Commercialism Guidelines
Although commerce is a driving force for our technologies, INDA’s conferences are not a platform for commercial (sales) presentations. Presentations that are technical and objective enhance the credibility of the presenter and his or her organization. Restricting commercialism ultimately benefits both the presenters and the INDA audience.
Excessive use of brand names, product names, logos, failure to substantiate performance claims, and failure to objectively discuss alternative methods, processes or equipment are indicators of a commercial sales presentation.
Please follow the guidelines below to avoid commercialism when preparing papers and presentations for INDA.
Presentation Guidelines
- Antitrust Concerns: All presentations must be in compliance with INDA’s Antitrust Policy.
- Capabilities: Discussions of corporate capabilities or experiences are prohibited unless they pertain to the specific presented data.
- Company Names: Excessive use of a company name will be prohibited. INDA recommends using your company name no more than three times in a single presentation. This excludes the use of a corporate name/logo on PowerPoint templates/backgrounds.
- Graphics that primarily promote a product or service will not be allowed. Graphics should relate specifically to the presentation.
- “Industry Practice” Statements: Reporting the extent of application of technologies, products or services should reflect the extent of application of all generically similar technologies, products or services in the field.
- Content: Ideally, speakers should present new information that promotes the advancement of the industry. Presenting previously published information should be information updated within the last year.
- PowerPoint Templates/Backgrounds: Use of corporate PowerPoint templates is allowed.
- Ranking: Although general comparisons of products and services without data are prohibited, specific generic comparisons that are supported by the reported data are allowed.
- Substantiating Data: If products or services are described, all reported capabilities, features or benefits must be substantiated by data or by an explanation as to why the data are unavailable.
- Trade Names: Excessive use of brand names, product names, trade names, or trademarks is forbidden. A general guideline is to use trade names and product names once in the beginning of the paper or presentation, and thereafter, to use generic descriptors, or neutral designations such as Type A, Type B, Type C, etc.
Interpretation and Enforcement
- INDA Staff and the Conference Chair are responsible to review and monitor the compliance of presentations to these guidelines.
- If the presentation submitted does not comply with INDA’s commercial guidelines, it will not be shared with the conference attendees or released as part of the conference proceedings. You will be notified if any issues need to be addressed, and will have an opportunity to correct the problem.
