DMCA & Copyright Policy

Last updated: 22-09-2026

HorrorStory.in (“we”, “us”, “our”, or “the website”) respects the intellectual property rights of writers, artists, photographers, and all other creators, and we expect our readers, contributors, and partners to do the same. This DMCA & Copyright Policy explains:

• how we handle copyright in the content we publish;
• how you can report content on our website that you believe infringes your copyright;
• how a person whose content was removed can file a counter-notice; and
• how to report other websites or channels that copy our original stories.

This policy is designed with reference to the U.S. Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), 17 U.S.C. § 512, and India’s Copyright Act, 1957 and the Information Technology Act, 2000. It should be read together with our [Terms & Conditions], [Disclaimer], [Privacy Policy], and [Editorial Policy].

---

1. Our Commitment to Original Content

HorrorStory.in is built on original Hindi horror fiction, retellings of folklore, and reader-submitted experiences. Our editorial commitments are:

• We do not knowingly publish copied content. Every story is written by our author(s) or submitted by a contributor who confirms it is their own original work.
• We do not spin or rewrite other websites’ stories. Content that is paraphrased from another publisher’s work is not accepted.
• Folklore is treated carefully. Traditional folk tales and legends are part of the public cultural heritage and are not owned by any single person. However, a specific writer’s retelling of a folk tale is that writer’s original expression and is protected by copyright. We write our own retellings and do not copy anyone else’s.
• Images are sourced responsibly. Images on the website are [created by us / generated using digital tools / licensed from stock sources / used with permission]. [Edit to match your practice.]

Despite these precautions, mistakes can happen. If you believe any content on HorrorStory.in infringes your rights, we want to hear from you and will act promptly.

---

2. Ownership of Content on HorrorStory.in

Unless otherwise stated:

• All original stories, articles, text, titles, story series, and page designs on HorrorStory.in are owned by HorrorStory.in / [Owner’s legal name] or by the respective contributors who have granted us a licence to publish them.
• All content is protected under the Indian Copyright Act, 1957, and international copyright treaties, including the Berne Convention, to which India is a party.
• The name “HorrorStory.in”, our logo, and our visual identity may not be used in a way that suggests endorsement or affiliation without our written permission.

---

3. Reporting Copyright Infringement on Our Website (Takedown Notice)

If you are a copyright owner, or are authorised to act on behalf of one, and you believe that content on HorrorStory.in infringes your copyright, please send us a written notice containing all of the following information. These elements reflect the requirements of 17 U.S.C. § 512(c)(3):

1. Your signature — a physical or electronic signature of the copyright owner or of a person authorised to act on their behalf. Typing your full legal name at the end of an email is acceptable as an electronic signature.
2. Identification of the copyrighted work — a description of the original work you claim has been infringed (for example, the title of your story, book, or image, and where it was first published, with a link if available).
3. Identification of the infringing material — the exact URL(s) on HorrorStory.in where the allegedly infringing content appears, and a description of which part is infringing (for example, “paragraphs 3–7 of the story at [URL]”).
4. Your contact information — your full name, postal address, telephone number, and email address.
5. Good-faith statement — a statement that you have a good-faith belief that the use of the material in the manner complained of is not authorised by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law.
6. Accuracy and authority statement — a statement that the information in your notice is accurate and, under penalty of perjury, that you are the copyright owner or are authorised to act on behalf of the owner.

Sample statements you may use:

“I have a good-faith belief that the use of the material described above is not authorised by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law.”

“I swear, under penalty of perjury, that the information in this notice is accurate and that I am the copyright owner or am authorised to act on behalf of the owner of an exclusive right that is allegedly infringed.”

Please note: notices that do not include all of the above information may be delayed, as we may need to contact you for missing details before we can act.

---

4. Where to Send Your Notice

Please send copyright notices to our designated copyright contact:

• Name / Designated Agent: [Full name of owner or authorised person]
• Email: [copyright@horrorstory.in or contact@horrorstory.in]
• Subject line: “DMCA / Copyright Takedown Notice — [URL]”
• Postal address: [Full postal address, City, State, PIN, India]
• Contact form: [Link to Contact Us page]

Email is the fastest way to reach us. Please send one notice per work where possible, so that each complaint can be tracked clearly.

---

5. What Happens After We Receive a Valid Notice

When we receive a complete and valid takedown notice, we will:

1. Acknowledge receipt of your notice, usually within [2–3] working days.
2. Review the complaint and the content in question.
3. Remove or disable access to the allegedly infringing material promptly if the notice is valid. We aim to complete this within [3–7] working days of receiving a complete notice.
4. Notify the contributor (where the content was submitted by a third party) that the content has been removed, and provide them with a copy of the notice (your contact details may be shared so that they can respond, as permitted by law).
5. Keep a record of the notice and the action taken.

Where appropriate, we may also contact you to confirm details or to request further information.

---

6. Counter-Notice Procedure

If content you submitted to HorrorStory.in was removed because of a copyright complaint and you believe the removal was a mistake or a misidentification — for example, because the work is your own original writing, you hold a licence, or the use is permitted by law — you may send us a counter-notice.

Your counter-notice must include the following, in line with 17 U.S.C. § 512(g)(3):

1. Your physical or electronic signature.
2. Identification of the material that was removed and the URL where it appeared before removal.
3. A statement, under penalty of perjury, that you have a good-faith belief that the material was removed or disabled as a result of mistake or misidentification.
4. Your full name, postal address, telephone number, and email address.
5. A statement that you consent to the jurisdiction of the appropriate court for your address (or, if you are outside the United States, any judicial district in which the service provider may be found), and that you will accept service of process from the person who submitted the original notice or their agent.

After receiving a valid counter-notice, we will forward a copy to the original complainant. If the complainant does not inform us within 10–14 business days that they have filed a court action to restrain the alleged infringement, we may, at our discretion, restore the removed content.

---

7. False or Misleading Claims

Please make sure your complaint or counter-notice is accurate before sending it.

• Under 17 U.S.C. § 512(f), any person who knowingly and materially misrepresents that material is infringing, or that material was removed by mistake, may be liable for damages, including costs and legal fees.
• Filing false claims wastes time for everyone and may harm genuine creators.
• If you are unsure whether your rights are being infringed, we recommend consulting a qualified lawyer before sending a notice.

---

8. Repeat Infringers

We take repeated infringement seriously. Where a contributor or user is found to have submitted infringing content more than once, we will, in appropriate circumstances:

• permanently stop accepting submissions from that person;
• remove their existing contributions where necessary; and
• block their access to submission forms or commenting features.

---

9. Reader Submissions and Contributor Responsibility

Readers may submit their own stories or experiences to HorrorStory.in. By submitting content, you confirm and agree that:

• the content is your own original work and has not been copied, translated, or adapted from another writer’s work without permission;
• the content does not infringe any copyright, trademark, privacy, or other right of any third party;
• you grant HorrorStory.in a non-exclusive, royalty-free licence to edit, publish, display, and promote the submission on the website and our official social media channels [edit licence terms as appropriate];
• you will be responsible for any claims arising from content you submit that turns out to be infringing.

We may check submissions using plagiarism-detection tools before publication and may reject any submission at our discretion.

---

10. Permitted Use of Our Content

You are welcome to:

• share links to any story or page on HorrorStory.in on social media, messaging apps, forums, or your own website;
• quote a short excerpt (a few lines) for the purpose of review, criticism, or discussion, provided you clearly credit HorrorStory.in and link to the original story. This type of use may fall under “fair dealing” as recognised in Section 52 of the Indian Copyright Act, 1957, or “fair use” under U.S. law, depending on the circumstances.

You may not, without our prior written permission:

• copy and republish our stories, in full or in substantial part, on any website, blog, app, or ebook;
• translate our stories into other languages and publish them;
• narrate, read aloud, or adapt our stories on YouTube, podcasts, Instagram Reels, Facebook, audio apps, or any other audio/video platform;
• use our stories to create films, comics, games, or other derivative works;
• use automated tools to scrape our content;
• use our content to train commercial datasets or AI models;
• remove or alter any copyright notice or credit on our content.

Want to narrate or adapt one of our stories? We are open to collaboration. Please email us at [contact@horrorstory.in] with details of your channel or project. If we grant permission, it will be in writing and may include credit and linking requirements.

---

11. Reporting Others Who Copy Our Content

Unfortunately, original horror stories are often copied by other websites and narrated on video platforms without permission. If you notice any of our stories being used without credit or permission, we would be grateful if you let us know by emailing [contact@horrorstory.in] with:

• the link to the copied content; and
• the link to our original story.

As the copyright owner, we may take one or more of the following actions:

• contact the website owner or channel operator directly;
• file a copyright complaint with the hosting provider or platform (for example, YouTube’s copyright complaint process or Google’s copyright removal request for search results);
• take any other action available under applicable law.

---

12. Images and Media

If you believe that an image, illustration, or other media file on HorrorStory.in belongs to you and is being used without permission, please follow the takedown process in Sections 3 and 4. Please include a link to the original image or proof of ownership where possible. We will remove or replace the image promptly if the claim is valid.

---

13. Grievance Contact (India)

For users in India, complaints relating to copyright or other content on this website may also be addressed to:

• Email: [contact@horrorstory.in]
• Response time: We aim to acknowledge complaints within [24–48] hours and resolve them within [15] days.

[Edit or remove this section based on legal advice regarding your obligations under Indian law.]

---

14. No Legal Advice

This policy is provided for general information about how HorrorStory.in handles copyright matters. It does not constitute legal advice. If you have questions about your specific legal rights, please consult a qualified lawyer.

---

15. Changes to This Policy

We may update this DMCA & Copyright Policy from time to time to reflect changes in law, our practices, or the features of our website. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated “Last updated” date. Continued use of the website after changes are posted means you accept the revised policy.

---

16. Contact Us

For any questions about this policy, copyright permissions, collaboration requests, or to report infringement:

• Website: https://horrorstory.in/
• Email: [contact@horrorstory.in]
• Contact page: Contact Us – Horror story in hindi for reading
• Owner / Editor: [Real name]
• Location: [City, State], India

---

© [Year] HorrorStory.in. All rights reserved.

---

---