The following policies and conditions apply to all SPIE events, both online and in person. As a condition of registration, you will be required to acknowledge and accept the SPIE policies and conditions contained herein.
SPIE has established a confidential reporting system for all SPIE event participants to raise concerns about possible unethical or inappropriate behavior within our community. When at an SPIE event, you may contact any SPIE staff with concerns. If you feel that you are in immediate danger, please dial the local emergency number for police intervention.
Confidential complaints may be filed by phoning toll-free +1 888 818 6898 from within the United States and Canada, or by using the form at spie.ethicspoint.com.
Agreement to hold harmless
Attendee agrees to release and hold harmless SPIE from any and all claims, demands, and causes of action arising out of or relating to your participation in the event you are registering to participate in and use of any associated facilities or hotels.
Anti-harassment policy
It is SPIE policy that all employees, volunteers, and participants are entitled to respectful treatment. Any form of bullying, discrimination, harassment, sexual or otherwise, is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. This policy applies to all locations and situations where SPIE business is conducted and to all SPIE-sponsored activities and events.
Attendee registration and admission policies
SPIE, or their officially designated event management, in their sole discretion, reserves the right to accept or decline an individual's registration for an event. Further, SPIE, or event management, reserves the right to prohibit entry of or to remove any individual whether registered or not, be they attendees, exhibitors, representatives, or vendors, whose conduct is not in keeping with the character and purpose of the event. Without limiting the foregoing, SPIE and event management reserve the right to remove or refuse entry to anyone who has registered or gained access under false pretenses, provided false information, or for any other reason whatsoever that they deem is cause under the circumstances.
Badge Scanning
Exhibitors or co-sponsors may request to scan your registration badge to collect your contact information. When you allow your badge to be scanned, you are agreeing to receive communications from them. You will be subject to those entities’ communications and privacy policies and must opt-out with them directly if you no longer wish to receive information from them. SPIE is not responsible for their use of your contact information obtained when you volunteer your badge to be scanned.
Be well agreement
You acknowledge that attending an event involves some risk of exposure to illness. You voluntarily assume this risk and agree not to hold SPIE or its affiliates liable for any illness you may contract. You also agree not to attend the event if you feel ill or have reason to suspect you may have a communicable illness.
SPIE will provide hand sanitizer locations and disposable face masks upon request.
Capture and use of a person's image
By registering for an SPIE event, you grant full permission to SPIE to capture, store, use, and/or reproduce your image or likeness, including incidental capture of any individuals in your household or workplace, by any audio and/or visual recording technique and create derivative works of these images and recordings in any SPIE media now known or later developed, for any legitimate SPIE purpose. By registering for an SPIE event, you waive any right to inspect or approve the use of the images or recordings or of any written copy. You also waive any right to royalties or other compensation arising from or related to the use of the images, recordings, or materials. By registering, you release, defend, indemnify, and hold harmless SPIE from and against any claims, damages, or liability arising from or related to the use of the images, recordings, or materials, including but not limited to claims of defamation, invasion of privacy, or rights of publicity or copyright infringement, or any misuse, distortion, blurring, alteration, optical illusion, or use in composite form that may occur or be produced in taking, processing, reduction, or production of the finished product, its publication or distribution.
Code of conduct
SPIE is committed to providing a harassment- and discrimination-free experience for everyone at our events, an experience that embraces the richness of diversity where participants may exchange ideas, learn, network, and socialize in the company of colleagues in an environment of mutual respect.
Event and course cancellation by SPIE
If for some unforeseen reason, SPIE should have to cancel a course or an entire event, processed registration fees for the canceled activity will be refunded to registrants. Registrants will be responsible for the cancellation of travel arrangements or housing reservations and the applicable fees.
Family-friendly policy
Conference events: all conference technical and networking events require a badge for admission. Registered attendees may bring children with them if they have been issued a badge. Registration badges for children under 18 are free and available at the SPIE registration desk onsite. Children under 14 years of age must be accompanied by an adult at all times, and guardians are asked to help maintain a professional, disturbance-free conference environment.
Exhibition hall: everyone who attends the exhibition must be registered and have a badge. Badges for children are free and available onsite at the registration desk. Children under 14 years of age must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Guardians are asked to help maintain a professional, disturbance-free exhibition environment. Children under 18 are not allowed in the exhibition area during exhibition move-in and move-out.
Identification requirement
To verify registered participants and provide a measure of security, SPIE will ask attendees to present a government-issued photo identification at registration to collect registration materials. Individuals are not allowed to pick up badges for other attendees. Further, attendees may not have some other person participate in their place at any conference-related activity. Such other individuals will be required to register on their own behalf to participate.
For online events, SPIE requires individuals to register with their legal identity.
Laser-pointer safety policy
SPIE events are subject to the applicable laser safety rules and regulations of the host location. SPIE supplies industry-standard Class 2 presentation laser pointers for all conference and other meeting rooms. For safety reasons, SPIE requests that presenters use provided laser pointers. The use of a personal laser pointer represents the user’s acceptance of liability for any damage or injuries to the presenter or others.
No smoking policy
Attendees will observe all non-smoking regulations that are publicly posted by the facilities used by the event.
Online commenting policy
SPIE moderates all comments posted in an online event. We encourage robust discussion, the exchange of scientific ideas, and the sharing of multiple, diverse perspectives. We expect the discussion to be consistent with the norms of scholarly research community interactions at events. Online event participants should report any comments or content that falls short of those community norms. We will remove comments, content, or people that are considered inappropriate by SPIE standards or that:
Payment policy
Registrations must be fully paid before access to the conference is allowed. SPIE accepts VISA, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, Diner's Club, checks, and wire transfers. Onsite registrations can also be paid with cash.
Recording policy
Conferences and poster sessions: audio and video recordings are prohibited without prior written consent of SPIE and the presenter. Consent forms are available at Speaker Check-in, SPIE Registration, or the Chair Services Desk. Individuals not complying with this policy will be asked to surrender their recording media and leave the conference room. Refusal to comply with such requests is grounds for expulsion from the event. Please see the SPIE code of conduct.
Courses: audio and video recordings are prohibited without explicit permission from SPIE and the instructor. Individuals not complying with this policy will be asked to surrender their recording media and leave the classroom. Refusal to comply with such requests is grounds for expulsion from the event.
Exhibition: attendees may not record interviews on the exhibition floor nor record or photograph exhibitor booth displays and/or products without explicit permission from SPIE and on-site company representatives. Consent forms are available at Exhibitor Assistance. Individuals not complying with this policy will be asked to surrender their recording media and leave the exhibition hall. Refusal to comply with such requests is grounds for expulsion from the event.
SPIE Conferences app connect feature
The connect feature in the SPIE Conferences app is a personal networking tool that allows individuals to share their contact information with other attendees via their phones while using the SPIE app. This tool should not be used for systematic scanning of badges for managing sales leads. Inappropriate use is a violation of event policy.
SPIE Conferences app lead retrieval feature
The lead retrieval feature in the SPIE Conferences app is a lead generation tool that allows attendees to share their contact information with SPIE exhibitors. Exhibitor representatives using the lead retrieval app may scan attendee badges in the exhibition or supporting company events after receiving permission from an attendee. It should not be used in the technical conference area. The lead retrieval feature will be disabled for exhibitor representatives who exceed reasonable use or are in violation of other SPIE event policies. Attendees should report inappropriate use by notifying staff or contacting support via the help link in the app.
SPIE Conferences app messaging policy
The SPIE Conferences app supports attendee-to-attendee messaging to facilitate professional networking among meeting participants. This feature should not be used to push high-volume solicitations, and messaging will be disabled for attendees who exceed reasonable use or are in violation of other SPIE event policies. Attendees should report inappropriate use via the app reporting feature. SPIE will also monitor for high-volume patterns suggesting improper use.
Unauthorized solicitation
Unauthorized solicitation in the exhibition hall is prohibited. Any non-exhibiting organization observed to be distributing information or soliciting business in the aisles, or in another company's booth, will be asked to leave immediately.
Unsecured items
Personal belongings should not be left unattended in meeting rooms or public areas. Unattended items are subject to removal by security. SPIE is not responsible for items left unattended.
Wireless internet service
At most events, SPIE provides wireless access for attendees. Properly secure your computer before accessing the public wireless network. SPIE is not responsible for computer viruses or other kinds of computer damage.