Terms of Service

Last Updated: February 2026

Welcome to Best of the Year. These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your access to and use of the Best of the Year website, services, and applications (collectively, the "Services") operated by Best of the Year Media LLC ("Best of the Year," "we," "us," or "our"). Please read these Terms carefully before using our Services.

These Terms of Service (“Terms”) govern access to and use of the Best of the Year website, awards program, submission platform, and related services (collectively, the “Services”). By accessing or using the Services, you agree to be bound by these Terms.

By accessing or using the Services, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms and any policies referenced herein. If you do not agree, you may not access or use the Services. Continued use of the Services following the posting of revised Terms constitutes acceptance of those changes.

Eligibility and Applicability

These Terms apply to all users of the Services, including website visitors, award submitters, judges, evaluators, partners, and contributors. By using the Services, you represent and warrant that you are at least eighteen (18) years of age, are legally capable of entering into binding agreements, and, if submitting on behalf of a company, are authorized to act on that company’s behalf.

Submissions and Representations

By submitting materials to Best of the Year, you represent and warrant that the information provided is accurate, complete, and not misleading; that you are authorized to submit such materials on behalf of the identified company; and that the submitted materials do not infringe or violate any third-party rights. Best of the Year reserves the right to reject, suspend, or disqualify any submission that is incomplete, misleading, or otherwise inconsistent with the integrity of the awards program. Best of the Year reserves the right to request clarification or substantiation of submitted materials and to suspend evaluation pending such review.

Fees and Payments

Submission of materials may require payment of an entry fee. Fees are non-refundable except where Best of the Year determines, in its sole discretion, that a refund is warranted. Fees are retained even if a submission is not selected or is disqualified. If a payment fails, is reversed, or is disputed, Best of the Year may suspend or invalidate the associated submission.

Evaluation, Judging, and Awards

Judging criteria, evaluation processes, and scoring methodologies are determined solely by Best of the Year. Award decisions are based on the materials submitted and the evaluation criteria applied during the judging process and should not be interpreted or relied upon as guarantees of product performance, outcomes, or results. Submission does not guarantee selection, recognition, or award status and does not imply endorsement. All evaluation and award decisions are final and non-appealable. Best of the Year reserves the right to modify categories, timelines, criteria, or processes as necessary to operate the program.

Editorial Discretion

Best of the Year retains editorial discretion over how awarded products or services are presented, including placement, format, and coverage, across its owned editorial, media, and marketing channels.

Intellectual Property and License

Submitters retain ownership of all submitted materials. By submitting materials, you grant Best of the Year a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license to use, reproduce, display, and reference submitted materials in connection with the awards program and related editorial, media, and marketing pages operated by Best of the Year. Such use will not include paid advertising or paid third-party placements without a separate agreement. Best of the Year may edit submitted materials for clarity or length, provided that the substantive meaning is not altered. Names, logos, and identifying information of winning companies or products may be displayed publicly. Any additional commercial use, including paid advertising or third-party licensing, requires a separate written agreement.

Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Best of the Year Media LLC, its officers, directors, employees, contractors, judges, and affiliates from any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising out of or related to your submissions, your violation of these Terms, or any allegation that submitted materials infringe third-party rights.

User Accounts

Certain features of the Services may require registration or account creation. You agree to provide accurate and complete information, maintain the security of your login credentials, and promptly notify Best of the Year of any unauthorized access or use. You are responsible for all activities that occur under your account. Best of the Year may suspend or terminate accounts that violate these Terms or compromise the integrity of the Services.

Confidential Materials

Materials designated as confidential will not be published publicly but may be reviewed internally for evaluation purposes. Best of the Year does not provide NDA-level confidentiality but limits use and disclosure of submitted materials as described in these Terms. Submitters are solely responsible for ensuring that submitted materials do not violate confidentiality obligations or intellectual property rights of third parties.

Acceptable Use

You agree not to submit false or misleading information, infringe intellectual property or other rights, attempt to manipulate or interfere with the evaluation process, or engage in harassment or abusive conduct toward judges, staff, or other participants. Best of the Year may suspend or terminate access to the Services for violations of these Terms.

In addition, you agree not to:

• Scrape, crawl, or use automated means to access the Services without prior written permission

• Introduce malware, viruses, or harmful code

• Attempt to interfere with or bypass security features

• Impersonate any individual or entity or misrepresent affiliation

• Use the Services for unlawful, deceptive, or abusive purposes unrelated to legitimate participation

Disclaimers

The Services are provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis. Best of the Year makes no warranties, express or implied, regarding availability, accuracy, or outcomes of submissions or awards. Awards, evaluations, and editorial content are informational and should not be relied upon as guarantees of performance, compliance, or results.

Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, Best of the Year shall not be liable for indirect, incidental, consequential, special, or punitive damages, including loss of profits, revenue, data, or goodwill, arising out of or relating to the Services. Total liability shall not exceed the fees paid for the applicable submission.

Governing Law and Venue

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of New York, without regard to conflict-of-law principles. Any disputes shall be resolved exclusively in the state or federal courts located within the State of New York.

Modifications

Best of the Year may modify these Terms at any time by posting updated terms on the website. Continued use of the Services constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.

Termination

Best of the Year may suspend or terminate access to the Services at any time for violations of these Terms or to protect the integrity of the program. Provisions relating to intellectual property, disclaimers, limitation of liability, indemnification, and governing law shall survive termination.

Contact Information

Questions about these Terms can be directed to:
hello@bestoftheyearmedia.com with Subject Line: Terms of Use

If you have any questions about these Terms, please contact us: