Valid as of 2 July 2024 (version 1.0)
a. These Terms and Conditions apply to the use of the platform Frankfurt Connect. They govern the relations between the users (in the following referred to as “you” or “the customer”) and the Frankfurter Buchmesse GmbH, Braubachstraße 16, 60311 Frankfurt (in the following referred to as “we” or “FBM” or “Frankfurt Book Fair”) as the provider of the platform.
b. The Frankfurt Connect platform provides the opportunity to become an active user on the platform by creating a profile and to interact with other users. Users have the option of networking with each other, exchanging messages or arranging appointments via the networking option. By adding categories to the profile, users will be offered events, companies or organizations, products or other users according to the preferences defined in the categories.
c. Companies and organizations have the opportunity to add their own events, products or company information to their profiles. In addition, employees of companies and organizations have the option of linking the account of registered users and the company profile and thus displaying users as team members.
d. No general terms and conditions of use or general terms and conditions varying from, in conflict with or supplementary to these Terms and Conditions shall become an integral part of the contract, even if they are known, unless their validity has been explicitly agreed between the parties in writing.
e. FBM reserves the right to adapt and amend the terms of use to new developments in legislation, jurisdiction, technology, product and service offerings and/or for other reasons. In particular, changes that are not exclusively advantageous for the respective users will be communicated accordingly at least four weeks in advance and users will be informed accordingly.
f. The contractual relationship shall continue on the basis of the amended Terms of Use if the User does not object to the amendments within four weeks of the notification being sent to the e-mail address last provided. In case the User objects to the amended Terms of Use, the User shall immediately cease to use the Service and may terminate the contractual relationship without observing a notice period.
a. The minimum age required to register and use Frankfurt Connect is 18 years.
b. By clicking on the “send” button during the completion of the registration process, a legally binding contract is concluded between the user and FBM.
c. After the completion of registration, users will receive an email with a verification link. In order to be able to use all the functions, it is necessary to confirm the verification links.
d. During the registration process, users have the option to cancel the process at any time by closing the browser window. Before the registration process is complete, users will be presented all data they have entered in the relevant fields. It will be possible to correct any input errors.
e. The contractual relationship can be terminated at any time by deleting the account. Users have the option to completely delete their profile and download their data beforehand, if necessary.
Companies and organizations (in the following referred to as “organizations”) can create a profile in Frankfurt Connect, either by registering for the physical Frankfurt Book Fair or by purchasing a digital package. Depending on the package selected, different services are available on the platform.
Participants have the option to create a profile and use the platform after registering.
Participants can favorite organizations, events, speakers or users and save them in their profile.
Both administrators of organizations and spokespersons or users can view which users have favored their profiles. In addition, organizations have the option to download and save the contact details of users who have set favorites. Activities and interactions of users who have viewed the organization's profile are displayed to the organization's administrators.
Users who are already registered can be linked to their organization as a "team member" by the administrators of the organization. Users receive a Message that the administrator of an organization has added them as team member.
Administrators of organizations are able send a platform-generated email message to non-registered users inviting them to register and informing them that they have been added as a team member.
Users are shown as team member in the organization`s profile when they have activated the service “networking”.
If you have an objection to a user being displayed as a team member, please contact the administrator of an organization. Deleting a status display as a team member is done by the administrator of an organization.
In the event of any disagreements regarding the assignment of users to organizations, users may report any misuse of their profile by sending an email to support-connect@buchmesse.de.
Speakers and moderators may create a user profile and be added to the central directory of speakers and moderators after having activated the profile and entered the profile ID. To be included in the central directory of speakers and moderators, users have to contact FBM via the contact options provided in Frankfurt Connect.
Organization administrators have the ability to assign and display existing team members from their organization as speakers. In this case, the users will not be listed in the central speaker and moderator directory.
The speaker and moderator directory is visible to all users.
When subscribing to Frankfurt Connect, organizations nominate one or more initial administrators who are granted access to the platform and are responsible for maintaining the data. Initial administrators receive the individual access data for their organization. Initial administrators can therefore also access Frankfurt Connect without having a user profile.
Depending on the digital package booked, administrators can grant other users administrator rights within Frankfurt Connect. This access is only possible for previously registered users.
Administrators of organizations are displayed in Frankfurt Connect as “team members”. In their function as “team members”, users have the option of sending messages or making appointment requests to administrators within Frankfurt Connect.
The unsubscription as a "team member" is the responsibility of the organization's administrators.
Administrators of organizations can be favored by users within the “team members” function.
a. Frankfurt Connect offers different types of profiles for different user roles. Profiles are visible to all users if set accordingly.
b. No registration is required for searching or viewing profiles. In order to use the Frankfurt Connect “services and functions”, prior user registration is required.
c. Profiles may be created in various forms for the user groups, organizations, users and speakers. Users are solely responsible for the content of their profiles.
d. Profiles can be favored by all user groups of Frankfurt Connect.
a. Frankfurt Connect is the central directory for events related to the Frankfurt Book Fair.
b. By entering events, organizers are able to attract attention to their events and promote them. Users receive recommendations for events based on the categories stored in their profile.
c. Administrators of organizations have the right to create and maintain events.
d. All events require review and approval by FBM. Review and approval will require to provide complete information for each event including a self-disclosure in order to assess any risks associated with the event. FBM reserves the right to approve events only subject to conditions or to reject events.
e. Events are not viewable to the public until FBM has granted its approval and changed the status of the event accordingly.
f. All events must be created in Frankfurt Connect in order to be checked by FBM. In the event that an organization does not wish to promote its event publicly, the administrators of the organization are able to specify that the event is not displayed publicly. All data in the event can be viewed for review and approval by FBM.
g. FBM reserves the right to reject events or to approve them subject to conditions, if it has good reasons to believe that the event could jeopardize the smooth running or safety of the Frankfurt Book Fair. If your event is rejected, the organization will be notified that the event could not be approved.
h. FMB reserves the right to cancel any event – regardless of whether approval has already been granted. This applies in particular if information already provided about the event has been changed, is incomplete or inaccurate, or if there is reason to believe that the event could jeopardize the smooth running or the security of the Frankfurt Book Fair.
i. Organizational administrators may delete an event at any time. Deleting an event removes all event-related data stored in the database and they cannot be restored. All users who favored the event will receive a notification that the event has been cancelled. If the event is still held after it has been deleted, a new review and approval by FBM is required.
j. Events can be favored by all user groups.
a. This service allows users to select relevant categories from a catalog defined by FBM in their profile, and for which they search for or offer contacts or information. If the “networking” service has been activated, the categories selected by the users will be publicly visible in their profile within Frankfurt Connect.
b. Administrators of organizations can assign identical categories to the events they manage, to products as well as to the profile of the organization itself.
c. Frankfurt Connect generates recommendations for users, organizations, events and products based on the defined categories and their corresponding matches. These recommendations may be favored and thus be stored in the user profile.
d. It is possible to change or unsubscribe from the “recommendations” service at any time by adding or removing categories in the settings of the user profile.
a. Users may select and activate the “networking” service in their profiles. Upon activation, the profile becomes visible as a “participant” to other registered users within Frankfurt Connect, and the user receives recommendations and is recommended to other users.
b. By activating the “networking” service, users agree that other registered users can contact them within Frankfurt Connect, send them messages or request appointments.
c. By activating the “networking” service, users may be favorited.
d. It is possible to unsubscribe from the “networking” service at any time in the user profile.
a. By using the „Frankfurt Connect Card“, a personal QR code is generated, which allows other users or team members of organizations to scan the Frankfurt Connect Card user's data in order to obtain their contact information.
b. The Frankfurt Connect App is required for scanning the code. Users scanning the QR code of their Frankfurt Connect Card agree to the transmission of their contact details to other users or organizations.
c. Using the service “Frankfurt Connect Card“ requires to create an individual Frankfurt Connect Card within the user profile, to store it in the Frankfurt Connect App or to print a copy of the Frankfurt Connect Card.
d. Users have the option to download a list of contact information of users or organizations that have scanned their “Frankfurt Connect Card”.
e. The contact details to be transferred are: Name, address, email address, phone number, if this information is stored in the user's profile.
a. Organization's administrators can link registered users of the platform to the organization's profile via the “team members” function. Linked users will be displayed as “team members” in the organization profile.
b. Registered users are able to contact “team members” within Frankfurt Connect, send messages or request appointments.
c. The unsubscription as a “team member” may be done by the administrators of the organization.
d. Team members may be favored by users.
a. Favorites can be set at various locations within Frankfurt Connect. Organizations, users, team members, speakers, events, or products can be marked as favorites.
b. Users and administrators of organizations are able to see which users have used the favorite function and they can download the contact details of these users. By clicking the “favorite” button, users agree to have their contact information shared with other users or organizations.
c. The contact details to be transferred are: Name, address, email address, and phone number, if this information is stored in the user's profile.
d. Favorites may be revoked at any time by deselecting the favorites selection.
a. The “dashboard” service allows users to see who has favorited their profile.
b. Organization administrators can also see in which other places the “favorites” function has been applied by users.
a. During the registration process, users may opt in to advertising.
b. Users may opt out at any time by following the unsubscribe link at the bottom of each promotional email.
a. Registration for the use of the Frankfurt Connect platform is free of charge for users or speakers/moderators.
b. Using an organizational profile is only available to registered exhibitors of the physical Frankfurt Book Fair or by ordering a Frankfurt Connect Digital package for a fee. The scope of usages of Frankfurt Connect varies depending on the digital package selected.
a. FBM reserves the right to limit the use of the services, including the number of contacts and the ability to contact other users. Furthermore, FBM reserves the right to restrict, suspend or close the account of users if they violate this agreement or the law or misuse the services.
The following provisions of the Frankfurt Book Fair’s “Code of Conduct” are a binding part of the Frankfurt Connect Terms and Conditions of Use:
b. For respectful interaction
We welcome the exchange of ideas on Frankfurt Connect. Our rules are intended to ensure respectful interaction within Frankfurt Connect and a dialog at eye level. The Frankfurt Book Fair condemns all forms of hate speech, racism and discrimination. We reserve the right to delete comments that do not comply with these rules and to block users who violate our rules of interaction formulated in this document.
c. Be friendly and polite
We are all responsible for being courteous to each other. We should treat each other with respect. We welcome discussions and exchanges on our channels, but please always remain friendly and polite.
d. Remain objective
Critical opinions – also about the Frankfurt Book Fair – are welcome, but should be factual and constructive. Give those being criticized a chance to respond to the criticism, even if it is not given immediately. We reserve the right to remove posts that do not contribute to an objective discussion.
e. No hate speech or bullying
Bullying of any kind is not allowed, and demeaning comments based on ethnicity, religion, culture, sexual orientation, gender or identity will not be tolerated.
f. No spam
We look forward to an active participation on Frankfurt Connect.
Spam is prohibited and will be deleted.
a. The users transfer to FBM the right to use the image and text material created or uploaded as part of the Frankfurt Connect Services without restriction in terms of time or territory. The granting of the rights of use includes the use of the image and text material created or uploaded as part of the Frankfurt Connect Services on the Frankfurt Connect platform.
b. Users especially transfer to FBM the right to use the images and text material on the Frankfurt Connect website.
a. For all content provided by users within the platform, they bear sole responsibility for not infringing the rights of third parties. Users shall indemnify FBM against any third-party claims arising from the execution of the order, even if it has been canceled.
b. FBM is not obliged to check the entries and contents to determine whether they infringe the rights of third parties, whether they comply with the provisions of competition law or whether they violate applicable law. Should third parties assert claims against FBM due to the legal inadmissibility of an entry, users shall indemnify FBM against all claims asserted, including all costs of necessary legal defense, upon first request.
c. FBM is not responsible for third-party content to which it merely provides access for use. This applies in particular to content that users can access by clicking on a hyperlink. The inclusion of a hyperlink on Frankfurt Connect does not mean that FBM has checked the content of the linked website. FBM expressly distances itself from the content of linked websites.
d. FBM reserves the right to remove all user content in the event of a breach of the conditions set out here. The same applies if FBM detects abusive behavior in correlation with entries within the platform.
e. FBM shall be liable without limitation for damages resulting from injury to life, limb or health within the scope of the statutory provisions. This also applies to claims for damages against FBM for compensation for financial loss due to intentional or grossly negligent action. In the event of slight negligence, FBM's liability for financial losses shall be limited to the amount of damage typical for the contract and foreseeable at the time of conclusion of the contract for damages resulting from a breach of material contractual obligations or obligations whose fulfillment is essential for the proper execution of the contract and on whose compliance the contractual partner may regularly rely (cardinal obligations). Otherwise, any liability on the part of FBM for damages caused by slight negligence is excluded, unless otherwise stated in a guarantee assumed by FBM. The above limitations of liability also apply to breaches of duty by our legal representatives and vicarious agents.
a. Some Frankfurt Connect services may not be available, may vary (e.g. depending on the digital package selected), may only be offered for a limited time or may require separate usage agreements. If the use of services requires wireless data services, the product, however, is located in a zone without access to these, it may not be possible to use all or any of the services. FBM assumes no responsibility for the unavailability of wireless data services or for any related service outages.
b. FBM uses software-as-a-service products and public cloud hosting for the provision of its services as part of Frankfurt Connect, which ensures high availability. Nevertheless, the use of FBM's Frankfurt Connect may be restricted or temporarily unavailable under certain circumstances; e.g. due to technical faults, cyber-attacks, urgent maintenance work, force majeure or other events beyond FBM's control. Users are not entitled to any specific availability or service from Frankfurt Connect. FBM assumes no liability for damages or disadvantages incurred by users due to the unavailability or limited availability of Frankfurt Connect. FBM will make any effort to have faults rectified as quickly as possible and to inform users of planned maintenance work in good time.
a. FBM reserves the right to change, suspend or terminate any part of the platform services.
b. FBM is under no obligation to store or continue to make available information and content published by users. Users agree that FBM is not obliged to make available, save or retain a copy of content or information provided by them or other persons, unless there is a corresponding legal obligation.
a. Users agree that FBM may access, use and store all information and personal data provided in Frankfurt Connect.
b. Users can view information on the processing of personal data at any time in the Data Protection Information.
a. Users can submit complaints about the content of events over the platform offered in the menu selection within the event.
b. In all other cases, the complaint can be submitted by sending an email to support-connect@buchmesse.de
If you have any questions, concerns or feedback, please contact the Frankfurt Connect team by sending an email to support-connect@buchmesse.de
a. Other agreements or collateral agreements have not been made in addition to this contract.
b. Users are only entitled to assign claims arising from this contractual relationship with the prior written consent of FBM.
c. Users hereby agree that FBM may at any time transfer its rights and obligations under this agreement in whole or in part (assignment of contract) to a company affiliated with FBM and/or the Börsenverein des Deutschen Buchhandels e.V., Braubachstraße 16, 60311 Frankfurt am Main. If the user's legitimate interests are impaired by such a transfer, the user may terminate this agreement without notice as of the effective date of the transfer.
d. This agreement is governed exclusively by the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany, excluding the UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods. The place of performance and jurisdiction for both parties is Frankfurt am Main, provided that the user is a merchant, a legal entity under public law or a special fund under public law, or either has no general place of jurisdiction in the Federal Republic of Germany or moves his residence or usual place of abode abroad or to an unknown place after conclusion of the contract. However, the organizer reserves the right to take legal action at the user's general place of jurisdiction.
e. Should any provision of this agreement be or become invalid, this shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions. Section 139 of the German Civil Code (BGB) does not apply.
f. Online dispute resolution pursuant to Art. 14 para. 1 ODR-VO: The European Commission provides a platform for Online Dispute Resolution (OS). Consumer Redress in the EU - European Commission
g. Reference according to Art. 36 para. 1 VSBG: Frankfurter Buchmesse GmbH is neither prepared nor obliged to participate in a dispute resolution procedure before a consumer arbitration board.
