Content Policy

All content policies below apply to all components of your submitted audiobook (Audio, Metadata, Cover Image, and Supplemental Materials) unless otherwise explicitly stated.

Please note that M.A.D. Audiobooks, at its sole discretion, may make exceptions to any of these policies based on artistic, educational, historical, documentary, or scientific considerations, or where there are other substantial benefits to the public. Even if your title meets all of the above standards, all of M.A.D. Audiobook's distribution partners have full discretion over whether they make any title available on their service.

Advertising

Please ensure your content does not include any product or service advertisements. The sole exception to this is the inclusion of a reasonable reference to additional books that may be of interest to the listener (e.g. look forward to this upcoming title from this author).

Deceptive Content

Accurate metadata and title descriptions are crucial to making sure that listeners find content that meets their expectations. Please ensure that all submitted metadata reflects what the listener can reasonably expect to experience, including your selected BISAC/genre codes. Do not submit content replicating the same name, image, and/or description as another existing creator or otherwise pose as another person, brand, or organization in a misleading manner.

Do not submit content that attempts to take advantage of the end listener. This includes, but may not be limited to:

• posting, sharing, or providing instructions on implementing malware or related malicious practices that seek to harm or gain unauthorized access to computers, networks, systems, or other technologies

• phishing or related attempts to deceptively solicit or collect sensitive information

• promoting investment and financial scams like get rich quick and pyramid schemes, or otherwise encouraging others to part with money under false pretenses

Lastly, do not submit content that attempts to manipulate or interfere with election-related processes. This includes, but may not be limited to:

• misrepresentation of procedures in a civic process that could discourage or prevent participation

• misleading content promoted to intimidate or suppress voters from participating in an election

Sample, Cover Image, and Metadata Content

M.A.D. Audiobook's will utilize images for Marketing purposes on your behalf, therefore Samples, Cover Images, and Metadata are held to stricter content standards due to the public nature of these listings. Please ensure that Samples, Cover Images, and Metadata are appropriate for all audiences, and do not (for example) include excessive graphic sexual imagery, excessive violent imagery, or explicit language. 

Dangerous Content

Content submitted to M.A.D. Audiobooks may not contain:

• Content that advocates or glorifies serious physical harm, harassment, or abuse towards an individual or group. This includes, but is not be limited to:

  • encouraging, promoting, or glorifying suicide and self-harm (if you or someone you know is struggling or thinking about self-harm, please see here call or text 988 for immediate help).

  • inciting or threatening serious physical harm or acts of violence against a specific target or specific group.

  • sharing, threatening to share, or encouraging others to share someone’s private information, including credit card or banking information, National Identity numbers, etc.

• Content that promotes or supports terrorism or violent extremism. Incitement to violence or terrorism is not permitted. This includes materials that are intended to harass, or which threaten to cause (even abstractly or conditionally) serious physical injury or death to an individual or rally support to physically harm others. This also includes, but is not limited to:

  • glorifying or praising violent extremist groups or their members

  • coordinating, promoting, threatening, or praising an act of violence by or on behalf of violent extremist groups or their members

  • providing instructions or instructional materials to commit an act of violent extremism

  • soliciting an individual or group to finance, undertake an act of violent extremism, or become involved in the activities of a violent extremist group

• Content that incites violence or hatred towards a person or group of people based on race, religion, gender identity or expression, sex, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, veteran status, age, disability or other characteristics associated with systemic discrimination or marginalization. Includes, but may not be limited to:

  • praising, supporting, or calling for violence against a person or group of people based on the characteristics listed above

  • dehumanizing statements about a person or group based on the protected characteristics listed above

  • promoting or glorifying hate groups and their associated images, and/or symbols

• Content that promotes dangerous false or dangerous deceptive medical information that may cause offline harm or poses a direct threat to public health. Includes, but may not be limited to:

  • asserting that AIDS, COVID-19, cancer or other serious life threatening diseases are a hoax or not real

  • encouraging the consumption of bleach products to cure various illnesses and diseases

  • promoting or suggesting that vaccines approved by local health authorities are designed to cause death

  • encouraging people to purposely get infected with COVID-19 in order to build immunity to it (e.g. promoting or hosting “coronavirus parties”)

• Content that illicitly promotes the sale of regulated or illegal goods. Includes, but may not be limited to:

  • selling illegal firearms or firearm parts

  • selling illegal drugs

  • selling endangered species or products derived from endangered species

• Content that promotes, solicits, or facilitates child sexual abuse or exploitation. Includes, but may not be limited to:

  • visual depictions of a minor engaged in a sexual act or lascivious depictions of a nude minor

  • promoting acts of sexual abuse against a child in exchange for money

  • encouraging or promoting sexual attraction by adults towards minors

  • promoting, normalizing, or glorifying child grooming behaviors

Sensitive Content

Content submitted to M.A.D. Audiobooks may not contain glorification or advocation of:

• Violent or Disgusting Materials: Graphically violent or scatological materials.

• Pedophilia or Age Play: Erotic content featuring minors OR consenting adults pretending to be underage.

• Bestiality: Sexual relations between humans and "real-world" animals. Sex with fantasy creatures is allowed.

• Rape for titillation: The primary or dominant theme of the book is rape, written in such a way to arouse the reader with the fantasy of non-consensual sexual relations.

• Incest: Sexual relations between close biological family members.

• Non-Consensual Sexual Slavery: Erotic depictions of BDSM-like conditions (kidnapping, imprisonment, restraint) WITHOUT clear informed consent.