0. Definitions
Event: an event operated, organized, sponsored or held by or on behalf of WBCSD including, but without limitation, a conference, exhibition, convention, congress, summit, seminar, webinar, meeting, workshop, dinner, public training and private or bespoke training, shows, whether in person, online, or in whatever format.
Event Venue: the premises at which an Event is held.
Force Majeure: an event, circumstance, or cause beyond WBSCD’s reasonable control and which is likely to affect the successful delivery of the Event or would make it inadvisable, impracticable, illegal, or impossible for WBSCD to host the Event or perform our obligations under these GTCs.
GTCs: the present general terms and conditions as amended from time to time in accordance with clause 9.1.
Participant: any individual specified on the registration and, as applicable, any other person acting or purporting to act on Participant’s behalf, who attends an Event in any capacity.
Related Persons: shall have the meaning set forth in clause 9 below.
WBCSD: World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), including all its international offices.
1. Scope
1.0 The GTCs apply to all Events organized and/or held by WBCSD including any online, in-person, and/or hybrid meetings, whether such Events take place on its premises, outdoors or indoors. For the avoidance of doubt, the GTCs apply without limitation to all Events organized and/or held by WBCSD or by a third party on behalf of WBCSD. The GTCs are in addition to any terms and conditions established by the Venue or specific to the Event.
1.1 Participants attending an Event with guests or accompanying persons acknowledge that they are responsible for informing them of these GTCs and any referenced contractual documents referred to herein. Any violation of these GTCs and/or related contractual documents by any such guests or accompanying persons will be considered as their own, without prejudice to any rights or claims against such guests or accompanying persons.
2. Attendance requirements and code of conduct
2.0 Participants acknowledge and accept the risks and dangers inherent in attending the Event. Participants are required to pay the maximum attention and exert the maximum due care and prudence in and near the Event Venue.
2.1 Participants acknowledge and accept they are, at all times, responsible for their own safety and for the safety of any accompanying guests while attending the Event.
2.2 Each Participant shall observe the rules, policies and procedures of the Event Venue including in relation to health and safety and any reasonable instructions issued by WBCSD and/or the management of the Event Venue.
2.3 Each Participant shall behave in a respectful, professional and appropriate way that does not breach the laws or regulations of their home country or of the host country or that of WBCSD or that risks bringing the Event or WBSCD into disrepute.
2.4 These GTCs are intended to outline the expectations for professional decorum at Events organized or sponsored by WBCSD or a third party on behalf of WBCSD. WBCSD prides itself on creating an environment of kindness and mutual respect.
2.5 Harassment will not be tolerated in any form, including but not limited to harassment based on gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, age, religion, political beliefs or any other status protected by all applicable laws.
2.6 By registering and/or participating to an Event, each Participant shall be deemed as having fully read, understood and adhered to WBCSD’s antitrust policy, as available on WBCSD’s website and as amended from time to time, and to abide by its provisions. In particular (and without prejudice to the provisions of said policy), Participants shall under no circumstances engage in any behavior, agreement, or conversation that is prohibited under applicable antitrust and/or competition laws during (including immediately before and after) an Event.
2.7 WBCSD reserves the right to refuse admittance to or expel any individual that it determines is behaving in a manner that could be unprofessional, disruptive, pose any danger to any other Participant or would be considered by WBCSD as being contrary to any provision of these GTCs. Participant consents and agrees that in such an event, it shall not oppose, challenge or hinder its expulsion and shall not be entitled to a refund of any portion of amounts paid or to any compensation.
2.8 Participants and third parties are expected to be honest and transparent in their interactions with other Participants, to the extent permissible by law.
3. Safety protocols
Participants’ admission to the Event Venue is subject to any health and safety policies, assessments, precautions and/or protocols put in put in place by local, state and federal governmental agencies, WBCSD, by a third-party engaged by WBCSD or organizing an Event on its behalf, and/or the management of the Event Venue, including requirements relating to face masks and/or enhanced health screenings, which may include a requirement that Participant, and any accompanying guests, be tested for the relevant pandemic prior to or during the Event and/or provide proof of vaccination against relevant pandemic, (the “Safety Protocols”). Participant acknowledges and agrees to comply with the Safety Protocols. Failure to comply with Safety Protocols shall automatically terminate any rights that Participant may have hereunder. Breach of any of the terms herein shall entitle WBCSD and the management of the Event Venue to all available legal remedies in addition to its rights under Article 2.7 above.
4. Filming, photography & recordings
4.0 WBCSD or its representatives may take photographs, video footage or recordings of Participants and/or Related Persons during Events. Where applicable, WBCSD informs Participants in the registration form that such photographs, video footage or recordings may be taken. These GTCs constitute such information in all other cases.
4.1 By attending an Event, Participants grant permission to WBCSD and its representatives to take photographs, video footage or recordings at such Event, whether in the public areas of the Events or during panels or sessions, including (without limitation) when Events or specific panels or sessions are open to the media.
4.2 Participants agree that such photographs, video footage or recordings may be made available to the public and/or used in communications, reports, archiving and/or documentation in relation to WBCSD activities.
4.3 Where sessions are recorded for other specific purposes than the ones above, notably in order to facilitate the taking of minutes, WBCSD will inform the Participants beforehand and the recordings will be deleted after their purpose was fulfilled.
4.4 Unless otherwise agreed between WBCSD and the relevant party, WBCSD has the sole and exclusive right to use, reproduce, exhibit, display, broadcast, distribute and/or create derivative works of any photographs, video footage, recordings, electronic images or publicity material received by or obtained by WBCSD in the course of or in relation to the Event, for whatever use deemed proper by WBCSD, including (without limitation) in any media or social media platform.
4.5 WBCSD has the sole and exclusive right to include photographs, video footage, recordings and other visual portrayals of Participants, sponsors, exhibitors and their exhibits including its contents, in any pictorial medium of any nature whatsoever for the purpose of advertising and otherwise, without further compensation to the Participants, speaker, sponsor or exhibitor, and all rights titles and interest bearing (including all worldwide copyrights therein) will be WBCSD’s sole property, free of any claims of Participant, speaker, exhibitor or sponsor or any persons deriving any rights or interest from the Participant, speaker, exhibitor or sponsor, including any right to inspect or approve the use of the photographs, video footage or recordings.
5. Personal property
5.0 Participants are solely responsible for the safekeeping of their personal property and, as such, WBCSD, WBCSD Offices, the Event Venue, or any other person involved in the organization of the Event do not accept any responsibility or liability for any loss, theft, or damage of Participants’ personal property while at the Event Venue. Participants will release WBCSD, WBCSD Offices, Event Venue, and any other persons involved in the organization of the Event from any liability for any loss or damage to personal property they may suffer in relation to their attendance at the Event.
6. Personal information and use
6.0 By accepting these GTCs, Participants hereby acknowledge that they have read and agreed to the contents of WBCSD’s Privacy Policy, available at https://www.wbcsd.org/privacy-policy/
6.1 WBCSD shall only use, process, store and transfer personal information and data provided by Participants or a third party strictly in accordance with WBCSD’s Data Privacy Policy and applicable laws.
6.2 Participants and third parties acknowledge that WBCSD may share their personal information and data with (a) WBCSD Offices, b) event sponsors, c) third parties providing specific services to the Event Venue, including management of the Event Venue, d) media partners, e) relevant authorities, such as police and security personnel, for safety and security reasons, which may include security checks on the names of Participants. Participants consent to their personal data being shared with such parties and agree and acknowledge that such parties may contact Participants in the future.
6.3 CCTV may be in use in the Event Venue(s) for the purpose of crime prevention and public safety. Participants and third parties consent that WBCSD may use such images for the purpose of maintaining and investigating safety and security at the Event Venue(s). Such CCTV recording shall be used, stored, transferred, and destroyed in accordance with applicable laws.
7. Intellectual property rights
7.0 Participants and third parties receive no rights to use, license, assign or transfer any intellectual property rights of WBCSD including, without limitation, the names, trademarks or logos of WBCSD. Participants and third parties agree that any unauthorized use, licensing, assignment or transfer of any intellectual property rights of WBCSD is a breach of these GTCs and may be a criminal offence under applicable laws.
7.1 Nothing in these GTCs grants Participants or third parties a right or license to use any trademark, design right or copyright owned or controlled by WBCSD or any other third party except as expressly provided.
7.2 WBCSD owns all the intellectual property rights and materials contained on its WBCSD website, and all such rights are reserved. All copyright, trademarks, design rights, patents, and any other intellectual property rights (registered and unregistered) in and on the WBCSD website belong to WBCSD and/or third parties.
7.3 Any copyright, trademarks, design rights, patents and any other intellectual property rights (registered and unregistered) in and on any logos, creations, ideas, sketches, slides, presentations, images, pictures, videos or any other creation of any form that may be generated during or in connection with an Event shall be the sole and exclusive property of WBCSD except as expressly provided.
8. Use of instant messaging applications
8.0 For the purposes of facilitating communication during the Event, WBCSD may use instant messaging applications (such as WhatsApp) and create groups chats to share practical information and real-time updates. Participation in these groups is entirely voluntary. By joining such groups, Participants acknowledge that their phone number, profile picture and information, and any message they choose to post will be visible to other group members and that WBCSD cannot guarantee privacy and data protection on such groups. Further details on how these groups are managed, including data protection considerations, can be found in the Disclaimer on WhatsApp Use which forms an integral part of these GTCs.
9. Exclusion and limitation of responsibility
9.0 To the maximum extent permitted by applicable laws, Participants on behalf of themselves and their heirs, executors, administrators, assigns, and any person accompanying Participants (the “Related Persons”) acknowledge and agree that WBCSD shall not be held liable or responsible for any injury, loss, damage, or claim sustained by the Participants or Related Persons while participating in any Event hosted, organized or sponsored by WBCSD or by a third party on behalf of WBCSD.
9.1 Participants and Related Persons expressly assume any and all risks associated with participation in such Events, including but not limited to, risks of personal injury, property damage, or any other loss that may be incurred.
9.2 Personal arrangements including travel, accommodation or hospitality relating to attendance at the Event which have been arranged by or on behalf of the Participants and Related Persons are at Participants’ and Related Persons’ own responsibility and risk.
9.3 To the maximum extent permitted by applicable laws, the Participants and Related Persons hereby agree to release, indemnify, and hold harmless WBCSD, WBCSD Offices, including but not limited to, its officers, directors, employees, agents, and volunteers from any and all claims, actions, suits, demands, costs, and liabilities arising out of or related to any injury, loss, damage, or claim incurred during participation in the Events.
9.4 This indemnity shall extend to any claims or liabilities asserted by Participants and Related Persons. Participants acknowledge that they have carefully read and fully understand the terms of this indemnity and agree to be bound by its provisions.
9.5 This indemnity shall be binding upon Participants and Related Persons.
9.6 Neither WBCSD, WBCSD Offices or any other person involved in the organization of the Event shall be responsible or liable to Participants and/or Related Persons for any failure to perform any obligation under these GTCs unless for gross negligence or willful misconduct.
9.7 In any case, neither WBCSD, WBCSD Offices or any other person involved in the organization of the Event shall be responsible or liable to Participants and/or Related Persons for any failure to perform any obligation under these GTCs to the extent that the failure is caused by an event of Force Majeure.
9.8 Neither WBCSD, its WBCSD Offices, their staff or any other person involved in the organization of the Event shall be responsible or liable to Participants and/or Related Persons for any incidental and indirect losses or damages including, but not limited to, loss of employment, goodwill, or profit and/or travel, parking or accommodation expenses.
9.9 WBCSD, its WBCSD Offices or any other person involved in the organization of the Event shall not be liable for any breach by Participants or Related Persons of these GTCs. If a Participant or Related Person causes WBCSD or a third party (including another Participant or Related Person) to incur loss, damage, costs, or expense due to breach of these GTCs or otherwise, then the Participant or Related Person shall be liable to WBCSD, respectively to the third party for such loss, damage, costs or expense.
9.10 Except as required by applicable law, WBCSD, WBCSD Offices or any other person involved in the organization of the Event shall have no other liability to Participants or Related Person.
9.11 WBCSD reserves the right to make changes to the agenda, format, speakers, location, and any other aspect of the Event without any liability to Participant or Related Persons. In such a case, WBCSD shall not be liable for any loss, liability, damage, or expense suffered by Participants or Related Persons. WBCSD will in its sole discretion return any money paid to WBCSD in connection with Event.
10. Amendments and severability
10.0 WBCSD may make amendments to the GTCs from time to time. Any such amendments shall be posted on WBSCD’s website. Amendments will be effective immediately on the amended GTCs being posted on WBSCD’s website and Participants will be deemed to have accepted them if they attend any Event.
11. Severability and interpretation
11.0 If any provision of these GTCs should be found to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect. The invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision shall be replaced with a valid one that best reflects its original intent to the closest extent permissible by law.
12. Governing law and jurisdiction
12.0 These GTCs, including their validity, interpretation and performance, are subject to the material rules of Swiss law, excluding conflict of laws rules.
12.1 Any dispute, controversy or claim arising out of or in connection with these GTCs shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the ordinary courts of the Canton of Geneva, any appeal to the Swiss Supreme Court being reserved.