Terms of Service

Last updated: 10/5/2026

1. Acceptance of Terms

These Terms of Service govern your access to and use of the Kashmir Hamadan Craft Revival Foundation (“KHCRF,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) website, digital platforms, portals, registries, applications, publications, research resources, membership services, institutional programs, and related digital services made available through www.khcrf.org.

By accessing or using KHCRF services, creating an account, submitting information, applying for a program, purchasing a membership or publication, making a donation, participating in a registry, or otherwise interacting with the KHCRF platform, you agree to these Terms.

If you do not agree with these Terms, you should not use the relevant KHCRF services.

2. About KHCRF and Scope of Services

Kashmir Hamadan Craft Revival Foundation is a public-interest institution working at the intersection of traditional crafts, artisan livelihoods, research, documentation, policy, cultural heritage, sustainability, institutional development, and craft-economy resilience.

KHCRF services may include research and policy resources, craft documentation, artisan registries, master artisan archives, publications, institutional participation, public consultations, legislative engagement systems, enterprise evaluations, grant-support programs, certifications, accreditation systems, membership services, educational resources, events, digital archives, cultural documentation, and other initiatives introduced from time to time.

The availability, scope, eligibility requirements, and conditions of individual KHCRF programs may differ.

3. Eligibility and Responsible Use

You may use KHCRF services only for lawful purposes and in accordance with these Terms.

Where a service requires registration, application, membership, nomination, submission, or institutional participation, you agree to provide information that is accurate, current, and complete to the best of your knowledge.

You must not use KHCRF services to impersonate another person or institution, submit knowingly false information, misrepresent credentials, interfere with platform operations, compromise security, misuse another user's account, or engage in fraudulent, abusive, unlawful, or misleading activity.

Certain services may have additional eligibility requirements stated on the relevant program or application page.

4. Accounts, Registration, and Access

Some KHCRF services may require an account or verified registration.

You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your login credentials and for activities conducted through your account.

You must promptly notify KHCRF if you believe your account or credentials have been compromised.

KHCRF may restrict, suspend, or terminate access where necessary to protect users, platform integrity, institutional processes, data, or the public interest, including where there is evidence of fraud, unauthorized access, material misrepresentation, repeated policy violations, or misuse of KHCRF systems.

5. Memberships

KHCRF may offer individual, professional, institutional, corporate, patron, artisan, or other membership categories.

Membership benefits, eligibility, duration, fees, access privileges, and renewal conditions are those displayed for the applicable membership category at the time of registration.

Membership does not guarantee grants, funding, accreditation, recognition, publication, business opportunities, government support, policy outcomes, employment, partnerships, or commercial success.

Membership fees and related transactions are also governed by the KHCRF Refund Policy.

Membership or financial contribution does not influence KHCRF research findings, policy positions, evaluation outcomes, rankings, accreditation decisions, grant decisions, publication conclusions, or institutional assessments.

6. Payments and Paid Services

Certain KHCRF services, memberships, publications, events, programs, or other offerings may require payment.

Applicable prices, fees, payment terms, and service descriptions will be displayed before payment where relevant.

By submitting payment information, you represent that you are authorized to use the payment method provided.

Payments may be processed through third-party payment providers. KHCRF does not necessarily store complete payment-card information directly.

Refunds, cancellations, duplicate payments, chargebacks, and other payment matters are governed by the KHCRF Refund Policy and applicable law.

7. Donations and Contributions

Donations and voluntary contributions support KHCRF's public-interest, research, documentation, artisan-support, institutional, cultural, and related activities.

Unless specifically stated otherwise, a donation does not constitute payment for a product, service, grant award, accreditation, recognition, ranking, policy outcome, or preferential treatment.

Donation eligibility, receipts, tax treatment, restricted contributions, and other legal consequences may depend on applicable law and the nature of the contribution.

Donors are responsible for obtaining independent tax or financial advice where necessary.

8. Applications, Registries, Nominations, and Submissions

KHCRF may accept applications, registrations, nominations, stories, institutional information, artisan records, enterprise information, evidence, photographs, documentation, research material, survey responses, or other submissions.

By making a submission, you represent that, to the best of your knowledge:

you have the authority to provide the material;

the information is materially accurate and not intentionally misleading;

the submission does not knowingly violate another person's intellectual-property, privacy, contractual, or other legal rights; and

any permissions required for photographs, recordings, documents, or personal information have been obtained where applicable.

KHCRF may request supporting evidence, clarification, correction, authentication, or additional documentation.

Submission does not guarantee acceptance, publication, inclusion in a registry, accreditation, funding, recognition, evaluation, ranking, or other outcome.

9. License for Submitted Materials

Unless otherwise agreed in writing, you retain ownership of original content that you lawfully own and submit to KHCRF.

By submitting material for publication, documentation, research, registry inclusion, archival preservation, program participation, or institutional review, you grant KHCRF a non-exclusive license to store, reproduce, format, review, analyze, archive, display, publish, and otherwise use that material to the extent reasonably necessary for the purpose for which it was submitted and for related public-interest, research, documentation, educational, or archival functions.

KHCRF will handle personal information in accordance with its Privacy Policy.

Nothing in these Terms transfers ownership of traditional knowledge, cultural expressions, artisan intellectual property, or community heritage to KHCRF merely because such material is documented by KHCRF.

10. Traditional Knowledge, Cultural Heritage, and Community Rights

KHCRF recognizes that Kashmir's craft traditions include community knowledge, inherited techniques, motifs, oral histories, cultural expressions, artisan expertise, geographic traditions, and other forms of tangible and intangible heritage.

Documentation by KHCRF does not by itself create ownership over such heritage.

Where appropriate, KHCRF seeks to identify artisans, communities, institutions, geographic origins, source records, and other relevant rights or custodial interests.

Users must not interpret the presence of cultural material on the KHCRF platform as authorization to commercially exploit, reproduce, appropriate, register, or misrepresent that material.

11. KHCRF Intellectual Property

Unless otherwise indicated, KHCRF owns or lawfully uses the website design, original research, written publications, institutional reports, proprietary databases, graphics, visual identity, trademarks, logos, classifications, platform architecture, and other original KHCRF-created content.

Publicly accessible content may be cited for legitimate research, educational, journalistic, academic, and public-interest purposes with appropriate attribution unless otherwise stated.

Commercial reproduction, systematic republication, removal of attribution, unauthorized use of KHCRF marks, or reproduction implying KHCRF endorsement requires permission where applicable.

Third-party materials remain subject to the rights of their respective owners.

12. Public Records, GI Information, and Third-Party Data

KHCRF may reproduce, summarize, organize, analyze, or reference government records, geographical indication records, public datasets, institutional information, historical sources, research literature, and third-party material.

Such material remains subject to its underlying legal status and source terms.

KHCRF's presentation, indexing, interpretation, or contextualization of third-party information does not transfer ownership of the underlying source material to KHCRF.

Users should consult the original issuing authority where authoritative confirmation is required.

13. Verification, Evaluation, and Evidence Review

KHCRF may conduct documentary review, evidence verification, institutional assessment, field verification, enterprise evaluation, or related due-diligence activities.

Any verification or assessment reflects the information and evidence reasonably available at the time of review.

Verification does not constitute a permanent warranty, government certification, legal guarantee, financial guarantee, endorsement of every activity conducted by a verified party, or assurance of future performance.

KHCRF may reconsider, correct, suspend, annotate, withdraw, or update verification or evaluation findings when evidence changes, new information becomes available, or material inaccuracies are identified.

Applicants and participating organizations must promptly disclose material changes that may affect previously verified information.

14. Accreditation, Certification, and KHCRF Marks

KHCRF may issue accreditation, certification, verification badges, institutional recognition, or related marks under specific programs.

Each recognition applies only to the entity, activity, product, service, process, evidence set, location, or period expressly identified in the applicable award or record.

Recipients may not alter, transfer, misrepresent, sell, sublicense, or use KHCRF accreditation or certification in a misleading manner.

KHCRF may suspend, withdraw, expire, or revoke recognition where requirements are no longer met, information was materially inaccurate, the mark is misused, or continued recognition would undermine program integrity.

KHCRF recognition does not constitute a government license unless expressly stated otherwise.

15. Craftlore and Independent Evaluation Systems

Certain KHCRF verification processes may interact with independent platforms or evaluation systems, including Craftlore.

Where applicable, KHCRF may verify evidence while another platform independently conducts scoring, ranking, trust evaluation, classification, or recognition.

KHCRF verification does not automatically guarantee or constitute a Craftlore ranking, score, recognition tier, commercial designation, or marketplace status.

The policies and terms of an independent platform govern activities conducted on that platform.

16. Grants, Funding Support, and Enterprise Assistance

KHCRF may provide grant information, eligibility guidance, application support, proposal assistance, enterprise development services, institutional introductions, or direct program funding where applicable.

Unless expressly stated otherwise, KHCRF does not guarantee grant approval, funding, selection, award amount, disbursement, external institutional support, commercial success, or funding timelines.

Programs directly funded by KHCRF, administered by KHCRF on behalf of another entity, or merely identified by KHCRF may be subject to different rules.

The terms published for the specific grant or funding program govern in the event of a conflict with these general Terms.

17. Research, Publications, and Policy Information

KHCRF produces research, policy analysis, market intelligence, craft documentation, reports, case studies, assessments, datasets, publications, and educational material.

Such content is intended for research, educational, cultural, policy, institutional, and informational purposes.

Research findings may depend on available evidence, methodologies, estimates, assumptions, sampling limitations, source reliability, and conditions existing at the time of publication.

KHCRF may update, correct, revise, withdraw, or supersede publications when warranted.

KHCRF content should not be treated as individualized legal, tax, financial, investment, medical, or other regulated professional advice.

18. Legislative Offices, Advocacy, and Public Policy Participation

KHCRF may provide legislative-office portals, Artisan Desks, consultation mechanisms, policy engagement systems, advocacy tools, stakeholder participation channels, or related public-interest infrastructure.

Participation by an elected representative, legislative office, government official, institution, or stakeholder does not imply that KHCRF endorses that person, office, political party, government, or policy position.

Likewise, participation does not imply that a government or elected office endorses KHCRF.

KHCRF operates as an independent policy and public-interest institution and does not guarantee legislative action, government approval, policy adoption, funding, official recognition, or other governmental outcomes.

Statements submitted by participants remain attributable to the relevant participant unless expressly adopted by KHCRF.

19. Public Hearings, Consultations, and Research Participation

KHCRF may conduct hearings, surveys, interviews, consultations, expert reviews, institutional submissions, stakeholder engagement, and other research activities.

Participation does not guarantee that a particular submission, recommendation, statement, or position will be included in a final report or adopted by KHCRF.

KHCRF may synthesize, categorize, summarize, anonymize, verify, challenge, or contextualize submissions according to the methodology applicable to the relevant research initiative.

Research participation should not be interpreted as endorsement of KHCRF findings or as KHCRF endorsement of the participant.

20. Third-Party Services and Ecosystem Platforms

KHCRF may reference, integrate with, collaborate with, or provide links to third-party websites, technology providers, payment systems, partner institutions, and related ecosystem initiatives.

These may include independent craft, commerce, tourism, knowledge, verification, institutional, or technology platforms.

Third-party services may be governed by separate terms, privacy policies, eligibility requirements, and contractual relationships.

Use of KHCRF does not automatically create a contractual relationship with every organization, initiative, or platform referenced by KHCRF.

KHCRF is not responsible for third-party services outside its reasonable control.

21. Acceptable Use and Platform Integrity

You must not misuse KHCRF services.

Prohibited activity includes attempting unauthorized access, introducing malicious code, manipulating platform results, falsifying documents, fabricating artisan identities, submitting fraudulent evidence, falsely claiming accreditation, misusing KHCRF badges, impersonating institutions or officials, interfering with other users, harvesting personal information unlawfully, or using automated systems in a manner that materially disrupts KHCRF infrastructure.

Reasonable research indexing and normal search-engine access are not prohibited solely because they are automated, provided they respect applicable technical restrictions and law.

22. Corrections, Updates, and Right of Review

KHCRF seeks to maintain accurate and responsible public records.

Where information is incomplete, outdated, disputed, or materially inaccurate, KHCRF may correct, annotate, update, archive, suspend, or remove content.

Artisans, organizations, contributors, institutions, and other affected persons may contact KHCRF to request review of factual information concerning them.

A correction request does not guarantee removal where KHCRF has a lawful, public-interest, archival, research, or evidentiary basis for retaining the relevant information.

23. Suspension and Termination

KHCRF may suspend, restrict, revoke, or terminate access to services, accounts, membership privileges, application processes, certifications, accreditation marks, institutional dashboards, or platform participation where reasonably necessary to protect KHCRF, users, artisans, participating institutions, program integrity, or the public.

Reasons may include fraud, material misrepresentation, misuse of credentials, unauthorized use of intellectual property, abuse of accreditation, security risks, unlawful conduct, repeated violations, or failure to comply with applicable program requirements.

Where appropriate, KHCRF may provide notice or an opportunity for clarification or review.

24. Availability and Accuracy of Services

KHCRF seeks to maintain reliable and accurate digital services but cannot guarantee uninterrupted availability, error-free operation, complete historical records, or permanent availability of every feature.

Services may be modified, suspended, expanded, reorganized, or discontinued for maintenance, security, legal, operational, research, institutional, or strategic reasons.

Information may occasionally contain errors or become outdated. KHCRF may correct such information without prior notice.

25. Disclaimers

To the extent permitted by applicable law, KHCRF services and information are provided on an “as available” basis.

KHCRF does not guarantee that use of its website, research, verification systems, publications, grants support, accreditation, membership, institutional networks, or other services will produce a particular commercial, legal, financial, governmental, policy, employment, funding, or reputational outcome.

Nothing on the KHCRF platform should be interpreted as a guarantee of authenticity, legal title, regulatory compliance, business success, market demand, funding, government approval, or future conduct beyond the specific scope of an expressly issued KHCRF verification or determination.

26. Limitation of Liability

To the extent permitted by applicable law, KHCRF and its officers, directors, employees, researchers, contributors, and authorized representatives will not be liable for indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or similar losses arising solely from reliance on platform information, interruption of digital services, third-party services, or unauthorized misuse of KHCRF material.

Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits liability where such exclusion or limitation is prohibited by applicable law.

27. Indemnification

To the extent permitted by applicable law, you agree to be responsible for claims, losses, or liabilities arising from material you unlawfully submit, fraudulent information you provide, infringement caused by your submissions, unauthorized use of KHCRF intellectual property or accreditation marks, or material violation of these Terms.

This provision does not apply to liabilities caused by KHCRF's own unlawful conduct.

28. Privacy and Data Protection

Use of KHCRF services is also governed by the KHCRF Privacy Policy.

The Privacy Policy explains how KHCRF collects, uses, stores, protects, retains, and shares personal information and describes applicable user rights.

Where a specific program requires additional consent or data-processing terms, those terms may apply in addition to the general Privacy Policy.

29. Refund Policy

Payments made through KHCRF are also subject to the KHCRF Refund Policy.

Where the Refund Policy contains terms specifically governing memberships, donations, digital publications, events, programs, duplicate transactions, payment-processing costs, or chargebacks, those specific provisions apply to the relevant transaction.

30. Changes to Services and Terms

KHCRF may update these Terms when services, programs, technology, legal requirements, institutional structures, or operating practices change.

The current version will be published on this page together with the applicable updated date.

Where changes materially affect registered users or ongoing paid services, KHCRF may provide additional notice where reasonably appropriate.

Continued use of KHCRF services after revised Terms become effective constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms to the extent permitted by applicable law.

31. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

These Terms and disputes concerning KHCRF services are governed by applicable laws of India, subject to any mandatory rights or protections that may apply under other applicable law.

Unless applicable law requires otherwise, disputes relating to these Terms or KHCRF services should first be raised with KHCRF in good faith so that the matter may be reviewed and, where possible, resolved administratively.

The appropriate jurisdiction and forum for unresolved disputes shall be determined in accordance with applicable law and KHCRF's legal status.

32. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be invalid, unlawful, or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue in effect to the extent permitted by law.

33. No Waiver

Failure by KHCRF to enforce a provision of these Terms on one occasion does not waive its right to enforce that provision or another provision in the future.

34. Contact Information

For questions concerning these Terms, platform use, institutional participation, intellectual property, account access, or legal matters, contact:

Kashmir Hamadan Craft Revival Foundation (KHCRF)
2 Darul Zamrood, Gousia Colony Extension
Zakura, Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir, India 190006
Email: info@khcrf.org
Website: www.khcrf.org