NO PURCHASE IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN.
The Third Seed Science Writing Contest (the "Contest") starts on July 1, 2008 at 12:01 AM Eastern Time ("ET") and ends on August 1, 2008 at 11:59 PM ET (the "Contest Period").
ELIGIBILITY: Contest is open to legal residents of the United States (excluding residents of Puerto Rico and U.S. territories and possessions), 18 years of age or older. Employees of Seed Media Group LLC ("Sponsor"), and its parent, subsidiaries, affiliates and advertising and promotion agencies, and members of their immediate families (spouse, parent, child, sibling and their respective spouses, regardless of where they reside) and persons living in the same households of such employees, whether or not related, are not eligible to enter or win. Void in Puerto Rico and U.S. territories and possessions and where prohibited by law. Contest is subject to all applicable federal, state and local laws.
HOW TO ENTER: During the Contest Period, there are two (2) ways to enter: 1) visit www.seedmagazine.com and follow the directions to complete the official entry. To enter, contestants must submit a 1,200-word essay on the following topic: For science to achieve its transformative potential across society, it is essential that we understand both what catalyzes science and what inhibits it. Last year we sought ideas to catalyze science literacy. This year, we ask: What is the most significant force acting against science in society today? How can it be overcome? ("Topic"). Online entries must be received by August 1, 2008 at 11:59 PM ET to be eligible for the Contest. 2) To submit your entry via email, send the essay along with your complete name, address, phone number (including area code) and date of birth, to be received by August 1, 2008 at 11:59 PM ET for entry into the Contest, to: writingcontest@seedmediagroup.com. Limit one (1) entry per person/email address/household for the entire Contest Period, regardless of method of entry. Entries generated by script, macro or other automated means are void. An entry may only be submitted by an individual. No group or team entries will be accepted. All entries become the sole property of the Sponsor and will not be returned.
Entry (i) must be entrant's own original work, (ii) may not have been previously published or submitted for publication, (iii) must be in keeping with Sponsor's image and (iv) may not be inappropriate or offensive, as determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion, nor can it defame or invade publicity rights or privacy of any person, living or deceased, or otherwise infringe upon any person's personal or property rights or any other third party rights. Sponsor reserves the right to disqualify any entry it deems to be offensive, inappropriate or is not in keeping with Sponsor's image, in its sole discretion.
JUDGING: All eligible entries received by Sponsor will be judged by a panel of independent qualified judges based equally on the following criteria: creativity of essay, relevance to the Topic, and quality of essay submission (grammar, clarity of thought) to determine the two (2) entries (the "winners"). In the event of a tie, an additional, "tie-breaking" judge will determine the winner(s) based on the criteria listed herein. Sponsor reserves the right to choose fewer than two (2) winners if, in its sole discretion, it does not receive a sufficient number of eligible and qualified entries. Judges' decisions are final and binding on all matters relating to this Contest.
WINNER NOTIFICATION: Potential winners will be notified by telephone, mail and/or email, and each will be required to execute an Affidavit of Eligibility, Liability and Publicity Release (unless prohibited by law), which must be returned within ten (10) days of date appearing on prize notification. Return of prize or prize notification as undeliverable, failure to execute and return requested documentation within ten (10) days of issuance, or noncompliance with these Official Rules by the any potential winner will result in disqualification and, at Sponsor's discretion, the prize may be awarded to a runner-up. If any potential winner is an eligible minor in his/her jurisdiction of residence, prize will be awarded in the name of the parent or legal guardian, and such parent or legal guardian will be required to fulfill all requirements imposed on winners set forth herein.
PRIZES: FIRST PRIZE (1): $2,500 and the opportunity to have the First Prize winning essay published in Seed magazine. SECOND PRIZE (1): $1,000 and the opportunity to have excerpts of the Second Prize winning essay published in Seed magazine. Total ARV of all prizes: $3,500. If sponsor is unable to provide the opportunity for any winning essay (or portion thereof) (as applicable) to be published in Seed magazine, no compensation or substitution will be provided, however, remainder of applicable prize package will be awarded. No substitution, transfer, or cash equivalent of a prize (or portion thereof) is permitted, except by Sponsor, which reserves the right to substitute a prize (or portion thereof) of comparable or greater value, at its sole discretion. Any and all federal, state and local taxes on a prize, and any other costs, fees, and expenses associated with the acceptance and use of a prize not explicitly stated herein as being awarded are the sole responsibility of the winners. Limit one (1) prize per person and per household.
OWNERSHIP/USE: Entrant agrees that Sponsor shall own any entry submitted that is selected as a winner of any prize (including all rights embodied therein) and that it and its designees may exploit, edit, modify, and distribute the entry and all elements of such entry in any and all media (including, but not limited to, in Seed magazine and on Seedmagazine.com) now known or not currently known, throughout the world in perpetuity without compensation, permission or notification to entrant or any third party.
GENERAL: By participating, each entrant agrees: (a) to abide by these rules and the decisions of Sponsor and judges, which shall be final and binding in all respects relating to this Contest; (b) to release, discharge and hold harmless the Sponsor, and its parent, affiliates, subsidiaries and advertising and promotion agencies, and the respective officers, directors, shareholders, employees, agents and representatives of the forgoing (collectively, "Released Parties") from any and all injuries, liability, losses and damages of any kind to persons, including death, or property resulting, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from entrant's participation in the Contest or any Contest-related activity, the acceptance, possession, use or misuse of any awarded prize (including any travel or activity related thereto) or Released Parties' use of any of the rights granted herein; and (c) to the use of his/her name, city and state of residence, essay and/or likeness for programming, advertising, publicity and promotional purposes in any and all media, now or hereafter known, worldwide and on the Internet, and in perpetuity by Sponsor and its designees, without compensation (unless prohibited by law) or additional consents from entrant or any third party and without prior notice, approval or inspection, and to execute specific consent to such use if asked to do so.
Released Parties are not responsible for late, lost, damaged, misdirected, incomplete, inaccurate, illegible, undeliverable, delayed, destroyed, postage-due or stolen entries or mail; or for any computer, network, mechanical, typographical, printing, human or other error or difficulty relating to or in connection with this Contest, including, without limitation, errors or difficulties which may occur in connection with the administration of the Contest, the processing or judging of entries, the announcement of the prizes or in any Contest-related materials. Released Parties are not responsible for entries that fail to enter into the Sponsor's processing system, or that are processed, reported, or transmitted late or incorrectly or are lost or misdirected for any reason including computer, telephone, paper transfer, human or other error; or for electronic, computer, or telephone malfunction or error, including inability to access any Web site associated with the Contest or to process any submission thereon. Sponsor may disqualify anyone from participating in the Contest or winning a prize if, in its sole discretion, it determines that such person is attempting to undermine the legitimate operation of the Contest by cheating, deception or other unfair playing practices, or intending to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass any other entrant or Sponsor's representatives or in otherwise in violation of these rules. Entries generated by script, macro or other automated or mechanical means are void. ANY ATTEMPT TO DELIBERATELY UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THE CONTEST MAY BE IN VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS AND SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, SPONSOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO SEEK DAMAGES AND OTHER REMEDIES (INCLUDING ATTORNEYS' FEES) FROM ANY SUCH INDIVIDUAL TO THE FULLEST EXTENT OF THE LAW, INCLUDING CRIMINAL PROSECUTION. Sponsor reserves the right in its sole discretion to cancel, modify or suspend any portion of the Contest should causes beyond the control of Sponsor corrupt the administration, security or proper play of the Contest and if terminated, at Sponsor's discretion, judge all eligible, non-suspect entries received up to time of such impairment using the judging procedures outlined above.
REQUEST FOR WINNERS' NAMES: For a list of winners (available after November 31, 2008), send a hand-printed, self-addressed, stamped envelope by January 31, 2008: Third Seed Science Writing Contest Winners, Seed Media Group, 12 West 21st Street, 7th Floor New York, NY 10010.
SPONSOR: Seed Media Group LLC, 12 West 21st, New York, NY 10010.