October 31, 2025

Terms of Service

Summary

This summary is provided for convenience and does not replace the legally binding Terms below:

  • Talescape is a platform operated by Aureola (Christian Hanne) for creating, publishing, and experiencing interactive stories.
  • Bards are creators who publish stories on Talescape. Dreamers are users who play or purchase stories.
  • Bards retain full ownership of their stories but grant Talescape a non-exclusive license to host, distribute, and promote them.
  • Dreamers purchase digital stories through platform stores (e.g., Steam, Apple, Google). Purchases are final once downloaded and may not be refunded after access.
  • Talescape retains a 15 % service fee on the net revenue after taxes, in addition to the fees retained by third-party distributors.
  • Purchased stories remain downloadable even if their creator later leaves the platform.
  • Talescape may remove or restrict content that violates its guidelines or applicable law.
  • Talescape is operated under German law. Any disputes shall be resolved in the courts of Dortmund, Germany.

1. Definitions

For purposes of these Terms:

  1. Talescape refers to the online service and applications operated by Aureola (Christian Hanne), Dortmund, Germany, enabling users to create, publish, distribute, and experience interactive stories.
  2. Bard refers to any registered user who creates or publishes content on Talescape.
  3. Dreamer refers to any registered or guest user who accesses, downloads, or purchases content on Talescape.
  4. Story means any interactive narrative, visual novel, or related creative work published on Talescape.
  5. User collectively refers to both Bards and Dreamers.
  6. Content includes stories, text, images, sound, or any materials uploaded or distributed via Talescape.
  7. Platform means the Talescape website, app, and any related services operated by Aureola.
  8. Third-Party Distributor includes app stores or marketplaces such as Steam, Apple, or Google.

2. Acceptance of Terms

  1. By registering, accessing, or using Talescape, you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service and all applicable laws and regulations.
  2. If you do not agree, you must not use Talescape.
  3. These Terms may be updated periodically. Continued use constitutes acceptance of any modified version. An archive of previous versions is maintained for transparency.
  4. Certain features or contests may be subject to additional terms, which shall prevail in case of conflict.

3. Accounts and Eligibility

  1. Users must be at least 16 years old to create an account. Users under 18 require parental or guardian consent under applicable law.
  2. Talescape does not knowingly collect data from children under 16 in compliance with Article 8 GDPR.
  3. Users are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of their login credentials and for all activities under their account.
  4. Talescape may suspend or terminate accounts for violation of these Terms or applicable law.
  5. Each user may maintain only one active account, unless explicitly permitted.

4. Use of the Platform

  1. Users agree to use Talescape solely for lawful purposes and in accordance with its Content Guidelines.
  2. Users shall not:
    • Upload or distribute illegal, infringing, or harmful material.
    • Circumvent access controls or exploit security vulnerabilities.
    • Interfere with the operation or integrity of the platform.
  3. Talescape may monitor, restrict, or remove content to comply with legal obligations or maintain community safety.

5. Dreamers (Players)

  1. Dreamers may access and purchase digital stories made available through Talescape or third-party distributors.
  2. All prices are displayed in Euro (€) and include applicable taxes where required.
  3. Purchases are processed via the relevant third-party platform and are subject to their payment policies.
  4. Under Directive (EU) 2019/770, the right of withdrawal for digital content expires once the content has been made available for download or streaming and confirmed by the respective store platform (e.g., Steam, Apple, Google).
  5. Refunds are not provided after access or download, except as required by law or permitted voluntarily by Talescape.
  6. Dreamers retain perpetual access to purchased stories even if the Bard later removes or unpublishes the story or leaves the platform.
  7. Talescape may store and re-deliver purchased stories solely for this purpose.

6. Bards (Creators)

  1. Bards are solely responsible for the content they upload or publish.
  2. Bards represent and warrant that:
    • They own or hold all necessary rights to publish their content.
    • Their content does not infringe on third-party rights or violate any law.
  3. By publishing a story, the Bard grants Talescape a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to:
    • Host, display, distribute, and promote the story on the Talescape platform and associated services.
    • Use excerpts, thumbnails, and related media for discovery, marketing, and editorial promotion.
    • Translate or localize metadata (titles, descriptions, tags) for accessibility and discoverability.
  4. The Bard retains full ownership of all intellectual-property rights in their content.
  5. The license remains valid while the story is available on Talescape and terminates upon removal, except that promotional materials already produced may remain visible.
  6. Talescape may temporarily unpublish or remove stories that violate its Content Guidelines or legal requirements.
  7. All published stories must comply with the Talescape Content Guidelines.

7. Payments, Revenue Share, and Payouts

  1. Talescape facilitates the sale of digital stories through third-party distributors.
  2. Third-party platforms (e.g., Steam, Apple, Google) may retain their applicable distribution fees.
  3. From the net revenue after applicable taxes, Talescape retains a 15 % service fee. The remainder constitutes the Bard’s earnings.
  4. Earnings are credited in Euro (€) to the Bard’s account balance.
  5. Bards may request payout after reaching the minimum threshold displayed in their Creator Dashboard.
  6. Payouts are processed manually within 30 days of a valid request.
  7. All payouts are made exclusive of any VAT, income, or withholding taxes, which remain the Bard’s responsibility. Talescape does not withhold or remit such taxes on behalf of Bards.
  8. Talescape may withhold payment in cases of suspected fraud, chargebacks, or violations of these Terms.

8. Withdrawal and Refund Policy

  1. By purchasing a story, Dreamers expressly consent to immediate access to digital content and acknowledge that their right of withdrawal expires upon download or access, as confirmed by the relevant store platform.
  2. Talescape may, at its discretion, offer refunds before download if technically possible.
  3. This policy complies with Directive (EU) 2019/770 on digital content and digital services.

9. Moderation and Content Removal

  1. Talescape reserves the right to review, remove, or restrict content that violates its Content Guidelines, Terms of Service, or applicable law.
  2. Content may be hidden, age-restricted, or delisted without prior notice in cases of severe or repeated violations.
  3. Bards will be notified of removals where feasible and may appeal decisions through the official contact channels.
  4. Talescape may suspend or terminate user accounts for repeated violations or abuse.

10. Intellectual Property of Talescape

  1. All software, trademarks, designs, and branding of the Talescape platform remain the exclusive property of Aureola (Christian Hanne).
  2. Users are granted a limited, non-transferable license to access and use Talescape for personal, non-commercial purposes.
  3. No part of Talescape may be reproduced, modified, or redistributed without written permission.

11. Liability and Disclaimers

  1. Talescape provides its services “as is” and does not guarantee uninterrupted availability or error-free operation.
  2. To the maximum extent permitted by law, Aureola (Christian Hanne) shall not be liable for:
    • indirect or consequential damages;
    • loss of profit, data, or goodwill;
    • any damages arising from third-party services or user-generated content.
  3. Nothing in these Terms excludes liability for intentional misconduct, gross negligence, or damages resulting in death or personal injury under applicable law.

12. Termination

  1. Users may close their accounts at any time.
  2. Talescape may terminate or suspend access without notice for breach of these Terms or legal obligations.
  3. Upon termination, user licenses and access to unpublished content cease.
  4. Purchases already made by Dreamers remain valid and accessible. Talescape retains the right to store and re-deliver purchased content solely for prior purchasers.

13. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

  1. These Terms shall be governed by the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany, excluding conflict-of-law provisions.
  2. For users acting as merchants or entities, the place of jurisdiction shall be Dortmund, Germany.
  3. For consumers, mandatory statutory rights to alternative jurisdictions remain unaffected.
  4. The European Commission provides an online dispute-resolution platform at https://ec.europa.eu/consumers/odr.

14. Contact Information

For inquiries regarding these Terms or other legal matters:

Aureola (Christian Hanne)
Dortmund, Germany
Email: contact@talescape.com
Website: https://talescape.com