Copyright & IP policy.

1.1 Company Ownership

Except for User-Generated Content (UGC) as defined below, all elements of the PookPit mobile application, web architecture, and backend infrastructure — including but not limited to source code, object code, databases, custom P2P matching algorithms, interface designs, UI/UX layouts, audio, video, text, and graphics (collectively referred to as "Platform Content") — are the exclusive proprietary property of Pookpit Hub Private Limited. These elements are protected under the Indian Copyright Act, 1957, and international intellectual property treaties.

1.2 Trade Mark Protection

The brand names "PookPit", "Pookpit Hub", the platform logos, distinct brand color layouts, headers, and custom graphics are registered or common-law trademarks of the Company. You are strictly prohibited from reproducing, imitating, or utilizing our trademarks or trade dress in connection with any external product, service, or commercial venture without explicit, prior written authorization from our Board of Directors.

2.1 Ownership and Grant of License

When you upload, publish, or transmit listings, item descriptions, gig portfolios, group messages, or announcements on the Platform, you retain your underlying intellectual property ownership rights to that content. However, by publishing content on PookPit, you grant the Company a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free, sub-licensable, and transferable license to host, store, cache, use, display, reproduce, modify, and distribute said content solely for the operational purposes of running, optimizing, and promoting the Platform.

2.2 Intellectual Property Warranty

By uploading any article, textbook cover, software screenshot, or product imagery to the Marketplace or Borrow module, you explicitly warrant that:

• You are the lawful owner of the content or possess valid licenses/authorizations to distribute it.
• The content does not infringe upon the copyrights, trademarks, design rights, or proprietary trade secrets of any third party (including publishers, manufacturing brands, or educational institutions).

With the rapid expansion of Generative AI tools, India's Information Technology Intermediary Rules, 2026 mandate strict “proactive vigilance” regarding AI-altered or algorithmically created assets.

3.1 Mandatory User Self-Declaration

If you use generative AI, machine learning algorithms, or deep-splicing tools to create or modify any digital content uploaded to PookPit — including portfolio designs for skill gigs, manipulated marketplace product images, or synthesized audio for the community boards — you are legally mandated to check the “AI-Generated / Synthetic Content” self-disclosure box at the point of upload.

3.2 Automated Verification and Mandatory Labelling

In compliance with Rule 3(1)(b) of the IT Rules, 2026, PookPit deploys automated technical tools to scan uploaded media and verify the accuracy of user declarations.

• Any verified Synthetically Generated Information (SGI) will instantly display a prominent, non-removable visual watermark or audio disclosure indicating its synthetic nature.
• The Platform will embed permanent, un-removable provenance metadata (digital fingerprints) into the SGI file to ensure traceability back to the uploading computer resource. Tampering with or attempting to remove this metadata is an absolute breach of these Terms.

PookPit operates as an online marketplace and communication intermediary under Section 79 of the Information Technology Act, 2000. To preserve our statutory safe-harbor immunity against direct liability for user copyright violations, we enforce a strict notice-and-takedown protocol.

4.1 Notice of Infringement (IP Takedown Request)

If you are a copyright owner, publisher, or authorized trademark agent and believe that content hosted on PookPit infringes upon your intellectual property rights (e.g., unauthorized distributions of PDF textbooks, premium cracked software keys, or copied brand logos), you must submit a formal, written IP Takedown Notice to our designated Grievance Officer. Your notice must contain:

• A physical or electronic signature of the right owner or authorized agent.
• Clear identification of the copyrighted work or trademark claimed to be infringed.
• The exact URL, listing ID, or screen location within the PookPit app where the infringing material is located.
• Your complete contact details (Name, Address, Mobile Number, and Email).
• A formal statement that you have a good-faith belief that the use of the material is unauthorized, along with a declaration under penalty of perjury that the information in the notice is accurate.

4.2 Warp-Speed Statutory Takedown Windows (June 2026 Compliance)

Upon receipt of a valid, actionable infringement notification, PookPit will execute moderation under the strict statutory timelines mandated by the 2026 IT Amendment Rules:

• Government / Court Orders: If PookPit receives a reasoned order from a court of competent jurisdiction or an authorized government agency declaring content unlawful or infringing, the Platform will block or remove access to the specified material within three (3) hours of receipt.
• Non-Consensual Morphed Imagery / Deepfakes: If any user uploads unauthorized morphed imagery, deepfakes, or non-consensual intimate graphics, the Platform will execute an emergency removal within a two (2) hour maximum window.
• Standard Civil IP Complaints: For standard peer-to-peer copyright or trademark complaints, the Platform will evaluate and handle the content block within 36 hours, retaining records of the deletion for an immutable audit period of 180 days for law enforcement verification.

To protect the platform ecosystem and ensure due process, any student user whose content has been mistakenly removed via an IP flag holds the right to file a counter-notice.

5.1 Compressed Grievance Resolution

In compliance with the updated 2026 timelines, our Grievance Officer must acknowledge all user complaints within 48 hours.

• General user grievances regarding intellectual property or wrongful platform blocks must be conclusively resolved within seven (7) days from the date of receipt (reduced from the historical 15-day window).
• Urgent complaints involving identity theft, severe brand impersonation, or material financial fraud will be fast-tracked for resolution within 36 hours.

5.2 Designated IP Grievance Officer Details

All legal notices, copyright claims, and counter-declarations must be sent directly to our corporate compliance team:

• Attn: Intellectual Property Grievance Officer
• Corporate Entity: Pookpit Hub Private Limited
• Registered Corporate Headquarters: Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, India
• Designated Legal Node: admin@pookpit.com