01
Our promise
Authors have been asked to hand over too much for too long. Folio works the other way around: you decide what happens to your book, and we never take a stake in it.
You keep 100% of the rights
You keep 100% of the rights to your manuscript, to every edit you accept, and to every file you download from Folio. That includes copyright, publishing, film, audio, translation, and any other rights. We claim no ownership, no license, no royalties, and no credit.
Your share of rights
100%
Every right, always
Royalties to Folio
$0
We never take a cut
Licenses we claim
None
Your work stays yours
02
What you own
Everything that goes in, and everything that comes out, belongs to you.
- Your manuscript, including the original upload, which is always kept so you can return to it.
- Every edit you accept, whether it came from our software or a human editor.
- Every file you download, including formatted DOCX and EPUB files and cover files.
- All rights, from print and eBook to audio, film, and translation.
03
What we never claim
No ownership
- Uploading, editing, or downloading does not transfer any ownership to Folio.
- You are not signing your book to a publisher.
No license
- We don't take a license to publish, sell, or reuse your work.
- Your manuscript is used only to deliver the service you asked for.
No royalties
- We take no share of your sales, on any platform.
- You pay for the services you choose, once, and that's the end of it.
No credit required
- We don't ask to be named in your book or on your cover.
- Your editor and designer don't claim credit either.
04
Suggestions & human editors
- Nothing changes without you. Every suggestion appears with a reason, and you can accept, reject, or edit it. Every action can be undone.
- Accepted text is yours. Text suggested by our software or your editor and accepted by you becomes part of your work, and you may use it freely.
- Editors keep no rights. Human editors work on a work-for-hire basis for Folio and keep no rights in your book.
- Final creative decisions are yours. Your editor never rewrites your plot, changes your meaning, or alters your characters without your say-so.
05
Copyright & registration
Copyright belongs to you as the author from the moment you write it. Using Folio does not change that.
- Registering your copyright is up to you. We can't do it on your behalf.
- Nothing you do in Folio, from uploading to downloading, creates or transfers a copyright claim for us.
06
Your responsibilities
Keeping every right also means standing behind your book.
- You confirm the manuscript is your own work, or that you have the right to submit it for editing.
- You're responsible for quotes, images, lyrics, and other third-party material, and for getting any permissions needed.
- You're responsible for the facts in your book. Fact-checking flags items to verify, but it isn't a guarantee of accuracy.
07
Privacy & deletion
- Uploads are encrypted and stored securely.
- Your manuscript is used only to deliver the services you requested. It's never published, shared, or sold.
- Human editors are bound by confidentiality and see only what they need to edit your book.
- You can ask us to delete your manuscript and its edits at any time.
08
Content we can work on
We work on fiction and non-fiction of all genres, including difficult themes that serve the story. We may decline manuscripts that promote violence against people, sexually exploit minors, or are plagiarized, unlawful, or fraudulent. If we decline, we'll tell you why, and you won't be charged for work we didn't do.
09
Rights on every plan
The plan you choose changes what you can do in Folio. It never changes who owns your book.
| Plan | Who owns your book | Royalties or license to Folio |
|---|
| Free | You, 100% | None |
| Standard | You, 100% | None |
| Humanize (human editors, formatters, designers) | You, 100% | None |
FAQs
Most asked questions
Do I really keep all the rights to my book?
Yes, always. You keep 100% of the rights and the copyright to your manuscript and every file you download. Folio never claims ownership, a license, royalties, or credit.
Does Folio become my publisher?
No. Folio is a tool you use, not a publisher you sign to. You decide where and how your book is published.
Who owns the changes my editor or the software suggests?
You do, once you accept them. Accepted suggestions become part of your work and you may use them freely. Human editors work on a work-for-hire basis and keep no rights in your book.
Does Folio register my copyright?
No. Copyright belongs to you from the moment you write it, and registering it is up to you.
Does Folio take a share of my sales?
No. We take no royalties. You pay for the services you choose and nothing more.
Do my rights change if I use the free plan?
No. Your rights are identical on every plan, including the free one.
Is my manuscript kept private?
Yes. Uploads are encrypted, used only to deliver your services, and never published, shared, or sold. You can ask us to delete it at any time.
What am I responsible for?
That the manuscript is your own work or you have the right to submit it, that any third-party material is cleared, and that the facts in your book are correct.