Policy
BooksWhale focuses on public domain classics and records the basis for publication before editions are made available.
Effective date: June 11, 2026
BooksWhale is built around works believed to be in the public domain or otherwise lawful to use. We record source language, source references, publication information, jurisdiction notes, and editorial review notes where available.
The underlying public-domain source text remains public domain. BooksWhale may still create protected value through formatting, metadata, covers, translations, generated files, edition packaging, platform software, and editorial work.
Public domain status can vary by country or region. A work that is public domain in one place may still have restrictions somewhere else.
Readers and contributors are responsible for following the laws that apply in their own location, especially before redistributing downloaded files or using them outside personal reading and study.
A public-domain original does not automatically make every translation, annotation, introduction, scan, or commercial ebook file public domain.
BooksWhale avoids knowingly using protected modern translations without permission and may prepare new AI-assisted, human-reviewed, or contributor-assisted editions based on lawful public-domain sources.
If you upload a manuscript or source file, you must confirm that it is lawful to submit and suitable for BooksWhale's public-domain workflow.
BooksWhale may remove, restrict, correct, replace, or re-review materials when public-domain status, copyright, translation rights, image rights, or source reliability is questioned.