The Free Items Policy (“Policy”) sets out the rules and conditions under which Codoser.com (“Codoser,” “we,” “our,” “us”) offers or allows authors to offer free digital items (“Free Items”) to users (“you,” “your”).
Free Items are provided to enhance community engagement, allow users to evaluate product quality, and support promotional campaigns. This Policy defines the rights, restrictions, licensing terms, and responsibilities for both authors and users regarding Free Items.
1. Scope of the Policy
1.1 This Policy applies to all digital products made available for free on the Codoser marketplace, whether permanently or temporarily.
1.2 It covers Free Items distributed by:
1.3 It applies globally to all users and authors.
2. Definition of “Free Items”
2.1 A Free Item is a digital product offered on Codoser at no monetary cost for a specific period or permanently.
2.2 Free Items may include themes, templates, scripts, plugins, UI kits, graphics, or other digital assets.
2.3 Items offered for “$0” but requiring sign-in or license agreement acceptance are still governed by this Policy.
3. Ownership of Free Items
3.1 Free Items remain the intellectual property of their respective authors.
3.2 Offering an item for free does not transfer ownership to users or the public.
3.3 Users receive only the license rights defined under this Policy.
4. Author Participation in Free Programs
4.1 Authors may voluntarily participate in Codoser Free Item Programs, subject to eligibility criteria.
4.2 Participation allows Codoser to feature their products in promotional campaigns (e.g., homepage banners, newsletters).
4.3 Authors can opt in or out of free campaigns through their author dashboard.
5. Codoser-Initiated Free Items
5.1 Codoser may select certain items to be offered as Free Items as part of official promotions (e.g., “Free File of the Month”).
5.2 Selected authors will be notified and must agree to the promotional terms.
5.3 Codoser reserves the right to select, modify, or remove Free Items at its discretion.
6. Duration of Free Availability
6.1 Free Items may be offered:
6.2 Once the free period ends, the item may revert to its standard paid pricing.
7. Licensing of Free Items
7.1 All Free Items are licensed under Codoser’s Free License, which grants limited usage rights.
7.2 This license may differ from Regular or Extended Licenses used for paid products.
7.3 Users must read and accept the license before downloading.
8. Permitted Uses of Free Items
8.1 Free Items may be used for personal or commercial projects within the limits of the Free License.
8.2 Typical permitted uses include:
8.3 Users must comply strictly with attribution or usage conditions set by the author.
9. Prohibited Uses of Free Items
9.1 Users may not:
9.2 Violation may result in account suspension and legal action.
10. Attribution Requirements
10.1 Some Free Items may require author credit or attribution.
10.2 Attribution must follow the format specified by the author (e.g., text credit or backlink).
10.3 Removing or falsifying attribution is a violation of this Policy.
11. User Account Requirements
11.1 Users may need to register an account to access Free Items.
11.2 Downloading Free Items implies acceptance of this Policy and relevant licenses.
11.3 Multiple account abuse to bypass limits is strictly prohibited.
12. Download Limits
12.1 Codoser may impose download limits to prevent abuse.
12.2 Limits may vary by campaign, user type (free/paid), or geographic location.
12.3 Automated downloading (e.g., bots, scripts) is prohibited.
13. Availability and Continuity
13.1 Free Items are offered “as-is”, without guarantees of availability, updates, or support.
13.2 Authors may choose to provide updates voluntarily but are not obligated.
13.3 Codoser may remove or replace Free Items without notice.
14. Author Responsibilities
14.1 Authors offering Free Items must ensure:
14.2 Authors remain responsible for support if they voluntarily offer it.
15. User Responsibilities
15.1 Users must download and use Free Items ethically and legally.
15.2 Users must respect license terms, attribution, and IP rights.
15.3 Abuse of free downloads may lead to suspension.
16. Support for Free Items
16.1 Free Items are generally not entitled to author support unless explicitly stated.
16.2 Users cannot demand bug fixes, updates, or customizations for free products.
17. Updates for Free Items
17.1 Authors may provide updates voluntarily during or after the free campaign.
17.2 Users downloading free versions are not guaranteed lifetime updates.
18. Warranties and Liability
18.1 Free Items are provided without warranties, express or implied.
18.2 Codoser and authors are not liable for damages arising from the use of Free Items, except as required by law.
19. Data Collection
19.1 Codoser may collect anonymized data (e.g., number of downloads, region) for analytics and marketing.
19.2 Personal data is processed according to the Privacy Policy.
20. Security and Malware Protection
20.1 All Free Items undergo malware scanning and review before publication.
20.2 Users should perform their own security checks before deployment.
21. Revocation of Access
21.1 Codoser reserves the right to revoke user access to Free Items in cases of abuse, legal violations, or policy breaches.
21.2 Revocation does not entitle the user to compensation.
22. Removal of Free Items by Authors
22.1 Authors may request removal of their Free Items, subject to campaign terms and timelines.
22.2 Once removed, future downloads are disabled, but existing user licenses remain valid.
23. Redistribution Prohibition
23.1 Free Items cannot be uploaded, shared, or hosted on external websites or file-sharing platforms.
23.2 Redistribution constitutes a violation of copyright and may lead to legal action.
24. Commercial Use Clarity
24.1 Free Item licenses may allow or restrict commercial use, depending on the item.
24.2 Users must review license details carefully before using in client or commercial projects.
25. Branding and Attribution for Free Campaigns
25.1 Codoser may add branding or promotional elements (e.g., “Free on Codoser” labels) to items during campaigns.
25.2 Authors agree to reasonable marketing placement during campaign periods.
26. Revocation by Codoser
26.1 Codoser may revoke Free Item offers at any time if:
26.2 Revocation decisions are final.
27. Fraud Prevention
27.1 Codoser employs anti-fraud measures to detect abuse of free downloads, including:
27.2 Accounts found abusing Free Items may be suspended or terminated.
28. Community Contributions as Free Items
28.1 Authors may contribute free community tools, resources, or plugins.
28.2 These must still comply with licensing, security, and originality rules.
29. Indemnification
29.1 Users agree to indemnify Codoser and authors against claims arising from misuse, redistribution, or illegal use of Free Items.
30. Integration with Other Policies
30.1 This Policy works alongside:
30.2 Violations may trigger actions under multiple policies.
31. Temporary License During Campaigns
31.1 Free Items offered for a limited period are licensed only to users who download during the campaign period.
31.2 Once the campaign ends, new users must purchase the item under standard licenses.
31.3 Users who downloaded during the campaign retain their license under the Free Item terms even after the campaign ends.
32. Retroactive Application of Policies
32.1 If Codoser updates this Policy, the new terms may apply retroactively to previously downloaded Free Items to the extent legally permissible.
32.2 Users are responsible for reviewing updated terms periodically.
33. Campaign Promotion Rights
33.1 By participating in Free Item campaigns, authors grant Codoser the right to use product names, images, and promotional materials for marketing across platforms, including social media and email newsletters.
33.2 Codoser will attribute authors appropriately during promotions.
34. No Ranking Manipulation
34.1 Free Item promotions must not be used to artificially manipulate product rankings, ratings, or visibility.
34.2 Codoser may adjust search algorithms to maintain fair marketplace balance during and after campaigns.
35. Exclusivity of Free Campaigns
35.1 Items participating in official Codoser free campaigns may be subject to temporary exclusivity, meaning the author cannot offer the same item for free elsewhere during the campaign.
35.2 Violations may lead to removal from the program and account penalties.
36. Archival of Removed Free Items
36.1 When a Free Item is removed, Codoser may archive its metadata, download records, and license details for legal and analytical purposes.
36.2 Archived records help resolve disputes and verify user entitlements.
37. License Non-Transferability
37.1 Licenses for Free Items are non-transferable.
37.2 Users may not sell, gift, or assign their free license to third parties.
38. Derivative Works
38.1 Users may create derivative works (e.g., modified themes, templates) only if permitted by the Free License.
38.2 Derivative works must not misrepresent authorship or infringe on original rights.
38.3 Resale of derivative works is prohibited unless explicitly allowed.
39. Educational Use
39.1 Free Items may be used for educational purposes (e.g., teaching, student projects) in compliance with the license.
39.2 Institutions using Free Items in courses must ensure students follow license terms individually.
40. Non-Commercial Community Projects
40.1 Free Items may be used in non-commercial open-source or community projects, provided attribution and license conditions are met.
40.2 Redistribution through GitHub, CodePen, or similar platforms is allowed only if the license explicitly permits it.
41. Prohibited Commercial Exploitation
41.1 Users may not bundle Free Items with paid offerings, subscriptions, SaaS services, or marketplaces without explicit permission from the author or Codoser.
41.2 This includes repackaging Free Items into larger commercial products.
42. Trademark Use Restrictions
42.1 Users may not use the author’s or Codoser’s trademarks, logos, or branding in ways that imply endorsement or affiliation beyond what’s allowed by the license.
42.2 Misuse of branding in derivative works is prohibited.
43. Policy Hierarchy and Precedence
43.1 If there is any conflict between this Policy and other platform policies (e.g., License Policy, Author Policy), the License Policy takes precedence for licensing matters.
43.2 For misuse or fraud, the Risk Management Policy takes precedence.
44. Monitoring of Usage Patterns
44.1 Codoser monitors Free Item downloads and usage patterns to detect abuse, fraud, or unusual activity.
44.2 Monitoring complies with privacy regulations and is used solely for security and analytics.
45. Enforcement and Penalties
45.1 Violations of this Policy may result in:
45.2 Enforcement depends on the severity and intent of the violation.
46. Dispute Resolution for Free Items
46.1 Disputes regarding Free Item usage, licensing, or author participation are handled under the Dispute Resolution Policy.
46.2 Codoser’s mediation or arbitration decisions are binding within the platform.
47. Indemnification by Authors
47.1 Authors offering Free Items indemnify Codoser against claims arising from infringement, malware, or legal violations related to their item.
47.2 Codoser may remove items immediately if credible claims are received.
48. Indemnification by Users
48.1 Users indemnify Codoser and authors against claims arising from misuse, redistribution, or illegal use of Free Items they download.
49. Termination of Author Participation
49.1 Codoser may terminate an author’s participation in Free Item programs if:
49.2 Termination may affect future eligibility.
50. Fair Access Principle
50.1 Free Item programs operate on a fair access principle — giving genuine users an opportunity to experience products without exploitation by bulk downloaders, bots, or resellers.
50.2 Measures to enforce fairness may include CAPTCHA, account verification, or download throttling.
51. Tax Implications
51.1 In some jurisdictions, offering free items may have tax implications for authors (e.g., deemed supply under GST/VAT).
51.2 Authors are responsible for consulting their tax advisors regarding compliance.
51.3 Codoser is not liable for tax obligations arising from an author’s participation.
52. No Endorsement Implied
52.1 The inclusion of a Free Item in Codoser’s campaigns does not imply endorsement, warranty, or certification by Codoser.
52.2 Users should evaluate items independently before use.
53. Compatibility and Updates Disclaimer
53.1 Free Items may not be compatible with future platform versions, technologies, or dependencies.
53.2 Codoser is not obligated to ensure compatibility or provide updates after campaigns end.
54. Localization and Regional Restrictions
54.1 Some Free Items may be available only to users in specific regions or languages.
54.2 Codoser may restrict or tailor free campaigns based on legal or commercial considerations.
55. Program Evolution
55.1 Codoser may modify, expand, or discontinue its Free Item programs at any time.
55.2 Changes may include licensing terms, campaign structure, or promotional methods.
56. Communication of Program Updates
56.1 Major updates to Free Item programs will be communicated through dashboards, emails, or official announcements.
56.2 Continued participation constitutes acceptance of new terms.
57. Policy Alignment
57.1 This Policy aligns with the License Policy, Author Policy, and IP/DMCA Policy to ensure consistent legal protection and commercial clarity.
57.2 Users and authors must follow all relevant policies simultaneously.
58. Governing Law and Jurisdiction
58.1 This Policy is governed by Indian law and relevant international IP, licensing, and digital commerce regulations.
58.2 Jurisdiction for legal matters is Maharashtra, India, unless otherwise required by law.
59. Policy Modifications
59.1 Codoser may modify or update this Policy at any time to reflect legal, commercial, or operational changes.
59.2 Updated versions are published on the platform, and continued use constitutes acceptance.
60. User and Author Acknowledgment
60.1 By downloading or offering Free Items, users and authors acknowledge that they have read, understood, and agreed to this Policy.
60.2 Compliance is mandatory, and violations may result in enforcement actions or legal consequences.
