Invent The Future Contest

Invent The Future Contest - 2009 - Official Rules and Regulations

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Invent The Future Contest
Official Contest Rules

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UPDATED: October 16, 2009

CONTEST: The BC Hydro Invent the Future Contest (the “Contest”) is open to legal residents of the Province of British Columbia between the ages of 13 years to 24 years at the time of entry. See “How to Win” below for age categories for prizes. All entrants under the age of 19 years require parental or legal guardian consent in order to participate in the Contest (see “Note for Underage Participants” below). By entering this Contest the entrant represents on behalf of him/herself and, in the case of team entries, represents of behalf of each team member, that the entrant(s) have read and understood these Official Contest Rules. Entry into this Contest constitutes your acceptance of these Official Rules and Regulations and your consent to the posting of your video or essay submission and/or your first and last name on the Contest Website (as defined below).

The Contest opens September 8, 2009 at 12:00 noon Pacific time and ends November 8, 2009 at 12:00 noon Pacific time (the “Contest Closing Date and Time”).

HOW TO ENTER: Contestants may enter the Contest as an individual or in teams of up to two individuals, both of whom must be in the same age category (13-17 or 18-24). Team entries shall designate a Team Captain and the submission shall be entered by the Team Captain. To enter, Contestants have two options. Contestants may create and upload to YouTube a 30 to 60 second video, or in the alternative, Contestants may create and submit a 350-500 word essay. Both the essay and video must relate to an idea for a sustainable product or lifestyle change that will minimize energy consumption or impact and help make a change beyond simply turning off a light.

Contestants must access the website www.inventthefuture.ca (the Contest Website) and create an account (“Account”) by completing the online registration form in full. Contestants will then receive an email from BC Hydro with a confirmation link that needs to be clicked in order for the account to be activated and confirmed. Confirmed contestants will then need to “Enter” the contest by clicking one of the "Enter Now" links, completing the entry form in full, including the Contestants full name (individual or Team Captain), address, phone number and email address. Contestants must then upload a video to YouTube or submit an essay in response to the selected topic. If submitting a video, contestants must following the following two steps: 1. include “#ITF” in the tags field when uploading the video, 2. copy the embed code or URL for their video on the YouTube website, and paste it into their Account profile. If submitting an essay, simply copy and paste it into the text field in the Entry form. Attachments and appendices must be in JPG, GIF, PNG or PDF formats before uploading. Click the submit button to complete the submission process. IMPORTANT: ALL OF THE ABOVE STEPS MUST BE COMPLETED BY THE CONTEST CLOSING DATE AND TIME, BC HYDRO CANNOT GUARANTEE THE TIMING OF THE EMAIL REPLY TO BE SENT ONCE A CONTESTANT REGISTERS AND THEREFORE CONTESTANTS ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO INITIATE THEIR REGISTRATION AND SUBMISSION PROCESS EARLY.

Only one entry per submission format is allowed per team/individual (individuals may not be a member of more than one team). A team/individual can submit an entry in essay format and/or video format only once. Any attempt by any person to submit more than one entry, whether by use of multiple names or otherwise, will result in disqualification of that person. All Contest video and essay submissions are subject to approval by BC Hydro Communications Department (the “Contest Operator”) and must not contain any nudity, profanity or obscene subject matter nor use branded logos or trademarks, licensed music or licensed video content nor contain any anti-BC Hydro references. All videos and essays must be original work of the entrant(s) and not infringe the rights of any third party. Participants in the video category further agree and consent to their video being submitted for consideration in the "Outstanding Achievement in Promoting Energy Sustainability" at the GIFTS’ 2010 EyeLens Film, Video & Animation Festival. All video and essay submissions become the sole property of BC Hydro and will not be returned. By submitting entry in the Contest the Contestant agrees that BC Hydro shall have all intellectual property rights associated with the submission, including copyright and trademark rights and that, as a result, BC Hydro shall have all rights to use the submission for any purpose associated with the Contest, including publicizing and promoting the Contest.

NOTE FOR UNDERAGE PARTICIPANTS: any contestant who is under the age of nineteen (19) years on September 8, 2009 must submit a copy of the “Invent the Future Contest – Consent to Entry, Name Posting and Video/Essay Use” form (“Parent’s Consent Form”) signed by their parent or legal guardian, which form can be found and downloaded at www.inventthefuture.ca/consentform. Signed forms can be submitted via email to youthandeducation@bchydro.com or faxed to 604.623.3612 (Attn: Invent The Future Contest)

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS: Essay submissions shall be between 350 and 500 words. Appendices containing background information may be attached to and form part of the submission; however the Contest judges are not obligated to consider the material in the appendices when judging the submission. Video submissions shall be between 30 to 60 seconds in length.

HOW TO WIN: There are a total of eight (8) prizes available to be won, four for Video submissions and four for Essay submissions, as follows.

Video submissions:
2 Grand Prizes: $2,500.00 cash, one for EACH of the 13-17 and 18-24 age categories. Grand Prize winners (for video submissions only) in each of the two age categories will also receive the enrolment in a 2010 Gulf Islands Film and Television School (“GIFTS”) Weeklong Program, in either a program for youth (13-18) or adults (18+), as applicable, as selected by the winner from the GIFTS 2010 calendar (see www.giftsfilms.com for details). Each winner will be able to select the course and session of their choice (subject to availability) and in the event of a team winner, both members of such team will be entitled to be enrolled. GIFTS programs all take place at GIFTS’ live-in media training facility located on Galiano Island, BC. Approximate retail value of GIFTS weeklong program is $980.00. Winners will be responsible for arranging their own transportation to and from the Swartz Bay or Tsawwassen BC Ferry Terminals. Prize includes both Tuition and Room & Board. Information on all of the weeklong programs GIFTS’ offers is available online at www.GIFTSfilms.com. Grand Prize winners who (or whose parent/guardian, in the event of a minor winner) decline to accept the GIFTS portion of the Grand prize will forfeit such prize, which will not be awarded, and no substitute compensation will be awarded or made.

2 People’s Choice Award prizes: Flip Mino HD Camcorder with extra battery pack and wool pouch (approximate retail value $340.00), one for EACH of the 13-17 and 18-24 age categories.

Essay submissions:
2 Grand Prizes: $2,500.00 cash, one for EACH of the 13-17 and 18-24 age categories. Grand Prize winners (for essay submissions only) in each of the two age categories will also receive enrolment in the 2010 Gulf Islands Film and Television School (“GIFTS”) Weeklong Documentary Program (see www.giftsfilms.com for details). Each winner will be able to select the session of their choice (subject to availability) and in the event of a team winner, both members of such team will be entitled to be enrolled. GIFTS programs all take place at GIFTS’ live-in media training facility located on Galiano Island, BC. Approximate retail value of GIFTS weeklong program is $980.00. Winners will be responsible for arranging their own transportation to and from the Swartz Bay or Tsawwassen BC Ferry Terminals. Prize includes both Tuition and Room & Board. Information on the Documentary weeklong program offered by GIFTS’ is available online at www.GIFTSfilms.com. Grand Prize winners who (or whose parent/guardian, in the event of a minor winner) decline to accept the GIFTS portion of the Grand prize will forfeit such prize, which will not be awarded, and no substitute compensation will be awarded or made.

2 People’s Choice Award prizes: Flip Mino HD Camcorder with extra battery pack and wool pouch (approximate retail value $340.00), one for EACH of the 13-17 and 18-24 age categories.

Prizes must be accepted as awarded with no substitutions, except at the sole and absolute discretion of BC Hydro. Prizes are non-transferable. For Grand Prizes: In the case of an Individual entrant, the full prize shall be awarded to that individual. In the case of a team entry the prize shall be divided and distributed to each team member in equal shares.

For People’s Choice Award prizes: In the case of an individual entrant being declared the winner of the People’s Choice Award, the individual entrant will have the option of selecting either the Flip Mino HD Camcorder or the equivalent cash value. In the case of a team entry, the Flip Mino HD Camcorder will not be awarded and instead the cash value will be distributed in equal shares.

Team members shall be identified by the Team Captain. The Team Captain shall distribute declaration and release forms to each team member which must be completed by all team members (or a parent/legal guardian in the case of minors) and returned to BC Hydro before any part of the prize will be awarded.

WINNER SELECTION:

1. GRAND PRIZES: Initial review of entries will be conducted by a panel of BC Hydro marketing and advertising representatives who will select three video entries and three essay entries in each of the two age categories, for a total of twelve entries (each, a “Qualifying Entry”), based on the following criteria, to determine a score for each submission:

No. of “People’s Choice” votes: 25%

Concept Plan: 15%

Feasibility: 20%

Cost effectiveness: 10%

Originality: 20%

Quality (ie. writing style, video production): 10%

On or about February 28, 2010 a judging committee selected by BC Hydro in its sole and exclusive discretion will determine the winners of the Grand Prize for each of the 13-17 and 18-24 age categories. The judging of the submissions will be based upon the following criteria and such other factors as the judging committee may consider in their sole and absolute discretion, to determine a score for each submission:

Concept Plan: 20%

Feasibility: 30%

Cost effectiveness: 20%

Originality: 20%

Quality (ie. writing style, video production): 10%

The chances of winning depend upon the number and quality of submissions received, and the decisions of the judging panel. Qualifying Entries not selected as Grand Prize winners will not be publicly disclosed or entitles to any prize. In the event of a real or perceived conflict of interest in relation to any member(s) of the judging committee in connection with one or more submitted entries, as determined by BC Hydro acting in its sole discretion, an alternative judging committee member will be appointed in connection with such entry(ies).

2. PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD: Voting on Video and Essay submissions will be available at www.inventthefuture.ca from October 31, 2009 at 12:00 noon Pacific Time to November 15, 2009 at 12:00 noon Pacific Time All persons having registered at www.inventthefuture.ca are entitled to vote (subject to a limit of one vote per person per day) regardless of whether they have submitted an essay or video in the Contest. The video and essay which receive the most votes online for each of the 13-17 and 18-24 age categories by Contest voting close will be eligible to win the corresponding People’s Choice Award. In the event of a tie in either age category, a random draw will be held amongst those tied to determine the Selected Entrant for that category. The chances of winning depend upon the number and quality of submissions received, as well as the number and preference of votes cast.

NOTIFICATION: Selected Entrants (Team Captains in the case of teams) will be contacted by telephone no later than February 28, 2010 At least five attempts by telephone during the next five business days will be made to contact the winning team captain/individual entrant. If a Team Captain/individual entrant cannot be contacted by telephone on or before 12:00 noon Pacific Time on March 6, 2010 then BC Hydro has the right to disqualify that team and to select another entrant to receive the prize in its sole and absolute discretion.

Before being declared a winner, the selected entrant and/or all team members (or their parents/legal guardians in the case of minors) must sign BC Hydro's declaration and release form to: (a) accept the prize as awarded and confirm compliance with these rules; (b) release, waive and forever discharge all right, in contract or tort, to damages against BC Hydro or its affiliates for any loss or injury sustained as a result of accepting the prize; (c) consent to the use of his/her name, address, photograph or likeness for any publicity purpose connected with this Contest, without any further compensation, other than the prize offered; and (d) transfer all right of ownership, including copyright and trademark rights, in the video or essay submission to BC Hydro. The signed declaration and release form may be sent by mail, fax or scanned pdf in email and must be received by BC Hydro within 15 days of delivery thereof to the selected entrant, failing which that entrant will be disqualified and BC Hydro may, in its sole and exclusive discretion, select another entry from remaining eligible entries or, alternatively, may elect not to award that prize.

In the case of video entries:
a) before being declared a winner the selected entrant must submit a copy of the selected video to BC Hydro in a format acceptable to BC Hydro, with the selected entrant agreeing to transfer all rights of ownership in the video to BC Hydro, including copyright and other intellectual property rights; and
b) Before being declared a winner, the selected entrant must also secure, and provide to BC Hydro, signed consent forms (in the form provided by BC Hydro) from any and all identifiable individuals (or their parents/legal guardians in the case of minors) appearing in the selected submission. This consent form provides that all identifiable individuals appearing the selected submission consent to appearing in the submission and to the collection of their personal information by BC Hydro.

ADMINISTRATION: The Contest is administered and operated by the Contest Operator. The decisions of the Contest judges are final and binding in all matters as they relate to this Contest, including without limitation, eligibility and/or disqualification of entries.

ELIGIBILITY: The Contest is open to all legal residents of the province of British Columbia, Canada, 13 years to 24 years of age at the time of entry. By participating, entrants under age 19 signify that they have discussed this Contest with their parent/legal guardian who has agreed to the participation in this Contest by the underage entrant and has signed and submitted the Parent’s Consent Form. The Contest is not open to employees and representatives (or those with whom they are domiciled) of BC Hydro Communications Department (Contest Operator). The Contest is not open to individuals (or those with whom they are domiciled) who are members of the judging committee, which may include, but is not limited to, certain employees and representatives of Go Beyond organization, GIFTS Film School, and Hangar 18 Creative Group Inc.

GENERAL CONDITIONS: BC Hydro reserves the right to terminate or amend this Contest at any time without prior notice, if it considers that any factor may potentially interfere with its proper conduct as contemplated by these Official Contest Rules. This Contest is subject to all applicable federal, provincial and municipal laws. BC Hydro and its agents are not responsible for any problems or technical malfunction of any telephone network or lines, computer online systems, servers, access providers, computer equipment, software, failure of any email or entry to be received by BC Hydro on account of technical problems or traffic congestion on the Internet or at any website, or any combination thereof, including any injury or damage to an entrant's or any other person's computer, related to or resulting from downloading any materials in this promotion. BC Hydro reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to cancel or suspend this Contest should a virus, bug, or other cause beyond the reasonable control of BC Hydro or its agents corrupt the security or proper administration of the Contest. Any attempt to deliberately damage any website or to undermine the legitimate operation of this promotion is a violation of criminal and civil laws, and should such an attempt be made, BC Hydro reserves the right to seek remedies and damages to the fullest extent permitted by law, including criminal prosecution.

In the event of a dispute, online entries will be deemed to have been submitted by the authorized account holder of the email address submitted at the time of entry. "Authorized account holder" is defined as the natural person who is assigned to an email address by an internet access provider, online service provider, or other organization (e.g. business, educational institution, etc.) that is responsible for assigning email addresses for the domain associated with the submitted email address.

PRIVACY POLICY: By entering information on the Contest entry form, you consent to the use of such information to administer, implement and fulfill this Contest. The Contest Operator assumes no responsibility or liability whatsoever arising from or in any way related to this Contest or the acceptance or use of the prizes awarded or for tampering, theft, defects, viruses, human errors including gross negligence, deletions, technical or telephone problems, undeliverable messages, computer errors, lost, misdirected, late or incomplete entries or for any online difficulties that may result in damage or malfunction the computer or the failure of the Contest Operator to process any entry and otherwise award any prize.

BC Hydro collects and uses your personal information in furtherance of its mandate under the Hydro and Power Authority Act and to fulfill its conservation obligations under the Utilities Commission Act.

The personal information you provide on this website will only be used by BC Hydro, Hangar 18 Creative Group and the Gulf Islands Film and Television School for: