Top
Online Exhibition - General Sales Conditions

[Manufacturers] General Sales Conditions
(February 23rd, 2026)

Shared onLogo FacebookLogo TwitterLogo PinterestLogo Linkedin
[Manufacturers] General Sales Conditions <br>(February 23rd, 2026)

The present version of the General Terms and Conditions of Sale, updated in February 2026.

VirtualExpo operates various marketplaces allowing listed manufacturers to receive sales requests from potential buyers interested in the products present on the different marketplaces.

The present General Terms and Conditions of Sale (hereinafter “GTC”) govern the relationship between VirtualExpo and the manufacturers under the terms set out below.

Table of Contents

Article 1. DEFINITIONS

SUBSCRIPTION: subscription of services including:

POTENTIAL BUYER: refers to any person, professional or consumer, who accesses and browses the MARKETPLACE.

SELLER ACCOUNT: refers to an interface made available to MANUFACTURERS to manage their CONTENT, sales network and invoices, as well as view their reporting.

CONTENT: refers to any content (text, photographs, videos, etc.) relating to a MANUFACTURER or their PRODUCTS online on the MARKETPLACE, including, where applicable, brochures or technical data sheets for the PRODUCTS and information or trends relating to the business field or to a MANUFACTURER’s project.

CONTRACT: this is established between VirtualExpo and the MANUFACTURER by the present General Terms and Conditions of Sale (GTC), as well as any document expressly accepted in writing by VirtualExpo and the MANUFACTURER, such as specific conditions, a commercial offer or an order.

REQUEST: refers to requests for information (quotes, price & options, documentation, questions) made by POTENTIAL BUYERS and sent by email to the MANUFACTURER or to members of the MANUFACTURER’s sales network.

MANUFACTURER: refers to any professional who manufactures and/or commercializes PRODUCTS under their own brand.

SUBSCRIBING MANUFACTURER: refers to any MANUFACTURER who has signed up for a SUBSCRIPTION in accordance with the present GTC.

MARKETPLACE: refers to any website published and operated by VirtualExpo with the following domain names: directindustry, archiexpo, medicalexpo, nauticexpo, aeroexpo.online or agriexpo.online.

PRODUCT: refers to any product (and where applicable, any service) offered by a MANUFACTURER and listed on the MARKETPLACE.

PROSPECT: refers to any POTENTIAL BUYER who has identified themselves on one of the MARKETPLACES (Last name, First name, email address…).

ADDITIONAL SERVICES: refers to all paid services enabling the optimization of the performance of the STAND OFFER.

VirtualExpo: refers to the company VirtualExpo, a simplified joint stock company registered under number 432 439 701 with the Marseilles Trade and Companies Register (RCS), with registered office at 17 avenue André Roussin 13016 MARSEILLES and whose legal representative is the VirtualExpo Group.

Article 2. APPLICATION OF THE GTC – CONCLUSION OF THE CONTRACT

Use of the MARKETPLACE’s features and services by the MANUFACTURER implies acceptance of the GTC. The acceptance of the GTC by one of the employees or associates of the MANUFACTURER (legal entity) is deemed to be made in the name and on behalf of said MANUFACTURER by a duly authorized person. The purpose of the present GTC is to establish the contractual provisions relating to the respective rights and obligations of VirtualExpo and the MANUFACTURERS concerning the services provided by VirtualExpo to the MANUFACTURERS.

The GTC, as well as any document expressly accepted in writing by VirtualExpo and a MANUFACTURER such as specific conditions, a commercial offer or an order, constitute the CONTRACT between VirtualExpo and the MANUFACTURER.

The French version of the GTC is available through the URL https://resources.virtual-expo.com/online-exhibition/online-exhibition-general-sales-conditions/.

Article 3. MARKETPLACES AND SERVICES

The purpose of the MARKETPLACE(S) is to present MANUFACTURERS’ PRODUCTS and CONTENT to POTENTIAL BUYERS, to provide POTENTIAL BUYERS with information and to allow them to be put in contact with one or more MANUFACTURER(S).

The MARKETPLACES cover different sectors and themes and are written in different languages.

VirtualExpo may list the MANUFACTURER’s PRODUCTS and CONTENT on one or more MARKETPLACE(S), depending on the data provided by the MANUFACTURER to VirtualExpo or publicly available on the Internet. The choice of the MARKETPLACE(S) on which the MANUFACTURER’s PRODUCTS and CONTENT are listed is made by VirtualExpo and depends on the MANUFACTURER’s business field, which must correspond with the editorial scope of the MARKETPLACE in question, the nomenclature or possible classification of the PRODUCT and the language the CONTENT is translated into.

VirtualExpo may, at its discretion, translate the MANUFACTURER’s CONTENT into other languages to display said CONTENT and related PRODUCTS on the MARKETPLACE in different languages.

3.1. Services included in the SUBSCRIPTION – STAND OFFER:

The SUBSCRIPTION allows the MANUFACTURER to have a presentation page on the MARKETPLACE mentioned in the order.

This presentation page may include, as an indication, all or some of the following elements:

– a messaging service;

– the ability to upload attachments online (brochures, product pages, price documents, etc.);

– the ability to submit quotes online;

VirtualExpo will communicate to the SUBSCRIBING MANUFACTURER the REQUESTS addressed to them by POTENTIAL BUYERS, or the contact details of POTENTIAL BUYERS who have visited the SUBSCRIBING MANUFACTURER’s stand.

3.2 Additional services:

Subject to prior subscription to the STAND OFFER, the SUBSCRIBING MANUFACTURER may take out ADDITIONAL SERVICES allowing:

NB: the purchase of advertising space in e-magazines (or associated newsletters) and the sending of dedicated email marketing campaigns can also be subscribed to by non-subscribing MANUFACTURERS.

3.3. Conditions applicable to dedicated email marketing campaigns and advertising campaigns:

The MANUFACTURER accepts and acknowledges that these services may only be provided by VirtualExpo subject to the MANUFACTURER’s compliance with the following prerequisites and recommendations:

3.3.1. Specific conditions for dedicated email marketing campaigns – “Targeted e-mailing”

Elements to be provided:

– either the name of the desired system font;

– or for a specific font, the files allowing VirtualExpo to carry out the service. For optimal readability, the MANUFACTURER should favor system typography in the HTML code.

Any text or document provided for the creation of the campaign must be written in English or French. Any order that must be handled in a language other than French or English will require an additional week, as well as additional charges (translation of the texts and documents into the working language of the production team).

Date and deadlines: the exact sending date of the email marketing campaign must be specified. If, when providing the required elements, the MANUFACTURER does not specify an exact date for sending the “Targeted e-mailing” campaign, VirtualExpo will not be able to begin work (graphics, editorial, HTML, etc.). VirtualExpo will then by default propose a date based on the calendar and the targeted categories available at the time of sending.

The MANUFACTURER must provide all the material necessary for the creation of the campaign 21 working days before the “Targeted e-mailing” sending date. Each day of delay will result in an equivalent delay in the actual sending date of the email marketing campaign, subject to the schedule and the targeted categories available at the time of sending. Similarly, any delays by the MANUFACTURER in responding to mock-up validation requests or revision requests will delay the sending date of the email marketing campaign.

It is possible to change the initially scheduled sending date. However, the new date will be determined according to the overall email campaign sending schedule, the production team’s workload and the availability of targeted categories.

VirtualExpo is mindful of maintaining reasonable marketing pressure on the VirtualExpo database, which helps guarantee the performance of the MANUFACTURER’s campaign. Accordingly, VirtualExpo undertakes not to solicit the same POTENTIAL BUYER more than once a month in a given category.

3.3.2. Conditions specific to advertising campaigns

Elements to be provided:
The MANUFACTURER may supply their own graphics (for example, advertising intended for broadcast on the MARKETPLACE(S), newsletter(s) or e-magazine(s)) or their own video. However, all graphics or videos created by the MANUFACTURER are subject to validation by VirtualExpo’s internal graphics team. They may therefore be subject to a request for modification in order to comply with VirtualExpo’s graphic charter.

Alternatively, the VirtualExpo production team can carry out this service subject to an order.

The MANUFACTURER undertakes to provide the material necessary for the creation of the campaign 6 working days before the online display or publication date for MARKETPLACE banners, and 10 working days for e-magazine advertising, newsletter banners and videos, namely:

Brief, text and graphics elements:

Conditions specific to e-magazine advertising or a newsletter banner:

Conditions specific to marketplace banners:

If the original campaign date is changed, the new date will be determined according to the overall availability of the required advertising space.

Article 4. DURATION AND TERMINATION OF THE CONTRACT

4.1. Duration of the contract

The SUBSCRIPTION CONTRACT may be entered into, at the MANUFACTURER’s choice, for a period of:

4.2. Contract renewal terms

The SUBSCRIPTION CONTRACT will take effect on the SUBSCRIPTION start date and for the duration specified in the order.

This CONTRACT will be tacitly renewed at the end of the SUBSCRIPTION for an equivalent period, unless terminated under the conditions indicated below.

The MANUFACTURER may terminate their SUBSCRIPTION by email subject to a minimum of 30 days’ notice before the end of the SUBSCRIPTION. Termination will be effective at the end of the SUBSCRIPTION.

The ADDITIONAL SERVICES included in the SUBSCRIPTION CONTRACT follow the same tacit renewal system.

4.3. Termination of the contract

The parties may terminate the CONTRACT in the event of a breach by the other party of any of its obligations, after prior notification indicating the alleged breach has remained unsuccessful. In the meantime, VirtualExpo may suspend the services, in particular in the event of a report of manifestly unlawful CONTENT.

Termination shall be without prejudice to any damages that may be claimed by VirtualExpo from the MANUFACTURER in reparation for any loss suffered as a result.

VirtualExpo may refuse a new SUBSCRIPTION to any MANUFACTURER who has committed a breach of the GTC.

Termination of the CONTRACT, for any reason, whether early or at the end of the agreement, will result in the cessation of the rights granted under these GTC and access to the MANUFACTURER’s SELLER ACCOUNT will be terminated. The MANUFACTURER will be personally responsible for the recovery of their data if necessary.

4.4. Pricing and price increases

The prices applicable to a first SUBSCRIPTION or to the purchase of ADDITIONAL SERVICES outside of a SUBSCRIPTION will be the prices in effect at the date of the order.

Prices will increase each year by at least 2%. The prices applicable at renewal will be the prices in effect on the date of that renewal.

All orders are payable by bank transfer, credit card or Paypal according to the payment conditions specified in the order. If payment is not received, VirtualExpo will stop providing the services pertaining to the SUBSCRIPTION or ADDITIONAL SERVICES, reserves the right to no longer list the MANUFACTURER, CONTENT and PRODUCTS on the MARKETPLACE(S), and will if necessary take the steps required to recover the full amount of the corresponding invoice. This does not extend the duration of the SUBSCRIPTION by the duration of the suspension of services due to the MANUFACTURER’s fault.

4.5. Invoicing

Invoicing will be annual regardless of the duration of the contract. It will correspond to the pro-rata share of the total amount, divided by the duration of the contract:

4.6. Discovery Period

Exceptionally, a MANUFACTURER may benefit from a discovery period of a fixed duration. The associated CONTRACT will be subject to the same General Terms and Conditions of Sale as the SUBSCRIPTION, except for the duration and the tacit renewal system. The discovery period will take effect on the start date and for the duration specified in the order. All discovery period orders must be paid in advance by bank transfer, credit card or Paypal.

Article 5. CREATING A SELLER ACCOUNT

The MANUFACTURER must have a SELLER ACCOUNT created by VirtualExpo in order to manage their SUBSCRIPTION. The MANUFACTURER agrees to provide VirtualExpo with accurate, faithful and up-to-date data, and to communicate to VirtualExpo any necessary updates to the data provided at the time of registration. Once registered, the MANUFACTURER will receive a SELLER ACCOUNT creation confirmation email from VirtualExpo. The MANUFACTURER will have a username and password that are personal and confidential. They undertake to ensure the confidentiality of their username and password and will be liable for any fraudulent use of these credentials. Any MANUFACTURER who becomes aware of fraudulent use of their login details must inform VirtualExpo as soon as possible.

Article 6. THE MANUFACTURER’S OBLIGATIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

6.1. Legality of CONTENT and PRODUCTS

The MANUFACTURER carries out their professional activity under their own responsibility and guarantees that they satisfy all the applicable legal conditions allowing them to carry out their activity, whether applicable to the MANUFACTURER or to the PRODUCTS.

The MANUFACTURER is responsible for ensuring that the CONTENT and PRODUCTS listed on the MARKETPLACE(S) comply with the regulations in force, and in particular declares that they hold all the necessary rights over such CONTENT and PRODUCTS and that these do not infringe the rights of third parties.

For example, and in a non-exhaustive manner, the MANUFACTURER undertakes not to publish (or cause to be published) CONTENT defined as unlawful by law, misleading, unfair, or infringing the personality rights of third parties, such as their image or private life, or the intellectual property rights of third parties.

Failing this, in particular in the event of a report of manifestly unlawful content, VirtualExpo reserves the right to remove any PRODUCT or other CONTENT, or more generally the MANUFACTURER’s entire stand, from the MARKETPLACE(S).

Furthermore, the distinction between each PRODUCT must be significant and correspond to major differences in terms of technology, application, form or material. If a PRODUCT does not comply with this rule, VirtualExpo reserves the right to refuse to list it on the MARKETPLACE(S).

6.2. Relations with POTENTIAL BUYERS

The MANUFACTURER alone is responsible for their obligations in their relationship with POTENTIAL BUYERS with whom they have come into contact via the MARKETPLACE(S).

The MANUFACTURER undertakes to handle POTENTIAL BUYERS’ REQUESTS within a reasonable time and with diligence. Any complaint made by a POTENTIAL BUYER against a MANUFACTURER may result in the temporary deactivation of REQUESTS received by email.

The MANUFACTURER undertakes to comply with the provisions applicable to POTENTIAL BUYERS’ personal data, in accordance with Article 9 of the GTC.

The relationship between the MANUFACTURER and the POTENTIAL BUYER, in particular in the event of an offer or the sale of a PRODUCT, shall be exclusively subject to the conditions determined between them, without any liability on the part of VirtualExpo, who is not party to the relationship between the MANUFACTURER and the POTENTIAL BUYER.

The MANUFACTURER guarantees VirtualExpo against any action brought by a POTENTIAL BUYER or by any third party, in particular in respect of a PRODUCT or more generally a MANUFACTURER’s breach of the GTC. In the event of any proceedings in which VirtualExpo is implicated, the MANUFACTURER undertakes to intervene and to compensate VirtualExpo for any costs, convictions, damages or prejudice resulting from such action.

Article 7. VIRTUALEXPO’S OBLIGATIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

7.1. VirtualExpo’s Status

It should be noted that VirtualExpo is neither the owner nor the MANUFACTURER of the PRODUCTS and CONTENT. VirtualExpo’s sole role may, where applicable, be limited to formatting or translation.

VirtualExpo does not participate in the relationship or possible contract between the MANUFACTURER and the POTENTIAL BUYER, who perform their respective obligations under their own responsibility.

The entire relationship between the MANUFACTURER and the POTENTIAL BUYER, concerning the PRODUCTS, the sales contract, payment or possible complaints, takes place outside the MARKETPLACE.

As such, VirtualExpo shall not be liable for any breach by the POTENTIAL BUYER of their obligations to the MANUFACTURER or vice versa. VirtualExpo does not assume any intermediation regarding prices potentially invoiced by the MANUFACTURERS, any mission to verify creditworthiness, or even the actual existence of POTENTIAL BUYERS.

Hence the MANUFACTURER acknowledges that they make the information and contractual conditions concerning their service available and conclude the contract with the PROSPECT under their own responsibility, without VirtualExpo being able to bear any liability whatsoever in this respect. Similarly, the MANUFACTURER meets their tax and social obligations arising from the provision of services and, more generally, from their activity independently and under their own responsibility.

By listing MANUFACTURERS’ PRODUCTS and CONTENT with a view in particular to communicating the contact details or REQUESTS of a PROSPECT to them, VirtualExpo acts solely as a host within the meaning of Law No. 2004-575 of 21 June 2004 for trust in the digital economy and as an operator of an online platform in accordance with Law No. 2016-1321 for a Digital Republic of 7 October 2016.

All indications relating to the MANUFACTURER’s PRODUCTS or sales network (information sheets, characteristics, possible prices, etc.) are established by the MANUFACTURERS (publicly available on the Internet or provided by the MANUFACTURERS to VirtualExpo), without the intervention of VirtualExpo. VirtualExpo cannot therefore be held responsible for information provided by MANUFACTURERS or publicly available about their PRODUCTS, for which VirtualExpo does not have the status of publisher.

The MANUFACTURER is informed that the methods of listing PRODUCTS on the MARKETPLACE(S) are linked to various criteria such as, in particular, the MANUFACTURER’s geographical coverage or the relevance of the PRODUCT with regard to the level of similarity between the semantics of the search conducted by a POTENTIAL BUYER and the semantics of the chain defined by VirtualExpo (definition/model/brand).

A maximum of 3 PRODUCTS per brand will be listed for each search. Where relevance is equal, the PRODUCTS of SUBSCRIBING MANUFACTURERS will be highlighted.

For services falling within the scope of Law 93-122 of 29 January 1993 (known as the Sapin Law), if the CONTRACT is concluded between VirtualExpo and an intermediary appointed by a MANUFACTURER within the meaning of Article 20 of this Law, the intermediary undertakes to inform VirtualExpo of the identity of the MANUFACTURER on whose behalf they are acting. VirtualExpo may ask them to provide the mandate signed by the MANUFACTURER. The intermediary is solely responsible for their relationship with the MANUFACTURER, including for defining the applicable conditions and prices, excluding any liability on VirtualExpo’s part towards the advertiser.

7.2. Obligations and limitations of liability

VirtualExpo undertakes to take all necessary care and diligence when providing the services described above, in accordance with the practices of the profession and the state of the art, in particular guaranteeing permanent access to the MARKETPLACE(S), subject to any maintenance work necessary for the proper functioning of the MARKETPLACE(S) that VirtualExpo will endeavor to limit to the maximum. Additionally, VirtualExpo cannot be held responsible for service interruptions due to a malfunction of network operators and, more generally, of any system whose operation is not under its control, such as computer, telephone and Internet networks, nor for service interruptions due to cases of force majeure or the actions of a third party.

Despite its best efforts, VirtualExpo cannot guarantee a strictly identical display of CONTENT depending on the servers and devices used by POTENTIAL BUYERS. However, VirtualExpo undertakes to make its best efforts for optimal readability on the most widely used servers and devices. Any interruption of service shall not entitle the MANUFACTURER to any compensation of any nature whatsoever and for any reason whatsoever.

If VirtualExpo’s liability were to be engaged, it would be excluded for intangible losses such as loss of opportunity, loss of profit, loss of contracts or damage to reputation, and will in any event be strictly limited to the amount paid by the MANUFACTURER in consideration of the services provided.

Article 8. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

8.1. VirtualExpo’s Rights

The MARKETPLACES are the property of VirtualExpo and are protected by international copyright and intellectual property laws and treaties.

All rights relating to the MARKETPLACES (with the exception of PRODUCTS and CONTENT belonging to the MANUFACTURERS), and to the overall concept of VirtualExpo’s activity, their original and innovative nature, in particular:

belong to VirtualExpo and may not be reproduced, used or represented without express authorization, under penalty of legal proceedings.

Likewise, VirtualExpo expressly prohibits:

8.2. The MANUFACTURER’s Rights and Obligations

The MANUFACTURER declares that they hold all intellectual property rights over the data and other content listed on the MARKETPLACES. By accepting these GTC, the MANUFACTURER expressly declares that:

– whether with regard to the rights concerning the PRODUCTS themselves;

– but also with regard to the rights relating to the visuals, photographs, logos, drawings, etc. which contribute to the presentation of the product;

– on the one hand, to inform VirtualExpo without delay;

– and on the other hand, if VirtualExpo were to be directly approached by the third party regarding said claim, to indemnify VirtualExpo against any action, proceedings or judgment that may be pronounced on this account, including the related legal costs and lawyers’ fees.

For listing on the MARKETPLACE(S) and throughout the duration of the CONTRACT, the MANUFACTURER grants, as necessary, to VirtualExpo on a non-exclusive basis the rights necessary for the provision of services by the latter, in particular the rights of representation, reproduction and adaptation of the PRODUCTS and CONTENT belonging to the MANUFACTURER, in the event that such content is protected by intellectual property rights.

Finally, the MANUFACTURER expressly authorizes VirtualExpo to mention the existence of this partnership in its communications (in particular on its website, at trade shows, etc.).

Article 9. PERSONAL DATA

9.1. The MANUFACTURER’s Personal Data

The personal data concerning the MANUFACTURER communicated to VirtualExpo is processed in accordance with the VirtualExpo privacy policy available on the MARKETPLACES.

9.2. The PROSPECT’s Personal Data

VirtualExpo and the MANUFACTURER shall respectively act as independent data controllers responsible for separate and successive processing operations with regard to the personal data of PROSPECTS. For information, the collection and processing of PROSPECTS’ data by VirtualExpo is governed by the privacy policy available on the MARKETPLACES.

PROSPECTS’ data is communicated to the MANUFACTURER for the purpose of:

The MANUFACTURER acknowledges and accepts that they are the data controller for such personal data and undertakes in this respect:

9.3. Handling PROSPECTS in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)

9.3.1. PROSPECTS:

These PROSPECTS, who have either visited a MANUFACTURER’s stand or clicked on the Emag mailing, have not expressly consented to MANUFACTURERS and their distributors contacting them using their personal data. In order to comply with Articles 13, 14, 21 and 22 of the GDPR, the MANUFACTURER may only communicate with a PROSPECT after having sent them an email containing the following three elements:

9.3.2. QUALIFIED MARKETING PROSPECTS:

These PROSPECTS, having clicked:

have consented to MANUFACTURERS and their distributors contacting them using their personal data. The MANUFACTURER may communicate with a PROSPECT while ensuring that messages are specifically linked to the PROSPECT’s initial search.

Article 10. GENERAL PROVISIONS

10.1. Validity of the GTC

Any change in the existing legislation or regulations, or any decision of a competent court invalidating one or more clauses of the GTC shall not affect the validity of the GTC as a whole.

10.2. Modification of the GTC

The GTC may be modified and updated by VirtualExpo at any time, in particular to adapt to legislative or regulatory changes. In the event of refusal of the new GTC, either party may terminate the CONTRACT.

10.3. Waiver

The failure of either party at any time to require strict performance by the other party of any provision or condition of the GTC shall not be deemed a definitive waiver of that provision or condition.

10.4. Independence of the parties

VirtualExpo and the MANUFACTURER carry out their respective activities as independent professionals and have no power to act in the name and on behalf of the other party.

Article 11. APPLICABLE LAW AND DISPUTES

The present GTC, the CONTRACT and, in general, the relations between the MANUFACTURER and VirtualExpo are governed by French law.

Prior to any legal recourse, negotiation in a spirit of good faith shall be favored with a view to reaching an amicable agreement in the event of any dispute relating to the contract, including its validity.

If no amicable agreement is reached within one month of one of the parties submitting the matter in writing, each party shall regain its full freedom of action and its right to refer the matter to a court. Only the French courts within the jurisdiction of VirtualExpo’s registered office shall have jurisdiction.

It is expressly recalled that requests for amicable settlement do not suspend the time limits for instituting legal proceedings.

Related articles

See all articles
Image [Distributors] General Sales Conditions (July 1st, 2022)
Online Exhibition - General Sales Conditions

[Distributors] General Sales Conditions (July 1st, 2022)