Terms of Service
Last Updated: April 17, 2025
Welcome to Drowsic! These Terms of Service (“Terms”) govern your access to and use of the Drowsic website (the “Site”) and its related services (collectively, the “Service”). Please read these Terms carefully before using the Service.
By accessing or using the Service, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you disagree with any part of the terms, then you may not access the Service.
1. Description of Service
Drowsic provides a platform for independent creators (“Authors”) to publish content, including translations (primarily of Japanese novels, reflecting our origins) and original stories. The Site operates primarily as a hobby project, focused on supporting authors and fostering a community around shared interests.
2. Acceptance of Terms
Your use of the Service constitutes your acceptance of these Terms and our Privacy Policy. If you are an Author contributing content, you may be subject to additional guidelines or rules.
3. User Accounts
You may need to register for an account to access certain features. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account information and for all activities that occur under your account. You agree to notify us immediately of any unauthorized use of your account.
4. User Conduct
You agree not to use the Service to:
- Post, upload, or distribute any content that is unlawful, defamatory, harassing, abusive, fraudulent, obscene, or otherwise objectionable.
- Post, upload, or distribute any content that infringes upon the intellectual property rights of others, including copyright, trademark, or patent rights. You must have the necessary rights or permissions for any content you contribute.
- Impersonate any person or entity, or falsely state or otherwise misrepresent your affiliation with a person or entity.
- Engage in any activity that interferes with or disrupts the Service.
5. Content Ownership and Rights
- Authors: Authors retain the copyright and any other rights they already hold in the original content they submit, post, or display on or through the Service. By submitting content, Authors grant Drowsic a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use, reproduce, adapt, publish, translate, and distribute such content on the Service.
- Translations: Translators contributing content acknowledge that while they hold copyright in their unique translation (as a derivative work), they typically do not hold the copyright to the underlying original work being translated. Translators are responsible for ensuring they have the necessary rights or permissions, or are operating under principles of fair use where applicable, to publish their translations. Drowsic does not claim ownership of the original underlying works.
- Readers: Content is provided for personal, non-commercial use only unless otherwise stated. You may not copy, reproduce, distribute, transmit, broadcast, display, sell, license, or otherwise exploit any content for any other purposes without the prior written consent of the respective licensors (the Author/Translator and/or original copyright holder where applicable).
6. Virtual Currency (“Kyun”)
The Service utilizes a virtual currency known as “Kyun.”
- Kyun can be purchased on the Site and used to access certain premium content or subscription tiers offered by individual Authors.
- Kyun has no real-world monetary value and cannot be redeemed for cash or transferred outside of the Service, except as explicitly permitted by Drowsic.
- Revenue generated from Kyun purchases, minus applicable payment processing fees retained by the site operator, is distributed to the Authors whose content or tiers are purchased by users.
- All Kyun purchases are final and non-refundable, except as required by applicable law.
7. Copyright Policy (DMCA)
Drowsic respects intellectual property rights and complies with the DMCA. Our detailed policy for reporting copyright infringement and our counter-notice procedures can be found on our DMCA Policy page. We adhere to a repeat infringer policy as outlined therein.
8. Disclaimers
The Service is provided on an “AS IS” and “AS AVAILABLE” basis. Drowsic makes no warranties, expressed or implied, regarding the operation of the Service or the information, content, or materials included therein. We do not warrant that the Service will be uninterrupted, timely, secure, or error-free. Content provided by Authors represents their own views and efforts; Drowsic does not endorse or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any content.
9. Limitation of Liability
To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, Drowsic, its operator, affiliates, and contributors shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, or any loss of profits or revenues, whether incurred directly or indirectly, or any loss of data, use, goodwill, or other intangible losses, resulting from (a) your access to or use of or inability to access or use the Service; (b) any conduct or content of any third party on the Service; (c) any content obtained from the Service; or (d) unauthorized access, use, or alteration of your transmissions or content.
10. Termination
We may terminate or suspend your access to the Service immediately, without prior notice or liability, for any reason whatsoever, including without limitation if you breach the Terms. Upon termination, your right to use the Service will immediately cease. Provisions of these Terms which by their nature should survive termination shall survive termination, including, without limitation, ownership provisions, warranty disclaimers, indemnity, and limitations of liability. We reserve the right to terminate accounts of repeat copyright infringers as per our DMCA Policy.
11. Changes to Terms
We reserve the right, at our sole discretion, to modify or replace these Terms at any time. If a revision is material, we will try to provide at least 30 days’ notice prior to any new terms taking effect. What constitutes a material change will be determined at our sole discretion. By continuing to access or use our Service after those revisions become effective, you agree to be bound by the revised terms.
12. Contact Information
For questions about these Terms, please contact us via our Contact Page or directly at [email protected].