American Express Makeathon 2024

Introduction

These are the official rules for the American Express Makeathon 2024 that is being conducted by HackerEarth Inc. (‘HackerEarth’) on behalf of American Express. Your participation in the hackathon will constitute your acceptance of these rules. By accepting these rules, you are entering into a binding agreement with American Express. The hackathon is sponsored by American Express, hereby known as ‘Hackathon Organizer’ and hosted by HackerEarth Inc. Additionally, you must read and provide your consent to HackerEarth’s Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Eligibility

The hackathon is open to women students graduating in the year 2025 & 2026.

Definitions

• Hackathon name: American Express Makeathon 2024
• Hackathon Organizer: American Express
• HackerEarth hackathon platform: Innovation-management platform on which the American Express Makeathon 2024 is hosted—HackerEarth Sprint
• HackerEarth Inc.: Also known as HackerEarth; the owner of www.hackerearth.com and the innovation-management platform on which the American Express Makeathon 2024 is hosted
• Maximum Team size: 5 Maximum number of participants that can be part of a team
• Participant: Each individual who has registered for the Hackathon including the members of teams that are formed for the hackathon
• Privacy Policy: Legal document that describes how HackerEarth gathers and manages participant data
• Submission: Solutions that you submit for the problem statement of the American Express Makeathon 2024
• Team: Group of participants who will participate collectively in the American Express Makeathon 2024 and women only
• Terms of Service: Rules that you must follow while using HackerEarth’s services
• www.hackerearth.com: HackerEarth’s platform on which you must sign up to be able to participate in the Hackathon

   

Hackathon deadlines are subject to change and additional deadlines may be introduced during the hackathon. Any additional or altered deadlines, not already described in these rules, will be updated on the hackathon website for the participant’s information and the participant will be bound by such changes.

Single Account Only

Each registered individual or member of a team is referred to as a participant. Participants may only participate using a single, unique HackerEarth account registered at http://www.hackerearth.com. Participating in the hackathon using more than one HackerEarth account per individual participant is a breach of these rules and the Hackathon Organizer reserves the right to disqualify any participant or team that includes the participant who has breached these rules.

Data Collection

HackerEarth will collect your personal information as specified by the Hackathon Organizer. This data includes but is not limited to the following:

• Email address
• Display name
• User profile URL
• Information contained in your user profile
• Any other information collected during registration for the Hackathon
• All the submissions made during the hackathon including any personally identifiable information (e.g. passport number, PAN card, Aadhaar number, etc.) that the submissions may contain

Teams

A participant has to collaborate with more than one participant to form a team. Each team member must be a single individual with a single, active HackerEarth account. Each team member must register individually for the hackathon before joining a team. Teams may not exceed the maximum team size specified by the Hackathon Organizer.

Team Size

For the purpose of the hackathon, the Hackathon Organizer has determined that the maximum participants in a team will be limited to 5 (five) participants. If a team has more than 5 participants, it will be disqualified by the Hackathon Organizer. This is not applicable for teams that meet the 5-participant limit.

Team Formation

Click View Team -> Choose to Build a team OR Join a Team - Follow either of the below processes:

-->Invite your friends using the email ID -> Check the profiles and invite them via their email ID - Send Invite.

-->Browse all participants-> Form teams with pre-registered members.

-->You can also join a team by selecting the relevant option from the left panel.

-->Once you have formed the team, click on the Submit Your Idea Option on the main landing page.

Submissions

As part of the hackathon, participants are required to submit their material on the platform made available for this purpose. Submissions may include ideas, prototypes, and applications. All submissions that the participants make must be original and unique. All submissions must be made on or before the deadline and must meet all the guidelines defined for this purpose. Since the hackathon is being conducted in multiple phases, the relevant submissions must be made on or before the end of each phase in the format defined on the hackathon website.

Ethics and Code of Conduct

Participating in a hackathon using multiple HackerEarth accounts is a violation of the hackathon rules and will result in the disqualification of the team and/or the participant by the Hackathon Organizer. Upon disqualification, each participant’s access to the HackerEarth Community will be terminated for an indefinite period. Using any unfair means (e.g., having someone else log in using your credentials and submit a project on your behalf) during the hackathon will result in your disqualification from the hackathon and from any other hackathons that may be affected by your actions. You are not allowed to share your submission, code, or data with anybody who does not belong to your team.

Data and Resources (to be shared if deemed necessary by the Hackathon Organizer)

This refers to the following: data, datasets, or any other resources that are provided to the participants to use during the hackathon. This may also include a prototype, executable code, or a sandbox instance. The relevant data and resources will be provided to the participants either by HackerEarth or by the Hackathon Organizer.

Rules for using Data and Resources

Participants will use data and resources only as defined by HackerEarth and/or by the Hackathon Organizer and will be published as a part of the rules. Data and resources will be used solely for the purpose of the hackathon and for the duration of the hackathon only.

• The participant will employ one or more of the following;

  • Access, read, learn, analyze, and modify the data and resources provided only on the platform and not when offline
  • Create submission(s), prototypes, and models
  • Discuss the data and resources on the hackathon website in forum discussions

• Participants are prohibited from doing the following:

  • Copying, storing or archiving the data and resources
  • Using the data and resources for any purpose other than participating in Conduent Blockchain Hackathon
  • Repackaging and selling the data and resources
  • Downloading the data and resources in bulk
  • Exploiting the data and resources in a manner that is unethical and against the spirit of hackathons

Each participant agrees that participating in the hackathon does not grant him/her the license (expressly, by implication, estoppel, or otherwise) or any right of ownership to the data and resources. The participant will use suitable measures to prevent unauthorized persons from gaining access, transmitting, duplicating, publishing, and distributing the data and resources. Each participant also agrees to notify HackerEarth in the event of any possible unauthorized transmission or access to the data and resources and agrees to work with HackerEarth and/or the Hackathon Organizer to remedy any unauthorized transmission/access.

Information Sharing

A participant may not share any information that is developed using the data and resources provided for the Hackathon privately. This includes the source code, presentations, documents etc. Sharing any such information privately is a breach of these Hackathon rules and will result in disqualification.

The participant(s) agree that the determination of an idea(s)/submission(s) as the ‘Winning Idea(s)’ and the declaration of a cash reward that is aforementioned will constitute a binding contract with valid acceptance and valid consideration. The participant(s) also agrees that all the rights, title, and interest vested in the ‘Winning Idea(s)’ and all material that is a part and parcel of the ‘Winning Idea(s)’ will stand assigned to the Hackathon Organizer.

The participant(s)/team(s) that submits the ‘Winning Idea(s)’ hereby represents to the Hackathon Organizer that no part of the submission(s) made by the participant(s)/team(s) consists of any third party asset(s) (IP or trade secrets) and that the same is free from any encumbrances/restrictions and does not necessitate the obtaining of a license, consent, or approval from any person or body corporate.

The participant(s) also represents that their participation in the hackathon is outside their working hours, their submission(s) has been created outside their working hours, and they are not bound by any contract or agreement which transfers the right of the submission(s) to their employer or any other person/entity.

The participant(s) reiterates that the Intellectual Property (IP) subsisting in, generated from, or resulting from the ‘Winning Idea(s)’ and all rights in connection with the Intellectual Property created will stand transferred or assigned in favor of Conduent Business Services LLP for further commercial or non-commercial use.

Further, the participant(s) hereby agree that the idea(s) will not be submitted to any third party during such a review period unless and until Conduent Business Services LLP has expressly declined to exploit the said rights. In the event that the Hackathon Organizer does not respond to the participant within the said 30 (thirty) day period, participants may choose to submit the same to any third party.

Note: HackerEarth or its employees will communicate with the winners directly and obtain the necessary information to facilitate the disbursement of prize money. If you participate in the hackathon as part of a team and win, then the prizes are cumulatively awarded to each participant of the team. In the case of a cash prize, the total amount is distributed equally among all the participants who are a part of the team.

Warranties and Obligations

You must adhere to the following Terms and Conditions when you are registering for the hackathon:

• Your account details must be complete and accurate
• If any information given by your team members or you during registration is incomplete or inaccurate, then:
  • Your registration may be rejected or terminated
  • All the submissions added by your team members or you will be disqualified

• The right to terminate your account and disqualify your submissions remains with the Hackathon Organizer

• Participation in hackathons is subject to local laws and regulations. You are solely responsible for the following:

  • Checking and analyzing laws and regulations that are applicable to you before participating in the hackathon. This allows you to verify that your participation and any receipt of awards is legal according to the laws and regulations
  • All taxes and reports related to awards or receipts that you may receive as a part of the hackathon
  • Adhering to your employer’s policies of participating in hackathons. The Hackathon Organizer can deny the liability or responsibility of any hackathon-related disputes that may occur between your employer and you. These disputes may lead to the termination of your account and disqualification of your submissions

• Each participant is solely responsible for (but not limited to) the following during the hackathon:

  • Working computer and Internet connection required to access the hackathon website, develop a prototype, and upload submissions during the online hackathon that the participant can participate in from anywhere
  • Fees associated with services such as availability of telephones, data and resources, hosts etc. during the online hackathon
  • All costs incurred by you or on your behalf while participating in the online hackathon

• While submitting the idea and the code (if shortlisted), you represent and warrant that:

  • All the information entered by you on the platform is true and complete to the best of your knowledge
  • You have the right and authority to add a submission for yourself or on the behalf of the persons and entities that you have specified in the submission
  • You have granted an unrestricted license to HackerEarth and the Hackathon Organizer to verify and evaluate your submission

• You also declare and represent that your submission:

  • Represents your original work or is used by the permission of a specific person. If you have used another participant’s submission with their permission, then you must give them credit for their work
  • Does not:
    • Violate or infringe upon the patent rights (registered and pending), industrial design rights, copyrights, trademarks, privacy rights, publicity rights, intellectual rights, any other Intellectual Property rights, and any other rights of any person or entity and does not violate any applicable law, statute, ordinance, rule, or regulation
    • Constitute use of any third party’s confidential/non-public information
    • Contain malicious code, potentially harmful programs such as viruses, time bombs, cancelbots, worms, trojan horses, etc.
    • Contain any self-help code or other disabling code
    • Trigger any reports or royalty obligations to any third party
    • Contain previously published projects and prizes or awards that were won for the same

If any of these warranties are violated by your team members/you, then it may result in the disqualification of the corresponding submission.

Limitation of Liability

By participating in the hackathon, each participant agrees to release, indemnify, and hold harmless HackerEarth and the Hackathon Organizer, their respective affiliates, subsidiaries, advertising and promotions agencies, as applicable, and each of their respective agents, representatives, officers, directors, shareholders, and employees from and against any injuries, losses, damages, claims, actions, and any liability of any kind resulting from or arising out of your participation in or association with the hackathon.

• You agree that the Hackathon Organizer is not responsible for any miscommunication that may occur during the hackathon because of:

  • Technical failures related to computers, telephones, or cables
  • Unavailability of network or server connections
  • Technical failures due to the hardware issues, software issues, or viruses
  • Incomplete, late, or misdirected submissions

• The Hackathon Organizer reserves the rights to cancel, modify, or suspend the hackathon due to any of the following:

  • Computer viruses
  • Bugs
  • Any technical difficulties that are beyond the control of the Hackathon Organizer
  • Technical difficulties that can affect the administration, security, or execution of the hackathon
• A submission may not be eligible to win a prize if it is affected by/falls under the following criteria:
  • Late, lost, stolen, damaged, distorted, incomplete, incorrect, or misdirected submissions and communication
  • Errors, omissions, interruptions, deletions, defects, or delays in operations or during transmission of information irrespective of whether these difficulties have occurred because of technical failures or malfunctions of computer hardware, software, communication devices, or transmission lines
  • Data corruption, theft, loss, destruction, and alteration of submission details
  • Unauthorized access to submissions
  • Undelivered electronic communication or emails because of any active or passive filters applied or insufficient space in the email account to which the email was sent
  • Any damage to a computer system during participation or while accessing or downloading information

Reservation of Rights

The Hackathon Organizer reserves the right to:

• Modify the start date and end date of the hackathon
• Add or remove additional deadlines related to the hackathon
• Modify or add data to the hackathon website

All material changes to timelines and/or hackathon rules will be communicated by updating the hackathon website and sending out an email notification. However, if you do not receive an email notification for reasons outside our control (like incorrect email address, issues with your ISP, email going to the Spam folder, etc.), HackerEarth and the Hackathon Organizer are not responsible for the same or any claims arising therefrom and the participants agree to waive any such claim.