Code Hack Registration Terms

1. Goals

The WISEcode Virtual Hackathon (“Hackathon”) is sponsored by WISEcode, LLC. The Hackathon’s goal is to develop improvements to Wc-UPF™, WISEcode’s reference implementation for categorizing processed foods. Winning solutions may be integrated into the WISEcode ecosystem and shared with external partners for scientific and policy impact.

2. How the Hackathon will Work:

Individuals or Teams will receive a curated, finite data set drawn from WISEcode’s food database delivered via the WISEcode CodeBuilder tool. Data may be analyzed, modeled, and used in AI models, but not retained or repurposed. Registrants are responsible to ensure the confidentiality of the data and shall be liable for any data that is leaked into any AI Model’s public training or grounding data.

Each Registrant will document their methodology and submit results in a standardized format to ensure transparency and comparability.

Each Registrants will receive:

• Database documentation: clear guidance on the relevant WISEcode data structures,
• Sample queries to illustrate how to interact with the data, and
• A reference implementation: the end-to-end engineering of the Wc-UPF™ code, demonstrating how inputs, calculations, and outputs can be assembled into a coherent result.

The reference implementation is not a template to be copied. Registrants must develop their own arbitrary logic to construct a new UPF code, applying creativity, scientific insight, and technical skill. Their implementations must meet certain structural and formatting requirements — such as result fields and submission format — as demonstrated in the reference implementation.

50% of this event is about the science of building a new UPF code and 50% is about technical delivery.

3. Intellectual Property (“IP”) Rights

All WISEcode information, data, documentation, and reference implementations (including but not limited to Wc-UPF™ algorithms, database schemas, and canon_ingredient tables) provided for the Hackathon remain the exclusive property of WISEcode. Registrants do not acquire any IP rights, licenses, or title in WISEcode assets or information by virtue of participation or access. Any use of WISEcode IP outside this Hackathon is strictly prohibited.

Registrants assign all right, title, and interest in the submissions to WISEcode. Registrants will procure the assignment to WISEcode of all rights in such intellectual property not owned by Registrant. If applicable law prevents future assignments, Registrant will assign (or will procure the assignment of) such rights as they are created.

If applicable law prevents Registrants from transferring ownership of any intellectual property regarding the UPF Hack to WISEcode, Registrants grant to WISEcode a perpetual, irrevocable, exclusive, royalty-free, fully-paid, transferrable, worldwide license (with the right to sublicense) to:

(A) reproduce, prepare derivative works of, distribute, publicly perform, publicly display, and otherwise use such intellectual property; and

(B) make, use, sell, offer for sale, import, export any component of, and otherwise dispose of such intellectual property.

If requested by WISEcode, Registrants will timely perform all acts reasonably necessary to accomplish the assignments and other transactions specified in this Agreement.

All submissions must be the original work of the registrant/team, utilizing only permitted datasets and tools during the Hackathon period. Copying, reverse engineering, or derivative use of the WISEcode reference implementation, data, or protected know-how is strictly forbidden.

Organization of the Hackathon does not limit in any way WISEcode’s right to develop or acquire similar, or competing software, products, processes or services provided Hackathon submissions will not directly be used to create a WISEcode product or service. However, as WISEcode currently provides and develops products and services related to the Hackathon’s subject matter, it is possible that future products and services may present similar characteristics to Registrant’s Submission. Registrant acknowledges that this may be the case and will not challenge any IP rights, request financial compensation from WISEcode and its affiliates or rights of ownership on a WISEcode product or service as a result of the Hackathon.

For the avoidance of doubt, WISEcode may use general knowledge acquired during the Hackathon and other residual information for any purposes, including without limitation use in development, manufacture, promotion, sale and maintenance of its products and services. Residual information means any information that is retained in the unaided memories of WISEcode or its affiliates’ employees, consultants, or contractors who receive access to the Hackathon information.

4. Prohibition on Data Leakage and Unauthorized Use

WISEcode datasets provided to each team are watermarked and must be used solely for the Hackathon’s research and analysis. Datasets, documentation, or any WISEcode content may not be retained, distributed, shared outside registered teams, or uploaded to any AI model’s public training or grounding data. Entrants must have rights to any external data used.

Registrants are strictly prohibited from:

• Repurposing any WISEcode data or IP
• Sharing competition data, methodologies, or codes with non-team members or entities
• Using, training, or inputting WISEcode IP into any external machine learning, AI, or data system accessible beyond the event window

Violation will result in immediate expulsion and enforcement of penalty provisions.

5. Indemnity and Liability for Data Breach/IP Infringement

Each Team and the individual Registrant shall indemnify, defend, and hold harmless WISEcode, its employees, agents, owners, and assigns from and against any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, costs, or expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising out of or related to:

• Unauthorized use, disclosure, or transmission of WISEcode IP or data
• Infringement of any WISEcode property or third-party rights due to the registrant’s actions or omissions
• Security breach, violation of data protection, or unapproved data retention/distribution.

6. Release and Discharge

Participants hereby release and discharge WISEcode, LLC and its affiliates, officers, employees, and contractors from any and all liability, claims, damages, losses, or causes of action arising out of or relating to participation in the Hackathon, including but not limited to claims based on negligence, breach of contract, or liability for personal or data injury, except in cases of gross negligence or willful misconduct by WISEcode.

7. Liquidated Damages and Penalties

Any breach, unauthorized use, or data leak will trigger liquidated damages of not less than USD $50,000 per violation, regardless of actual damages without prejudice to other remedies. This sum is contractually stipulated as a reasonable estimate of harm and not a penalty. WISEcode reserves all rights to pursue further remedies, including criminal prosecution under applicable state and federal statutes (e.g., Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (18 U.S.C. § 1030), Economic Espionage Act, and other relevant laws for willful IP theft or data breach).

8. Event Rules and Deliverables

Every Registrant will receive its own dedicated and sandboxed copy of the relevant portions of the WISEcode database, provisioned as a secure within the WISEcode CodeBuilder. Each team will be given a single account and an access token, allowing them to connect to their instance of the WISEcode CodeBuilder and allowing each team member to conduct independent research or collaborate directly against the shared dataset.

All datasets must be deleted and not retained after submission. Final code, documentation, and results must follow standardized formats as per the reference implementation but contain original underlying logic.

Registrants represent and warrant the personal information provided upon registration is true and accurate.

9. Publicity

Submissions, methodologies, and outcomes will be shared with the Robert F. Kennedy Center and for peer review/publication, as described in the event documentation. WISEcode may publish results in other peer-reviewed journals as well as mainstream media outlets.

Registrant grants WISEcode the worldwide, royalty-free, perpetual, sublicensable, transferable right to use Registrant’s submission material, including use of Registran’s name and logo, for marketing purposes. In particular, such use includes making a video and audio recording during the awarding of the Prize and publishing it on any traditional and social media platforms.

10. Prize Terms

• 1st Place: $100,000
• 2nd Place: $50,000
• 3rd Place: $25,000
• 4th Place: $15,000
• 5th Place: $10,000

Winning codes will also be hosted alongside WISEcode’s own UPF code as parallel references on the WISEcode Mobile app.

Winners will be selected by WISEcode-appointed judges based on scientific rigor, creativity, technical skill, and compliance with submission requirements and paid within 30 days of award. Prizes are awarded at WISEcode’s sole discretion; decisions are final. Prize amounts are paid to the winning Individual or Team leader. All prize awards are subject to tax reporting and withholding in accordance with applicable law.

The top five (5) submissions will become part of the active WISEcode ecosystem, with attribution in the WISEcode app and platforms. WISEcode reserves all rights to host, display, or promote submissions as reference options, but does not transfer ownership except to as specifically agreed.

11. Eligibility and Prohibited Entrants

Registration and participation is open only to individuals over the age of eighteen. Entry is void wherever prohibited by local law.

Due to tax reporting requirements, citizens or residents of the following countries are prohibited: Russian Federation, Belarus, Latvia, Ukraine, Nigeria, Poland, Tajikistan, Somalia, Syria, Iraq, Libya, Venezuela, Myanmar (Burma), Afghanistan, Angola, Ethiopia, Morocco, and Tunisia. Registrations from these countries will be automatically rejected.

12. Acceptance

Participation in the Hackathon constitutes acceptance of all terms herein.

13. Additional Terms

WISEcode reserves the right to disqualify any Registrant or terminate the Hackathon, at any time, for security, legal, or operational reasons.

If any provision of these Terms is held invalid, the remainder shall remain in effect. Any dispute arising from these Terms shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York and the Parties agree to the exclusive venue of the state and federal courts in New York, New York.

These Terms contain the entire understanding of the Parties on the subject matter hereof.

EACH PARTY WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO JURY TRIAL OR TO PARTICIPATE IN A CLASS ACTION.

All participants must review and accept these Terms before registration is complete. Each party agrees that this Agreement and any other documents to be delivered in connection herewith may be electronically signed, and that any electronic signatures appearing on this Agreement or such other documents are the same as handwritten signatures for the purposes of validity, enforceability, and admissibility.

Contact Us

If you have any questions about these Registration Terms, please contact us at support@wisecode.ai.