Terms and Conditions

1. Acceptance of Terms

By registering for and participating in the Democracy Hackathon 2026 (the "Event"), you agree to abide by these Terms and Conditions, the Code of Conduct, and the security regulations of the Palais de l’Europe.

2. Participation & Security

Access: Access to the Palais de l’Europe is a privilege, not a right. The Council of Europe reserves the right to refuse entry or remove any participant who fails security screening or violates building protocols.
Identification: Participants must provide valid government-issued identification. Failure to provide accurate information during registration will result in immediate disqualification.
Age: Participants must be at least 18 years of age at the time of the event.

3. Intellectual Property (IP) Rights

Ownership: Participants retain ownership of the specific software, code, and designs created during the 48-hour event.
Public Good License: In the spirit of the New Democratic Pact for Europe, participants are strongly encouraged to release their projects under an Open Source Initiative (OSI) approved license (e.g., MIT, Apache 2.0).
Usage Rights: By submitting a project, you grant the Council of Europe a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license to showcase, archive, and demonstrate the project for promotional and educational purposes related to the No Hate Speech Week.

4. Data Protection & Privacy (GDPR)

Personal Data: The Council of Europe processes personal data in accordance with its internal data protection framework, which aligns with international standards (Convention 108+).
Media Release: The Event will be documented via photography and videography. By attending, you consent to your likeness being used in official Council of Europe communications, reports, and social media.
Project Data: Any data provided in the "Sandbox" for hacking purposes is anonymized and must not be deanonymized or used for commercial purposes outside of this event.

5. Liability

Personal Property: The Council of Europe is not responsible for the loss, theft, or damage of personal equipment (laptops, cameras, etc.) brought into the Palais de l’Europe.
Project Performance: The Council of Europe provides no guarantee that the projects developed during the hackathon will be implemented or funded beyond the scope of the event.

6. Disqualification

The organizers reserve the right to disqualify any team or individual for:

Plagiarism or using pre-existing proprietary code without authorization.
Violation of the Code of Conduct (specifically regarding hate speech or harassment).
Failure to meet the submission deadline of 12:00 PM on 19 June 2026.

7. Governing Law

These terms are governed by the legal framework of the Council of Europe, an international organization. Disputes shall be settled through amicable negotiation or, failing that, through the Council of Europe’s internal administrative tribunal.

**TEST Democracy Hackathon 2026**

TEST Democracy Hackathon 2026