Community Rules

Last updated: 07/07/2026

These rules apply to all Open Box spaces — the website at openboxcomm.in, all Discord servers (JN, Dev, GG, Study, Connect, and any future servers), our official social media accounts on X, Instagram, and YouTube, all events (online, IRL, and hybrid), and any other platform or service we operate now or in the future. Joining or interacting with any Open Box platform means you agree to follow these rules.

These rules are grounded in the following laws:

Indian Penal Code, 1860 (IPC): covers criminal offences including defamation, obscenity, hate speech, harassment, and incitement to violence.
Information Technology Act, 2000: — India's primary cyber law dealing with cybercrimes, electronic records, and intermediary liability.
POCSO Act, 2012: — protects children from sexual offences, abuse, and exploitation.
Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution of India: guarantees freedom of speech and expression, subject to reasonable restrictions under Article 19(2) including public order, decency, and the sovereignty and integrity of India.
Article 14 of the Constitution of India: — guarantees the right to equality and equal protection before the law, which underpins our commitment to a non-discriminatory community.

⚠️ Legal Note: Content that violates Indian law will result in an immediate permanent ban from all Open Box platforms and may be reported to the appropriate law enforcement authorities.

1. Respect & Inclusion

Treat all members with dignity and respect, regardless of background, experience level, gender, religion, caste, or nationality.
Harassment, bullying, targeted abuse, or hate speech is strictly prohibited. Such content may constitute an offence under the IPC, 1860.
Do not use discriminatory slurs, casteist language, or content that promotes communal disharmony.
Constructive criticism is welcome; personal attacks are not.

2. Content Standards

Keep content relevant to the channel, server, or context in which it is posted.
NSFW content — including explicit, sexual, violent, or gory material — is strictly banned across all Open Box spaces. Distribution of obscene material may be punishable under the IT Act, 2000.
Do not share content that glorifies or promotes self-harm, suicide, or violence on any platform.
Misinformation and deliberate disinformation are prohibited. Fact-check before sharing.
Political campaigning or communally sensitive content is not permitted on any Open Box platform.

3. Spam & Self-Promotion

No unsolicited DMs, advertisement spam, or chain messages on Discord or any other platform.
Self-promotion (projects, channels, servers, social media) is only allowed in designated channels or with moderator approval.
Repeated posting of the same message or flooding channels is considered spam and will result in a mute.
Phishing links, malware, or deceptive URLs will result in an immediate permanent ban from all Open Box platforms.

4. Intellectual Property

Do not share pirated software, cracked tools, or illegally distributed media on any platform.
When sharing others' work, credit the original creator. Plagiarism is prohibited.
Sharing copyrighted material without authorisation may be reported under the IT Act, 2000and the Copyright Act, 1957.

5. Privacy

Do not share personal information (phone numbers, addresses, Aadhaar, etc.) of yourself or others without explicit consent on any platform.
Doxxing — intentionally publishing private information of others — results in an immediate permanent ban and may be reported under the DPDP Act, 2023and Article 21 of the Constitution, which protects the right to privacy.
Do not record, screenshot, or share private conversations without all parties' consent.

6. Events

All participants at Open Box events — online on Discord, live on YouTube or X, or in person at an IRL meetup — are expected to follow these rules in full. For full details, refer to our Event Policy.

7. Social Media

When interacting with Open Box's official accounts on X, Instagram, and YouTube, these rules apply. Violating comments or interactions may be removed and the user may be blocked or reported to the respective platform.

8. Moderator Authority

Moderator decisions are final. Do not argue with moderators publicly — use the designated appeal channels.
Do not attempt to bypass moderation actions using alternate accounts on any platform.
Impersonating moderators, staff, or the Open Box brand is an immediate permanent ban.

9. Server-Specific Rules

Each Discord server has its own focus and may have additional rules. These apply on top of these general rules.

JN (Junction): General entry server. See #jn-rules on Discord.
Dev: Developers. See #dev-rules on Discord.
GG: Gaming. See #gg-rules on Discord.
Study: Study and accountability. See #study-rules on Discord.
Connect: Networking and careers. See #connect-rules on Discord.

10. Appeals

If you believe a moderation action was applied in error, appeal via the Help Centre at /help, the official support channel on Discord, or by emailing appeals@openboxcomm.in. Appeals are reviewed within 7 days.

11. Reporting Violations

Use the #report channel on any Discord server, Discord's built-in reporting, or email admin@openboxcomm.in for cross-platform or serious violations. For legal violations, report to the appropriate authorities:

CERT-In: cert-in.org.in
National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal: cybercrime.gov.in

12. Amendments

These rules may be updated from time to time. Members will be notified via #announcements on Discord, on openboxcomm.in, and across our social media accounts. Continued participation constitutes acceptance of the updated rules.