Yücel Cultural Foundation Website Membership Agreement and Terms of Use
1. Parties and Subject Matter
This Website Membership Agreement and Terms of Use (“Agreement”) is entered into between Yücel Cultural Foundation (“Foundation”) and the user who visits and/or becomes a member of the website accessible at www.yucelkulturvakfi.org (“Website”) (“User/Member”). This Agreement sets out the terms and conditions governing the use of the Website, the membership rules, the Users’ obligations, and the basic principles regarding the processing of personal data.
2. Membership
2.1. Membership to the Website is free of charge. By accessing the Website, using the Website and/or carrying out any transaction through the Website (donation, application, registration, etc.), the User shall be deemed to have accepted this Agreement and any additional instructions, rules and restrictions published on the Website.
2.2. In order to become a member, the membership registration form must be completed fully and accurately. Memberships of users whose information contains errors, inconsistencies or raises suspicion may be suspended or terminated by the Foundation.
2.3. The Member acknowledges, represents and undertakes that all personal and other information provided during registration is accurate and that the Member shall indemnify the Foundation for any direct damages incurred due to any untrue statement or misrepresentation.
2.4. In order to become a member, providing a valid mobile phone number is mandatory. A verification code will be sent via SMS to the mobile phone number; membership is completed upon entry of this code.
3. Membership and Participation in Programs
3.1. Membership may be required in order to benefit from scholarships, cultural programs, national/international exchange programs and similar activities offered by the Foundation.
3.2. The User acknowledges that, upon termination of membership, the User may lose the right to benefit from the Foundation’s facilities and opportunities.
4. Image and Recording Activities
The Foundation may take photographs and video recordings within the scope of events. Publication of such recordings on public platforms shall be carried out in line with the explicit consent provided by the participant through the relevant application forms.
5. Donations and Refunds
5.1. Payments made to support the Foundation’s activities are deemed to be donations.
5.2. Donations made pursuant to the Turkish Civil Code and the applicable legislation on foundations are, as a rule, non-refundable.
5.3. However, in the event of a technical error, duplicate payment, or an evident transaction error attributable to the Foundation, a refund may be considered.
6. Termination of Membership
6.1. If a Member wishes to terminate membership, the Member must submit a written request to info@yucelkulturvakfi.org from the email address used during registration, stating the registered mobile phone number and indicating “I would like to terminate my membership.” Following completion of identity verification, the membership will be terminated within a reasonable period of time.
6.2. Upon termination of membership, all rights and benefits granted to the Member shall automatically cease. Upon termination, the Member may lose the right to benefit from the Foundation’s facilities and opportunities.
6.3. Users whose membership is terminated due to breach of this Agreement, unlawful use, or activities that endanger the Foundation’s security may not be permitted by the Foundation to create a new membership using the same contact details.
6.4. The Foundation may retain data deemed necessary within the scope of its legal obligations and legitimate interests for the periods prescribed under applicable legislation.
7. Membership Is Personal and Non-Transferable
The membership created by the Member through the Member’s independent will is personal. The Member may not assign, transfer, sell, lease or otherwise make the membership available to third parties.
8. Account Security
The User is obliged to keep confidential the account information and password used to access the Website. The User shall be responsible for all transactions that are carried out by the User or that may be carried out through the User’s account (applications, registrations, content sharing, etc.).
9. Rules of Use
The User may not use the Website in a manner that disturbs public order, violates public morality, harasses or annoys third parties, pursues unlawful purposes, or infringes third parties’ intellectual and industrial property rights. The User may not make the services available for use by third parties; may not subject them to commercial activities such as leasing or offering for sale. The User may not engage in actions that prevent or complicate other users’ use of the Website (spam, viruses, trojan horses, etc.).
10. Intellectual Property Rights
All content on the Website, including but not limited to text, images, logos, graphics, design, document layout, fonts, music, software tools, databases and other elements (“Content”), is protected under the Law on Intellectual and Artistic Works and other applicable legislation. The Content belongs to the Foundation or is used under license by the Foundation. Without the Foundation’s written consent, the Content may not be reproduced, published, modified, processed, communicated to the public or used for commercial purposes.
11. Images Used in Profiles
The User represents and undertakes that the photographs and images used in the User’s profile or applications belong to the User or that the User has the right to use them, and that such use does not infringe third parties’ personal rights or intellectual property rights. Any legal and criminal liability arising therefrom shall belong to the User.
12. Submission, Review and License of Website Content (More Protective)
12.1. Any content submitted by Users for publication on the Website—such as writings, texts, visuals, photographs, videos, audio recordings and similar materials (“User Content”)—may be published if deemed appropriate by the Foundation. The Foundation is free to decide whether to publish User Content and may, without stating any reason, refuse publication, remove published content or discontinue publication.
12.2. The User acknowledges, represents and undertakes that the User has obtained all necessary rights and permissions in relation to the User Content submitted; and that the User Content does not infringe third parties’ personal rights, copyrights or other intellectual property rights. The User shall be responsible for any claim, demand, complaint and damage arising in this context and agrees to indemnify the Foundation for any loss incurred without delay.
12.3. With respect to User Content submitted to the Website, the User grants the Foundation (and, where necessary for the Foundation’s projects/brands, relevant business partners) a worldwide, royalty-free, irrevocable license without limitation in time, place or medium, to use, reproduce, distribute, process, adapt, convert formats, archive, communicate to the public, and use the content for promotional/informational activities on the Website and the Foundation’s communication channels. This license shall remain valid for prior uses even if the User requests the removal of the User Content.
12.4. If the User requests removal of published content, the Foundation will evaluate the request and, within technical/operational possibilities, process it within a reasonable period. However, the content may not be fully deleted due to legal obligations, archive records, log records, legal defense rights and legitimate interests.
13. Cookies and Similar Technologies
13.1. Cookies and similar technologies may be used on the Website to improve user experience, ensure the proper functioning of services, maintain security, and analyze performance.
13.2. Cookies may show how and when, and by how many persons, the Website is visited, as well as page view and similar usage statistics.
13.3. Cookies may be used for the following purposes:
- Tracking member activities;
- Ensuring the secure continuation of a session without requiring re-entry of the password during a single session;
- Enabling the use of services and ensuring that Website functions operate properly.
14. Electronic Communications
14.1. By approving this Agreement, the User accepts that the Foundation may provide information via electronic communication channels such as email, SMS and similar means. The User has the right to change communication preferences at any time.
14.2. In order to change communication preferences or to unsubscribe from the communication list, the User may notify the Foundation by sending an email to info@yucelkulturvakfi.org.
14.3. The User acknowledges that, if the User disables communication channels, the User may not be informed about programs, scholarships, campaigns and similar opportunities offered by the Foundation, and therefore may not attribute any liability to the Foundation on such grounds.
14.4. The User irrevocably acknowledges that the Foundation shall not be liable for any lack of information arising from the User’s communication channels being disabled.
15. Processing of Personal Data and KVKK Privacy Notice
15.1. Data Controller: Pursuant to the Turkish Law No. 6698 on the Protection of Personal Data (“KVKK”), the data controller is Yücel Cultural Foundation.
15.2. Personal Data Processed: Within the scope of membership and Website use, the Foundation may process personal data such as name, surname, email address, phone number, IP address, device/session information, transaction records, application and participation information, and other information provided by the User.
15.3. Purposes of Processing: Personal data is processed for the purposes of (i) managing membership operations, (ii) managing application/registration/participation processes, (iii) managing donation processes, (iv) conducting communication activities, (v) ensuring Website security, (vi) developing and improving services, (vii) fulfilling obligations arising from legislation, and (viii) establishing, exercising and protecting rights in legal disputes.
15.4. Legal Basis: Personal data is processed based on the legal grounds set out in KVKK Article 5/2, including the establishment and performance of a contract, compliance with legal obligations, the establishment/exercise/protection of a right, and the legitimate interests of the Foundation. Where explicit consent is required by law, explicit consent is obtained.
15.5. Transfer of Personal Data: Personal data may be transferred, limited to the purposes above and to the extent permitted by applicable legislation, by taking necessary security measures, to suppliers/business partners from whom services are obtained (hosting, infrastructure, email/SMS services, technical support, etc.).
15.6. International Transfer (USA – AWS): The Website infrastructure is hosted on the Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud infrastructure. In this context, personal data may be stored on AWS servers located in the United States of America, as a technical service provider. The Foundation takes the necessary technical and administrative measures within the scope of KVKK Article 9 and ensures applicable security safeguards for international data transfers.
15.7. Retention Period: Personal data is retained for the periods prescribed under applicable legislation and/or for as long as required by the purpose of processing, and thereafter is deleted, destroyed or anonymized in accordance with legislation.
15.8. Rights under KVKK Article 11: The User has the rights to learn whether personal data is processed, request information if processed, learn whether it is used in accordance with its purpose, request correction if incomplete/incorrect, request deletion/destruction, request notification to third parties, and object where the legal conditions are met.
15.9. Application Method: Requests within the scope of KVKK may be submitted by emailing info@yucelkulturvakfi.org. The Foundation may request identity verification depending on the nature of the request.
16. Suspension of the System
The Foundation may temporarily suspend the system or partially or completely discontinue services due to maintenance works, technical requirements, security risks or force majeure. The Foundation shall not be liable for any damages arising therefrom unless caused by the Foundation’s wilful misconduct or gross negligence.
17. Limitation of Liability
The Foundation is obliged to take reasonable technical and administrative security measures. However, despite all security measures, the Foundation shall not be liable for damages arising from unlawful interventions by third parties unless caused by the Foundation’s wilful misconduct or gross negligence.
18. Evidence Agreement
The Parties agree that the Foundation’s electronic records, system logs, database records and other digital records shall constitute conclusive evidence within the meaning of Article 193 of the Turkish Code of Civil Procedure.
19. Force Majeure
Natural disasters, war, epidemics, terrorist acts, decisions of public authorities, internet infrastructure interruptions, power outages, cyber-attacks, supplier-related service interruptions and similar events beyond the control of the Parties and that cannot be prevented shall be deemed force majeure. In the event of force majeure, the Foundation’s obligations shall be suspended for the duration of the force majeure and the Foundation shall not be held liable.
20. Unilateral Suspension / Termination
The Foundation reserves the right to partially or completely suspend, discontinue and/or terminate, at any time, the services offered on the Website, the membership or access, due to security, technical requirements, legal obligations or operational reasons.
21. Protection of Reputation
The User may not make misleading, false or unfair statements targeting the Foundation or harming the Foundation’s corporate reputation. The User acknowledges that the User shall be personally responsible for the legal consequences arising from such actions.
22. Amendments to the Agreement
The Foundation reserves the right to amend this Agreement. The updated text shall enter into force on the date it is published on the Website. The User’s continued use of the Website after such amendment shall mean acceptance of the updated terms.
23. Governing Law and Jurisdiction
This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the Republic of Türkiye. Any disputes arising out of or in connection with this Agreement shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the İstanbul (European Side) Courts and Enforcement Offices.
24. Effective Date
By becoming a member of the Website and/or continuing to use the Website, the User shall be deemed to have accepted the provisions of this Agreement.
Effective Date: 24 February 2026
Last Updated: 24 February 2026
Version No.: 1.1
This Agreement was last updated on the date stated above. The User is responsible for regularly reviewing the current version of the Agreement.
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