Terms of Service

1. Acceptance of Terms

Welcome to Bihari Swabhiman ("Website"). These Terms of Service ("Terms") constitute a legally binding agreement between you ("User," "you," or "your") and Bihari Swabhiman ("we," "us," or "our") governing your access to and use of the website bihariswabhiman.com and all related services.

By accessing or using our Website, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree to these Terms, please do not use our Website.

2. Definitions

• "Content" refers to all text, images, videos, audio, stories, articles, and other materials available on or through the Website
• "User Content" refers to content submitted by users, including stories, photographs, and applications
• "Services" refers to all features and functionalities offered through the Website
• "District Ambassador" refers to volunteer representatives appointed to curate district-specific content

3. Eligibility

To use our Website and Services, you must:

• Be at least 18 years of age, or have parental/guardian consent if you are between 13-18 years old
• Be legally capable of entering into binding contracts under Indian law
• Not be prohibited from using the Services under applicable laws

By using the Website, you represent and warrant that you meet these eligibility requirements.

4. User Accounts and Registration

While general browsing does not require registration, certain features (such as submitting stories or applying as a District Ambassador) may require you to provide personal information. When providing such information, you agree to:

• Provide accurate, current, and complete information
• Maintain and promptly update your information
• Not impersonate any person or entity
• Not use false or misleading information

5. User Content and Submissions

5.1 Content Ownership

You retain ownership of any original content you submit to the Website. By submitting User Content, you grant Bihari Swabhiman a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable license to use, reproduce, modify, publish, distribute, and display such content for the purposes of:

• Operating and promoting the Website
• Preserving and showcasing Bihar's cultural heritage
• Educational and non-commercial purposes

5.2 Content Guidelines

When submitting content, you agree that your submissions will NOT:

• Infringe upon any third party's intellectual property rights
• Contain defamatory, obscene, or offensive material
• Promote hatred, violence, or discrimination against any community, caste, religion, or group
• Violate any provisions of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 or Information Technology Act, 2000
• Contain false or misleading historical claims presented as fact
• Include personal attacks or harassment against individuals
• Contain spam, commercial advertisements, or promotional material

5.3 Content Moderation

We reserve the right to review, edit, refuse, or remove any User Content at our sole discretion, without prior notice. We may also take action against users who repeatedly violate these guidelines.

5.4 Attribution

When we publish User Content, we will provide appropriate attribution to the contributor unless you request otherwise or anonymity is necessary for the nature of the content.

6. Intellectual Property Rights

6.1 Our Content

All content on the Website (excluding User Content), including but not limited to text, graphics, logos, images, audio clips, and software, is the property of Bihari Swabhiman or its content suppliers and is protected under the Copyright Act, 1957 and other applicable intellectual property laws of India.

6.2 Limited License

We grant you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to access and use the Website for personal, non-commercial purposes. This license does not include:

• Any commercial use of the Website or its contents
• Downloading, copying, or reproducing content for redistribution
• Creating derivative works based on our content
• Data mining, scraping, or similar data extraction methods

6.3 Educational and Non-Commercial Use

Content from the Website may be used for educational purposes (schools, colleges, research) with proper attribution to Bihari Swabhiman. For any other use, please contact us for permission.

7. District Ambassador Program

If you apply and are accepted as a District Ambassador:

• You agree to represent your district accurately and responsibly
• You will provide authentic, verified information about your district
• You will not misuse your position for personal gain or political purposes
• We reserve the right to revoke your Ambassador status at any time for violations
• This is a voluntary, non-paid position with recognition benefits as outlined in the program

8. Prohibited Conduct

You agree not to:

• Use the Website for any unlawful purpose or in violation of any Indian laws
• Attempt to gain unauthorized access to any portion of the Website
• Interfere with or disrupt the Website's functionality
• Upload or transmit viruses, malware, or other harmful code
• Collect or harvest user information without consent
• Use automated systems (bots, scrapers) to access the Website
• Circumvent any security measures or access restrictions
• Engage in any activity that could damage our reputation

9. Disclaimer of Warranties

THE WEBSITE AND ALL CONTENT ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT ANY WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO:

• Warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose
• Warranties regarding the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of content
• Warranties that the Website will be uninterrupted, error-free, or secure

While we strive to present accurate historical and cultural information, we cannot guarantee the absolute accuracy of all content, especially User Content. Users are encouraged to verify information from multiple sources.

10. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by Indian law, Bihari Swabhiman and its officers, directors, employees, and agents shall not be liable for:

• Any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages
• Any loss of profits, data, or goodwill
• Any damages arising from your use or inability to use the Website
• Any damages arising from User Content or third-party conduct

Our total liability for any claims arising from these Terms shall not exceed INR 1,000 (Indian Rupees One Thousand only).

11. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Bihari Swabhiman and its affiliates from any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, and expenses (including legal fees) arising from:

• Your use of the Website
• Your User Content
• Your violation of these Terms
• Your violation of any third-party rights

12. Third-Party Links and Services

The Website may contain links to third-party websites or services. We do not control, endorse, or assume responsibility for any third-party sites or their content. Your use of third-party services is at your own risk and subject to their terms and policies.

13. Modifications to Terms

We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. Changes will be effective immediately upon posting on the Website. Your continued use of the Website after any changes constitutes acceptance of the modified Terms. We encourage you to review these Terms periodically.

14. Termination

We may terminate or suspend your access to the Website at any time, without prior notice, for conduct that we believe:

• Violates these Terms
• Is harmful to other users, us, or third parties
• Is fraudulent or illegal

Upon termination, your right to use the Website will immediately cease.

15. Dispute Resolution

15.1 Informal Resolution

Before initiating any formal proceedings, you agree to first contact us to attempt to resolve any dispute informally. We will endeavor to resolve complaints within 30 days.

15.2 Arbitration

If informal resolution fails, any dispute shall be resolved through binding arbitration in accordance with the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996. The arbitration shall be conducted in Patna, Bihar, India, and the language shall be English or Hindi.

16. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of India. Subject to the arbitration clause above, the courts of Patna, Bihar shall have exclusive jurisdiction over any disputes arising from these Terms.

17. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.

18. Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy and any other legal notices published on the Website, constitute the entire agreement between you and Bihari Swabhiman regarding your use of the Website.

19. Contact Information

For any questions or concerns regarding these Terms of Service, please contact us: