Terms and Conditions
1. General Provisions
1.1 Author.Ph (hereinafter referred to as the "Platform") is an online literary community designed for the publication of literary works, author blogs, communication between writers and readers, and the promotion of literature and creative writing.
1.2 By registering an account or using the Platform, the user acknowledges that they have read, understood, and agreed to these Terms of Use and Community Rules.
1.3 The purpose of the Platform is to provide a welcoming creative environment that encourages literary development, knowledge sharing, constructive feedback, and meaningful interaction among members.
1.4 The Platform may be used by authors, readers, and other individuals interested in literature and creative expression.
1.5 By registering on the Platform, the user consents to the processing of personal data in accordance with the Privacy Policy and applicable laws, including the Data Privacy Act of 2012 of the Republic of the Philippines.
2. Registration and User Accounts
2.1 Users must complete the registration process in order to publish content, comment on publications, and access certain Platform features.
2.2 Users are responsible for the accuracy of the information provided during registration and for maintaining the confidentiality of their account credentials.
2.3 Creating accounts on behalf of another person without authorization or using misleading identities, usernames, or pen names intended to deceive other users is prohibited.
2.4 The Platform Administration reserves the right to restrict, suspend, or terminate access to an account that violates these Rules.
3. Publication of Literary Works
3.1 Authors may publish original literary works, including poetry, prose, essays, short stories, novels, and other forms of creative writing.
3.2 All published materials must belong to the author or be published with the permission of the copyright holder and in compliance with applicable international copyright laws.
3.3 The following content is prohibited:
- Content that infringes the intellectual property rights of third parties;
- Content promoting violence, terrorism, criminal activity, or unlawful conduct;
- Content inciting hatred, discrimination, or hostility based on nationality, race, ethnicity, religion, gender, or other protected characteristics;
- Pornographic or sexually explicit content prohibited by applicable law;
- Spam, unauthorized advertising, or promotional content unrelated to literary activity;
- Deliberately false information intended to cause harm to individuals or organizations.
3.4 Authors retain full ownership and copyright of their published works.
3.5 By publishing content on the Platform, the author grants Author.Ph a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to display, store, reproduce, and distribute the content solely for the operation, promotion, and functionality of the Platform.
4. Author Blogs
4.1 Each registered user may maintain a personal blog on the Platform.
4.2 Blog posts may include content related to literature, writing, culture, arts, personal creative experiences, and other topics consistent with the purpose of the Platform.
4.3 All blog content is subject to the requirements and restrictions set forth in Section 3 of these Rules.
5. Comments and Community Interaction
5.1 The Platform encourages respectful, constructive, and professional communication.
5.2 The following behavior is prohibited in comments, messages, and discussions:
- Harassment, bullying, intimidation, or personal attacks;
- Threats of violence or harm;
- Obscene or abusive language directed at other users;
- Spam, flooding, trolling, or deliberate disruption of discussions;
- Publishing personal information of another person without consent.
5.3 Literary criticism and feedback are encouraged when expressed respectfully and constructively.
5.4 The Administration reserves the right to edit, hide, or remove comments that violate these Rules.
6. Ratings and Popularity Metrics
6.1 The Platform may include author rankings, popularity scores, readership statistics, and similar engagement metrics.
6.2 Such ratings are generated automatically based on user activity, including views, profile visits, comments, and other forms of engagement.
6.3 Artificial manipulation of ratings, views, engagement statistics, or other metrics is strictly prohibited.
6.4 If fraudulent activity or manipulation is detected, the Administration may remove affected statistics, limit account functionality, suspend the account, or take other appropriate measures.
7. User Profiles
7.1 Users may provide information about themselves, including a pen name, biography, profile photograph, personal website, and other optional details.
7.2 Users are solely responsible for the content they publish in their profiles.
7.3 Profile information must not violate applicable laws or these Rules.
8. Copyright and Intellectual Property
8.1 All copyrights and intellectual property rights remain the property of their respective owners.
8.2 Users warrant that they possess all necessary rights to publish the content they submit to the Platform.
8.3 Upon receipt of a valid copyright infringement complaint, the Administration may temporarily disable access to the disputed content while investigating the matter.
8.4 Users agree to respect the intellectual property rights of authors, publishers, artists, and other creators.
9. Liability
9.1 Users are solely responsible for the content they publish and for any consequences arising from such publication.
9.2 The Administration does not guarantee the accuracy, reliability, or legality of user-generated content.
9.3 While reasonable efforts are made to maintain Platform availability and security, the Administration does not guarantee uninterrupted or error-free operation.
10. Rights of the Administration
10.1 The Administration reserves the right to:
- Edit, restrict, hide, or remove content that violates these Rules;
- Suspend, restrict, or terminate user accounts;
- Modify, expand, or discontinue Platform features;
- Amend these Terms of Use and Community Rules at any time.
10.2 Any amendments become effective upon publication on the Platform unless otherwise specified.
11. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution
11.1 These Rules shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the Republic of the Philippines.
11.2 Any disputes arising from the use of the Platform shall first be addressed through good-faith negotiation with the Administration.
11.3 Where required by law, disputes shall be submitted to the competent courts of the Republic of the Philippines.
12. Final Provisions
12.1 The Platform is founded on respect for creativity, freedom of literary expression, and compliance with applicable laws.
12.2 All users are expected to contribute to an atmosphere of mutual respect, goodwill, and creative collaboration.
12.3 The greatest value of Author.Ph is its community of authors, readers, and the literary works they create and share.