Membership & Community Code of Conduct
-Updated April 2026-

1. Purpose

The Society for Game Cinematics (SGC) is committed to honoring its values of community, learning, and leadership by providing a friendly, safe, and welcoming environment for all. This commitment extends across every space where SGC operates: in-person events, virtual gatherings, and digital platforms including our Discord server and other official communications channels. 

Active membership and participation in any SGC activity require full adherence to this Code. However, this Code of Conduct also applies to all individuals who engage with SGC in any capacity, including but not limited to:

• Members

• Event attendees and guests

• Volunteers and staff

• Partners and sponsors

2.  Core Values & Non-Discrimination Commitment

SGC is committed to ensuring that every member, attendee, volunteer, and partner is treated with dignity and respect, free from discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. This commitment applies across all SGC platforms and activities. SGC upholds equal treatment regardless of:

• Race, color, ethnicity, or national origin

• Gender identity or expression

• Sexual orientation

• Pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical condition

• Marital or family status

• Disability or medical condition

• Age

• Religion or cultural background

• Military service or veteran status

• Genetic information

• Any other characteristic protected by applicable law

3.  Standards of Conduct

The following standards apply to all SGC members, attendees, volunteers, and partners across every SGC context, including in-person events, virtual events, and digital communications.

3.1  Professional Integrity

• Act with honesty, transparency, and the highest standard of professional integrity.

• Refrain from any act that would demean, degrade, or bring disrepute to SGC, its members, or its mission as a nonprofit organization.

• Honor and respect the cultural diversity of the global game cinematics community.

• Uphold the values of this Code in professional life, both within and outside SGC activities.

• Content, behavior, and communications must align with the mission and values of SGC. Conduct that contradicts or undermines the organization’s purpose may result in removal or disciplinary action.

3.2  Respectful Behavior

The following conduct is prohibited across all SGC platforms and contexts:

• Insulting, offending, bullying, or targeting any individual in any way.

• Using abusive, vulgar, or excessively profane language in any form or context.

• Making statements that discriminate based on color, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, gender, disability, or genetic information.

• Making statements that incite religious, ethnic, or racial hatred or discrimination, gender or sexual orientation discrimination, or advocate violence in any form. 

• Insulting or demeaning SGC administrators, moderators, volunteers, staff, or committee representatives.

• Making remarks, jokes, or innuendo that demean, ridicule, intimidate, or offend any individual or group.

• Knowingly making false accusations or defamatory statements against another member or individual.

• Discussions of political news or events are not appropriate within SGC platforms and should be avoided.

• Encouraging others to violate this Code of Conduct.

3.3  Privacy & Safety

The following conduct is prohibited across all SGC platforms and contexts:

• Sharing private or confidential information about members, partners, volunteers, staff, or beneficiaries without their explicit consent.

• Doxxing in any form, including posting or soliciting contact details or links to personal social media accounts.

• Intentionally spreading misinformation.

• Conduct that endangers the health, safety, or well-being of others, including physical threats, assault, or intimidation.

3.4  Financial Conduct & Promotions

The following conduct is prohibited across all SGC platforms and contexts without prior written approval from the SGC Board. 

• Posting business promotions, advertisements, or commercial offers of any kind.

• Sharing donation requests, crowdfunding links, or fundraising appeals not officially approved by SGC.

• Distributing sponsored links or links to solicitation-related sites.

Such postings may be removed directly by the SGC or requests for removal by SGC must be honored.

3.5  Constructive Communication

• Criticism and feedback must remain constructive, respectful, and solution-oriented.

• Encourage adherence to this Code and actively support a positive community environment.

4.  Prohibited Conduct

In addition to the standards above, the following conduct is strictly prohibited and may result in immediate removal, suspension, or loss of membership:

4.1  Discrimination

Treating any individual differently, or denying or granting a benefit, on the basis of any defining characteristic listed in Section 2. This includes denial of equal opportunity, promotions, or fair compensation.

4.2  Harassment

Any unwanted conduct that creates an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating, or offensive environment. Harassment may be written, verbal, physical, or conveyed through gestures and includes:

• Bullying or using strength or influence to intimidate another individual.

• Repeated offensive, intimidating, or threatening communications via any medium.

• Hate speech and statements that reinforce stereotypes.

• Displaying or circulating offensive images, videos, or materials in any form.

• Physical threats, assault, or conduct that endangers the health or safety of others.

4.3  Sexual Harassment

Harassment based on sex, gender, pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical condition includes:

• Unwanted sexual advances or solicitations.

• Offering employment, advancement, or other benefits in exchange for sexual favors, or denying fair treatment when not granted.

• Making sexual gestures or exposing sexual organs.

• Displaying sexually suggestive objects, pictures, cartoons, or materials.

• Using derogatory comments, slurs, or jokes of a sexual nature.

• Unwelcome physical contact, assault, or obstruction of movement.

• Wolf whistling, catcalling, or making offensive sexual noises.

4.4  Retaliation

Any adverse conduct taken against an individual for reporting an actual or perceived violation of this Code in good faith is strictly prohibited. SGC will treat all good-faith reports with seriousness, confidentiality, and fairness.

4.5  Additional Prohibited Conduct

• Failure to comply with established venue policies or applicable local laws.

• Possession, use, or distribution of illegal substances or weapons.

• Abuse of alcohol to a degree that disrupts others or creates a safety concern.

• Distributing malicious links, malware, or links to harmful or illegal content.

5.  Events Code of Conduct

By registering for or attending any SGC event (whether in-person or virtual) all participants acknowledge and agree to abide by this Code of Conduct in full. All SGC events must maintain a professional, positive, and inclusive environment focused on networking, learning, and the discussion of ideas relevant to the game cinematics profession.

5.1  Scope

This section applies to all SGC-affiliated events including conferences, panels, screenings, workshops, socials, and any other SGC-sanctioned gatherings, whether in-person or virtual.

5.2  Expected Behavior

• Conduct yourself professionally and courteously at all times.

• Engage constructively and inclusively in all sessions, discussions, and networking activities.

• Respect venue rules, local laws, and the rights of fellow attendees.

• Report any safety concerns or Code violations to an SGC officer or Committee Chair immediately.

5.3  Enforcement at Events

If a participant is found to be in violation of this Code at an SGC event, any SGC officer or Committee Representative may issue a warning or, at SGC’s sole discretion, immediately remove the participant from the event without refund. SGC Board Members reserve the right to refuse admittance to any individual who does not adhere to this Code.

6.  Photography, Video & Communications Policy

By attending or registering for SGC events, all participants consent to the following:

6.1  Photography & Video

Photos and videos may be taken during SGC events. Such materials may be used by SGC and select authorized partners for promotional, marketing, and archival purposes, always with the intent of celebrating and sharing the work of the SGC community. 

6.2  Communications Consent

As part of your participation, you may receive occasional updates, newsletters, or communications from SGC and a limited number of trusted partners. These communications will be kept limited and relevant to the game cinematics community. You may unsubscribe at any time.

7.  Discord & Digital Communications Policy

This section governs conduct specifically on SGC’s official Discord server and other official digital communication platforms (e.g., newsletters, mailing lists, and moderated online forums). All standards in Sections 3 and 4 apply equally in digital spaces. The following additional rules are specific to SGC’s digital platforms.

7.1  Content Standards

All content posted on SGC digital platforms must be relevant, respectful, and aligned with the SGC mission. The following are prohibited:

• Posting content contrary to any applicable law.

• Flooding: sending repetitive, duplicate, or near-identical messages or files in rapid succession.

• Flaming: engaging in personal attacks or unreasoned disputes with other members.

• Spamming: posting irrelevant, off-topic, or unsolicited messages.

• Using excessive uppercase letters (perceived as shouting).

• Radical, inflammatory, or deliberately divisive statements.

• Discussing political news or events in SGC spaces.

7.2  Usernames & Nicknames

• Usernames and nicknames may not contain abusive, vulgar, offensive, or discriminatory language, whether explicit or implied.

• Nicknames matching the real names on LinkedIn are vetted as part of the Discord verification process and may not be changed outside of the approved naming convention without moderator approval.

7.3  Privacy & Safety in Digital Spaces

• Do not share private or confidential information about any SGC member, volunteer, staff member, or partner without their explicit consent.

• Doxxing in any form is strictly prohibited and will result in immediate removal.

• Do not intentionally spread misinformation, engage in sustained ranting, over-posting, or attempt to dominate or hijack conversations.

7.4  Links, Promotions & Fundraising

• Distributing malicious links, links to solicitation-related or sponsored sites is prohibited.

• Business promotions, advertisements, fundraising campaigns, or commercial offers of any kind require prior written approval from SGC.

• Donation requests, crowdfunding links, or fundraising appeals not officially approved by SGC are prohibited.

7.5  Moderation & Enforcement on Discord

SGC moderators and administrators are authorized to remove content, issue warnings, or remove members from the Discord server for violations of this Code. Repeated or serious violations may be escalated to the SGC Board and may result in suspension or loss of membership.

Criticism of SGC, its officers, or its decisions is welcome when expressed constructively and respectfully. Personal attacks on moderators, staff, or volunteers will not be tolerated.

8.  Reporting a Violation

SGC is committed to addressing all reports of Code violations promptly and fairly. If you experience, witness, or become aware of conduct that violates this Code:

• Immediately inform any SGC officer or Committee Chair in person or by email at admin@societyforgamecinematics.org. 

• Provide as much detail as possible, including names, dates, platform, and any supporting information.

• All reports made in good faith will be treated with confidentiality to the greatest extent practicable.

SGC strictly prohibits retaliation against any individual who reports a concern in good faith. Any act of retaliation will itself be treated as a violation of this Code.

9.  Consequences of Violation

Violations of this Code of Conduct may result in actions at SGC’s sole discretion, including but not limited to:

• A formal written warning.

• Removal of content or posts from SGC digital platforms.

• Removal from a Discord server, channel, or event, without refund.

• Suspension of membership privileges.

• Permanent revocation of SGC membership.

• Referral to appropriate legal authorities where required by law.

The severity of the response will be commensurate with the nature and context of the violation. When a member violates this Code, it reflects on the Society and the profession as a whole.

10.  Amendments & Review

The SGC Board of Directors reserves the right to amend or update this Code of Conduct at any time, with or without prior notice. Members and participants are encouraged to review this document periodically to ensure ongoing compliance. The most current version of this Code will be available on the SGC website and distributed to all members upon adoption of any material amendments.