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TERMS AND CONDITIONS

These Terms and Conditions (these “Terms”) apply to all activities at Comic-Con in San Diego, California, and at WonderCon in Anaheim, California (each a “Convention,” or together, the “Conventions”), organized by San Diego Comic Convention (“SDCC”). By purchasing, obtaining, or using a badge for a Convention, or by attending any part of a Convention, you agree to these Terms, which SDCC reserves the right to change at any time, without prior notice. Additional terms may also apply to certain attendees and Convention participants and are available on SDCC’s website, including:

PHOTOGRAPHY, VIDEO, AND PUBLICITY

SDCC and its agents, licensees, or assignees may use your image or likeness in any media now known or later developed, including for advertising, informational, or promotional purposes. 

You may not take pictures or videos in any areas where photography or recording is posted or announced as prohibited. Any photos or videos you create in those areas may not be used for commercial purposes, made publicly available, or generally displayed without SDCC’s prior written consent.

BADGE REGISTRATION, OWNERSHIP, AND USE

You may not sell, trade, transfer, or share any badge, badge confirmation, complimentary code, purchase code, or complimentary pass. If SDCC determines that you have violated any of these policies, SDCC may cancel your entire badge order, without a refund, and revoke your eligibility to participate in badge sales for future years. 

For clarity, your purchase or receipt of a badge gives you a revocable license to participate in activities at the applicable Convention, based on availability and subject to capacity and other limitations. You do not “own” the badge, which will remain the property of SDCC and must be relinquished to SDCC upon request. SDCC reserves the right to refuse admission, refuse service, or cancel or revoke your Comic-Con Member ID or badge at any time, in SDCC’s sole discretion, including if you violate any of these Terms.

SDCC does not accept or recognize confirmations or badges sold or provided by anyone other than SDCC. 

You must wear and display your badge at all times while on-site at the Convention or any official SDCC event. 

To help prevent illegal badge duplication and unauthorized reselling, SDCC may, but is not required to, validate badges on entry to any area of the convention. These measures may include scanning a barcode, requiring a photo ID that matches the name on the badge, scanning an RFID tag embedded in the badge, or examining the badge with other technological or physical methods to verify the authenticity of the badge and its holder. Before leaving any registration area, please make sure that the name on the badge matches your identification.

Each badge and Comic-Con Member ID are personal to you and may not be transferred to anyone else. You must register an individual name for each badge, and each name must match a legal photo ID. A Comic-Con Member ID has no monetary value, and you may not sell or trade it. If SDCC determines that you have purchased or registered more than one badge in your name for any day, SDCC may cancel the duplicate badge(s) and issue you a refund, less the 10% processing fee and the handling fee, at its sole discretion.

You must register for a Comic-Con Member ID to be eligible to purchase and register a badge. Children ages 12 and under may not register for a Comic-Con Member ID. Everyone who intends to purchase, apply, or register for a badge must have a valid and confirmed Comic-Con Member ID, including attendees, volunteers, professionals, guests of professionals, retailers, panel key contacts, exhibitor key contacts, staff, and members of the press. You must also have a valid and confirmed Comic-Con Member ID to redeem a complimentary pass or purchase code. When you register, use an email address that you will be able to access long-term.

By registering for a Comic-Con Member ID, you consent to third parties that perform administrative or operational functions for SDCC retaining your personal information. SDCC will save your details for future badge sales, and you will receive periodic registration and website administration updates from SDCC.

If SDCC determines that you purchased or registered for a badge without registering a Comic-Con Member ID, SDCC may cancel your badge and refund any amounts paid, less the 10% processing fee and the handling fee, at its sole discretion. You may register for one Comic-Con Member ID only. SDCC periodically reviews Member ID accounts for duplicates. If SDCC determines that you have more than one Member ID, SDCC may cancel, without notice, one or all Member IDs associated with you, along with any badges, passes, or purchase codes issued to those Member IDs. 

To cancel your Comic-Con Member ID, submit a contact form on the SDCC website. Once your Member ID is canceled, you will no longer be eligible to purchase, apply, or register for a badge for either Convention, and you will need to register again to buy badges in the future. Canceling your Member ID also cancels any badge you have already purchased for either Convention. If you requested cancellation before the applicable refund deadline, SDCC may refund the purchase price, less the 10% processing fee and the handling fee, at its sole discretion.

Although SDCC makes efforts to keep the purchase of badges easy, efficient, and equitable, SDCC makes no guarantee, warranty, or representation that registering a Comic-Con Member ID or logging onto the SDCC website with a Comic-Con Member ID entitles you to, or will enable you to, purchase a badge. A Comic-Con Member ID is required only to log in to the online registration system. It does not reserve a badge or increase your chances of purchasing, applying, or registering for one, regardless of how many times you register or what information you provide. Due to the limited number of badges and the large volume of Comic-Con Member ID holders, badges are sold as long as they remain available and may sell out very quickly. Not everyone eligible to purchase a badge will be able to do so.

VENUE, CAPACITY, ADMISSIONS, AND WRISTBANDS

The Conventions are highly popular events that draw many thousands of attendees each year, and demand for their programming routinely exceeds the space available. The Exhibit Hall, program rooms, and all on-site and offsite events have limited capacity, as set by the fire marshal. The capacity for a particular program room, hall, or event may change, before or during the event, due to a variety of circumstances. 

While your badge is required to access all Convention events, it does not guarantee you access to any event, including if the venue appears to have reached capacity. Badges and wristbands do not guarantee entry to, or participation in, any event, panel, program, or activity, including Hall H panels at Comic-Con, any first-seating or equivalent wristband program at WonderCon, and any other high-demand programming at either Convention. 

Program room, first-seating, exclusives, and autograph wristbands are intended to facilitate or prioritize entry or participation, but they do not guarantee entry or participation, regardless of when you arrive, how long you wait in line, or whether you follow any posted or announced line, return, wristband-distribution, or seating procedures. Any statement that a wristband provides, ensures, or secures entry or seating means only that the wristband is intended to offer priority access or an opportunity to be admitted or seated, subject to capacity limits, safety requirements, applicable law, and unforeseen circumstances. Wristbands are provided at no separate charge, have no monetary value, and are not a ticket, and the inability to enter or be seated at any event, panel, or program does not entitle you to any refund, credit, or other compensation. SDCC reserves the right to limit or restrict access to, and to refuse entry to, any event, program room, exclusive event, or wristband event, at its sole discretion.

Additionally, SDCC makes no guarantee, warranty, or representation that the SDCC website will function properly throughout the badge sales process. If the SDCC website malfunctions, SDCC will try to resolve the problem in a timely manner. By using the SDCC website, you agree that IN NO EVENT WILL SDCC, ITS PRINCIPALS, AGENTS, REPRESENTATIVES, OR AFFILIATES BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, PUNITIVE, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OF ANY KIND WHATSOEVER, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO DAMAGES RESULTING FROM THE USE OF THE WEBSITE OR THE BADGE SALE AND REGISTRATION PROCESS. 

If you use your Member ID to purchase or register a badge for a day for which you previously purchased or registered a badge, the new badge will automatically be canceled and refunded, less the 10% processing fee and the handling fee, without contacting you.

For example, if you purchased a Friday and Saturday badge for Comic-Con during Open Registration, and you later use your Member ID to register as a professional or press, the Friday and Saturday badge you purchased during Open Registration will be canceled and refunded, less the 10% processing fee and the handling fee. 

This policy does not apply to purchasing different single-day badges or upgrades. For example, if you purchased a Thursday and Sunday badge for Comic-Con during Returning Registration and you later use your Member ID to purchase a Friday, Saturday, and Preview Night badge during Open Registration, your original Thursday and Sunday badge purchase will not be canceled. Only badges with overlapping dates will be subject to automatic cancellation and refund.

Purchasing a badge during Returning Registration does not guarantee eligibility to purchase a badge during Open Registration. SDCC reserves the right to limit and define eligibility for both Returning Registration and Open Registration, at its sole discretion.

These Terms apply to all SDCC badge purchases and registrations. Registrations for exhibitors, professionals, guests of professionals, press, vendors, retailers, program participants, volunteers, and staff may be subject to additional restrictions outlined during the online badge registration process.

HEALTH PRECAUTIONS

SDCC cannot guarantee that its participants will not be exposed to or become infected with communicable diseases or other illnesses, such as COVID-19, influenza, or other contagious conditions, while attending a Convention. SDCC will, at a minimum, comply with all applicable federal, state, and local health requirements in effect at the time of the event. While there is no current masking mandate, attendees are welcome to wear a mask if they prefer to do so.

By registering to attend these events you agree to abide by the entry and health requirements in effect at the time of the event. Check the SDCC website in the period leading up to the event for the latest protocols.

RELEASE AND WAIVER OF CLAIMS.

AS USED IN THESE TERMS, “ACTIVITY” MEANS ANY ASPECT OF A CONVENTION AND ANY RELATED SDCC EVENT, INCLUDING PURCHASING, OBTAINING, OR USING A BADGE, WRISTBAND, PASS, OR PURCHASE CODE; ATTENDING OR ATTEMPTING TO ATTEND, OR BEING UNABLE TO ATTEND OR PARTICIPATE IN, ANY EVENT, PANEL, PROGRAM, EXHIBIT, OR OTHER ACTIVITY; AND WAITING IN OR BEING TURNED AWAY FROM ANY LINE OR VENUE. 

TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, BY PARTICIPATING IN ANY ACTIVITY, EACH PARTICIPANT RELEASES, WAIVES, AND FOREVER DISCHARGES SAN DIEGO COMIC CONVENTION AND ITS AFFILIATED PARTNERS AND SPONSORS, INCLUDING IN EACH CASE, WITHOUT LIMITATION, THEIR DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, VOLUNTEERS, AND AGENTS (THE “RELEASED PARTIES”), FROM ANY AND ALL LIABILITY, CLAIMS, AND DEMANDS OF WHATEVER KIND OR NATURE, WHETHER IN LAW OR IN EQUITY, WHETHER NOW EXISTING OR ARISING IN THE FUTURE, THAT THE PARTICIPANT OR THE PARTICIPANT’S HEIRS, ASSIGNEES, NEXT OF KIN, OR LEGALLY APPOINTED OR DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVES, MAY HAVE AGAINST THE RELEASED PARTIES ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO ANY ACTIVITY. 

THIS RELEASE INCLUDES, BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO, DAMAGES OR LOSSES CAUSED BY THE NEGLIGENCE, FAULT, OR CONDUCT OF ANY KIND ON THE PART OF THE RELEASED PARTIES, OR ANY OTHER LOSS OR DAMAGE ARISING FROM OR RELATING TO ANY ACTIVITY, INCLUDING DEATH, BODILY INJURY, ILLNESS, ECONOMIC LOSS, OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSES, OR LOSS OR DAMAGE TO PROPERTY. THIS RELEASE ALSO INCLUDES, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY CLAIM OR DEMAND BASED ON THE PARTICIPANT’S INABILITY TO ATTEND OR PARTICIPATE IN ANY EVENT, PANEL, PROGRAM, OR OTHER ACTIVITY, INCLUDING HALL H PANELS AT COMIC-CON AND ANY EQUIVALENT OR HIGH-DEMAND PROGRAMMING AT EITHER CONVENTION, EVEN IF THE PARTICIPANT HOLDS A BADGE, WRISTBAND, PASS, OR PURCHASE CODE AND EVEN IF THE PARTICIPANT FOLLOWED ANY POSTED OR ANNOUNCED LINE, RETURN, OR SEATING PROCEDURES.

ASSUMPTION OF THE RISK.

Participant acknowledges and understands that participation in an Activity may involve inherent risks, including possible exposure to and illness from communicable diseases and other infectious conditions. While particular rules and personal precautions may reduce these risks, they cannot eliminate them, and the risk of serious illness or death does exist. Participant knowingly and freely assumes all risks associated with participation in an Activity, even if a risk is caused by the negligence or fault of the Released Parties.

BADGE SHIPPING

If eligible for advance shipping, badges for attendees, professionals, paid retailers, and press will be mailed to the individual badge holder. If an attendee or press badge is registered for another member, that badge will be sent to the designated badge shipping address on file in that member’s Comic-Con Member ID account. Professional guest badges will be sent to the professional only. Exhibitor badges will be shipped to the key contact’s designated address in their GoExpo Exhibitor Profile. Badges not delivered for any reason must be picked up on-site.

SDCC is unable to ship badges to an international address. International attendees, professionals, paid retailers, and press who wish to have their badge shipped to a US address can do so by updating the “Primary Shipping Address” on their Member ID account to a domestic address. International exhibitors who want their company’s badges shipped to a US address can do so by updating the address in their GoExpo Exhibitor Profile. International badge holders without a US shipping address may pick up their badges on-site when they arrive.

BADGE PRIVACY NOTICE

Your event badge is encoded with a number that allows exhibitors to obtain your full name, company name, address, phone and fax numbers, and email address. If you allow an exhibitor to scan your badge using RFID (where applicable) or the barcode, they can obtain this information. If you do not want exhibitors to have your contact information, do not allow your badge to be scanned and do not give your badge to anyone else.

Only allow your badge to be scanned by exhibitors whom you want to have your contact information. If an exhibitor scans your badge and obtains your contact information, they may contact you, send you information, or share your information with others.

SDCC does not rent, sell, lend, or give its mailing list to anyone other than parties that need the information to assist in producing our events, such as the registration and housing companies.

TRANSFER/RESALE POLICY

THE REFUND DEADLINE FOR EACH CONVENTION IS SET EACH YEAR AND IS POSTED ON THE SDCC WEBSITE FOR THAT CONVENTION. AFTER THE APPLICABLE RETURN DEADLINE, YOUR BADGE FOR THAT CONVENTION IS NON-REFUNDABLE. IF YOU CANNOT ATTEND A CONVENTION FOR WHICH YOU HOLD A BADGE, YOU MUST APPLY FOR A REFUND BY THAT CONVENTION’S REFUND DEADLINE, FOLLOWING THE REFUND POLICY. ALL REFUNDS WILL BE SUBJECT TO A 10% PROCESSING FEE.

BADGE MARKUP POLICY

  • Small decorations on badges or lanyards are allowed, as long as they do not impede visual credential checks by security.  
  • Decorations must not cover the badge in a way that prevents security from visually inspecting your credential. Security must be able to quickly identify the badge as the current year’s credential and determine the days you are registered for.
  • If your decorations prevent this visual inspection, you will be asked to remove them before you proceed. 
  • If the decorations are not removable, you will be escorted to Badge Solutions or, if applicable, to one of the RFID Help Desks, at the locations identified in the Convention’s on-site signage and materials, to receive a reprint of your badge, for which there is a charge. Obtaining a reprint may cause you to lose your place in line, so it is best to avoid the situation.

This policy applies to the entire paper badge and the plastic badge holder. If your badge includes an RFID sticker, the RFID sticker is an integral part of your badge and must not be removed.

Member ID Important Terms & Conditions

By submitting a registration for a Comic-Con Member ID, you consent to your personal information being retained by third parties involved in administrative or operational functions on behalf of San Diego Comic Convention (“SDCC”). Your details will be saved for future badge sales and you will receive periodic registration and website administration updates from SDCC.

Please make sure the email address you provide is one you will be able to access long-term.

If you want to remove yourself from the Comic-Con Member ID database, please submit a contact form. Canceling your Member ID means you will no longer be eligible to purchase, apply, or register for a Comic-Con or WonderCon badge, and you will need to re-register if you wish to buy badges in the future. If you have already purchased a badge for Comic-Con or WonderCon, that badge will be canceled. The  purchase price may be refunded, less a 10% processing fee and the handling fee at SDCC’s sole discretion, if you requested the cancellation before the refund deadline.

Children ages 12 and under may not register for a Comic-Con Member ID.

Registering a Comic-Con Member ID does not reserve or guarantee you a badge. A Comic-Con Member ID is required to log in to the online registration system only and does not increase your chances of purchasing, applying, or registering for a badge. Your chance of buying a badge is not influenced by how many times you register, or the information you provide during registration. Multiple registrations will be deleted.

You must register for a Comic-Con Member ID to be eligible to purchase a badge. Anyone applying for press, professional, guest of professional, volunteer, department volunteer, or exhibitor key contact badges must also sign up for a Comic-Con Member ID before requesting to register for a badge. If SDCC determines that you purchased or registered for a badge, but did not register for a Comic-Con Member ID, SDCC may cancel your badge and refund any amounts paid, less a 10% processing fee and the handling fee, at its sole discretion.

SDCC will periodically review all Member ID accounts and automatically delete any duplicates. You may not register for more than one Member ID account. If a deleted account has an associated Comic-Con or related event badge, that badge will be automatically canceled, less a 10% processing fee and the handling fee.

Although SDCC makes efforts to keep the purchase of badges easy, efficient, and equitable, SDCC makes no guarantee, warranty, or representation that logging onto the website with a Comic-Con Member ID entitles you to, or will enable you to, purchase a badge. Due to the limited number of badges and the large volume of Comic-Con Member ID holders, badges are sold only while they remain available and may sell out very quickly. Not everyone eligible to purchase a badge will be able to do so. 

Additionally, SDCC makes no guarantee, warranty, or representation that the website will function properly throughout the badge sales process. If the SDCC website malfunctions, SDCC will try to resolve the problem in a timely manner. By using the website, you agree that IN NO EVENT WILL SDCC, ITS PRINCIPALS, AGENTS, REPRESENTATIVES, OR AFFILIATES BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, PUNITIVE, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OF ANY KIND WHATSOEVER, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO DAMAGES RESULTING FROM THE USE OF THE WEBSITE OR THE BADGE SALE AND REGISTRATION PROCESS.

A Comic-Con Member ID has no monetary value. By registering for a Comic-Con Member ID, you agree not to sell or trade it, and you agree that if you do so, SDCC may cancel your Member ID. SDCC reserves the right to refuse admission, refuse service, or cancel or revoke your Member ID or badge at its sole discretion.