DMCA Policy

Explore Tourist Places respects intellectual property rights. This DMCA & Copyright Takedown Policy explains how copyright owners (and their agents) may send takedown notices for alleged copyright infringement, how we will process valid notices, how alleged infringers may send counter-notices, and how we comply with applicable laws including the U.S. Digital Millennium Copyright Act (17 U.S.C. §512) and Indian intermediary rules (Information Technology Rules, 2021).

Important: If you are a copyright owner or authorized agent, choose the route that best suits you: (A) DMCA (U.S.); or (B) Indian takedown / grievance (IT Rules). We process both.

1. Designated Copyright Agent (U.S. DMCA — role-based contact)

Pursuant to 17 U.S.C. §512 and related rules, Explore Tourist Places has designated the following agent to receive notifications of claimed copyright infringement.

Designated DMCA Agent (for U.S. DMCA notices):

DMCA Agent, Explore Tourist Places
Email: contact@exploretouristplaces.com
Postal mail (for Copyright Office registration or signed notices):
Explore Tourist Places — DMCA Agent
Electronic City
Bangalore, Karnataka, 560100
India

2. How to submit a DMCA takedown notice (U.S. procedure)

To file a DMCA takedown notice under U.S. law, send a written notice that includes ALL elements required by 17 U.S.C. §512(c)(3). Use the template below (Section 6) — incomplete notices may result in delays. Email is the preferred method to contact@exploretouristplaces.com. You may also send a physical signed copy to the postal address above.

What happens after we receive a DMCA notice:

  1. We will acknowledge receipt (email) within 24 hours of receipt.
  2. We will evaluate the notice for formal sufficiency and whether the identified material is hosted on our site.
  3. If valid, we will remove or disable access to the allegedly infringing content expeditiously.
  4. We will notify the user who posted the content and forward the DMCA notice to them (or provide reasonable means for them to see it).
  5. If a counter-notice is received, we will follow the statutory process (we may restore content 10–14 business days after receiving a valid counter-notice unless the complainant files suit).

3. How to submit a takedown under Indian law (IT Rules / Grievance procedure)

If you prefer the Indian intermediary rules process, submit a takedown complaint to our Grievance Officer using the format below (Section 7). For India-based claims, the IT Rules require:

  • acknowledgement of receipt within 24 hours, and
  • disposal (decision/action) within 15 days, with specified procedural requirements.

Send Indian takedown notices to the Grievance Officer: contact@exploretouristplaces.com (or by postal mail to the postal address listed above). Include the required details per the IT Rules (see the template, Section 7). If you would prefer your legal representative to communicate on your behalf, we will accept correspondence from authorised agents accompanied by proof of authority.

4. What we require from a proper takedown notice (both U.S. DMCA and Indian takedown)

A valid notice should include the following (use the templates provided):

  • Identification of the copyrighted work(s) claimed to be infringed (title, registration if any).
  • Identification of the material alleged to be infringing, with precise location (URL(s), post IDs, screenshots).
  • Your contact information (name, email, telephone, postal address). If you prefer not to provide a phone number, include a reliable email and postal address where we can reach you.
  • A statement that you have a good-faith belief that use is unauthorized.
  • A statement that the information in the notice is accurate and, under penalty of perjury (U.S. DMCA or equivalent), that you are the copyright owner or authorized to act.
  • Physical or electronic signature (DMCA requires signature). For email notices, an electronic signature (typed name or scanned signature) is acceptable.
  • For Indian notices, also include any identifier required by IT Rules and indicate whether you wish to seek removal under IT Rules.

Note: We cannot act on vague or anonymous complaints. We will not accept notices delivered via public comment sections or social media posts — send a formal notice to the designated addresses above.

5. What we do after receiving a notice (detailed operational flow)

  1. Logging & Acknowledgement — We log the incoming notice, create a ticket, and acknowledge receipt within 24 hours (email).
  2. Preliminary assessment — We verify that the notice contains required elements and that the reported content exists on our platform at the stated location.
  3. Action (if notice valid) — We remove or disable access to the content and notify the content uploader and the complainant that action was taken. We retain a copy of the notice, the removed content (in locked logs) and communications.
  4. Forwarding & Counter-notice — We forward the notice to the alleged infringer and invite them to submit a counter-notice. We supply the complainant with the counter-notice if one is received.
  5. Reinstatement after counter-notice — For U.S. DMCA counter-notices, if a valid counter-notice is submitted, we will notify the complainant and wait 10–14 business days for the complainant to obtain a court order to restrain the user; if no such court action is filed, we will restore the content. For Indian notices, we will follow IT Rules timelines (acknowledge in 24 hours; dispose within 15 days).
  6. Repeat infringer policy — We maintain a repeat infringer policy and may terminate accounts or ban users who repeatedly post infringing material. See Section 9.
  7. Recordkeeping — We retain notices, counter-notices, logs, and related communications for at least 3 years (recommended 5 years) for audit and compliance.

6. DMCA takedown notice template (U.S.) — copy/paste & send

DMCA Takedown Notice
To: DMCA Agent, Explore Tourist Places (contact@exploretouristplaces.com)
Date: [Date]

I, the undersigned, declare under penalty of perjury that the information below is accurate and that I am the copyright owner or authorized to act on behalf of the copyright owner.

  1. Copyright owner: [Name of Copyright Owner / Company]
  2. Contact information: [Full name, postal address, telephone number (optional), email]
  3. Description of copyrighted work claimed to be infringed: [Describe the original work(s); include registration number if available]
  4. Location of infringing material on Explore Tourist Places: [Provide exact URL(s) or other precise location information]
  5. Statement of good-faith belief: I have a good-faith belief that the use of the material in the manner complained of is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law.
  6. Statement under penalty of perjury: The information in this notice is accurate, and I am authorized to act on behalf of the copyright owner.
  7. Signature: [Physical or electronic signature — type your full legal name or attach scanned signature]

Please remove or disable access to the infringing material and confirm by return email. Thank you.

— [Typed full name]
[Title / role, if acting on behalf of owner]
[Contact email & postal address]

7. Indian takedown / grievance notice template (IT Rules 2021) — copy/paste & send

Grievance / Takedown Notice (India)
To: Grievance Officer, Explore Tourist Places (contact@exploretouristplaces.com)
Date: [Date]

I am [name], the [owner/agent/author] of the copyrighted work described below. Please take down the infringing content pursuant to the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.

  1. Complainant name & contact: [Full name / company, postal address, email, telephone (optional)]
  2. Details of the copyrighted work: [Describe the work; registration number if any]
  3. Location of allegedly infringing content on your website: [Exact URL(s), date/time of posting, screenshot(s) if available]
  4. Statement of good faith: I have a good faith belief that this content infringes my copyright.
  5. Declaration: I declare that the information provided is true to the best of my knowledge, and I understand that filing false or misleading takedown notices may result in penalties under applicable law.
  6. Signature: [electronic or physical signature]

Please acknowledge receipt within 24 hours and inform me of actions taken in accordance with the IT Rules.

— [Typed full name & date]

8. Counter-notice template (Alleged infringer / uploader)

If you receive a takedown notice and believe the material was removed in error, you may submit a counter-notice. For U.S. DMCA counter-notices, include the following:

DMCA Counter-Notice
To: DMCA Agent, Explore Tourist Places (contact@exploretouristplaces.com)
Date: [Date]

I, the undersigned, declare under penalty of perjury that the information below is accurate.

  1. Your name & contact: [Full legal name, postal address, telephone (optional), email]
  2. Description and location of the removed material: [Describe the material and include the exact URL(s) where it appeared]
  3. Statement of good-faith belief: I have a good faith belief that the material was removed or disabled as a result of mistake or misidentification.
  4. Consent to jurisdiction: I consent to the jurisdiction of the Federal District Court for the judicial district in which my address is located (or if abroad, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia), and will accept service of process from the person who provided the takedown notice or their agent.
  5. Signature: [Physical or electronic signature — type your full legal name or attach scanned signature]

Please restore the content, unless the copyright owner files an action seeking a court order restraining me from engaging in such activity.

For Indian procedures, provide a similar counter-notice by emailing the Grievance Officer; include your contact details, an explanation and sworn statement that you have the right to post the content.

9. Repeat infringer policy

We terminate or restrict access for users who are repeat infringers. A “repeat infringer” is a user who, after receiving notice from us or an agent that certain content infringes another’s copyrights, continues to post infringing material. We maintain and use a policy to track notices and will suspend or terminate accounts where appropriate.

10. False or Misleading Notices — penalties

Knowingly submitting a false or materially misleading takedown notice or counter-notice may expose you to liability for damages (including costs and attorneys’ fees) under applicable law (including 17 U.S.C. §512(f) in the U.S.). If you are unsure whether material is infringing, seek legal advice before filing a notice.

11. Recordkeeping & retention

We retain logs, notices, attachments, removed content and correspondence for at least 3 years (recommended 5 years) to comply with legal obligations and to maintain safe-harbour eligibility. We will securely store any evidence relating to takedown notices.

12. Practical guidance for rights owners (best practices)

  • Provide accurate URLs and screenshots; vague notices slow processing.
  • If possible, include registration numbers or other proof of ownership.
  • If you are an agent acting for the owner, provide written proof of authorization.
  • Consider using a registered agent service if you prefer not to publish a natural person’s contact details.

13. Contact & escalation (role-based contacts)

DMCA notices (U.S.) — email: contact@exploretouristplaces.com
Indian takedown / grievance — email: contact@exploretouristplaces.com
For urgent copyright emergencies, email the grievance address with “URGENT” in the subject. Postal mail may be sent to the company postal address listed above.

14. Miscellaneous & legal limits

This policy is intended to comply with U.S. DMCA and Indian IT Rules. It does not create any rights for third parties and is subject to applicable law. We will update this policy if statutory requirements change.