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Hackathon terms and conditions

Updated: 2 October 2026

These Hackathon Terms and Conditions (“Agreement”) contain the terms and conditions applicable to your and your company’s (“Company”) participation in the TM Forum Hackathon (“Hackathon”). By participating in the Hackathon, you agree to be bound by these terms. 

General

  • By registering for the Hackathon, you acknowledge that your registration does not automatically guarantee a spot at the Hackathon. The TM Forum team will review all registrations and reach out to confirm participation. A participant's spot at the Hackathon will be secured only upon receiving confirmation from the TM Forum team.
  • Each Company may designate a team participating in the Hackathon (“Team”). Members of this team will be referred to as "Hackers”. Each Team must register to participate. 
  • Each Team participating in the Hackathon must consist of a minimum of three (3) and a maximum of seven (7) participants. Teams may participate in person or in a hybrid format. Fully virtual teams may be considered by TM Forum on a case-by-case basis, subject to capacity and confirmation by TM Forum.    
  • The Hackathon operations team will share the Hackathon challenges, program and all other practical details directly with teams, along with a platform (“Platform”) and technical training at least one week prior to the Hackathon. The Hackathon will kick off on Sunday, October 4 at AT&T Corporate Headquarters in Dallas. Teams will move to the Marriott Dallas Allen when Innovate Americas 2026 opens on Tuesday, October 6. Hackathon Awards will be announced during the keynote on Wednesday, October 7.  
  • Each Team can propose a project with the tech stack provided. The result of the project (“Hackathon Submission”) will be submitted to a panel of judges. 
  • Hardware requirements and connectivity: Hackers are expected to bring their own hardware for the Hackathon. Hackers must provide any necessary converters to connect their devices to the available power and internet sources. 
  • All proprietary and intellectual property rights in any data, services or other materials provided to Hackers during the Hackathon shall remain the property of their respective owners. 
  • TM Forum will provide all Hackers with passes to the Hackathon, granting entry to the Hackathon during Hackathon hours. Hackers are responsible for their own travel and accommodation expenses. TM Forum will not cover any costs associated with attending the Hackathon.

Judging and awards

  • A panel of judges will evaluate all Hackathon Submissions. 
  • Judging timeline and presentation details will be provided by the Hackathon operations team. 
  • The panel will select finalists and a winner/winners based on the criteria provided. 
  • The judges’ decisions will be final and binding on all matters related to the Hackathon.
  • Prizes may include, as determined and announced by TM Forum or identified in applicable challenge materials, winner announcements, or prize documentation:
  • NVIDIA DGX Spark AI Supercomputers (with an approximate retail value of USD $4,699 each), which are subject to the sponsor’s separate prize terms available here;
  • a winner trophy, industry recognition, and winner and finalist certificates. 

    Prizes are awarded, provided, or fulfilled by one or more Hackathon sponsors.
  • Unless stated otherwise in writing in the applicable challenge materials or winner announcement, prizes are awarded to the winning Team or Company, as applicable, and not separately to each individual Hacker.
  • Prize receipt is subject to verification by TM Forum and, where applicable, the relevant prize sponsor, and the provision of any documentation reasonably requested by TM Forum or such prize sponsor, including identity, employment or Company authorization, tax, sanctions/export-control, eligibility, release, or prize-acceptance documentation. TM Forum may share winner information with the relevant prize sponsor as reasonably necessary to verify eligibility and fulfill the applicable prize.
  • Certain prizes are subject to separate terms imposed by the relevant prize sponsor, which will be provided to and must be accepted by the recipient as a condition of receiving that prize. In the event of any conflict between this Agreement and a sponsor’s separate prize terms with respect to that sponsor-provided prize, the sponsor’s terms will govern as between the recipient and the sponsor, and this Agreement will continue to govern the relationship between TM Forum and the Company and Hackers. Except as expressly provided by the relevant sponsor, prizes are provided “as is” without any warranty from TM Forum.
  • Each prize recipient is responsible for complying with all applicable laws, rules and regulations, sanctions, export controls, employer policies, and any applicable sponsor terms relating to participation in the Hackathon and receipt or use of any prize. Sponsor-provided prizes are also subject to the relevant sponsor’s account-opening or onboarding processes, acceptable use policies, availability, and other sponsor terms.
  • Each prize recipient is solely responsible for all taxes, duties, reporting obligations, and other governmental charges arising from the award, receipt, ownership, or use of a prize. TM Forum or the relevant prize sponsor may withhold, report, or require tax information to the extent required by applicable law.
  • Prizes are not transferable, and no cash alternative or recipient-requested prize substitution is available except where expressly stated by TM Forum in writing. A prize sponsor may substitute or modify any sponsor-provided prize with a prize of equal or greater value if the advertised prize is unavailable or cannot reasonably be awarded.
  • TM Forum may withhold, withdraw, or require forfeiture of any prize if TM Forum determines that the relevant Team, Company, or Hacker is ineligible, has not complied with this Agreement or applicable sponsor terms, has not provided required documentation, or cannot lawfully receive or use the prize. TM Forum is not responsible for any sponsor’s delay, failure, refusal, or inability to provide a sponsor-provided prize.

Intellectual property

  • Company hereby grants TM Forum a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license to use, display, and reproduce the Company's trademarks and logos ("Company Marks") in connection with the Company's participation in the Hackathon. This license includes the use of Company Marks on TM Forum's website, in promotional materials, social media channels, and other marketing communications related to the Hackathon. TM Forum agrees to use the Company Marks in accordance with any brand guidelines provided by the Company and acknowledges that all goodwill generated through TM Forum's use of the Company Marks will inure to the benefit of the Company. 
  • Company grants TM Forum a royalty-free, non-exclusive, perpetual license to display, reproduce, use and distribute descriptions and overviews of the Hackathon 
  • Submissions on TM Forum’s website and social media channels (“TM Forum Channels”) by any means (e.g., audio, video, photography, printed materials, digital media). 
  • Any intellectual property rights (“IPR”) vested in a Hackathon Submission will be owned by the Company that has submitted it. Any use of third-party information or third-party intellectual property by Hackers in the Hackathon may require permission or license to use from such third party. TM Forum is not responsible for third-party license agreements or any breach thereof. This remains the sole responsibility of the Company at all times. 
  • Organization of the Hackathon does not limit in any way TM Forum’s right to develop products, processes or services similar or related to a Hackathon Submission. Company’s Hackathon Submission will not be used directly to create a TM Forum product or service unless Company wishes to contribute its IP according to the TM Forum IPR Policy. However, as TM Forum currently provides and develops products and services related to the Hackathon’s subject matter, future products and services may present similar characteristics to Company’s Submission. Company acknowledges that this may be the case and will not challenge any IP rights or request financial compensation from TM Forum and its affiliates or rights of ownership in a TM Forum product or service that is similar or related to a Hackathon Submission.  
  • For the avoidance of doubt, TM Forum may use general knowledge acquired during the Hackathon and other “residual information” for any purposes, including, without limitation, the development and maintenance of its products and services. Residual information is any information retained in the unaided memories of TM Forum or its affiliates’ employees, consultants, or contractors who receive access to the Hackathon information.

Liability and indemnification

  • To the extent permitted under applicable law, TM Forum, its directors, officers, employees, sponsors, agents and assigns (collectively “Indemnified Parties”) total aggregate liability under this agreement and in connection with Hackathon shall only include direct damages suffered by Company or Hackers (each an "Indemnifying Party" and together the “Indemnifying Parties”), whether in contract, tort or otherwise and shall not exceed one hundred US dollars (USD 100) per Indemnifying Party. Any consequential, special or indirect damages suffered by the Indemnifying Parties, or punitive or exemplary damages, are excluded.  
  • The Indemnifying Parties shall indemnify, defend and hold the Indemnified Parties harmless against any third-party claims, losses, liabilities, damages, costs, and expenses arising out of (i) activities in connection with the Hackathon and (ii) any claims that the applications, tools, webpages, materials and demos developed by Hackers and Company (whether in object or source code form) in connection with the Hackathon infringe any copyright, patent, trade secret or other proprietary right of a third party.

Marketing and publicity consent

  • By participating in the Hackathon, each Hacker expressly acknowledges and agrees that TM Forum shall have the right to use the Hacker's name, company affiliation, and any related information in connection with publicity and promotional activities relating to the Hacker’s participation in the Hackathon. This includes, but is not limited to, the use of such information on TM Forum’s website, social media channels, press releases, and in other publicity and promotional materials without further consent from or compensation to the Hacker. This consent is given in recognition of the benefit of participating in the Hackathon and is intended to enable TM Forum to promote the event effectively. For clarity, this consent does not constitute consent to receive optional marketing communications unrelated to participation in the Hackathon, which will be handled separately in accordance with applicable law and TM Forum’s Privacy Policy.

Data protection

  • Company acknowledges and agrees that TM Forum reserves the right to, subject to applicable laws and regulations, process personal data relating to the Company’s staff members, agents or contractors, such as contact details, company, position, and country, for purposes relating to the organization and management of the Hackathon, including registration, administration, security management, performance analytics, and more generally, for the performance of its obligations under this Agreement and the enjoyment of its rights and remedies. Company represents that it has authority to provide personal data relating to its Hackers and other team members, and that it has obtained all notices, consents and permissions necessary for TM Forum to process such personal data and contact those individuals regarding the Hackathon. TM Forum has a legitimate interest in processing personal data to conduct the Hackathon. In this regard, TM Forum will only process personal data in accordance with the present section and TM Forum’s Privacy Policy.
  • Company acknowledges and agrees that, where TM Forum sub-contracts these tasks to an external supplier, this may involve the transfer of such data to non-EU Member States, in which case TM Forum will make sure that appropriate safeguards are put in place to ensure an adequate level of protection for the personal data transferred in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. 

Conduct

  • Company will not, and shall procure that its Hackers do not, perform any activity that (i) is harmful to or materially interferes with any use of the Platform, (ii) results in the storage, processing, publication or transmission of threatening, infringing or offensive material or constitutes spam or e-mail abuse; or (iii) poses a security risk or results in violation of a third party’s intellectual property rights. 
  • Hackers will always conduct themselves professionally and will not disrupt or otherwise interfere with the participation of other developers in the Hackathon. TM Forum may terminate Company’s and Hackers’ participation in the Hackathon with immediate effect for breach of the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.

Cancellation and modification

TM Forum reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to cancel, postpone, or modify the Hackathon, including any terms, conditions, and the schedule thereof, for any reason, including but not limited to force majeure, safety concerns, compliance with applicable laws and regulations, or any other circumstances that significantly impede the Hackathon’s execution as planned. If such cancellation, postponement, or modification occurs, TM Forum shall endeavor to notify all registered Hackers and Companies as soon as practicable. TM Forum will not be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, or consequential damages, losses, or expenses arising in connection with such cancellation, postponement, or modification of the Hackathon. 

Compliance

Company agrees that it will conduct its business at all times with integrity and in compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including without limitation those related to anti-bribery, anti-trust, tax and export regulations and sanctions programs. Specifically, the Company understands that it is its sole responsibility to ensure compliance with any export or sanctions requirements under EU and US law. Company further agrees to act always in accordance with the highest professional standards and in a way that will not prejudice TM Forum’s interests and reputation and shall adhere to the policies set forth in TM Forum’s Antitrust Policies and Guidelines.

Dispute resolution 

Any dispute arising between the parties in connection with this Agreement will be governed and interpreted under the laws of New Jersey and shall be finally settled by arbitration administered National Arbitration and Mediation (NAM) in accordance with its Arbitration Rules. The arbitration shall be conducted by one arbitrator appointed in accordance with the said rules. The place of arbitration shall be New Jersey, USA. The language of the arbitration shall be English. The decision of the arbitrator shall be final and binding on the parties, and judgment on the award rendered by the arbitrator may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof.