Copyright & Intellectual Property Policy

The Ripple Stone | Chris Blackman Coaching

Last updated: 18 October 2026

1. Introduction

The Ripple Stone was developed from a desire to explore how our decisions, actions and circumstances influence the direction of our lives.

Through books, educational resources, coaching, podcasts and other materials, we aim to make these ideas accessible and encourage people to reflect upon and apply them in their own lives.

We welcome discussion, interpretation and the practical application of the ideas presented through The Ripple Stone.

At the same time, considerable creative work goes into developing our books, written materials, illustrations, resources and other original content.

This Copyright & Intellectual Property Policy explains how that work is protected, how it may be used and when permission may be required.

Our intention is not to prevent ideas from spreading, but to protect original creative work and ensure it is used appropriately.

2. About Us

The Ripple Stone website is operated by Chris Blackman Coaching, the trading name of Chris Blackman, a sole trader operating in the United Kingdom.

Business information

Trading name: Chris Blackman Coaching
Creator and business owner: Chris Blackman
Business structure: Sole trader
Website: https://theripplestone.co.uk
Email: hello@theripplestone.co.uk
Correspondence address: 3, Whiteway Close, Dursley, Gloucestershire, GL11 4AT, England, United Kingdom.

Throughout this policy, references to "we", "us" and "our" mean Chris Blackman trading as Chris Blackman Coaching.

3. Ownership of Original Content

Unless otherwise stated, the original creative works made available through The Ripple Stone website are owned by Chris Blackman, where the applicable intellectual property rights belong to him, or are used with appropriate permission from their respective rights holders.

Protected materials may include:

Original books, manuscripts and literary content.
Written articles, blog posts and educational explanations.
Original illustrations, diagrams and graphics.
Book covers and original visual materials.
Downloadable worksheets, journals and exercises.
Original coaching and educational materials.
Podcast recordings and original scripts.
Website text and original creative content.
Original written and visual presentations of The Ripple Stone and Navigating the Lake.
Other qualifying original works developed or published through the business.

Some materials may incorporate third-party content, including licensed artwork, photographs, fonts, music or other creative elements.

Rights in those elements remain subject to the terms of the relevant licence or the rights of their respective owners.

4. Copyright Protection

Under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, copyright protection generally arises automatically when qualifying original works are created.

Registration is not required for copyright protection in the United Kingdom.

Copyright may protect the particular expression of an idea, including original writing, illustrations, recordings and other qualifying creative works.

Our policy therefore distinguishes between the protected expression of The Ripple Stone and the general ideas that people may explore and apply.

Nothing in this policy is intended to claim exclusive ownership of ideas or methods that are not protected by law.

5. The Ripple Stone and Navigating the Lake

The Ripple Stone and Navigating the Lake form part of the original body of work developed and presented by Chris Blackman.

This includes the written explanations, original illustrations, educational materials and other creative expressions through which the framework is communicated.

We encourage people to:

Explore and discuss the ideas behind The Ripple Stone.
Reflect on how the framework relates to their own lives.
Apply the concepts to personal decisions and experiences.
Share their own reflections and interpretations.
Discuss the books, podcasts and educational resources with others.
Recommend the framework and resources to people who may find them useful.

Using general ideas for personal reflection does not require permission from us.

However, reproducing substantial protected material, redistributing original worksheets or commercially republishing protected content may require permission.

We also ask that individuals and organisations do not falsely represent themselves as officially affiliated with, authorised by or endorsed by Chris Blackman Coaching.

6. Books and Published Works

The Ripple Stone books and related publications contain original literary and, where applicable, artistic content.

This includes the original text, illustrations, diagrams and other protected creative elements, subject to any third-party rights.

6.1 Purchasing a physical book

Purchasing a paperback or hardback gives you ownership of that physical copy.

It does not transfer copyright ownership in the underlying literary or artistic work.

You may read, discuss, review, give away, resell or otherwise use your physical copy in ways permitted by applicable law.

You may not reproduce or distribute substantial protected content without appropriate permission or a lawful exception.

6.2 Kindle and other digital editions

Digital editions may be made available through Amazon Kindle or other authorised platforms.

Access to those editions is subject to the applicable retailer's terms and any relevant digital content licence.

Purchasing or accessing a digital edition does not transfer copyright ownership in the underlying book.

Applicable statutory rights and copyright exceptions remain unaffected.

6.3 Book reviews and recommendations

We welcome genuine reviews, criticism and discussion of our books.

Readers may share their opinions, discuss the themes and include quotations where permitted by applicable copyright law.

You may also share your own photographs of physical copies of our books when discussing or recommending them, provided you respect any applicable third-party rights.

When quoting from a book, please provide an appropriate acknowledgement where required, ordinarily including the book title and author's name.

Reproducing substantial portions of a book or making copies available as substitutes for purchasing the original work is not permitted without appropriate authorisation or a lawful exception.

7. The Navigator's Resource Library

Our Navigator's Resource Library provides educational materials intended to support personal reflection and development.

These may include:

Reflection worksheets.
Personal development exercises.
Values and decision-making resources.
Planning and review tools.
Downloadable PDF materials.
Other resources associated with Navigating the Lake.

Unless an individual resource states otherwise, these materials are provided for personal, non-commercial use.

7.1 Permitted personal use

You may:

Download resources made available to you.
Print copies for your own personal use.
Complete and annotate worksheets.
Reuse blank copies for repeated personal reflection.
Keep completed worksheets for your own records.
Apply the learning and ideas to your own circumstances.

Resources described as reusable may be completed as many times as needed for your own personal development.

7.2 Restrictions on redistribution

Without appropriate permission or another lawful entitlement, you may not:

Sell or charge others for our original resources.
Redistribute the downloadable files as your own materials.
Upload substantial protected content to another website or resource library.
Repackage our resources into paid products.
Incorporate protected worksheets or illustrations into commercial coaching or training materials.
Remove copyright notices from materials when redistributing them with permission.
Present our original resources as works you have created.

You are welcome to share links directing others to the original resources on our website.

Nothing in this section prevents uses permitted under applicable copyright law.

8. Navigating the Lake: Navigator's Log

Navigating the Lake: Navigator's Log and its associated resources may contain original written content, exercises, illustrations and other protected material.

The Navigator's Log is intended to help readers explore the Navigating the Lake framework through practical reflection.

Purchasing or accessing the Navigator's Log allows you to use the copy or resource provided in accordance with the applicable purchase terms and any stated licence.

You may complete and revisit the exercises for your own personal development.

The purchase or download of the Navigator's Log does not transfer ownership of the copyright in its original protected content.

Commercial reproduction, redistribution or adaptation of substantial protected material requires appropriate permission unless an applicable legal exception allows it.

9. Coaching Materials and Educational Programmes

Our coaching services may include original worksheets, exercises, explanations or supporting materials associated with The Ripple Stone and Navigating the Lake.

These materials are provided to support the coaching relationship.

Unless otherwise agreed, clients are permitted to use materials supplied to them for their own personal learning, reflection and development.

Clients remain free to apply the ideas and learning developed through coaching in their own lives.

However, receiving coaching or purchasing a coaching programme does not automatically grant permission to reproduce, sell, distribute or commercially teach using our protected resources.

Professional or commercial use of original coaching materials may require a separate written agreement.

10. Professional, Educational and Commercial Use

We recognise that coaches, educators, organisations and other professionals may find the ideas behind The Ripple Stone relevant to their work.

We welcome enquiries about appropriate opportunities to share or develop these ideas.

There is an important distinction between discussing general ideas and reproducing protected material.

For example, a professional may discuss the general importance of values, decision-making or personal reflection without requiring permission from Chris Blackman Coaching.

However, reproducing our original worksheets, illustrations, substantial written explanations or other protected content in a commercial product or programme may require permission.

Where legally required, permission should be obtained before:

Reproducing original materials for distribution to clients or participants.
Incorporating protected resources into paid workshops or courses.
Republishing substantial parts of our written material.
Using our original artwork or diagrams in commercial publications.
Producing adaptations of protected resources for commercial distribution.

Any permission granted will identify the authorised materials, permitted purposes and any relevant conditions.

Nothing in this section restricts lawful independent work or the exercise of statutory copyright exceptions.

11. Podcast and Audio Content

The Ripple Stone may publish podcast episodes, interviews, recordings and other audio content through its website or third-party podcast platforms.

Original scripts, audio recordings and other qualifying creative elements are protected by copyright and related rights where applicable.

We encourage listeners to share links to published episodes, recommend the podcast and discuss its ideas.

You may also share episodes using the official sharing functions provided by the relevant podcast platform.

However, unless permission or a lawful exception applies, you must not:

Republish complete protected recordings as your own content.
Distribute unauthorised copies of our original audio files.
Commercially exploit substantial protected audio content.
Incorporate protected recordings into paid products without authorisation.
Misrepresent the origin or authorship of our podcast materials.

Short quotations or extracts may be permitted in circumstances recognised by copyright law, including qualifying criticism, review or quotation.

Guest contributions, licensed music and other third-party material may be subject to additional rights and restrictions.

12. Sharing, Quoting and Attribution

We want the ideas behind The Ripple Stone to reach people who may find them meaningful.

You are welcome to share links to our website, articles, podcast episodes, books and free resources.

You may also discuss the ideas publicly and share your own reflections inspired by them.

Where you reproduce protected content, permission may be necessary unless the use falls within an applicable copyright exception.

UK copyright law permits certain forms of fair dealing, including qualifying quotation, criticism, review, research and private study.

These exceptions have specific legal requirements and do not permit unlimited reproduction.

Where an acknowledgement is required, it should identify the creator and source sufficiently.

For example:

Inspired by The Ripple Stone by Chris Blackman.

Providing attribution does not, by itself, authorise a use that otherwise requires permission.

13. Brand Names, Logos and Identity

The names and branding used in connection with our work may include:

The Ripple Stone.
Navigating the Lake.
Navigator's Log and related resource branding.
Chris Blackman Coaching.
Associated original logos and visual identities.

These names and designs identify our work, publications and services.

Some elements may be protected by copyright, registered trade mark rights or other applicable legal protections, depending on the circumstances.

We do not claim that every name, phrase, symbol or design is automatically protected by copyright or registered as a trade mark.

Where a brand identifier has not been registered as a trade mark, legal protection may still arise in appropriate circumstances, including through the law of passing off.

You must not falsely represent your products, services or activities as officially endorsed, authorised or provided by Chris Blackman Coaching.

Permission may be required to use protected logos, artwork or branding in a way that suggests an official business relationship.

Ordinary, accurate references to our books, services or framework remain permitted.

14. Website Content and Images

Original written content, illustrations, photographs and other protected materials appearing on our website are owned by their respective rights holders.

Some content may belong to Chris Blackman, while other elements may be used under licences or permissions granted by third parties.

You may browse and access website content for ordinary lawful purposes.

You may also share links to publicly available pages.

However, reproducing or republishing substantial protected content may require permission.

Photographs, illustrations, book-cover artwork and other images should not be assumed to be available for unrestricted reuse simply because they appear on a publicly accessible website.

Where we provide official promotional materials with specific reuse permissions, those permissions will apply.

15. Third-Party Intellectual Property

Our website, publications and other resources may include or refer to content created by third parties.

This could include:

Licensed photographs or illustrations.
Fonts and design elements.
Licensed music and sound effects.
Guest podcast contributions.
Quotations from other authors.
Logos or trademarks belonging to external organisations.
Materials distributed or displayed through third-party platforms.

Rights in third-party content remain with the applicable rights holders.

Permission granted by Chris Blackman Coaching to use our own original material does not automatically authorise the reuse of third-party content.

Where additional permissions are required, users are responsible for obtaining them from the appropriate rights holders.

16. Member Contributions and Personal Content

Certain features of our website may allow members to create profiles or submit information.

Where users submit original content, they generally retain any intellectual property rights they hold in that content.

By submitting material for display through a website feature, users grant us a limited, non-exclusive permission to host, process and display that material as reasonably necessary to provide the feature they have chosen to use.

This does not transfer ownership of the user's original work to Chris Blackman Coaching.

Users should only submit material they have the right to share.

We may restrict or remove material that infringes intellectual property rights, violates applicable law or breaches our Website Terms & Conditions.

Personal experiences, coaching disclosures and private communications will not be treated as permission to publish testimonials, case studies or promotional content.

Such uses require an appropriate separate agreement or permission.

Personal information is handled in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

17. Automated Copying and Reuse

We recognise that search engines, accessibility tools and other technologies may access website content for legitimate purposes.

However, the availability of material online does not automatically grant unrestricted permission to reproduce or commercially exploit protected content.

Unless authorised or permitted by law, users must not systematically copy or reproduce substantial protected material for redistribution, republication or incorporation into competing products.

This includes unauthorised substantial reproduction for automated datasets or AI systems where such activity would infringe applicable intellectual property rights.

Nothing in this policy restricts uses permitted by law or any separate permission we have granted.

18. Requesting Permission

We welcome enquiries from individuals, educators, organisations and professionals interested in using our protected materials appropriately.

If you would like to reproduce, adapt, publish, distribute or commercially use protected content, please contact us before proceeding where permission is required.

Email: hello@theripplestone.co.uk

Please include:

The material you wish to use.
How you intend to use it.
Whether the use is personal, educational, charitable or commercial.
Where and how the material will be shared.
Whether you intend to modify the original content.
Any relevant publication or distribution details.

We will consider requests individually.

Permission may be granted subject to written conditions, including limitations on scope, duration, attribution, distribution or commercial use.

Submitting a request does not automatically grant permission.

19. Reporting Copyright or Intellectual Property Concerns

We aim to respect the intellectual property rights of others.

If you believe content appearing on our website infringes rights that you own or are authorised to represent, please contact us.

Email: hello@theripplestone.co.uk

Please provide sufficient information to identify:

The material concerned.
Where it appears on our website.
The rights you believe are affected.
Your relationship to the rights holder.
Any relevant supporting information.

We will consider the information provided and take appropriate action where necessary.

If you believe our original protected materials have been reproduced or distributed without authorisation, you may also contact us using the same email address.

20. Breaches of This Policy

Where we become aware of potential unauthorised use of protected intellectual property, we may take appropriate steps to investigate and address the matter.

Depending on the circumstances, this may include:

Contacting the individual or organisation concerned.
Requesting correction of misleading attribution.
Requesting removal of unauthorised protected content.
Seeking an appropriate licensing arrangement.
Reporting infringing material to a hosting or distribution platform.
Taking other lawful action where necessary.

Any action will be considered in light of the applicable legal rights, the nature of the use and the surrounding circumstances.

We will not treat a lawful quotation, legitimate criticism or permitted discussion of our ideas as infringement merely because we disagree with the views expressed.

21. Relationship With Other Policies

This Copyright & Intellectual Property Policy should be read alongside our other relevant legal documents.

These include:

Website Terms & Conditions

https://theripplestone.co.uk/legal/website-terms

Coaching Terms & Conditions

https://theripplestone.co.uk/legal/coaching-terms

https://theripplestone.co.uk/legal/privacy-policy

Refund & Cancellation Policy

https://theripplestone.co.uk/legal/refunds-and-cancellations

Where a specific resource, product or written licence provides additional or different permissions, those terms will apply to the extent legally valid.

Nothing in this policy removes statutory rights or prevents activity expressly permitted by applicable law.

22. Changes to This Policy

We may review and update this Copyright & Intellectual Property Policy to reflect changes in our publications, educational resources, services, licensing arrangements or applicable legislation.

The latest version will be published on our website with an updated revision date.

Changes will not retrospectively remove rights already validly granted under an existing licence or agreement.

23. Governing Law

This policy is governed by the laws of England and Wales, subject to applicable mandatory legal protections and the rules governing intellectual property rights in relevant jurisdictions.

Nothing in this policy restricts rights or exceptions provided by applicable law.

24. Contact Information

For questions about copyright, intellectual property, permitted use, licensing or reproducing our original materials, please contact:

Chris Blackman Coaching

Trading name of Chris Blackman, a sole trader operating in the United Kingdom.

Website: https://theripplestone.co.uk

Email: hello@theripplestone.co.uk

Business correspondence address: 3, Whiteway Close, Dursley, Gloucestershire, GL11 4AT, England, United Kingdom

We welcome people exploring and sharing the ideas behind The Ripple Stone while respecting the original creative work through which those ideas are expressed.