Official Contest Rules –
“Justice for ME”
YouTube Video Contest

BACKGROUND: The “Justice for ME” YouTube video contest asks participants to create a video about what the judicial branch of government is, why it is important in a civil democracy, and what does the rule of law mean.

We will choose two winners: one winner from videos submitted by persons Under 18 and one winner from videos submitted by persons 18 and Older. Groups or classrooms may enter the 18 and Older or Under 18 categories. The winning video in each category will receive a $500 cash prize. Winning videos will be shown and the winners recognized at the MSBA Summer Meeting.

ELIGIBILITY: Persons under 18 years of age at the time of entry must receive parent or guardian permission and provide written consent before their entries will be considered. Employees, governors and immediate family members of employees and governors of the Maine State Bar Association are not eligible to win.

STEPS TO ENTER:

  1. Visit the contest page at http://www.mainebar.org/justiceforme.htm, complete an interactive PDF entry form, and agree to the terms of these rules.

  2. Submit/post your video to www.youtube.com/group/justiceforme any time between March 17, 2009 and June 5, 2009. Videos must be between one and a half and three minutes in length. If you are under the age of 18, you must submit a signed permission form (see below) from your parent or guardian, including your YouTube username. Fax the signed form to (207) 623-0083 or scan and email it to justiceforme@Mainebar.com.

  3. Videos not posted to the Justice for ME YouTube group by 5:00 p.m. on June 5, 2009 will not be considered.
    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. Winning is contingent upon fulfilling all requirements.

CONTEST DESCRIPTION: Video entries will be accepted on YouTube beginning on March 17, 2009 at 5:00 p.m. and ending on June 5, 2009 at 5:00 p.m.

A panel of distinguished judges will choose the winning videos. The judges will give each video a total score based on: originality (15%), creativity (15%), adherence to the theme (28%), effectiveness in communicating idea (27%), and overall quality (15%). The video with the highest total score in each entry category will win.

Winning entries will be required to mail a high-quality copy of the video on DVD to YouTube Contest, c/o Maine State Bar Association, 124 State Street, Augusta, Maine 04330.

PRIZES: The winning video in each category, Under 18 & Adults 18 and Over, will receive a $500 cash prize. Winners will receive recognition at the Maine State Bar Association Summer Meeting in June 2009.

ENTRIES: Entries on YouTube will be deemed made by the authorized account holder of the email address submitted at the time of entry. The authorized account holder is the person assigned to an email address by an Internet access provider, online service provider, or other organization responsible for assigning email addresses or the domain associated with the email address. 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. 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. Any express or implied commercial endorsement;

  5. 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;

  6. Depictions of any conduct, language, or other context deemed inappropriate by the sponsor or any of the judges. Language will be evaluated by the Sponsor based on context and societal acceptability;

  7. Copyrighted material without permission.

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. 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, 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 Maine and Participants consent to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the Courts of the State of Maine 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.

SPONSORS: Maine State Bar Association, Augusta, Maine; Prizes provided by the law offices of PretiFlaherty; Technical support provided by AV Advantage.

Click here for a PDF version of the “Justice for ME” YouTube Video Contest OFFICIAL ENTRY FORM.

Click here for a PDF version of the “Justice for ME” YouTube Video Contest PARENTAL/GUARDIAN PERMISSION FORM.