Naming Rights: Terms and Conditions

When you purchase naming rights, you acknowledge and accept the following terms and conditions:

Good Faith Agreement

As an author, I offer naming rights as a way to amuse, entertain, and honor my readers.

When you purchase the right to name a fictional character or location, you affirm and agree that:

  • Your submission is intended to amuse, entertain, or honor someone.
  • You are not submitting a name in order to hurt anyone.

Creative Control

As the author, I will retain complete creative control over my fictional characters, locations, and stories.

Fictional Characters

When you purchase the right to name a fictional character, you acknowledge and agree that:

  • Your submission will be incorporated into a work of fiction.
  • The name you submit will be given to a fictional character.
  • Fictional characters are figments of my imagination.
  • Any similarities between real-life people and fictional characters will be coincidental.
  • My fictional descriptions are not intended to be truthful or accurate representations of any real people.
  • There is no guarantee that a character you name will be “nice.”
  • The character might be sweet or somewhat unsavory.
  • Ultimately, the character could prove to be either a hero or a villain.
  • The fictional character you name will meet societal norms and expectations, and will not be physically repulsive, criminally insane, or a psychopath—unless you purchase the right to name a “bad guy.”

Fictional Locations

When you purchase the right to name a fictional location, you acknowledge and agree that:

  • You hold the legal right to use the name of the location.
  • Your submission will be incorporated into a work of fiction.
  • The location you submit will be fictionalized.
  • Descriptions will come from my imagination.
  • Any similarities between real-life locations and fictional locations will be coincidental.
  • My fictional descriptions are not intended to be truthful or accurate representations of any real locations.

Custom Upgrades

The characters and locations in my books are fictional, but you can add real-world details with custom upgrades. Those details could include physical descriptions, mannerisms, hobbies, pets, and prized possessions.

When you order a custom upgrade, you acknowledge and agree that:

  • Your submission will be incorporated into a work of fiction.
  • The name or location you submit will be fictionalized.
  • Most of the description will come from my imagination.
  • Any resemblances to real people and real locations will be superficial.
  • My fictional descriptions are not intended to be truthful or accurate representations of any real people or locations.

Bad Guys

When you purchase the right to name a bad guy, you acknowledge and agree that:

  • Your submission will be incorporated into a work of fiction.
  • The name you submit will be given to a fictional character.
  • Fictional characters are figments of my imagination.
  • The bad guys in my stories are completely, 100 percent fictional.
  • The bad guy you name could be physically repulsive, criminally insane, or a psychopath.

Release of Legal Liability

  • You may not hold me responsible for any liability resulting from the use of the names or locations you submit.
  • You may not sue me for libel, defamation, character assassination, emotional distress, or personal injury as a result of your submission.

Payments, Compensation, and Intellectual Property

  • You are paying me for the right to name a fictional character or location.
  • I will have no financial commitment or obligation to you as a result.
  • You will have no interest or ownership in my published work, or any portion thereof, or its copyright.
  • The names of fictional characters and locations may appear in advertising, marketing, and publicity materials related to the published work, and you will not receive payment or compensation for that use.

Timeline

  • I will endeavor to use your submission in a fictional work within two years of this agreement, barring any unforeseen obstacles to publication.
  • If I fail, you may request a full refund and I will return your money.

Right of Refusal

  • I reserve the right to refuse naming requests for any reason.
  • If I decline your request, I will refund your payment.

Termination of Naming Rights

  • You may rescind your naming rights before the publication of a work with your submission, and I will omit the name you submitted.
  • I will consider refunds on a case-by-case basis.
  • If you rescind your naming rights, there is no guarantee that your payment will be refunded.

These terms and conditions are current as of May 11, 2022.