Copyright & Intellectual Property Policy

1. Overview

BookVault respects the intellectual property rights of authors, publishers, and other content creators. This policy outlines our commitment to protecting copyrighted material and our procedures for addressing copyright infringement claims.

We comply with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) and other applicable copyright laws. This policy applies to all content on our platform, including novels, stories, images, and user-generated content.

2. Copyright Protection

2.1 Original Content

All novels, stories, and other literary content published on BookVault are protected by copyright law. Authors retain full ownership of their intellectual property rights unless otherwise specified in a publishing agreement.

2.2 Platform Content

• BookVault's software, design, logos, and trademarks are our intellectual property
• User interface elements and platform features are protected by copyright and trademark laws
• Our recommendation algorithms and proprietary technology are trade secrets
• Marketing materials and promotional content are owned by BookVault

3. Author Rights and Responsibilities

3.1 Content Ownership

Authors who publish on BookVault retain ownership of their original works. By publishing on our platform, authors grant BookVault a non-exclusive license to distribute, display, and promote their content.

3.2 Author Warranties

By publishing content on BookVault, authors warrant that:

• They own all rights to the submitted content
• The content is original and does not infringe on third-party rights
• They have the authority to grant publishing rights to BookVault
• The content complies with all applicable laws and regulations

3.3 Content Removal Rights

Authors may request removal of their content from BookVault at any time, subject to existing reader purchases and contractual obligations. Removal requests will be processed within 7 business days.

4. User Rights and Restrictions

4.1 Permitted Uses

Users may:

• Read purchased or subscribed content for personal, non-commercial use
• Download content for offline reading on authorized devices
• Share brief excerpts for review or discussion purposes (fair use)
• Create bookmarks and personal notes within the platform

4.2 Prohibited Uses

Users may not:

• Copy, reproduce, or distribute copyrighted content without permission
• Share account credentials or purchased content with others
• Use automated tools to extract or download content
• Modify, adapt, or create derivative works from copyrighted content
• Remove copyright notices or digital watermarks
• Use content for commercial purposes without proper licensing

5. DMCA Compliance

5.1 Notice and Takedown Procedure

If you believe your copyrighted work has been infringed on our platform, you may submit a DMCA takedown notice. Your notice must include:

• Your physical or electronic signature
• Identification of the copyrighted work claimed to be infringed
• Identification of the infringing material and its location on our platform
• Your contact information (address, phone number, email)
• A statement of good faith belief that the use is not authorized
• A statement that the information is accurate and you are authorized to act

5.2 Designated Copyright Agent

5.3 Counter-Notification Process

If you believe your content was removed in error, you may submit a counter-notification. We will restore the content within 10-14 business days unless the original complainant files a court action.

6. Repeat Infringer Policy

BookVault maintains a policy of terminating accounts of users who are repeat copyright infringers. We may also terminate accounts of users who receive multiple valid DMCA takedown notices.

• First offense: Warning and content removal
• Second offense: Temporary account suspension
• Third offense: Permanent account termination
• Severe cases may result in immediate termination

7. Fair Use and Educational Purposes

We recognize the importance of fair use for criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. However, fair use determinations are made on a case-by-case basis considering:

• The purpose and character of the use
• The nature of the copyrighted work
• The amount and substantiality of the portion used
• The effect of the use on the market for the original work

8. International Copyright

BookVault respects international copyright laws and treaties, including the Berne Convention. We work with authors and publishers worldwide to ensure proper licensing and distribution rights.

9. Content Monitoring

While we do not actively monitor all content, we employ various measures to detect and prevent copyright infringement:

• Automated content matching systems
• User reporting mechanisms
• Regular audits of published content
• Collaboration with rights management organizations

10. Trademark Policy

In addition to copyright protection, we respect trademark rights. Users may not use trademarks in ways that could cause confusion about the source of goods or services.

11. Licensing and Permissions

For licensing inquiries or permission to use copyrighted content beyond fair use, please contact our Rights Department. We facilitate licensing agreements between content creators and users for commercial purposes.