Terms & Conditions

1. About These Terms and Acceptance

Connect Events (the "Platform") is a digital ticketing platform for Connect's global summit events, available at events.byconnect.io. The Platform is operated by Connect Marketing FZE, a Free Zone Establishment incorporated in the United Arab Emirates under trade licence no. 4418442.01 ("Connect", "we", "us", or "our").

These Terms and Conditions (the "Terms") govern your access to and use of the Platform, including browsing events, signing in, purchasing tickets, and attending events. By accessing the Platform, signing in, or completing a purchase, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms.

If you do not agree with these Terms, you must not use the Platform or purchase tickets through it.

2. Definitions

In these Terms, the following words have the meanings set out below:

• "Platform" means Connect Events, the digital ticketing platform operated by us and available at events.byconnect.io.
• "Ambassador" means a registered Connect ambassador whose membership is recorded in the Connect BackOffice system.
• "BackOffice" means Connect's membership and distributor management system, used to verify Ambassador status.
• "Event" means a Connect summit or other event for which Tickets are made available on the Platform.
• "Ticket" means a digital ticket issued through the Platform, bearing a unique ticket ID and QR code and admitting a single named Attendee.
• "Order" means a request to purchase one or more Tickets, together with the associated payment and metadata.
• "Attendee" means the named individual to whom a Ticket is issued and who is admitted to the Event.
• "NOWPayments" means the third-party cryptocurrency payment processor used to process payments on the Platform.
• "Privacy Policy" means the Connect Events Privacy Policy, which describes how we collect, use, share, and protect personal data.

3. Eligibility, Ambassador Access and Sign-In

Browsing the Platform is open to the public. Purchasing Tickets, however, is restricted to registered Connect Ambassadors. Checkout requires you to sign in, and your Ambassador status is verified against the Connect BackOffice system before you may complete a purchase.

To sign in, you provide your Connect Ambassador email address. We verify your membership and email you a one-time code (OTP), which you must enter to authenticate. One-time codes are personal to you, are valid for a short period only, and must not be shared with anyone. You are responsible for maintaining the security of the email account associated with your Ambassador profile and for all activity conducted through your sign-in.

The Platform is intended for registered Ambassadors who are adults aged 18 or over. It is not directed at, and must not be used by, children under 18.

4. Tickets

All Tickets are digital only. Each Ticket is issued to a specific named Attendee and carries a unique ticket ID and QR code. Tickets are non-transferable and admit only the named holder.

When purchasing, you must provide accurate and complete attendee names for each Ticket. Tickets are validated at entry by QR check-in, and admission is granted only to the named Attendee. You are responsible for ensuring the details you provide are correct; a Ticket bearing incorrect attendee details may be refused at entry.

• Digital only, delivered through the Platform.
• Issued to a named Attendee with a unique ticket ID and QR code.
• Non-transferable; the named holder may not sell, assign, or pass the Ticket to another person.
• Admits only the named Attendee, verified by QR check-in at the door.

5. Prices and Payment

Ticket prices are displayed at checkout and are denominated in US Dollars (USD). The price shown at checkout is the total amount payable for the Tickets in your Order; we charge no separate service fee and add no tax.

Payment is accepted in cryptocurrency only and is processed by NOWPayments, a third-party payment processor. Supported assets include USDT, USDC, BTC, and ETH. Each Order is assigned a unique deposit address, and payment must be sent to that address. Cryptocurrency transactions are subject to network confirmation times, network fees, and price volatility; you are responsible for sending the correct amount and for any network fees. An Order is confirmed, and Tickets are issued, only after the on-chain payment has been confirmed.

Connect does not receive or store card numbers or wallet private keys. Your use of NOWPayments is subject to NOWPayments' own terms and policies, and we are not responsible for the acts or omissions of that processor.

6. Promotional Codes

From time to time we may make promotional discount codes available. Promotional codes are optional, may be subject to a limited number of redemptions, and may be restricted, suspended, or withdrawn at any time.

Promotional codes have no cash value, cannot be exchanged for cryptocurrency or any other consideration, and may only be applied at checkout in the manner we specify. We reserve the right to refuse or reverse a discount where a code is used in error, is invalid or expired, or is applied in breach of these Terms or the code's stated conditions.

7. Refunds, Cancellations and Changes to Events

All sales are final and non-refundable. Once an Order is confirmed and Tickets are issued, the purchase cannot be reversed, and the Platform does not provide a refund mechanism. Please review your Order, attendee details, and the Event details carefully before paying.

Events are subject to change. Where reasonably necessary, we may alter the date, time, venue, format, program, speakers, or other details of an Event, and we will use reasonable efforts to notify affected Ticket holders using the contact details associated with the Order. A change to Event details does not, by itself, entitle a Ticket holder to a refund.

If Connect cancels an Event, affected Ticket holders will be contacted regarding the options available to them at that time. We do not promise or guarantee an automatic cryptocurrency refund; any remedy or option offered following a cancellation or significant change will be communicated directly to affected holders.

8. Attendee Conduct and Admission

Admission to an Event is subject to entry checks and to the reasonable instructions of Connect and Event staff. The named Attendee must present a valid Ticket QR code for check-in and, where requested, proof of identity confirming that they are the named holder.

We operate admission control at our Events. We may refuse admission to, or remove from the venue, any person who cannot be validated as the named Attendee, who presents a Ticket that has already been used or is invalid, or who behaves in a manner that is unlawful, unsafe, disruptive, or otherwise in breach of these Terms or venue rules. No refund is due where admission is refused or a person is removed for such reasons.

9. Acceptable Use and Prohibited Conduct

You must use the Platform lawfully, honestly, and only for its intended purpose. When accessing or using the Platform, you must not:

• Access or attempt to access any account, Ticket, or data that is not your own, or misrepresent your identity or Ambassador status;
• Share, sell, transfer, resell, or attempt to transfer Tickets, ticket IDs, QR codes, or one-time login codes;
• Copy, reproduce, forge, tamper with, or reuse a Ticket or QR code, or attempt to gain entry with an invalid, duplicated, or fraudulent Ticket;
• Circumvent, disable, or interfere with sign-in, verification, payment, security, or rate-limiting controls;
• Use automated means to access, scrape, or overload the Platform, introduce malware, or otherwise disrupt its operation or security;
• Use the Platform to engage in fraud, money laundering, or any other unlawful activity, or in breach of applicable sanctions or laws.

10. Intellectual Property

The Platform and all content and materials made available through it, including text, graphics, logos, branding, designs, software, and the arrangement of the foregoing, are owned by or licensed to Connect and are protected by intellectual property laws. The names "Connect", "Connect Events", and associated marks are the property of Connect and its affiliates.

We grant you a limited, personal, non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable licence to access and use the Platform and your Tickets for their intended purpose. You may not copy, modify, distribute, sell, or create derivative works from any part of the Platform except as expressly permitted by us or by law, and all rights not expressly granted are reserved.

11. Disclaimers

The Platform is provided on an "as is" and "as available" basis. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we make no warranties or representations of any kind, whether express or implied, regarding the Platform, including as to uninterrupted or error-free operation, availability, or fitness for a particular purpose.

Cryptocurrency payments carry inherent risks, including price volatility and the irreversibility of transactions. We do not control, and are not responsible for, blockchain networks, wallet software, or the services of third parties, including NOWPayments and our hosting and email providers. We are not responsible for losses arising from incorrect payment amounts, payments sent to an incorrect address, network delays, or the acts or omissions of any third-party service.

12. Limitation of Liability and Indemnity

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, Connect and its affiliates, officers, and personnel will not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, or for any loss of profits, data, goodwill, or opportunity, arising out of or in connection with your use of the Platform, any Event, or any Ticket. Our total aggregate liability arising out of or relating to these Terms, the Platform, or any Order will not exceed the total amount paid by you for the Order giving rise to the claim. Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits any liability that cannot lawfully be excluded or limited.

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Connect and its affiliates, officers, and personnel from and against any claims, losses, liabilities, damages, costs, and expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising out of or in connection with your breach of these Terms, your misuse of the Platform or a Ticket, or your violation of any law or the rights of any third party.

13. Privacy and Data Protection

We process personal data in connection with the Platform, including your Ambassador name, email, and Connect ambassador/distributor ID obtained from the BackOffice lookup; attendee names per Ticket; order and payment metadata such as amount, status, payment reference or transaction ID, and pay currency (but not card numbers or wallet private keys); short-lived one-time login codes; technical and usage data such as the IP address used for security and rate-limiting and device or browser information; and Ticket and QR data. We do not collect card numbers or wallet private keys.

We share personal data with the service providers necessary to operate the Platform, including NOWPayments for cryptocurrency payment processing, Microsoft Azure for cloud hosting and Azure Communication Services for transactional email, and Connect BackOffice and Connect Marketing systems for Ambassador membership verification, as well as with authorities where legally required. The Platform is hosted on Microsoft Azure in the United Arab Emirates and Southeast Asia regions. The Platform uses an essential session cookie for authentication and local storage for your cart and theme preference; an optional "Stay Connected" email subscription is available on a consent basis for updates.

We handle personal data in accordance with our Privacy Policy and applicable law, including UAE Federal Decree-Law No. 45 of 2021 on the Protection of Personal Data (PDPL). Please refer to the Privacy Policy for full details of how we collect, use, share, and protect personal data and of your rights in relation to it.

14. Changes, Governing Law and General Provisions

We may update these Terms from time to time to reflect changes to the Platform, our services, or legal requirements. Where we make changes, we will post the updated Terms on the Platform, and your continued use of the Platform or purchase of Tickets after the changes take effect constitutes your acceptance of the revised Terms.

If any provision of these Terms is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue in full force and effect. Our failure to enforce any provision is not a waiver of it. These Terms, together with the Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and us regarding the Platform and supersede any prior understanding on that subject.

These Terms, and any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with them, the Platform, or any Event or Ticket, are governed by the laws of the United Arab Emirates, and the competent courts of the United Arab Emirates have jurisdiction to settle any such dispute or claim.

If you have any questions about these Terms or the Platform, please contact us at support@connect.ac.