Terms of Use

These Terms of Use ("Terms") govern your use of the Al Sharq Forum app (the "App"), operated by Al Sharq Forum — Şark Forum Derneği, Yenibosna Merkez Mah. 29 Ekim Cad. No: 3, İstanbul Vizyon Park, A1 Blok, Kat 6, Daire 67, Bahçelievler, İstanbul, Türkiye ("we", "us"). By creating an account or using the App, you agree to these Terms and to our Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, please do not use the App.

1. Who can use the App

• You must be at least 18 years old to create an account.
• You must give accurate information when you create your account and register for the conference, and keep it up to date.
• Registering for the conference does not guarantee a place. Participation is subject to approval by the Forum, and we may decline or cancel a registration, for example when places are limited or these Terms are breached.
• You can browse the programme, speakers and other public information as a guest, without an account.

2. Your account

You are responsible for keeping your password and your device secure, and for what happens under your account. Tell us at forum@sharqforum.org if you think someone else has used it. Your QR entry pass is personal: do not share it or let anyone else use it.

3. Community rules for messaging and participation

The App lets participants find each other and exchange messages. We have zero tolerance for objectionable content and abusive behaviour. You must not use the App to:

• harass, threaten, intimidate, bully or discriminate against anyone;
• send hateful, violent, sexually explicit or otherwise offensive content;
• send spam, unsolicited advertising or repeated unwanted messages;
• impersonate anyone, or misrepresent your identity or affiliation;
• share someone else's personal information without their permission;
• post anything unlawful, or that infringes someone else's rights;
• interfere with the App, its security or other users' use of it.

Report and block. You can report a message or a participant, and block anyone, from within the conversation. Blocking stops the person from messaging you.

Moderation. We act on reports within 24 hours. We may remove content, restrict or mute messaging, and suspend or close accounts that break these rules, without notice where needed to protect others. Serious incidents may also lead to removal from the conference.

The Conference Code of Conduct, which you accept when you register, applies in the App as it does at the venue.

4. Content and intellectual property

The App, its design and its content — including the programme, speaker information and materials, logos and branding — belong to the Forum or its partners and are protected by law. You may use them only for your personal, non-commercial participation in the conference.

You keep ownership of what you post, such as your profile and messages. You allow us to store and display it in the App so that the service works.

5. Photography and recording

Conference sessions and the venue may be photographed, filmed or recorded, and these materials may be published by the Forum. You accept this when you register, as stated on the registration form.

6. The App's availability

We work to keep the App available and accurate, but it is provided "as is". We do not guarantee that it will always be available, uninterrupted or free of errors — particularly during the event, when connectivity at the venue may be limited. The programme, speakers and sessions may change; the App shows the latest information we have.

7. Limitation of liability

To the extent the law allows, we are not liable for indirect or consequential loss, or for loss caused by technical failures, network outages or events outside our reasonable control. Nothing in these Terms limits liability that cannot be limited by law.

Views expressed by speakers or participants, in sessions or in the App, are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Al Sharq Forum.

8. Ending your use

You can stop using the App and delete your account at any time (Privacy Policy, section 10). We may suspend or end your access if you break these Terms or if it is necessary to protect other users or the Forum.

9. App Store and Google Play

If you downloaded the App from Apple's App Store, Apple's Standard Licensed Application End User License Agreement also applies, and these Terms supplement it. These Terms are between you and Al Sharq Forum, not Apple; Apple is not responsible for the App or its content, has no obligation to provide maintenance or support for it, and is not responsible for any claims relating to it. Apple and its subsidiaries are third-party beneficiaries of these Terms and may enforce them against you. The same applies, as relevant, to Google and Google Play.

10. Changes

We may update these Terms. The date at the top shows the latest version. If a change is significant, we will tell you in the App before it takes effect. Continuing to use the App after that means you accept the updated Terms.

11. Governing law

These Terms are governed by the laws of the Republic of Türkiye. The courts and enforcement offices of Istanbul have jurisdiction over any dispute, without prejudice to any mandatory consumer protections that apply to you.

12. Contact

For help, questions about these Terms, or to report a problem:
Al Sharq Forum — Şark Forum Derneği, Yenibosna Merkez Mah. 29 Ekim Cad. No: 3, İstanbul Vizyon Park, A1 Blok, Kat 6, Daire 67, Bahçelievler, İstanbul, Türkiye
Email: forum@sharqforum.org · Website: www.sharqforum.org