This page explains the legal protections around the d2d YouthStory name, brand, content and platform, and what happens if they are misused. It is provided for transparency and deterrence. It is a general summary, not legal advice; statutory section numbers are indicative and current as of the last update.

1. Who we are

D2D YouthStory Media Pvt. Ltd. is a private limited company incorporated and registered under the Companies Act, 2013 with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA), Government of India, and is a DPIIT-recognised startup (Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade). The name “d2d YouthStory”, our logo, our website, and the work we publish are assets of the company.

2. What is protected

  • Our company and brand name (“d2d YouthStory”, “D2D YouthStory Media Pvt. Ltd.”) and our logo and visual identity.
  • All editorial content — articles, features, interviews, Story Cards, videos, photographs, graphics, page copy and design — created or commissioned by us.
  • Our format and presentation, including the “As featured on d2d YouthStory” credential and our Story Card design.
  • The identity of our company, founders, editors and staff in all online and offline channels.

3. The laws that protect us

a. Company name — Companies Act, 2013

Our registered name is protected under the Companies Act, 2013. Under Section 16, a company registered with a name that is identical to, or too nearly resembles, an existing company name or a registered trade mark can be directed to change it. Serious corporate fraud may be investigated by the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) under Section 212.

b. Trade marks — Trade Marks Act, 1999

Unauthorised use of our name, logo or a deceptively similar mark is actionable:

  • Section 29 — defines trade mark infringement (identical/deceptively similar marks used in trade).
  • Sections 103 & 104 — criminal penalties for falsifying or falsely applying a mark, or dealing in goods/services bearing it: imprisonment of 6 months to 3 years and a fine of ₹50,000 to ₹2,00,000. These are cognizable offences — police may search, seize and arrest.
  • Section 105 — enhanced penalties for repeat offenders (minimum 1 year imprisonment, minimum ₹1,00,000 fine).
  • Sections 134 & 135 — civil suit for infringement; courts may grant injunctions (including ex-parte and John Doe / Ashok Kumar orders), damages or account of profits, and delivery-up of infringing material.
  • Passing off (common-law remedy) additionally protects the goodwill in our name even for unregistered marks.

c. Content, articles & photographs — Copyright Act, 1957

Our editorial content is protected by copyright automatically on creation. Copying, republishing, scraping or redistributing it without written permission is infringement under the Copyright Act, 1957. Section 63 provides criminal penalties of imprisonment of 6 months to 3 years and a fine of ₹50,000 to ₹2,00,000, in addition to civil remedies (injunction and damages).

d. Online impersonation & fraud — Information Technology Act, 2000

  • Section 66C — identity theft (fraudulent use of another’s identity/credentials): up to 3 years imprisonment and up to ₹1,00,000 fine.
  • Section 66D — cheating by personation using a computer resource (fake pages, phishing, impersonating our brand or staff): up to 3 years imprisonment and up to ₹1,00,000 fine.
  • Section 66E — violation of privacy; Section 43 — compensation for unauthorised access or data theft.

e. Cheating, forgery & personation — Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023

Impersonating the company, forging our materials, or collecting money in our name may attract provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (which replaced the Indian Penal Code, 1860) relating to cheating, forgery, personation and criminal breach of trust.

f. Advertising & misleading use — Consumer Protection Act, 2019 & ASCI

Falsely claiming association with, endorsement by, or a feature on d2d YouthStory, or using our name in misleading advertising, may attract action under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 and the ASCI Code (including the upfront-disclosure norm for sponsored content under Clause 1.8). The CCPA can impose penalties on individuals and entities for misleading advertisements.

4. About our editorial contributions

Where a featured person chooses to make a contribution, it is a voluntary contribution toward our editorial production (interview, writing, editing and fact-checking) and the cost of keeping the feature online. It is not a fee or payment to be published: every story passes the same independent editorial review, and a contribution is never a guarantee of publication. We follow honest, upfront disclosure practices in line with the ASCI Code. Collecting money in the name of d2d YouthStory without our written authorisation is fraud and will be prosecuted.

5. What counts as misuse

  • Using our name, logo or a confusingly similar brand for any product, page, event or service.
  • Copying, republishing or scraping our articles, photos, Story Cards or videos.
  • Creating fake profiles, pages or messages that impersonate d2d YouthStory or our staff.
  • Falsely claiming to be “featured on”, “partnered with” or “authorised by” d2d YouthStory.
  • Soliciting or collecting payments/contributions in our name.

6. Action we will take

We protect our community and our brand seriously. Against any misuse we may, individually or together: issue a cease-and-desist notice; file a civil suit for injunction, damages and account of profits; file a criminal complaint (many of these offences are cognizable, enabling police search, seizure and arrest); issue takedown and platform-disablement requests; record our marks with Customs; and report online offences to the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (cybercrime.gov.in) and the cybercrime helpline 1930. Being a registered company and a DPIIT-recognised entity gives us standing to pursue every one of these remedies.

7. Report misuse

If you see our name, brand or content being misused, please tell us so we can act quickly. Email info@d2dyouthstory.com or contact our Grievance Officer. Genuine permission and licensing requests are welcome at the same address.

This summary is for information and deterrence only and does not constitute legal advice. For any specific matter, we act on the advice of our legal counsel.