MARYLAND STATE BAR ASSOCIATION Video Contest
United States Constitution’s Bill of Rights

Official Contest Rules – Bill of Rights

OPEN TO MARYLAND RESIDENTS, MARYLAND STUDENTS, AND ATTORNEYS LICENSED TO PRACTICE IN MARYLAND

BACKGROUND

The “Bill of Rights” video contest allows Participants to create a video about one of the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution.  We will choose nine winners: three winners from videos submitted by persons Under 18 (all persons who contribute to the video must be Under 18); three winners from videos submitted by persons 18 and Older; and three winners chosen at MSBA's Law Day Program.

Groups or classrooms may enter the 18 and Older or Under 18 categories.

PRIZES

There will be three categories:  Under 18, 18 and Older, and MSBA's Law Day Choices.  Prizes will be given as follows: 

• Under 18 winner or group
  • Prize 1:  $500
  • Prize 2:  $300
  • Prize 3:  $200
• 18 and Older
  • Prize 1:  $500
  • Prize 2:  $300
  • Prize 3:  $200
• MSBA's Law Day Choices
  • Prize 1:  $500
  • Prize 2:  $300
  • Prize 3:  $200

The Prize 1 winners from the Under 18 and 18 and Older categories will receive accommodations for the awards presentation at MSBA's Annual Conference in Ocean City, Maryland. 

SPONSOR

The Maryland State Bar Association, 520 West Fayette Street, Baltimore, MD  21201.

ELIGIBILITY

This contest is open to students and residents of Maryland and attorneys licensed to practice in Maryland.  Persons under 18 years of age at the time of entry must receive their parents’ permission and provide written parental consent before their entries are considered. 

STEPS TO ENTER: Eligible Participants must

1. Visit the contest page at www.msba.org, complete an entry form, and agree to the terms of these rules.
   
   
2. Mail a high-quality copy of the video, on DVD or videotape, to Video Contest, c/o Alice Chong, Maryland State Bar Association, 52 West Fayette Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, any time between January 1, 2010 and April 1, 2010.  Videos must be one to three minutes long).  If you are under the age of 18, you must submit a signed permission form from your parent or guardian. 
   
   
3. Include your name and title of your video on the copy. 
   
   
4. Videos not received by the Maryland State Bar Association on or before April 1, 2010 or post-marked by April 1, 2010, will not be eligible to win.

By completing the above steps, eligible persons will be entered in the contest as a “Participant” and all Participants agree to the terms and rules of the contest.

CONTEST DESCRIPTION

Video entries will be accepted by the Maryland State Bar Association beginning on January 1, 2010 and ending on April 1, 2010.

From among the entries, the contest Sponsor will choose 6 finalists in each of these categories: Under 18 and 18 and Over.  Selection of finalist videos will be based on originality, creativity, adherence to the theme, and overall quality.  The videos presented by the 6 finalists in the Under 18 and the 18 and Over categories will be shown at MSBA's Law Day Program and the Law Day participants will vote on the top three prize winners. 

A panel of distinguished judges and bar leaders will choose the winning videos from among these finalists in the Under 18 and 18 and Over categories. 

For the Under 18 and 18 and Over categories, the judges and bar leaders will give each video a total score based on originality, creativity, adherence to the theme, and overall quality.  All videos in the category will be ranked according to this score. 

Winners agree to comply with all terms and conditions set forth in these Official Rules.

Winning is contingent on fulfilling all requirements.

Winners may be required to provide proof that they meet the age and residency requirements. 

Winners must submit their own work product. 

ENTRIES

Each entrant may enter the contest only once.  Entries become the exclusive property of the Sponsor and will not be acknowledged or returned.

SUBMITTED VIDEOS

The Participant must not have granted any person or entity other than the Sponsor the right to use the video.  Submitted videos will not be accepted or eligible if they include any content that contains or appears to contain:

1. Explicitly profane or obscene material;
2. Endorsement of (or condones) illegal drug use, alcohol abuse, or other illegal activity;
3. Nudity, profanity, or extreme or gratuitous violence;
4. Language will be evaluated by the Sponsor based on context and societal acceptability;
5. Any express or implied commercial endorsement;
6. Any derogatory characterization of any person or group based on age, race, color, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, marital status, mental or physical disability, citizenship, creed, national origin, physical appearance, political affiliation, union membership, or other unethical or unlawful factors;
7. Depictions of any conduct, language, or other context deemed inappropriate by the Sponsor or any of the judges.

CLEARANCES

Each Participant is solely responsible for obtaining from all applicable individuals or entities any and all required rights, releases, consents, clearances, licenses, and other authorizations necessary to exploit and otherwise use their submitted video in any and all media. Clearances required include but are not limited to:

1. Location releases;
2. Releases from any person whose name, voice, likeness, or persona is referenced, shown, or otherwise used in the submitted video;
3. If any individuals depicted are under the age of majority, Participants must obtain the signature of the individuals’ parent or guardian on the applicable clearance(s).  By submitting their video entries, Participants warrant that the submitted video and all elements contained therein does not infringe on any copyright owned by another, and/or that the content of the video is within the bounds of the fair use doctrine.  Participants also confirm that to the best of their knowledge, any statements made in the submitted video are true and do not violate or infringe on the rights of third parties.  The Sponsor reserves the right (but not the obligation) to verify that all necessary clearances have been obtained, prior to selecting the video as a finalist or winning video.  The Sponsor may disqualify any submitted video at any time if the participant has not obtained all necessary clearances.

CONDITIONS OF PARTICIPATION

By entering, Participants agree to defend and indemnify Sponsor and Sponsor’s principals, subsidiaries, affiliates, directors, officers, employees, and agents from any and all liability for any injuries, loss, or damage of any kind arising from or in connection with the contest or receipt or use and/or misuse of any prize. 

Each Participant agrees that the Sponsor may retain a copy of the submitted video and releases the Sponsor from liability for any loss or damage thereto.  Each Participant, by submitting the video to us, also consents, approves, and authorizes the Sponsor the right to use, broadcast, webcast, post on YouTube, podcast, link to or from, syndicate, or otherwise exhibit or display the submitted video in its original or an altered form or format. 

Each Participant grants the Sponsor the unqualified, unrestricted, worldwide, irrevocable, perpetual, and royalty-free right to use his or her name, logo, marks, or other distinctive identification in connection with promoting or marketing the contest or its theme, and in future educational materials for attorneys or the public.

The rights described in these official rules begin immediately upon submission of the submitted video and continue indefinitely unless revoked in written notice from the Sponsor to the Participant.  The Sponsor has no obligation to post or display any submitted video and may at its discretion remove any submitted videos at any time.

The Participant releases the Sponsor from any and all claims against the Participant in connection with the submitted video.

GENERAL CONDITIONS

This contest is governed by the laws of the State of Maryland.  Participants explicitly consent to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the State Courts for any causes or controversies arising therefrom. 

The Sponsor reserves the right to void entries it deems associated with electronic or non-electronic tampering. 

Should technical difficulties arise that compromise the integrity of the contest the Sponsor may cancel, modify, or suspend the contest without notice.  In that case, the Sponsor reserves the right to award the prizes from eligible entries received before the cancellation. 

The Sponsor is not responsible for any technical malfunction or service outage related to the contest.

The Sponsor, at its own discretion, may extend the period of time for the submittal of entries.  Any extension of time for the submittal of entries will be posted on the contest webpage, available through www.msba.org.