Terms & Conditions

By participating in HackCulture events, you agree to abide by the following Terms and Conditions. These ensure fairness, transparency, and a positive experience for all.

Eligibility

Participation is open to students, professionals, and innovators of all backgrounds. Organizers, sponsors, and judges may not be eligible for prizes but can engage in mentoring and support activities.

Registration

All participants must register through the official HackCulture platform. By registering, you confirm that:

  • You provide accurate and truthful information.
  • You agree to communications related to the event.
  • You acknowledge that slots may be limited and allocation is at the organizers’ discretion.

Team Formation

Teams may consist of individuals or groups, typically between 2–6 members. Each participant may only be part of one team throughout the entire event duration.

  • Participants cannot switch teams after registration closes
  • Each team member must be clearly identified during registration
  • All team members must contribute to and be credited in the final submission
  • Sharing of resources, ideas, or code between different teams is strictly prohibited

Note: While informal discussions and networking between participants are encouraged, any form of collaboration that contributes to project development must occur only within your registered team. Violations may result in disqualification.

Project Submissions

All projects must be submitted before the deadline communicated by organizers. Submissions should include:

  • Source code (via GitHub or other platforms).
  • Documentation explaining the project idea and execution.
  • Optional demo video or presentation slides.

Late submissions may be disqualified at the organizers’ sole discretion.

Judging Criteria

All submissions will be evaluated by a panel of qualified judges using standardized criteria. The judging process is conducted fairly and transparently, with scores aggregated to determine winners.

Evaluation Parameters

Innovation

Uniqueness of concept, creative problem-solving approach, and novel use of technology or methodologies.

Technical Quality

Code quality, technical complexity, scalability, security considerations, and proper use of development best practices.

Design & UX

Interface design, usability, accessibility, user journey optimization, and overall aesthetic appeal.

Impact

Real-world applicability, potential for positive impact, market viability, and sustainability of the solution.

Presentation

Clarity of communication, demonstration effectiveness, team coordination, and ability to convey project value.

Judging Process

  • Each project is evaluated independently by multiple qualified judges
  • Judges are selected based on their expertise and industry experience
  • Scoring is conducted using a standardized rubric to ensure consistency
  • Final rankings are determined by aggregate scores across all criteria
  • In case of ties, additional evaluation rounds may be conducted
  • Judge decisions are final and not subject to appeal

Note: HackCulture reserves the right to modify judging criteria or processes if necessary to ensure fair evaluation. Any changes will be communicated to all participants prior to the judging phase.

Intellectual Property Rights

Participant Ownership

Participants retain full ownership and all intellectual property rights to their original work, including but not limited to source code, algorithms, designs, documentation, and any other creative or technical contributions developed during the hackathon.

Limited License Grant

By participating in HackCulture events, participants grant HackCulture a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license to:

  • Display, demonstrate, and showcase submitted projects for promotional purposes
  • Use project descriptions, images, and videos for marketing and educational content
  • Feature winning projects in case studies, blog posts, and event documentation
  • Share project highlights on social media platforms and official communications

This license is limited to promotional and educational purposes only and does not grant HackCulture any commercial rights to exploit, sell, or distribute participant projects.

Third-Party Components

Participants are responsible for ensuring they have appropriate rights to use any third-party libraries, APIs, datasets, or other components incorporated into their projects. This includes:

  • Compliance with open-source licenses and attribution requirements
  • Proper licensing for commercial APIs and services
  • Rights to use any copyrighted materials, images, or content
  • Adherence to terms of service for external platforms and services

Confidentiality and Attribution

HackCulture commits to:

  • Properly attribute all showcased projects to their respective creators
  • Respect any reasonable confidentiality requests from participants
  • Not disclose proprietary technical details without explicit permission
  • Remove project showcases upon written request from the original creators

Sponsor and Partner Considerations

While HackCulture facilitates connections between participants and sponsors/partners, any separate agreements regarding intellectual property, employment, or commercial partnerships are solely between the respective parties. HackCulture is not a party to such agreements and assumes no responsibility for their terms or enforcement.

Important: Participants are strongly advised to document their work and maintain records of their intellectual property. For projects with significant commercial potential, consider consulting with intellectual property attorneys regarding additional protections such as patents or trademarks.

HackCulture Commitment: We will never claim ownership of participant work, sell participant projects, or use them for commercial gain without explicit written agreement and appropriate compensation.

Code of Conduct

All participants must comply with the HackCulture Code of Conduct, which promotes a respectful, inclusive, and collaborative environment for all attendees.

Expected Behavior

Respectful communication, inclusive collaboration, and professional conduct at all times.

Consequences

Violations may result in removal, prize forfeiture, and future event disqualification.

Liability & Disclaimer

Participation in HackCulture events is voluntary. By attending, you acknowledge and accept the following terms:

Limited Liability

HackCulture, organizers, partners, and sponsors are not responsible for personal injury, loss, or property damage.

Personal Responsibility

Attendees are responsible for their own safety, belongings, and compliance with venue rules and regulations.

Note: Please take all necessary precautions for your personal safety and property throughout the entire event duration and venue premises.

Amendments

HackCulture reserves the right to modify these Terms & Conditions at any time. Updates will be communicated via official channels, and continued participation implies acceptance.

Contact Us

For any questions or clarifications about these Terms & Conditions, please reach out:

programs@hackculture.in
HackCulture HQ, Bengaluru, India

By joining HackCulture, you agree to uphold these Terms & Conditions and contribute to an environment of fairness, creativity & collaboration.