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Official Rules

“God’s work. Our hands.” Video Contest Official Rules

TO ENTER, YOU MUST COMPLETE THE REGISTRATION FORM, READ THE VIDEO CONTEST OFFICIAL RULES (referred to herein as “Official Rules”) BELOW AND AGREE TO THE OFFICIAL RULES AND OTHER WEB SITE TERMS BY CLICKING THE ACCEPTANCE BOXES WHERE INDICATED AND THEN CLICKING ON THE “REGISTER NOW” BUTTON.

SUBJECT TO ALL FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS. VOID OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES, PUERTO RICO, THE VIRGIN ISLANDS AND WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

1. CONTEST SCHEDULE. The “God’s work. Our hands.”[1] Video Contest (referred to herein as “the Contest”) commences on or about 12:00 p.m. Central Time on June 15, 2009, and ends at 11:59:59 p.m. Central Time on July 15, 2009 (referred to herein as the “Contest Period”). The Rating Period for the Contest commences on or about 12:00 p.m. Central Time on June 15, 2009, and ends at 11:59:59 p.m. Central Time on July 22, 2009.

2. ELIGIBILITY. The Contest is open only to legal residents of the fifty (50) United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands who are age 18 or older at the time of entry and Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) congregations as defined and identified by the Office of the Secretary of the ELCA.

Churchwide and deployed staff of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and their immediate family members (spouse and parents, siblings and children and their spouses) and individuals living in the same households of each of the above are ineligible.

3. HOW TO ENTER. The video must comply with the Official Rules. The completion of the Registration Form and the submission of the video are collectively referred to herein as the "Entry.”

Visit www.elca.org/videocontest during the Contest Period, follow the on-screen instructions to complete and submit the Registration Form.

The video should be no more than 90 seconds in length but must be longer than 30 seconds in length. All Entries must be submitted in the English language. Video files in excess of 2 minutes will be disqualified. All Entries should contain the ELCA brandmark and follow all graphic standards as found at www.elca.org/brand or those Entries will be disqualified.

Once submitted, Entries will be publicly displayed on www.elca.org/videocontest, along with Entrant's username and video title. Only the named Entrant in the Individual Category and the Congregation named in the Congregation Category will be eligible for a Prize. All other individuals or groups included in an Entry whose name does not appear on the Registration Form will not be considered the Entrant and will not be eligible to receive any Prize offered in this Contest.

An Entrant may enter the Contest as many times as desired, provided each video submitted is unique. However, there is a limit of one (1) Prize per person, household and/or e-mail address and one (1) Prize per congregation. In the event the same video clip is submitted by more than one Entrant, the first Entry received will be accepted and all additional duplicate Entries will be deemed void. Use of automated devices is not valid for entry. Entries must include a valid e-mail address for the Entrant.

4. VIDEO RIGHTS. By participating in the Contest, the Entrant agrees to have his/her name, voice or likeness used in any advertising or broadcasting material relating to this Contest without additional financial or other compensation, and, where legal, to sign a publicity release confirming such consent prior to acceptance of the Prize.

If the individual filming or producing the video is someone other than the Entrant, the Entrant must obtain written permission and release from such individual(s) to use the video in any and all media without compensation. The Entrant must submit all required consent and releases at the ELCA’s request, including a release from all individuals featured in the video and all individuals filming and producing the video. The Entrant must have written permission to use the audio and visuals of everyone featured in the video in any and all media without compensation. One or more individuals of any age over the age of 13 may be featured in the video; however if any individual in the video is a minor, then written consent must be obtained by the Entrant from the minor’s parent or guardian.

By submitting an Entry, Entrants:

1) irrevocably grant the ELCA the royalty-free, nonexclusive, perpetual, fully sub-licensable, transferable right throughout the world to use, reproduce, modify, adapt, publish, translate, create derivative works from, distribute, transmit, publicly perform and publicly display such video (in whole or part) without compensation, notification, approval or any other obligation, to anyone, including without limitation to edit, rearrange, and/or copy the Entry for use in the promotion of the ELCA without further permission, consideration or payment to the Entrant, except where prohibited;

2) warrant and represent that the Entry, in its entirety, is original creation/work by the Entrant and that use of the Entry as described herein will not violate any law or infringe upon the rights, title, claim or interest of any third party; and

3) certify that the Entrant is the sole copyright owner of the video and the Entrant owns all rights, title and interest in the video and any elements included in the video, such as photographs, video footage, music tracks and the like.

All Entries become the sole property of the ELCA and will not be acknowledged or returned.

By submitting an Entry, the Entrant agrees that the Entry is gratuitous, unsolicited and without restriction and will not place the Contest Sponsor or Prize Sponsors under any obligation, and that they are free to disclose the video and ideas contained therein on a nonconfidential basis to anyone without any additional compensation to Entrant.

The Entrant acknowledges that, by acceptance of its submission, the ELCA does not waive any rights to use similar or related videos or ideas previously known to the ELCA, or developed by its employees or contractors, or obtained from sources other than the Entrant. By entering, the Entrant acknowledges that the ELCA has no obligation to use or post any Entry submitted.

5. JUDGING CRITERIA. The ELCA will select the Winners based upon the following criteria: creativity, ability to inspire, interpretation of theme and popularity, at the discretion of an independent panel of judges. Popularity will be determined by a one to 10 rating system available to the public. The general public will be allowed to rate videos until 11:59:59 p.m. Central Time on July 22, 2009. Ratings are limited to one rate per person. Number of views will used in the event of a tie.

At the end of the Contest, one Entrant will be selected as the Individual Category Winner and one Entrant as the Individual Category Runner-Up; one Entrant will be selected as the ELCA Congregation Category Winner and one as the ELCA Congregation Category Runner-Up.

Entries that include the following content will be disqualified:

1) profanity or inappropriate, defamatory, blasphemous or explicit language;

2) lewd or sexually suggestive gestures;

3) full or partial nudity;

4) alcohol or drug use not part of the illustration of a recovery story; or

5) incorrect usage of the ELCA brandmark.

The ELCA reserves the right to disqualify and withdraw any Entry for any reason at any time. The offering, advertising or payment by an Entrant of any compensation, incentive or item of value (including, without limitation, entries in a raffle or any other contest or sweepstakes) to induce voting for an Entry or any other activity in connection with the Contest or the www.elca.org/videocontest site is strictly prohibited, as is the use of paid advertising of any type whatsoever to induce voting or any other activity in connection with the Contest. The ELCA in its sole discretion may immediately disqualify any Entrant who it believes has engaged in any of the foregoing prohibited activities.

The judging of Entries will be conducted by an independent panel of judges, whose decisions are final and binding in all respects relating to the selection of all Prize Winners. In the event an insufficient number of qualified Entries are received during the Contest Period (as determined by the judges), the Contest will be cancelled and Prizes will not be awarded.

Eligibility, age and Prize claim by Prize Winners is subject to verification. The Winners will be notified by e-mail and/or telephone no later than August 23, 2009. Prize Winners must sign before a notary and return an Affidavit of Eligibility/Prize Acceptance/Liability and (where legally permissible) a Publicity Release within two (2) business days of receipt. If a Prize Winner notification is returned as undeliverable, a Prize Winner is ineligible, or a Prize Winner declines a Prize, the Prize will be forfeited and the Prize will be awarded to the next highest scoring Entry. The ELCA is not responsible for fraudulent calls or e-mails made to Entrants from outside entities.

6. PRIZES AND THEIR APPROXIMATE RETAIL VALUE. The Individual Category Grand Prize is a cash prize valued at $2,500. The Individual Category Runner-Up Prize is an HD video flip camera valued at no more than $250. The ELCA Congregation Category Grand Prize is a grant valued at $5,000. The ELCA Congregation Category Runner-Up Prize is an HD video flip camera valued at no more than $250. The value of the Prizes set forth above is equal to its dollar value, and the actual fair market value, as determined by each Prize Sponsor, is final and binding and cannot be challenged or appealed. Unless otherwise specified by the Contest Sponsor, all Prizes will be mailed to the Winners via U.S. mail, at the address provided by the Winner and Releasees (as defined below) assume no liability for late, lost, damaged or misdirected Prizes.

Prize Winners are solely responsible for the reporting and payment of any applicable federal, state and/or local taxes. The Contest Sponsor shall provide a W-9 form and a 1099 form for reporting purposes.

7. GENERAL CONDITIONS. By participating in the Contest, each Entrant agrees to be bound by the terms of these Official Rules, the terms of the ELCA Web Site Privacy Policy and the decisions of the ELCA, which are final and binding in all respects and cannot be appealed. By submitting an Entry, each Entrant agrees to posting of the Entry on www.elca.org/videocontest prior to the determination of the Winners, and the ELCA, in its sole discretion may edit, adjust or add text.

All Entries must be received by 11:59:59 p.m. Central Time on July 15, 2009. The ELCA is not responsible for any problems or technical, hardware or software malfunctions of www.elca.org/video contest, failure of any e-mail or Entry to be received by the ELCA due to technical problems, human error or traffic congestion, unavailable network connections on the Internet or at any Web site, or any combination thereof, including, without limitation, any injury or damage to the Entrant’s or any other person’s computer relating to or resulting from participating in this Contest or downloading any materials in this Contest.

In the event of a dispute as to the identity of the Winner, such Winner will be deemed to be the account holder at the time of Entry of the e-mail account associated with the provided e-mail address.

By entering the Contest, each Entrant agrees and acknowledges that the ELCA is not responsible for and shall not be liable for:

1) Entries that are late, delayed, lost, misdirected, forged, mutilated, incomplete, illegible, ineligible, incomplete, inaccurate, garbled, unintelligible or otherwise not in compliance with these Rules;

2) technical or computer malfunctions, lost connections or transmissions, disconnections or other errors of any kind whether mechanical, human, electronic or otherwise relating to or in connection with the Contest, including, without limitation, errors which may occur in connection with the administration of the Contest or the processing of Entries;

3) data corruption, theft, destruction, unauthorized access to or alteration of Entry or other materials;

4) any injuries, losses, costs, expenses or damages to person or property of any kind caused, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, by the Prize or resulting from acceptance, redemption, possession, loss, use or misuse of the Prize or from participating in the Contest or any Contest-related activity, or inability to participate in the Contest; or

5) any printing, typographical, administrative, human or technological errors in any material associated with the Contest.

No more than the number of Prizes stated in these Rules shall be awarded. By entering the Contest, Entrants agree and acknowledge that the ELCA and its Prize Sponsors, without any limitation or further compensation, may use his/her name, city and state of residence, likeness, voice, biographical data, audio and/or video recording of him/her, and the Entry in any and all media now known or hereinafter devised, throughout the universe and in perpetuity, for the purpose of advertising and promoting the ELCA to the public and its members or the Contest or any other promotion sponsored by the ELCA, or for any other purpose, except where prohibited by law.

The ELCA reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to modify, cancel or suspend the Contest (or any portion of the Contest) for any reason should an error or a virus, bug, computer problem or other cause or problem corrupt or inhibit the administration, security or proper operation of the Contest and, in such situation, to judge entries from among the remaining eligible nonsuspect entries received prior to and/or after the action taken or in such manner as deemed fair and appropriate by the ELCA in its sole discretion. In the event that the Contest is modified, cancelled or suspended, notification of such event shall be posted at www.elca.org/videocontest.

The ELCA may prohibit an Entrant from participating in the Contest or winning a Prize if, in its sole discretion, it determines an Entrant is attempting to undermine the legitimate operation of the Contest by cheating, hacking, deception or other unfair practices or intending to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass any other Entrant or the ELCA’s representatives.

The interpretation of these Rules shall be governed by the laws of the United States and the State of Illinois by and within the courts of that state. In the event the ELCA is prevented from continuing with this Contest, or the integrity and/or feasibility of the Contest is undermined by any event including but not limited to fire, flood, epidemic, earthquake, explosion, labor dispute or strike, act of God or public enemy, satellite or equipment failure, riot or civil disturbance, war (declared or undeclared), terrorist threat or activity, or any federal, state, provincial or local government law, order of regulation, order of any court, or jurisdiction or other cause not reasonably within the ELCA’s control (each a “Force Majeure” event), the ELCA shall have the right, in its sole discretion, to abbreviate, modify, suspend, cancel or terminate the Contest without notice or further obligation. If the ELCA, in its discretion, elects to abbreviate, cancel or terminate the Contest as a result of a Force Majeure event, the ELCA reserves the right, but shall have no obligation to award the Prizes from among all valid and eligible entries received up to the time of such Force Majeure event.

8. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY AND RELEASE. By entering the Contest, each Entrant agrees that:

1) any and all disputes, claims and causes of action arising out of or connected with the Contest, or any Prizes awarded, shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action; and

2) any and all claims, judgments and awards shall be limited to actual out-of-pocket costs incurred, including costs associated with entering the Contest, but in no event will attorneys’ fees be awarded or recoverable.

The Entrant hereby knowingly and expressly waives all rights to seek punitive, incidental or consequential damages or any other damages, other than actual out-of-pocket expenses, and/or any and all rights to have damages multiplied or otherwise increased.

By entering this Contest, all Entrants agree to release and hold harmless the ELCA, judges, the Prize Sponsors and all others associated with the development and execution of this Contest, from any and all liability with respect to, or in any way arising from, this Contest and/or acceptance or use of the Prize, including liability for personal injury, death, damages or loss.

By participating in the Contest, the Entrant hereby releases the ELCA and Prize Sponsors from any and all claims, damages or liabilities arising from or relating to the Entrant’s participation in the Contest.

By accepting a Prize in the Contest, Winners agree that the ELCA and Prize Sponsors shall not be liable for any loss or injury resulting from participation in the Contest, acceptance or use of any Prize, or any travel related thereto. Entries are the views/opinions of the individual Entrant and do not necessarily reflect the view of the Contest Sponsor and Prize Sponsors.

9. OFFICIAL RULES/WINNERS LIST. To obtain a copy of these Official Rules, print them from the Internet at www.elca.org/videocontest or send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to: The “God’s work. Our hands.” Video Contest, Communication Services, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, 8765 West Higgins Road, Chicago, IL 60631-4101. Names of Winners will be posted at www.elca.org/videocontest no later than August 23, 2009. If you have any questions regarding this Contest or would like to obtain the names of the Prize Winners (available after August 23, 2009), send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to: The “God’s work. Our hands.” Video Contest, Communication Services, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, 8765 West Higgins Road, Chicago, IL 60631-4101.

10. CONTEST SPONSOR. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, 8765 West Higgins Road, Chicago, Illinois 60631-4101

11. PRIZE SPONSORS.

1) Odyssey Networks, The Interchurch Center, 475 Riverside Drive, New York, New York 10115;

2) Lutheran Film Associates, International Center, 1333 South Kirkwood Road, St. Louis, Missouri 63122-7285