Terms of use

Who runs this website

Open Debate Community Interest Company operates this website and supports the Open University Debate Club, also known as OU Debate Club or OUDC.

In these terms, “we” and “us” mean Open Debate CIC.

We are registered in England and Wales.

• Company number: 16236970

• Registered office: Flat 1, 20 Handen Road, Lee, London, England, SE12 8NP

• Email: oudebateclub@gmail.com

The Open University and the Open University Students Association are separate organisations. These terms do not govern their services.

What these terms cover

These terms cover:

• this website

• use of our materials

• participation in events and community channels we manage

They do not govern independently run groups, private conversations or other organisations’ services. You can still report harmful conduct connected with our activities.

We show you the relevant terms before asking you to agree to them.

Browsing this website does not create a booking, purchase or paid membership. Joining an event or mailing list does not automatically give you voting rights or a formal role.

Buying tickets, merchandise or membership

Paid tickets, merchandise, memberships and digital resources need separate purchase terms.

Those terms must explain:

• who is selling the product or organising the activity

• the price and what you receive

• cancellation and refund rights

• delivery arrangements, where relevant

• how long a membership lasts and whether it renews

Specific terms agreed before a purchase take priority for that purchase. Your rights provided by law remain protected.

Registering for an event

Check the event information for its intended audience, eligibility requirements and age restrictions.

Our regular activities are mainly for adults. Under-18s may attend only where suitable arrangements have been agreed under our safeguarding policy. An open booking link does not replace those safeguards.

Give accurate information where we need it to manage your booking or check eligibility.

You may use an appropriate display name unless we need to check your identity. Keep your account details and private event links secure. Tell us if you suspect someone has accessed an account or event without permission.

Ask for help taking part

Email oudebateclub@gmail.com if you need:

• information in an accessible format

• a reasonable adjustment to help you participate

• another way to register or receive essential information

You do not need to disclose a diagnosis to start discussing your needs.

Use the website responsibly

Use our website and channels lawfully.

You must not:

• introduce harmful software or disrupt a service

• access accounts, systems or information without permission

• impersonate someone or falsely claim to speak for us

• send spam or run scams

• advertise or fundraise through our channels without permission

• bypass registration or admission controls

• misuse someone else’s private information or protected work

Take part respectfully

Challenge ideas respectfully. A controversial or unpopular view alone is not a reason to remove someone.

Follow reasonable host instructions about speaking time, chat, screen sharing and participation.

Do not threaten, harass, intimidate or personally abuse others. Discriminatory abuse and repeated unwanted contact are not acceptable.

Respect someone’s choice to observe, decline to speak, take a break or leave. Do not pressure anyone to share personal experiences or private information.

Report concerns privately to the host or by email. Do not post sensitive allegations in a public chat.

Respect confidential discussions

Ordinary practice debates use the Chatham House Rule.

This means you may use information discussed, but must not reveal:

• who took part

• the organisations participants belong to or represent

• who made a particular contribution

Do not share details that could identify someone indirectly.

Public guest events may have different arrangements. The event information and host explain which parts are public, recorded or confidential before you take part.

We will not turn a confidential discussion into a public recording that identifies participants without the necessary agreement.

These privacy rules do not prevent you from reporting harm, making a complaint, obtaining confidential professional advice or making a disclosure required or permitted by law. Share only the information needed for that purpose.

Recordings and photographs

Before we record

Before recording, photographing or livestreaming an event, we explain:

• what will be captured

• why we are recording

• who can access the recording

• where it may be published

• how long we will keep it

Our default for public guest events is to record the speaker and agreed presentation, keeping audience contributions out of the published recording.

Speakers agree separately to the permitted use of their contributions. We obtain separate agreement before including identifiable audience contributions or images.

Attending an event does not give us blanket permission to include you in recordings or publicity.

Taking part without appearing in a recording

We explain how you can participate without appearing in published material. We also explain any limits before a live broadcast.

Turning off your camera may still leave your name, voice or chat visible or audible.

Email us if you have a concern about a recording or want us to stop using material we control. We assess requests under our privacy policy and the law.

Copies already shared by others may be outside our control.

Making your own recording

Do not record, photograph, take screenshots, livestream or introduce transcription or AI meeting tools without the organiser’s permission and any necessary participant permissions.

Agreed accessibility arrangements may allow particular tools.

Permission to record does not automatically give permission to publish or share a recording.

Use our materials

Copyright protects original materials such as text, slides and recordings.

Our website materials belong to us or are used with permission. Materials belonging to other people remain subject to their owners’ rights.

You may view, download or print our own publicly available materials for personal study and non-commercial learning. Acknowledge the source and keep copyright notices.

Different terms may apply to paid or restricted materials. Follow any specific licence shown with a resource.

Ask permission before republishing, distributing, adapting or selling materials outside that permission.

Do not present our materials as your own or use our name or branding to suggest we support or approve something.

These terms do not restrict uses that copyright law permits without permission.

Materials you contribute

You keep ownership of materials you create.

Share only material you have the right to share. Get permission before including someone else’s protected work or private information.

We explain the intended use before inviting submissions. Any permission we request is limited to that purpose.

Promotion, sale, wider distribution or a materially different use requires separate permission. Recording a performance may also require permission under performers’ rights.

Private enquiries, complaints and safeguarding reports are not submissions for publication.

Luma, Zoom and other websites

We may use Luma for registration and event messages, Zoom for online events, and other providers named in the event or purchase information.

Their own terms, privacy notices, age restrictions and account requirements apply to their services.

Using an external provider does not remove our legal responsibilities. Contact the organiser promptly if an access problem prevents you from taking part.

We do not control external websites.

Some shopping links may earn us a commission when you buy something. We explain this near the relevant links. Purchases from an external seller are subject to that seller’s terms.

Information and service availability

We take reasonable care to keep website information accurate and current.

Check your event page and confirmation for the latest arrangements. We notify registered participants of significant changes.

Cancellations, remedies and refunds for paid events follow the agreed purchase terms and the law.

Our materials and discussions provide general information and learning opportunities. They do not replace professional advice about your individual circumstances.

Participants’ views do not necessarily represent us, the Club, The Open University or the Open University Students Association.

Maintenance, technical faults or security action may interrupt the website or free services. Where practical, we give notice of planned disruption and offer another route to essential information.

Moderation and restrictions

We may take action where there are reasonable grounds to believe:

• these rules have been breached

• unlawful activity is occurring

• systems are at risk

• action is needed to protect people

Action may include a warning, removing content, restricting a feature, pausing participation or removing access to a session or managed channel.

We take proportionate action. We consider what happened, its effects and any relevant accessibility needs.

Urgent protective action may happen before we can discuss the matter with you. Where safe and lawful, we explain the reason, scope and duration of a restriction and give you an opportunity to respond.

Ask us to review a decision

Email oudebateclub@gmail.com to request a review.

Where possible, someone who was not involved in the original decision reviews it. We explain the outcome and any continuing restrictions.

Necessary protective action may continue during a review.

Removing access does not automatically remove your right to a refund or another remedy under an agreed contract or the law.

Your legal rights

Nothing in these terms excludes or limits our liability for:

• death or personal injury caused by negligence

• fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation

• any responsibility that cannot lawfully be excluded or limited

Your statutory rights — rights provided by law — remain protected. These include applicable consumer rights relating to goods, services and digital content.

You do not give up claims arising from our failure to meet a legal duty.

Privacy, cookies and safeguarding

Read our:

• Privacy policy

• Cookie policy

• Safeguarding policy

• Legal information

Agreeing to these terms does not give blanket consent to marketing, optional cookies, recording or publicity.

Contact us or make a complaint

Email oudebateclub@gmail.com.

Tell us:

• which page, event or channel your concern relates to

• what happened

• what you would like us to do

• how we can safely reply to you

We acknowledge concerns, explain the next steps and keep you informed if a response needs more time.

A person whose conduct is the subject of a complaint must not decide its outcome.

You may ask for a review of our response. Where possible, someone who was not involved reviews it.

We do not tolerate threats or unfair treatment of someone for raising a concern honestly. You remain free to contact relevant authorities or seek a legal remedy.

For an urgent concern during an event, tell the host. For safeguarding concerns, follow our safeguarding policy.

Our email address is not an emergency service. If someone is in immediate danger, contact emergency services where they are.

Changes to these terms

We update the date and version when these terms change.

Changes to website-use rules apply to future use from publication. We take reasonable steps to tell registered participants about significant changes before they take effect, unless urgent safety or legal action is needed.

Updating this page does not automatically change an existing booking, purchase or paid membership. Those agreements keep their original terms unless a lawful and fair agreed process allows a change.

Which law applies

These terms are governed by the law of England and Wales.

If you are a consumer, you keep any legal protections that cannot be removed by these terms. You also keep your right to use the courts available to you under applicable law, including your local courts where that right applies.