This document serves as the official rules for all hackathon contests and competitions (each, a “Hackathon”) sponsored by LinearBytes, Inc. (“Hashnode”). Please see below for eligibility rules, event rules, judging rules, and prize rules.
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED.
From time to time Hashnode may run Hackathons. An individual’s participation in the named Hackathon in the applicable “Hackathon Announcement Page” as provided by Hashnode, to which these official rules apply, constitutes such individual’s full and unconditional agreement to and acceptance of (i) these Hashnode Hackathon Official Rules (“Official Rules”) and (ii) the terms and conditions provided in the applicable “Hackathon Announcement Page” for such Hackathon, which are incorporated by reference into these Official Rules. In the event of a direct conflict between these Official Rules and the applicable Hackathon Announcement Page, the Official Rules will govern and control.
We urge you to carefully read the terms and conditions of these Official Rules and those of the applicable Hackathon Announcement Page. Hashnode does not claim ownership rights in your submission at a Hackathon (an “Entry”). These Official Rules also describe the rights you give to Hashnode by submitting an Entry in the Hackathon.
By entering or participating in the Hackathon, you accept and agree to be bound by the Official Rules. If an individual is part of a team, each member of the team must read and agree to these Official Rules. IF YOU, AS A PARTICIPANT (EACH INDIVIDUAL, EACH INDIVIDUAL MEMBER OF A TEAM, AND EACH ENTITY IS REFERRED TO AS A “PARTICIPANT” IN THESE OFFICIAL RULES), DO NOT ACCEPT THESE OFFICIAL RULES IN THEIR ENTIRETY, YOU MAY NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE HACKATHON. IF YOU AGREE TO THESE OFFICIAL RULES ON BEHALF OF AN ENTITY OR A TEAM OF INDIVIDUALS, YOU REPRESENT AND WARRANT THAT YOU HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO BIND THAT ENTITY OR TEAM OF INDIVIDUALS TO THESE OFFICIAL RULES AND YOUR AGREEMENT TO THESE OFFICIAL RULES WILL BE TREATED AS THE AGREEMENT OF THE ENTITY OR TEAM OF INDIVIDUALS. IN THAT EVENT, “PARTICIPANT” “YOU” AND “YOUR” REFER HEREIN TO THAT ENTITY OR TEAM OF INDIVIDUALS.
Each Hackathon permits only individual participants and no teams, unless otherwise set forth on the applicable Hackathon Announcement Page.
The eligibility of an individual part of a team is tied to the team’s eligibility; if one member of the team does not comply with these Official Rules, it not eligible or is disqualified, the entire team is disqualified.
Hackathons are skill-based contests open to individuals who (a) (i) are at least age eighteen (18) or older or are the legal age of majority in the jurisdiction in which they reside and capable of forming a binding contract with Hashnode as of the date of entry or (ii) if not of legal age but at least age thirteen (13) and who have obtained parental or guardian consent to enter in any method established by Hashnode, (b) are Hashnode Members (defined below), and (c) have an active email account and Internet access throughout the Entry Period (as defined below) or as otherwise required to submit an Entry. Residents of, or any entity organized or governed under the laws of any country or territory that may, from time to time, become subject to U.S. export controls or designated as a country that is subject to a general prohibition on U.S. persons engaging in financial and/or export transactions; or persons or entities on any restricted or prohibited party list maintained by the U.S. Departments of Commerce, State and the Treasury are not eligible to participate in the Hackathon. Employees of Hashnode and its affiliates, subsidiaries, advertising, promotion, fulfillment or other coordinating agencies, individuals providing services to Hashnode through an outsourcer or temporary employment agency during the Entry Period (as defined below), and their respective immediate family members and persons living in their same household, are also not eligible to participate in the Hackathon. Hackathons are void where prohibited or restricted by law or regulation.
As used in these Official Rules, “Hashnode Website” means Hashnode’s website located at hashnode.com (or any other URL provided by Hashnode for such applicable purpose); and a “Hashnode Member” means a registered user of the Hashnode Website whose account is active and in good standing. Visit the Hashnode Website for information on how to register.
Hashnode may require Participants under the age of majority to obtain the consent of a parent or guardian to participate in the Hackathon, and Hashnode may limit access to Hackathons, prizes, and content to Participants under the age of majority. Hashnode may require the applicable parent or guardian to become a Hashnode Member. Such consent by a parent or guardian shall include consent to the other terms of these Official Rules on behalf of the applicable Participant. The applicable parent or guardian of a Participant will be responsible for the conduct of the applicable Participant under the age of majority, and Hashnode may give any such applicable prizes to such parent or guardian. You agree to abide by any such restrictions, and not to help anyone avoid these restrictions. If you believe your minor child is participating in a Hackathon without your permission, or wish to revoke your permission, please contact us.
You may enter the Hackathon during the applicable time frame as provided on the Hackathon Announcement Page (the “Entry Period”). Please see the Hackathon Announcement Page for any limits on the number of entries for the applicable Hackathon in which you are participating. All entries must be submitted no later than the end of the Entry Period.
Each Entry must include the minimum elements stated on the applicable Hackathon Announcement Page. In addition, all Entries into a Hackathon must satisfy the following additional entry requirements:
By entering an Entry into the Hackathon, Participant represents and warrants that (i) the Participant is not prohibited by applicable law of their applicable jurisdiction from participating in the Hackathon including receiving any applicable prize; (ii) the Entry is the original creation of Participant; (iii) it has the authority to provide the Entry to Hashnode; (iv) the Entry and any other materials or information provided by it in connection with the Hackathon (together the “Entry Materials”) do not infringe or misappropriate or violate a third party’s patent, copyright, trademark, trade secret, moral rights or other proprietary or intellectual property rights, or rights of publicity or privacy, or violate any applicable law or regulation; (v) development of the Entry was started during, and not prior to, the Entry Period (unless otherwise approved in the Hackathon Announcement Page); and (vi) the Entry is not obscene, lewd, profane, pornographic, disparaging, indecent and does not describe illegal or other inappropriate or dangerous behavior.
Entries that do not meet the requirements set forth in these Official Rules or the applicable Hackathon Announcement Page may be disqualified at Hashnode’s sole discretion. Participants are responsible for all costs associated with preparing and submitting an Entry. All Entries that violate a Participant’s employer’s policies, will be deemed ineligible. By entering an Entry, you acknowledge that Hashnode may obtain other Entries that are similar or identical in theme, format or other respects to that submitted by you. Participant acknowledges that Hashnode does not waive any rights to use ideas, themes, or concepts previously known to Hashnode, or developed by its employees, or obtained from sources other than Participant, which may be similar to Participant’s Entry. You also agree that Entries may or may not be posted on the Hackathon Page or otherwise, in Hashnode’s sole discretion. Participant agrees that Hashnode is not responsible for any unauthorized use of an Entry by third parties.
Hashnode’s servers and clock, or as applicable Github’s servers and clock, will be deemed the official clock for the Hackathon and Participant’s proof of submission does not constitute proof of receipt by Hashnode. Entry Materials will not be returned to Participants.
As between Participant and Hashnode, Participant retains all ownership of an Entry. However by submitting an Entry, Participant grants Hashnode a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free, sublicensable, perpetual and irrevocable right and license to use, reproduce, modify (solely for the purposes of transmission), distribute, publicly display, publicly perform, and transmit all or a portion of the Entry Materials in connection with the Hackathon, the Hashnode Website, and for promotional purposes, including on and through third-party distribution channels selected by, but not affiliated with, Hashnode.
All qualified entries will be judged by a panel of judges as selected by Hashnode. The Judging criteria will be stated on the applicable Hackathon Announcement Page. The decisions of judges will be final.
All federal, state, and local laws and regulations apply. Hashnode reserves the right to disqualify any Participant from the Hackathon if, in Hashnode’s sole discretion, it reasonably believes that the Participant has attempted to undermine the legitimate operation of the Hackathon by cheating, deception, or other unfair playing practices or annoys, abuses, threatens or harasses any other Participants, Hashnode, or the judges.
The prizes to be awarded from the Hackathon are as provided on the applicable Hackathon Announcement Page. The prizes are final and non-transferable by the winner.
The odds of winning a prize depends on the total number of eligible entries received and the skill of the Participants. If the actual value of the prize is less than the stated actual retail value (if any), the difference will not be awarded. No substitution of a prize is permitted, except at the sole option of Hashnode, for a prize of lesser, equal or greater value. Winners are solely responsible for any and all federal, state, provincial and local taxes, if any, that apply to prizes. Gift cards are subject to issuer’s terms and conditions.
The winner of the Hackathon will be notified by email within ten (10) business days of the winner’s selection. The winner (including each member of a team) may be required to provide any additional tax filing information (such as a W-9, social security number or Federal tax ID number) within seven (7) business days following the date of first attempted notification. Failure to comply with these deadlines may result in forfeiture of the prize. If a selected winner cannot be contacted via the registration information provided with the Entry Materials, is ineligible, fails to claim the prize award or where applicable an affidavit of eligibility and publicity/liability release are not timely received, are incomplete or modified, the prize award may be forfeited and an alternate winner will be selected from remaining valid, eligible entries timely submitted.
By accepting a prize, Participant agrees to Hashnode’s use of his or her name and/or likeness and any materials the he/she/they have submitted for advertising and promotional purposes and signifying such Participant as a winner of the Hackathon, without additional compensation and/or permission in perpetuity throughout the world, unless prohibited by law.
Hashnode is not responsible for any division or distribution of the prize award among or between team members or employees of a winning entity.
In the event of a dispute regarding who submitted an Entry, the Entry will be deemed submitted by the authorized account holder of the e-mail account of the individual or team leader specified in the Entry Materials. “Authorized account holder” is the natural person who is assigned to an e-mail address by an Internet access provider, online service provider or other organization (e.g., business, educational institution, etc.) that is responsible for assigning e-mail addresses for the domain associated with the submitted e-mail address.
All prizes are granted without warranty of any kind from Hashnode, express or implied, without limitation, and Participant releases Hashnode with respect to any damage or liability with respect to prizes. Hashnode is not responsible for (i) late, lost, delayed, damaged, duties, postage-due, incomplete, illegible, misdirected or undeliverable Entry Materials or prizes, responses, or other correspondence, whether by email or postal mail or otherwise; (ii) theft, destruction, unauthorized access to or alterations of Entry Materials; (iii) phone, electrical, network, computer, hardware, software program or transmission malfunctions, failures or difficulties; or (iv) injury or damage to any Participant’s computer or that of any third party resulting from downloading any materials in connection with the Hackathon or otherwise.
IN NO EVENT WILL HASHNODE BE LIABLE TO PARTICIPANT FOR ANY SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, EXEMPLARY, PUNITIVE OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING LOSS OF USE, DATA, BUSINESS OR PROFITS) ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH PARTICIPANT’S PARTICIPATION IN THE HACKATHON, WHETHER SUCH LIABILITY ARISES FROM ANY CLAIM BASED UPON CONTRACT, WARRANTY, TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE), STRICT LIABILITY OR OTHERWISE, AND WHETHER OR NOT HASHNODE HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH LOSS OR DAMAGE. WITHOUT LIMITING THE GENERALITY OF THE FOREGOING, HASHNODE’S AGGREGATE LIABILITY TO PARTICIPANT ARISING WITH RESPECT TO THESE OFFICIAL RULES WILL NOT EXCEED $10.00. Some jurisdictions do not allow the limitation or exclusion of liability for incidental or consequential damages, so the above limitation or exclusion may not apply to such Participant.
By participating in the Hackathon, Participant agrees to release, indemnify, defend and hold Hashnode and its parents, affiliates, subsidiaries, directors, officers, employees, sponsors and agents, including advertising and promotion agencies, and assigns, and any other organizations related to the Hackathon, harmless from any and all claims, injuries, damages, expenses or losses to person or property and/or liabilities of any nature that in any way arise from participation in the Hackathon or acceptance or use of a prize, including without limitation: (a) any third party claims made in connection with such Entry, or any representations and warranties made by Participant in connection with such Entry; (b) any non-compliance by Participant with the Official Rules; and (c) any injuries, losses, or damages (compensatory, direct, incidental, consequential or otherwise) of any kind arising in connection with or as a result of a prize, or acceptance, possession, or use of a prize, or from participation in the Hackathon.
Hashnode reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to terminate, modify or suspend the Hackathon in whole or in part, if in Hashnode’s opinion (a) the Hackathon is not capable of running as planned by reason of the occurrence of any event beyond its control including, but not limited to, fire, flood, epidemic, pandemic, earthquake, explosion, labor dispute or strike, act of God or public enemy, communications, equipment failure, utility or service interruptions, riot or civil disturbance, terrorist threat or activity, war (declared or undeclared), interference with the Hackathon by any party, or any federal, state, local or provincial government law, order, or regulation, order of any court or jurisdiction, or other cause not reasonably within Hashnode’s control, or (b) any other factors beyond Hashnode’s reasonable control corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity, or proper conduct of the Hackathon, in all instances without liability to Participant or any third party.
Please review the Hashnode Announcement Page and Hashnode Website for additional terms that apply to your participation in the Hackathon and specifically use of the Hashnode Website. Such terms are incorporated by referenced into these Official Rules. If there is a conflict between the terms of service on the Hashnode Website and these Official Rules, the Official Rules will apply with respect to the Hackathon only. By entering the Hackathon, Participant agrees that all decisions of Hashnode related to the Hackathon are final and binding.
Except where prohibited, by participating in the Hackathon, Participant consents to the use of their name, photo and/or likeness, biographical information, and statements attributed to Participant (if true) for advertising and promotional purposes, including without limitation, inclusion in Hashnode’s newsletters, inclusion on the Hashnode Website, and syndication via Hashnode’s social media channels, without additional compensation.
These Official Rules are governed by the law of the State of Delaware, without reference to rules governing choice of laws. Any action, suit or case arising out of, or in connection with, this Hackathon or these Official Rules must be brought in either the federal courts located in the Northern District of California or the state courts located in Santa Clara County, California.
Hashnode will use the personal information it collects from Participants to facilitate their participation in the Hackathon and as may be more specifically set forth in these Official Rules. By participating in the Hackathon, you consent to such collection and use of your personal information.
Under no circumstances shall the submission of an Entry, the awarding of a prize, or anything in these Official Rules be construed as an offer or contract of employment and/or an independent contractor relationship to Participant with Hashnode or any sponsor of Hackathon.