Speaker Rules

Duration: Each speaker will be given the choice of a 90 minute Workshop or a 45 minute Standard presentation slot.

Presentation Content & Copyright: The content of every workshop or presentation must be in compliance with copyright law. Speakers must inform Macstock organizers beforehand of any third-party material (media) that will be used in their presentations including, but not limited to, music, images, or textual content. The speaker is responsible for seeking written permission(s) to copyrighted material(s) where applicable. If written permission is not granted, the speaker must seek out alternative media for their presentation. Macstock cannot assist with this process, provide legal advice, or act as a consultant on individual cases.

Speaker waiver: All Macstock speakers and other stage presenters must complete the Speaker Form, giving Macstock the right to edit and distribute audio and/or video of their presentation with proper attribution given to the speaker within the introduction, titles, or credits of the audio and/or video recording.

Speakers MAY:

  • Speakers may record their own audio and/or video of their presentation(s) and use those recordings in any way the speaker sees fit. Macstock does not assume copyright (ownership) of materials presented by its speakers.
  • Speakers may set aside a portion of their allocated presentation time to promote their own products (e.g. apps), podcasts they host or co-host, books they’ve written, or businesses they personally own. If there are questions about what’s appropriate, please ask!
  • Speakers may seek sponsorship for their presentation. Speaker obtained sponsorships are intended to help defray the cost of travel and other expenses associated with presenting in-person at Macstock. Macstock asks that all sponsors wishing to be promoted on official Macstock channels purchase a “Speaker Sponsorship”. Proceeds of Speaker Sponsorships will be shared with the presenter. Whether obtained by the Speaker or sponsoring via a Speaker Sponsorship, ALL sponsors must be approved by Macstock prior to Macstock Weekend (July 11-13, 2025).  Please consult with Macstock about ALL potential sponsors prior to making final arrangements.

Speakers May NOT:

If talks violate the guidelines below, we reserve the right to remove them from Macstock branded distribution outlets.

  • No blatant commercial agenda.
    • Unless specifically invited to do so, Speakers should not use the bulk of their presentation time to blatantly promote a company that employs them and/or the products the company produces. i.e. their talk should not be a commercial or advertisement.
    • Speakers may not, without prior permission of Macstock organizers, display banners, signage, or utilize other promotional materials – including promotional materials for any sponsors – during their presentation from stage at Macstock.
    • The only exception is where they have specifically been invited to give a product demonstration, or to describe the ideas in their book, and here the focus should still be on the technology and/or the ideas.
    • Speakers who wish to actively use their time to promote their products to attendees may purchase a Macstock Sponsorship.
  • No talks with an inflammatory political or religious agenda, or polarizing “us vs them” language. We seek to build consensus and provide outside-the-box thinking, not to revisit familiar, unresolvable disputes on these topics.
  • No discrimination on the basis of economic or social status, race, color, ethnic origin, national origin, creed, religion, political belief, sexual orientation, gender, marital status, age, or disability.
  • No incitement to violence or promotion of hate.
  • No spammers.
  • No jerks – as determined by Macstock organizers and volunteers.

Payment: Macstock Conference & Expo (“Macstock”) does not pay a fixed speaker fee for workshops or presentations.

However, Macstock speakers will receive one (1) complimentary full Weekend Pass registration for their own use, plus the availability of a discounted registration of $200 per guest for up to one (1) guest. The guest registration fee is to help cover the cost of food and other expenses Macstock incurs to host your guest.

Hotel, airfare and travel expenses are not covered by Macstock.

If a speaker has specific requirements to meet for a national or local speaking organization, please contact us to discuss those needs prior to submitting a presentation.

Sponsors: Sponsors have no editorial control or veto power over Macstock speakers.

Change log:
updated: February 9, 2025: Updated talk duration(s) to include Workshops, renamed and clarified “Presentations” section, added information on Speaker Sponsorships, clarified wording of Commercial Agenda section, and updated guest registration fee.
updated: April 6, 2024: Further reduced cost of discounted guest registration.
updated: March 24, 2024: Clarified what speakers may/may not promote from stage.
updated: February 10, 2024: Modified complimentary registration information to reflect new guest registration pricing for 2024.
updated: March 12, 2023: Added info on guest registration. Added notification for members of speaking organizations.
updated: February 22, 2023: Modified talk duration to single 45 min presentation.
reviewed & updated: March 8th, 2020 – added: Macstock’s inability to provide legal advice for copyright matters.
reviewed: January 1st, 2019