Terms of Use
1. Acceptance and contracting party
These Terms of Use (the “Terms”) apply when you access or use StoryBee.ca, StoryBee.Space, the books and educational material made available through them, and their related features (together, the “Services”). The Services are operated and provided by StoryBee Inc. (“StoryBee”, “we”, “us”, or “our”). StoryBee Inc., West Solution Consulting Corp., and The National Research Institute for Democratized Learning may each publish or provide particular books or content available through the Services.
By accessing or using the Services, or by selecting “Agree and continue” where that option is presented, you agree to these Terms. If you do not agree, do not use the Services. The Legal Notices, Fair Use Notice, and Disclaimers form part of these Terms where applicable. The Privacy Policy and Cookies and Local Storage Notice explain our information practices and do not limit rights that cannot legally be waived.
If these documents conflict, these Terms control contractual matters, the Privacy Policy controls the description of personal-information practices, and a book-specific rights or credit notice controls the identification of that book’s publisher and rights holders.
2. Current public access and future membership
StoryBee.ca currently makes certain reading material available without charge and without sign-up as a public trial of our work. This public access is not a promise that every book, feature, or period of access will always remain available or free of charge.
StoryBee.Space may provide account features using Squarespace authentication. We expect to introduce a free membership gateway for StoryBee.ca in the future and may later offer additional plans or features. Any new eligibility requirements, account terms, or charges will be presented before they apply.
3. Adult accounts and children’s reading
Where an account or membership is offered, it may be created only by an adult who is at least 18 years old or the age of majority where they live, whichever is higher. Children may not independently create or manage a StoryBee account.
Our books are created or curated for children’s knowledge and enjoyment, but an adult is responsible for selecting appropriate material and supervising a child’s use. We do not ask public-trial readers to submit their age merely to read StoryBee.ca.
4. Account security
If you use an account feature, provide accurate information, keep your credentials secure, and contact us promptly if you believe the account has been accessed without permission. You are responsible for activity you authorize through your account. You are not responsible for unauthorized activity caused by StoryBee’s breach of these Terms or failure to use reasonable safeguards.
5. Limited permission to use the Services
Subject to these Terms, StoryBee grants you a limited, personal, non-exclusive, non-transferable, and revocable permission to access the Services for personal, non-commercial reading and viewing. Unless a download is expressly offered, the Services are intended for online reading and viewing.
You must not copy, reproduce, republish, distribute, sell, license, mirror, scrape, data-mine, reverse engineer, circumvent technical protections, create derivative works from, or otherwise exploit the Services or their content except with written permission from the applicable rights holder or as permitted by applicable law.
6. Lawful and respectful use
You must not interfere with the Services, attempt unauthorized access, introduce malicious code, impersonate another person or StoryBee, use automated means in a harmful or excessive manner, or use the Services for fraud, abuse, infringement, or another unlawful purpose. This section does not prohibit assistive technologies, ordinary search-engine indexing, security research authorized by StoryBee, or another use protected by applicable law.
We may restrict or end access where reasonably necessary to address a violation, protect the Services or another person, comply with law, or respond to a security or rights concern.
7. AI-assisted and automated material
StoryBee may use software automation, machine-learning systems, or large-language-model tools to assist with website development, editorial preparation, classification, summaries, educational metadata, and related features. We use reasonable review and validation processes, but automated or AI-assisted material may contain errors, omissions, outdated information, bias, or unsuitable suggestions. The use of such tools does not mean that every StoryBee book, illustration, or statement was generated by AI.
You are responsible for evaluating information before relying on it. AI-assisted material does not replace the judgment of a parent, teacher, librarian, or qualified professional.
8. Providers and third-party services
We use service providers to host, secure, authenticate, display, and support the Services. These currently include Cloudflare for StoryBee.ca infrastructure, Squarespace for StoryBee.Space, and FlipHTML5 for certain book displays. Third-party services and links may have separate terms and privacy practices, and their availability is outside our complete control.
9. Educational purpose and suitability
The Services are for general educational, informational, and reading purposes. They do not provide legal, medical, financial, psychological, educational-assessment, or other professional advice, and they do not guarantee a learning outcome, reading level, curriculum result, or suitability for a particular child.
Adults are responsible for reviewing material for a child’s needs, circumstances, maturity, and local educational requirements.
10. Availability and changes
We may correct, update, replace, withdraw, suspend, or discontinue content or features. Availability and display quality can depend on your device, browser, internet connection, location, and third-party providers. Public trial access may change when membership features are introduced.
11. Disclaimers
To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, the Services are provided “as is” and “as available.” We do not guarantee uninterrupted operation or that every book, feature, classification, recommendation, or other item will be complete, accurate, current, secure, error-free, or suitable for every user. Additional explanations appear in our Disclaimers.
Nothing in these Terms excludes a warranty, condition, right, or remedy that cannot lawfully be excluded.
12. Limitation of liability
To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, StoryBee and the StoryBee Publishers will not be liable for indirect, incidental, special, consequential, exemplary, or punitive damages arising from or related to the Services.
To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, the total aggregate liability of StoryBee and the StoryBee Publishers for direct damages arising from or related to the Services will not exceed the greater of the amount you paid directly to StoryBee for the Services during the 12 months before the event giving rise to the claim or CAD $100.
These limitations do not apply to liability that cannot legally be limited or excluded, including liability for fraud or wilful misconduct where applicable law so requires.
13. Indemnity for user-caused claims
To the extent permitted by applicable law, you will indemnify and hold harmless StoryBee, the StoryBee Publishers, and their directors, officers, employees, and authorized representatives from third-party claims, losses, liabilities, and reasonable legal costs arising directly from your deliberate unlawful use of the Services, unauthorized commercial redistribution or infringement, circumvention of security controls, or material breach of these Terms.
This indemnity does not apply to the extent a claim was caused by StoryBee’s or a StoryBee Publisher’s own breach, infringement, negligence, fraud, or wilful misconduct. We will provide reasonably prompt notice of a covered claim and reasonable cooperation. You may not settle a claim in a way that admits fault by, imposes an obligation on, or restricts StoryBee or a StoryBee Publisher without that party’s written consent.
14. Governing law and courts
These Terms are governed by the laws of Ontario and the federal laws of Canada applicable in Ontario. Subject to any mandatory consumer-protection or other law that gives you rights in another jurisdiction, the courts of Ontario have exclusive jurisdiction over disputes arising from these Terms or the Services.
15. Changes, termination, and survival
We may update these Terms to reflect changes to the Services, our practices, or legal requirements. Updated Terms take effect when posted unless a different date is stated. Where reasonably practicable, we will provide additional notice of a material change. If you do not agree to an update, stop using the Services.
Provisions concerning ownership, permitted use, disclaimers, liability, indemnity, disputes, and any provision that by its nature should survive will continue after access ends.
16. General terms and contact
If a provision is invalid or unenforceable, it will be limited to the minimum extent necessary and the remaining provisions will continue. A failure to enforce a provision is not a waiver. StoryBee may assign these Terms as part of a corporate reorganization, financing, or transfer of the Services, subject to applicable law. You may not assign your rights under these Terms without our written consent.
These Terms and the documents expressly incorporated into them are the entire agreement concerning use of the Services, except for a separate written agreement that applies to a contributor, publisher, partner, or particular feature.
Questions and formal notices may be sent to StoryBee Inc. at [email protected].