DCG meetups, group-presented events, and official DEF CON events
An event announcement must clearly identify who is organizing it. A local group's connection to DEF CON does not make every event it runs an official DEF CON event.
Only DEF CON can authorize an official DEF CON event
No group, POC, partner, sponsor, DCGCC, or individual can independently create or announce an official DEF CON event. Only DEF CON can authorize an event to be presented as official DEF CON programming.
A group cannot grant that status to itself or to a partner. A Goon title, logo, speaker appearance, sponsorship, or directory listing does not by itself provide event authorization.
What is a DCG meetup?
A DCG meetup is a gathering organized by a local DEF CON Group: for example, a talk, workshop, challenge night, or social meeting. Identify the actual group hosting it and provide the practical attendance details.
An illustrative announcement is: “DCG [approved group identifier] monthly meetup: hardware show-and-tell.” Replace the placeholder with the group's confirmed identity. Do not imply that DEF CON itself is producing the gathering.
What is a DEF CON Group-presented event?
For a separately named event, make the presenting group explicit: “[Event name], presented by [approved group name].” This identifies the local organizer. It does not confer official DEF CON event status or imply that DEF CON operates, sponsors, or endorses the event.
This guidance explains attribution; it is not blanket permission for a particular event name, format, logo treatment, partnership, or commercial use. Ask the department about proposed uses that go beyond ordinary group activity or could imply broader authorization.
Keep partners and sponsors in their actual roles
Name the local organizer and describe each partner's actual involvement. A sponsor's involvement with a group activity does not establish sponsorship of DEF CON. A speaker's participation does not establish DEF CON endorsement.
If DEF CON has expressly authorized an event or collaboration, use only the confirmed wording and scope. Do not expand an approval for one activity into permission for other events.
Examples of misleading wording
Avoid “Official DEF CON [city] Conference,” “DEF CON Chapter Summit,” or “DEF CON-endorsed” when those claims have not been authorized. Changing a disclaimer at the bottom does not fix an event title or logo that gives the wrong impression.
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