12.1 Purpose
Rupkatha Books respects the intellectual property rights of authors, artists, translators, publishers, libraries, archives, museums, research institutions, Indigenous communities, and all other rights holders. The responsible use of third-party material enriches scholarship, promotes interdisciplinary research, preserves cultural heritage, and supports the responsible circulation of knowledge.
This policy establishes the principles governing the lawful and ethical use of third-party content in publications issued by Rupkatha Books. It should be read together with the Copyright and Licensing Policy, Publication Ethics Policy, Translation Rights and Permissions Policy, Generative AI Policy, and other relevant publisher policies.
12.2 Scope
This policy applies to all third-party material incorporated into publications issued by Rupkatha Books, including:
- textual extracts;
- photographs;
- illustrations;
- artwork;
- maps;
- architectural drawings;
- charts, graphs, figures, diagrams, and tables;
- musical notation;
- manuscripts and archival documents;
- datasets and software code;
- audiovisual and multimedia resources;
- screenshots and digital interfaces;
- digital collections;
- and any other material protected by copyright or related intellectual property rights.
12.3 Responsibility of Authors
Authors, editors, translators, and volume editors are responsible for ensuring that all third-party material included in a publication is reproduced lawfully, ethically, and in accordance with applicable licence terms.
They are expected to:
- obtain all necessary permissions before publication;
- comply with applicable copyright legislation;
- observe licence conditions;
- provide complete and accurate attribution; and
- retain documentary evidence of permissions where required.
Failure to secure the necessary rights may delay publication or require the removal, replacement, or modification of the affected material.
12.4 Permission Requirements
Permission is ordinarily required for the reproduction of copyrighted material, including:
- substantial textual extracts;
- complete poems, essays, stories, chapters, or other substantial works;
- photographs and artwork;
- figures, tables, maps, and illustrations;
- unpublished manuscripts and archival materials;
- datasets and software;
- audiovisual and multimedia resources;
- screenshots of copyrighted digital content; and
- other protected intellectual property.
Where copyright ownership or licensing status is uncertain, authors should obtain permission before submission.
12.5 Statutory Exceptions
Rupkatha Books recognises that copyright legislation in many jurisdictions provides limited exceptions for purposes such as quotation, criticism, review, education, research, fair dealing, or fair use.
Because these exceptions vary internationally, authors remain responsible for ensuring that reliance upon any statutory exception is legally justified. Where uncertainty exists, the publisher may require formal permission from the relevant rights holder.
12.6 Public Domain and Openly Licensed Material
Material that is in the public domain or distributed under an open licence may ordinarily be reproduced without obtaining additional permission.
Authors should nevertheless:
- verify the copyright status;
- identify the original source;
- acknowledge the creator where known;
- specify the applicable licence where appropriate; and
- comply with all applicable licence conditions.
Responsible attribution remains an essential element of scholarly integrity irrespective of copyright status.
12.7 Creative Commons and Open Licensing
Rupkatha Books encourages the responsible reuse of openly licensed scholarly and cultural resources.
Where material is distributed under a Creative Commons or comparable licence, authors shall comply with all applicable licence conditions, including requirements relating to:
- attribution;
- licence identification;
- indication of modifications;
- restrictions on commercial reuse where applicable; and
- conditions governing derivative works.
Compliance with licence terms remains the responsibility of the author.
12.8 Attribution
Every item reproduced from a third party should include appropriate acknowledgement identifying, where applicable:
- the creator;
- the copyright holder;
- the original publication or source;
- the publisher;
- the repository, archive, library, museum, or collection;
- the applicable licence; and
- any required permission statement.
Accurate attribution promotes transparency, scholarly integrity, and proper recognition of intellectual and creative contributions.
12.9 Indigenous Knowledge and Cultural Heritage
Some forms of knowledge are protected not only by copyright law but also by community rights, cultural protocols, customary law, and ethical obligations.
Special care should therefore be exercised when reproducing:
- Indigenous knowledge;
- traditional cultural expressions;
- sacred texts;
- oral traditions;
- community-owned materials;
- culturally sensitive images, recordings, or artefacts; and
- other culturally significant resources.
Legal permission alone may not be sufficient. Authors are expected to respect relevant cultural protocols and, where appropriate, consult affected communities or recognised custodians before publication.
12.10 Privacy and Personal Information
Authors are responsible for ensuring that photographs, interviews, correspondence, audiovisual recordings, personal data, or other identifiable information are reproduced in accordance with applicable privacy legislation, ethical standards, institutional requirements, and consent obligations.
Where consent is required, it shall be obtained before publication.
12.11 Artificial Intelligence and Digital Content
Authors remain fully responsible for ensuring that AI-assisted or AI-generated material is incorporated into a publication:
- does not infringe copyright or other intellectual property rights;
- complies with applicable licensing conditions;
- is disclosed where required under the Generative AI Policy;
- is distinguishable from third-party material where appropriate; and
- has been verified for accuracy and lawful use.
The use of AI does not diminish the author’s legal or ethical responsibilities.
12.12 Editorial Review
Rupkatha Books reserves the right to decline, suspend, or delay publication where:
- copyright ownership cannot be verified;
- permissions are incomplete or disputed;
- attribution is inadequate;
- legal or reputational risks exist; or
- unresolved ethical concerns remain.
The publisher may require replacement, modification, or removal of material before publication proceeds.
12.13 Author Warranty and Indemnity
Unless otherwise agreed in writing, authors warrant that they have secured all permissions necessary for the inclusion of third-party material supplied for publication.
Authors further agree to indemnify Rupkatha Books against claims arising from the unauthorised use of copyrighted, confidential, or otherwise protected material incorporated into their submission, except where such liability results directly from the publisher’s own actions.
12.14 Documentation
Authors should retain appropriate documentation supporting the lawful use of third-party material, including:
- permission letters;
- licence agreements;
- copyright correspondence;
- repository licences;
- consent documentation; and
- other relevant records.
Rupkatha Books may request such documentation during editorial review or after publication where questions concerning rights or permissions arise.
12.15 Digital Rights Management and Preservation
Rupkatha Books seeks to preserve accurate copyright, licensing, and permissions information throughout the publication lifecycle.
The publisher progressively incorporates internationally recognised metadata standards—including DOI registration, ISBN, ONIX, rights metadata, accessibility metadata, and other interoperable scholarly infrastructure—to support long-term discoverability, responsible reuse, digital preservation, and transparent rights management.
