General Terms and Conditions for Congress Participants 2023

These General Terms and Conditions are divided into two sections:

Section A pertains to the General Terms and Conditions of Deutsche Gesellschaft für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Psychosomatik und Nervenheilkunde e. V. (DGPPN – German Association for Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics) (hereinafter referred to as the: Organiser) for the purchase of congress and event tickets for an event for the DGPPN Congress 2023, in which m:con – mannheim:congress GmbH (hereinafter: m:con) is acting on behalf of another party; referred to as the scientific part of the event.

Section B pertains to the General Terms and Conditions for the purchase of congress and event tickets for the DGPPN Congress 2023, in which m:con is acting on its own behalf; referred to as the non-scientific part of the event.

Section A

I. Scope of application

The following Terms and Conditions of the Organiser apply to contracts on the purchase of congress and event tickets (admission tickets) which are concluded between the purchaser of congress and/or event tickets (Congress Participants) and the Organiser and grant entitlement to participate in the DGPPN Congress 2023. This section does not apply to the purchase of admission tickets by exhibitor, to whom the provisions of Section B shall apply.

Any counter-confirmations of Congress Participants making reference to their own business/purchase conditions are hereby precluded. Deviations from the General Terms and Conditions are only valid if DGPPN has confirmed them in written form.

Registration for the DGPPN Congress 2023 is done exclusively online via the website www.dgppnkongress.de. Registration can also be done directly on location starting 29 November 2023. Upon registering, the Congress Participant declares his/her consent to the General Terms and Conditions.

Registration in written form (fax, E-mail, letter) is also possible in justified exceptional cases, in which the General Terms and Conditions are also binding. Further event-specific information can be found on the Congress website.

II. Services

The DGPPN Congress 2023 is being held at the Messe Berlin in accordance with the ordinance on Infection Protection Measures of the Berlin Senate at the time of the Congress. Last-minute changes may be made to these measures and will be followed.

All portions of the programme are held on site. As a digital supplement, selected events will be broadcast live from the Messe Berlin on an online congress platform and a selection of events will be accessible in the aftermath as a video-on-demand offer.

Two packages can be booked: “Berlin+Online Package” or “Online Package”.

 

The Berlin+Online Package includes:

- A ticket to the DGPPN Congress 2023 in the Messe Berlin with access on all four days (29 November–2 December 2023 of the congress to the entire scientific programme. The workshop programme, which will only be offered on site, can also be booked for an additional fee. The workshop programme will be accredited by the Berlin Chamber of Physicians, enabling participants to earn additional CME points.
- Access to the livestream on the congress platform
- The livestreamed programme will be recorded and made available to Congress participants for on-demand viewing after the Congress until 31 March 2024.

The Online Package includes:

This package exclusively contains the digital offer and does not grant admission to the Congress on location.

- Access to the livestream offerings only, i.e., to the events that will be livestreamed from the Messe Berlin in November to an online congress platform and recorded for later on-demand viewing. The on-demand programme is expected to be available until 31 March 2024.

Changes to the programme at short notice cannot be ruled out. The Organiser reserves the right to change speakers, relocate or reschedule individual events, or cancel them entirely, and to make changes to the programme.
Participations fees (or portions thereof) cannot be reimbursed for cancelled presentations or changes to the programme.

In order to receive CME points, the attendance of the participants is documented via tracking on the streaming platform. Attendance on location is planned to be recorded by scanning participants’ name tags each day. The requirements for attendance on site and in the live stream are defined by the Berlin Medical Association and will be available on the Congress website from late summer after the Congress has been certified. Please find out there how much attendance is required for a full CME certification. The DGPPN cannot subsequently certify attendance that has not been documented online or on site.

The data privacy statement can be viewed during the registration process and under the link in the low bar of the Congress website. By registering, the Congress Participant acknowledges this and grants his/her consent.

III. Conclusion of the contract

By sending his/her registration, the Congress Participant places a binding order (offer) and declares to be bound to this offer for five business days. During this acceptance period, the Congress Participant’s information will be examined. Should the offer be rejected, a notification to that effect will be given. Should the offer be accepted, an order confirmation and invoice will be sent. Should the details be incomplete or lacking the necessary information, such as proof of the applicability of a discounted fee, a request for completion will be sent.

The prerequisites for discounted fees must be at hand upon registration for the Congress. If it emerges that the entitlements to claim a reduced fee cease to apply or change after registration, both parties will be entitled to make an adjustment.

In this case, the Organiser is the direct contractual partner of the Congress Participant. m:con is not the Organiser. m:con acts on behalf of the Organiser.

Press representatives
Registration is free of charge for members of the press, provided that their journalistic activity is directly related to the DGPPN Congress. Please take note of the respective DGPPN accreditation guidelines, which are available on the DGPPN website:
https://www.dgppnkongress.de/presse/akkreditierung.html.

IV. Active participation and general conditions for submitting contributions

(1) Active participation
As a general rule, Congress Participants actively involved in the scientific programme (presenters/speakers/discussant) are not exempt from the fee for the Congress. The same conditions of participation apply to them as for Congress Participants who are not actively involved in the scientific programme. The Berlin+Online Package shall apply; active participants cannot book the Online Package only. The participation fees are bound to the corresponding professional category (see participation fees). A submission can only be made once paid registration for the Congress has already been made. Active Congress Participant (speakers, etc.) are required to attend on location in accordance with the ordinance on Infection Protection Measures of the Berlin Senate.

The DGPPN Congress 2023 will take place as a live event in Berlin and will also have a digital programme component. All parts of the programme will take place on site. Some of the on-site events will be livestreamed on a password-protected online platform and also recorded and made available as videos on demand. The videos on demand will only be available to registered participants after the congress until 31 March 2024. By submitting an abstract, speakers/discussants agree with the livestreaming and recording for video-on-demand and accept the General Terms and Conditions.

Should the Congress be held exclusively in digital form, the active Congress Participants will be informed promptly of the technical circumstances pertaining to the preparation of their contributions. The Organiser will provide suitable and data protection compliant solutions for the technical implementation of a digital Congress. The live broadcast of the previously selected presentations requires separate agreements to have been concluded with all actively participating speakers.

(2) General conditions for submitting contributions
The participation fee will be due upon registration of a scientific contribution. The DGPPN’s scientific committee reserves the right not to include contributions from speakers who have not paid the participation fee in the Congress programme.

If the scientific committee does not include a contribution (symposium, discussion forum, free presentation, poster, e-poster) in the programme, participation in the Congress can be cancelled free of charge until 30 September 2023. In this case, the participation fee will be reimbursed in full. Cancellation must be made in the form of a text message to m:con: dgppn.registrierung@mcon-mannheim.de.

If the speaker withdraws the contribution once it has been accepted by the scientific committee, the registration for the Congress will remain in place. Participation in the Congress can be cancelled under the conditions listed in Subsection VII.

Symposia/discussion forums
Symposia can be registered by a chairperson and can specify at least three speakers, but not more than four. Chairpersons and speakers are not exempt from the participation fee.

Discussion forums can be registered by a chairperson specifying a minimum of three and a maximum of four discussants. Chairpersons and discussants are not exempt from the participation fee. Submitters of symposia/discussion forums and all those actively involved will be informed by the Congress office whether their submission will be included in the scientific programme in June 2023 as a tentative deadline. The Organiser reserves the right to provide this information at a later point in time. The participating speakers/discussants will be asked to register immediately for the Congress and pay the fee. 

Oral presentations/posters/e-posters
As a general rule, participants may submit proposals for oral presentations/posters/e-posters. The submission platform will be activated for these types of contributions at a later time, probably at the end of April 2023. Oral presentation sessions can only be held on site. After the congress, all posters can be viewed as e-posters on demand, provided the authors have submitted them as e-posters and agree to making them available as e-posters on demand. Posters and e-posters on demand will be made available on the digital congress platform (from December 2023 to 31 March 2024).

All submitters of oral presentations, posters and e-posters will be informed by the Congress office whether the contribution they submitted will be included in the scientific programme in July 2023 as a tentative deadline. The Organiser reserves the right to provide this information at a later point in time.

Workshops
One- and 2-day workshops and workshops on nursing and health care occupations can be submitted on the congress website (www.dgppnkongress.de). Submitters will probably be informed in April 2023 whether their workshop will be included in the further education programme of the congress. Per workshop, a maximum of 2 workshop leaders will be registered free of charge for the congress.

Information on industry relations/conflicts of interest
Every presenter and initial creator of any contribution is obliged to present a declaration on his/her relations with companies in the industry and/or conflicts of interest. This also applies to presenters invited to the Congress. Every presenter will be required to inform his/her audience of his/her relationships with the industry at the beginning of his/her presentation. The presenter is recommended to use the DGPPN’s PowerPoint slide for this purpose (see www.dgppnkongress.de). It is also necessary to indicate potential conflicts of interest in the appropriate form field when uploading the individual abstract.

V. Methods of payment

Payment options offered include instant transfer (SOFORTüberweisung), SEPA direct debit, or (up to two weeks before the Congress begins) advance payment via bank transfer. Payment via bank transfer will no longer be accepted after two weeks before the beginning of the Congress. After this point in time, Congress Participants will have the additional option of paying by credit card (American Express, Mastercard or Visa).

In the cases of instant transfer (SOFORTüberweisung), SEPA direct debit and credit card, the total price of the order, including any potential fees, will due for payment immediately upon conclusion of the contract.

If bank transfer is chosen as payment method, the total price must be transferred in full by the date indicated on the invoice to the account specified on the invoice, and the invoice number must be indicated. The Congress Participant must ensure that the final sum of his/her order can be debited without deduction, meaning that any bank and/or transfer fees which may be incurred will have to be assumed by the Congress Participant him/herself. The details necessary for the transfer (invoice number, bank connection) will be indicated on the invoice. The invoice will be sent by E-mail.

Payment processing for SEPA direct debit and payment by credit card is handled by the payment service provider Computop Wirtschaftsinformatik GmbH Schwarzenbergstr. 4, 96050 Bamberg.

With the instant transfer option (SOFORTüberweisung), payment will be processed by the payment service provider Sofort GmbH, Theresienhöhe 12, 80339 Munich, Germany (hereinafter “SOFORT”). Sofort GmbH is part of the Klarna Group (Klarna Bank AB (publ.), Sveavägen 46, 11134 Stockholm, Sweden).

The specified Congress participation fees are exempt from value-added tax in accordance with §4 No. 22 a) UstG (Value-Added Tax Act).

VI. Right to withdrawal and withdrawal policy

Should the Congress Participant be an entrepreneur as defined by § 14 BGB (German Civil Code) and would like to withdraw from the contract, the cancellation provisions under Subsection VII shall apply exclusively.

Should the Congress Participant be a consumer as defined by § 13 BGB, the following withdrawal policy shall apply:

In accordance with § 312g(2)(1) BGB, there is no right to revocation and/or the right to revocation will lapse prematurely in the case of the following contracts:

contracts for the provision of services in the field of accommodation for purposes other than residential use, transport of goods, vehicle rental, delivery of food and beverages, as well as for the provision of other services in connection with recreational activities, if the contract for provision calls for a specific date or period of time, as per § 312g(2)(1)(9) BGB. For example: An order for admission tickets to events on a specific date.

Reference is also made here to the following:

Right to withdrawal
You have the right to withdraw from this contract within fourteen days without having to provide any reasons for doing so. The deadline for revocation is fourteen days starting on the date on which the contract was concluded.

In order to assert your right to withdrawal, you will have to inform us via m:con

m:con – mannheim:congress GmbH
Rosengartenplatz 2
68161 Mannheim
dgppn.registrierung@mcon-mannheim.de
Telephone +49(0)621.4106–6801

of your decision to revoke this contract in an unambiguous declaration.

In order to meet the deadline for withdrawal, it will be sufficient if you send off your notification that you are asserting your right to withdrawal before the deadline for withdrawal elapses.

Consequences of withdrawal
If you withdraw from this contract, we are obliged to return all payments which we have received from you, without delay within no more than fourteen days as of the date upon which we receive your notification that you are asserting your right to withdrawal. We will repay you using the same means of payment which you used in the original transaction, unless expressly agreed otherwise. You will not be charged a fee for this reimbursement under any circumstances.

End of withdrawal policy.

VII. Cancellations

Without prejudice to the provisions under IV, there is a contractual right to cancel a registration. Cancellations are to be made in text form and are to be addressed to

m:con – mannheim:congress GmbH
Rosengartenplatz 2
68161 Mannheim
dgppn.registrierung@mcon-mannheim.de
Telephone +49(0)621.4106–6801

If a cancellation is received by 30 September 2023, the participation fee will be reimbursed less a cancellation/processing fee of 25%. If bookings are cancelled after 30 September 2023, reimbursement will not be possible and the fee will be due in full, even if the invoice was not settled by that point in time. It is possible to name a substitute participant who will assume the fee for the registration booked. The full participation fee is still due for payment even if a registered participant does not take part in the Congress.

Submitters may cancel free of charge by 30 September 2023 in the event their submission is rejected. A cancellation/processing fee will not be collected in such cases.

The right to withdrawal of consumers (Section A, Subsection VI) is not affected by this.

VIII. Additional processing fees in the case of group bookings

The admission tickets are personalised. If any names are changed, a processing fee of EUR 10.00 plus value-added tax will be collected for each person.

If any invoicing corrections are made, a processing fee of EUR 20.00 plus value-added tax will be charged. Special requests concerning accounting must be notified upon registration.

IX. Changes/cancellations

If the Congress cannot be held in person, the Organiser reserves the right to hold the Congress in digital form only at short notice and to adjust the participation fees accordingly.

If the Congress cannot be held on account of force majeure, the DGPPN can also cancel the Congress entirely. Force majeure includes orders from authorities, strikes, internal unrest, war or threat thereof, threat of terrorist attacks or attacks which have already taken place, pandemics and epidemics, natural disasters, significant disruption or other emergencies which render it impossible or futile to hold the Congress. Cancellation requires the force majeure event to have taken place within 30 days before the beginning of the Congress, or for it to be expected that the consequences of the force majeure event will still have repercussions at the time the Congress is to be held. Further costs or compensation for losses, in particular for (advance) payments already made to third parties (e.g. hotel bookings) will not be assumed.

X. Liability

DGPPN and m:con only assume liability – no matter for what legal reason – for damages attributable to wilful intent or grossly negligent breach of obligations. In case of damages due to harm to life, limb or health, DGPPN and m:con will also assume liability for breach of obligation due to minor negligence.

In case of breach of cardinal contractual obligations, the liability of DGPPN and m:con is limited to damages which are foreseeable given the nature of the contract, as long as wilful intent or gross negligence are not at hand, or if liability due to harm to life, limb or health is being assumed.

The above-mentioned disclaimers and limitations of liability also apply to breach of obligations of bodies, vicarious agents or assistants of the Organiser and of m:con.

The above-mentioned paragraphs also apply to the liability of vicarious agents or assistants of m:con or the Organiser.

XI. Access to trade exhibition and implementation of the pharmaceutical advertising law at the DGPPN Congress

In observance of the Health Services and Products Advertising Act (HWG), the trade exhibition is exclusively reserved for physicians, scientists, and other members of professional circles.

The pharmaceutical advertising law (PAL) mandates that only so-called expert groups are permitted to attend the industry exhibition, industry events and other industry offerings. There are comprehensive bans on public advertising that are regulated by Section 10 Paragraph 1 of the PAL:

“Advertising for prescription drugs must be limited to physicians, dentists, veterinarians, pharmacists and people who are permitted to do business with these drugs”.

Only the above-named persons are allowed to enter the areas presenting prescription drugs and the accordingly labelled industry sessions. All participants have unlimited access to all other areas of the trade exhibition. The legislative regulation is available at:

https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/heilmwerbg/__10.html

If the Congress cannot be held in person because of circumstances for which the Organiser is not responsible, the Organiser reserves the right to hold the Congress in digital form only at short notice and to adjust the participation fees accordingly. In this case, an alternative format will be developed for the trade exhibition.

XII. Place of performance and legal venue

The legal venue for any legal disputes which may arise from the contract is Berlin, if the contracting parties are businesspeople, legal entities under public law or special funds under public law, or at least one of the contracting parties does not have a general legal venue in the Federal Republic of Germany, or relocates its domicile or place of habitual residence to a location outside the Federal Republic of Germany after the contract has been concluded, or if its domicile or personal abode is not known at the time when the legal action is taken. DGPPN is also entitled at its discretion to take legal action at the general legal venue of the Congress Participant. The place of performance for all obligations under this contract is Berlin.

XIII. Applicable law

The law of the Federal Republic of Germany to the exclusion of the UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods shall apply exclusively.

XIV. Final provisions

House rules
Every Congress Participant is obliged to comply with the house rules. The instructions of the Organiser’s admission and security personnel must be followed without exception. Culpable violations of this requirement will result in immediate ejection and banning from the premises without reimbursement of the admission price paid.

Hygiene concept
Should hygiene regulations be in place at the time of the Congress, the organiser shall check whether it will be possible to hold the event in observance of the special requirements. In such case, all Congress Participants will be obliged to comply with the regulations applicable at the location.

Loss of name tag
The Congress Participants are requested to wear their name tags at all times during the Congress. The security personnel has the task of checking name tags and identities. If a name tag (= admission ticket) is lost, the fee for the Congress will have to be paid again.

Image and audio recordings
The Organiser, radio, and television broadcasters and online and print media are allowed to make image and audio recordings of the general happenings at the Congress and make use of them for reporting purposes. Congress Participants or other persons involved grant their consent to the publication of such recordings for communications purposes, including in social media. Objections to the creation of image and audio recordings concerning the actual person in question must be notified to the person who is making the image or audio recordings on location. Participants are not allowed to make their own image and audio recordings, including impromptu live recordings. This also applies to participants who are making use of the online offer.

Should one or more provisions of this contract be or become invalid, in whole or in part, the rest of the contract shall remain valid. Invalid provisions are to be replaced by ones which approximate the parties’ intent as closely as possible.

In accordance with Direct 2013/11/EU, we would like to advise you that the European Commission has established an internet platform for the settlement of online disputes (the “OS platform”) between entrepreneurs and consumers, which you can access at http://ec.europa.eu/consumers/odr.

These General Terms and Conditions are in effect as of February 2023 and apply to all visitors to and participants in the DGPPN Congress.

 

Section B

General Terms and Conditions of m:con – mannheim:congress GmbH (hereinafter: m:con) for the purchase and/or sale of congress and event tickets for the DGPPN Congress 2023 in which m:con is acting on its own behalf.

I. Scope of application

The DGPPN Congress 2023 is being held at the Messe Berlin in accordance with the ordinance on Infection Protection Measures of the Berlin Senate at the time of the Congress.

The following Terms and Conditions of m:con – mannheim:congress GmbH apply to contracts on the purchase/sale of congress and event tickets (admission tickets) which are concluded between the purchaser of congress and/or event tickets (Customers) and m:con and grant entitlement to participate in the DGPPN Congress.

In this case, m:con is the organiser and thus the direct contractual partner of the Customer. Upon purchase of tickets by the exhibitor, the latter also agrees to the General Terms and Conditions of the Organiser (Section A).

Any counter-confirmations of the Customer making reference to their own business/purchase conditions are hereby precluded. Deviations from the General Terms and Conditions of m:con are only valid if m:con has confirmed them in written form.

Registration in written form (fax, E-mail, letter) is also possible in justified exceptional cases, in which the General Terms and Conditions are also binding. Further event-specific conditions for participation can be found on the Congress website.

II. Conclusion of the contract

By sending his/her registration, the Customer places a binding order (offer) and declares to be bound to this offer for five business days. During this acceptance period, the information received will be examined. Should the offer be rejected, a notification to that effect will be given. Should the offer be accepted, an order confirmation/invoice will be sent. Should the details be incomplete or lacking the necessary information, such as proof of the applicability of a discounted fee, a request for completion will be sent. In the latter case, the acceptance period will be extended for another five business days.

The data privacy statement can be viewed during the registration process and under the link in the low bar of the Congress website. By registering, the customer acknowledges this and grants his/her consent.

A contract directly between m:con and the Customer is thus established.

III. Methods of payment

Payment options offered include instant transfer (SOFORTüberweisung), SEPA direct debit, or (up to two weeks before the Congress begins) advance payment via bank transfer. Payment via bank transfer will no longer be accepted after two weeks before the beginning of the Congress. After this point in time, you will have the additional option of paying by credit card (American Express, Mastercard or Visa).

In the cases of instant transfer (SOFORTüberweisung), SEPA direct debit and credit card, the total price of the order, including any potential fees, will due for payment immediately upon conclusion of the contract.

In derogation from this, if bank transfer is chosen as payment method, the total price must be transferred in full by the date indicated on the invoice to the account specified on the invoice, and the invoice number must be indicated. The Customer must ensure that the final sum of his/her order can be debited without deduction, meaning that any bank and/or transfer fees which may be incurred will have to be assumed by the Customer him/herself. The details necessary for the transfer (invoice number, bank connection) will be indicated on the invoice. The invoice will be sent by E-mail.

Payment by credit card will be possible after two weeks before the beginning of the Congress.

Payment processing for SEPA direct debit and payment by credit card is handled by the payment service provider Computop Wirtschaftsinformatik GmbH Schwarzenbergstr. 4, 96050 Bamberg.

With the instant transfer option (SOFORTüberweisung), payment will be processed by the payment service provider Sofort GmbH, Theresienhöhe 12, 80339 Munich, Germany (hereinafter “SOFORT”). Sofort GmbH is part of the Klarna Group (Klarna Bank AB (publ.), Sveavägen 46, 11134 Stockholm, Sweden).

The prices indicated do not include any value-added tax which may be incurred.

IV. Right to withdrawal and withdrawal policy

Should the Customer be an entrepreneur as defined by § 14 BGB (German Civil Code) and would like to withdraw from the contract, the cancellation provisions under Subsection V shall apply.

Should the Customer be a consumer as defined by § 13 BGB, the following withdrawal policy shall apply:

In accordance with § 312g(2)(1) BGB, there is no right to revocation and/or the right to revocation will lapse prematurely in the case of the following contracts:

contracts for the provision of services in the field of accommodation for purposes other than residential use, transport of goods, vehicle rental, delivery of food and beverages, as well as for the provision of other services in connection with recreational activities, if the contract for provision calls for a specific date or period of time, as per § 312g(2)(1)(9) BGB. For example: An order for admission tickets to events on a specific date.

Reference is also made here to the following:

Right to withdrawal
You have the right to withdraw from this contract within fourteen days without having to provide any reasons for doing so. The deadline for revocation is fourteen days starting on the date on which the contract was concluded.

In order to assert your right to withdrawal, you will have to inform us

m:con – mannheim:congress GmbH
Rosengartenplatz 2
68161 Mannheim
dgppn.registrierung@mcon-mannheim.de
Telephone +49(0)621.4106–6801

of your decision to revoke this contract in an unambiguous declaration.

In order to meet the deadline for withdrawal, it will be sufficient if you send off your notification that you are asserting your right to withdrawal before the deadline for withdrawal elapses.

Consequences of withdrawal
If you withdraw from this contract, we are obliged to return all payments which we have received from you, including shipping costs (with the exception of additional costs incurred if you select a form of delivery other than the least expensive standard shipping we offer), without delay within no more than fourteen days as of the date upon which we receive your notification that you are asserting your right to withdrawal. We will repay you using the same means of payment which you used in the original transaction, unless expressly agreed otherwise. You will not be charged a fee for this reimbursement under any circumstances.

End of withdrawal policy.

V. Cancellations

Without prejudice to the provisions under IV, there is a contractual right to cancel an order. Cancellations are to be made in text form and are to be addressed to

m:con – mannheim:congress GmbH
Rosengartenplatz 2
68161 Mannheim
dgppn.registrierung@mcon-mannheim.de,
Telephone +49(0)621.4106–6801

If a cancellation is received by 30 September 2023, the participation fee will be reimbursed less a cancellation/processing fee of 25%. If bookings are cancelled after 30 September 2023, reimbursement will not be possible and the fee will be due in full, even if the invoice was not settled by that point in time. It is possible to name a substitute participant who will assume the fee for the registration booked. The full participation fee is still due for payment even if a registered participant does not take part in the Congress.

VI. Changes/cancellations

The Organiser reserves the right to make any necessary changes to the programme at short notice.

Participation fees (or portions thereof) cannot be reimbursed for cancelled presentations or changes to the programme.

If the Congress cannot be held in person due to circumstances for which the Organiser is not responsible, the Organiser reserves the right to hold the Congress in digital form only at short notice and to adjust the participation fees accordingly.

If the Congress cannot be held on account of force majeure, the DGPPN can also cancel the Congress entirely. Force majeure includes, among other things, orders from authorities, strikes, internal unrest, war or threat thereof, threat of terrorist attacks or attacks which have already taken place, pandemics and epidemics, natural disasters or other similar emergencies which render it impossible or unreasonable for the Organiser to hold the Congress. Cancellation requires the force majeure event to have taken place within 30 days before the beginning of the Congress, or for it to be expected that the consequences of the force majeure event will still have repercussions at the time the Congress is to be held. Further costs or compensation for losses, in particular for (advance) payments already made to third parties (e.g. hotel bookings) will not be assumed.

VII. Additional processing fees

The admission tickets are personalised. If any names are changed, a processing fee of EUR 10.00 plus value-added tax will be collected for each person.

If any invoicing corrections are made, a processing fee of EUR 20.00 plus value-added tax will be charged. Special requests concerning accounting must be notified upon registration.

VIII. Liability

m:con only assumes liability – no matter for what legal reason – for damages attributable to wilful intent or grossly negligent breach of obligations. In case of damages due to harm to life, limb or health, m:con will also assume liability for breach of obligation due to minor negligence.

In case of breach of cardinal contractual obligations, the liability of m:con is limited to damages which are foreseeable given the nature of the contract, as long as wilful intent or gross negligence are not at hand, or if liability due to harm to life, limb or health is being assumed.

The above-mentioned disclaimers and limitations of liability also apply to breach of obligations of bodies, vicarious agents or assistants of m:con.

The above-mentioned paragraphs also apply to the liability of vicarious agents or assistants of m:con.

IX. Access to trade exhibition and implementation of the pharmaceutical advertising law at the DGPPN Congress

In observance of the Health Services and Products Advertising Act (HWG), the trade exhibition is exclusively reserved for physicians, scientists, and other members of professional groups.

The pharmaceutical advertising law (PAL) mandates that only so-called expert groups are permitted to attend the industry exhibition, industry events and other industry offerings. There are comprehensive bans on public advertising that are regulated by Section 10 Paragraph 1 of the PAL:

“Advertising for prescription drugs must be limited to physicians, dentists, veterinarians, pharmacists and people who are permitted to do business with these drugs”.

Only the above-named persons are allowed to enter the areas presenting prescription drugs and the accordingly labelled industry sessions. All participants have unlimited access to all other areas of the trade exhibition. The legislative regulation is available at:

https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/heilmwerbg/__10.html

If the Congress cannot be held in person because of circumstances for which the Organiser is not responsible, the Organiser reserves the right to hold the Congress in digital form only at short notice and to adjust the participation fees accordingly. In this case, an alternative format will be developed for the trade exhibition.

X. Place of performance and legal venue

The legal venue for any legal disputes which may arise from the contract is Berlin, if the contracting parties are businesspeople, legal entities under public law or special funds under public law, or at least one of the contracting parties does not have a general legal venue in the Federal Republic of Germany, or relocates its domicile or place of habitual residence to a location outside the Federal Republic of Germany after the contract has been concluded, or if its domicile or personal abode is not known at the time when the legal action is taken. m:con is also entitled at its discretion to take legal action at the general legal venue of the Customer. The place of performance for all obligations under this contract is Berlin.

XI. Applicable law

The law of the Federal Republic of Germany to the exclusion of the UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods shall apply exclusively.

XII. Final provisions

House rules

Every Congress Participant is obliged to comply with the house rules. The instructions of the Organiser’s admission and security personnel must be followed without exception. Culpable violations of this requirement will result in immediate ejection and banning from the premises without reimbursement of the admission price paid.

Hygiene concept

Should specific hygiene regulations be in place at the time of the Congress in person, all Congress Participants will be obliged to comply with the hygiene regulations applicable at the location.

Loss of name tag

The Congress Participants are requested to wear their name tags at all times during the Congress. The security personnel has the task of checking name tags and identities. If a name tag (= admission ticket) is lost, the fee for the Congress will have to be paid again.

Image and audio recordings

The Organiser, radio and television broadcasters and online and print media are allowed to make image and audio recordings of the general happenings at the Congress and make use of them for reporting purposes. Congress Participants or other persons involved grant their consent to the publication of such recordings for communications purposes, including in social media. Objections to the creation of image and audio recordings concerning the actual person in question must be notified to the person who is making the image or audio recordings on location. Participants are not allowed to make their own image and audio recordings, including impromptu live recordings. This also applies to participants who are making use of the online offer.

Should one or more provisions of this contract be or become invalid, in whole or in part, the rest of the contract shall remain valid. Invalid provisions are to be replaced by ones which approximate the parties’ intent as closely as possible.

In accordance with Direct 2013/11/EU, we would like to advise you that the European Commission has established an internet platform for the settlement of online disputes (the “OS platform”) between entrepreneurs and consumers, which you can access at http://ec.europa.eu/consumers/odr .

These General Terms and Conditions are in effect as of February 2023 and apply to all visitors to and participants in the DGPPN Congress.