Contest Rules and Guidelines

Overview
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is holding a contest for students across the country to produce the best audio podcast or video public service announcement (PSA) about today’s pressing civil liberties issues.

The contest’s theme is based on the ACLU’s mission: to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. For more information about the ACLU, visit www.aclu.org.

Content
Entrants should submit a podcast* of up to five (5) minutes in length or video PSA** of up to 30 seconds in length that relates to one of three civil liberties themes:

		Surveillance/Privacy
		Free Speech/Censorship
		Detention/Due Process

For both video or audio entries, any type of original work will be considered including, without limitation, spoken word, music, drama, satire, interviews, short film, song, humor and poetry.

* A podcast is a digital audio program (in theory, it can also be video, but our contest is only for audio) distributed via the Internet, which users can download and listen to on their computer or mp3 player. More info >>

* * A public service announcement (PSA) is a non-commercial advertisement created to change people’s attitudes about a particular social issue. More info >>

Official Rules

Eligibility
a. To participate, you must be a US citizen or legal U.S. resident, 17 to 29 years of age. Contest offered only in the 50 United States and the District of Columbia. Void where prohibited by law.

b. By participating, participants agree to be bound by these Official Rules.

c. The Contest is run by Zilo Networks, Inc. (“Zilo” or “Agency”) and sponsored by The American Civil Liberties Union Foundation (“Sponsor”). Employees, independent contractors, officers and directors of Sponsor or Agency, their affiliates, subsidiaries, advertising, promotion and fulfillment agencies, and legal advisors, and the immediate family members and persons living in the same household of such persons are not eligible to participate in the Contest.

How to Enter
Entrants should create their own video or audio podcast on one of the three approved civil liberties themes outlined under 'content' above. Then, submit your contest entry by clicking the submit button:

Timing: The Third Annual ACLU Stand Up for Freedom Contest commences at 12:01 a.m. EST on July 4, 2007 and ends at 11:59 p.m. EST on November 4, 2007. To be considered, your entry must be received between these dates.

Clearances and Rights
a. You will need written consent from actors appearing in your entry to use their likenesses, voices, etc.

b. You must be the sole author and copyright owner of the entry or must have permission (via license or otherwise) to use or incorporate any portions of the entry that are authored, owned or controlled by third parties.

c. You will need to send us a signed original copy of our Terms of Submission by the submission deadline.

Entry Length and Format
Podcasts (audio) should be no longer than five (5) minutes in length and should be submitted online in AAC, WMA or MP3 compressed formats, final encoded version not to exceed 10MB. PSAs (video) should be no longer than 30 seconds in length and should be submitted online in either Windows Media or MPEG format with final, encoded version not to exceed 6MB. The PSA winner must have a broadcast quality version of the spot available.

Judging
Podcast and PSA judging will be based on three (3) equally weighted criteria:

		Effectiveness - What is the message and how well is it communicated?
		Production Technique - How well the entrant manipulate the medium?
		Originality - What is the entrant’s unique point of view and way of communicating?

Once all the entries are received, Zilo’s staff will narrow the field to a group of 12 finalists that will then be judged by a panel of public figures and industry professionals. Decisions for both initial and final rounds are FINAL.

1. First Round: Once all the entries are received, Zilo’s staff will narrow the field to six (6) podcast finalists and six (6) PSA finalists based on the above stated criteria.

2. Final Round: A panel of judges will review each of the podcast and PSA finalists and decide upon the winners based upon the stated criteria.

Winners
Winner for the Third Annual Contest have been announced.

Winners will be notified by e-mail, overnight mail and/or phone, and thereafter must complete an affidavit or declaration of eligibility/liability release and, except where prohibited, a publicity release and such other documents as may be reasonably required by Sponsor. Failure to return any required documents in a timely fashion may result in forfeiture of the prize and selection of another entrant as the winner. Sponsor assumes no responsibility for and shall not be liable for late, lost, misdirected, or unsuccessful efforts to notify winners. Accepting the prize constitutes permission (except where prohibited by law) to use winner's name, hometown (including state), school affiliation (if any) and/or likeness for promotional purposes without further compensation.

Prizes

All winning entries will be posted on www.aclu.org/standup, and will be shown at the ACLU National Membership Conference.

Release from Liability
By participating, entrants agree that Agency and Sponsor, their shareholders, agents and representatives, affiliates, subsidiaries, advertising, promotion and fulfillment agencies, and legal advisors are not responsible or liable for, and shall be released and held harmless from: (i) telephone, electronic, hardware or software program, network, Internet, or computer malfunctions, failures, or difficulties of any kind; (ii) any condition caused by events beyond the control of Sponsors that may cause the Contest to be disrupted; (iii) any printing or typographical errors in any materials associated with the Contest; (iv) any and all losses, damages, rights, claims and actions of any kind in connection with or resulting from participation in the Contest, or acceptance of the prize, including without limitation, claims based on publicity rights, defamation, or invasion of privacy.

Legal
All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation, and enforceability of these Official Rules, or the rights and obligations of participant and Sponsors in connection with the Contest, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules or provisions (whether of the State of New York or any other jurisdiction), that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of New York.