General Terms and Conditions

(Online ticketing and use of networking
last updated: (07/2024)


Part A:
General Terms and Conditions online ticketing for trade fair participation as a trade visitor
Part B:
Terms of Use for the networking of Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH


Part A:
General Terms and Conditions online ticketing for trade fair participation as a trade visitor

1. General
1.1 All orders will be accepted and processed only under the conditions set down here by Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH (hereinafter referred to as “Messe Frankfurt”). Customers’ terms and conditions that differ from these will not be valid. By placing an order, customers acknowledge these conditions, even if their order indicated other terms of sale. Additional agreements will only be legally binding if these are confirmed by us in writing. Special arrangements do not annul the remaining conditions. The ticket purchase for resale is prohibited.

1.2 The Customer must be a trade visitor. Trade visitors are resellers of goods that are exhibited at Messe Frankfurt trade fairs. Trade visitors must be entrepreneurs as defined in section 14 of the German Civil Code (BGB). An entrepreneur is a natural or legal person or a legal business partnership acting within the scope of its commercial or independent professional trade in concluding a legal transaction.

2. Offers and prices
Offers and prices are non-binding at all times. Prices cease to be valid when a new price list is issued. The prices include the VAT required by law.

3. tickets with info service/ advertising consent
Tickets with info service can be purchased under the condition that you consent to advertising. These tickets are offered at a discounted price. The redemption of vouchers is subject to your consent to advertising.

4. Participation physically and digitally to the event
4.1    Participation in trade fair with physical and digital presence

a) The online ticket is valid for the physical participation and the digital participation in the networking.
b) The networking offers, inter alia, expanded interaction and contact opportunities as well as digital matchmaking and a live (video) chat. Special terms of use apply to the use of the networking (see Part B of these conditions below). The service provision for the networking by Messe Frankfurt starts directly with the acceptance of these Terms and Conditions. From thenon your profile can be viewed directly by other networking users. You are already represented there with your name, company and interests. No contact details such as email address or telephone number are published. Contacts are made directly on the networking, requests are communicated to you by e-mail. You can switch contact requests on and off on the networking.

4.2 Parallel trade fairs
The online ticket for an event of Messe Frankfurt that takes place at the same time and place or at least overlaps with another event of Messe Frankfurt (parallel trade fair) is also valid for the respective parallel trade fair.

5. Order confirmation and invoicing
5.1 Once your order has been received, you will be sent an order confirmation and an invoice by email. In the event that an order is not confirmed separately, the invoice will also serve as an order confirmation.

5.2 Online tickets are generated and sent by Messe Frankfurt Venue GmbH in the name and for the account of Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH, 60327 Frankfurt, VAT ID DE814105739. The invoice will be sent as a PDF file.

5.3    By ordering tickets online, the customer agrees to the electronic generation and transmission of online tickets and invoices. Customers are not entitled to receive an invoice in paper form.

5.4    We make particular reference to the requirement for companies to retain and file electronically received documents in accordance with the German Tax Code, the German VAT Act, the generally accepted principles of computer-assisted accounting systems (GoBS) and the principles of data access and auditing of digital documents (GDPdU). According to the GDPdU and Section 14b of the German VAT Act, the e-mail transmitted by Messe Frankfurt and the attached PDF invoice file need to be retained and filed in digital form.

5.5    Messe Frankfurt will not be liable for any errors or damages resulting from incorrect procedures or insufficient technical equipment on the part of the invoice recipient in connection with invoices sent to him/her electronically.

Furthermore, Messe Frankfurt will not be liable for any invoices or input taxes that are not recognised by the German tax authorities, unless this is due to a reason caused by Messe Frankfurt.

5.6    Tickets cannot be returned or refunded.

6. Terms of Payment
Payment for online tickets can be made by credit card or PayPal when ordering. This payment will be processed by an external service provider.

7. Audio and video recordings
The customer hereby grants the exhibition or its delegates permission to create images and/or audio recordings of the customer, within the scope of the event; and to use those recordings in any known and unknown manner in all media, anytime, anywhere and at no charge; and to use, process, duplicate, disseminate, display, publicize, or archive such recordings, including in processed form, in part or in full, for editorial reporting, or for marketing or advertising purposes for the event and the exhibition, either non-commercially or commercially.

8. Unforeseen events
Messe Frankfurt is entitled to postpone, to shorten, to wholly or partially end or cancel the physical fair or to make reasonable changes to the event’s content taking account of participants’ interests for important reasons for which it is not responsible, e.g., industrial action, official or statutory orders, or force majeure, e.g., extreme weather conditions, catastrophes, war, terrorist threats, fire, danger to participants’ life or health.

Messe Frankfurt shall not be liable for damages or compensation in the case of a change to the event as outlined above, e.g., cancellation, postponement, shortening.

9. Liability
9.1 Messe Frankfurt will only be liable without any limitation for damages suffered by customers insofar as these are due to deliberate or grossly negligent conduct. In the case of a minor breach of duty, Messe Frankfurt will only be liable when there is a breach of its material contractual obligations (contractual conditions). In this case, Messe Frankfurt’s liability will be limited to direct damages suffered by the customer that are typical for the contract and that were foreseeable at the time the contract was concluded. This will also apply to breaches of duty by legal representatives and/or vicarious agents of Messe Frankfurt Messe Frankfurt. Liability for injury to life, body or health will remain unaffected by this liability restriction.

9.2 External links may lead to internet providers whose content does not lie within the responsibility of Messe Frankfurt. These links are recognisable as such from the context or are indicated separately. Messe Frankfurt has no influence whatsoever on the content of these websites and cannot be held responsible for same. In particular, Messe Frankfurt expressly distances itself from the views expressed on these websites. Furthermore, responsibility can only be attributed to Messe Frankfurt insofar as it had knowledge of infringements and insofar as it would have been technically feasible and within reason for Messe Frankfurt to prevent its use (section 8(2) Telemediengesetz – German Telemedia Act). Messe Frankfurt has examined the external content to a reasonable extent for possible infringements. No infringements of copyrights, brand rights, personality rights or violations of competition law on the websites of third party providers were evident or known to us; the same applies to any criminal offences committed on these websites. Liability for content and damages arising from the use or non-use of such information rests solely with the provider of these web pages and not with those who only feature links to the publication in question. This limitation will also apply in the same way for external input in guest books, discussion forums and mailing lists set up by Messe Frankfurt.

10. Other provisions, safeguarding clause
10.1 In the event that any of the individual provisions contained in the contract with the customer – including these Terms and Conditions – should be or become wholly or partially invalid, this shall have no bearing upon the validity of the remaining provisions. In this case, the fully or partially invalid provision will be replaced with another provision that most closely approximates the commercial intent of the invalid provision in a legally recognised way. The same will apply for the need to fill any gaps in the provisions.

10.2 Only German statutory regulations will apply.
The German version of these Terms and Conditions shall exclusively govern the content and interpretation of the rights and obligations of users and Messe Frankfurt.

10.3  Sole place of jurisdiction for registered traders, for individuals who do not have a general place of jurisdiction in Germany and individuals who have relocated their legal or ordinary residence outside of Germany since signing the contract or whose legal or ordinary residence is not known at the time that the suit is brought shall be the location of the registered seat of Messe Frankfurt in Frankfurt am Main.


Part B:
Terms and Conditions for the networking of Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH
Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH, Ludwig-Erhard-Anlage 1, 60327 Frankfurt am Main (hereinafter referred to as "Messe Frankfurt" or "We") provides You (hereinafter: "User" or "You") with the services of networking on the basis of these Terms and Conditions

You irrevocably accept the following Terms of Use. Any conflicting license terms or general terms and conditions do not apply.

So as to also accommodate your requests for exchange and networking among one another in this context, the networking enables  to carry out "matchmaking" by using algorithm based technology (see section 5). This enables You to network with the most suitable possible potential business partners and to contact one another via integrated communication functions (chat, video, etc.). This is already the case before and after the event.

1. Registration via Messe-Login
In order to use the networking, each User must register under the name of his/her company as well as with their personal business contact data via the Messe-Login.As a trade visitor, your networking profile will be activated automatically and unlimited with the purchase of the online ticket. You are free to close your account in the networking. The Messe-Login remains unaffected.
You are responsible for all activities via your user account and You are obliged to protect the access data from third-party access. You will receive initial access data for the networking after purchasing the online ticket or registering at the Messe-Login.

2. Right of use, warranty
2.1    With the acceptance of these Terms and Conditions and the associated activation of the user account, a user agreement is established between Messe Frankfurt and the user for the use of the networking.
Messe Frankfurt grants You a non-exclusive and non-transferable right to use the networking. You may not rent, loan, sell, license, assign or otherwise transfer the right of use granted to You in the networking to any third party.

2.2    We will endeavour to keep the networking and the services accessible available at all times. Maintenance, security or capacity requirements, in particular, as well as Events that are not in Our power to control (e.g., interruptions in public communications networks, force majeure, etc.) may cause unavoidable interruptions or temporary unavailability of the networking or of the services accessible via the networking.
A compatible browser client and a smartphone, tablet or desktop is required to use the networking.
We are not responsible for the User's mobile data connection. The use of the SIM card/mobile phone connection is exclusively subject to the terms agreed by the User with the telecommunications provider in his/her mobile phone contract.
By providing performance data or other descriptions of the networking, even if referring to DIN and / or other standards, Messe Frankfurt does not give any guarantee for the quality of the networking. The provisions pursuant to clause 9 (Liability) shall apply with regard to liability.

3. Rights of Messe Frankfurt
All services and content of the networking, in particular, all texts, logos, images, trademarks, graphics, artwork, animations, audio files and software enjoy legal protection, e.g. on the basis of copyrights, moral rights, registered designs, and patent law, the law on trademarks and related signs or database law, as trade secrets, under data protection and secrecy rights or other similar rights. Messe Frankfurt is either owner or licensee of all existing property rights to the networking and its content or services. All rights continue to remain with Messe Frankfurt.

4. Prohibition of software modification by the User
Any changes and/or modifications of the networking by the User are prohibited. You agree to refrain from identifying the source code of the software. Section 69e of the German Copyright Act (Urheberrechtsgesetz, UrhG) remains unaffected.

5. Features of the networking
The networking is a closed online system. Access is therefore only possible via an active Internet connection using a web browser client (such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, etc.) as a browser application on both mobile and desktop devices.

The User is offered contact and communication services with the networking application. Messe Frankfurt does not participate in communication in terms of content - in case of closed or private channels - and is not responsible for communication taking place. If contracts are concluded via the networking, Messe Frankfurt is not involved therein and hence does not become a contractual partner. The User will bear sole responsibility for compliance with any contracts signed by him/her. Messe Frankfurt furthermore, will not be liable for any breaches of duty by the User under such contracts.

The networking basically offers the following modular functionalities. Their optimal use may be subject to further requirements. The actual availability/ activation of particular modules may vary depending on the Event or Event Planning:

• Networking - MatchmakingUsers create an interest profile for themselves. Entries are done using the categories "I search" and "I offer" in industry-relevant taxonomy. The system uses a process supported by algorithms to suggest contacts between these potential business partners based on information provided previously. The query catalogue for the interest profile can be edited when activating the user account or at any time thereafter. The user profile with the respective stored interests is visible for all networking users. The visibility cannot be deactivated and is necessary for the findability within the networking. You can send contact requests to other users via networking. Receiving contact requests is preset, but can be disabled by the user.

• Chat
Chat are open and closed chat rooms unrelated to specific occasions and can be used for discussions and open exchange within the networking. The open areas are accessible to all Users and are moderated. Access to the closed areas is possible only after invitation by other Users and they are intended for private exchange.

• Video chats
All Users can schedule meetings with one another and then exchange information via an integrated chat. This can also be done via an integrated video telephony solution.

6. The User's obligations
The User shall comply with applicable laws as well as the rights of third parties when using content and services within the scope of the networking. The User shall provide only true and not misleading information.

In particular, the User shall be prohibited from the following:

• using insulting or defamatory content regardless of whether this content affects other Users or other persons or companies;
• using pornographic or other content in violation of the laws regarding the protection of minors or advertising, offering or selling pornographic products or products in violation of the laws regarding the protection of minors;
• using content protected under law (e.g., by way of copyright, trademark, patent, design patent or utility model law) without having the right to do so or advertising, offering or selling merchandise or services protected under law; or
• conducting or encouraging anti-competitive activities, including progressive customer canvassing (such as chain letters or snowball or pyramid schemes)
• unreasonably bothering other Users within the meaning of Sec. 7 German Law of Unfair Business Practices (Gesetz gegen den unlauteren Wettbewerb, UWG

Moreover, the User shall not be allowed to use the communication facilities within the networking for any of the following, even if they do not specifically violate any laws:

• sending out chain letters (SPAM);
• conducting, promoting or encouraging structured marketing measures (such as multi-level marketing or multi-level network marketing);
• communicating in a way that involves suggestive or sexual content (explicit or implicit).

The User shall be prohibited from the following:

• using mechanisms, software or scripts in connection with the use of networking, with the exception of applications explicitly intended for connecting to the networking (see section 5 Video conferencing software);
• copying via "robot/crawler" search engine technology;
• distributing and publicly reproducing content from the networking or from other Users;
• any activity that could limit the functionality of the infrastructure of the EP, particularly any activity that could put exceptional strain on the system.

7. Sanctions and blocking
Messe Frankfurt may terminate the User without notice and take adequate measures, in particular, blocking and/or deleting him/her or issuing a warning if there is concrete evidence that a User is in breach of statutory regulations, third-party rights, these Terms of Use or the GTC of Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH or if Messe Frankfurt has any other legitimate interest, in particular in protecting other Users from fraudulent activities.

This will regularly be the case if:
• false contact information is used, in particular, a fake or invalid email address;
• the User is in breach of his/her contractual obligations under the GTC of Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH;
• the user obligations mentioned in section 2 are breached;
• advertising for associations or groups under surveillance by the security or youth protection authorities is observed;
• the User is involved in criminal prosecution due to his/her business practices and is causing damage to one or more other Users.

8. Data backup and data loss
We do not assume any guarantee for the permanent storage of data transmitted in the course of downloads made to the User's end device (smartphone, tablet, notebook or desktop) while using the services. The User shall ensure that any and all data within the User's sphere of influence are properly secured.

9. Liability
Messe Frankfurt will assume unlimited liability for any damage sustained by the User only if such damage was caused by its intentional or grossly negligent conduct. In case of slightly negligent breaches of duty, Messe Frankfurt will be liable only in case of breach of one of its essential contractual obligations (cardinal obligation). Cardinal obligations are contractual obligations, the very fulfilment of which is deemed to be necessary for due and careful performance of the contract and on the observance of which the contracting party does and may regularly rely on. In this case, the liability of Messe Frankfurt will be limited to the predictable, direct damage to the User that is typical for this type of contract. This also applies to breaches of duty by legal representatives and/or vicarious agents of Messe Frankfurt. Liability due to culpable injury of life, limb and health shall remain unaffected by this limitation of liability.

Messe Frankfurt does not assume any responsibility for content, data or information provided by the Users and all liability in connection with any of the above is excluded. In particular, Messe Frankfurt does not guarantee that this content is applicable, fulfils a specific purpose or could be used for said purpose.

This does not affect liability under the provisions of the German Product Liability Act (Produkthaftungsgesetz).

10. Hyperlinks
External links may lead to Internet providers whose content is not the responsibility of Messe Frankfurt. Such links can be recognised as such from the context or are marked separately. Messe Frankfurt has no influence whatsoever on the content provided on such websites and does not adopt it as its own. In particular, Messe Frankfurt expressly distances itself from the statements made there.

11. Term of owner/user relationship
The user relationship is for an unlimited period and requires termination by the User if use is not desired. There is no active duty of use. However, the User must check the content of the profile for accuracy of the data. A refund of paid fees due to non-use of the networking is excluded. You can close the networking account yourself in Customer Service.

12. Other provisions, severability
12.1  The User is not authorized to use the networking if he/she is included in the list of Specially Designated Nationals of the U.S. Treasury Department or the Denied Persons List or Entity List of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

12.2  If individual conditions of these license provisions are or become ineffective as a whole or in part, the validity of the remaining conditions is not thereby affected. The wholly or partially invalid provision shall be replaced by a provision that in a legally permissible manner comes as close as possible to the economic purpose of the invalid provision. The same applies to closing any loopholes in the contract.

12.3 The German version of these Terms of Use is exclusively decisive for content and interpretation of the rights and obligations of Users and of Messe Frankfurt.