Terms of Service

1. Introduction

Welcome to Kalaloka ("Platform", "Service"). Kalaloka is a content reading and writing platform operated by DigiYogi ("Company", "we", "us", "our"), based in Bangalore, Karnataka, India.

These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your access to and use of Kalaloka at kavi.digiyogi.com, including any mobile applications and related services. By creating an account or using Kalaloka, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree, please do not use the Platform.

2. Eligibility and Account Creation

2.1 Age Requirement

You must be at least 13 years old to use Kalaloka. If you are between 13 and 18, you represent that your parent or legal guardian has reviewed and agreed to these Terms on your behalf. We reserve the right to terminate accounts that we reasonably believe belong to users under 13.

2.2 Account Registration

You can create an account using your phone number (OTP verification), Google account, or Facebook account. You agree to:

• Provide accurate and complete information during registration.
• Keep your account credentials secure and not share them with others.
• Notify us immediately if you suspect unauthorized access to your account.
• Maintain only one account per person. Multiple accounts may be suspended.

You are responsible for all activity that occurs under your account.

2.3 Account Termination by You

You may delete your account at any time through your account settings or by contacting us at support@kalaloka.buzz. Upon deletion, your profile information will be removed. See Section 4 regarding what happens to content you published.

3. User Responsibilities

When using Kalaloka, you agree to:

• Follow our Community Guidelines at all times.
• Not upload, post, or share any content that violates applicable laws or the rights of others.
• Not attempt to access another user's account without authorization.
• Not use bots, scrapers, or automated tools to access the Platform without our written permission.
• Not circumvent any technical measures we use to protect the Platform or its content.
• Not use the Platform for any illegal, fraudulent, or harmful purpose.
• Not interfere with or disrupt the Platform's infrastructure or other users' experience.
• Not impersonate another person or entity.

4. Content Ownership and License

This is an important section. Please read it carefully.

4.1 Your Ownership

You retain the copyright and moral rights to the original content you create and publish on Kalaloka. Your stories, poems, and articles remain your creative work — you are the author.

4.2 License You Grant to Kalaloka

By publishing content on Kalaloka, you grant DigiYogi (and its successors, affiliates, and sublicensees) an irrevocable, perpetual, worldwide, royalty-free, sublicensable, transferable license to:

• Reproduce and distribute your content on the Platform and through any medium or distribution method (now known or later developed).
• Create derivative works, including but not limited to AI-generated audio narrations, translations into other languages, summaries, excerpts, and adaptations.
• Display and perform your content publicly, including in marketing materials, social media promotions, partner platforms, and advertising.
• Use for AI and technology purposes, including training machine learning models, improving recommendation systems, developing text-to-speech features, and enhancing content discovery.
• Sublicense these rights to third parties, including distribution partners, technology partners, and content aggregators.
• Commercialize your content through any business model, including paid access, subscriptions, advertising, and licensing to third parties.

4.3 Why We Need These Rights

We need this broad license to operate and improve the Platform for everyone. Specifically:

• Audio narration: We create AI-generated audio versions of stories so readers can listen. This requires the right to create derivative works.
• Translation: We translate content to reach readers in different languages across India, making your work accessible to a wider audience.
• Distribution: We display your work in feeds, recommendations, search results, and promotional materials to help you reach more readers.
• Platform improvement: We use content data to improve our AI models, recommendation engine, and reading experience for all users.

4.4 Important Details About This License

• This license survives even if you delete your account or remove your content from the Platform. Content that has already been distributed, translated, converted to audio, or used for AI training cannot be recalled.
• This license is non-exclusive — you are free to publish the same content on other platforms or in other formats. You can still sell, license, or distribute your work elsewhere.
• We will always attribute content to you (using your display name) when displaying it on the Platform, unless you request anonymization.
• You may request removal of your content from the Platform's active display by contacting us. However, cached versions, audio narrations already generated, translations already made, and AI training data that has already incorporated your content will not be removed.

4.5 Your Representations

By publishing content, you represent and warrant that:

• You are the original creator of the content, or you have all necessary rights and permissions to publish it and grant the license above.
• Your content does not infringe on any third party's copyright, trademark, privacy, or other intellectual property or personal rights.
• Your content complies with our Community Guidelines and all applicable laws.

4.6 Platform Content

All Platform content not created by users — including the Kalaloka name, logos, design, code, features, and AI-generated content — is the intellectual property of DigiYogi and is protected by applicable intellectual property laws. You may not copy, modify, or distribute Platform content without our written permission.

5. Prohibited Content

The following content is strictly prohibited on Kalaloka. Posting such content may result in immediate account termination and reporting to authorities where required:

• Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM): Any sexual content involving minors. This is a zero-tolerance policy. We report all such content to the appropriate authorities including NCMEC and Indian law enforcement.
• Obscene or illegal content as defined under Indian law (Section 292 of the Indian Penal Code and Section 67 of the IT Act, 2000).
• Hate speech: Content that promotes hatred, violence, or discrimination based on religion, caste, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or nationality.
• Terrorism and extremism: Content that promotes, supports, or glorifies terrorist organizations or violent extremism.
• Harassment and threats: Content that targets, bullies, intimidates, or threatens another person.
• Copyright infringement: Content that copies or reproduces another person's work without permission. See our Copyright Policy.
• Spam and manipulation: Automated posting, fake engagement, deceptive content, or schemes to manipulate the Platform's features or metrics.
• Glorification of violence: Graphic depictions of real-world violence intended to shock, or content that celebrates or encourages real-world violence.
• Personal information: Publishing other people's private personal information (doxxing) without their consent.
• Misinformation: Deliberately false information that could cause harm to individuals or public safety.

6. Virtual Currency (Points and Gems)

6.1 Points

Points are the Platform's virtual currency that can be purchased with real money and used to unlock premium content (such as paid episodes or chapters). Points:

• Are not real currency and have no value outside the Platform.
• Cannot be exchanged for real money, transferred to other users, or redeemed for cash.
• Are non-refundable once purchased (see our Refund Policy).
• May expire if your account is inactive for 12 or more months.
• May be adjusted by us if we detect fraud or abuse.

6.2 Gems

Gems are virtual gifts that readers can send to creators as a show of appreciation. Gems:

• Are purchased with real money or Points.
• Once sent to a creator, they are non-refundable.
• Contribute to a creator's earnings and can be withdrawn as real money by eligible creators (see Section 8).
• Are not transferable between users except through the gifting mechanism.

6.3 No Ownership

You do not own Points, Gems, or any other virtual items. They are a limited license to use a feature of the Platform. We may modify, suspend, or discontinue virtual currency at any time with reasonable notice.

7. Subscriptions

7.1 Platform Subscription (Kalaloka Premium)

Kalaloka may offer a premium subscription that provides access to additional features, ad-free reading, and exclusive content. Subscriptions:

• Are billed on a recurring basis (monthly or annual) at the price displayed at the time of purchase.
• Auto-renew unless cancelled before the end of the current billing period.
• Can be cancelled at any time through your account settings. Cancellation takes effect at the end of the current billing period.
• Pricing may change with at least 30 days' advance notice.

7.2 Creator Subscriptions

Creators may offer their own subscriptions for exclusive content. When you subscribe to a creator:

• You gain access to that creator's subscriber-only content for the duration of your subscription.
• The subscription auto-renews unless cancelled.
• Creator subscriptions are non-refundable as the content is delivered immediately (see our Refund Policy).
• If a creator deletes their account or stops publishing, your subscription to that creator will not be renewed.

8. Creator Monetization

8.1 Earning Money

Eligible creators can earn money through the Platform via:

• Gems received from readers.
• Revenue from paid content (episodes, chapters).
• Revenue from creator subscriptions.
• Any bonus programs or competitions we may run from time to time.

8.2 Payouts

Creators can withdraw their earnings to a UPI address or bank account. Payout terms:

• Minimum withdrawal amount applies (displayed in the earnings dashboard).
• The Platform takes a commission on creator earnings (the current rate is displayed in the creator dashboard).
• Payouts are processed within 7–14 business days of a withdrawal request.
• You are responsible for reporting and paying any applicable taxes on your earnings.
• We may withhold payouts if we suspect fraud, Terms violations, or if required by law.

8.3 Eligibility

To be eligible for monetization, a creator must:

• Have a verified account with accurate personal information.
• Comply with these Terms and Community Guidelines.
• Have published original content on the Platform.
• Provide valid UPI or bank account details for payouts.

We reserve the right to suspend or revoke monetization privileges if a creator violates these Terms.

9. Content Moderation

We reserve the right (but are not obligated) to review, edit, or remove any content on the Platform at our sole discretion, for any reason, including but not limited to:

• Violations of these Terms or Community Guidelines.
• Reports from other users.
• Legal requirements or government orders.
• Quality or relevance concerns.
• Business decisions about Platform direction.

We are not liable to you for any content removal. Where possible, we will notify you and provide a reason for removal.

10. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law:

• Kalaloka is provided "as is" and "as available" without warranties of any kind, whether express or implied, including implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement.
• We do not guarantee that the Platform will be uninterrupted, error-free, secure, or free of viruses or other harmful components.
• We are not liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, including loss of profits, data, or goodwill, arising from your use of the Platform.
• Our total liability for any claim arising from or related to these Terms or the Platform shall not exceed the greater of (a) the amount you paid to us in the 12 months preceding the claim, or (b) INR 5,000.
• We are not responsible for the content, accuracy, or opinions expressed by users. User-generated content does not represent the views of DigiYogi.

11. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless DigiYogi, its officers, directors, employees, and agents from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, or expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising from:

• Your use of the Platform.
• Content you publish on the Platform.
• Your violation of these Terms or any applicable law.
• Your violation of any third party's rights.

12. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

12.1 Governing Law

These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of India.

12.2 Dispute Resolution

Any dispute arising out of or in connection with these Terms shall be resolved as follows:

1. Informal Resolution: You agree to first attempt to resolve any dispute informally by contacting us at support@kalaloka.buzz. We will attempt to resolve the matter within 30 days.
2. Arbitration: If informal resolution fails, the dispute shall be referred to and finally resolved by arbitration in accordance with the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 (as amended). The arbitration shall be conducted by a sole arbitrator appointed mutually or by a competent court. The seat of arbitration shall be Bangalore, Karnataka, India. The language of arbitration shall be English.
3. Jurisdiction: Subject to the arbitration clause above, the courts of Bangalore, Karnataka, India shall have exclusive jurisdiction over any disputes.

13. Account Termination by Us

We may suspend or terminate your account at any time, with or without notice, for any reason, including but not limited to:

• Violation of these Terms or Community Guidelines.
• Fraudulent, abusive, or illegal activity.
• Extended inactivity (12+ months).
• Court order or legal requirement.
• Discontinuation of the Platform.

Upon termination: (a) your license to use the Platform immediately ends; (b) your virtual currency balance (Points, Gems) is forfeited; (c) pending creator payouts may be withheld if termination is due to Terms violations; (d) the content license you granted under Section 4.2 survives termination.

14. Modifications to Terms

We may modify these Terms at any time. When we make material changes, we will notify you through the Platform or by email at least 15 days before the changes take effect. Your continued use of Kalaloka after the changes take effect constitutes your acceptance of the updated Terms. If you do not agree to the updated Terms, you must stop using the Platform and delete your account.

15. Miscellaneous

• Entire Agreement: These Terms, together with the Privacy Policy, Community Guidelines, Copyright Policy, Cookie Policy, and Refund Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and DigiYogi regarding Kalaloka.
• Severability: If any provision of these Terms is held to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue in full force and effect.
• Waiver: Our failure to enforce any right or provision of these Terms does not constitute a waiver of that right or provision.
• Assignment: We may assign or transfer our rights and obligations under these Terms without restriction. You may not assign your rights or obligations without our prior written consent.
• Force Majeure: We are not liable for any failure or delay caused by circumstances beyond our reasonable control, including natural disasters, government actions, network failures, or pandemics.

16. Contact Us

For questions about these Terms, contact us:

• Email: support@kalaloka.buzz
• Platform: Kalaloka (a product of DigiYogi)
• Address: Bangalore, Karnataka, India