Terms of Service

1. Acceptance of Terms

Welcome to Diamond Challenge Canada ("we," "our," or "us"). By accessing our website, registering for our competition, or participating in any of our programs, you ("you," "your," or "participant") agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"). If you do not agree to these Terms, please do not use our services or participate in our competition.

For participants under 18 years of age, a parent or legal guardian must review and agree to these Terms on behalf of the minor participant.

2. About Diamond Challenge Canada

Diamond Challenge Canada is an entrepreneurship competition designed for high school students across Canada. We provide educational resources, mentorship opportunities, and a platform for students to develop and present innovative business ideas and social impact projects.

3. Eligibility Requirements

To participate in Diamond Challenge Canada, you must meet the following criteria:

• Be enrolled in a Canadian high school (grades 9-12) or equivalent
• Be between 14-18 years of age at the time of registration
• Have parental/guardian consent if under 18
• Form teams of 2-4 students (individual participation may be permitted in special circumstances)
• Submit all required documentation and materials by specified deadlines
• Comply with all competition rules and guidelines

We reserve the right to verify eligibility at any time during the competition process.

4. Registration and Account Responsibilities

When you register for our competition:

• You must provide accurate, current, and complete information
• You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials
• You must notify us immediately of any unauthorized use of your account
• You are responsible for all activities that occur under your account
• You may not transfer your account to another person
• We reserve the right to suspend or terminate accounts that violate these Terms

5. Competition Rules and Guidelines

Submission Requirements

• All submissions must be original work created by the participating team
• Projects must fall within one of our designated competition categories
• Submissions must be completed and submitted by the specified deadlines
• All required forms and documentation must be properly completed
• Teams must be available for judging rounds and final presentations

Prohibited Content and Conduct

Participants may not submit content or engage in conduct that:

• Violates any applicable laws or regulations
• Infringes on intellectual property rights of others
• Contains harmful, offensive, or inappropriate material
• Promotes discrimination, harassment, or violence
• Includes false or misleading information
• Violates privacy rights of individuals
• Contains commercial advertising or promotional content

6. Intellectual Property Rights

Your Content

You retain ownership of your original ideas and intellectual property submitted to the competition. However, by participating, you grant us:

• A non-exclusive license to use, display, and promote your submission for competition purposes
• The right to share your project with judges, mentors, and partners
• Permission to feature winning projects in promotional materials
• The right to use participant names and likenesses for promotional purposes

Our Content

All content on our website, including text, graphics, logos, and educational materials, is owned by Diamond Challenge Canada and protected by copyright and other intellectual property laws. You may not use our content without written permission.

7. Judging and Awards

Competition judging will be conducted according to our published criteria and guidelines:

• Judges' decisions are final and binding
• We reserve the right to modify judging criteria or procedures
• Awards and prizes will be distributed according to competition results
• Prize eligibility may be subject to additional terms and conditions
• Tax obligations related to prizes are the responsibility of recipients
• We reserve the right to withhold awards for rule violations

8. Code of Conduct

All participants must adhere to our code of conduct:

• Treat all participants, judges, mentors, and staff with respect
• Maintain academic integrity and honesty in all submissions
• Follow all competition rules and guidelines
• Respect the intellectual property of others
• Participate in good faith and with genuine intent
• Report any violations or concerns to competition organizers

Violations may result in disqualification from the competition.

9. Privacy and Data Protection

Your privacy is important to us. Please review our Privacy Policy, which explains how we collect, use, and protect your personal information. By using our services, you consent to our privacy practices as described in our Privacy Policy.

10. Disclaimers and Limitations

Service Availability

We strive to maintain continuous service availability but cannot guarantee uninterrupted access to our website or services. We reserve the right to modify, suspend, or discontinue services at any time.

Educational Purpose

Our competition is designed for educational purposes. We do not guarantee business success, investment opportunities, or specific outcomes from participation.

Third-Party Content

We may provide links to third-party websites or resources. We are not responsible for the content, accuracy, or practices of external sites.

11. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, Diamond Challenge Canada shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages arising from your participation in our competition or use of our services. Our total liability shall not exceed the value of any prizes awarded to you.

12. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Diamond Challenge Canada, its organizers, partners, and affiliates from any claims, damages, or expenses arising from your participation in the competition, violation of these Terms, or infringement of third-party rights.

13. Termination

We reserve the right to terminate or suspend your participation in the competition at any time for:

• Violation of these Terms
• Fraudulent or dishonest conduct
• Failure to meet eligibility requirements
• Disruptive or inappropriate behavior
• Any other reason we deem necessary

Upon termination, your access to competition resources and eligibility for awards will cease immediately.

14. Modifications to Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time to reflect changes in our competition, legal requirements, or business practices. We will notify participants of significant changes through our website or email communications. Continued participation after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.

15. Dispute Resolution

Any disputes arising from these Terms or your participation in the competition will be resolved through:

• Initial good faith negotiations between the parties
• Mediation if direct negotiations are unsuccessful
• Binding arbitration as a final resort

All disputes will be governed by Canadian law and resolved in the province where our organization is registered.

16. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of Canada and the applicable provincial laws. Any legal proceedings must be brought in the courts of competent jurisdiction in Canada.

17. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable or invalid, the remaining provisions will continue in full force and effect. The invalid provision will be replaced with a valid provision that most closely reflects the original intent.

19. Acknowledgment

By participating in Diamond Challenge Canada, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms of Service. You also acknowledge that you have the authority to enter into this agreement (or that your parent/guardian has provided consent if you are under 18).