained further on the website. We do not process your payment information, but use third party service providers to process such information.

Article 6. Submitting storylines

6.1 By using the service you are able to submit storylines and other works as explained on Alterstories.com. If you have submitted storylines, you may qualify for what we call Share in Future profits. The storylines you submit may be used and supplemented by other users of the service as well as third parties, including but not limited to producers and publishers.

6.2 Alter Stories will provide qualified authors with a percentage of net profits (after tax and deduction of costs) earned through any commercial exploitation of their works. The percentage is divided equally among all (joint) copyright holders. The total percentage will be announced on the website when Alter Stories hits Public Beta.

Article 7. Limitation of liability and warranties

7.1 Except in case of intentional misconduct or gross negligence Alter Stories B.V. shall not be liable for the use of the service or any damages in connection therewith. In particular, Alter Stories B.V. cannot be held responsible for any damage to your computer or mobile device.

7.2 Alter Stories B.V. in no event is liable for indirect damages, consequential damages, lost profits, missed savings or damages through business interruption.

7.3 Damages may only be claimed if reported in writing to Alter Stories B.V. at most two months after discovery.

7.4 In case of force majeure Alter Stories B.V. is never required to compensate damages suffered by you. Force majeure includes among others disruptions or unavailability of the internet, telecommunication infrastructure, power interruptions, riots, traffic jams, strikes, company disruptions, interruptions in supply, earthquakes, storm, fires and floods.

7.5 To the maximum extent permitted by law, Alter Stories B.V., its affiliates and third party service providers disclaim any and all warranties, express or implied, including but not limited to implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non- infringement of proprietary rights.

Article 8. Term and termination

8.1 This agreement enters into force as soon as you first use the service and then remains in force until terminated.

8.2 If you entered into this agreement as a consumer, you may terminate the agreement at any time with a notice period of one month, calculated from the moment of the notice. Non- consumers can terminate the agreement with a notice period of two months.

8.3 Alter Stories B.V. is entitled to terminate the agreement if you have not used the service at all in the last 18 months. In such an event Alter Stories B.V. shall first send a reminder mail to the e-mail address connected to your account 6 months after your last use of the service, followed by reminders at 9 and 11 months after your last use of the service. Unused credit and/or added share in profits on your account remaining after termination will be forfeited.



Article 9. Changes to terms

9.1 Alter Stories B.V. may change or add to these terms and conditions as well as any prices at any time.

9.2 Alter Stories B.V. shall announce through the service changes or additions at least thirty days before their taking effect.

9.3 If you do not want to accept a change or addition, you can terminate the agreement until the date the changes take effect. Use of Alter Stories after the date of effect shall constitute your acceptance of the changed or added-to terms and conditions.

Article 10. Miscellaneous provisions

10.1 The law of the country of Alter Stories B.V. applies to this agreement.

10.2 Except to the extent determined otherwise by mandatory applicable law all disputes arising in connection with Alter Stories shall be brought before the competent Dutch court for the principal place of business of Alter Stories B.V..

10.3 For any clause in these terms and conditions that demand that a statement must be done "in writing" to be legally valid, a statement by e-mail or communication through the Alterstories.com service shall be sufficient provided with sufficient certainty the authenticity of the sender can be established and the integrity of the statement has not been compromised.

10.4 The version of any communication of information as recorded by Alter Stories B.V. shall be deemed to be authentic, unless you supply proof to the contrary.

10.6 In case any part of these terms and conditions are declared legally invalid, this shall not affect the validity of the whole of the agreement. The parties shall in such an event agree on one or more replacement provisions that approximate the original intent of the invalid provision(s) within the limits of the law.

10.7 Alter Stories B.V. is entitled to transfer its rights and obligations under this agreement to a third party as part of an acquisition of Alterstories.com or the associated business activities. Without our prior written permission you are not entitled to transfer, sell, assign or otherwise dispose of your account or your rights and obligations under this agreement.

10.8 In the event you have an issue or dispute, we encourage you to contact us and try to resolve it with us informally. All feedback and concerns can be addressed to us by either using the contact form or sending an e-mail directly to feedback@alterstories.com.