Welcome to Dotminimal. Please read these Terms of Use ('Terms') carefully before accessing or using our website located at www.dotminimal.in ('Website'). By accessing or using this Website in any manner, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree with any part of these Terms, please refrain from using the Website.
These Terms constitute a legally binding agreement between you ('Visitor', 'you', 'your') and Dotminimal, an architecture and design studio operating as a sole proprietorship under the laws of the Republic of India ('Dotminimal', 'we', 'us', 'our'). These Terms are governed by the Information Technology Act, 2000, the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, and all other applicable laws of India.

1. Nature of the Website
   Dotminimal is a professional portfolio and editorial website for an independent architecture and design studio. The Website serves exclusively as:
   – A visual portfolio showcasing completed and ongoing architectural and interior design projects;
   – A platform for publishing articles, essays, design commentary, and editorial content related to architecture, interiors, and the built environment.
   The Website does not offer e-commerce functionality, user accounts, client booking systems, or any transactional services. It is a read-only, informational, and creative showcase platform. Any engagement with Dotminimal for design services occurs exclusively through separate, offline or direct communication channels and is governed by independent project agreements.

   
   

2. Acceptance of Terms
   By visiting or browsing this Website, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms and our Cookie Policy. We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time without prior notice. The revised Terms will be posted on this page with an updated effective date. Your continued use of the Website after any modification constitutes your acceptance of the updated Terms. We encourage you to review these Terms periodically.

   
   

3. Eligibility
   This Website is intended for visitors aged 18 years and above, or minors accessing the Website under the guidance of a parent or legal guardian. By using this Website, you represent that you have the legal capacity to agree to these Terms and that your use does not violate any applicable laws in India or your jurisdiction of residence.

   
   

4. Intellectual Property Rights
   4.1 Ownership of Content
   All content published on this Website — including but not limited to architectural drawings, renderings, sketches, site plans, photographs of completed projects, project write-ups, editorial articles, essays, visual compositions, illustrations, logos, typography choices, and branding — is the exclusive intellectual property of Dotminimal or its respective licensors. This content is protected under:
   – The Copyright Act, 1957 (including protection for original artistic works and architectural works);
   – The Trade Marks Act, 1999;
   – The Designs Act, 2000;
   – Other applicable Indian and international intellectual property laws.
   4.2 Architectural Works
   Architectural designs, floor plans, sections, elevations, concept drawings, and all project documentation featured on this Website are protected as original artistic works and architectural works under the Copyright Act, 1957. Any reproduction, adaptation, or use of such material — even for reference — without prior written consent is strictly prohibited and may attract civil and criminal liability under Indian law.
   4.3 Editorial and Written Content
   All articles, essays, project narratives, captions, and other written content published on this Website are original literary works protected under the Copyright Act, 1957. Reproduction of any written content, in whole or in part, in any medium — digital or print — without prior written authorisation from Dotminimal is expressly prohibited.
   4.4 Photography
   Photographs of projects, spaces, and materials published on this Website may be the work of commissioned photographers and are subject to the copyright of the respective photographers and/or Dotminimal. Reproduction or use of any photograph without the explicit written consent of both Dotminimal and the relevant photographer is prohibited.
   4.5 Permitted Use
   Visitors are permitted to view and access Website content solely for personal, non-commercial informational and inspirational purposes. The following are strictly prohibited without prior written consent from Dotminimal:
   – Reproducing, copying, or distributing any content in any medium or format;
   – Using any content for commercial purposes, client presentations, publications, or competitive reference;
   – Creating derivative works based on any content;
   – Downloading, screenshotting, or extracting content for storage or re-publication;
   – Using content to train, develop, or fine-tune any artificial intelligence or machine learning model.
   4.6 Trademark
   The name 'Dotminimal', its logotype, wordmark, and any associated visual identity elements are proprietary marks of Dotminimal. Nothing on this Website grants any licence or right to use any trademark, trade name, or visual identity element without our express prior written permission.

   
   

5. Prohibited Conduct
   As a condition of your access to this Website, you agree not to:
   – Use the Website for any purpose that is unlawful, fraudulent, or in violation of applicable Indian law;
   – Introduce any malicious code, virus, Trojan horse, worm, spyware, or any other harmful software into the Website or its hosting infrastructure;
   – Attempt to gain unauthorised access to any part of the Website, its servers, or associated systems;
   – Use automated tools, bots, scrapers, or crawlers to extract, harvest, or index any content from the Website;
   – Frame, mirror, or deep-link to any page of this Website on another platform without our prior written consent;
   – Use the Website in any manner that could damage, disable, overburden, or impair its functionality;
   – Circumvent, disable, or interfere with any security features or access controls on the Website;
   – Use any content from the Website to misrepresent Dotminimal or create a false impression of association, endorsement, or affiliation;
   – Use AI tools or systems to replicate, imitate, or generate content substantially similar to Dotminimal's design language, visual identity, or editorial voice using material obtained from this Website.
   Dotminimal reserves the right to take appropriate legal action, including reporting conduct to law enforcement, in cases of violation.

   
   

6. No Personal Data Collection
   Dotminimal does not collect, process, or store any personal information from visitors through this Website. There are no contact forms, user registration systems, newsletter subscriptions, comment sections, or any other mechanism through which visitors submit personal data on this Website.
   Notwithstanding the above, certain technical data may be automatically collected by our hosting provider, content delivery network, or analytics tools (such as IP addresses, browser type, and pages visited) solely for the purposes of Website security, performance monitoring, and aggregate traffic analysis. Such data is not personally identifiable and is not used by Dotminimal for any marketing, profiling, or commercial purpose. Please refer to our Cookie Policy below for further information.
   If you wish to contact Dotminimal for professional enquiries, you may do so via the email address published on this Website. Any communication you initiate via email is subject to standard email communication practices and is not covered by a formal data processing agreement, as Dotminimal does not operate a data collection or CRM system through the Website.

   
   

7. Third-Party Links and Platforms
   The Website may contain links to third-party platforms including but not limited to Instagram, Behance, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and other architectural or design publications. These links are provided for informational and reference purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement by Dotminimal of any third-party content, views, products, or services.
   Dotminimal has no control over the content, privacy policies, or terms of use of third-party websites. Accessing any third-party platform from a link on this Website is entirely at your own discretion and risk. We strongly recommend reviewing the privacy and cookie policies of any third-party website you visit.

   
   

8. Disclaimer of Warranties
   This Website and all content thereon are provided on an 'as is' and 'as available' basis without any representations or warranties of any kind, whether express, implied, or statutory. Dotminimal does not warrant that:
   – The Website will be continuously available, error-free, secure, or uninterrupted;
   – Any content on the Website is accurate, complete, current, or free from typographical errors;
   – The Website or the server hosting it is free from viruses or other technically harmful components;
   – The Website will meet your expectations or requirements.
   You access and use this Website entirely at your own risk. Dotminimal shall not be responsible for any loss or damage arising from your reliance on the content of this Website.

   
   

9. Limitation of Liability
   To the maximum extent permitted under applicable Indian law, Dotminimal, its proprietor, collaborators, and representatives shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, punitive, or consequential damages of any nature arising from or in connection with your use of (or inability to use) this Website or its content, including but not limited to loss of data, loss of business opportunity, loss of reputation, or any other loss or damage.
   Nothing in these Terms limits liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, fraud, or any other matter that cannot lawfully be excluded under applicable Indian law.

   
   

10. Indemnification
    You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Dotminimal and its proprietor from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, and expenses — including reasonable legal fees — arising out of or related to: (a) your use of or access to this Website; (b) your violation of these Terms; (c) your infringement of any intellectual property or other rights of Dotminimal or any third party; or (d) your violation of any applicable law or regulation.

    
    

11. Grievance Redressal
    In accordance with the Information Technology Act, 2000, and the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, Dotminimal has designated a Grievance Officer for the purpose of addressing any complaints or concerns relating to this Website or its content.
    Grievance Officer: [Name of Proprietor]
    Designation: Sole Proprietor, Dotminimal
    Email: contact@dotminimal.in
    Address: [Studio Address, City, State, PIN Code, India]
    Working Hours: Monday to Friday, 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM IST
    All complaints shall be acknowledged within 24 hours of receipt and resolved within 15 days, in compliance with applicable statutory requirements. If you believe any content on this Website infringes your intellectual property rights or violates any applicable law, please write to the above address with full particulars of your complaint.

    
    

12. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution
    These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Republic of India. Any dispute, controversy, or claim arising out of or in relation to these Terms or the use of this Website shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the competent courts situated in [City], India.
    Prior to initiating formal legal proceedings, both parties agree to make reasonable efforts to resolve any dispute through good-faith negotiation for a period of not less than 30 days from the date of written notice of the dispute.

    
    

13. Force Majeure
    Dotminimal shall not be liable for any failure or delay in the operation of this Website resulting from circumstances beyond our reasonable control, including but not limited to natural disasters, government actions or orders, internet service disruptions, power outages, cyberattacks, or any other unforeseen events.

    
    

14. Severability
    If any provision of these Terms is held to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect. The invalid or unenforceable provision shall be modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it enforceable, preserving the original intent of the parties.

    
    

15. Waiver
    The failure of Dotminimal to enforce any right or provision of these Terms shall not constitute a waiver of such right or provision. Any waiver of any provision of these Terms will be effective only if in writing and signed by Dotminimal.

    
    

16. Entire Agreement
    These Terms of Use, together with the Cookie Policy set out below, constitute the entire agreement between you and Dotminimal with respect to your use of this Website, and supersede all prior understandings, representations, or agreements, whether oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof.

    
    

17. Contact
    For any questions regarding these Terms of Use, you may reach us at:
    Dotminimal
    Email: contact@dotminimal.in
    Website: www.dotminimal.in
    Address: [Studio Address, City, State, PIN Code, India]