Terms of Service

These Terms of Service (“Terms”) govern your access to and use of the MechCompete platform, website, and services (“Platform”), operated by MechCompete (“we”, “us”, or “our”). By registering, accessing, or using the Platform, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree, do not use the Platform.

These Terms constitute a legally binding agreement. You should read them carefully before participating in any competition.

To participate in MechCompete competitions you must:

• —Be at least 18 years of age.
• —Have the legal capacity to enter into a binding contract in your jurisdiction.
• —Not be prohibited by applicable law from participating in skill-based competitions.

We reserve the right to verify eligibility and to suspend or terminate accounts where eligibility cannot be confirmed.

MechCompete operates skill-based design engineering competitions. Outcomes are determined by merit, as assessed against published judging criteria, and not by chance. Competitions are not lotteries or games of chance.

Each competition will specify: the entry fee (if any), the prize structure, the judging criteria, the submission format, the submission deadline, and the judging method (peer voting, panel, or other).

We reserve the right to cancel or modify a competition at any time prior to its close. In the event of cancellation, all entry fees paid for that competition will be refunded in full.

Where an entry fee applies, payment must be completed via our authorised payment processor (Stripe) before your submission is accepted. Entry fees are non-refundable except where a competition is cancelled by us.

All fees are displayed inclusive of any applicable taxes. You are responsible for any additional taxes imposed by your jurisdiction.

We reserve the right to change entry fee amounts for future competitions with reasonable notice.

Prize amounts and distribution percentages are published within each individual competition brief. The platform retains a percentage of the prize pool as a service fee, as specified per competition.

Winners will be notified by email and must provide valid payment details to receive their prize. Failure to respond within 30 days of notification may result in forfeiture.

We are not liable for any delays caused by payment processors, banking institutions, or incorrect payment details provided by the winner.

Prize payments may be subject to income tax in your jurisdiction. You are solely responsible for declaring and paying any applicable taxes on prize winnings.

Judging will be conducted in accordance with the criteria published for each competition. We reserve the right to use community peer voting, a panel of judges, or sponsor representatives as the judging mechanism, as specified per competition.

Judging decisions are final. We do not enter into correspondence regarding individual judging outcomes.

We reserve the right to disqualify any submission that does not comply with the competition brief, submission format requirements, or these Terms.

You must not:

• —Create multiple accounts to gain an unfair advantage.
• —Collude with other entrants to manipulate voting or outcomes.
• —Submit work that is not your own.
• —Attempt to reverse-engineer, scrape, or disrupt the Platform.
• —Use the Platform for any unlawful purpose.

Violations may result in disqualification, forfeiture of prizes, account suspension, and where appropriate, legal action.

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, MechCompete shall not be liable for: any loss of income, profits, or data; indirect or consequential losses; or losses arising from technical failures of the Platform, payment processors, or third-party services.

Our total aggregate liability to you in respect of any one claim shall not exceed the entry fee paid by you for the relevant competition.

Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits liability for fraud, death, or personal injury caused by our negligence.

Your personal data is collected and processed in accordance with our Privacy Policy, available on the Platform. By using the Platform, you consent to such processing.

By participating, you agree that your name and competition results may be displayed publicly on the Platform leaderboard and in competition result announcements.

We may update these Terms at any time. We will notify registered users by email of material changes. Continued use of the Platform after the effective date of any update constitutes your acceptance of the revised Terms.

These Terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales. Any disputes arising under these Terms shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.

For questions about these Terms, please contact us at: