Bookstead Terms of Service
Effective date: July 27, 2026 Last updated: July 27, 2026
1. Agreement to Terms
These Terms of Service (Terms) are a legally binding agreement between you (User, you, your) and Ampersand Studios, a company incorporated in Canada (Bookstead, we, us, our).
By downloading, installing, or using the Bookstead application (App), you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree, do not use the App.
You must be at least 13 years old to create an account.
2. About Bookstead
Bookstead is a reading tracker application that allows you to:
- Log books you are reading or have read
- Track reading progress, goals, and streaks
- Earn tokens through reading activity
- Unlock virtual furniture and items for your in-app cat and room
- Rate and review books
- Follow other readers and share reviews
- Access premium reading stats and features with a paid subscription
2.1 About Tokens and Virtual Items
Bookstead awards tokens based on your reading activity, including opening the app, logging reading time, and finishing books. Tokens can be used to unlock virtual furniture and items within the App.
Tokens and virtual items have no real-world monetary value. They cannot be purchased, transferred, sold, exchanged, or redeemed for cash or any other item of value outside the App. Bookstead reserves the right to modify, suspend, or discontinue tokens and virtual items at any time.
3. Account Registration
3.1 Account Creation
To use Bookstead, you must create an account by providing accurate, current, and complete information. You are responsible for keeping your account information up to date.
3.2 Account Security
You agree to:
- Keep your password confidential and not share it with anyone
- Notify us immediately of any unauthorized access to your account at ampersandstudios2026@gmail.com
- Accept responsibility for all activity that occurs under your account
3.3 One Account Per Person
You may only create one account. Creating duplicate accounts is not permitted.
4. Subscription and Payments
4.1 Free Tier
Bookstead is free to download and use. Free users can log books, earn tokens, and use core tracking features.
4.1.1 Free Trial
We offer a 14-day free trial of Bookstead Premium. If you do not cancel before the trial ends, your payment method will be charged automatically for your selected subscription plan. Trial length and terms will also be displayed in the App at the time of signup.
4.2 Premium Subscription
A Bookstead Premium subscription unlocks additional features including advanced reading stats, a wider selection of virtual furniture, and future features such as book club rooms. Premium features are described in the App and may change over time.
Premium subscriptions are available on a monthly or annual basis. Annual subscriptions are billed as a single upfront payment and are offered at a discount relative to the monthly rate.
Prices are displayed in the App and may vary by region. All prices include applicable taxes.
4.3 Auto-Renewal and Billing
If you subscribe through the Apple App Store or Google Play Store:
- Payment will be charged to your account at confirmation of purchase
- Your subscription automatically renews unless auto-renewal is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period
- Your account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period
- You can manage and cancel your subscription through your account settings in the App Store or Google Play
4.4 Payment Processing
Payments are processed by Apple or Google through their respective stores. Bookstead never receives or stores your payment card details. The legal relationship associated with your purchase is between you and Apple or Google, not Bookstead directly.
4.5 Cancellation and Refunds
- You may cancel your subscription at any time through your App Store or Google Play account settings
- Cancellation takes effect at the end of the current billing period
- Refund requests must be directed to the Apple App Store or Google Play Store in accordance with their refund policies
- Bookstead cannot issue refunds directly
4.6 Account Deletion and Active Subscriptions
If you delete your Bookstead account while holding an active subscription, you should cancel your subscription through the App Store or Google Play before deleting your account. Bookstead cannot issue refunds for unused subscription periods. Your token balance and virtual items will be permanently deleted upon account deletion and cannot be transferred or refunded.
4.7 Price Changes
We reserve the right to change subscription prices. Any price changes will be communicated in advance and will apply to the next billing cycle after notice is given.
5. User Content
5.1 Your Content
You retain ownership of the reviews, ratings, and other content you submit to Bookstead (User Content).
By submitting User Content, you grant Bookstead a non-exclusive, royalty-free licence to display and distribute that content within the App for as long as your account is active.
When you delete your account, all your User Content including reviews and ratings will be permanently deleted within 30 days.
5.2 Content Standards
You agree not to post User Content that:
- Is false, misleading, or defamatory
- Infringes any third-party intellectual property rights
- Contains personal information about other people without their consent
- Is hateful, abusive, harassing, or discriminatory
- Violates any applicable law
Bookstead reserves the right to remove any User Content that violates these standards at any time and without notice.
6. Acceptable Use
You agree NOT to:
- Use the App for any unlawful purpose
- Attempt to gain unauthorised access to our systems or another user’s account
- Interfere with or disrupt the App or its servers
- Reverse engineer, decompile, or disassemble the App
- Use the App to transmit malware or harmful code
- Impersonate any person or entity
- Create fake accounts or manipulate token earning through automated or dishonest means
- Use the App in any way that could harm Bookstead or other users
7. Intellectual Property
7.1 Bookstead’s Rights
The App, including its design, features, code, cat illustrations, virtual items, and content, is owned by Ampersand Studios and protected by intellectual property laws. You are granted a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable licence to use the App for personal, non-commercial purposes only.
7.2 Restrictions
You may not:
- Copy, modify, or distribute the App or any part of it
- Rent, lease, sell, or sublicense the App
- Create derivative works based on the App
- Use Bookstead’s name, logo, or trademarks without written permission
8. Disclaimers
8.1 No Warranty
THE APP IS PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE” WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. WE DO NOT WARRANT THAT:
- The App will be uninterrupted or error-free
- Defects will be corrected
- The App is free of viruses or harmful components
- Reading stats, streaks, or token calculations will always be accurate
8.2 Virtual Items
Bookstead does not guarantee the availability of any particular virtual item, cat, or feature. We reserve the right to modify, retire, or replace virtual items at any time.
9. Limitation of Liability
9.1 General Limitation
TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, BOOKSTEAD SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR:
- Any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages
- Any loss of data, tokens, virtual items, reading streaks, or progress
- Any damages resulting from your use or inability to use the App
9.2 Maximum Liability
OUR TOTAL LIABILITY SHALL NOT EXCEED THE AMOUNT YOU PAID TO BOOKSTEAD IN THE 12 MONTHS PRECEDING THE CLAIM.
9.3 Consumer Rights
Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits any liability that cannot be excluded or limited under applicable Canadian law, including consumer protection legislation. Nothing in these Terms affects your statutory rights as a consumer.
10. Indemnification
You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Ampersand Studios, its officers, directors, employees, and agents from any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, and expenses (including legal fees) arising from your use of the App, your violation of these Terms, or any User Content you submit.
11. Third-Party Services
The App integrates with the following third-party services:
- RevenueCat — subscription management
- Apple App Store and Google Play Store — distribution and payments
- Sentry and PostHog — usage analytics and error monitoring
Your use of these services is subject to their respective terms and privacy policies. Bookstead does not endorse or assume responsibility for any third-party services.
12. Modifications to Terms
We may modify these Terms at any time. Material changes will be communicated through in-app notifications and email to registered users at least 30 days before taking effect. Your continued use of the App after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms. If you do not agree to the changes, you must stop using the App and may delete your account.
13. Termination
13.1 By You
You may delete your account at any time through Home > User > Delete Account or by contacting ampersandstudios2026@gmail.com. Upon deletion, your personal data will be deleted within 30 days in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
13.2 By Bookstead
We may suspend or terminate your access to the App at any time if you violate these Terms, if your use poses a security or legal risk, or if required by law.
13.3 Effect of Termination
Upon termination, your licence to use the App ends immediately. Your token balance and virtual items are permanently forfeited. Sections 5.1, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 16 survive termination.
14. App Store Terms
14.1 Apple App Store
If you downloaded the App from the Apple App Store:
- This agreement is between you and Ampersand Studios only, not Apple Inc.
- Apple is not responsible for the App or its content
- The licence granted is a non-transferable licence to use the App on Apple-branded products you own or control
- Bookstead, not Apple, is solely responsible for the App, its content, maintenance, support, and any claims relating to it
- Apple and its subsidiaries are third-party beneficiaries of these Terms and have the right to enforce them against you
14.2 Google Play Store
If you downloaded the App from the Google Play Store:
- This agreement is between you and Ampersand Studios only, not Google LLC
- Google Play’s terms of service apply to your use of the Google Play Store
- Bookstead, not Google, is solely responsible for the App, its content, maintenance, support, and any related claims
15. Governing Law and Disputes
These Terms are governed by the laws of the Province of British Columbia and the federal laws of Canada applicable therein. Any disputes will be resolved in the courts of British Columbia.
Before commencing formal legal proceedings, both parties agree to attempt to resolve any dispute arising from these Terms or your use of the App through informal negotiation. If the dispute is not resolved within 30 days of one party notifying the other in writing, either party may submit the dispute to the courts identified above.
15.1 Mandatory Consumer Protections
Nothing in these Terms deprives you of any mandatory protections under Canadian federal or provincial consumer protection law. If applicable provincial law provides greater protection than these Terms, that law applies to the extent of the difference.
16. General Provisions
16.1 Entire Agreement
These Terms, together with the Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and Bookstead regarding the App.
16.2 Severability
If any provision of these Terms is found unenforceable, the remaining provisions continue in effect.
16.3 Waiver
Failure to enforce any right or provision of these Terms does not constitute a waiver of that right or provision.
16.4 Assignment
You may not assign or transfer these Terms. Bookstead may assign its rights and obligations without restriction.
16.5 Force Majeure
Bookstead shall not be liable for any failure or delay due to circumstances beyond our reasonable control.