Terms of Service

1. What Ketab Gardesh Is

Ketab Gardesh is a free, peer-to-peer book circulation network. It connects people who want to share Persian-language books with people who want to read them. We do not sell books, handle money, store books, or act as a shipping carrier. We are a directory and coordination tool only.

2. Eligibility

You must be at least 18 years oldto create an account or use Ketab Gardesh. By registering, you represent that you are 18 or older. If we become aware that a user is under 18, we will delete their account without notice. The “Children’s” book category on the platform refers to book content — it is intended for adults purchasing or sharing books for minors, not for minor users.

3. Your Account

We use passwordless, magic-link authentication. Your email address is your identity on the platform. You are responsible for keeping access to your email account secure. You may not create accounts on behalf of others or operate multiple accounts to circumvent platform limits.

4. Listing Books

When you list a book, you represent that you own it and are willing to ship it once a request is approved. You are responsible for accurately describing the book's condition. Listing books you do not own, or listing items that are not books, is prohibited.

5. The Exchange Process

When a request is submitted, the book is reserved for 72 hours pending the owner's response. If the owner approves:

• The requester purchases a prepaid USPS Media Mail shipping label and sends it to the owner.
• The owner packages the book and ships it using that label.
• The requester confirms receipt on the platform.
• Either party may then leave a rating.

Ketab Gardesh is not a party to this exchange. All arrangements are between users. We do not guarantee that exchanges will be completed, that books will arrive in the described condition, or that either party will follow through.

6. Shipping — USPS Media Mail

USPS Media Mail is a discounted postage class restricted to qualifying media: books, sound recordings, recorded video, printed music, and similar educational materials. The following are not permitted inside a Media Mail package:

• Personal letters or notes of any kind
• Advertising inserts or catalogs
• Non-media merchandise (gifts, stickers, etc.)
• Any item not qualifying as media under USPS rules

USPS may open and inspect Media Mail packages at any time without notice. Packages found to contain non-qualifying items may be returned to the sender, delivered with postage-due charges collected from the recipient, or seized. Users are solely responsible for complying with USPS Media Mail regulations. Ketab Gardesh is not liable for surcharges, rejected packages, or delays resulting from non-compliance.

7. Address Privacy

A user's full mailing address is only shared with the counterparty after an exchange has been explicitly approved — never before. We strongly recommend using a PO Box or similar non-residential address. Once an address is disclosed as part of an approved exchange, we cannot control how the other party stores or uses it.

8. Prohibited Conduct

You agree not to:

• Use the platform for any commercial purpose or to sell books.
• Harass, threaten, or deceive other users.
• Submit false book listings or misrepresent book conditions.
• Approve an exchange with no intent to ship.
• Manipulate ratings or reviews.
• Attempt to circumvent platform limits or access controls.
• List, transfer, or circulate counterfeit, pirated, or unlawfully reproduced copies of any book.
• Use the platform in any way that violates applicable law.

Violations may result in account suspension or permanent removal from the platform.

9. Physical Book Transfers and Copyright

Ketab Gardesh facilitates the transfer of physical book copies between users. Under the First Sale Doctrine (17 U.S.C. § 109), the lawful owner of a physical copy of a copyrighted work is entitled to sell, lend, or otherwise transfer that copy without the authorization of the copyright holder. Ketab Gardesh is designed to enable such lawful transfers of physical copies only.

The platform does not reproduce, digitize, scan, or distribute digital copies of any book, and does not engage in any activity that would constitute copyright infringement. All activity on the platform is limited to the coordination of physical book transfers between users.

Ketab Gardesh makes no representation about the copyright status, translation rights, publication rights, or territorial licensing of any book listed on the platform. The presence of a book on the platform does not constitute an endorsement or verification of its copyright status.

10. Copyright Compliance — Your Responsibility

By listing a book on Ketab Gardesh, you represent and warrant that:

• You are the lawful owner of the specific physical copy you are listing.
• The copy was lawfully obtained — purchased, received as a gift, or acquired through other lawful means.
• You are not listing a counterfeit, pirated, photocopied, or otherwise unlawfully reproduced copy.
• You have the legal right to transfer the physical copy under applicable law.

You are solely responsible for ensuring that any book you list and transfer complies with all applicable copyright, intellectual property, and import/export laws. This includes, without limitation, books originally published in Persian, books translated into Persian, and books imported from outside the United States. Ketab Gardesh assumes no responsibility for investigating or verifying the copyright status or lawful origin of any book listed by users.

11. No Reproduction of Copyrighted Content

Nothing on this platform authorizes, encourages, or facilitates the reproduction of any copyrighted book or portion thereof. Users may not use Ketab Gardesh to coordinate the photocopying, scanning, digitization, or any other reproduction of books. The platform is solely a tool for transferring ownership or temporary custody of a single lawfully obtained physical copy.

12. Copyright Takedown Procedure

If you are a copyright owner or an authorized agent and believe that a listing on Ketab Gardesh infringes your copyright, please send a written notice to ketabgardesh.support@gmail.com including all of the following:

• Identification of the copyrighted work you claim is being infringed.
• Identification of the specific listing or material on the platform you claim is infringing, with enough detail for us to locate it.
• Your contact information: full name, mailing address, telephone number, and email address.
• A statement that you have a good-faith belief that the use is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law.
• A statement, made under penalty of perjury, that the information in your notice is accurate and that you are the copyright owner or are authorized to act on their behalf.
• Your physical or electronic signature.

We will review valid notices and respond by removing or disabling access to the identified listing. Submitting a false or bad-faith takedown notice may expose you to liability.

13. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Ketab Gardesh and its operators, affiliates, and representatives from and against any and all claims, damages, losses, liabilities, costs, and expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising out of or relating to:

• Your use of the platform.
• Any book you list, transfer, or receive through the platform.
• Your violation of these Terms of Service.
• Any third-party claim that a book you listed infringes their intellectual property rights, was counterfeit, or was not lawfully obtained.
• Any dispute between you and another user.

14. Ratings and Reviews

After a completed exchange, both parties may leave a star rating and optional comment. Ratings must be honest and relate to the exchange experience. We reserve the right to remove ratings that are abusive, fraudulent, or unrelated to the exchange.

15. Termination

You may delete your account at any time. We may suspend or terminate accounts that violate these Terms, at our sole discretion, with or without notice. Upon termination, your listings will be removed. Exchange history may be retained for the other party's records.

16. Disclaimers

Ketab Gardesh is provided “as is” and “as available” without warranty of any kind. We do not warrant that the platform will be uninterrupted, error-free, or free of harmful components. We make no guarantees regarding the quality, condition, or delivery of any book exchanged through the platform. We make no representation about the copyright status, lawful origin, translation rights, or intellectual property standing of any book listed by users.

17. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, Ketab Gardesh and its operators are not liable for any indirect, incidental, or consequential damages arising from your use of the platform, including lost or damaged books, failed exchanges, disputes between users, or any claim relating to the copyright status or lawful origin of a listed book. Our total liability for any claim is limited to zero dollars, as no fees are charged.

18. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. Continued use of Ketab Gardesh after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms. We will note the effective date at the top of this page when updates are made.

19. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of the United States. Any disputes will be resolved in the jurisdiction where the platform operator is located.

20. Contact

Questions about these Terms can be sent to ketabgardesh.support@gmail.com.