go to MSN.com
  autos     money     sports     tech     more    
  MSN home  |  Mail  |  My MSN  | 

THE NEXT GREAT SPORTSWRITER CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS GUIDELINES

No Purchase Necessary to PARTICIPATE

Fox Sports Interactive Media, LLC ("FSIM") will accept submissions for the "The Next Great Sportswriter Call for Submissions-- Presented by McDonald's" (the "NGS Call for Submissions") to be posted on www.foxsports.com beginning April 24, 2006. Amended as of April 25, 2006

(1) Eligibility: Submissions will be accepted from any legal resident of the continental United States, Alaska and Hawaii eighteen (18) years of age or older who have internet access as of April 23, 2006 (the "Submitters"). Employees, independent contractors, officers, and directors of FSIM and McDonalds, their respective parents, affiliates, subsidiaries, 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 NGS Call for Submissions.

(2) Submissions; Judging: Beginning on April 24, 2006, Submitters may enter the NGS Call for Submissions by logging onto the NGS Call for Submissions web site located at Uniform Resource Locator (URL) [http://blogs.foxsports.com/ngsjudges/] (the "NGS Homepage"). Submitters will be directed to a sign in page that will allow such Submitters to sign in and begin creating a series of blog submissions containing sports-related content and commentary (the "NGS Blogs"). Submitters may navigate to other Submitters' NGS Blogs via the NGS Homepage and will be encouraged to comment and provide feedback on other Submitters' NGS Blogs throughout the NGS Call for Submissions. As a prerequisite to each Submitter's entry eligibility, Submitters will be asked (i) to submit his/her full name, age, date of birth, complete address, including city, state and zip code, telephone number, and e-mail address and (ii) to agree to the terms included in the NGS Call for Submissions Guidelines and the NGS Call for Submissions Agreement. The timetable for submissions and the selection of a final Submitter will be as follows:

  • From April 24, 2006 through May 22, 2006, judges from FoxSports.com will read and rate each Submitter's NGS Blogs and pick sixteen (16) finalists to advance to the next round. The sixteen (16) finalists will be announced on FoxSports.com on May 22, 2006, at approximately 12:00 noon PST.
  • From May 22, 2006 through May 29, 2006, the sixteen (16) finalists will write NGS Blogs based on assignments provided by FoxSports.com's editorial staff (via the NGS Homepage and email reminders) that will be judged by users of FoxSports.com ("Users") and judges from FoxSports.com ("Judges"). Voting for the week of May 22 will end on May 29 at 11:00 am PST.
  • On May 29, 2006, at approximately 12:00 noon PST, the four writers who have received the lowest score will be eliminated.
  • From May 29, 2006 through June 5, 2006, the twelve (12) finalists will write NGS Blogs based on assignments provided by FoxSports.com's editorial staff (via the NGS Homepage and email reminders) that will be judged by the Users and Judges. Voting for the week of May 29 will end on June 5 at 11:00 am PST.
  • On June 5, 2006, at approximately 12:00 noon PST, the four writers who have received the lowest score will be eliminated.
  • From June 5, 2006 through June 12, 2006, the eight (8) finalists will write NGS Blogs based on assignments provided by FoxSports.com's editorial staff (via the NGS Homepage and email reminders) that will be judged by the Users and Judges. Voting for the week of June 5 will end on June 12 at 11:00 am PST.
  • On June 12, 2006, at approximately 12:00 noon PST, the four writers who have received the lowest score will be eliminated.
  • From June 12, 2006 through June 19, 2006, at 11:00 am PST, the four (4) finalists will write NGS Blogs based on assignments provided by FoxSports.com's editorial staff (via the NGS Homepage and email reminders) that will be judged by the Users and Judges. Voting for the week of June 12 will end on June 19 at 11:00 am PST.
  • On June 19, 2006, at approximately 12:00 noon PST, the two writers who have received the lowest score will be eliminated.
  • From June 19, 2006 through June 26, the two (2) finalists will write NGS Blogs based on assignments provided by FoxSports.com's editorial staff (via the NGS Homepage and email reminders) that will be judged by the Users and Judges. Voting for the week of June 19 will end on June 26 at 11:00 am PST.
  • On June 28, 2006, at approximately 12:00 noon PST, the final Submitter will be announced. The final Submitter will be offered the opportunity to write 20 articles as a contributing writer on FoxSports.com, worth approximately $5,000.

The final Submitter will be selected from all eligible Submitters and will be announced on the NGS Homepage on or about June 26, 2006, and/or be notified by U.S. mail, e-mail or telephone within three (3) days of selection. Should the final Submitter or his/her NGS Blogs violate the NGS Call for Submissions Guidelines or NGS Call for Submissions Agreement in any manner whatsoever, FSIM reserves the right to disqualify the final Submitter and replace him/her with the first runner-up or, to the extent necessary, the finalist next in succession based on the number of votes received.

ELIGIBLE SUBMITTERS MUST SUBMIT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THESE GUIDELINES. NO OTHER METHOD OF SUBMISSION WILL BE ACCEPTED.

<(3) Rights in Submissions: By posting web blogs ("Blogs") to FoxSports.com, every Submitter hereby grants to FSIM the non-exclusive, fully paid, worldwide license to use, copy, sublicense, transmit, distribute, publicly perform, publish, delete or display such Blogs in any media now known or hereafter devised including, but not limited to Fox Sports.com. Submitter authorizes FSIM, and any entities affiliated or in privity with FSIM, to utilize on a non-exclusive basis, for eternity and in any manner FSIM sees fit, the Blogs posted on the site on a non-exclusive basis, in any manner FSIM sees fit, for as long as such Blogs are posted on the site. Further, you authorize FSIM to make derivative works from any Blogs for eternity and in any manner FSIM sees fit. Submitter agrees that the results and proceeds of any such use shall become the property of FSIM and/or FSIM's licensees, and shall be freely assignable by FSIM, and that FSIM and its assignees and licensees shall have no obligations whatsoever to Submitter. Submitter releases FSIM, McDonalds and their respective parents, affiliates, subsidiaries, agents, representatives, assignees and licensees (the "Released Parties"), from any and all claims or liability (now known or hereafter arising), including but not limited to any claims for defense and/or indemnity, in connection therewith. Submitter agrees and acknowledges that participation in the NGS Blogs shall not give rise to any confidential, fiduciary, implied-in-fact, implied-in-law, or other special relationship between FSIM and Submitter, and that the only contract, express or implied, between FSIM and Submitter is as set forth in these Call for Submissions Guidelines.

The final Submitter will be required to complete and execute additional documents to memorialize the rights granted to FSIM, as well as in connection with the final Submitter's offer to contract with FSIM as a FoxSports.com contributing writer including, without limitation, rights releases and employment obligations. In addition, participation in the NGS Call for Submission constitutes permission (except where prohibited by law) for FSIM to use the final Submitter's name and likeness for purposes of advertising and promotion without further compensation. Except as required by law, FSIM will not share Submitter information with any third parties.

(4) Rights of FSIM / Disclaimer of Liability: FSIM is a distributor only (and not a publisher) of Blogging content which is supplied by Submitter. FSIM shall not be responsible for policing, monitoring, or editing such content, exercises no more editorial control over such content than would a public library, bookstore, newsstand, or other distributor of content, and accordingly, shall not be responsible for exercising editorial control over such content. Notwithstanding the foregoing, FSIM shall have the right, but not the obligation, to monitor such content in order to respond to or comment upon communications by Submitters and in order to determine compliance with the foregoing Call for Submissions Guidelines. FSIM shall have the right and sole discretion to edit, to refuse to post or to remove any content whatsoever which it finds to be in violation of the provisions hereof or which it finds in its sole discretion to be otherwise objectionable for any reason.

FSIM reserves the right to remove any NGS Blog that contains nudity, profanity, obscene gestures or any depiction of real or simulated sexual acts, violence or any illegal acts or written descriptions thereof. Submitter agrees that FSIM shall have the right to remove any form of cursing contained in any of the NGS Blogs with a FSIM swear filter application (the "Swear Filter") if and to the extent Submitter does not otherwise opt-out of such Swear Filter. FSIM also reserves the right to replace any of the sixteen (16) finalists with another eligible Submitter should any such finalist withdraw from or be removed from the NGS Call for Submissions. FSIM also reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to select any finalists, regardless of voting results, and to close the submission acceptance period at any time.

The opinions expressed in the NGS Blogs are not necessarily (and in some cases not at all) those of FSIM. FSIM is not responsible for any materials provided by users which are deemed harmful or offensive to others. FSIM is not responsible in any way for any injury, loss or damage which occurs as a result of an opinion expressed or information provided in these sections of the site.

FSIM is not responsible for the content or practices of third party Web sites that may be linked to the FSIM site. This site may also be linked to Web sites operated by companies affiliated with FSIM. Visitors to those sites should refer to each site's separate privacy policies and practices.

(5) Warranty: It is an express condition of submission and eligibility that each Submitter warrant and represent that all of Submitter's NGS Blogs are created and are solely owned by Submitter, and that no other party has any rights or interest in the NGS Blogs. Submitter further represents and warrants that the submission and any use by FSIM, its parents, subsidiaries or affilliates in connection with programming, advertising, promotion and publicity, shall not infringe upon any statutory or common law copyright and shall not constitute a defamation, or invasion of the right of privacy or publicity, or infringement of any other right of any kind of any third party. FSIM makes no warranties, express or implied, as to the content or the accuracy or reliability of any information or statements contained in the NGS Blogs. All statements, advice and opinions made by Submitters are those of such Submitters only, and FSIM neither endorses nor shall be held responsible for the reliability or accuracy of same.

(6) Indemnity: Submitter shall indemnify and hold harmless the NGS Call For Submissions, FSIM, McDonalds, and their respective parents, affiliates, officers, directors, successors, licensees, employees, agents and representatives (the "Released Parties") from and against any and all liability, claims, loss, damage, injury or expense, including reasonable attorneys' fees, arising in connection with any third party action arising out of a breach or allegation which if true would constitute a breach, of any of Submitter's representations, warranties or obligations herein.

(7) General Terms and Conditions: By participating, Submitters agree that the Released Parties are not responsible or liable for, and shall be released and held harmless from: (i) lost, misdirected or otherwise undeliverable mail; (ii) telephone, electronic, hardware or software program, network, Internet or computer malfunctions, failures, or difficulties of any kind; (iii) any condition caused by events beyond the control of FSIM that may cause the NGS Call for Submissions to be disrupted or corrupted; (iv) any printing or typographical errors in any materials associated with the NGS Call for Submissions; (v) any and all losses, damages, rights, claims and actions of any kind in connection with or resulting from participation in the NGS Call for Submissions; (vi) acceptance, possession, or use of any grant, including without limitation, personal injury, death and property damage arising therefrom; and (vii) claims based on publicity rights, defamation or invasion of privacy. FSIM reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to suspend or cancel the NGS Call for Submissions at any time for any reason, including, without limitation, if a computer virus, bug or other technical problem corrupts the administration, security, or proper conduct of the NGS Call for Submissions. All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of the NGS Call for Submissions Guidelines, or the rights and obligations of Submitters and FSIM in connection with the NGS Call for Submissions, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of California, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules or provisions (whether of the State of California or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of California.

Statistical Information provided by: STATS LLC
© 2009 Fox Sports Interactive Media, LLC. All rights reserved.