Zencoder Legal

Specathon Terms & Conditions

Last Updated: January 12, 2026

These Terms and Conditions ("Terms") govern Your participation in the Specathon.com Challenge operated by For Good AI Inc. (dba Zencoder Inc.) ("Zencoder," "We," "Us," or "Our"). For clarity, the Sponsor of this Challenge is For Good AI Inc. (dba Zencoder Inc.), 500 W Hamilton Ave, 112550, Campbell, CA 95008, USA.

Relationship to the Terms of Service: These Terms are in addition to, and do not replace, Zencoder's Terms of Service, which govern Your use of the Zencoder platform. By participating in the Challenge, You confirm that You have accepted and are in compliance with the Terms of Service. By submitting an entry, You agree to be bound by these Terms. In the event of any conflict between these Terms and the Terms of Service, these Terms shall control solely with respect to the Challenge.

1. Definitions

  1. "You" and "Your" refer to the individual submitting an entry to the Challenge.
  2. "Challenge" means the Specathon.com promotional program described in these Terms.
  3. "Spec" or "Specification" means the specification document You submit as part of Your Submission.
  4. "Prize" means one (1) month of the Zencoder Core plan awarded to eligible winners.
  5. "Submission" means the complete set of materials You provide as an entry, including Your Spec, screenshot, and description.

2. Eligibility

  1. The Challenge is open to individuals who are at least eighteen (18) years of age or the age of majority in their jurisdiction of residence, whichever is older.
  2. Participants must have a valid Zencoder Account on the Free Plan at the time of Submission and at the time any Prize is awarded.
  3. Participants on the Core Plan or any higher-tier paid Zencoder Plan are not eligible to receive a Prize.
  4. Employees and contractors of Zencoder and its affiliates, and their respective immediate family members, are not eligible to participate.
  5. The Challenge is void where prohibited or restricted by law.
  6. The Challenge is not available to residents of, or persons located in, any region listed on Zencoder's Geographic Restrictions page, as updated from time to time.
  7. One Prize per person. Each participant (identified by email address) may win only once during the lifetime of the Challenge, regardless of the number of Submissions made.
  8. No purchase or payment is necessary to enter or win. A purchase will not improve Your chances of winning.

3. Challenge Period

  1. The Challenge begins on January 12, 2026, and continues until terminated by Zencoder in its sole discretion ("Challenge Period").
  2. Zencoder may suspend, modify, or terminate the Challenge at any time, with or without notice.

4. How to Enter

  1. To enter, You must: (i) Build a functional project using Zencoder agents or workflows; (ii) Create a Spec that guided the development of Your project; (iii) Capture a screenshot demonstrating the primary workflow of Your project (not merely a login screen or placeholder); (iv) Submit Your Spec, screenshot, and a brief description of the feature, repository/environment, and intended beneficiary to specathon@zencoder.ai with the subject line "Specathon.com Challenge Submission."
  2. Submissions must be received during the Challenge Period to be eligible.
  3. There is no limit on the number of Submissions per participant. However, each participant may win only once.
  4. Incomplete Submissions will not be considered. Zencoder may, but is not obligated to, follow up to request missing materials.

5. Submission Requirements

  1. All submitted materials must be Your original work or work You have the right to submit.
  2. Submissions must not contain any content that is unlawful, defamatory, obscene, infringing, or otherwise objectionable, or that violates Zencoder's Acceptable Use Policy.
  3. Submissions must not include any confidential or proprietary information of any third party without proper authorization.
  4. Specs may be submitted in any readable format (e.g., Markdown, PDF, Google Doc link, plain text).
  5. By submitting, You represent and warrant that Your Submission does not violate any applicable law or regulation and does not infringe any third-party intellectual property or privacy rights.

6. Selection Process

  1. Selection Cadence. Zencoder will review Submissions on a rolling basis and may select up to one (1) winning Submission per calendar week ("Weekly Winner").
  2. Selection Criteria. Submissions will be evaluated based on: (i) Level of detail of the Spec: clarity, completeness, and thoroughness of the specification document; and (ii) Complexity of the result produced: the sophistication, functionality, and quality of the working project built from the Spec.
  3. Zencoder Discretion. Selection is at Zencoder's sole discretion. Zencoder is not obligated to select a Weekly Winner in any given week, and the Prize may go unawarded.
  4. Announcement. Winners will be notified via the email address associated with their Zencoder Account.
  5. Odds of Winning. Odds of winning depend on the number and quality of eligible Submissions received during the applicable week.
  6. Winner Notification Failure. If a winner cannot be contacted within seven (7) days of notification, or if the Prize is returned as undeliverable, Zencoder may select an alternate winner or forfeit the Prize for that week.

7. Prize

  1. Each Weekly Winner will receive one (1) month of the Zencoder Core plan (approximate retail value: $49 USD) ("Prize").
  2. The Prize is available only to participants on the Free Plan. Participants on the Core Plan or any higher-tier paid plan are not eligible to receive a Prize.
  3. The Prize will be applied within fourteen (14) days of winner notification, provided the winner's account remains eligible.
  4. At the end of the one-month Prize period, the winner's account will automatically revert to the Free plan. The winner may choose to upgrade to Core or any other paid plan at their own expense at any time.
  5. The Prize is non-transferable, has no cash value, and cannot be exchanged for cash or other products or services.
  6. Winner is solely responsible for any taxes associated with receipt of the Prize.

8. License Grant and Publication Consent

  1. By submitting an entry, You grant Zencoder a perpetual, worldwide, royalty-free, non-exclusive license to use, reproduce, modify, publish, display, and distribute Your submitted Spec, screenshot, and description for promotional, educational, and marketing purposes, including but not limited to publication in the Zencoder Specs Library.
  2. You acknowledge and agree that Your Submission, including Your name or username, may be publicly featured on Zencoder's website, documentation, and marketing materials.
  3. You retain ownership of Your original work, subject to the license granted herein.
  4. If You do not wish Your Submission to be published, do not submit an entry.

9. Privacy

  1. Information collected in connection with this Challenge will be used in accordance with Zencoder's Privacy Policy.
  2. By entering, You consent to the collection and use of Your personal information as described in these Terms and the Privacy Policy.

10. Limitation of Liability

  1. TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, ZENCODER AND ITS AFFILIATES, OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AND AGENTS SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO YOUR PARTICIPATION IN THE OFFER OR RECEIPT OF ANY PRIZE.
  2. ZENCODER'S TOTAL LIABILITY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THE OFFER SHALL NOT EXCEED THE VALUE OF THE PRIZE ($49 USD).

11. Indemnification

  1. You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Zencoder and its affiliates, officers, directors, employees, and agents from and against any claims, damages, losses, or expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out of or related to Your Submission, Your breach of these Terms, or Your violation of any third-party rights.

12. Disqualification

  1. Zencoder reserves the right to disqualify any participant who: (i) Violates these Terms; (ii) Attempts to tamper with or undermine the integrity of the Challenge; (iii) Submits multiple entries using different email addresses or accounts to circumvent the one-win limit; (iv) Acts in an unsportsmanlike or disruptive manner; or (v) Engages in any conduct that Zencoder deems inappropriate.

13. Dispute Resolution and Arbitration

  1. Binding Arbitration. Any dispute, claim, or controversy arising out of or relating to these Terms or the Challenge, including the determination of the scope or applicability of this agreement to arbitrate, shall be resolved by binding arbitration administered by JAMS in accordance with its Streamlined Arbitration Rules and Procedures. The arbitration shall be conducted by a single arbitrator in San Francisco, California. Judgment on the arbitration award may be entered in any court having jurisdiction.
  2. Class Action Waiver. YOU AND ZENCODER AGREE THAT EACH MAY BRING CLAIMS AGAINST THE OTHER ONLY IN YOUR OR ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY AND NOT AS A PLAINTIFF OR CLASS MEMBER IN ANY PURPORTED CLASS OR REPRESENTATIVE PROCEEDING.
  3. Exceptions. Notwithstanding the foregoing, either party may seek injunctive or other equitable relief in any court of competent jurisdiction to prevent the actual or threatened infringement, misappropriation, or violation of intellectual property rights.
  4. Opt-Out. You may opt out of this arbitration agreement by sending written notice to support@zencoder.ai within thirty (30) days of Your first Submission to the Challenge. Your notice must include Your name, email address, and a clear statement that You wish to opt out of arbitration.

14. General Provisions

  1. Governing Law. These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to its conflict of laws principles.
  2. Severability. If any provision of these Terms is held invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.
  3. Entire Agreement. These Terms constitute the entire agreement between You and Zencoder regarding the Challenge and supersede any prior agreements or understandings.
  4. Modifications. Zencoder reserves the right to modify these Terms at any time. Changes will be effective upon posting to the Specathon.com Challenge Terms page. Continued participation after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the modified Terms.
  5. Waiver. Zencoder's failure to enforce any provision of these Terms shall not constitute a waiver of that provision.
  6. Contact. For questions about the Challenge, contact Us at specathon@zencoder.ai.
  7. Force Majeure. Zencoder is not responsible for any inability to conduct the Challenge or award Prizes due to circumstances beyond its reasonable control, including but not limited to acts of God, war, terrorism, pandemic, government action, or technical failures.