Terms and Agreements

Please read these terms carefully before using S68 Search Engine. By accessing or using this platform, you agree to be bound by these terms.

Last updated: May 2026

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing, browsing, querying, or using S68 Search Engine (the "Search Engine," "Platform," or "S68"), you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms and Agreements ("Terms"). If you do not agree to these Terms, you must immediately cease using the Search Engine.

We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time without prior notice. Your continued use of the Search Engine after any modification constitutes acceptance of the modified Terms. It is your responsibility to review these Terms periodically for changes.

These Terms constitute a legally binding agreement between you ("User," "you," or "your") and the operators of S68 Search Engine ("we," "us," or "our").

2. Definitions

For purposes of these Terms:

"Search Engine" or "Platform" refers exclusively to the S68 Search Engine website at S68.org and does not include any third-party websites linked from, indexed by, or appearing within search results.
"Search Results" refers to the listings, links, entries, summaries, descriptions, images, scores, rankings, direct answers, and any other information displayed in response to a user query. Search results are informational displays and do not constitute offers to sell, endorsements, certifications, recommendations, or guarantees of any kind.
"Content" refers to all information, text, images, data, descriptions, categories, rankings, scores, direct answers, and materials displayed on the Search Engine.
"Indexed Parties" refers to any designers, brands, studios, agencies, companies, architects, institutions, or individuals whose work, products, projects, profiles, or information appears in search results, who are independent of and not affiliated with us unless expressly stated.
"Indexed Websites" refers to external third-party websites that appear as entries in search results. These websites are owned and operated by Indexed Parties or other third parties, and we have no control over their content, availability, performance, or practices.
"Users" or "Visitors" refers to any individual or entity accessing or using the Search Engine in any manner.
"Omega Particle" refers to the visual verification mark displayed alongside certain search results, indicating that the listed work has undergone meritocratic jury evaluation. The Omega Particle is an informational symbol and does not constitute a certification, warranty, endorsement, or guarantee of any kind.
"Meritocratic Evaluation" refers to the jury-based evaluation process through which entries are assessed, scored, and ranked based on predetermined criteria, conducted independently of the Search Engine.
"Grand Jury" refers to the international body of evaluators who assess entries submitted for meritocratic evaluation.
"IS8" and "INS8" refer to the IS8 (Eyesight) and INS8 (Insight) Curated Web Directories, which are independent curated directories from which S68 may draw reference data.
"Direct Answers" refers to any AI-generated or algorithmically compiled answers that S68 may display in response to user queries. Direct answers are informational and are provided without warranty of accuracy, completeness, or fitness for any purpose.
"A' Design Award" refers to A' Design Award and Competition S.r.l. and its affiliates.

3. Nature of the Search Engine

S68 IS AN INFORMATIONAL SEARCH ENGINE ONLY.

S68 indexes, organizes, and displays information about designs, products, projects, brands, designers, architects, agencies, institutions, and their work. Search results are organized according to meritocratic achievement, recency, and relevance as determined through our search algorithm, which draws from curated directories (IS8 and INS8), jury-evaluated records, profile databases, taxonomy classifications, and other reference sources.

We are:

An informational search engine that indexes, organizes, and displays entries about designs, products, projects, brands, and creative professionals
A curated search reference resource organized by meritocratic evaluation and editorial curation

We are expressly and unequivocally not:

A host, publisher, or originator of any content appearing in search results beyond our own editorial and organizational text
A retailer, seller, distributor, or provider of any products or services
A broker, agent, intermediary, or marketplace operator
A party to any transaction between Users and Indexed Parties
An escrow service, payment processor, or fulfillment provider
A certification body, standards organization, accreditation authority, or quality assurance entity
An endorser of any Indexed Party, website, product, service, design, or brand
A guarantor of the quality, safety, legality, availability, or performance of any indexed website, product, project, or service
A mediator or arbiter of disputes between Users and Indexed Parties
A host or storage provider for any external content, product, design, or media

S68 does not host, store, or control the content of any external website, product listing, or third-party resource that appears in search results. S68 indexes information from external sources and presents organized references with links. When you follow any link from S68 search results, you leave the Search Engine entirely and are directed to a third-party website outside our control. Any interaction, transaction, or engagement that occurs after leaving S68 is solely between the User and the third party.

Search results are informational index entries. The presence of a result does not mean the indexed website is currently active, that the Indexed Party is currently in business, that any product or service described is available, that any information displayed is current or accurate, or that the Indexed Party will respond to contact attempts.

4. Search Results, Rankings, and Algorithm

Search Algorithm: S68 employs a proprietary search algorithm that draws from multiple sources including the IS8 and INS8 Curated Web Directories, profile databases of jury-evaluated brands and professionals, records of jury-verified award-winning designs and innovations, taxonomy and classification databases, accessible audio descriptions, color-based design attributes, design adages, quotes, dictionary references, and AI-powered answer capabilities. The specific functioning, weighting, ordering, and methodology of the search algorithm are proprietary and may change at any time without notice.

Rankings Are Informational: The order in which search results appear reflects our algorithmic determination based on factors including meritocratic evaluation outcomes, recency, relevance, and other proprietary factors. Rankings are provided for informational and navigational purposes. The position of any result does not constitute a recommendation to visit, engage with, purchase from, or rely upon any Indexed Party. Rankings do not represent comparative quality judgments between Indexed Parties.

No Guarantee of Search Completeness: S68 delivers up to 68 results per query. Search results may not include all relevant entries in our index. The absence of any particular design, brand, product, or professional from search results does not imply any judgment regarding quality or merit. Our index is selective and curated, and inclusion is determined at our sole discretion.

Results May Change: Search results, rankings, index composition, and all displayed content may change at any time without notice. Results that appeared for a given query at one time may differ from results displayed at another time. We have no obligation to maintain any particular result, ranking, or content.

Right to Modify Algorithm: We reserve the right to modify, replace, or discontinue any aspect of the search algorithm, ranking methodology, data sources, index composition, result format, or any other aspect of how search results are generated and displayed, at any time, at our sole discretion, without notice or liability.

5. Meritocratic Evaluation and Ranking Basis

Evaluation Process: Certain entries indexed by S68 have been evaluated by an international grand jury against predetermined criteria. Evaluation criteria may encompass dimensions such as design quality, innovation, functionality, aesthetics, usability, societal benefit, and other factors. The specific criteria, their weighting, and the evaluation methodology are determined independently of S68 and may change without notice.

Jury Composition: The composition, size, and membership of the grand jury are determined independently of S68 and may change from evaluation cycle to evaluation cycle. We make no representation regarding the qualifications, expertise, independence, or judgment of any individual juror.

Scores and Rankings: Evaluation scores and resulting rankings reflect the collective assessment of the jury at the time of evaluation. Scores and rankings are provided for informational and organizational purposes within S68 search results. They do not constitute guarantees of quality, certifications of excellence, endorsements, or recommendations. Evaluation outcomes are inherently subjective and reflect the judgment of the particular jury at the particular time of evaluation.

No Guarantee of Evaluation Accuracy: We do not guarantee that evaluation scores or rankings accurately reflect the quality, merit, or value of any entry. Evaluation involves subjective judgment and may be influenced by factors beyond our control. Scores may contain errors. Rankings may not reflect current quality, as designs, products, and projects may change after evaluation.

Evaluation Results Are Final: All evaluation results, scores, rankings, and recognition determinations are final and are not subject to appeal, review, or challenge through these Terms or any process administered by the Search Engine.

6. The Omega Particle

Informational Symbol: The Omega Particle is a visual symbol displayed alongside certain search results to indicate that the listed work has undergone meritocratic jury evaluation. The Omega Particle is an informational indicator and is distinct from any award logo, certification mark, or quality seal.

No Certification or Warranty: The display of the Omega Particle does not constitute a certification, warranty, endorsement, guarantee, or representation of any kind regarding the quality, safety, legality, availability, or suitability of the associated design, product, project, service, brand, or Indexed Party. The Omega Particle indicates that a jury evaluation has occurred; it does not guarantee the outcome, accuracy, or current validity of that evaluation.

Right to Modify or Remove: We reserve the right to modify the design, criteria for display, or application of the Omega Particle, or to remove it from any or all search results, at any time, at our sole discretion, without notice or liability.

7. AI-Generated and Algorithmically Compiled Answers

Direct Answers: S68 may, depending on availability, display direct answers generated through AI-powered systems or compiled algorithmically from indexed sources. These direct answers are provided for informational convenience.

No Guarantee of Accuracy: AI-generated and algorithmically compiled answers may contain errors, inaccuracies, omissions, outdated information, misinterpretations, or hallucinated content. We make no warranty or representation regarding the accuracy, completeness, reliability, timeliness, or fitness for any purpose of any direct answer.

No Professional Advice: Direct answers do not constitute professional, legal, medical, financial, engineering, architectural, or any other form of professional advice. Users must independently verify all information and consult qualified professionals before making any decision based on direct answers.

Use at Own Risk: Reliance on any direct answer is entirely at the User's own risk. We accept no liability for any loss, damage, or consequence arising from reliance on AI-generated or algorithmically compiled content.

8. External Websites and Outbound Links

Search Results Link to External Websites: The primary function of S68 search results is to organize and present information with links to external websites. When you click any link, button, image, or call-to-action within a search result, you leave S68 and are redirected to an external third-party website entirely outside our control.

S68 Does Not Host External Content: S68 does not host, store, mirror, cache, or reproduce the content of any external website. Search result descriptions, summaries, and metadata are compiled from indexed information and may not accurately reflect the current state of any external website. The actual content exists on and is served by third-party servers outside our control.

External Websites Are Independent: Indexed websites and all other external websites linked from S68 are independently owned, operated, and maintained by third parties. We have no control over, and accept no responsibility for:

The content, accuracy, legality, decency, or appropriateness of any external website
The privacy practices, data collection, or cookie policies of any external website
The security, safety, availability, or performance of any external website
Any products or services offered, advertised, or sold on any external website
Any transaction conducted on or through any external website
Any terms, conditions, or policies of any external website
Any experience, interaction, loss, or damage arising from visiting any external website

Websites Change: External websites may change at any time after being indexed by S68. An indexed website may have been:

Modified, redesigned, or entirely replaced since its indexing
Changed in ownership or operation
Taken offline, become inactive, broken, or non-functional
Redirected to a different website or domain
Updated to contain content entirely different from what was indexed
Compromised to contain malicious content, malware, phishing attempts, or security threats
Modified to violate applicable laws or regulations

We have no obligation to monitor indexed websites for changes and accept no liability for any change to any indexed website after its inclusion in the search index.

Linking Does Not Constitute Endorsement: The inclusion of any link in S68 search results does not constitute endorsement, recommendation, approval, verification, or validation of the linked website, its operator, its content, its products, its services, or its practices.

9. Content, Information, and Accuracy

Information Compiled from External Sources: Content displayed in S68 search results, including descriptions, images, metadata, profile information, credentials, and other details, is compiled from external sources including curated directories (IS8 and INS8), jury evaluation records, partner databases, competition submission data, publicly available records, and algorithmic processing. We do not independently create, author, verify, validate, test, confirm, or approve the underlying accuracy of information compiled from external sources.

Information May Be Outdated: Information displayed in search results may have been accurate when originally compiled and indexed, and may no longer reflect current conditions. Websites change, businesses evolve, products are discontinued, contact information becomes outdated, designers change studios, brands change ownership, and designs may be updated or retired. We have no obligation to update any indexed information and accept no liability for outdated content.

Descriptions Are Informational Summaries: All descriptions of designs, products, projects, services, websites, capabilities, and achievements are informational summaries. They may be incomplete, simplified, derived from submission data, or based on information that has changed since the content was indexed.

Images Are Representative: All images displayed in search results are representative and may not accurately depict current products, projects, websites, or designs. Images may show designs as they appeared at the time of evaluation or submission, display renderings, prototypes, concepts, or competition entries rather than commercial products, be digitally processed, cropped, resized, or compressed, or be outdated in any respect. Users must independently verify current conditions.

Users Must Verify: Users must independently verify all information directly with Indexed Parties or through authoritative sources before making any decision based on S68 search results. The Search Engine is a starting point for discovery. Reliance on any search result information without independent verification is at the User's sole risk.

10. Award and Recognition Information Disclaimer

Award Status Based on Third-Party Records: Information regarding award status, recognition, and jury evaluation outcomes displayed in search results is derived from records of design competitions including the A' Design Award and Competition. This information is provided for informational and organizational purposes within the search index.

No Guarantee of Award Status: We do not guarantee that any Indexed Party currently holds or ever held any award or recognition. Award records may contain errors. Award status may have been revoked, expired, suspended, or incorrectly recorded. We do not independently verify all award claims on an ongoing basis.

Award Status Is Informational Context: The display of award or recognition information provides organizational context for search results. It does not constitute endorsement of any Indexed Party, guarantee of quality, safety, or reliability, certification or accreditation, recommendation to engage, purchase, or rely upon any Indexed Party, or verification of any claim made by any Indexed Party.

Recognition of Design Merit Is Distinct from Commercial Suitability: Recognition in a design competition reflects design merit as assessed at a specific point in time by a specific jury. It does not indicate commercial reliability, business integrity, financial stability, ongoing quality, legal compliance, suitability for any particular purpose, or willingness or ability to engage with the public or fulfill orders.

11. Enhanced A' Design Award Protection

A' Design Award as Data Source and Partner: A' Design Award and Competition S.r.l. ("A' Design Award") is a source of data for the S68 search index. Entries in S68 may be derived from A' Design Award competition records, created as a promotional benefit for award recipients, based on information from competition submissions, generated to increase visibility of recognized designs, compiled in good faith from available information, and processed through automated or semi-automated indexing.

A' Design Award Acts in Good Faith: When A' Design Award provides data that results in search index entries, it does so based on information provided during competition entry. Such information may have been accurate at the time of submission but may have subsequently changed. A' Design Award does not verify current accuracy of all indexed details on an ongoing basis, does not confirm commercial availability of any design, product, or service, and does not contact Indexed Parties for approval of each individual search index entry. Data provision for search indexing is a promotional service and does not constitute a guarantee of any kind.

A' Design Award Makes No Warranties: A' Design Award makes no warranty or representation that:

Indexed Parties wish to be contacted or are accepting inquiries
Indexed Parties are currently in business or operational
Indexed Parties will respond to any communication
Any indexed website is active, functional, or safe
Any product or service is available for purchase or engagement
Any information in any search result is current or accurate
Any Indexed Party endorses or approves how their information appears in S68

A' Design Award Disclaims All Liability: A' Design Award expressly disclaims any and all liability for:

Any search result derived from its data
Any error, omission, or inaccuracy in any indexed information
Any outdated or incorrect information
Any failure of Indexed Parties to respond or perform
Any interaction or transaction between Users and Indexed Parties
Any damages arising from reliance on search result information
Any experience on any indexed external website
Any claim that a search index entry should or should not exist

No Claim Against A' Design Award: Users agree they shall not make any claim against A' Design Award arising from or related to:

Any search result in the Search Engine
Any information in any search result
Any evaluation score, ranking, or recognition status
Any conduct or failure of any Indexed Party
Any interaction or transaction with any Indexed Party
Any reliance on any search result or award information
The existence, non-existence, inclusion, or removal of any search index entry

Competition Recognition Does Not Create Commercial Obligations: Users acknowledge that recognition in a design competition administered by A' Design Award does not mean the design is commercially available, does not mean the designer offers services to the public, does not mean the designer wishes to be contacted, does not obligate the designer to engage with inquiries, does not create any commercial relationship, and constitutes recognition of design merit only.

12. Indexed Party Information and Partner-Created Entries

Information Provided by Third Parties: Search index information, including descriptions, images, credentials, contact details, website URLs, and other content, may be provided by Indexed Parties, by partners including A' Design Award, by curated directories IS8 and INS8, or generated from publicly available records and algorithmic processing. We do not independently create, verify, validate, test, confirm, or approve the accuracy of indexed information.

Entries May Be Created Without Direct Involvement of Indexed Parties: Some entries in S68 search results may be created by partners, including A' Design Award, or through automated indexing processes. Such entries may be:

Created to promote recognized designs based on competition records
Generated without the direct involvement, awareness, or approval of the Indexed Party
Compiled through automated or semi-automated indexing processes
Based on information that was accurate at the time of submission but may have changed

Indexed Parties May Not Have Created or Approved Their Entry: Indexed Parties appearing in S68 search results:

May not have requested their inclusion in the search index
May not have provided the information displayed
May not have approved the entry content or presentation
May not be aware that their information appears in S68
May not have verified any information shown
May not endorse how they are presented in search results

Auto-Generated Content: Some search index entries may be automatically generated from competition databases, curated directory feeds, public records, partner data, or aggregated information sources. Auto-generated entries may contain placeholder content, generic descriptions, incomplete or outdated information, and errors inherent to automated processes. Auto-generated and partner-created entries are not individually verified for accuracy, currency, or completeness. They are provided for informational purposes. We accept no liability for any inaccuracy in auto-generated or partner-created content.

13. No Obligation of Indexed Parties

INDEXED PARTIES ARE INDEPENDENT THIRD PARTIES AND ARE NOT OBLIGATED TO RESPOND, ENGAGE, SELL, SERVE, OR PERFORM IN ANY WAY.

The presence of any entry in S68 search results does not create any obligation on the part of the Indexed Party. Indexed Parties are under no obligation to respond to any contact attempt, acknowledge any inquiry, provide any information, engage in any communication, sell any product, provide any service, accept any client or project, be available for hire, license any intellectual property, or explain any non-response.

Reasons Parties May Not Engage: Indexed Parties may not respond or may decline to engage because:

They did not create or authorize the search index entry
They are unaware their information appears in S68
They no longer offer the described product, project, or service
They have ceased business operations
They are not accepting new work or inquiries
They do not serve the User's market, region, or sector
The indexed entry was created in error or from outdated data
The design was a concept, prototype, or competition entry never commercialized
Contact information is outdated or incorrect
The company, studio, or individual no longer exists
For any other reason or for no reason

User Accepts Risk of Non-Response: Users acknowledge and accept that contacting an Indexed Party may result in no response, and that this is a normal and expected possibility for which the Search Engine bears no responsibility.

14. Index Inclusion, Modification, and Removal

WE RESERVE THE ABSOLUTE AND SOLE RIGHT TO INCLUDE, REFUSE, MODIFY, REPOSITION, OR REMOVE ANY ENTRY FROM THE SEARCH INDEX AT ANY TIME, FOR ANY REASON OR FOR NO REASON, WITHOUT NOTICE, WITHOUT EXPLANATION, AND WITHOUT LIABILITY.

Sole Discretion: All decisions regarding the inclusion, positioning, ranking, modification, or removal of any search index entry are made at our sole and absolute discretion. We are under no obligation to include any entry in the search index, maintain any entry in the search index, provide reasons for refusing or removing any entry, offer any appeals process, compensate any party for refusal or removal, or treat any entry equally.

Right to Refuse: We may refuse indexing any entry for any reason, including reasons related to quality standards, editorial judgment, legal concerns, reputational considerations, category appropriateness, technical requirements, or any other factor we deem relevant, as well as for no stated reason.

Right to Remove: We may remove any existing entry from the search index at any time without notice. Removal may occur for any reason or for no reason. Removal does not entitle any party to compensation, explanation, or reinstatement.

Right to Modify: We may modify any entry's content, position, ranking, category, description, associated metadata, or any other attribute at any time without notice or consent from the Indexed Party.

No Entitlement to Indexing: No party has any right, entitlement, or expectation of being indexed by S68. Participation in any design competition does not entitle any party to indexing. Previous inclusion does not entitle any party to continued inclusion. Eligibility criteria may change at any time.

No Liability for Index Decisions: We accept no liability for any loss, damage, or consequence arising from any decision to include, refuse, modify, reposition, or remove any search index entry, including any alleged loss of visibility, reputation, business opportunity, traffic, or revenue.

15. Comprehensive Warranty Disclaimer

THE SEARCH ENGINE, ALL CONTENT, ALL SEARCH RESULTS, ALL RANKINGS, ALL EVALUATION SCORES, ALL DIRECT ANSWERS, AND ALL INFORMATION ARE PROVIDED STRICTLY "AS IS," "WHERE IS," "AS AVAILABLE," AND "WITH ALL FAULTS."

EXPRESS DISCLAIMER OF ALL WARRANTIES: To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, we expressly disclaim any and all warranties, whether express, implied, statutory, or otherwise, including:

Any warranty of merchantability
Any warranty of fitness for a particular purpose
Any warranty of non-infringement
Any warranty of accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information, search result, or direct answer
Any warranty of timeliness or currency of any indexed content
Any warranty of availability or uninterrupted access to the Search Engine
Any warranty of error-free or secure operation
Any warranty that indexed websites are active, functional, safe, or accessible
Any warranty that Indexed Parties are currently in business or operational
Any warranty that Indexed Parties will respond to contact attempts
Any warranty that any product or service described is available or as described
Any warranty that evaluation scores or rankings accurately reflect quality or merit
Any warranty that any Indexed Party currently holds or ever held any award or recognition
Any warranty that any indexed website, product, or service is of any particular quality
Any warranty that any indexed website is free from malicious content
Any warranty that the Omega Particle accurately reflects current evaluation status
Any warranty that AI-generated or algorithmically compiled answers are accurate, complete, or reliable
Any warranty that search results are comprehensive or include all relevant entries
Any warranty that external links are functional or lead to intended destinations
Any implied warranties arising from course of dealing or usage of trade
Any warranties created by any statement, representation, or conduct

16. Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN NO EVENT SHALL THE SEARCH ENGINE, ITS OWNERS, OPERATORS, AFFILIATES, PARTNERS, LICENSORS, DATA SOURCES, SERVICE PROVIDERS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, JURORS, EVALUATORS, OR ANY RELATED PARTIES (INCLUDING A' DESIGN AWARD AND COMPETITION S.R.L., ITS PARENT COMPANIES, SUBSIDIARIES, AFFILIATES, OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AND AGENTS) BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER.

This includes:

Any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential, punitive, or exemplary damages
Any loss of profits, revenue, business, goodwill, data, or use
Any personal injury or property damage
Any other losses or damages of any kind

Arising from or related to:

Use or inability to use the Search Engine
Any search result, ranking, content, or information in the Search Engine
Any evaluation score, ranking position, Omega Particle display, or recognition status
Any direct answer, AI-generated content, or algorithmically compiled response
Any visit to any indexed website or any external website linked from the Search Engine
Any interaction, transaction, or engagement with any Indexed Party
Any product purchased or service obtained from any Indexed Party or third party
Any communication with any Indexed Party
Any failure of any Indexed Party to respond or perform
Any defect in any product or service offered by any Indexed Party
Any injury or damage caused by any product or service
Any misrepresentation, fraud, or misconduct by any Indexed Party
Any reliance on any information, score, ranking, Omega Particle, or recognition status
Any error, omission, or inaccuracy in any search result or content
Any unauthorized access to or alteration of the Search Engine
Any malicious content, viruses, or security threats encountered on indexed websites
Any decision to include, refuse, modify, reposition, or remove any index entry
Any modification to the search algorithm, evaluation criteria, scores, rankings, or index composition
Any conduct of any third party
Any other matter relating to the Search Engine

This limitation applies regardless of the legal theory asserted (contract, tort, negligence, strict liability, or otherwise), whether we were advised of the possibility of such damages, and whether such damages were foreseeable.

Maximum Liability Cap: If, notwithstanding the foregoing, we are found liable for any reason whatsoever, our total aggregate liability shall not exceed the greater of (a) ten euros (€10.00) or (b) the total amount you paid us in the twelve months preceding the claim.

17. Platform Intellectual Property Rights

Our Intellectual Property: The Search Engine, including its design, layout, graphics, logos, icons, the Omega Particle symbol, code, software, search algorithm, text, compilation methodology, organizational structure, categorization system, ranking methodology, and overall look and feel, is protected by intellectual property laws and is owned by or licensed to us.

Trademarks: "S68" and associated logos and symbols are trademarks. "IS8," "INS8," and associated marks are trademarks. "A' Design Award" and related marks are trademarks of A' Design Award and Competition S.r.l. All other trademarks appearing in the Search Engine are the property of their respective owners and are displayed for identification purposes.

Limited License: Users are granted a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable license to access and use the Search Engine for personal, non-commercial purposes in accordance with these Terms. This license does not include any right to copy, reproduce, or redistribute search results or content, any right to use data mining, scraping, or extraction tools, any right to create derivative works, any commercial use rights, or any rights not expressly granted. All rights not expressly granted are reserved.

18. Intellectual Property Disclaimers

No Verification of Third-Party IP Rights: We do not verify that any Indexed Party owns, has rights to, or is authorized to use any intellectual property displayed in connection with their search index entry. We make no representation regarding intellectual property ownership, validity, or enforceability.

IP Disputes Between Third Parties: Any intellectual property dispute regarding indexed content is between the relevant parties. We are not responsible for any infringement claim and have no obligation to adjudicate intellectual property disputes.

User Assumes IP Risk: Users who license, acquire, or engage with intellectual property through contact with Indexed Parties assume all risk regarding the validity, ownership, and enforceability of such intellectual property.

19. User Conduct and Prohibited Uses

Permitted Use: The Search Engine is provided for personal, non-commercial informational purposes: to discover and learn about recognized designs, products, projects, brands, and creative professionals, and to potentially visit indexed websites or contact Indexed Parties.

Prohibited Activities: Users shall not:

Use the Search Engine for any unlawful purpose
Scrape, mine, harvest, or systematically collect data from the Search Engine
Use automated tools, bots, crawlers, or scripts to access the Search Engine except with our express written permission
Copy, reproduce, or redistribute search results or content in any medium
Create derivative works from Search Engine content
Use Search Engine data to build competing products, services, directories, or search engines
Interfere with or disrupt Search Engine operations, infrastructure, or other users
Attempt to gain unauthorized access to any systems, accounts, or data
Circumvent any security, access-control, or rate-limiting measures
Impersonate any person, entity, or affiliation
Submit false, misleading, or malicious queries
Use the Search Engine to transmit spam, malicious content, or unsolicited communications
Engage in any activity that damages the reputation or operation of the Search Engine
Reverse-engineer, decompile, or disassemble any aspect of the Search Engine
Attempt to extract, reconstruct, or reverse-engineer the search algorithm or ranking methodology
Use the Search Engine in any manner that violates these Terms

Enforcement: We reserve the right to investigate violations and take appropriate action including blocking access, terminating usage rights, and pursuing legal remedies.

20. User Responsibilities and Acknowledgments

By using the Search Engine, Users acknowledge and agree that:

They have read and understood these Terms in full
They use the Search Engine entirely at their own risk
They will conduct independent due diligence before any engagement with any Indexed Party
They will independently verify all information before reliance
They will not hold us responsible for the conduct, products, services, or websites of any Indexed Party
They understand the Search Engine provides information only and does not host external content
They understand we do not sell, broker, or facilitate any transaction
They will comply with all applicable laws in their jurisdiction
They will resolve any dispute with Indexed Parties directly with those parties
They are of legal age to enter binding agreements
They accept that evaluation scores, rankings, the Omega Particle, and recognition information are provided as informational context and do not constitute quality guarantees
They accept that AI-generated and algorithmically compiled answers may contain errors and are provided without warranty

User's Sole and Exclusive Remedy: User's sole and exclusive remedy for any dissatisfaction with the Search Engine is to stop using it.

21. Data and Privacy

Privacy Policy: Use of the Search Engine is also governed by our Privacy Policy, which is incorporated into these Terms by reference.

Data Shared with Third Parties: When Users contact Indexed Parties through external links, email addresses, contact forms, or other contact information displayed in search results, Users provide personal data directly to those third parties. We do not control how Indexed Parties or any third parties use such data, are not responsible for their data practices, encourage Users to review the privacy policies of any third party they contact, and accept no liability for any third party's handling of User data.

No Data Controller Responsibility for Third Parties: We are not the data controller for any information Users provide directly to Indexed Parties or other third parties through external links or contact information displayed in search results.

22. Indemnification

Users agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the Search Engine, its owners, operators, affiliates, partners, licensors, data sources, service providers, employees, agents, officers, directors, jurors, evaluators, and related parties (including A' Design Award and Competition S.r.l. and all its affiliates, officers, directors, and employees) from and against any and all claims, liabilities, damages, losses, costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising from or related to:

User's use of the Search Engine
User's violation of these Terms
User's violation of any applicable law or regulation
User's violation of any third-party rights
Any interaction or transaction between User and any Indexed Party or third party
Any dispute between User and any Indexed Party or third party
Any content, data, or information User submits including search queries
User's reliance on any search result, content, score, ranking, Omega Particle, or direct answer
Any claim that User's actions caused damage to a third party
Any unauthorized use of the Search Engine by the User

This indemnification obligation survives termination of these Terms and the User's cessation of use of the Search Engine.

23. Dispute Resolution

Governing Law: These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Italy, without regard to conflict of law principles.

Exclusive Jurisdiction: Any dispute arising from or relating to these Terms or use of the Search Engine shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Como, Italy.

Waiver of Class Action: To the extent permitted by applicable law, Users waive any right to participate in class actions, collective actions, or representative proceedings. All claims must be brought individually.

Time Limitation: Any claim arising from or related to these Terms or the Search Engine must be filed within one (1) year after the claim arose, or be permanently barred.

Mandatory Informal Resolution: Before initiating any legal proceeding, Users must attempt to resolve disputes informally by contacting us. Users agree to negotiate in good faith for at least sixty (60) days before filing any claim.

24. Third-Party Beneficiaries

These Terms do not create any third-party beneficiary rights, except that the following are express third-party beneficiaries of the indemnification, limitation of liability, and disclaimer provisions and may enforce such provisions directly:

A' Design Award and Competition S.r.l., its parent companies, subsidiaries, and affiliates
A' Design Award's officers, directors, employees, and agents
Our affiliates, partners, data sources, and service providers
Grand jury members and evaluators
Operators of IS8 and INS8 Curated Web Directories
Any other indemnified parties identified in these Terms

25. Injunctive Relief

Notwithstanding any other provision, we shall be entitled to seek injunctive or other equitable relief in any court of competent jurisdiction to prevent violation of our intellectual property rights or these Terms, without need to post bond or demonstrate irreparable harm beyond the violation itself.

26. Feedback and Submissions

Feedback Becomes Our Property: Any feedback, suggestions, ideas, corrections, or other submissions provided to us become our property. We may use such submissions for any purpose without compensation or attribution to the User.

No Obligation to Act: We have no obligation to review any feedback, implement any suggestion, make any correction, respond to any submission, or maintain confidentiality of any submission.

No Confidential Relationship: Submitting feedback or information does not create any confidential, fiduciary, or other special relationship.

27. Indexed Party Requests

Removal Requests: Indexed Parties who wish to request modification or removal of their search index entry may contact us through the channels listed on our Impressum page. We will review such requests in good faith. However, we are under no obligation to comply with any request, may take reasonable time to process requests, reserve the right to maintain index entries based on publicly available information, and accept no liability for any delay in processing requests.

Correction Requests: Indexed Parties may request corrections to indexed information. We may, at our discretion, make requested corrections, request verification of claimed corrections, decline to make corrections, or make corrections on our own timeline.

No Guarantee of Response Time: We do not guarantee any particular response time for Indexed Party requests. Processing times may vary based on volume, complexity, and available resources.

28. Accessibility

Accessibility Efforts: We endeavor to make the Search Engine accessible, though we do not guarantee compliance with any particular accessibility standard or specification.

No Warranty of Accessibility: We make no warranty that the Search Engine is fully accessible to all users or compatible with all assistive technologies. Users who experience accessibility barriers are encouraged to contact us through the channels listed on our Impressum page.

29. Technical and Security Disclaimers

No Guarantee of Availability: The Search Engine may be unavailable at any time due to maintenance, technical failures, cyber attacks, force majeure events, or any other reason. We do not guarantee uptime, availability, or performance.

Browser and Device Compatibility: The Search Engine may not function correctly on all browsers, devices, or operating systems. We do not guarantee compatibility with any particular technology configuration.

Security: While we implement reasonable security measures, we cannot guarantee that the Search Engine is free from vulnerabilities, that unauthorized access will not occur, that data transmissions are completely secure, or that the Search Engine is free from viruses or malicious code.

Data Loss: We are not responsible for any data loss, corruption, or unauthorized access resulting from use of the Search Engine.

30. Translations and Language

English Prevails: These Terms are drafted in English. Any translation is for convenience only. In case of conflict between the English version and any translated version, the English version prevails.

Translation Errors: We are not responsible for errors, ambiguities, or misinterpretations in any translated version of these Terms or Search Engine content.

31. General Provisions

Severability: If any provision of these Terms is found invalid, illegal, or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, that provision shall be modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it valid and enforceable, or if modification is not possible, severed from these Terms. All remaining provisions continue in full force and effect.

Entire Agreement: These Terms constitute the entire agreement between Users and the Search Engine regarding use of the Search Engine, superseding all prior agreements, representations, negotiations, and understandings, whether written or oral.

No Waiver: Our failure to enforce any provision at any time does not constitute waiver of that provision or any other provision, and does not limit our right to enforce that provision in the future.

No Agency: Nothing in these Terms creates any agency, partnership, joint venture, employment, or fiduciary relationship between Users and the Search Engine, between the Search Engine and any Indexed Party, or between Users and any Indexed Party.

Assignment: Users may not assign or transfer these Terms or any rights under these Terms. We may assign these Terms without restriction and without notice.

Force Majeure: We are not liable for any failure or delay in performance due to circumstances beyond our reasonable control, including natural disasters, war, terrorism, pandemics, government actions, network failures, power outages, or any other force majeure event.

Headings: Section headings are for convenience and reference only and have no legal or contractual effect.

Survival: All provisions regarding disclaimers, limitations of liability, indemnification, intellectual property, dispute resolution, and any other provisions that by their nature should survive, shall survive termination of these Terms and cessation of use of the Search Engine.

32. Modifications and Termination

Right to Modify Terms: We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time without prior notice. The most current version will always be available on the Search Engine. Continued use of the Search Engine after any modification constitutes acceptance of the modified Terms.

Right to Modify or Discontinue the Search Engine: We may, at any time and without notice or liability:

Modify, suspend, or discontinue the Search Engine in whole or in part
Add, remove, modify, or reposition any search index entry, category, feature, or content
Change the search algorithm, ranking methodology, data sources, or index composition
Modify or discontinue the Omega Particle, direct answers, or any other feature
Restrict or terminate access for any User
Take any other action regarding the Search Engine at our sole discretion

33. Contact Information

If you have questions or concerns regarding these Terms, please contact us through the official communication channels listed on our Impressum page.

By using S68 Search Engine, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms and Agreements in their entirety.