Terms of use of the Open Innovation web page

The following terms of use refer to Open Innovation Web Page of BASF Personal Care and Nutrition GmbH (“Open Innovation Web Page”), which will be made available via the BASF Personal Care Homepage https://www.personal-care.basf.com/

The Open Innovation Web Page is provided by BASF Personal Care and Nutrition GmbH (“BASF”) in order to collect ideas (“Submissions”) on a described topic. The goal of the Open Innovation Web Page is to enable users to make Submissions, which allow BASF or one of its affiliated companies to find the best partners for future research projects and collaborations. The Open Innovation Web Page is operated in a non-exclusive, non-confidential manner.

Before submitting ideas to the Open Innovation Web Page, please confirm that you have read, and you agree to this TERMS OF USE (“ToU”). BASF reserves the right to amend these ToU from time to time in its sole discretion. The most recent version of our ToU is always available within the contact template or can be requested by email at innovate-personalcare@basf.com.

 

I. Contributing submissions

General

All Submission must be in English or German. Attachments may be submitted in .pdf, .xls, .xlsx, .doc, docx, .ppt,.pptx, .png, .jpeg, .mov or .mp4 formats. Links to publicly available online videos (e.g., YouTube) can be included in your Submission to the extent no copyright or other rights are being infringed.

No Confidential Relationship

Your Submission does not create a confidential relationship between you and BASF with respect to the Submission. BASF does not want to receive confidential or proprietary information and is under no obligation to hold your Submission in confidence. If you worry about your intellectual property rights, please seek legal advice regarding possible protection prior to your Submission. We ask you to not submit any confidential information that you received from another party. By making a Submission, you are not restricted from applying for or seeking other funding or collaboration opportunities.

Warranties

By making a Submission, you warrant that:

  • you are the owner of the Submission;
  • your Submission to BASF on the Open Innovation Web Page will not violate any rights (including patent rights, copyrights, trademark rights, trade secret rights, right of privacy, or any other right) of any third party, including your former or current employer, or any local, state, federal, or foreign law or regulation;
  • if you are submitting on behalf of your employer, you are an authorized representative of your employer;
  • your Submission does not contain any material or information (including Internet links, email addresses, images, or sounds) that constitutes advertising or promotion, junk mail, “spamming,” or chain letters;
  • your Submission does not contain content (including text, links, communications, software, images, sounds, data, or other information) that will intentionally interfere with the operation of BASF and/or BASF websites, computer systems, or electronic devices.

Acknowledgement and Waivers

You acknowledge that BASF may already be aware of the contents of your Submission. You acknowledge and agree that BASF and their designees may create or have created on their own or may obtain or have obtained other submissions that may be similar or identical to your Submission. You consent that BASF has the unrestricted right to use and disseminate your Submission. You hereby waive any and all claims you may have, and/or may have in the future, related to materials developed, accepted, reviewed and/or used by BASF and/or their designees that may be similar to your Submission.

You acknowledge and agree that unless otherwise agreed upon under a separate agreement, you will not be compensated for your Submission.

Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold BASF and its affiliated companies harmless from and against any and all liability, loss, damages, judgements, costs and expenses arising out of or related to your Submission.

Separate Agreement

If BASF is interested in your Submission for collaboration, you will be contacted for additional information and/or for negotiation of a separate agreement that will govern the collaboration. You agree that BASF is under no obligation to enter into any agreement with respect to your Submission. It is BASF’s sole discretion as to whether a collaboration will be carried out. BASF or their designees contacting you regarding your Submission does not obligate BASF to provide you with any grant, funding, compensation, license, in-kind support, or anything else.

 

II. Acceptable use policy

Unacceptable Use

The Open Innovation Web Page requires that all users conduct themselves with respect for others. In particular, observe the following rules in your use of the tool:
1. Intellectual Property: Do not infringe upon the copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets, confidential information or other intellectual property rights of any person or entity. Do not reproduce, publish or disseminate software, audio recordings, video recordings, photographs, articles, or other works of authorship without the written permission of the copyright holder. A combination of openly known information (i.e. ideas) or the use or the implication of such information shall not be regarded as known until the combination, the use or the implication in itself has been publicly known. The fact that a general principle is openly known does not mean that the information covered by the principle is openly known.
2. Confidential Information: Do not share confidential information or information which is by the nature of its context typically classified as confidential within this Open Innovation Web Page.
3. Abusive Behavior: Do not harass, threaten, or defame any person or entity. Do not contact any person who has requested no further contact. Do not use ethnic or religious slurs against any person or group.
4. Privacy: Do not violate the privacy rights of any person. Do not collect or disclose any personal address, social security number, or other personally identifiable information without each holder’s permission. Do not cooperate in or facilitate identity theft.
5. Hacking, Viruses & Network Attacks: Do not access any computer or communications system without authorization, including the computers used to provide the Service. Do not attempt to penetrate or disable any security system. Do not intentionally distribute a computer virus, launch a denial of service attack, or in any other way attempt to interfere with the functioning of any computer, communication system, or website. Do not attempt to access or otherwise interfere with the accounts of other users of the Service.
6. Spam: Do not send bulk unsolicited Submissions (“Spam”) or sell or market any product or service advertised by or connected with Spam. Do not facilitate or cooperate in the dissemination of Spam in any way.
7. Fraud: Do not issue fraudulent offers to sell or buy products, services, or investments. Do not mislead anyone about the details or nature of a commercial transaction. Do not commit fraud in any other way.
8. Violations of Law: Do not violate any law.

Consequences of Violation

Violation of these ToU may lead to legal action. In addition, you may be required to pay for the costs of investigation and remedial action related to ToU violations. We reserve the right to take any other remedial action we seem fit.

Reporting Unacceptable Use

We request that anyone with information about a violation of the ToU report it via e-mail to the following address: innovate-personalcare@basf.com. Please provide the date and time (with time zone) of the violation and any identifying information regarding the violator.

 

III. Privacy Policy

Please refer to the privacy statements for BASF Personal Care found here https://www.basf.com/global/en/legal/data-protection.html

 

IV. General Disclaimer

Please also consider our general disclaimer when using the BASF Personal Care Homepage https://www.basf.com/global/en/legal/disclaimer.html

 

V. Miscellaneous

Changes

BASF reserves the right to change the functionalities provided in the Open Innovation Platform. Beyond this, BASF reserves the right to change the ToU.

Applicable Law

You agree that these terms and the relationship between you and BASF shall be governed by the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany.