terms of service

TL;DR: Hacking Hours events are invite-only and 21+ when alcohol is served. You attend at your own risk (rooftops, alcohol, crowds), you agree not to sue us or the venue for ordinary event risks to the extent the law allows, disputes go to arbitration in Cook County unless you opt out within 30 days, and photos taken at events may be used to promote the series.

Effective date: July 20, 2026. These Terms of Service (the "Terms") are a binding agreement between you and Digital Chair, Inc., a New York corporation doing business as "Hacking Hours" ("Digital Chair," "we," "us," or "our"). They govern your use of hackinghours.com (the "Site") and your registration for and attendance at Hacking Hours events (each an "Event").

1. acceptance

By accessing the Site, submitting an RSVP or application, joining our email or SMS lists, or attending an Event, you accept these Terms, our Privacy Policy, our Consent & Cookie Notice, and our Photo/Video Release & Event Waiver, each of which is incorporated by reference. If you do not agree, do not use the Site or attend an Event.

2. eligibility

• You must be at least 18 years old to use the Site or register for an Event.
• Where alcohol is served, you must be at least 21 years old to attend, and you must present valid government-issued photo identification on request. We may deny entry or alcohol service to anyone at our sole discretion.
• You represent that all information you provide when registering is accurate and that you are registering for yourself, not on behalf of another person unless expressly permitted.

3. invitations, approval, and admission

• Events are invite-only and/or approval-gated. Submitting an RSVP does not guarantee admission; an RSVP is a request, and attendance is confirmed only when we say so.
• We reserve the right, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, to refuse, revoke, or condition admission to any person at any time, before or during an Event, for any lawful reason or no reason, including capacity, safety, intoxication, or violation of these Terms or the code of conduct. We will not refuse admission on any basis prohibited by applicable anti-discrimination law.
• Events are free unless otherwise stated; if a ticket fee applies, refund terms will be stated at purchase. No compensation is owed for refused or revoked admission to a free Event.
• Events may be changed, relocated, rescheduled, or canceled at any time, including for weather (rooftop venues are weather-dependent).

4. code of conduct

We want Events to be safe and welcoming. By attending you agree to:

• treat other attendees, staff, volunteers, and venue personnel with respect; no harassment, discrimination, intimidation, or unwanted physical contact;
• drink responsibly and only if you are 21 or older; never provide alcohol to anyone under 21; arrange safe transportation and do not drive impaired;
• follow all venue rules, posted signage, and instructions from staff, including rooftop safety rules (stay within designated areas, no climbing on railings, ledges, or equipment);
• not bring weapons, illegal substances, or outside alcohol;
• respect other attendees' privacy and any "no photo" signals (including opt-out wristbands) described in the media release;
• not use Events or attendee information for unsolicited commercial recruiting, data harvesting, or spam.

We may remove anyone who violates this code of conduct, without refund (if a fee was paid) and without liability, and may ban them from future Events.

5. assumption of risk

PLEASE READ THIS SECTION CAREFULLY. Attending an Event involves inherent risks, including but not limited to: risks associated with rooftop venues (heights, wind and weather exposure, wet or uneven surfaces, stairs, railings, temporary structures); risks associated with the presence and consumption of alcohol; crowded spaces; slips, trips, and falls; food and beverage allergies; equipment, furniture, and installations; the acts or omissions of other attendees and third parties; and travel to and from the venue. These risks can result in property damage, personal injury, or death.

TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, YOU VOLUNTARILY AND KNOWINGLY ASSUME ALL RISKS ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO YOUR ATTENDANCE AT AN EVENT, WHETHER OR NOT LISTED ABOVE, AND WHETHER CAUSED BY THE ORDINARY NEGLIGENCE OF THE RELEASED PARTIES (DEFINED BELOW) OR OTHERWISE. This assumption of risk does not extend to willful and wanton misconduct, gross negligence, or intentional wrongdoing, or to any liability that cannot be disclaimed under Illinois law.

6. release and limitation of liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, you, for yourself and your heirs, personal representatives, and assigns, hereby RELEASE, WAIVE, AND DISCHARGE Digital Chair, Inc. (d/b/a Hacking Hours), its officers, directors, employees, agents, and contractors; the owner, manager, and staff of the building and venue hosting the Event; Event sponsors; and Event volunteers (collectively, the "Released Parties") from any and all claims, demands, causes of action, damages, and liabilities of every kind arising out of or related to your attendance at an Event or use of the Site, INCLUDING CLAIMS ARISING FROM THE ORDINARY NEGLIGENCE OF ANY RELEASED PARTY.

This release does NOT apply to: (a) gross negligence, willful and wanton misconduct, or intentional acts; (b) liability that cannot be waived under applicable law, including under the Illinois dram shop statute (235 ILCS 5/6-21) or any other non-waivable statutory right; or (c) claims a court determines are not subject to exculpation under Illinois public policy.

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW: (i) THE RELEASED PARTIES' AGGREGATE LIABILITY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THE SITE OR ANY EVENT WILL NOT EXCEED THE GREATER OF THE AMOUNT YOU PAID US IN THE TWELVE MONTHS BEFORE THE CLAIM AROSE OR ONE HUNDRED U.S. DOLLARS (US$100); and (ii) NO RELEASED PARTY WILL BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, OR LOST PROFITS OR DATA. Some jurisdictions do not allow certain limitations, so some of the above may not apply to you; in that case, liability is limited to the smallest amount permitted by law. Nothing in these Terms limits or excludes liability for death or personal injury to the extent such limitation is prohibited by applicable law.

7. indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the Released Parties from and against any third-party claims, damages, losses, and reasonable expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out of (a) your violation of these Terms, (b) your violation of law or the rights of any third party, or (c) your conduct at an Event, in each case except to the extent caused by a Released Party's own gross negligence or willful misconduct.

8. no warranty

THE SITE AND ALL EVENTS ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE," WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT, TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW. We do not warrant that the Site will be uninterrupted, secure, or error-free, or that any Event will occur as scheduled.

9. intellectual property and user content

• The Site, the "Hacking Hours" name and branding, and all content we create (text, graphics, photos, video, logos) are owned by Digital Chair or its licensors and are protected by intellectual-property laws. We grant you a limited, revocable, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to access the Site for personal, non-commercial use. No other rights are granted.
• If you submit content to us or tag us in content (photos, videos, posts, testimonials, application answers) ("User Content"), you grant Digital Chair a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free, sublicensable, transferable license to use, reproduce, modify, adapt, publish, display, and distribute that User Content in connection with operating and promoting Hacking Hours, in any media now known or later developed. You represent that you have the rights needed to grant this license. This license survives termination of these Terms; you may request removal of specific User Content from channels we control by emailing hello@hackinghours.com, and we will honor reasonable requests where practicable.

10. photography and recording at events

Events are photographed and recorded for promotional use. Your consent to being photographed and recorded, the license you grant us in your image and likeness, and the opt-out mechanisms available to you are set out in the Photo/Video Release & Event Waiver, which is part of these Terms.

11. dispute resolution — arbitration and class-action waiver

PLEASE READ THIS SECTION CAREFULLY — IT AFFECTS YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS, INCLUDING YOUR RIGHT TO A JURY TRIAL.

• Informal resolution first. Before filing arbitration, you agree to email hello@hackinghours.com describing the dispute and give us 30 days to try to resolve it informally.
• Binding arbitration. Except as stated below, any dispute, claim, or controversy arising out of or relating to these Terms, the Site, or any Event will be resolved by binding individual arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association ("AAA") under its Consumer Arbitration Rules. The seat of arbitration is Cook County, Illinois; hearings may be conducted by videoconference where the AAA rules permit. The Federal Arbitration Act governs the interpretation and enforcement of this arbitration agreement. The arbitrator, not a court, decides all disputes about the interpretation, applicability, or enforceability of this arbitration agreement, except that a court decides the enforceability of the class-action waiver.
• Costs. Arbitration filing, administration, and arbitrator fees will be allocated under the AAA Consumer Arbitration Rules; where those rules require, we will pay fees beyond your initial consumer filing fee. Each party otherwise bears its own attorneys' fees except where applicable law provides otherwise.
• Exceptions. Either party may (a) bring an individual claim in small-claims court in Cook County, Illinois or your county of residence, or (b) seek injunctive or other equitable relief in court for actual or threatened infringement or misuse of intellectual property. Nothing in this section waives claims or remedies that cannot be arbitrated or waived as a matter of law.
• Class-action waiver. ALL CLAIMS MUST BE BROUGHT IN THE PARTY'S INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY, AND NOT AS A PLAINTIFF OR CLASS MEMBER IN ANY PURPORTED CLASS, COLLECTIVE, CONSOLIDATED, OR REPRESENTATIVE PROCEEDING. The arbitrator may not consolidate claims or preside over any form of class proceeding. If this waiver is found unenforceable as to a particular claim, that claim (and only that claim) shall proceed in court, and the remainder shall be arbitrated.
• 30-day opt-out. You may opt out of this arbitration agreement and class-action waiver by emailing hello@hackinghours.com with the subject "Arbitration Opt-Out," including your name and the email address you registered with, within 30 days of first accepting these Terms. Opting out does not affect any other part of these Terms.

12. governing law and venue

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Illinois, without regard to conflict-of-laws principles, except that the Federal Arbitration Act governs the arbitration agreement. For any dispute not subject to arbitration, the exclusive venue is the state and federal courts located in Cook County, Illinois, and the parties consent to personal jurisdiction there. Nothing in this section deprives you of mandatory consumer protections of the state where you reside.

13. severability

If any provision of these Terms is held invalid or unenforceable, that provision will be enforced to the maximum extent permissible, or if it cannot be, severed, and the remaining provisions will remain in full force and effect.

14. changes to these terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. The effective date at the top will change, and for material changes we will provide reasonable notice (for example, by email to registered attendees or a notice on the Site). Changes apply prospectively; your continued use of the Site or attendance at an Event after the effective date of a change constitutes acceptance. Material changes to the arbitration provision will not apply to disputes that arose before the change.

15. miscellaneous

• These Terms, together with the documents incorporated by reference, are the entire agreement between you and Digital Chair regarding the Site and Events.
• Our failure to enforce a provision is not a waiver of it.
• You may not assign these Terms; we may assign them in connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets.
• Nothing in these Terms creates any partnership, employment, or agency relationship.
• Force majeure: we are not liable for failure or delay in holding an Event caused by circumstances beyond our reasonable control, including weather, venue unavailability, government action, or public-safety concerns.
• Survival: sections 5–12 (assumption of risk, release and limitation of liability, indemnification, no warranty, intellectual property, media consent, dispute resolution, and governing law) survive any termination of these Terms.

16. contact

Digital Chair, Inc. d/b/a Hacking Hours — hello@hackinghours.com.

This document was prepared with automated assistance and is not legal advice. Review by a licensed attorney (Illinois) is recommended before relying on it.