THE CLOUD AWARDS

AWARDS TERMS & CONDITIONS (INCLUDING RULES OF ENTRY)

These Terms & Conditions (“Terms”) govern participation in the awards programs operated by The Cloud Awards, a trading name of Awarding and Consultancy International Ltd (“the Company”).

These Terms apply to the following programs (collectively, “the Awards Programs”):

• The Cloud Awards
• The SaaS Awards
• The Cloud Security Awards
• The A.I. Awards
• The FinTech Awards

By submitting an entry, you (“the Entrant”) agree to be bound by these Terms.

1) DEFINITIONS

For the purposes of these Terms:

• “Entrant” means any individual or organization submitting an entry.
• “Entry” or “Submission” means all materials submitted as part of the application process, including written responses and supporting documents.
• “Program Year” means the annual cycle for each Awards Program.
• “Judges” or “Subject Matter Experts” means individuals engaged by the Company to evaluate submissions.
• “Website” means www.cloud-awards.com and associated online tools used for submitting entries.
• “Success Suite” means the optional paid feedback service described in Section 13.

2) ELIGIBILITY AND ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

2.1) Submission Method
All entries must be submitted through the official online forms on the Website.
Entries submitted by any other method will not be accepted.

2.2) Completion Requirements
An entry is not considered complete, and will not proceed to judging, unless:

• The online entry form is submitted,
  and
• Full payment of all applicable entry fees has been received.

2.3) Supporting Materials
Entrants may upload reports, case studies, links, or other supporting documentation.

2.4) Number of Entries
Different products, services, initiatives, or projects, even if submitted by the same organization, each constitute a separate entry and incur a separate set of fees.

Where offered, the Unlimited Categories option applies only within a single Awards Program and cannot be used across:

• The Cloud Awards
• The SaaS Awards
• The Cloud Security Awards
• The A.I. Awards
• The FinTech Awards

Entrants wishing to participate in more than one Awards Program must pay a separate set of fees for each.

Organizations submitting on behalf of multiple clients (including PR agencies) must process each client’s entries separately, with distinct fees per client.

2.5) Deadlines
Entries must be submitted by the deadlines published on the Website.
Late entries may be accepted at the Company’s discretion and may incur additional fees.

3) ENTRY FEES, PAYMENT, AND REFUNDS

3.1) Entry Fees
Entry fees apply per program, per project, and per category.

3.2) Payment Requirements
Entries will not be processed or evaluated unless all applicable fees have been received in full.

3.3) Non-Refundability
Entry fees are non-refundable once payment has been received.

3.4) Payment Processing
Payments must be made via approved methods listed on the Website and are securely processed through third-party providers.

4) JUDGING AND EVALUATION

4.1) Independent Judging
Entries are evaluated by independent Judges and Subject Matter Experts appointed by the Company.
Judges do not receive Entrants’ personal contact data.

4.2) Evaluation Approach
Judging is based on expectations and guidance described on the category pages of the Website.
The Company’s detailed scoring rubrics and internal evaluative materials are confidential and are not shared with Entrants, except as part of aggregated or interpretive feedback provided to Success Suite participants.

4.3) Final Decisions
Judges’ decisions are final and not open to appeal.

4.4) Communications Regarding Judging
Except as provided through the Success Suite, the Company does not enter into correspondence regarding scores, internal notes, or judging outcomes.

4.5) No Guarantee of Advancement
Submission of an entry does not guarantee shortlisting, finalist placement, or winning.

5) CONFIDENTIALITY OF SUBMISSIONS

5.1) Confidential Handling
All entries are treated as confidential and shared only with authorized Judges and Company staff.

5.2) Exceptions
Confidentiality does not apply where:

• The Entrant grants explicit permission for publication
• Content is already publicly available
• Disclosure is required by law

6) INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND RIGHTS OF USE

6.1) Ownership
Entrants retain ownership of intellectual property rights in their submissions.

6.2) License to the Company
By submitting an entry, the Entrant grants the Company a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to:

• Review and distribute the submission for judging
• Use the Entrant’s name and logo to announce shortlistings, finalists, and winners
• Promote Entrant achievements unless the Entrant requests an opt-out

Any additional use of submission content requires Entrant consent.

6.3) Entrant Warranties
The Entrant warrants that:

• They have full rights to submit all materials
• Submission content does not infringe third-party rights
• All statements made in the submission are accurate and lawful

 7) PROGRAM CHANGES

The Company reserves the right to merge, split, rename, or withdraw categories at any time and without prior notice.

8) WITHDRAWAL, CANCELLATION, AND MODIFICATION

8.1) Entrant Withdrawal
Entrants may withdraw an entry at any time. Entry fees remain non-refundable.

8.2) Program Modifications
The Company may modify deadlines, categories, or program structures at its discretion.

8.3) Program Cancellation
If a program is canceled, entries may, at the Company’s discretion, be transferred to a future Program Year.

9) LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

To the fullest extent permitted by law:

• The Company is not liable for incomplete, corrupted, lost, or misdirected submissions
• The Company is not responsible for technical failures or third-party service disruptions
• Participation does not guarantee recognition or commercial benefit
• The Company’s total liability shall not exceed the entry fees paid by the Entrant

Nothing in these Terms limits liability where such limitation is unlawful.

10) DATA PROTECTION

Personal data is processed in accordance with the Company’s Privacy Policy, available on the Website.

Entrants consent to their data being processed for the administration of the Awards Programs.

11) INDEMNITY

Entrants agree to indemnify the Company against claims arising from:

• Infringing or unlawful submission content
• Unauthorized use of third-party materials
• Misrepresentation
• Breach of these Terms

12) PUBLICITY RIGHTS

The Company may announce shortlisted Entrants, finalists, and winners unless the Entrant opts out.

13) SUCCESS SUITE

The Success Suite is an optional paid service providing post-results feedback.

13.1) Judging Independence
Success Suite participation does not influence judging decisions or outcomes.

13.2) Feedback Timeline
Feedback will be delivered within three months of winners being announced.

13.3) Feedback Content
Feedback may include:

• Commentary on the submission
• Areas for improvement
• High-level category insights

It does not include judges’ identities, raw scores, or internal evaluation notes.

13.4) No Guarantees
Purchase of the Success Suite does not guarantee:

• Shortlisting
• Finalist placement
• Winning
• Publication
• Future success

13.5) Non-Refundable
Success Suite fees are non-refundable.

14) EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS

Entrants who reach Shortlist, Finalist, or Winner stage may submit an article in accordance with the Company’s Editorial Guidelines, available at:
https://www.cloud-awards.com/editorial-guidelines/

Submission does not guarantee publication.
Articles may be edited, scheduled, or declined at the Company’s discretion.

15) BADGE USAGE

15.1) Eligibility to Use Badges
Only organizations that have legitimately achieved Shortlisted, Finalist, or Winner status may use the corresponding badge.

15.2) Approved Badge Assets
Only official badge files supplied by the Company may be used.
Modifying the artwork is prohibited.

15.3) Mandatory Compliance with Brand Guide
All badge usage must comply with the Company’s Badges User Guide, provided in Entrant Packs and on the Website.
This guide forms part of these Terms.

15.4) Restrictions on Context of Use
Entrants must not:

• Misrepresent their achievement level
• Imply endorsement by the Company
• Use badges in inappropriate, defamatory, or misleading contexts
• Use badges after revocation or correction

15.5) No Transfer or Licensing to Third Parties
Badges may not be sublicensed, transferred, or shared with third parties unless the Company has expressly granted written permission.
This includes mergers, acquisitions, name changes, and product rebrands.

15.6) Revocation of Rights
The Company may revoke badge usage rights immediately for misuse or breach of these Terms. Entrants must remove badges promptly upon request.

15.7) Enforcement
Misuse may result in disqualification, withdrawal of achievements, public correction, or legal action.

16) TROPHIES

16.1) Eligibility
Only organizations that win a category in an Awards Program are entitled to receive a trophy.
No other entrant stage (including Shortlisted or Finalist) is eligible.
One trophy is provided per winning category, per Program Year.

16.2) Additional Trophies
Requests for additional trophies may be considered on a case-by-case basis at the Company’s discretion and must be made in writing to enter@cloud-awards.com.
Approval is not guaranteed.

16.3) Trophy Type and Engraving
All trophies are acrylic and engraved.
Engraving reflects the information provided on the Entrant’s submission form.
Names, product titles, and organization names are printed exactly as submitted.
The Company accepts no liability for errors originating from Entrant submissions.

16.4) Production and Delivery Timeline
Trophies are produced and shipped within nine (9) months of winners being announced.

16.5) Shipping Region
Trophies are shipped only to North America, specifically:

• United States
• Canada
• Mexico

No other regions are eligible for trophy delivery.

16.6) Delivery Address and Contact Name
Trophies will be shipped to the Nominated Organization Address provided during the application process.
Entrants, including PR agencies, are responsible for ensuring that the address is accurate and current.
A contact name is required for courier delivery.
The Company is not responsible for delivery issues caused by incomplete or inaccurate information provided by the Entrant.

16.7) Changes to Details
Requests to change the organization name, product name, delivery address, or delivery contact must be submitted to enter@cloud-awards.com before trophies enter production.
Changes cannot be accommodated once production has begun.
Entrants may not request proofs or pre-production samples.

16.8) Production, Shipping, and Fees
The Company uses a third-party manufacturer and courier to produce and ship trophies.
All production and shipping costs are included in the entry fee.
Entrants will never be asked to pay additional trophy fees by the Company.
Entrants should disregard and report any communication purporting to request further payment.

16.9) Rejected or Returned Trophies
The Company is not responsible for rejected or returned trophies caused by inaccurate addresses, unavailable recipients, or courier restrictions.

16.10) No Cash Value
Trophies have no cash value and cannot be exchanged, credited, or redeemed.

16.11) No Refunds
The Company does not provide refunds for trophies, including where:

• The Entrant provided incorrect details
• The Entrant no longer wishes to display the trophy
• Delivery is delayed within the permitted timeframe
• The Entrant becomes ineligible due to rule violations

16.12) Replacement Policy
Replacement trophies will only be issued if the original trophy arrives damaged.
Replacements will not be issued for:

• Entrant submission errors
• Courier delays
• Damage or loss after successful delivery

Damage on arrival must be reported promptly to enter@cloud-awards.com.

16.13) Display Rights
Winning organizations may display their trophy publicly as recognition of their achievement.

16.14) Submission of Photos
Organizations may send photos of their trophies to enter@cloud-awards.com for potential use on the Company’s website and social media channels.

16.15) Image Alterations (Reasonable Use)
Entrants may take and share photos of their trophies, provided they do not:

• Remove, obscure, crop out, or alter any branding or logos associated with the Awards Programs (including, but not limited to, The Cloud Awards, The SaaS Awards, The Cloud Security Awards, The A.I. Awards, and The FinTech Awards)
• Digitally alter the trophy to misrepresent its category, program, or achievement
• Crop or edit images in ways that materially distort or misrepresent the trophy
• Add simulated engravings or modify the engraved text
• Present the trophy as a different award
• Alter the trophy or image in a way intended to deceive or mislead

Reasonable use includes standard adjustments such as lighting, color correction, non-obscuring cropping, resizing, and aesthetic staging or backgrounds.

16.16) No Imitations or Replicas
Entrants may not create, commission, or use replica trophies, digital mockups, or altered versions intended to resemble official trophies.

16.17) No Transfer or Licensing Without Permission
Trophies may not be transferred, sublicensed, or shared with third parties unless the Company has expressly granted written permission.
This includes circumstances such as mergers, acquisitions, organizational name changes, and product rebrands.

16.18) Revocation
If an organization’s award is rescinded due to violations of these Terms, the organization must immediately cease displaying the trophy and remove trophy images from all public channels.

16.19) Data Protection
Information provided for engraving and shipping is processed in accordance with the Company’s Privacy Policy.

17) GOVERNING LAW

These Terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales.
Disputes shall be resolved exclusively in the courts of England and Wales.

18) AMENDMENTS

The Company may update these Terms at any time.
Revised Terms apply to entries submitted after publication.

19) CONTACT INFORMATION

enter@cloud-awards.com

The Cloud Awards
124 City Road
London
EC1V 2NX
United Kingdom