Terms of Service

Last Updated: November 24, 2025

These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your access to and use of StackPass ("Service"), operated by The Northern Web (Company Registration No. 12393938), a UK Limited Company ("we", "us", "our").

By accessing or using StackPass, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree, do not use the Service.

1. Account Registration and Security

1.1 GitHub Authentication

• StackPass uses GitHub OAuth for authentication
• You must have a valid GitHub account to use our Service
• You are responsible for maintaining the security of your GitHub account

1.2 Account Information

• You must provide accurate information during registration
• You must keep your account information current and accurate
• You are responsible for all activities under your account
• You must notify us immediately of any unauthorized use

1.3 Account Termination

You may delete your account at any time through your account settings. We may suspend or terminate accounts that violate these Terms.

2. Premium Subscription

2.1 Premium Membership

• Price: $49 USD per year (annual billing)
• Features: Access to hackathon competitions, ability to compete for prizes, exclusive badges
• Payment: Processed securely through Stripe
• Renewal: Automatic annual renewal unless cancelled

2.2 Cancellation

• You may cancel your premium subscription at any time
• Cancellation takes effect at the end of your current billing period
• You retain premium access until the end of the paid period
• Cancel through your billing dashboard or contact support

2.3 Refund Policy

• 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee: Full refund if requested within 30 days of purchase
• Refund requests after 30 days will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis
• To request a refund, contact hello@thenorthern-web.co.uk
• Refunds processed within 5-10 business days

2.4 Price Changes

• We may change premium subscription prices with 30 days notice
• Price changes do not affect your current subscription period
• Continued use after price change constitutes acceptance

3. Hackathon Competitions

3.1 Eligibility

• Must have an active StackPass Premium subscription
• Must be 18 years or older (or have parental consent)
• Must not be prohibited by law from participating in competitions
• Employees and immediate family of The Northern Web are not eligible for prizes

3.2 Registration

• Registration required before hackathon start date
• Solo or team participation (max 5 members per team)
• Registration is binding - unregistering may affect future participation

3.3 Submission Requirements

• Must be original work created during the hackathon period
• Must include: Working demo, GitHub repository, project description
• Must be submitted before deadline (no extensions)
• Code must be your own or properly licensed open-source
• Pre-existing projects or code are prohibited unless explicitly allowed

3.4 Prohibited Conduct

Immediate disqualification for:

• Plagiarism or code theft
• Cheating or gaming the voting system
• Harassment of other participants
• Violation of hackathon-specific rules
• Submission of malicious code or content
• Attempting to manipulate results

3.5 Judging and Voting

• Community voting or judge scoring as specified per hackathon
• Judging criteria published before each competition
• Decisions are final and not subject to appeal
• We reserve the right to disqualify any submission

3.6 Prizes and Payment

• Prize Amounts: As specified for each hackathon (typically $500 total pool)
• Winner Verification: Winners must verify identity before payment
• Tax Compliance: Winners responsible for all taxes; may require tax documentation
• Payment Timeline: Prizes paid within 30 days of winner announcement
• Payment Method: Bank transfer or PayPal
• Forfeiture: Unclaimed prizes or unverified winners forfeit payment

3.7 Intellectual Property

• You retain ownership of your hackathon submissions
• By submitting, you grant us a non-exclusive license to:
  • Display your project on StackPass
  • Use for promotional purposes (with attribution)
  • Include in hackathon leaderboards and galleries
• You grant us permission to share your GitHub repository publicly

3.8 Hackathon Modifications

We reserve the right to:

• Cancel or postpone hackathons due to unforeseen circumstances
• Modify rules with notice to participants
• Adjust prize amounts (with notice before registration closes)
• Extend deadlines in exceptional circumstances

4. User Content and Conduct

4.1 Your Profile

• Developer profiles are publicly visible by default
• You may set profiles to private in settings
• Profile information must be accurate (GitHub auto-sync)
• Custom bio and project descriptions must comply with our guidelines

4.2 Prohibited Content

You may not post or share:

• Illegal, harmful, or offensive content
• Spam or unsolicited advertising
• Malware, viruses, or malicious code
• Content infringing intellectual property rights
• Personal information of others without consent

4.3 Content Moderation

We reserve the right to remove content that violates these Terms without notice.

5. Intellectual Property

5.1 StackPass Platform

• StackPass name, logo, design, and features are our property
• You may not copy, modify, or create derivative works
• All rights reserved unless explicitly granted

5.2 Your Rights

• You retain all rights to your original content
• GitHub repositories and code remain yours
• We do not claim ownership of your work

6. Service Availability

6.1 Uptime and Availability

• We strive for 99.9% uptime but make no guarantees
• Service may be unavailable due to maintenance or technical issues
• We are not liable for interruptions or data loss

6.2 Changes to Service

We may:

• Modify, suspend, or discontinue features at any time
• Add new features or requirements
• Change pricing with notice

7. Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW:

• Services provided "AS IS" without warranties of any kind
• No liability for:
  • Indirect, incidental, or consequential damages
  • Loss of profits, data, or business opportunities
  • Service interruptions or errors
  • Third-party actions or content
• Maximum liability: Amount you paid us in the past 12 months

8. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless The Northern Web, its officers, directors, and employees from claims arising from:

• Your use of the Service
• Your violation of these Terms
• Your violation of third-party rights
• Your hackathon submissions or content

9. Dispute Resolution

9.1 Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales.

9.2 Jurisdiction

Disputes will be resolved in the courts of England and Wales.

9.3 Informal Resolution

Before filing any claim, contact us at hello@thenorthern-web.co.uk to attempt informal resolution.

10. Privacy and Data

Your use of StackPass is also governed by our Privacy Policy.

11. Miscellaneous

11.1 Entire Agreement

These Terms, along with our Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement.

11.2 Severability

If any provision is unenforceable, the remaining provisions remain in effect.

11.3 No Waiver

Failure to enforce any right does not waive that right.

11.4 Assignment

We may assign these Terms; you may not without our consent.

11.5 Changes to Terms

• We may update these Terms at any time
• Material changes will be notified via email or platform notice
• Continued use after changes constitutes acceptance
• You may terminate if you don't agree to changes

12. Contact Information

The Northern Web Company Registration No. 12393938 Email: hello@thenorthern-web.co.uk Website: https://stackpass.dev

For support, terms questions, or to exercise your rights, contact us at the email above.

13. Special Provisions

13.1 Beta Features

Some features may be marked as "beta" - these are provided as-is and may change or be discontinued.

13.2 API Access (Future)

API access, if provided, requires separate agreement and API key management.

13.3 Export of Data

You may export your data at any time through your account settings.

Effective Date: November 24, 2025

By using StackPass, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms of Service.