Artificial intelligence disclaimer
AI, COPYRIGHT & WORK-IN-PROGRESS MATERIALS
Under Cover Designs is firmly against the use of AI in the creative process and against the usage of any and all generative AI work/creation.
By commissioning Under Cover Designs, the client acknowledges and agrees to respect these restrictions and to not use, submit, reproduce, modify, trace, train, or otherwise process our work through generative AI or similar automated systems without our express written permission.
CREATIVE PROCESS, WORK-IN-PROGRESS & AI USE POLICY
Under Cover Designs understands that, given the current state of the publishing industry and the increasing prevalence of generative AI, automated image manipulation, tracing, bots, and other forms of unauthorized reproduction, clients may wish to request sketches, drafts, work-in-progress materials, timelapses, process videos, or other evidence of a designer’s creative process, particularly when working with a designer for the first time.
However, Under Cover Designs no longer provides sketches, preliminary drafts, work-in-progress files, process videos, timelapses, source-file previews, or similar behind-the-scenes materials as part of our services nor process.
This policy has been implemented as a direct result of repeated instances in which our original work, artwork, files, and characters have been submitted to AI-generation and image-manipulation platforms without our knowledge or permission. In some instances, our work has subsequently been used as the basis for generating modified or derivative versions, including alterations to character poses, clothing, compositions, and other visual elements.
We have also encountered situations in which work created by Under Cover Designs was used as a reference or foundation for continuing a series, developing additional artwork, or creating new materials through AI or automated systems without commissioning the original designer.
These incidents were not isolated occurrences, and this policy has not been adopted lightly.
Under Cover Designs has been creating and designing book covers since 2016, long before the current widespread use of generative AI. Our designs are created through human creative research, design, illustration, editing, experimentation, and years of accumulated knowledge, skill, and experience.
Our work is created by humans (one human, since there’s only one person behind Under Cover Designs since 2016) without the use of generative AI in the creative process.
The purchase of a finished design or design package does not transfer ownership of Under Cover Designs’ underlying creative process, source materials, unused concepts, sketches, drafts, working files, original character development, or other intellectual property.
Unless otherwise expressly agreed in writing and the applicable license buyout fee, (full lifetime copyright transfer and complete source files included) all original artwork, illustrations, character designs, sketches, concepts, compositions, and other creative materials produced by Under Cover Designs remain the intellectual property and under the copyright of Under Cover Designs. The purchase of a finished design does not grant the client ownership of our underlying creative process, source materials, unused concepts, sketches, or other intellectual property.
PROHIBITED USE OF OUR WORK WITH AI & AUTOMATED SYSTEMS
Clients are expressly prohibited from uploading, submitting, feeding, tracing, scanning, training, reproducing, manipulating, or otherwise using any Under Cover Designs artwork or creative materials as an input, reference, source, prompt, visual guide, training material, or foundation for generative AI, AI-assisted tools, or similar technologies.
This includes, but is not limited to:
Finished book covers and cover artwork;
Illustrations and original character artwork;
Character designs and concepts;
Sketches, drafts, and preliminary artwork;
Mockups and promotional graphics;
Logos, illustrations, graphics, and other original design elements;
Source files or portions of source files;
Cropped, altered, edited, or extracted portions of our artwork; and
Any other original creative material produced by Under Cover Designs.
This prohibition includes the use of our work with:
Generative AI and image-generation systems;
AI-assisted image editing or manipulation tools;
AI character generators;
AI training or model-development systems;
Automated tracing, recreation, or vectorization tools;
AI-generated marketing materials, teasers, reels, advertisements, or promotional graphics; and
Any other technology or service capable of generating, altering, reproducing, recreating, or producing derivative artwork from our work.
Our artwork may not be used as an input, reference, source, prompt, visual guide, or foundation for generating replacement, modified, derivative, or additional artwork through AI or similar automated systems.
This restriction applies regardless of whether the resulting material is intended for commercial, promotional, personal, editorial, educational, or non-commercial use.
The restriction also applies regardless of who is using or submitting the artwork.
For example, clients: including authors, publishers, and other customers, as well as non-clients: including readers, assistants, marketing/PR teams or other third parties, may not submit, upload, feed, or otherwise provide Under Cover Designs artwork to an AI platform or generative system for the purpose of altering, recreating, manipulating, extending, or generating derivative artwork.
Clients are responsible for ensuring that any person acting on their behalf, including assistants, marketers, social-media managers, or other representatives, does not use Under Cover Designs artwork in violation of these restrictions.
LIMITATION ON ILLUSTRATION & CHARACTER DESIGN SERVICES
Because illustrated covers and original character artwork involve substantially more original intellectual property, creative development, and artistic investment, Under Cover Designs may, at its sole business discretion, limit illustrated-cover and character-design services to existing clients with an established working relationship with Under Cover Designs and/or clients referred by authors or industry professionals known to and trusted by Under Cover Designs.
This is a business and intellectual-property protection measure and should not be interpreted as a reflection of any individual client’s character, intentions, or trustworthiness.
We understand that the absence of sketches, timelapses, process videos, or work-in-progress materials may influence an author’s decision when selecting a designer. We respect that decision and understand that clients may choose to work with designers who provide such materials.
However, protecting our intellectual property, creative process, original artwork, and the continued operation of Under Cover Designs is essential to our business.
CLIENT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT & ENFORCEMENT
By commissioning, purchasing, or otherwise obtaining artwork or design services from Under Cover Designs, the client acknowledges and agrees to respect these restrictions.
Under Cover Designs artwork may not be used, directly or indirectly, as an input, reference, source, prompt, visual guide, training material, or foundation for generative AI, AI-assisted tools, image-generation platforms, automated tracing systems, or similar technologies.
The client shall not use, submit, upload, reproduce, modify, trace, train, manipulate, process, or otherwise provide Under Cover Designs work to such systems for the purpose of generating, recreating, altering, extending, or producing derivative artwork.
This restriction applies whether the artwork is used in its entirety or in part, whether directly or indirectly, and regardless of whether the resulting material is intended for commercial, promotional, personal, editorial, educational, or non-commercial purposes.
Where a client provides Under Cover Designs artwork to a third party, the client remains responsible for ensuring that the third party does not use that artwork in a manner prohibited by these Terms & Conditions.
Violation of this policy may result in the immediate termination of current or future services and may result in further action, including legal action and any other remedies available to Under Cover Designs to protect its intellectual-property and copyright rights.
Aug 2025