Code of Conduct

The Cosplay Photography Awards exists to celebrate the artistry of cosplay photographers from every corner of the world. Our community is global, diverse, and creative, and we are committed to keeping it safe, welcoming, and respectful for everyone who takes part. This Code of Conduct applies to all participants across every space connected to the Contest, including our website, submissions, Discord, and any official communication channels.

Our Commitment

We want every photographer, model, and community member to feel they belong here. We especially recognize that members of our community, including LGBTQ+ artists, too often face hostility elsewhere. Here, that is not tolerated. We protect our community proactively and without apology.

Zero Tolerance for Discrimination and Harassment

We have zero tolerance for harassment or discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, race and ethnicity, sex and gender, disability, religion or belief, age, body type or appearance, or any related characteristic. This includes, but is not limited to, homophobia, transphobia, racism, sexism, and ableism.

This applies to:

• Intentional misgendering and deadnaming. Refer to people by the name and pronouns they use. Deliberately doing otherwise is a form of harassment.
• Slurs, hate speech, and dog whistles, whether direct or disguised as "jokes."
• Targeted harassment, pile-ons, or encouraging others to harass someone.

Respect for Cosplayers and Their Art

Cosplay photography centers real people who have put time, craft, and vulnerability into their work. We hold the line firmly on the following:

• Cosplay is not consent. Admiration of a costume or performance never implies consent to sexual attention, contact, or commentary. This applies equally in digital spaces, comment sections, and direct messages as it does in person.
• No body shaming. Comments attacking a person's body, weight, or appearance are prohibited.
• No sexual harassment of photographers, models, or any community member.
• No non-consensual sexualization of submitted art or the people depicted in it.

No AI-Generated Abuse

The use of artificial intelligence to manipulate entries, photographs, or any person's likeness into deepfakes or non-consensual explicit material is strictly forbidden and will result in an immediate and permanent ban. This is among the most serious violations of this Code and may also be reported to the relevant authorities.

No Support for Military Aggression

We enforce a strict zero-tolerance policy against the promotion of violence. Participants who use their public platforms to support, glorify, or advocate for military aggression, war crimes, or terrorism will face immediate disqualification and a permanent ban.

Protection of Jury and Staff Privacy

We maintain a strict zero-tolerance policy against the harassment, intimidation, or manipulation of our volunteer judging panel. Participants are prohibited from conducting unwarranted background investigations, doxxing, or attempting to pressure judges regarding their evaluations or personal lives. Any attempt to compromise the privacy, safety, or impartiality of our jury will result in immediate disqualification and a permanent ban from the contest. This protection reinforces the blind-judging fairness described in our Fairness & Eligibility Policy.

Reporting and Enforcement

If you experience or witness behavior that violates this Code, please tell us. You can send a documented report (including links, screenshots, or context where possible) to topijklhnoebcdefyzcijklmfovwpqrsmngpabuvwxyrlvwpqranoymnopijpyrstuhvwpqrorklmnottuvwxodwxyzstugabuvwxyrrmnopijacdexpmnopijhrklmnoynohaabuvwxyrwnohamngrijkdefgddwxyzstusnoh@pqgfghibcdmijkdefgahijiwxyrsluv.vwxycrsoexyzabuvm. We treat reports confidentially and review each one carefully.

In keeping with our privacy commitments and the GDPR, we do not proactively monitor the private social media or personal background of our community members. We act on documented reports, not surveillance.

Depending on the severity and circumstances, enforcement may include a warning, removal of content, disqualification from the Contest, or a permanent ban. Serious violations, such as AI-generated abuse and threats to the safety of our jury, staff, or community, may result in an immediate permanent ban without prior warning.