Terms & Conditions.

1. Acceptance of Terms

These Terms and Conditions ("Terms") govern your access to and use of the Pontal Awards website (the "Site"), operated by Pine Hill International ("Pontal Awards," "we," "us," or "our"), including any submission to, participation in, or reference to the Pontal Awards programme, publications, and related events (collectively, the "Awards"). By accessing the Site or submitting an entry, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree, please do not use the Site.

2. About Pontal Awards

Pontal Awards is a distinction programme recognising exceptional homes and related real estate and design work, organised under Pine Hill International.

3. Eligibility and Submissions

By submitting an entry to the Awards, you represent and warrant that:

You are the rightful owner of, or duly authorised to submit, the project, images, and materials included in your entry;

All information provided is accurate, truthful, and not misleading;

Your submission does not infringe the intellectual property, privacy, or other rights of any third party;

You are at least 18 years of age or are submitting on behalf of an eligible organisation.

We reserve the right, at our sole discretion, to accept, reject, disqualify, or request clarification of any submission at any stage of the process, including where a submission does not meet the eligibility criteria or the standards of the Awards.

4. Submission Fees

Where applicable, submission or entry fees will be clearly communicated at the time of entry. All fees are non-refundable unless otherwise stated, including where an entry is not shortlisted or does not receive a distinction.

5. Judging and Results

Entries are evaluated by an independent jury based on the criteria published on the Site. All decisions of the jury are final and binding. We do not guarantee that any submission will be shortlisted, receive a distinction, or be featured in any publication, and we make no representation as to the commercial or professional value of participation.

6. Use of Submitted Materials

By submitting an entry, you grant Pontal Awards a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free licence to use, reproduce, and display the submitted materials (including images, project descriptions, and related content) for purposes connected with the Awards, including judging, promotion, the Site, Pontal Magazine, press, and social media, with appropriate credit where reasonably practicable. You retain ownership of your original intellectual property.

7. Intellectual Property

All content on the Site, including text, graphics, logos, images, and design elements (excluding materials submitted by entrants), is the property of Pontal Awards or its licensors and is protected by applicable intellectual property laws. You may not reproduce, distribute, modify, or create derivative works from any part of the Site without our prior written consent.

8. Prohibited Conduct

When using the Site, you agree not to:

Submit false, misleading, or fraudulent information;

Attempt to interfere with, disrupt, or compromise the security or integrity of the Site;

Use automated means to access or extract data from the Site without authorisation;

Infringe the intellectual property or other rights of Pontal Awards or any third party;

Attempt to improperly influence the judging process.

9. Third-Party Links and Content

The Site may contain links to third-party websites or content that is not owned or controlled by us. We are not responsible for the content, accuracy, or practices of any third-party sites, and inclusion of any link does not imply endorsement.

10. Disclaimer of Warranties

The Site and the Awards are provided on an "as is" and "as available" basis. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we make no warranties, express or implied, regarding the accuracy, reliability, or availability of the Site, or the outcome of any submission, and disclaim all warranties not expressly stated in these Terms.

11. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, Pontal Awards and Pine Hill International shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages, or any loss of profits, revenue, data, or business opportunity, arising out of or in connection with your use of the Site or participation in the Awards, even if advised of the possibility of such damages. Nothing in these Terms limits liability that cannot be excluded under applicable law.

12. Indemnity

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Pontal Awards and Pine Hill International, and their respective officers, employees, and representatives, from any claims, damages, losses, or expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising from your breach of these Terms or your submission of materials that infringe third-party rights.

13. Changes to the Awards and These Terms

We reserve the right to modify, suspend, or discontinue the Awards, in whole or in part, at any time, and to amend these Terms at our discretion. Any changes will be posted on this page with a revised "Last updated" date, and continued use of the Site following such changes constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.

14. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Portugal, without regard to its conflict of law principles. Any dispute arising out of or in connection with these Terms shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Portugal, without prejudice to any mandatory consumer protection rules that may apply in your favour.

15. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.

16. Privacy

Your use of the Site is also governed by our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy, which form an integral part of these Terms.