Code of Conduct

1. Purpose and scope

This Code of Conduct establishes the behavioural expectations for all participants in the Forja Design, Build and Release Contest, a product of Design Glyphe LLC. It applies to contestants, judges, mentors, sponsors, partners, staff, and any other individuals involved in the competition in any capacity.

This Code applies throughout all stages of the competition, from the application process through post-competition activities. It covers all competition spaces, including virtual environments (communication platforms, submission systems, video calls), physical venues (Stage Two location, event spaces), and public or social media channels where participants represent themselves in connection with Forja.

Adherence to this Code is a condition of participation. All participants acknowledge and agree to this Code of Conduct as part of their Participant Agreement. For the full legal framework, see the Terms and Conditions and Competition Rules.

2. Core values

Forja is built on the principle: "Design with intent. Build with integrity. Release with proof." These values inform every aspect of the competition and define what we expect from participants:

• Integrity. Conduct all business and competition activities honestly. Do not misrepresent your work, your team, your revenue, or your results. The Integrity Quotient is not a compliance checkbox. It reflects how you operate.
• Execution. Forja rewards demonstrated results, not promises. Deliver real products and services to real paying customers. Back up claims with evidence.
• Fairness. Compete on the merits of your work. Do not seek unfair advantage through deception, collusion, sabotage, or manipulation of any competition process.
• Respect. Treat all participants, judges, mentors, sponsors, staff, customers, and community members with dignity and professionalism, regardless of their background, identity, or role.

3. Expected professional behaviour

All participants are expected to:

• Communicate honestly and respectfully in all interactions, including with competitors, judges, mentors, customers, and the public
• Collaborate in good faith where collaboration is part of the competition structure
• Compete transparently and accept the outcomes of fair evaluation processes
• Maintain transparent and ethical business practices, including truthful marketing, honest pricing, and quality delivery
• Submit all required deliverables on time and to the standard specified
• Represent themselves, their startup, and the competition professionally in all public and private contexts
• Respect the confidentiality of other participants' business information, personal disclosures, and proprietary methods
• Comply with all applicable laws and regulations in their jurisdiction of operation
• Raise concerns or disputes through the proper channels rather than through public confrontation or social media

4. Prohibited conduct

The following conduct is strictly prohibited and may result in investigation, penalties, or disqualification:

• Harassment and bullying. Any unwelcome behaviour that creates a hostile, intimidating, or offensive environment, whether verbal, written, physical, or digital. This includes persistent unwanted contact, threats, public shaming, and cyberbullying.
• Discrimination. Any adverse treatment of a participant based on race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, or any other protected characteristic. This applies to contestant-to-contestant interactions, judge-to-contestant interactions, and all other relationships within the competition.
• Fraud and misrepresentation. Submitting false, fabricated, or materially misleading information in applications, submissions, revenue reports, customer testimonials, or any other competition documentation.
• Intellectual property theft. Copying, plagiarising, or misappropriating the ideas, designs, code, products, or business methods of other contestants, third parties, or any source without proper authorisation and attribution.
• Collusion and match-fixing. Coordinating with other contestants, judges, or any party to artificially influence competition outcomes, scores, or rankings.
• Confidentiality breaches. Sharing, publishing, or exploiting confidential information obtained through the competition, including other contestants' business plans, financial data, or proprietary methods.
• Unauthorised recording. Recording, capturing, or distributing audio, video, or images from confidential competition sessions (such as Boardroom sessions, mentor meetings, or private evaluations) without explicit written permission.
• Substance abuse. Use of alcohol, drugs, or other substances that materially impairs a participant's ability to fulfil their competition obligations or creates a safety risk to others, particularly during Stage Two physical operations.
• Violence and threats. Physical violence, threats of violence, or any behaviour that creates a reasonable fear of physical harm to any person.
• Retaliation. Any adverse action taken against a person who has reported a Code of Conduct violation or participated in an investigation in good faith.

5. Zero tolerance policies

The following categories of misconduct are subject to zero tolerance. They are investigated immediately upon report and may result in disqualification without prior warning:

• Harassment or discrimination of any kind, including but not limited to sexual harassment, racial discrimination, and disability-based discrimination
• Fraud or data falsification, including fabricated revenue figures, fake customer testimonials, or forged documentation
• NDA or confidentiality breaches that expose other participants' proprietary information or compromise competition integrity
• Violence or credible threats of violence directed at any person in any competition context
• Safety violations that create an imminent risk of harm, particularly in construction-related or physical competition activities

Zero tolerance means no prior warnings are required before enforcement action is taken. It does not mean automatic disqualification. Each case is investigated on its merits, but the investigation is initiated immediately and the participant may be suspended pending the outcome.

6. Reporting mechanism

Any participant who witnesses or experiences a violation of this Code of Conduct is encouraged to report it promptly. Reports can be made through the following channels:

• Direct report. Contact the Competition Director or a designated Code of Conduct officer directly via the contact channels provided to registered participants.
• Anonymous report. An anonymous reporting mechanism will be made available to all participants before competition commencement. Anonymous reports will be investigated with the same seriousness as identified reports, though anonymity may limit the investigation's scope.
• Third-party report. Reports may be submitted by any person, not only the person directly affected. Bystander reports are encouraged.

All reports are treated as confidential. The identity of the reporter will not be disclosed to the accused without the reporter's consent, except where required by law or necessary to conduct a fair investigation. Retaliation against any person who reports a violation in good faith is itself a violation of this Code and will be treated with the same seriousness.

7. Investigation and enforcement

Upon receipt of a report, the following process applies:

• Immediate assessment. The Competition Director or designated officer reviews the report within 24 hours of receipt and determines whether immediate suspension of the accused is warranted pending a full investigation.
• Investigation. A formal investigation is conducted, which may include interviewing the parties involved, reviewing evidence, and consulting relevant witnesses. The accused is given an opportunity to respond to the allegations.
• Decision. The Internal Judges, in consultation with the Competition Director, determine the appropriate response based on the findings.
• Communication. The outcome is communicated to the relevant parties. If the matter is publicly known, a factual, neutral, and non-speculative public statement may be issued.

The range of consequences includes, depending on the severity and circumstances:

• Verbal or written warning
• Probationary period with specific conditions
• Point deduction or scoring penalty
• Elimination from the current stage
• Full disqualification and forfeiture of all prizes and benefits
• Public disclosure of the violation (in cases of fraud or falsification)
• Referral for legal action where appropriate

8. Appeals

Any participant subject to a Code of Conduct enforcement decision has the right to appeal. Appeals must be submitted in writing to the Competition Director within 48 hours of being notified of the decision.

The appeal will be reviewed by the Competition Director (or, if the Competition Director was the decision-maker, by a designated member of the Advisory Board). The appeal review considers whether the investigation was conducted fairly, whether the evidence supports the finding, and whether the consequence is proportionate.

The appeal decision is final within the competition's internal processes. If a participant remains unsatisfied, they may pursue the dispute resolution process described in Section 13 of the Terms and Conditions.

9. Acknowledgment

All participants acknowledge and agree to abide by this Code of Conduct as a condition of participation in Forja. This acknowledgment is formalised as part of the Participant Agreement signed before competition entry. Participation in any aspect of the competition constitutes acceptance of the standards, obligations, and enforcement procedures described in this document.

Design Glyphe LLC reserves the right to update this Code of Conduct. Material changes will be communicated to registered participants. Continued participation after notification constitutes acceptance of the updated Code.