General Terms and Conditions

This is where you will find our General Terms and Conditions, as of 6 September 2021.
Please use the category that is relevant for you:

General Terms and Conditions for Participants at VDI Wissensforum GmbH's Face-to-Face Events and Digital Events

1. Services
These terms and conditions apply to companies, authorities, research institutions and private individuals. VDI Wissensforum GmbH, hereinafter referred to as VDI Wissensforum, provides the services in accordance with the nature and scope of the event descriptions as detailed in the respective event programme.

In exceptional cases, VDI Wissensforum reserves the right to change lecturers and/or make changes to the sequence of the programme while maintaining the overall character of the event. 

2. Registration and confirmation 
Registration must take place at VDI Wissensforum by e-mail, fax, post or online at www.vdiconference.com. Registrations will be considered in the order in which they are received. The registration becomes legally binding when confirmed by VDI Wissensforum in writing or in the form of a text.

3. Hotel and travel to the venue
The booking of the room must be made by the participant himself. As a rule, contingent rooms are pre-booked at the hotel hosting the event, which can be found under the keyword "VDI". Please contact the hotel hosting the event by telephone. There is no right to these special conditions or free room contingents. 

4. Rebooking or Cancellation by VDI Wissensforum
In the case of a cancellation of an event due to illness of the speaker, force majeure or other circumstances for which VDI Wissensforum is not responsible, there shall be no right to expect the event to take place. In the case of a face-to-face event, VDI Wissensforum reserves the right to rebook participants onto a corresponding online event instead of cancelling the event. The quality and knowledge that is imparted will mach that of the face-to-face event. In the event that a congress or conference is rebooked, participants will receive an appropriate discount. In particular, this will take into account the lack of opportunity to participate in the social program for personal exchange on site and for the potential expansion of professional networks.

This does not constitute a reason for the participants to withdraw from the event. The above provisions shall also apply if VDI Wissensforum has already confirmed that an event will take place on account of the minimum number of participants being reached.

VDI Wissensforum reserves the right to cancel the event up to 14 days before its planned start due to an insufficient number of participants.

In the event of a cancellation by VDI Wissensforum, the only obligation is for the participation fees that have already paid to be refunded. Any claims for the reimbursement of travel and accommodation costs and/or loss of working hours shall be excluded, unless such costs are incurred due to gross negligence or intentional behaviour on the part of VDI Wissensforum.

5. Cancellation or rebooking by the participants
Cancellations and rebookings must be made in writing or in the form of a text. For cancellations up to 4 weeks prior to the start of the event, a cancellation fee of €250.00 plus VAT will be charged. After this deadline, the full participation fee must be paid in accordance with the invoice. The postmark of the incoming mail and/or the receipt of the mail by VDI Wissensforum shall be decisive. If the full participation fee is due, we will send the event documents on request following receipt of the invoice amount. The rebooking for another event must also be made in writing up to 4 weeks before the start of the event. After this date, rebooking is no longer possible.

A replacement participant can be named, free of charge, at any time. Please note that we will not correct the invoice. If the replacement participant does not meet the same discount requirements as the registered participant (e.g. VDI membership), the invoice will be corrected.

In the event that a registered participant is absent without prior notice of the event, the regulations concerning the cancellation of the event will be applied accordingly.

6. Liability
The events are carefully prepared and conducted by qualified speakers. VDI Wissensforum is not liable for the conference documents and the execution of the event being up to date, correct or complete. No responsibility is assumed for the selection of the event location. In the case of an online event, VDI Wissensforum does not guarantee technically perfect transmission and reception of data. 

7. Event documents
Event documents are made available to each participant.

8. Copyrights
All event documents - manuscripts, exercises and case studies – are protected by copyright. The rights to these documents exclusively belong to VDI Wissensforum. Participants are granted a simple, non-transferable right of use for personal use. Reproduction, digitalisation, publication, distribution or making documents available for download or any other use outside of the event - even if only in the form of extracts - requires the prior, explicit and written consent of VDI Wissensforum GmbH. Any copyright notices, labels or trademarks may not be removed.

Sound and image recordings of any kind are prohibited in all event formats provided by VDI Wissensforum (face-to-face or online events). Online events may only be used by the registered participant.

The participant shall protect the copyrights and only use the events individually, for his own use, within the scope of the contractual agreement. Any misuse may be legally prosecuted.

9. Event fees
The event fees include all event documents. In the case of face-to-face events, the fees also include lunch on each full day of the event, as well as drinks during breaks. The event fees are net.

10. Terms of payment
The participation fees are due without any deduction after the invoice has been issued, however no later than 14 days before the event begins. Please only transfer the participation fees after the receipt of the invoice. Participants with a billing address outside Germany, Austria and Switzerland must pay by credit card. Invoices will be issued electronically. Please check whether a printed version of the invoice is required. In this case, we charge a flat rate of €5.00.

You are not entitled to offset, reduce or assert a right of retention unless your claims have been legally established or they are undisputed.

11. Participation certificates
The participant will receive a participation certificate on site or in a digital format for each seminar, forum, course, technical online course and special day. Participation certificates for meetings and conferences will only be issued on request.

12. Place of jurisdiction and applicable law
The legal relationship of the contracting parties from or in connection with the contract is subject to the law of the Federal Republic of Germany, excluding the UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods. The place of jurisdiction for legal disputes arising from or in connection with the contract is Dusseldorf.

13. Severability clause
If a provision of the contract is or becomes ineffective or unenforceable, either in whole or in part, the rest of the contract shall remain unaffected. The ineffective or unenforceable provision shall be replaced with retroactive effect by the valid provision which the parties would have agreed upon from an economic point of view if they had been aware of the ineffectiveness or unenforceability of the provision at the time the contract was concluded. The same applies to any loophole in the contract.

14. Written form requirement
Collateral agreements, amendments or supplements must be made in writing in order to be effective, as must the cancellation of this written form requirement. This also applies to this clause.

15. Consent concerning the use of photographs and film recordings of participants
Insofar as photographs and/or film recordings are taken on behalf of VDI Wissensforum within the framework of an event and these photographs and/or film recordings reveal a participant, the person concerned hereby declares his or her consent to the (free) use of the photographs of his or her person for the advertising activities of VDI Wissensforum for comparable events, especially print advertising, Internet, social media, other printed works and press articles. The use of the photographic and/or film recordings for purposes other than those described or marketing, by making the photographs or film recordings available to third parties is not permitted. unless they are made available to press representatives for press reports concerning the event. In this respect, speakers and participants are not considered as third parties.

The person concerned also agrees that the photographs may be stored and processed by VDI Wissensforum in a digital format for the purposes described above.

If the person concerned does not agree to the production of a photograph or film of his or her person, please inform the check-in counter immediately. The person concerned may object to any future use of his or her photographs or film recordings for advertising purposes at any time by notifying the VDI Wissensforum in the form of a text. After receipt of the objection, VDI Wissensforum will no longer use the photographs or film recordings concerned for advertising purposes and will delete digitally stored photographs if the person can be identified.

16. Consent to the disclosure of participant lists
The participant also agrees that the list of participants including the data provided by him (name, company) may be displayed for inspection and, in individual cases, may be passed on to other participants of the event, exhibitors that are present as well as sponsors in order to facilitate mutual contact. In exceptional cases, we reserve the right to pass on the data to interested third parties. In these cases, the participants will be informed in advance. The participant can object to the use of the data for this purpose at any time by informing VDI Wissensforum informally.

17. Online Dispute Resolution Platform
Under current law, we are obliged to inform consumers of the existence of the European Online Dispute Resolution Platform, which can be used to resolve disputes without the need to go to court. The European Commission is responsible for setting up the platform. You can find the European Online Dispute Resolution Platform here: http://ec.europa.eu/odr

VDI Wissensforum is neither willing nor obliged to participate in dispute resolution proceedings before a consumer arbitration board. 

18. Agreement concerning the processing of assignments
Please refer to our general information concerning the use of your data here.

19. Right of withdrawal for consumers
Participants whose registration cannot be attributed to their commercial or self-employed professional activity (sect. 13 German Civil Code) have the right to withdraw their registration in writing within 14 days of receipt of the confirmation of registration without giving reasons. Cancellation fees are not charged. In order to meet the deadline, the timely sending of the withdrawal notice to the following address is sufficient.

VDI Wissensforum GmbH, VDI Platz 1, 40468 Dusseldorf  email: E-Mail: wissensforum@vdi.de

General Terms and Conditions for the In-house Training Sessions and Consulting Services of VDI Wissensforum GmbH (VDI Wissensforum)

1. Services
These terms and conditions apply to companies, public authorities and research institutions, hereinafter referred to as the contracting parties. VDI Wissensforum GmbH, hereinafter referred to as VDI Wissensforum, provides the in-house training sessions and consulting services described in the quotation which has been confirmed in writing by the contracting party with the conditions offered.

In exceptional cases (e.g. illness, accident), VDI Wissensforum reserves the right to change the intended speakers by providing equally qualified speakers. 

2. Ordering and confirmation
The order placed by the contracting party must be sent to the VDI Wissensforum by e-mail, fax or post. Orders are confirmed in writing or in text form by VDI Wissensforum and through this, they are legally binding.

3. Integration in follow-up projects
The contracting party shall handle any follow-up projects with a trainer or consultant arranged by VDI Wissensforum for a period of at least 2 years after the respective service has been rendered by VDI Wissensforum and/or obtain a corresponding exemption for the direct assignment of the speaker from VDI Wissensforum. In the case of a violation by the contracting party, VDI Wissensforum reserves the right to charge at least 30% of the lost order volume.

4. Cancellation by VDI Wissensforum
In the case of a cancellation of an event due to illness of the speaker, force majeure or other circumstances for which VDI Wissenforum is not responsible, there shall be no right to expect to expect the event to take place.  In such cases, VDI Wissensforum reserves the right to hold an appropriate online event instead of cancelling the event. This does not constitute a reason for withdrawal by the contracting party.

In the event of a cancellation by VDI Wissensforum, the only obligation is for the fees that have already paid for the measure that has been ordered.

5. Cancellation or rebooking by the contracting party
Cancellations by the contracting party must be made in writing. Cancellation without charge is possible up to 8 weeks before the start of the event. In the event of non-acceptance of the service, 50% of the agreed price shall be due up to 8 to 4 weeks before the start of the event and the entire agreed price 4 weeks before the start of the event.

Rebooking is possible, free of charge, up to 4 weeks before the agreed start of the event. Rebookings made after this date will be invoiced to the contractual partner at 100% of the agreed price

In the case of orders without an agreed date of execution, the event or the ordered service must be carried out/provided within 12 months of the order being placed. Otherwise, 50% of the agreed seminar price shall be due, even without performance.

6. Event documents
The participants of the corresponding in-house training session or consulting activity shall receive detailed documents related to the event.

7. Copyrights
All event documents - manuscripts, exercises and case studies - are protected by copyright. The rights to these documents are the exclusive property of VDI Wissensforum. Participants are granted a simple, non-transferable right of use for personal use. Any duplication, digitalisation, publication, distribution or making the material available for download or any other use outside of the event - even if only in the form of extracts - requires the prior, explicit and written consent of VDI Wissensforum GmbH. Any copyright notices, labels or trademarks may not be removed.

Sound and image recordings of any kind are prohibited in all event formats provided by VDI Wissensforum (face-to-face or online events).

The contracting party shall protect the copyrights and only use the events individually for his own use within the scope of the contractual agreement. Any misuse may be legally prosecuted.

8. Liability
The documents and records (also in electronic form) provided within the scope of the training and consulting services are prepared to the best of our knowledge and belief. We exclude liability and provide no guarantee that the contents reflect a certain quality, are correct, up to date or complete. VDI Wissensforum is not liable for the content of the seminar as it is actually conducted. This is in the responsibility of the seminar instructor.
Participation in the seminar is at your own risk.

In the case of an online event, VDI Wissensforum does not guarantee technically perfect transmission and reception of data. 

9. Terms of payment 
The contractually agreed remuneration is due without any deduction after the invoice is issued. Invoices will be issued electronically. Please check whether a printed version of the invoice is required. In this case, we charge a flat rate of €5.00.

The invoices sent by VDI Wissensforum exclusively include the applicable value added tax. Explicitly, this also applies in cases where the customer presents a tax exemption in terms of sect. 4 no. 21b VAT Act.
The contracting party is not entitled to offset, reduce or assert a right of retention unless his claims have been legally established or are undisputed. 

10. Participation certificates
Participants receive a certificate of attendance for each in-house seminar, course and special day.

11. Place of jurisdiction and applicable law
The legal relationship of the contracting parties from or in connection with the contract is subject to the law of the Federal Republic of Germany, excluding the UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods.
 The place of jurisdiction for legal disputes arising from or in connection with the contract is Dusseldorf.

12. Severability clause
If a provision of the contract is or becomes ineffective or unenforceable, either in whole or in part, the rest of the contract shall remain unaffected. The ineffective or unenforceable provision shall be replaced with retroactive effect by the valid provision which the parties would have agreed upon from an economic point of view if they had been aware of the ineffectiveness or unenforceability of the provision at the time the contract was concluded. The same applies to any loophole in the contract.

13. Written form requirement
Collateral agreements, amendments or supplements must be made in writing in order to be effective, as must the cancellation of this written form requirement. This also applies to this clause.

14. Use of your data
Reference is made to our general information concerning the use of your data at www.vdiconference.com/privacy-policy-participants/.

General Terms and Conditions of Participation for accompanying exhibitions at VDI Wissensforum GmbH's (VDI Wissensforum) Events

1. Registration
Registration takes place by completing the "Registration for the exhibition" form for the corresponding VDI Wissensforum event as well as acknowledging these General Terms and Conditions. The completed registration form must be sent to VDI Wissensforum GmbH, Postfach 10 11 39, D-40002 Dusseldorf or via e-mail to fachausstellungen@vdi.de. Registration is binding regardless of admission. Any conditions listed in the registration will not be considered. Special requests for space (which will be considered as far as possible) are not a condition for participation. There shall be no competitive exclusion.

2. Admission
Companies and institutions whose exhibits act in such a way that they contribute towards illustrating or supplementing the planned theme are eligible. The VDI Wissensforum GmbH (VDI Wissensforum) decides on the admission of companies, institutions and exhibits. There is no legal claim to admission. Admission as an exhibitor will be confirmed in writing. It is only valid for the exhibitor named therein. The contract between the exhibitor and VDI Wissensforum is concluded with the sending of the confirmation of registration. The VDI Wissensforum is entitled to revoke the admission that was granted if it was granted on the basis of incorrect conditions or information or if the conditions for admission subsequently cease to apply.

3. Space allocation and space changes
If the allocated space is not available for reasons beyond the control of VDI Wissensforum, and if other space can be made available, the exhibitor has no right to a refund of the participation fee.

4. Terms of payment
Payment shall be made once the invoice is received, 30 working days before the event at the latest. It shall be made without deduction, quoting the code number stated in the registration and on the invoice. In the event of later payments, the right to stand space shall expire.

You are not entitled to offset, reduce or assert a right of retention unless your claims have been legally established or they are undisputed.

5. Co-exhibitors and joint stands
It is not permitted to transfer an allocated stand or parts thereof to third parties, either for a fee or without remuneration.

6. Withdrawal and non-participation
Until admission is granted (confirmation of registration), withdrawal or reduction of the stand space is permitted against a cancellation fee of €250.00 plus VAT at the statutory rate. After admission, the exhibitor may withdraw or reduce his stand space up to 30 working days before the start of the event for a cancellation fee of 50% of the participation fee, unless he can prove to VDI Wissensforum that the damage incurred was less. In the case of withdrawal later than 30 working days before the event, the participation fee must be paid in full.

7. Construction and design of the stands
For the construction and design of the accompanying trade exhibition, the details listed in the information for the respective VDI Wissensforum exhibition are binding. Approximately 4-6 weeks before the event, all exhibitors will receive the information concerning stand location, stand heights, construction times etc. This information is part of the contract. The relevant legal provisions and administrative regulations are binding for the exhibitor.

8. Technical services
All technical installations must be coordinated with VDI Wissensforum. The construction of installations using the exhibitor's own technicians is not permitted. In the event of infringements, the exhibitor shall be liable for the damage that is caused. Connections, machines and equipment that are not approved or do not comply with the relevant regulations can be removed at the exhibitor's expense.

9. Assembly and dismantling
Unless otherwise stated in the information accompanying the exhibition, the assembly and dismantling of the exhibits as well as the equipment for the stand/ design of the stand shall be carried out by the exhibitor. Unless otherwise agreed in individual cases, the exhibits are to be set up, dismantled and transported by the exhibitor by the time specified in the contract. If necessary, VDI Wissensforum is entitled to arrange for the clearing of the stand and the storage of the exhibits at the exhibitor's expense and risk. The stand rented by the exhibitor must be returned in its original condition. Presentations related to car are generally carried out in the immediate vicinity of the vehicle, without the construction of a stand or other advertising measures. Exceptions are only possible in consultation with VDI Wissensforum and must be applied for and confirmed in writing.

10. Consent to the use of photographs and film recordings of exhibitors
Insofar as photographs and/or film recordings are taken on behalf of VDI Wissensforum within the framework of an event and these photographs and/or film recordings reveal an exhibitor, the person concerned hereby declares his or her consent to the (free) use of the photographs of his or her person for the advertising activities of VDI Wissensforum for comparable events, especially print advertising, Internet, social media, other printed works and press articles. The use of the photographic and/or film recordings for purposes other than those described or marketing, by making the photographs or film recordings available to third parties is not permitted unless they are made available to press representatives for press reports concerning the event. In this respect, speakers and exhibitors are not considered as third parties.

The person concerned also agrees that the photographs may be stored and processed by VDI Wissensforum in a digital format for the purposes described above.

If the person concerned does not agree to the production of a photograph or film of his or her person, please inform the check-in counter immediately. The person concerned may object to any future use of his or her photographs or film recordings for advertising purposes at any time by notifying the VDI Wissensforum in the form of a text. After receipt of the objection, VDI Wissensforum will no longer use the photographs or film recordings concerned for advertising purposes and will delete digitally stored photographs if the person can be identified.

11. Insurance
Insurance against damage and the theft of exhibits must be taken out by the exhibitors themselves.

12. Company advertising
As a supplement to VDI events, the exhibitions fulfil a scientific and educational purpose. Therefore, the only exhibits and technical descriptions which are permitted are those which are thematically consistent with the content of the event. Against this background, VDI Wissensforum reserves the right to reject exhibits or even the entire exhibition. Demonstrations that are associated with noise may only be held during times when no lectures are taking place. Exhibitors are free to invite their customers and interested parties to visit the accompanying exhibition. The opening hours of the accompanying exhibitions are continuous and depend on the times of the event.

13. Visitors
During the event, only a valid name badge issued by VDI Wissensforum entitles the holder to visit the accompanying exhibition. Name badges will be issued to all registered participants, speakers, stand attendants, sponsors and accredited representatives of the press once the corresponding booking has been made. Exceptions are only possible in consultation with VDI Wissensforum and must be applied for and confirmed in writing.

14.  Written form requirement
Collateral agreements, amendments or supplements must be made in writing in order to be effective, as must the cancellation of this written form requirement. This also applies to this clause.

15. Good conduct, briefings, confidentiality, earmarking
(1) The contracting parties shall treat each other with mutual respect, good conduct and loyalty. Sponsors are obliged to take into account the interests of VDI Wissensforum that are worthy of protection, especially its reputation and standing as well as the sense and prestige of the sponsored event. The above-mentioned obligations continue to apply even after termination of the contract.

(2) The parties to the contract shall inform each other immediately of all circumstances that could be of importance for the execution of this contract.

(3) In the case of individual agreements, the contracting parties shall treat the content, especially the services that are owed in conjunction with it, as confidential with regard to third parties. In order to safeguard the interests of one or both contracting parties that are worthy of protection or due to mandatory statutory provisions, the disclosure of contractual agreements of any kind to third parties is only permitted with the prior, express written consent of the other contracting party.  This obligation shall continue to apply, even after the termination of the contract.

16. Cancellation of an event

If the VDI Wissensforum is unable to hold the exhibition due to force majeure or other circumstances beyond the control of VDI Wissensforum, it must inform the exhibitors immediately. In principle, the claim to stand rent will no longer apply, however, VDI Wissensforum may invoice for work for which it has been commissioned, corresponding to the expenses incurred.

In the aforementioned cases, VDI Wissensforum may decide to hold the event at a later date or offer an appropriate digital alternative, in which case it must inform the exhibitors immediately. There shall be no claims for any reimbursement of travel costs / accommodation costs or loss of working hours, subject to the provision in No. 17.

17. Liability
VDI Wissensforum is liable for intent and gross negligence. Insofar as the negligence concerns the violation of essential contractual obligations (so-called cardinal obligations), VDI Wissensforum is liable for damages caused by simple negligence. In this case, claims for damages are limited (in amount) to the typical, foreseeable damage at the time the contract was concluded. In this context, VDI Wissensforum is not liable for the compensation of indirect damages and consequential damages caused by defects, especially the compensation of loss of profit. Damages resulting from mortal danger, physical injury or risks to health are excluded from the aforementioned exclusions of liability.

18. Assertion of claims
All claims of exhibitors against VDI Wissensforum must be asserted immediately, however no later than 4 weeks after the end of the event.

19. Place of jurisdiction and applicable law
The legal relationship of the contracting parties from or in connection with the contract is subject to the law of the Federal Republic of Germany, excluding the UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods. The place of jurisdiction for legal disputes arising from or in connection with the contract is Dusseldorf.

20. Severability clause
If a provision of the contract is or becomes ineffective or unenforceable, either in whole or in part, the rest of the contract shall remain unaffected. The ineffective or unenforceable provision shall be replaced with retroactive effect by the valid provision which the parties would have agreed upon from an economic point of view if they had been aware of the ineffectiveness or unenforceability of the provision at the time the contract was concluded. The same applies to any loophole in the contract.

21. Use of your data
Reference is made to our general information concerning the use of your data at www.vdiconference.com/privacy-policy-speakers-exhibitors/

General Terms and Conditions for Sponsoring of VDI Wissensforum GmbH's (VDI Wissensforum) Events

1. Booking
The booking of sponsoring services is made with reference to the written sponsoring offer and the acceptance of these terms and conditions. The booking must be made by e-mail, fax or post to VDI Wissensforum.

The booking is binding regardless of the booking confirmation through which the sponsoring contract becomes legally effective.  Any terms and conditions that may have been specified in the booking will not be taken into account. This also applies to the general terms and conditions of the contracting party. If the sponsoring packages that are booked include participation in an exhibition, special requests for space (which will be taken into account as far as possible) are not a condition for participation. There shall be no competitive exclusion unless it has been agreed in writing between the contracting parties.

2. Admission/Confirmation
Only companies and institutions that are suppliers of products and services which are directly related to the event topics, the event participants or the respective representing industry are admitted as sponsors. VDI Wissensforum shall decide on the admission of companies and institutions. There is no legal claim to admission. Admission as a sponsor will be confirmed in writing. It is only valid for the company or institution named therein. The sponsoring contract between the sponsor and VDI Wissensforum is concluded with the sending of the booking confirmation.

The VDI Wissensforum is entitled to revoke the admission that was granted if it was granted on the basis of incorrect conditions or information or if the conditions for admission subsequently cease to apply.

3. Scope of the contract
The services of VDI Wissensforum and the consideration of the sponsor are described in detail in the respective sponsoring offer.

4. Exclusivity
The organiser is entitled to conclude further contracts with sponsors, unless the organiser has explicitly guaranteed exclusivity of a service within the sponsoring package.

5. Terms of payment
The invoice will be issued with the booking confirmation, at the latest, however, as soon as a partial service of the sponsoring package has been provided by the organiser. Payment is due immediately upon receipt of the invoice without deduction. The reference number stated in the registration and invoice must be quoted.

You are not entitled to offset, reduce or assert a right of retention unless your claims have been legally established or they are undisputed.

6. Transfer
It is not permitted to transfer individual or all services of the organiser from the sponsoring package to third parties, either against payment or without payment.

7. Withdrawal and non-participation and/or non-fulfilment by the sponsor
Cancellation of the sponsoring by the sponsor is only possible without charge until approval is given by VDI Wissensforum. In the event of cancellation after admission, the contractually agreed amount will be charged in full even if the sponsor does not occupy the stand space allocated to him or does not make use of other services from the sponsoring package.

8. Failure of the organiser 
If VDI Wissensforum does not fulfil contractually promised services with regard to the sponsor through fault of its own, VDI Wissensforum must inform the sponsors immediately and offer them an equivalent alternative, depending on the nature of the non-performance.

If the booked sponsoring services include participation in an exhibition and if the allocated space is not available for reasons beyond the control of VDI Wissensforum, and if another space can be made available, the sponsor is not entitled to a refund of the agreed sponsoring fee.

If VDI Wissensforum is unable to hold the event due to force majeure or other circumstances beyond the control of VDI Wissensforum, it must inform the sponsors immediately.

Any monetary benefits from advertising services that have already been provided are to be deducted. Other claims are excluded.

In the aforementioned cases, VDI Wissensforum may decide to hold the event at a later date or offer an appropriate digital alternative, in which case it must inform the sponsors immediately. There shall be no claims for any reimbursement of travel costs / accommodation costs or loss of working hours, subject to the provision in No. 15.

9. Technical services
All technical installations within the scope of the sponsoring must be coordinated with VDI Wissensforum and/or are additionally subject to the "General Terms and Conditions of Participation and Terms and Conditions for accompanying exhibitions at VDI Wissensforum GmbH's Events".

10. Consent to the use of photographs and film recordings of sponsors

Insofar as photographs and/or film recordings are taken on behalf of VDI Wissensforum within the framework of an event and these photographs and/or film recordings reveal a sponsor, the person concerned hereby declares his or her consent to the (free) use of the photographs of his or her person for the advertising activities of VDI Wissensforum for comparable events, especially print advertising, Internet, social media, other printed works and press articles. The use of the photographic and/or film recordings for purposes other than those described or marketing, by making the photographs or film recordings available to third parties is not permitted unless they are made available to press representatives for press reports concerning the event. In this respect, speakers, participants and sponsors are not considered as third parties.

The person concerned also agrees that the photographs may be stored and processed by VDI Wissensforum in a digital format for the purposes described above.

If the person concerned does not agree to the production of a photograph or film of his or her person, please inform the check-in counter immediately. The person concerned may object to any future use of his or her photographs or film recordings for advertising purposes at any time by notifying the VDI Wissensforum in the form of a text. After receipt of the objection, VDI Wissensforum will no longer use the photographs or film recordings concerned for advertising purposes and will delete digitally stored photographs if the person can be identified.

11. Insurance
Insurance against damage and theft of objects belonging to the sponsor must be taken out by the sponsor himself.

12. Written form requirement
Collateral agreements, amendments or supplements must be made in writing in order to be effective, as must the cancellation of this written form requirement. This also applies to this clause.

13. Good conduct, briefings, confidentiality, earmarking
(1) The contracting parties shall treat each other with mutual respect, good conduct and loyalty. Sponsors are obliged to take into account the interests of VDI Wissensforum that are worthy of protection, especially its reputation and standing as well as the sense and prestige of the sponsored event. The above-mentioned obligations continue to apply even after termination of the contract.

(2) The parties to the contract shall inform each other immediately of all circumstances that could be of importance for the execution of this contract.

(3) In the case of individual sponsoring agreements, the contracting parties to the shall treat the content, especially the services that are owed in conjunction with it, as confidential with regard to third parties. In order to safeguard the interests of one or both contracting parties that are worthy of protection or due to mandatory statutory provisions, the disclosure of contractual agreements of any kind to third parties is only permitted with the prior, express written consent of the other contracting party. This obligation shall continue to apply even after termination of the contract.

14. Statute of limitations regarding the assertion of claims
All claims of the sponsors with regard to VDI Wissensforum have to be asserted immediately, at the latest 4 weeks after the end of the event.

15. Liability
VDI Wissensforum is liable for intent and gross negligence. Insofar as the negligence concerns the violation of essential contractual obligations (so-called cardinal obligations), VDI Wissensforum is liable for damages caused by simple negligence. In this case, claims for damages are limited (in amount) to the typical, foreseeable damage at the time the contract was concluded. In this context, VDI Wissensforum is not liable for the compensation of indirect damages and consequential damages caused by defects, especially the compensation of loss of profit. Damages resulting from mortal danger, physical injury or risks to health are excluded from the aforementioned exclusions of liability.

VDI Wissensforum does not guarantee that the advertising and image-related sponsoring will achieve the advertising effect intended by the sponsor. Your liability under this contract is limited to intent and gross negligence.

16. Place of jurisdiction and applicable law
T
he legal relationship of the contracting parties from or in connection with the contract is subject to the law of the Federal Republic of Germany, excluding the UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods. The place of jurisdiction for legal disputes arising from or in connection with the contract is Dusseldorf.

17. Severability clause
If a provision of the contract is or becomes ineffective or unenforceable, either in whole or in part, the rest of the contract shall remain unaffected. The ineffective or unenforceable provision shall be replaced with retroactive effect by the valid provision which the parties would have agreed upon from an economic point of view if they had been aware of the ineffectiveness or unenforceability of the provision at the time the contract was concluded. The same applies to any loophole in the contract.

18. Use of your data
Reference is made to our general information concerning the use of your data at www.vdiconference.com/privacy-policy-speakers-exhibitors/