By submitting Content to Startup Tribune, you confirm that you have read, understood and agreed to these Terms.
1. Submission of Content
Writers may submit original articles, business stories, startup features, interviews, opinion pieces, expert articles, research-based articles and other relevant editorial Content for consideration.
Submission of Content does not guarantee publication.
Startup Tribune reserves the right to accept, reject, edit, modify, postpone, remove or decline to publish any submitted Content at its editorial discretion.
2. Originality and Ownership
The Writer represents and warrants that:
- The submitted Content is original and has been created by the Writer or the Writer has obtained all necessary rights and permissions to submit it.
- The Content does not knowingly infringe any copyright, trademark, privacy, publicity, contractual or other proprietary rights of any third party.
- The Content has not been unlawfully copied, reproduced or substantially reproduced from another publication, website, article, book, social-media post or other source.
- Where third-party information, quotations, statistics, research or material is used, appropriate attribution and permissions shall be provided wherever required.
- The Writer has the legal authority to submit the Content to Startup Tribune.
Startup Tribune may reject or remove Content if it reasonably believes that the Content violates these requirements.
3. Plagiarism
Startup Tribune does not accept plagiarised or substantially copied Content.
Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to:
- Copying another writer's article without permission or attribution.
- Reproducing content from websites, newspapers, magazines or other publications.
- Rewriting another person's work without sufficient originality.
- Presenting another person's research, ideas or wording as one's own.
- Submitting the same or substantially similar article to Startup Tribune and another publication where this creates a rights or publication conflict.
Startup Tribune may use plagiarism-detection, editorial and verification tools when reviewing submissions.
If plagiarism is discovered after publication, Startup Tribune may remove, correct or otherwise modify the Content and may restrict future submissions from the Writer.
4. Artificial Intelligence and Writing Tools
Writers may use artificial intelligence or writing-assistance tools for research support, grammar correction, brainstorming or editing, provided that the Writer remains responsible for the final Content.
AI-generated Content must not contain fabricated facts, fake quotations, invented sources, misleading claims or inaccurate information.
The Writer remains fully responsible for:
- Accuracy of the Content.
- Originality.
- Sources and citations.
- Copyright compliance.
- Factual claims.
- Statements attributed to individuals or organisations.
Startup Tribune may request clarification regarding the creation or sourcing of Content where necessary.
5. Accuracy and Fact-Checking
Writers must make reasonable efforts to ensure that factual statements are accurate and verifiable.
Particular care should be taken with:
- Names and designations.
- Company information.
- Financial figures.
- Investment and funding information.
- Market statistics.
- Legal or regulatory claims.
- Quotes and interviews.
- Dates and timelines.
- Scientific or technical claims.
Startup Tribune may edit, verify, remove or request clarification regarding factual claims before or after publication.
The Writer is responsible for providing supporting sources or documentation when reasonably requested by the editorial team.
6. Defamatory, Misleading or Unlawful Content
Writers must not submit Content that is knowingly false, defamatory, misleading, fraudulent, unlawful, threatening, harassing, obscene or invasive of another person's privacy.
Content must not knowingly make unsupported allegations against an individual, company, organisation or institution.
Where allegations or disputed claims are reported, the Writer should make reasonable efforts to verify the information and provide appropriate attribution and context.
Applicable Indian laws and regulations may apply to published digital content.
7. Confidential and Personal Information
Writers must not submit confidential, private or sensitive information belonging to another person or organisation unless they have the necessary authority or legal basis to do so.
Writers should not publish:
- Private phone numbers.
- Personal email addresses.
- Passwords or login credentials.
- Confidential business documents.
- Non-public financial information.
- Personal information obtained without appropriate permission.
Where Content involves interviews, photographs or personal information, the Writer should obtain appropriate consent where required.
8. Copyright and Publication Rights
Unless separately agreed in writing, the Writer retains ownership of the copyright in their original Content.
By submitting Content to Startup Tribune, the Writer grants Startup Tribune a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free licence to:
- Publish the Content on the Startup Tribune website.
- Edit and format the Content for editorial purposes.
- Reproduce the Content on Startup Tribune's official digital channels.
- Promote the published Content through social media, newsletters and other Startup Tribune promotional channels.
- Use excerpts, headlines, images and quotations from the Content for promotional purposes.
- Archive the Content as part of Startup Tribune's editorial records.
This licence does not transfer ownership of the Writer's copyright unless a separate written agreement expressly provides otherwise.
9. Editorial Rights
Startup Tribune reserves the right to edit submitted Content for:
- Grammar and spelling.
- Clarity and readability.
- SEO and formatting.
- Length.
- Headline and sub-headline.
- Style and tone.
- Factual consistency.
- Legal or editorial concerns.
- Website formatting and presentation.
Editorial changes may be made without changing the fundamental meaning of the Content.
Startup Tribune may also choose not to publish Content even after accepting or reviewing a submission.
10. Headlines, Images and Supporting Material
Startup Tribune may modify headlines, captions, summaries, metadata and formatting for editorial, SEO or promotional purposes.
Writers must ensure that images, graphics, charts, videos and other supporting material submitted with an article are either:
- Created by the Writer;
- Licensed for the intended use; or
- Used with appropriate permission.
The Writer is responsible for obtaining necessary permissions for third-party material supplied with the submission.
11. Sponsored, Promotional and Commercial Content
Writers must disclose if submitted Content is:
- Sponsored.
- Paid for by a company or individual.
- Promotional in nature.
- Commissioned by a third party.
- Based on a commercial relationship.
Startup Tribune may classify or label Content as sponsored, branded, promotional, advertorial or partner content where appropriate.
Editorial publication does not necessarily constitute an endorsement of any individual, company, product or service.
12. Multiple Submissions and Republishing
Writers should disclose whether substantially similar Content has previously been published elsewhere.
Startup Tribune may decline Content that has already been published or licensed exclusively to another publication.
If Content is subsequently republished elsewhere, the Writer should ensure that such republication does not conflict with any rights granted to Startup Tribune under a separate written agreement.
13. Payment and Compensation
Unless expressly agreed in writing, submission of Content to Startup Tribune does not create any obligation to pay the Writer.
Where payment has been agreed:
- The applicable fee will be communicated separately.
- Payment may be subject to submission, approval and publication conditions.
- Any applicable taxes, deductions or statutory requirements may apply.
- Payment terms may vary depending on the nature of the assignment.
No payment will be due for unsolicited Content unless Startup Tribune expressly agrees otherwise.
14. No Guarantee of Publication or Search Ranking
Publication of an article does not guarantee:
- Google rankings.
- Search-engine indexing.
- Search traffic.
- Social-media reach.
- Backlinks.
- Media pickup.
- Traffic or engagement.
- Featured snippets.
- News visibility.
Search engines and third-party platforms independently determine how Content is indexed, ranked and displayed.
15. Removal, Correction and Updates
Startup Tribune may remove, update, correct or modify published Content when reasonably necessary, including where:
- Material factual errors are identified.
- Copyright concerns are raised.
- Legal concerns arise.
- New information materially changes the story.
- The Content violates these Terms.
- A legitimate correction request is received.
- The Content is found to contain plagiarism or fabricated information.
Removal requests may be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
16. Corrections
If a Writer discovers a material factual error in published Content, the Writer should promptly notify Startup Tribune and provide supporting information.
Startup Tribune may issue a correction, update the article, add an editorial note or take other appropriate action depending on the circumstances.
17. Writer's Responsibility and Indemnity
The Writer agrees to take responsibility for claims arising from a material breach of these Terms, including claims relating to:
- Copyright infringement.
- Plagiarism.
- Lack of necessary permissions.
- Unauthorised use of third-party material.
- Knowingly false or defamatory statements.
- Unauthorised disclosure of confidential information.
Where legally permissible, the Writer agrees to indemnify and hold Startup Tribune and its authorised representatives harmless from losses, claims, damages, liabilities and reasonable costs arising directly from the Writer's breach of these warranties.
18. Editorial Independence
Submission, acceptance or publication of Content does not guarantee a particular editorial outcome.
Startup Tribune reserves editorial discretion over the selection, presentation, editing, placement and continued availability of Content.
19. Contributor Information
Startup Tribune may collect and use information reasonably necessary to communicate with Writers, process submissions, verify authorship and administer editorial relationships.
Personal information will be handled in accordance with Startup Tribune's applicable Privacy Policy.
20. Changes to These Terms
Startup Tribune may update these Terms from time to time.
The updated version will be published on the website with a revised “Last Updated” date.
Continued submission of Content after the updated Terms are published may constitute acceptance of the revised Terms, subject to applicable law.
By submitting an article or other Content to Startup Tribune, you acknowledge and agree to these Terms.