Conditions of Participation for the innovaphone CONNECT 2026 Trade Show

Last amended: July 2025

Section 1 - Registration

Participants can register online for the Connect 2026 trade show (hereinafter “Trade Show”) of innovaphone AG (hereinafter “Organizer”) by completing and submitting the online registration form.

The registration constitutes an offer to the Organizer to conclude a contract and cannot be subjected to conditions or provisos. In particular, participation cannot be made conditional on being granted a specific location for the exhibition booth.

By submitting the online registration form, the person registering (hereinafter “Exhibitor”) unconditionally accepts these Conditions of Participation, which thus become part of the offer. Exhibitors are liable for ensuring that all the persons they employ in the scope of the event adhere to these Conditions of Participation.

Section 2 - Admission

The Organizer will send an order confirmation to the Exhibitor once the decision has been made to admit the Exhibitor and the registered exhibits to the event.

The contract is concluded as soon as an Exhibitor is admitted to the event. There is no legal claim to being admitted to the event. If the Organizer receives more registrations than booth capacity allows before the end of the registration period, the Organizer may decide at its own discretion whom to admit to the event.

The type and scope and the number of exhibits is determined by the exhibitor packages offered by the Organizer. The event brochure details the required minimum equipment and the respective exhibitor packages’ scopes of services. The same applies to permissible exhibits.

Exhibitors are not permitted to bring in additional trade show equipment, like their own furniture, desktop PCs, trade show booth panels, shelves, etc.

Exhibitors who have previously failed to fulfil their financial obligations to the Organizer or to fulfil such obligations in time may be excluded from the event.

Section 3 - Allocation of Booths

The booth locations are allocated exclusively by the Organizer and are determined in line with the scope of services in the purchased exhibitor package.  In individual cases and if there is an important reason, the organizer is entitled to subsequently allocate a different exhibition booth than was originally allocated to the exhibitor, without this entailing any claims on the part of the Exhibitor. The Organizer is to inform the Exhibitor without delay if such a measure becomes necessary and the Organizer shall allocate another booth of equal value to the Exhibitor if possible. The Exhibitor may not base any claims on the fact that the location of the other booths has changed.

Exhibitors are not permitted to swap an allocated location with another exhibitor or to let a third party use the entire or part of the booth space without the Organizer’s consent.

Section 4 - Joint Exhibitors/Co-Exhibitors

Booths are provided to the contract partner only and in their entirety. The Organizer will only consent in exceptional cases that several Exhibitors jointly rent a booth. If consent is granted to Exhibitors to exhibit jointly, the written consent of the Organizer must be obtained before registering for the event.

The same applies to use of the booth by another company with their own products and staff (co-exhibitors). If consent is granted to Exhibitors to exhibit jointly or together as co-exhibitors, such an exception is subject to an additional fee.

Section 5 - Cost of the Exhibitor Packages

The costs of the exhibitor packages are detailed in the price list included in the event brochure as well as on the registration form on the Organizer’s website. 50% of the cost of the booked exhibitor package must be paid upon registration and the remaining 50% no later than 4 weeks before the event commences.

Section 6 - Withdrawal or Cancellation of the Booth

If an Exhibitor cancels their registration or booth or fails to participate in the event, the Organizer is entitled to use the booked booth for other purposes and to let it to third parties.

Unless an Exhibitor has a mandatory statutory right to withdraw or terminate, the Exhibitor remains obliged to pay the following cancellation fees in case of cancelling the event or booth after admission:

• up to 90 days before the event commences: 50 %

• up to 60 days before the event commences: 80% and

• less than 30 days before the event commences, the full amount of the agreed rent for the cancelled booth must be paid.

The Exhibitor reserves the right to prove that the Organizer has incurred no damage or significantly less damage.

Section 7 - Revocation of Admission

The Organizer is entitled to revoke admission and reallocate the booth in the following cases:

• The Exhibitor fails to pay the cost of the exhibitor package on the fixed dates and lets a grace period set by the Organizer expire without paying.

• Insolvency proceedings with regard to the Exhibitor’s estate are opened, have been opened or are dismissed for lack of assets.

• The Exhibitor violates the Organizer’s rights as the occupier of the premises.

In these cases, the Organizer reserves the right to claim damages. The Exhibitor, in turn, has no claim for damages.

Section 8 - Exclusion of Objects

The Organizer may request that certain objects that prove to be a nuisance, danger or otherwise unsuitable or that are proven to infringe on intellectual property rights be removed. If such a request is not met, the Organizer may remove the objects at the Exhibitor’s cost. If an Exhibitor is found to infringe on intellectual property rights, the Organizer may exclude the Exhibitor from participating in future events.

Section 9 - Setting up and Dismantling the Booth

Throughout the event, the booth must be be properly equipped and staffed with competent staff during the set opening times of the event. The booth must be set up completely by the time the event commences and all packaging materials must have been removed from the booth.

After the end of the event, the Exhibitors must restore the space to its original state. Exhibitors must pay compensation for any damage caused by improper handling or any damage that was not reported immediately after it occurred.

Section 10 - Force Majeure, Pandemic, Cancellation of the Event

If the Organizer is prevented from carrying out the event due to force majeure or other circumstances outside of its control, the Organizer must inform the Exhibitors thereof without delay.

If the Organizer is forced to cancel the event due to government measures like the issuing of ordinances on the basis of the Protection against Infection Act, official prohibition of the event due to a pandemic and to contain the further spreading of the pandemic, the Organizer is no longer obliged to carry out the event. If an Exhibitor cancels the booked exhibitor package on the basis of a mere warning without an official body having issued a corresponding order, the Organizer is entitled to claim the payment specified in section 6. Justification on the basis of the duty to maintain safety and due to especially dangerous circumstances is not possible.

In the case of force majeure events and orders by an official body, the claim of the Organizer to receiving the price for the exhibitor package no longer exists.

If the Organizer is able to carry out the event at a later date, the Organizer must inform the Exhibitors thereof without delay. The Exhibitors may confirm or cancel their participation in the event at such a later date within a period two weeks of receiving such notification. If an Exhibitor cancels participation in the event, the Exhibitor is entitled to a refund of the exhibitor package price or release from the obligation to pay it. Exhibitors cannot claim any compensation from the Organizer for expenditure beyond this scope that an Exhibitor incurred in preparing their participation in the event, for revenue or profit lost due to the cancellation of the event or for other expenses, such as travel and accommodation costs. Any claims for damages on the part of the Exhibitor are excluded.

Exhibitors are not entitled to a refund of the rent for the booth or to be released from the obligation to pay such rent if the Organizer is forced to discontinue or cancel an event that has already started due to a force majeure event or due to other circumstances outside of its control.

Section 11 - Advertising

Advertising of any kind is permitted within the Exhibitor Package booked by the Exhibitor for the Exhibitor’s own company and only for the products and/or services they produce and sell. In all other respects, the provisions of the booked exhibitor package, the event brochure and the Organizer’s registration form apply.

The use of devices and equipment that seek to enhance the advertising effect by means of visual and/or acoustic signals require the Organizer’s written consent.

Outside of their booked booth, Exhibitors may only advertise within the scope of the advertising and sponsoring measures offered by the Organizer. Advertising that contravenes public policy and morality or other German applicable laws, especially copyright and trademark laws, is prohibited.

Section 12 - Photographs, Drawings, Video Recordings

The Organizer is entitled to have photographs taken or drawings and video recordings made of the Trade Show, the constructions and booths and the exhibits and to use such for advertising purposes and press releases without Exhibitors being able to object to such practice for any reason whatsoever.

The same applies to images or recordings that the press or television companies make directly with the Organizer’s consent. Exhibitors may only have photographs, drawings and video recordings of their booth made or taken against payment by the Organizer-accredited service providers that hold the corresponding identification. Before or after the daily opening times, only the aforementioned service providers may be commissioned to take photographs, make drawings and recordings. Other service providers have no access during these times. Exhibitors are not permitted to take photographs, make drawings or video recordings of the other Exhibitors’ booths and exhibits.

Section 13 - Cleaning and Security Service

The Organizer organizes the general cleaning of the trade show and exhibition area and the isles within the halls. The Exhibitors are responsible for cleaning their booths.

The Exhibitors are also responsible for overseeing their booths and exhibits. They are strongly advised not to leave the booth unsupervised and, if expedient, to take out insurance against any damage that might occur. Valuable objects that can easily be removed must be placed under lock and key during the night.

Section 14 - Liability, Insurance, Accident Prevention

The Organizer is only liable to an unlimited extent in case of intent or gross negligence or for damage caused by injury to life, limb or health.

In all other cases, the Organizer is only liable

• in the event of a breach against material contractual obligations. Material contractual obligations are obligations the fulfilment of which is essential for proper performance of the contract and on the fulfilment of which the Exhibitors may regularly rely.

• to the extent that the Organizer is legally obliged to take out third party liability insurance.

Otherwise, liability is excluded in cases of minor or ordinary negligence. This limitation of liability also applies to the conduct of the Organizer’s vicarious agents and persons employed by the Organizer for the performance of its contractual obligations.

Exhibitors/Joint or Co-Exhibitors are, in turn, liable for any damage to persons or property culpably caused by them, their employees, agents or exhibits or exhibition equipment. It is strongly recommended that they take out exhibitor insurance. Exhibitors are obliged to attach protective guards or safety measures to the exhibits that comply with the regulations for the prevention of accidents by the social insurance companies against occupational accidents (Berufsgenossenschaft). The Organizer is entitled to prohibit the exhibition or deployment of certain exhibits at its own discretion.

Section 15 - Intellectual Property Rights

Exhibitors are responsible for safeguarding the copyrights or other intellectual property rights of their exhibits.

Section 16 - Organizer’s Rights as the Occupier of the Premises (Hausrecht), Violations

For the duration of the Trade Show, the Exhibitors submit to the Organizer’s rights as the occupier of the premises with regard to the entire site of the Trade Show. Exhibitors must follow the instructions of the employees of these premises, who identify themselves by means of corresponding company identification. Violations against the Conditions of Participation or against any instructions issued under the rights as the occupier of the premises entitle the Organizer to order an Exhibitor to vacate the premises/booth immediately without receiving any compensation and without any liability for damages, unless the violations are discontinued after a corresponding request.

Section 17 - Place of Performance and Jurisdiction

Sindelfingen, Germany, is the place of performance. The place of jurisdiction for all and any disputes arising from on in connection with the event is Stuttgart. Any exclusive place of jurisdiction takes priority.

Section 18 - Data Privacy Information

The Organizer and, if required, service partners collect, process and use personal data for the purpose of taking care of and informing customers and prospective customers and to carry out the offered services, thereby observing the provisions of the GDPR and any other relevant data privacy legislation. The Organizer’s data protection policy applies.

If Exhibitors receive personal data from visitors, participants or other parties involved in the event (e.g. in connection with presentations, stand visits or handed over by the Organizer), they are responsible for processing this data in accordance with the GDPR. The Exhibitor is obliged to use all personal data received exclusively for its own purposes in accordance with the applicable data protection regulations and, in particular, to protect the rights of the persons concerned (e.g. information, withdrawal, objection).

Section 19 - Severability clause

If parts of the Conditions of Participation are legally invalid or if they have gaps, this does not affect the validity of the remaining provisions or the contract. In this case, the invalid provisions shall be replaced by the statutory provision, if available.