Advertising & Monetization Policy

Effective Date: 6th August 2025

This Advertising & Monetization Policy (“Policy”) is issued by Lahar Networks Private Limited, a company incorporated under the Companies Act, 2013, bearing CIN U63112DL2025PTC452796, having its registered office at D-365, West Vinod Nagar, East Delhi, Delhi 110092, India. This Policy governs advertisements, sponsorships, monetization, and revenue-sharing on the Lahar platform (“Lahar” or “Platform”).

1. Purpose

1.1 The purpose of this Policy is to regulate the publication and dissemination of advertisements and sponsored content, ensure transparent monetization practices, and safeguard Users against misleading, harmful, or unlawful advertisements.

1.2 This Policy ensures compliance with the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) Code, the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, the Information Technology Act, 2000, the IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, and other applicable global advertising regulations including the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Guidelines (USA) and the European Union Unfair Commercial Practices Directive.

2. Applicability

2.1 This Policy applies to all advertisements, sponsored posts, endorsements, and monetized content published on the Platform.

2.2 Monetization is permitted only for Content Creators or Marketplace Operators and Institutional Users, subject to compliance with this Policy, the Terms of Service, and applicable laws.

2.3 Regular Users may not monetize or run advertisements on the Platform.

3. Acceptable Advertising Content

3.1 Advertisements and sponsored content must be truthful, legal, and not misleading.

3.2 All advertisements must comply with ASCI’s Code for Self-Regulation in Advertising, including guidelines on honesty, decency, fairness, and non-offensiveness.

3.3 Advertisements must not:
a. Promote illegal products or services, including drugs, weapons, counterfeit goods, or human trafficking.
b. Contain obscene, pornographic, or sexually explicit material.
c. Discriminate or promote hatred on the basis of religion, caste, race, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or political beliefs.
d. Misrepresent facts or make false claims about products or services.
e. Promote gambling, betting, or other restricted financial products, except where expressly permitted by law.

3.4 Health-related advertisements must comply with applicable laws and may not make unverified or exaggerated claims.

3.5 Financial advertisements must comply with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), SEBI, and other relevant financial regulatory standards.

4. Sponsored Content and Endorsements

4.1 Sponsored posts must be clearly labeled as “Sponsored”, “Advertisement”, or “Paid Partnership” to ensure transparency.

4.2 Influencers and Content Creators must disclose material connections with brands, in compliance with ASCI Guidelines on Influencer Advertising in Digital Media.

4.3 Misleading native advertising, disguised endorsements, or hidden sponsorships are strictly prohibited.

5. Targeting and Audience Protection

5.1 Advertisements must not exploit vulnerable groups, including minors, the elderly, or marginalized communities.

5.2 Advertisements directed at children must comply with COPPA (USA), GDPR-K (EU), and relevant Indian advertising restrictions.

5.3 Lahar prohibits targeted advertising based on sensitive personal data, including religion, caste, health, sexual orientation, or political affiliation, unless expressly permitted by law and with explicit User consent.

6. Review and Approval

6.1 All advertisements, sponsored posts, and monetization arrangements are subject to review and approval by Lahar prior to publication.

6.2 Lahar reserves the right to reject, remove, or suspend any advertisement or monetization activity that violates this Policy, applicable laws, or community standards.

6.3 Institutional Users and Content Creators must comply with the Maker–Checker system when publishing advertisements or sponsored content.

7. Revenue-Sharing and Payments

7.1 Revenue-sharing models for advertisements, subscriptions, and sponsored content shall be defined by Lahar and communicated transparently to Content Creators and Institutional Users.

7.2 All payments shall be processed through authorized payment channels in compliance with merchant acquiring standards, RBI guidelines, and AML/KYC obligations.

7.3 Revenue shares may be withheld or reversed in cases of fraud, violation of this Policy, chargebacks, or regulatory directions.

8. Compliance with Consumer Protection Laws

8.1 Advertisers and Content Creators must comply with the Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020 and shall not mislead Users through false claims, bait advertising, or unfair trade practices.

8.2 Lahar reserves the right to demand substantiation of claims made in advertisements or sponsored content.

8.3 Any violation may result in takedown of content, suspension of accounts, forfeiture of revenues, and reporting to authorities.

9. Enforcement and Penalties

9.1 Violations of this Policy may result in:
a. Removal of advertisements or sponsored content.
b. Suspension or termination of monetization privileges.
c. Forfeiture or withholding of revenues.
d. Termination of User accounts.
e. Reporting to regulatory or law enforcement agencies.

9.2 Lahar may take immediate action without notice where content poses a risk to Users, violates applicable laws, or threatens public safety.

10. Transparency and Reporting

10.1 Lahar shall publish periodic transparency reports outlining advertising practices, revenue-sharing policies, and actions taken against violators.

10.2 Advertisers and Content Creators may request reports on the performance of their sponsored campaigns, subject to data protection safeguards.

11. Updates to Policy

11.1 Lahar may revise this Policy periodically to reflect changes in law, regulation, or industry standards.

11.2 Users shall be notified of significant changes via email or Platform notifications. Continued use of advertising and monetization features shall constitute acceptance of the revised Policy.

12. Contact

For questions or complaints regarding this Policy, please contact:

Lahar Networks Private Limited
D-365, West Vinod Nagar, East Delhi, Delhi 110092, India
Email: [email protected]