ecomagination CHALLENGE

Get ready to green! The content ends December 1, 2006

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official rules

  1. THIS COMPETITION IS OPEN TO LEGAL RESIDENTS OF THE CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES, AT LEAST 18 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER AT TIME OF ENTRY AND WHO ARE CURRENTLY ENROLLED AS A PART-TIME OR FULL-TIME STUDENT AT A NATIONALLY ACCREDITED UNITED STATES COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY. COLLECTIVE TEAMS ARE ALSO PERMITTED TO PARTICIPATE PROVIDED THAT THE INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS OF SUCH TEAM ATTEND THE SAME COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY AND MEET THE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS DESCRIBED IN THESE OFFICIAL RULES. PLEASE NOTE: IF SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION ON BEHALF OF A TEAM, EACH PARTICIPATING MEMBER OF SUCH TEAM MUST SIGN THE SUBMISSION RELEASE FORM IN THE APPLICATION ACCEPTING THESE OFFICIAL RULES. Employees (and their immediate families) of MTV Networks on Campus Inc ("MTVNOC"), MTV Networks, Viacom International Inc., CBS, General Electric Company, and each of the foregoing parties' respective affiliated companies, Sponsors, as defined below in Paragraph 2, and subsidiaries, and anyone who has won an MTVNOC Sweepstakes or Contest in the preceding twelve (12) month period, are not eligible to participate in this Competition. By participating in this Competition, entrants agree to be bound by these Official Rules and by the decisions of Sponsors, which are final in all matters relating to this Competition.
  2. Promotion Period: "The mtvU GE ecomagination Challenge" (the "Competition") commences at 11:59 a.m. (ET) on September 1, 2006 and ends at 11:59 p.m. (ET) on December 1, 2006 (the "Promotion Period"). This Competition is sponsored by MTVNOC and General Electric Company (collectively, the "Sponsors").
  3. To Enter: Log onto Ecocollegechallenge.com for details. Follow the instructions to complete and submit the online Competition application as directed (the "Application"). Once an initial Application has been submitted for a Project (defined below), that Project will be assigned a unique code which each participating team member must enter when logging on to the Competition entry page. Applications will not be reviewed until each participating member of a team has completed this entry process.

    Entries must be received by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on December 1, 2006. Each Application must contain solely the entrant's original ideas and language. Each Application must also include the full name, age and phone number (where he or she can be reached during regular business hours [Monday-Friday, 9:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. (ET)]) of the primary entrant as well as of each of the participating team members, if any. Completed Applications, submitted in accordance with these Official Rules shall be collectively referred to hereinafter as the "Eligible Entries." All physical materials submitted in connection with an entry become the property of Sponsors and will not be returned.

    Entrants are limited to submit one application per team or individual; additional entries will be discarded. Applications that are incomplete or contain information other than as requested will not be accepted. No responsibility is assumed for incorrect or inaccurate entry information whether caused by any of the equipment or programming associated with or utilized in this Competition or by any human error which may occur in the processing of entries into this Competition. MTVNOC is not responsible for lost, late, delayed, mutilated, illegible or misdirected entries or any problems or technical malfunctions of any telephone network or lines, computer on-line systems, servers or providers, computer equipment, software, failure of email or players on account of technical problems or traffic congestion on the Internet or at any web site or combination thereof, including injury or damage to participants or to any other person's computer related to or resulting from participating or downloading materials in this Competition. Sponsors reserve the right to cancel, terminate, modify, delay or suspend the Competition due to any reason, including reasons of a technical, creative or other nature. Entries that have been tampered with or altered are void. By participating in this Competition, entrants agree to comply with these Official Rules.
  4. Submission Requirements: Entries shall consist of the completed Application which describes an innovative project intended to "green," or make more environmentally friendly, the entrant's college or university campus (each a "Project"). Projects should present unique and original ideas that have a positive environmental impact, will cause change on a local and/or global level, have a clear timeline for implementation. Projects must be original to entrants. Entrants will be required to respond to essay questions and submit a budget for their Projects as well as provide the name, contact information, and signature of a designated faculty member that has signed on as an advisor to the Project . Entrants are strongly encouraged to submit additional materials (e.g. visual aids) in support a Project, including, without limitation, a three to five minute (maximum) video which describes the Project and introduces the contributing team members. If you choose to do so, please attach it where indicated on the online entry form in one of the following file formats: Windows Media (Windows Media 8 or 9 Codecs, 640x480,3-5Mbit Video,192kbps, Audio Sampled at 44.1 or 48kHz Stereo), Quicktime (DV at 720x480, H.264 at 640x480, 3-5Mbit Video, 192kbps Audio sampled at 44.1 or 48kHz Stereo) or MPEG2 (720x480,4-7Mbit Video,192kbps Stereo). All Filenames should be lowercase. Spaces should be removed and replaced with underscores. Please note: MTVNOC reserves the right to conduct phone interviews with any entrant in order to clarify any information on his or her Application and to request additional materials in support of a Project.

    Applications which contain materials that are not the original work of the entrant, illegible or incomplete will not be accepted. Furthermore, Applications which do not adhere to the following programming guidelines may not be accepted:

    • Applications and Project-related materials which contain, endorse or condone illegal drug use or alcohol abuse are not allowed. Narcotic addiction and alcohol abuse should only be depicted as self-destructive, anti-social behavior. Content should not promote, glamorize or show as socially acceptable, the use of illegal drugs or the abuse of legal drugs.
    • Applications and Project-related materials which contain explicit, graphic or excessive sexual activity are not allowed. When sexual themes are key to the concept or plot of a Project they must be depicted with consistent regard for commonly accepted standards of taste and propriety.
    • Language will be evaluated by MTVNOC based on context and societal acceptability.
    • Derogatory characterizations of any ethnic, racial, sexual or religious groups should be avoided.
    • Applications and Project-related materials which contain gratuitous violence are unacceptable. Violence, if depicted, must be essential to the development of a theme, plot or concept in a Project. Violence may not be used to stimulate the audience or to invite imitation, nor may it be shown or offered as an acceptable solution to problem or conflict. Exceptional care must be taken in instances where women and children are victims of, or are threatened by, acts of violence.
    Any Application in support of a Project which does not conform to these guidelines may be rejected. MTVNOC reserves the right to reject any Application that it deems, in its sole discretion, to violate any of the policies of MTVNOC's "Standards and Practices Guidelines," MTVNOC may modify or edit any materials related to a Project or request submitters to do so, so that such materials meet such guidelines.
  5. Judging Panel/Judging Criteria: The judging panel will be comprised of representatives from MTVNOC and General Electric (collectively the "Judges") who will judge all Eligible Entries received to determine which, most effectively presents an innovative project intended to "green" the entrant's college or university campus based on originality, feasibility of execution, environmental impact, and practical application of the Project.
  6. Grant Finalist Determination: Approximately ten (10) Finalists (each a "Finalist") will be selected from among all Eligible Entries by the Judges between December 1, 2006 and January 5, 2007 based on the criteria set forth in Paragraph 5. It is anticipated that Finalists will be announced and profiled at Ecocollegechallenge.com, and may or may not be profiled on-air or on mtvU on or around January 15, 2007.
  7. Grant Recipient Determination: One (1) grant recipient (the "Grant Recipient") will be selected from among the Finalists by the Judges in a subsequent round of judging on or around March 20, 2007, based in part on the judging criteria set forth above, and in part based on the results of an online viewer poll to be conducted on Ecocollegechallenge.com between January 15, 2007 and March 2, 2007 (the "Online Poll"). The Grant Recipient may be individuals or teams responsible for the submission of a single Application. The final determination of the Grant Recipient and the application of the judging criteria shall be in the sole and absolute discretion of the Judges. To the extent permitted by law, Sponsors disclaim any liability from, and entrants (whether or not awarded a Grant) agree to waive, any claims against Sponsors/Judges relating to the judging or awarding process. Sponsors, at their sole discretion, reserve the right to delay the announcement of the Grant Recipient Grant Recipient will be notified by telephone. MTVNOC will make up to three attempts to contact the Project's primary contact (as indicated on the winning Application) for the Grant Recipient. If the primary contact for any Grant Recipient is unreachable during the 72 hours in which he or she is contacted, MTVNOC will make up to three additional attempts over a 48 hour period, to contact the remaining members of a team. If after such period, the remaining team members are unreachable, an alternate Grant Recipient may be selected from all remaining Eligible Entries. In addition, Sponsors reserve the right to select an alternate Grant Recipient in the event that any member of a potentially winning team fails to comply with these Official Rules.
  8. Grants to be awarded (1): The Grant Recipient (which may include individuals or collective groups) will receive a total grant of up to $25,000.00 to cover the creation and development expenses of the Project described in the winning. Application (the "Grant"). The exact value of the Grant to be awarded shall be solely determined by Sponsors and is not guaranteed based on the budget submitted for a Project. The maximum dollar amount of the Grant to be awarded in this Competition is $25,000. Any remaining funds not awarded to the Grant Recipient shall be given to the Grant Recipient's college/university General Fund. A Project which has been fully developed/realized as a result of using a Grant shall be hereinafter referred to as a "Final Project."

    Concert Prize: In addition to the Grant, the Grant Recipient's college/university will receive an "mtvU" sponsored "ecomagination" concert and festival, currently contemplated to take place on Earth Day, April 22, 2007 (the "Event"). The Event will consist of a live performance by an artist to be determined in MTVNOC's sole discretion. The awarding and scheduling of the Event will be conditioned upon compliance of the Grant Recipient(s) college/university. The Event has no retail value. In the event that a scheduled artist fails to appear at the Event or fulfill its obligations, the "concert" portion of the Event will not be substituted.
  9. Disbursement of Grant: The Grant will be awarded directly to the Grant Recipient's college/university and disbursed in accordance with such institution's standard procedures related to grant awards. The receipt of a Grant by Grant Recipient is subject to the following conditions: (a) Grant Recipient, and an authorized representative of their respective college/university, must sign all required legal documents provided by Sponsors related to the participation in the Contest and for all materials submitted in connection with the Contest, (b) the money awarded must be applied to cover the creation expenses of the Project described in the winning Application, (c) Grant Recipient must agree to spend the Grant within the timeframe specified by MTVNOC or forfeit the unused portion of the Grant, (d) Grant Recipients must provide MTVN and college/university with Project's receipts by no later than 6 months after receiving a Grant, (e) Grant Funds shall not be used to pay salaries associated with the Project, unless expressly approved by MTVNOC, (f) Grant Recipients must immediately notify Sponsors of any change in their enrollment status which may occur during the Grant disbursement period; and (g) Sponsors reserve the right to request and review a Project's budget at any time until its completion. Grant Recipient further agree to be bound by the decisions of the Sponsors which are final with respect to all matters of this Competition and to be bound by the Grant disbursement procedures and policies designated by their college/university. In the event of any conflict between the Grant disbursement procedures and the policies designated by the Grant Recipient's college/university, the provisions of Grant disbursement procedures shall govern.

    Grant Recipient (including each of its team members, if applicable), as a condition of receiving the Grant, must sign (i) an affidavit of eligibility and liability release releasing the Sponsors and each of their respective corporate parents, subsidiaries, employees, affiliated entities, consultants, volunteers, advertising agencies, from any and all liability, claims, demands, and causes of action for personal injury and/or damage, theft, loss, or any other harm suffered in connection with this Competition or the use or acceptance of the Grant; (ii) except where prohibited by law, a promotional release granting the right to use his or her name and likeness for advertising and publicity purposes without additional compensation; and (iii) additional legal documentation furnished by Sponsors verifying Grant Recipient's acceptance of these Official Rules and the conditions of participation in this Competition, including, without limitation, obtaining the written permission of an authorized representative of the college/university in which Grant Recipient (s)is/are enrolled. Entry into this Competition constitutes Grant Recipient's agreement to sign such releases. Grant Recipient must also complete any additional legal documents provided by Sponsors and return them as instructed by MTVNOC within seven (7) days after receipt of such documents. Noncompliance by any participant may result in such participant's disqualification. Sponsors reserve the right in their sole discretion to disqualify any individual they find to: (aa) be tampering with the entry process or the administration of the Competition or (bb) be acting in violation of these Official Rules. ANY VIOLATION OF THESE OFFICIAL RULES BY A GRANT RECIPIENT (AT SPONSORS' SOLE DISCRETION) WILL RESULT IN SUCH GRANT RECIPIENT'S DISQUALIFICATION AS A GRANT RECIPIENT OF "MTVU'S ECOMAGINATION COLLEGE CHALLENGE" AND ALL RELATED PRIVILEGES OF GRANT RECIPIENT WILL BE IMMEDIATELY TERMINATED. All entrants into this Competition are solely responsible for consulting with qualified professionals and investigating, understanding and complying with any and all federal, state and local laws, codes, regulations and ordinances which may apply to entrants and the activities and/or business in which such entrants may engage. There may be tax consequences associated with the Grant awarded and with any income received by a Grant Recipient, which may include, without limitation, an obligation to report as income and to pay taxes on such funds/income to federal, state and/or local authorities. It is up to the Grant Recipient to determine the tax consequences of such funds/income, and to comply with all applicable laws in all respects, if applicable.
  10. (a) Past experience has confirmed that contests and other competitions generate substantially similar submissions or entries which closely resemble concepts and ideas that have been independently developed by MTVNOC before or after the Competition. Accordingly, entrants may subsequently see an MTVNOC presentation which seemingly incorporates an idea or concept or includes materials similar to that contained in their Applications. Any similarity is purely coincidental and unavoidable in light of the volume of ideas which MTVNOC routinely considers in the course of its program development. Because of this possibility, entrants hereby agree to submit their Applications under the following terms and conditions: (i) that MTVNOC may use any ideas, concepts, material, or expression in whole or in part, contained in an Application, for any purpose whatsoever, without any compensation (except as provided herein with respect to the Grant Recipient); (ii) that all physical materials submitted become the property of MTVNOC and will not be returned; (iii) entrants have obtained all rights, permissions and licenses necessary to use the materials submitted in connection with an Application for any purpose; (iv) that no Application, or any part thereof, infringes any trademark or copyright or otherwise violates anyone's right of privacy or publicity; (v) by submitting an Application, entrants consent to MTVNOC exhibiting all materials contained therein, including, without limitation, the Final Project in all media; (vi) Entrants indemnify and hold harmless MTVNOC, Viacom International Inc., CBS, and General Electric, and their respective affiliates, from any claims, suits, losses damages and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) that arise from any breach of the foregoing conditions. All entrants agree to the foregoing and in addition agree to obtain, upon request of MTVNOC, any documentation and releases necessary to prove (y) their unrestricted ownership in all materials contained in their Applications and in their Final Projects (if chosen as a Grant Recipient) and (z) MTVNOC's right to exhibit, broadcast, copy, reproduce, encode, compress, encrypt, incorporate data into, edit, broadcast, rebroadcast, transmit, record, publicly perform, create derivative works of, and distribute and synchronize in timed relation to visual elements the foregoing materials without limitation for any purpose), without compensation to entrants. Entrants further agree, if chosen as Grant Recipient, to grant to MTVNOC the right to exhibit, broadcast, copy, reproduce, encode, compress, encrypt, incorporate data into, edit, broadcast, rebroadcast, transmit, record, publicly perform, create derivative works of, and distribute and synchronize in timed relation to visual elements the Final Project, without limitation for any purpose (the "License") and provided further that such License shall be on an exclusive basis for a period of one year commencing on the initial date of public exhibition of such Final Project by MTVNOC. Grant Recipients further agree to sign such documentation as is necessary to formalize this License.
  11. For the name of the Grant Recipient and/or a copy of these Official Rules, send a self-addressed stamped envelope to:

    The mtvU GE ecomagination Challenge
    770 Broadway, 10th Floor
    NY, NY 10003
    ATTN: mtvU Marketing
    Requests must be received by May 20, 2007. Please note on the front left hand corner of your outer envelope whether you are requesting "Rules" or the name of the "Grant Recipient." Vermont residents may omit return postage if requesting a set of Official Rules.
  12. This Competition is sponsored by MTV Networks on Campus Inc., a subsidiary of Viacom International Inc. 770 Broadway, New York, NY 10003 and General Electric Company, 3135 Easton Turnpike, Fairfield, CT 06828.