Cryptidverse™ Third-party License V1.1

1. Purpose

This document is to outline the limitations and considerations for publishing a book or story within the Cryptidverse™. Every creative work within the Cryptidverse™ helps expand awareness of it and builds bridges for fans to find more works. Everyone benefits. If you wish to write within the Cryptidverse™, carefully read the expectations below.

2. Terms

If you adhere to the terms outlined herein, you may publish third-party stories and novels stating their inclusion as part of the Cryptidverse™. These publications may be free or for sale. You retain 100% of the profits for any publication you create within the Cryptidverse™. This is also true of any associated merchandise.

3. Content

Cryptidverse™ is a shared writing universe. The setting and beings within the Cryptidverse™ are freely usable by anyone writing therein. As such, any author may write about the creatures other authors have created, so long as the individual story is a new one. It is entirely acceptable to build on the lore developed elsewhere. Select passages of in-universe writings may be referenced, but other writing should be entirely original as each author retains control of their copyrighted IP outside of the entities and in-universe elements.

The world is largely similar to our own, save for the existence of odd creatures. The history of that world aligns with our own, but well known events may turn out to be false narratives that are hiding more sinister events from the past. No being created for the Cryptidverse™ is a cosmic god and no story should be written that spells the end of the world. Elements of the world may be at risk, entire areas may be purged of humanity, but the beings of the Cryptidverse™ are part of the world they inhabit. They didn't show up from the depths of the universe, but instead have been here all along. If humanity is at its peak, these beings inhabit the uncanny valley.

4. Branding

Books written in the Cryptidverse™ must be labeled as such and credit for its source must be given to D. X. Logan. If desired, an author may use any specific graphic included with this document should any be added at any time in the future.

5. License

No author may claim rights to the Cryptidverse™, aside from myself. This means you may not seek to block other authors from using the Cryptidverse™ and writing within it. Your individual writing is yours and fully protected by copyright, but you expressly waive copyright on creatures and in-universe writings (such as a writing referenced within the stories) created within the Cryptidverse™. You also accept that any event you have written about becomes part of the history within that setting and may be freely referenced by any other author. Unless stated otherwise herein, copyright rights and moral rights, such as the right of integrity, are not licensed under this license, nor are publicity, privacy, and/ or other similar personality rights. Patent and trademark rights are not licensed under this license. D. X. Logan reserves all rights not expressly granted herein.

Due to the nature of legal contracts with major publishers which claim ownership of an author's work regarding elements of a book and setting, only self-publications are eligible for being included within the Cryptidverse™. No aspect of the Cryptidverse™ is considered to be the property of any third-party for the purposes of copyrighting and intellectual property claims. This document supersedes any contract with a publishing house or individual publication venue in regards to elements of the Cryptidverse™.

Books and stories written in the Cryptidverse™ come in two forms; Official and Unofficial. To gain official status, D. X. Logan must review the finished work prior to publication and agree in writing that the official status may be used. This approval is not dependent on any form of payment, but may take time due to scheduling limitations. Any changes to the content of the work after official review returns the work to Unofficial status pending re-approval. This status change does not apply to editing of typos or similar non-content related edits.

Unofficial Cryptidverse™ books may be entirely within the scope of the cannon universe, but have not been proofread for consistency. This means where an Official work and an Unofficial work are in conflict, the Official work is considered to be the canon universe. In both cases, you may use the term Cryptidverse™ in reference to compatibility (stating, for example, “An unofficial Cryptidverse™ novel.” or another similar phrase). You may not use the D. X. Logan logo under any circumstances. You may not imply that your publication is a D. X. Logan publication or that you or your publication are affiliated or associated with or sponsored, or endorsed by D. X. Logan. If reviewed as noted above, you may state the official nature of the story canon.

You must include the following in your publication: "[Product Name] is an independent product published under the Cryptidverse™ Third-Party License and is not affiliated with D. X. Logan. Cryptidverse™ © 2024 D. X. Logan."

D. X. Logan takes no responsibility for any legal claims against your publication or product and can not be held liable to you on any legal theory (including, without limitation, negligence) or otherwise for any costs, expenses, losses, or damages arising out of this license or use of the licensed material.

This license shall be governed by, construed, and interpreted in accordance with, the domestic law of the State of Tennessee without giving effect to any choice of law provision or rule that would cause the application of laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Tennessee. The exclusive venue for any dispute related to this license shall be the United States District Court for the District of Eastern Tennessee. You irrevocably consent to the exercise of personal jurisdiction over you by the state courts located in Greene County, Tennessee, and federal courts located in Greeneville, Tennessee.

If any provision of this license is deemed unenforceable, it shall be automatically reformed to the minimum extent necessary to make it enforceable or, if not reformable, severed from this license without affecting the enforceability of the remaining provisions. Nothing in this license is a limitation upon, or waiver of, any privileges and immunities that apply to D. X. Logan, including from the legal processes of any jurisdiction or authority.