1. Introduction
Searshor is an Indian-based search engine dedicated to providing users with relevant and accessible information by indexing publicly available content on the internet. We understand and respect the intellectual property rights of others. This Copyright Policy outlines our procedures for addressing alleged copyright infringement in accordance with the Indian Copyright Act, 1957, the Information Technology Act, 2000 (IT Act), and other applicable Indian laws and international treaties.
2. Our Role as an Intermediary
Searshor functions solely as an information location tool. We do not host, store, or transmit copyrighted content on our servers. Our service involves:
- Indexing Websites: Our automated systems (crawlers/spiders) scan and index publicly available web pages to create a searchable database of information.
- Displaying Links and Snippets: Search results typically consist of links to third-party websites and brief descriptive summaries (snippets) of the content found on those sites. These snippets are generated automatically to help users understand the linked content.
- Image Display (Thumbnails/Previews): Where applicable, for image search, Searshor may display small, low-resolution thumbnail or preview images directly linked from the original source website. These are solely for the purpose of helping users identify and navigate to the original content and are not stored in our database.
We believe that our indexing activities and the display of links and snippets constitute "fair dealing" under the Indian Copyright Act, 1957, as they are transformative, informative, and do not compete with the market for the original work.
3. Reporting Copyright Infringement (Takedown Notices)
If you are a copyright owner or an agent authorized to act on behalf of a copyright owner and believe that your copyrighted work has been infringed by content accessible through Searshor's search results, you may submit a copyright infringement notification (takedown notice) to us.
Upon receipt of a valid and complete copyright infringement notification, Searshor is committed to taking appropriate action, which may include removing or disabling access to the infringing material from our search results within 7 days.
To ensure your notification is effective and processed promptly, please provide the following information:
A. For Individual Item Reports (Specific URLs):
Please use our dedicated Copyright Infringement Report Form available at www.searshor.in/copyright-report.
Alternatively, you may submit a written notification containing the following:
- Identification of the Copyrighted Work:
- A detailed description of the copyrighted work that you claim has been infringed (e.g., "My photograph titled 'Sunset over Kerala Backwaters'," "My song 'Rhythmic Waves'," "My article 'The Future of AI in India'").
- Provide the URL(s) where an authorized copy of the copyrighted work can be found (if applicable).
- Identification of the Allegedly Infringing Material:
- The specific URL(s) from Searshor's search results that contain the allegedly infringing material. Please provide the exact URL(s) where Searshor displays the link to the infringing content.
- Statement of Good Faith Belief:
- A statement that you have a good faith belief that the use of the copyrighted material identified is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law.
- Accuracy and Authority:
- A statement that the information in the notification is accurate, and under penalty of perjury, that you are the copyright owner or are authorized to act on behalf of the copyright owner.
- Your Contact Information:
- Your full legal name.
- Your organization/company name (if applicable).
- Your email address.
- Your postal address.
- Your telephone number.
- Electronic or Physical Signature:
- An electronic or physical signature of the copyright owner or a person authorized to act on their behalf.
B. For Multiple Domain Issues (Repeated Infringement from a Domain):
If you are experiencing repeated copyright infringement from a specific domain (website) appearing in Searshor's search results, and believe the domain is primarily engaged in infringing activities, you may report this through our Copyright Infringement Report Form (www.searshor.in/copyright-report) by selecting the "Multiple Domain Issues" option.
In addition to the information required for individual item reports (as above), please provide:
- A clear explanation of why you believe the entire domain (or a significant portion of it) is primarily engaged in copyright infringement.
- Representative examples (at least 3-5 specific URLs from Searshor's search results linking to infringing content on that domain) to support your claim.
4. Submission of Notifications:
Please submit your copyright infringement notifications via:
- Preferred Method: Online Copyright Infringement Report Form: www.searshor.in/copyright-report
- Email (for written notifications): copyright@searshor.in
5. Counter-Notification (for Website Owners)
If your website's content is removed from Searshor's search results due to a copyright infringement notification, and you believe the removal was a mistake or that you have the right to use the content (e.g., under fair dealing, license, or public domain), you may submit a counter-notification to us.
Your counter-notification must contain the following:
- Identification of the Material Removed:
- Identification of the material that has been removed or to which access has been disabled, and the location (URL) at which the material appeared before it was removed or disabled.
- Statement of Good Faith Belief:
- A statement under penalty of perjury that you have a good faith belief that the material was removed or disabled as a result of a mistake or misidentification of the material to be removed or disabled.
- Consent to Jurisdiction:
- A statement that you consent to the jurisdiction of the competent courts in India for the resolution of any disputes related to this matter.
- Your Contact Information:
- Your full legal name.
- Your organization/company name (if applicable).
- Your email address.
- Your postal address.
- Your telephone number.
- Electronic or Physical Signature:
- An electronic or physical signature of the subscriber.
Upon receipt of a valid counter-notification, Searshor will promptly forward a copy to the original complaining party. If the complaining party does not notify us of legal action to restrain the alleged infringement within 10-14 business days, Searshor may, at its sole discretion, restore the link to the disputed material in its search results.
6. Repeat Infringers Policy
Searshor maintains a policy of terminating, in appropriate circumstances, users and accounts that are repeat infringers of copyright. This may include adjusting search rankings or removing domains from our index that are found to repeatedly violate copyright law after receiving valid takedown notices.
7. Disclaimer
This Copyright Policy is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. If you have specific questions about copyright law or your rights, you should consult with a qualified legal professional in India.
Searshor reserves the right to modify this Copyright Policy at any time.