1.1. CCL competitions are open to anyone able to submit an entry and receive a prize under the laws that apply to them.
1.2. CCL does not currently operate separate age divisions — all entrants in a competition are judged against the same rubric, unless a specific competition states otherwise.
1.3. Where an entrant is a minor, a parent or guardian must be aware of and responsible for the entry.
1.4. Judges, admins, and their immediate family may not enter a competition they are judging or administering.
1.5. CCL may verify eligibility at any time, including before a prize is paid.
2.1. A CCL account is free. Entering a specific competition requires payment of that competition's entry fee, shown on its details page.
2.2. An entry only counts once payment is confirmed and your registration record is created — starting checkout does not reserve your place.
2.3. Entry fees are non-refundable, except where CCL itself cancels a competition before judging begins.
2.4. Paying an entry fee does not guarantee a prize, a placing, or publication of your work.
3.1. Each competition defines its own accepted medium and category on its details page — drawing, writing, AI-built projects, and other formats as CCL adds them.
3.2. Unless a competition page states a fixed theme, size, or format, none is imposed beyond what's shown there.
4.1. Every entry must be the entrant's own original work.
4.2. AI-generated or AI-substantially-assisted work is not permitted, except in competitions where AI-built work is explicitly the point (for example, the AI Innovation competition) — in those, ordinary use of AI tools is expected and allowed.
4.3. Copying, tracing, or reproducing someone else's work or third-party intellectual property is prohibited.
4.4. You must hold all rights necessary to submit your entry.
4.5. CCL may ask for supporting evidence of originality; failure to provide it may result in disqualification.
5.1. Entries are submitted only through CCL's registration flow — either by linking an existing portfolio post or uploading new work.
5.2. Accepted image formats and any file-size limit are shown at the point of upload.
5.3. Submit a clear, complete representation of your work.
5.4. Do not include your name, signature, handle, or any identifying mark visible in your submitted work or its description — doing so defeats blind judging and may result in disqualification.
5.5. Late submissions after a competition's close date are not accepted.
6.1. Judging is blind: judges see only the submitted work through a restricted view that excludes your name, account, and any identifying detail.
6.2. Entries are scored against the published rubric for that competition; the weighting of each criterion is shown on the competition's details page.
6.3. Judging decisions are final.
6.4. Attempting to identify yourself to a judge, contact a judge, or otherwise influence scoring will result in disqualification.
7.1. Your entry and identity are not published without your consent.
7.2. Your portfolio is separate — anything you choose to publish there is public because you published it, independent of any competition entry.
8.1. The prize pool for each competition is published on its details page before entries open.
8.2. Where a competition offers a certificate, this is stated on its page.
8.3. Winners are contacted using the details on their CCL account.
8.4. You are responsible for any tax due on a prize under your own country's law.
The following result in disqualification without refund, and may result in account closure:
10.1. Where CCL disqualifies an entry, you'll be told which rule was breached.
10.2. You may request one written review of a disqualification, to ccl@piai.online, within 7 days. That decision is final.
10.3. Disqualification does not entitle you to a refund.
11.1. Our only email address for competition matters is ccl@piai.online, and our only website is ccl.piai.online.
11.2. We will never ask for your password or payment details outside the website.
12.1. CCL may update these Rules. The version in force for a competition is the one published when that competition opened, except where a legal correction is required.
12.2. Competition dates, prize structures, and criteria are set per competition and shown on its page.