Version 1.0 ｜ Effective 2026-08-28 ｜ Applies to all members and applicants
1. Status of these terms
These terms govern how membership of Odysec is obtained, the rights and obligations it carries, its fees, and how it ends. Applying for membership constitutes acceptance of these terms together with the Research Ethics Code, Scope and Boundaries and Privacy Policy.
Odysec is an independent research team, not an incorporated association. These terms are an agreement between the team and its members, not the articles of a legal entity. Our legal position is set out in full in Scope and Boundaries.
2. Eligibility
Anyone aged eighteen or above who endorses the team's purpose and agrees to abide by the documents listed above may apply. A security background is not a requirement — the three research lines need more than one kind of perspective.
3. How to join
- Complete the form on the membership page.
- We reply with the outcome by email within 1–3 business days.
- If approved, pay the admission fee and the current year's annual fee as set out in our reply. Membership begins on the date payment is completed.
We may decline an application without stating a reason, but will not discriminate on the basis of gender, ethnicity, belief, sexual orientation, disability or socio-economic status. We do not ask for any payment before an application is approved; anyone requesting payment before that point is not us.
4. Fees
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Admission fee | NT$2,000 | One-time, payable on joining; not refundable when membership ends |
| Annual fee | NT$5,000 | Calendar year; membership runs to 31 December |
First-year annual fee: members joining in the second half of the year (on or after 1 July) pay half the annual fee for that year.
Renewal: annual fees are due by 31 January each year. Membership lapses automatically if payment is still outstanding 30 days after a reminder.
Use of fees: fees are used only for research equipment, software licences, domains and servers, publication of research output, and running team activities. The team does not operate for profit and fees are never distributed.
5. Member rights
- Participation in research projects, internal seminars and technical exchange across the three research lines.
- Co-authorship of published output according to actual contribution (subject to review).
- Early access to preview versions of research reports.
- Participation in team events and training.
- Putting forward proposals on team matters.
6. Member obligations
- Abide by the Research Ethics Code and Scope and Boundaries.
- Pay fees when due.
- Do not speak publicly, accept engagements or enter into agreements in the team's name without authorisation.
- Keep confidential any non-public information learned through research, including undisclosed vulnerabilities and information about research subjects. This obligation survives the end of membership.
7. Leaving
A member may resign at any time by written or email notice, effective on receipt.
Refunds: the admission fee is not refundable. The annual fee is refunded pro rata for the unused months where: - membership ends because the team dissolves or ceases operating for an extended period; or - the team materially changes its research direction such that it no longer matches the purpose at the time of joining.
No fees are refunded on voluntary resignation or on expulsion for breach of these terms.
8. Expulsion
A member may be expelled by decision of the team where they:
- breach an absolute prohibition in the Research Ethics Code;
- act in the team's name without authorisation, damaging the team's reputation or a third party's interests;
- disclose information covered by the confidentiality obligation above; or
- use information or resources obtained through membership for purposes unrelated to research.
The member will be notified and given an opportunity to respond before expulsion, save that where the matter is serious and poses an immediate risk, membership may be suspended first and notice given afterwards.
9. Ownership of research output
Copyright in output a member produces within a team research project is allocated as agreed for that project. Absent such agreement, the team publishes the output under CC BY 4.0, crediting those who actually contributed.
Members remain free to use their own contributions, subject to the confidentiality obligation in clause 6 where undisclosed vulnerabilities or information about research subjects are involved.
10. Changes to these terms
Changes are announced on the website and notified to existing members. Material changes to fees or to members' rights and obligations take effect 30 days after announcement; a member who disagrees may resign before that date and claim a pro rata refund of the current year's annual fee under clause 7.
11. Contact
Membership matters: contact@odysec.org