Copyright Infringement Policy

Last updated 2026-10-20.

1. Our approach

ThePaper is built for original work. Contributors own what they write, and we expect the same respect for everyone else’s work. This policy explains what contributors may and may not publish, how to tell us about content that infringes your copyright, and what we do when we receive a notice. It’s part of the Terms of Service and the Contributor Agreement.

2. What contributors must not publish

You may only publish text, images, and other material that you created yourself or have the right to use. That means no:

Articles, chapters, or passages copied from another site, book, or publication.
Republishing someone else’s story, even with credit, without their permission.
Translations or close rewrites of another author’s work presented as your own.
Photos, illustrations, charts, or videos taken from the web without a licence that allows it. A cover image must be your own, licensed to you, or free to use under terms you follow (for example, giving the credit a free image site asks for).
AI-generated text or images that reproduce someone else’s protected work.

3. Quoting and fair dealing

Indian copyright law allows fair dealing with a work for purposes such as criticism, review, and reporting current events. Short quotations that are clearly marked and credited, used to support your own writing, are generally fine. Link to the original in your story’s sources. Copying large parts of a work, or using it in a way that replaces the original, is not fair dealing.

4. How to report infringement

If you own the copyright in a work, or are authorised to act for the owner, and you believe it has been published on ThePaper without permission, you can tell us in either of two ways:

Use the Report button on the story and choose Copyright.
Email contact@thepaper.in with the subject “Copyright notice”.

So we can act quickly, please include:

Your name, postal address, email address, and phone number.
If you act for the owner, the owner’s name and your relationship to them.
A description of the original work, with a link to it or a copy, and any proof that you own it (such as the original publication, a registration number, or a licence).
The link to each page on ThePaper that you say infringes your work.
A statement that you believe in good faith that the use is not authorised by the owner or allowed by law, including fair dealing.
A statement that the information in your notice is accurate, and that you are the owner or authorised to act for them.
Your physical or electronic signature (typing your full name is enough).

5. What happens next

We acknowledge your notice within 24 hours.
If the notice is complete and the claim appears valid, we remove the content from public view within 36 hours. Incomplete notices may need more information before we can act.
We tell the contributor which content was removed and why, and share the details of the notice, which may include your name and contact details, so they can respond or resolve it with you directly.
We aim to resolve every complaint within 15 days.
Under Indian copyright rules, the content stays down for 21 days. If you want it kept down beyond that, send us an order from a competent court within those 21 days. Without one, we may restore the content.

6. If your story was removed

If you believe your story was removed by mistake, for example because you own the work, have permission to use it, or your use is fair dealing, reply to our email or write to contact@thepaper.in with the link to the story, your explanation, and any proof such as a licence or written permission. We review every response and share it with the person who sent the notice. We may restore the story if the claim is withdrawn, shown to be mistaken, or not followed by a court order within 21 days.

7. Repeat infringement

We keep a record of valid copyright complaints. A contributor whose content is removed for infringement more than once may have their account suspended or terminated, as described in the Terms of Service.

8. False or abusive notices

Please only send a notice if you genuinely believe your rights are being infringed. Knowingly false claims can harm writers and may have legal consequences for the person who sends them. We may disregard notices that are clearly abusive or made in bad faith.

9. ThePaper stories copied elsewhere

Contributors keep the copyright in what they publish here, so if a ThePaper story is copied on another site, the contributor is the one who can ask for it to be taken down. Let us know at contact@thepaper.in and we’ll help where we can.

10. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy. Material changes will be reflected in the “last updated” date above.