Terms of Service
Last updated: October 12, 2026
By creating an account or using Reader, you agree to these Terms and our Privacy Policy. Reader is operated by Matthew Friedman ("Reader", "we"). If you don't agree, don't use Reader.
1. Who can use Reader
You must be at least 13, and old enough to agree to these Terms where you live. If you're under 18, a parent or guardian should review them with you. One person per account. Keep your sign-in secure: you're responsible for activity on your account.
2. Your content
You own what you post: posts, reviews, replies, lists, messages and photos. You give Reader a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free licence to host, store, display, reproduce and adapt it (for example, resizing images or making share cards) to operate and promote Reader. This licence ends when you delete the content or your account, except where others have reshared it or we must keep it by law.
Only post content you have the right to share. Crediting an artist or author is not the same as having permission. Short quotes from books for discussion or review are fine; don't post substantial excerpts, full chapters, or pirated copies.
3. Community rules: zero tolerance
Reader has zero tolerance for objectionable content and abusive users. Don't post or send:
- harassment, bullying, threats, or hate based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability or other protected traits;
- sexual content involving minors, or any sexual content in public spaces;
- graphic violence, self-harm encouragement, or content promoting illegal activity;
- spam, scams, impersonation, or misleading links;
- other people's private information.
Spoilers: use the spoiler tools (chapter tags and spoiler marks). Repeatedly posting untagged spoilers to ruin books for others counts as abuse.
4. Reporting, blocking and enforcement
You can report any post, reply, review, message, profile, list, club or video, and block or mute any user. We review reports and act within 24 hours. We filter some words automatically.
We may remove content, limit features, suspend or permanently ban accounts that break these Terms, with or without notice. If you think we got it wrong, email us.
5. Copyright
We respect copyright and respond to notices of alleged infringement under the US Digital Millennium Copyright Act. Send notices to mattreaderteam@gmail.com and include:
- the work you claim is infringed;
- where the material is on Reader;
- your contact details;
- a statement that you believe in good faith the use isn't authorised;
- a statement, under penalty of perjury, that your notice is accurate and you're authorised to act for the owner;
- your physical or electronic signature.
We remove infringing material and terminate repeat infringers. Book covers and descriptions are shown to identify and discuss books; rights holders can ask us to remove one at the same address.
6. Reader+ and subscriptions
Reader is free to use. Reader+ is an optional subscription with premium features, described on the Reader+ screen before you buy. Features may change over time.
- Subscriptions are purchased and billed through your Apple ID at the price shown before purchase.
- They renew automatically at the end of each period unless you cancel at least 24 hours before it ends. Your account is charged within 24 hours before the end of the current period.
- Manage or cancel in iOS Settings → [your name] → Subscriptions. Deleting the app or your Reader account doesn't cancel a subscription.
- If a free trial is offered, it converts to a paid subscription unless you cancel at least 24 hours before it ends. Any unused part of a trial is forfeited when you buy a subscription.
- Refunds are handled by Apple under its policies (reportaproblem.apple.com).
7. Clubs
Club owners set their club's book, schedule and rules, and can remove members from their club. They must follow these Terms, and so must members. Private clubs are visible only to members. Reader isn't responsible for club owners' decisions, but you can report a club.
8. Links, book data and third-party content
Book information and covers come from public catalogues and publishers, and may contain errors (tell us). Videos open in TikTok, and GIFs come from GIPHY, under their own terms. "Buy" links go to third-party stores; some may be affiliate links, which never change your price.
9. Disclaimers
Reader is provided "as is" and "as available". To the extent the law allows, we disclaim all warranties, express or implied, including merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose and non-infringement. We don't guarantee Reader will be uninterrupted, error-free, or that data won't be lost. Content posted by users is theirs, not ours.
10. Limitation of liability
To the extent the law allows, Reader and its operator aren't liable for indirect, incidental, special, consequential or punitive damages, or for lost data, profits or goodwill. Our total liability for any claim is limited to the greater of what you paid us in the 12 months before the claim, or US$50. Some places don't allow these limits, so they may not apply to you.
11. Ending your account
You can delete your account at any time in Settings. We may suspend or end accounts under section 4. Sections 2 (the licence for content others reshared), 5, 9, 10 and 13 survive.
12. Apple App Store terms
These Terms are between you and Reader, not Apple:
- Apple has no obligation to provide maintenance or support for Reader.
- If Reader fails a warranty, you may notify Apple for a refund of the purchase price, if any. Apple has no other warranty obligation.
- Apple isn't responsible for claims about Reader, such as product liability, legal compliance, consumer protection or intellectual property claims.
- Apple and its subsidiaries are third-party beneficiaries of these Terms and may enforce them against you.
- You confirm you're not in a US-embargoed country or on a US government restricted-party list.
13. Governing law and disputes
These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of New York, USA, without regard to conflict-of-law rules. Disputes go to the state or federal courts located in New York, unless the law where you live gives you the right to bring a claim locally.
14. Changes
We may update these Terms. We'll post the new version with its date, and tell you in the app about significant changes. Continuing to use Reader means you accept them.