Terms of Service & Contest Rules

1.1 Eligibility

You must be at least 18 years old to create an account and participate in contests.

1.2 Accurate Information

• You must provide accurate, current, and complete information during registration
• You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials
• You must notify us immediately of any unauthorized use of your account

1.3 Profile Photo Requirements

• Profile photos must be clear, recognizable images of yourself
• Photos must not contain nudity, violence, or offensive content
• Photos must be your own or you must have permission to use them
• We reserve the right to remove inappropriate profile photos without notice

2.1 Original Work Only

⚠️ ALL SUBMITTED ARTWORKS MUST BE YOUR ORIGINAL CREATIONS

• Strictly Prohibited: Copying, reproducing, or submitting artworks created by other artists
• Strictly Prohibited: Using AI-generated art or art created by others as your own
• Strictly Prohibited: Tracing, heavily referencing, or derivative works without proper attribution
• Strictly Prohibited: Stock images, clipart, or third-party graphics without explicit permission

2.2 Copyright Ownership

• You retain full copyright ownership of your submitted artworks
• By submitting, you grant us a non-exclusive license to display your work on our platform
• You grant us permission to use winning artworks in promotional materials (with credit)
• You warrant that you have all rights necessary to submit the artwork

2.3 Content Standards

Submitted artworks must NOT contain:

• Hate speech, discrimination, or offensive imagery targeting any group
• Explicit sexual content or nudity (artistic nudity may be allowed at admin discretion)
• Violence, gore, or disturbing content
• Political propaganda or controversial statements
• Copyrighted characters, logos, or trademarks without permission
• Personal information of others without their consent

2.4 Consequences of Copyright Violation

Submitting artwork that is not your original creation will result in:

• First Offense: Immediate removal of artwork + written warning
• Second Offense: Permanent ban from participating in contests (voting privileges may remain)
• Repeated Violations: Complete account termination + possible legal action

2.5 User Indemnification - Copyright Liability

By checking "I accept the Terms of Service" during registration, you explicitly acknowledge and agree to these indemnification terms and accept full legal responsibility for your submissions.

3.1 Badge Purpose

The verification badge serves to:

• Confirm your identity as a real person
• Prevent spam, bot accounts, and fake profiles
• Build trust within the artistic community
• Enable full voting and participation privileges

3.2 Badge Requirements

• You must post your verification badge to your Facebook profile or page
• The badge post must remain public and accessible
• You must submit the correct Facebook photo URL and secret code
• Removal of the badge from Facebook may result in verification revocation

3.3 Badge Misuse

The following actions are strictly prohibited:

• Using someone else's badge or secret code
• Editing, modifying, or altering the badge image
• Sharing your secret code with others
• Creating multiple accounts with different badges

4.1 Fair Voting

• Vote based on artistic merit, creativity, and quality
• Do not create multiple accounts to manipulate votes
• Do not coordinate vote manipulation with other users
• Do not vote for yourself using alternate accounts

4.2 Contest Participation

• You may only submit one artwork per contest unless otherwise specified
• Submissions must be made before the contest deadline
• Once submitted, artworks cannot be modified or replaced
• Contest results are final and cannot be appealed

4.3 Rule 12 Compliance

• To participate in contests, you must complete Rule 12 verification
• You must provide accurate Facebook profile and artist page URLs
• False information will result in disqualification

5.1 Data Collection

We collect and store:

• Account information (name, email, password)
• Profile photos and submitted artworks
• Facebook verification URLs and badge codes
• Voting history and contest participation records
• IP addresses and login timestamps for security

5.2 Data Usage

• Your email is used for account notifications and contest updates
• Your name and profile photo appear on public leaderboards and rankings
• Your artworks are publicly displayed during contests
• We never sell your personal information to third parties

5.3 Data Protection

• Passwords are encrypted using industry-standard bcrypt hashing
• We implement security measures to protect your data
• You can request data deletion by contacting support
• GDPR and data protection laws are respected

5.4 Public Information

The following information is publicly visible:

• Your name and profile photo
• Your submitted artworks and contest participation
• Your rankings and awards
• Your artist status (if Rule 12 approved)

The following actions will result in immediate account suspension or termination:

• Copyright Infringement: Submitting artwork you did not create
• Vote Manipulation: Using multiple accounts or coordinating votes
• Harassment: Abusing, threatening, or harassing other users
• Spam: Sending unsolicited messages or promotional content
• Impersonation: Pretending to be another user or artist
• System Abuse: Attempting to hack, exploit, or disrupt the platform
• False Information: Providing fake credentials or verification documents
• Inappropriate Content: Uploading offensive, illegal, or harmful content

7.1 Admin Rights

We reserve the right to:

• Suspend or terminate accounts that violate these terms
• Remove artworks that violate content standards
• Revoke verification badges for misuse
• Disqualify contest entries for rule violations
• Ban users permanently for repeated offenses

7.2 Appeal Process

• You may appeal account actions by contacting support@secretcontests.com
• Include your username, reason for appeal, and any supporting evidence
• Appeals are reviewed within 7 business days
• Admin decisions on appeals are final

8.1 Service Availability

• We strive for 99% uptime but do not guarantee uninterrupted service
• We may perform maintenance or updates without notice
• We are not liable for technical issues beyond our control

8.2 Liability

• We are not responsible for user-generated content
• We are not liable for disputes between users
• Contest prizes and awards are at admin discretion
• We reserve the right to modify rules and terms at any time

8.3 Changes to Terms

• We may update these terms periodically
• Users will be notified of major changes via email
• Continued use of the platform constitutes acceptance of updated terms