SDCCI has made official blog post asking people not to cover the artwork on badges, so we decided to review the official terms and conditions to see what this means for our removable badge inserts. Here are the relevant sections from the SDCCI terms and conditions.
"Badge Markup Policy
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Small decorations on badges and/or lanyards that do not impede visual credential checks by security are allowed.
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Please ensure these decorations do not cover the badge in a way that prevents security from visually inspecting your credential. Security should be able to quickly identify the badge as the current year’s credential and determine the days you are registered for.
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If your decorations prevent this visual inspection, you will be asked to remove them from your badge before you proceed.
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If the decorations are not removable, you will be escorted to Badge Solutions in the Sails Pavilion or one of the RFID Help desks (located in lobbies A,D,G) to receive a reprint of your badge. Note there is a cost for a reprint. This could potentially cause you to lose your spot in a line, so it’s best to avoid the situation."
Based on a close review of these terms, we believe that our removable badge inserts are consistent with the SDCCI badge policy.
Our badge inserts are designed to leave all important credentials visible. They are laminated so the image sits directly over the advertisement on your badge—and only the advertisement on your badge—leaving all other information clearly visible. They also do not interfere with the RFID chip in your badge.
Our badge inserts are easily removable and do not involve any permanent alteration to badges. Therefore, we do not believe there is any risk of inserts causing badges to be taken away, or creating the need for replacement badge.
In our experience at WonderCon, a small number of people have been asked to remove their inserts while walking past security checkpoints. However, most people using badge inserts (including ourselves) have gone through security check points without incident. We have never had an artist selling badge inserts told they couldn't sell them, and we have personally sold them to SDCC staff.
However, in light of the blog post section on "decorations," we now recommend that people remove inserts (or move them to the back of the badge) at all entry and security check points to avoid delays. We know that security is looking for the credentials on badges that our badge inserts do not cover, but removing inserts eliminates any potential for confusion about whether or not badges have been permanently altered. Simply put your insert back into position once you are inside the convention center, dealer hall, or panel room and continue to enjoy your badge insert.