Creator Agreement

1. Who We Are

GroundInk is an independent journalism platform based in Bengaluru, India. We exist to strengthen independent journalists and content creators — amplifying local and regional voices, bringing real news that affects ordinary Indians, and holding governments and authorities accountable.

We are a platform. We are an aggregator. We are not a news organisation, an editor, or a publisher in the traditional sense. We provide the infrastructure, tools, and reach. You provide the journalism.

2. Who You Are

To publish on GroundInk you must:

• Be 18 years of age or older
• Be an individual journalist, reporter, or content creator
• Have the right to publish the content you submit
• Have read and agreed to this Creator Agreement

You may use a pen name or byline name on your articles, but your real identity must be accurately provided during registration.

3. Your Content — Ownership and Licence

When you submit and publish an article on GroundInk, you retain full ownership of your original reporting, writing, images, and all intellectual property contained in it.

By publishing on GroundInk you grant us a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide licence to:

• Display and publish your article on the GroundInk platform
• Archive your article permanently on our platform
• Distribute your article through GroundInk's channels and social media
• Allow readers to share your article via share buttons on the platform

This licence does not prevent you from publishing the same content elsewhere, on your own website, blog, or any other platform.

We will always display your name and byline on your articles. We will never claim authorship or ownership of your work.

4. What You Are Responsible For

You — the Creator — are solely and fully responsible for:

• The accuracy of every fact, claim, and statement in your articles
• The evidence you cite and present
• The sources you quote and rely upon
• Any legal consequences arising from your published content
• Ensuring you have the right to publish any images, documents, or media you submit

GroundInk does not fact-check, verify, or independently investigate the claims made in your articles. Publication of your article on GroundInk does not constitute endorsement of your claims by GroundInk.

5. Source Protection

GroundInk will not voluntarily disclose the identity of any source cited or used in your reporting to any third party, government body, or authority.

If GroundInk receives a legal order compelling disclosure of source information, we will:

• Notify you immediately
• Seek legal advice before complying
• Resist such disclosure where legally possible

You are responsible for protecting your sources independently. GroundInk's ability to protect source information is limited by applicable Indian law.

6. RTI Documents and Official Sources

Where your articles are based on RTI responses or official documents, you agree to:

• Confirm that all such documents are genuine and unaltered
• Retain original copies for a minimum of two years from the date of publication
• Make these available to GroundInk if a legitimate dispute or legal query arises

Submitting fabricated or altered official documents is a serious violation and may result in immediate removal from the platform.

7. Content Standards — What Is Not Allowed

The following types of content are not permitted on GroundInk:

• Fabricated or fake reporting — any content you know to be false
• Content targeting a religion or caste — reporting that demeans or incites hostility against any community
• Political party propaganda — content produced on behalf of or directed by any political party
• Content inciting violence — any content encouraging violence against any individual or group
• Paid promotion disguised as journalism — articles where you received payment from a party mentioned without disclosure
• AI-generated content without human review — you may use G-INK and other AI tools, but every article must be reviewed and approved by you before submission

8. Editorial Process

When you submit an article, our editorial team reviews it for structure, readability, and compliance with our content standards.

We may suggest edits for clarity or language. We will never alter your findings, your conclusions, or the substance of your reporting without your knowledge and agreement.

We aim to review and publish articles within 48 to 72 hours of submission.

9. Corrections

If a factual error is identified in your published article, you agree to review it within 48 hours of being notified by GroundInk and provide corrected information where needed.

GroundInk will not make substantive changes to your article without notifying you first. Corrections will be noted at the bottom of the article with a clear timestamp.

10. Payment

GroundInk currently does not pay creators on a per-article basis.

What you receive as a GroundInk creator is reach, credibility, Google indexing, a permanent record of your reporting, and access to G-INK at no cost.

As GroundInk grows, creators who have built with us from the beginning will be the first to benefit from any revenue sharing or monetisation programmes we introduce. Terms of such programmes will be communicated separately.

11. Account Suspension and Removal

GroundInk may suspend or permanently remove your creator account if you:

• Publish content that violates Section 7 of this agreement
• Submit fabricated or altered RTI documents or official sources
• Provide false information during registration
• Publish paid promotional content disguised as journalism

Before taking action, GroundInk will notify you of the specific violation and give you an opportunity to respond.

In cases of serious violations — including fabricated reporting or content inciting violence — GroundInk reserves the right to act immediately without prior notice.

12. Your Articles After Removal

If your account is suspended or removed, your published articles will remain live on GroundInk permanently. This is consistent with GroundInk's mission of creating a permanent record of ground-level journalism.

If you believe a specific article should be removed, you may submit a request to editorial@groundink.in. We will consider requests on a case by case basis.

13. Leaving GroundInk

You may leave GroundInk at any time by giving 7 days written notice to contact@groundink.in.

Upon leaving, your creator account and profile will be deactivated. Your published articles will remain live permanently. There is no penalty for leaving and no minimum commitment required.

14. No Restrictions on Where You Publish

GroundInk places no restrictions on where else you publish your work. You are free to publish on other platforms, maintain your own website or newsletter, and continue on YouTube, Instagram, or any other channel.

15. Changes to This Agreement

GroundInk may update this agreement from time to time. When we do, we will notify all active creators by email at least 14 days before changes take effect.

We will never make changes that retroactively affect content you have already published without your explicit agreement.

16. Governing Law

This agreement is governed by the laws of India. Any disputes arising from this agreement will be subject to the jurisdiction of courts in Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.