General Terms and Conditions of Participation

INFORMATICS FESTIVAL 2026

September 22-25, 2026, at the Technical University of Dresden 

1. Scope of Application

These contractual conditions (hereinafter referred to as "Terms of Participation") apply to participation in the event INFORMATICS FESTIVAL 2026 (hereinafter referred to as "Event"), which is offered via the Converve platform (hybrid event platform) and conducted in Dresden as a hybrid event from September 22-25, 2026, at the Technical Univesity of Dresden, Andreas-Pfitzmann-Bau, Nöthnitzer Str. 46, 01187 Dresden. 

The registration platform is provided technically by Converve GmbH, Bahnhofstrasse 3, 25355 Barmstedt.

The organizer of the selected event is:
Gesellschaft für Informatik e.V. (GI)
Bonn Office
Science Center
Ahrstraße 45
53175 Bonn

(hereinafter referred to as the "Organizer").

The Organizer expressly rejects any deviating contractual conditions of participants, companies, or organizations on whose behalf a participant is acting.

By registering for an event of GI, you accept the following General Terms and Conditions of Participation, regardless of whether the respective event is held in person or online. This also applies to events that GI organizes in cooperation with partners.

2. Eligibility for Participation

Events of GI are generally aimed at different target groups within our association. In principle, any person who has reached the age of 18 may participate in GI events. For participants under 18, the duty of supervision remains with the legal guardians and must be ensured through appropriate measures.

Any specific restrictions on participation in individual events can be found in the respective print and online publications. Non-members of GI are generally treated equally to members and are also eligible to participate.

3. Registration

Registration for a GI event must be made in writing, usually online via a web registration form on the Converve platform. Other communication channels may be available in individual cases. For the event, the Converve platform will handle the registration process.

By registering, participants declare their intention to participate in the selected event. However, registration does not guarantee participation. The Organizer reserves the right to reject registrations without providing reasons.

All registrations are processed in the order in which they are received. If all event spots (workshops, etc.) are fully booked, a written or oral notification will be provided, or an indication will be displayed during the online registration process. GI reserves the right to make last-minute changes to individual events or program items.

Binding registration periods, booking options, and conditions (e.g., membership, early bird, late registration, day tickets, accompanying persons, special fees) are published in GI's print and/or online publications for the respective events.

After registration, each participant receives a written confirmation with a summary of the booked services. Participation in an event becomes legally binding only after confirmation by email from the Organizer, even if the event is free of charge. Registration for an event is personal and non-transferable without the Organizer's written consent.

4. Participation Fees / Invoicing

If participation is subject to a fee, the Organizer charges the participation fee as stated on the platform. The invoice is sent after registration to the provided email address. Any subsequent change to the billing address incurs a processing fee of 25 EUR.

Participation is only guaranteed if the invoice amount has been received in full before or at the latest by the start of the event. On-site payment is generally not possible. The prices listed on the invoice are final prices. As GI is a non-profit association, invoices do not include VAT.

5. Third-Party Services

If GI merely mediates third-party services (e.g., for a supporting program), it assumes no liability for the proper execution of these services or any actions or omissions of third parties. Contractual claims exist solely against the respective service provider (e.g., for hotel bookings).

6. Cancellation and Refunds

Program details are subject to change unless they significantly alter the overall nature of the event. Changes in speakers (except in events with only one speaker) are considered minor modifications. The cancellation of an event, e.g., due to speaker unavailability or insufficient participation, remains reserved.

If the participation is subject to a fee, the Organizer will refund paid fees in full if an event is canceled without substitution. If part of an event series is canceled, a proportional refund will be issued.

Participants who do not attend an event or do not use certain booked services are not entitled to a refund.

Participants may cancel their participation free of charge up to four weeks before the event by written notice. After this deadline, the Organizer will charge a 20% processing fee, refunding the difference where applicable. This applies to both in-person and virtual/hybrid events.

Refunds of participation fees will generally be processed only after the event, unless otherwise stated for a specific event. Any bank fees incurred are the participant's responsibility.

Force majeure events (e.g., pandemics, strikes, riots, war, government measures) release both parties from their obligations to the extent and duration of the disruption. The contract does not automatically terminate, and both parties must adapt their obligations in good faith.

7. House Rules / Exclusion from Participation / Netiquette

GI reserves the right to exclude participants from an event and to exercise house rules. Grounds for exclusion include endangering other participants. In online events, GI reserves the right to delete or comment on publicly visible chat contributions that violate netiquette standards.

8. Photo and Video Documentation

At GI events, photos and videos are taken, stored, processed and used for documentation purposes. These recordings can be used in the course of the event, but they can also be published in GI publications or as part of press coverage (print and online). GI events - especially in digital formats - are broadcast live online and may be made publicly accessible afterwards. By registering for a GI event, participants agree to possibly being depicted in these contexts. This also applies in particular to online events that are held with cameras switched on. Further information on this can be found in our privacy policy.

9. Special Terms for In-Person Events / Hygiene Regulations

Your safety and health is our top priority. In order to protect you and others from the risk of infection in the best possible way during our face-to-face events, we rely on your cooperation. Please familiarize yourself with the following rules of conduct and hygiene. Our employees are required to pay close attention to compliance with the rules. We reserve the right to exclude you from our events if you do not comply with the rules or if you show recognizable cold or flu-like symptoms. The following applies in principle:

• The regulations for on-site events are issued by the federal states in their state ordinances. Please check the provisions and regulations applicable in the respective federal state at the time of the event.
• Ensure compliance with basic hygiene measures such as hand washing and hand disinfection, coughing and sneezing etiquette and avoiding shaking hands.
• Maintain a distance of at least 1.50 meters from other people. Please observe the floor markings and signs.
• If the minimum distance is not ensured, please wear a suitable mask in accordance with the applicable regulations and bring it with you to the event. This applies in particular when entering the rooms, on paths and when leaving your seat. The mask may only be removed at the seat - as instructed by the organizer - as this is where the minimum distance to other people is maintained.
• Only take part in the event if you feel completely healthy. If you experience symptoms typical of corona during the event, such as respiratory symptoms, fever or sudden loss of sense of taste or smell, please contact our staff immediately.
• If possible, please travel alone by car. When using public transportation, please observe the general hygiene rules.
• In order to be able to trace any chains of infection, all participants must register on site.

10. Special Terms for Online Events

The participant shall ensure an internet connection and the minimum technical requirements specified on the platform and/or the event website for the duration of participation in an event.The participant may communicate with other participants and publish content, depending on the services offered at an event.
When participating in an event and using the platform, the participant shall comply with the statutory provisions (e.g. competition law) and shall not infringe any third-party rights (e.g. copyrights, personal rights).
If claims are made against the organizer by third parties in connection with the participant's use of the platform or the publication of its content, the participant shall indemnify the organizer against such claims and reimburse the organizer for the reasonable costs of legal defense.
The participant shall receive individual access data from the organizer for the use of the platform. The participant shall keep these access data secret. The participant is not permitted to participate in an event with more than one person or to pass on or share their access data.
For this purpose, the participant grants the organizer a simple, irrevocable right of use, unlimited in terms of space, time and content and transferable to third parties, to reproduce, distribute, make publicly accessible and edit such content that the participant shares and/or publishes in the context of using the platform or participating in an event.
In the context of participation in an event, the participant is authorized to permanently store such content for personal professional purposes, which the organizer provides to the participant with a download function and/or sends to the participant by e-mail. Otherwise, the permanent storage of event content, in particular livestreamed lectures, is prohibited.

Participants are not authorized to distribute and/or publicly reproduce for commercial purposes any content, in particular participant data and event documents, which the organizer provides to the participant with a download function or sends to the participant by e-mail.

11. Liability

The organizer shall not be liable for slightly negligent breaches of obligations that are not material contractual obligations, i.e. obligations whose fulfilment is essential for the proper execution of the contract and on whose compliance the participant may regularly rely.
To the extent permitted by law, liability for slightly negligent breaches of duty relating to the provision of the platform or its content is excluded.
The above limitations of liability apply analogously to damages caused by authorized auxiliary persons, in particular partners. The organizer is not liable for the actions of users or other third parties. Such third parties also do not act as vicarious agents of the organizer. Liability for indirect and consequential damages is excluded to the extent permitted by law.
The Organizer's liability for intent, gross negligence, personal injury and in accordance with mandatory statutory provisions remains unaffected by the above limitations of liability.

12. Final Provisions

The law of the Federal Republic of Germany shall apply. Should one or more provisions of the contract be or become invalid, this shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions.
The Organizer shall notify the Participant of any changes to these Terms and Conditions in text form; notification of the fact of the change as such and a link to the amended General Platform Terms and Conditions shall suffice. If the Participant does not object to the amendment in text form within 14 days of notification of the amendment, this shall be deemed to constitute acceptance of the amendment; the Organizer shall make reference to this in the amendment notifications.
The place of jurisdiction for all disputes arising from this contract is Bonn.

If you have any questions, please contact our team (jahrestagung@gi.de).

Bonn/Berlin, February 2026