INDIE BIRDS – COPYRIGHT & RIGHTS POLICY

Effective Date: 5 September 2026

1. PURPOSE

Indie Birds respects the creative work and intellectual property of independent filmmakers, artists and creators.

This Copyright & Rights Policy explains how copyright and other rights are treated when creators submit works to the Indie Birds Creator Program, including the Monthly Challenge and Distribution programme.

This Policy should be read together with the applicable Creator Program Terms, Monthly Challenge Rules and Distribution Terms.

2. YOU KEEP YOUR COPYRIGHT

Submitting a film, video, animation, documentary, artwork or other creative work to Indie Birds does not transfer ownership of that work to Indie Birds or Camran Films.

The creator or other lawful rights holder retains ownership of the copyright and underlying intellectual property, subject to any separate written agreement entered into with Indie Birds.

3. YOU MUST HAVE THE RIGHT TO SUBMIT

You must either:

Own the copyright in the submitted work; or
Have the necessary authority from the copyright owner or relevant rights holders to submit it.

If a work has multiple creators, producers, investors, rights holders or other parties with contractual interests, you are responsible for ensuring that the submission does not violate their rights or agreements.

4. THIRD-PARTY MATERIAL

A work may contain third-party material only where you have the necessary rights, licences or permissions.

This may include:

Music
Sound recordings
Video footage
Photographs
Artwork
Performances
Voice recordings
Stock footage
Stock images
Archival material
Fonts
Logos or trademarks
Literary or other underlying works

Simply crediting the copyright owner does not by itself give you permission to use copyrighted material.

5. MUSIC

Creators are responsible for ensuring that all music used in a submitted work is properly cleared for the intended use.

This includes both the musical composition and the sound recording, where applicable.

If music is licensed, the creator should ensure that the licence covers the intended platforms, territory, duration and promotional use.

6. ACTORS, PERFORMERS & CONTRIBUTORS

Creators are responsible for obtaining appropriate permissions or releases from people whose performances or contributions are incorporated into a work where such permission is required.

This may include:

Actors
Performers
Voice artists
Musicians
Interview subjects
Presenters
Other identifiable contributors

7. LOCATIONS & PROPERTY

Creators are responsible for obtaining permissions or releases where required for locations, private property, artwork, photographs or other protected material appearing in their work.

8. AI-GENERATED & AI-ASSISTED MATERIAL

AI-generated or AI-assisted material may be used where permitted by the applicable programme.

Creators remain responsible for:

Disclosing material AI use where requested
Complying with the applicable AI tool’s terms
Ensuring that their use does not knowingly infringe third-party rights
Ensuring that any human-created material incorporated into the work is properly authorised

The creator must not represent that third-party material is wholly original to them when it is not.

9. SUBMISSION DOES NOT GRANT COMMERCIAL DISTRIBUTION RIGHTS

Submitting a work to Indie Birds does not automatically grant Indie Birds a commercial distribution licence.

For the Monthly Challenge, permissions are governed by the Monthly Challenge Rules.

For Distribution, rights will be governed by the applicable Distribution Terms and separate written Distribution Agreement.

No commercial Distribution rights arise merely because a creator uploads or submits a work.

10. REVIEWING SUBMISSIONS

By submitting a work, you permit Indie Birds to access and review the submitted material for the purpose for which it was submitted.

This permission is necessary for Indie Birds to:

Evaluate submissions
Select works
Administer the Monthly Challenge
Consider works for Distribution
Verify rights
Contact creators
Administer the Creator Program

This review permission does not transfer copyright ownership.

11. SELECTED WORKS

Where a work is selected for publication, promotion or Distribution, Indie Birds will use the work only within the scope of the applicable programme rules, permissions or written agreement.

Depending on the programme, permitted uses may include:

Publishing the work
Displaying the title and credits
Creating thumbnails
Using still images
Publishing trailers
Publishing short promotional excerpts
Promoting the work on social media
Featuring the creator
Linking to the creator’s website or social accounts

Any broader commercial rights must be expressly granted under the applicable agreement.

12. COPYRIGHT OWNERSHIP AFTER PUBLICATION

Publication by Indie Birds does not make Indie Birds the copyright owner.

Unless separately agreed in writing, the creator continues to own the copyright in the underlying work.

13. CREATOR REPRESENTATIONS

By submitting a work, you represent that, to the best of your knowledge:

You have the authority to submit the work.
The information provided about the work is accurate.
You have obtained necessary permissions for third-party material.
The submission does not knowingly infringe another person’s copyright or other rights.
You have disclosed any material rights restrictions that could affect the proposed use.
You will notify Indie Birds if you become aware of a material rights dispute concerning the work.

14. EXISTING DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENTS

Before submitting a work for Distribution, you must disclose any existing agreement that may restrict Indie Birds’ ability to distribute the work.

This may include:

Exclusive distribution agreements
Platform exclusivity
Existing licences
Content management agreements
Financing agreements containing distribution restrictions
Other contractual restrictions

Indie Birds may decline a work where the creator does not have sufficient rights to grant the proposed Distribution rights.

15. COPYRIGHT CLAIMS

If a copyright owner or other rights holder contacts Indie Birds regarding a submitted or published work, Indie Birds may investigate the claim.

Depending on the circumstances, Indie Birds may:

Request documentation
Contact the creator
Temporarily restrict publication
Disable or suspend a publication
Remove the work
Respond to a platform copyright claim
Take other reasonable action

Indie Birds may take precautionary action while a credible rights dispute is being investigated.

16. FALSE OR MISLEADING RIGHTS INFORMATION

Providing false or materially misleading information concerning ownership, permissions or rights may result in:

Rejection of the submission
Removal of the work
Suspension from the Creator Program
Termination of a Distribution arrangement
Other appropriate action

17. COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT COMPLAINTS

If you believe that material published through an Indie Birds channel infringes your copyright, you may contact Camran Films with sufficient information to identify:

The copyrighted work
The allegedly infringing material
Your ownership or authority
The location of the material
Your contact information
The basis of your complaint

Where appropriate, Indie Birds may request additional information before taking action.

18. CREATOR REQUESTS FOR REMOVAL

A creator who owns or controls the relevant rights may contact Indie Birds regarding removal of their work.

Requests will be considered in light of:

The applicable programme rules
Any Distribution Agreement
Existing contractual obligations
Rights held by other parties
Platform requirements
Legal obligations

Submission does not create an unconditional right to immediate removal where a separate contractual arrangement applies.

19. COPYRIGHT & PLATFORM POLICIES

Where a work is published on YouTube or another third-party platform, the platform’s copyright and content policies also apply.

A creator’s permission to Indie Birds does not override the platform’s independent policies or copyright systems.

Platform actions, including claims, restrictions, demonetisation or removal, may occur independently of Indie Birds.

20. NO COPYRIGHT TRANSFER BY SUBMISSION

For clarity:

You submit the work.
You do not sell the work.
You do not transfer copyright merely by submitting it.

Any commercial licence or Distribution rights must be separately established under the applicable terms and agreement.

21. INDEMNITY & RESPONSIBILITY

Creators are responsible for claims arising from rights, ownership or authority they have represented to Indie Birds, particularly where a claim results from material that the creator did not have the right to submit or license.

This does not transfer responsibility to the creator for infringement caused solely by an independent act of Indie Birds outside the rights granted by the creator.

22. COPYRIGHT LAW

For works involving India, the Copyright Act, 1957, as amended, provides the principal statutory framework for copyright protection in India. Copyright generally protects original literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works, cinematograph films and sound recordings. Indian Copyright Office

23. CHANGES TO THIS POLICY

Camran Films may update this Policy when reasonably necessary to reflect changes in law, platform requirements, programme operations or rights-management practices.

The version applicable to an existing written Distribution Agreement will be subject to that agreement.

24. IMPORTANT

Indie Birds believes creators should remain owners of the work they create.

Our role is to discover, curate, showcase and, where separately agreed, distribute independent work — not to take ownership of it.

If you are unsure whether you have the necessary rights to submit a particular work, do not submit it until you have confirmed your rights or obtained the necessary permission.

INDIE BIRDS

A creator programme by Camran Films

Effective Date: 5 September 2026