1. DESCRIPTION: NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. The Simpsons® Character Contest ("Contest") is a form of user generated content contest as described below. The administrator of this Contest is Creative Zing Promotion Group ("Administrator"), 100 E. Pine Street, Suite 201, Orlando, Florida 32801. The sponsor of this Contest is Fox Broadcasting Company ("Sponsor"), 10201 West Pico Boulevard, Los Angeles, California 90035. The Contest will flow as follows:
  • Contest "Submission Period": The contest Submission Period begins on October 16, 2009 and ends on October 28, 2009 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time ("ET").
  • Contest Judging: On or about October 29, 2009 through November 13, 2009, eligible Contest submissions will be judged according to the criteria in Section 7 of the Official Rules.
  • Winner Notification: On or about November 7, 2009, the Grand Prize Winner will be contacted to confirm eligibility and obtain releases, according to Section 8 of the Official Rules.
  • Winner Announcement: The winner will be announced on or about November 15, 2009.
    • 2. ELIGIBILITY: Contest is open only to legal residents of the fifty (50) United States and Washington D.C., who are at least eighteen (18) years of age and the age of legal majority in their state of primary residence at time of entry ("Entrant"). Each Entrant must have Internet access as of October 15, 2009. Each Entrant must be the rightful owner (or have authorized use) of the e-mail address identified in the Entrant's submission. In the event of a dispute as to the identity of a winner, the winner will be deemed to be the natural person in whose name the e-mail account associated with the provided e-mail address was opened. Employees, shareholders, officers, directors, agents, and representatives of Sponsor, Administrator, Twentieth Century Fox Television, Gracie Films (collectively, "Contest Entities") and each of their respective parent companies, affiliates, divisions, subsidiaries, agents, representatives and promotion and advertising agencies, together with the immediate family members and those living in the same household of such persons, are not eligible to participate in the Contest. Contest void where prohibited. 3. HOW TO ENTER: To enter, Entrants must visit the Contest Website during the Submission Period by going to the contest homepage at www.thesimpsons.com/character ("Contest Website"). At the Contest website, Entrants will be provided with a paragraph of text that has certain words missing, along with a field for "Character Name" and "Character Catchphrase." Entrants must fill-in the blanks as they would apply to their created "Character." Entry will not be complete until Entrant has followed the onscreen prompts to complete and submit their "Character Description" according to the on-screen instructions. Limit one (1) entry per person. Entrants must provide all information requested to be eligible to win. Entry is not complete until Entrant has followed the online prompts to submit their Character Description and affirmatively accepted the Official Rules. The Character Description must meet the following content restrictions: Entrants who submit Character Descriptions which violate any of these requirements may be deemed ineligible to receive the prize and their Character Description may be void at the Contest Entities sole discretion. Contest Entities reserve the right to disqualify, in their sole and absolute discretion, any Character Descriptions deemed inappropriate or that do not comply with the Contest Website's Terms of Use. Character Descriptions may not contain any derogatory references to any Contest Entities. Contest Entities reserve the right to determine in their sole discretion which entries have satisfied the entry requirements. ELIGIBLE ENTRANTS MUST SUBMIT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THESE OFFICIAL RULES. NO OTHER METHOD OF SUBMISSION WILL BE ACCEPTED. The following terms apply to your use of your Character Description, in its entirety, from the Contest Website. Contest Entities are not responsible for any loss of data or damage to your software or hardware or other loss or damage caused by failure to follow our directions. By entering the Contest, each Entrant acknowledges and agrees that: (a) Contest Entities are granting Entrants a limited, non-exclusive license to use the Character Description in connection with, and solely as a part of, the Contest, (b) Entrants shall have no right, title or interest in the Character Description, and (c) any use of the Character Description other than as permitted by these Official Rules may constitute copyright infringement. The Character Description in its entirety may not be modified, published, performed or transferred to anyone else (unless otherwise stated on the site), posted to any third-party websites, nor used for any commercial purpose. Access to and use of the Character Description may be restricted by other specific terms and conditions that appear on the site. 4. DATES & DEADLINES/ANTICIPATED NUMBER OF CONTESTANTS: Because of the unique nature and scope of the Contest, Sponsor reserves the right, in addition to those other rights reserved herein, to modify any date(s) or deadline(s) set forth in these Official Rules or otherwise governing the Contest. Sponsor cannot accurately predict the number of entrants who will participate in the Contest. 5. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES/INDEMNIFICATION: Each Entrant represents and warrants as follows: (i) the Character Description is the Entrant's own original, previously unpublished, and previously unproduced work; (ii) the Character Description does not contain any computer virus, is otherwise uncorrupted, is wholly original with Entrant, and as of the date of submission, is not the subject of any actual or threatened litigation or claim; (iii) the Character Description does not and will not violate or infringe upon the intellectual property rights or other rights of any other person or entity; and (iv) the Character Description does not and will not violate any applicable laws, and is not and will not be defamatory or libelous. Each Entrant hereby agrees to indemnify and hold the Contest Entities harmless from and against any and all third party claims, actions or proceedings of any kind and from any and all damages, liabilities, costs and expenses relating to or arising out of any breach or alleged breach of any of the warranties, representations or agreements of Entrant hereunder, or from Entrant's participation in the Contest. 6. MATERIALS/RIGHTS IN SUBMISSIONS: In consideration of a Character Description being reviewed and evaluated for this Contest, each Entrant into the Contest irrevocably grants, transfers, sells, assigns and conveys to Twentieth Century Fox Television, their successors and assigns, all present and future right, title and interest of every kind and nature whatsoever, including, without limitation, all copyrights, and all rights incidental, subsidiary, ancillary or allied thereto (including, without limitation, all derivative rights) in and to the Character Description for exploitation throughout the universe, in perpetuity, by means of any and all media and devices whether now known or hereafter devised, or any portion thereof, including to the extent applicable (a) any information, biographical data, and material (e.g., the "creative" file or Character Description) submitted by Entrant in connection with the Contest; and (b) all graphics, statements, and quotations of or by Entrant and furnished by Entrant as part of this Contest (the "Material"). Each Entrant understands that his or her name and Material may be posted on the Contest Website in connection with Contest. Entrant agrees that the Contest Entities have no obligation to post a Character Description or any Material on the Contest Website. Sponsor shall have the right, in its sole discretion, to edit, composite, morph, scan, duplicate, or alter the Character Description for any purpose which Sponsor deems necessary or desirable, and each Entrant irrevocably waives any and all so-called moral rights they may have therein. Each Entrant hereby acknowledges that such Entrant does not reserve any rights in or to the Character Description. Each Entrant releases the Contest Entities, 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. Each Entrant agrees and acknowledges that participation in the Contest, including, without limitation, the Entrant's decision to provide the Character Description to Contest Entities for purposes of the Contest, shall not give rise to any confidential, fiduciary, implied-in-fact, implied-in-law, or other special relationship between the Contest Entities and Entrant, does not place the Contest Entities in a position that is any different from the position held by members of the general public with regard to elements of the Entrant's Character Description, and that the only contracts, express or implied, between the Contest Entities and Entrant is as set forth in these Official Rules and the release forms. In addition, by participating in the Contest and providing a Character Description, each Entrant hereby grants permission (except where prohibited by law) for the Contest Entities to use Entrant's Character Description, name, likeness, voice, quotes, comments, biographical information, photograph and/or image for the purpose of advertising, trade, or promotion without further compensation or consideration in any and all media now known or hereafter developed throughout the universe. Except as required by law or permitted pursuant to these Contest Official Rules, the Contest Entities will not share an Entrant's information with any third parties. 7. CONTEST JUDGING: Character Descriptions will be judged by a panel of judges consisting of representatives of Sponsor, studio and/or The Simpsons® executives as selected by Contest Entities ("Judging Panel") to select the one (1) Grand Prize winner from among all entries received. All decisions of the Judging Panel are final on all aspects of the Contest. Character Descriptions will be scored based on the following criteria:
    1. Creativity: 40%
    2. Composition: 20%
    3. Originality: 20%
    4. Quality of execution: 20%
    8. GRAND PRIZE WINNER NOTIFICATION AND ANNOUNCEMENT: The potential Grand Prize winner, as determined by the Judging Panel, will be notified by telephone, email and/or overnight mail on or about November 7, 2009 and will be required to respond (as directed) to the notification attempt within forty-eight (48) hours (or a shorter time if required by exigencies). The failure to respond timely to the notification may result in forfeiture of the Grand Prize and, in such case, Contest Entities may select an alternate Grand Prize winner according to the Judging Panel results. Potential Grand Prize winner will be required to execute and return an affidavit of eligibility, a liability release and, unless prohibited by law, a publicity release and other related documents as may be required by the Contest Entities (the "Prize Claim Documents") within a reasonable amount of time, as determined by the Contest Entities in their sole discretion. Potential Grand Prize winner can NOT be eligible for the Grand Prize until all such properly executed and notarized Prize Claim Documents are returned. Additionally, the Potential Grand Prize Winner may have to submit to a background check. Such background check may include (but is not limited to) investigation of employment history, criminal or other arrest or conviction record, and any other factor deemed relevant by the Contest Entities to help ensure that any Potential Grand Prize Winner will not, in the Contest Entities' sole discretion, bring Contest Entities into public disrepute, contempt, scandal or ridicule or reflect unfavorably on Contest Entities. If requested, the Potential Grand Prize Winner agrees to sign waiver forms authorizing the release of personal and background information. 9. PRIZE: Grand Prize Package (1): The Grand Prize Winner will receive: one (1) 4 day/3 night trip for two (2) people to Los Angeles, CA to meet with an animator of The Simpson's®. The trip will consist of the following: (a.) round-trip coach air transportation for two (2) people from the major airport nearest Grand Prize Winner's residence to Los Angeles, California, Approximate Retail Value ("ARV"): $1,000; (b.) two (2) nights standard hotel accommodations for Grand Prize Winner and his/her guest at a hotel selected by Contest Entities (one room; double occupancy and room tax only), ARV: $700; (c.) a meeting with an animator of The Simpson's® (subject to availability); (d.) a cel of your Character Description as it may appear in an episode of The Simpson's®, ARV: $150 and (e.) $500 spending money. Additionally, the Grand Prize winning Character Description as it is developed by an animator of The Simpson's® may also be used in a future episode of The Simpson's®. ARV of Grand Prize: $2,350. Total cumulative ARV of all prizing: $2,350. Actual Grand Prize value depends on Grand Prize Winner's place of residence and cost and availability of airfare and hotel at time of booking and travel and may be substantially higher or lower than estimated value. Grand Prize Winner and his/her guest are responsible for obtaining any necessary travel documents. Contest Entities will not obtain travel insurance on behalf of any Grand Prize Winner or guest. The Grand Prize Winner shall be solely responsible for all expenses not specifically set forth herein, including but not limited to meals, gratuities, tips, taxes and incidentals. Trip dates will be specified by the Contest Entities. Trip must be taken on the dates specified by the Contest Entities and failure to travel during the specified times will result in forfeiture of the Grand Prize. If a Grand Prize Winner lives within 200 miles of Los Angeles, the Contest Entities reserve the right to substitute ground transportation for airfare, in their sole discretion. Contest Entities reserve the right to change travel dates and to substitute any or all of these portions of the prize for a prize of comparable or greater value should they become unavailable or impractical for any reason. If the meeting with an animator of The Simpsons® is cancelled or postponed for any reason, applicable portions of the prize will be cancelled without substitution or compensation. Contest Entities will not replace any lost or stolen tickets, travel vouchers or certificates. Once travel commences, no unscheduled stopovers are permitted; if an unscheduled stopover occurs, full fare will be charged from stopover point for the remaining segments, including return, of the trip. Contest Entities are not liable for any expenses incurred as a consequence of flight cancellation/delay. All air transportation tickets are subject to the vagaries of flight variation, work stoppages and schedule or route changes. ARV for travel prizes may vary depending upon points of departure and destination and fare fluctuations. Prize winner will not receive cash or any other form of compensation if actual travel costs are less than the prize ARV in these Official Rules. Sponsor reserves the right to structure the travel route and select hotels in its sole discretion. Trip may not be combined with any other offer and travel may not qualify for frequent flyer miles. Grand Prize Winner's guest must be at least 18 years of age and not a minor in his/her state of residence and must sign and return a Liability/Publicity Release prior to travel. Contest Entities cannot guarantee that the Grand Prize Winner's Character Description as it is developed by the animator will be used or appear in the final edited version of any media production. ALL FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL TAXES, AND ANY OTHER COSTS AND EXPENSES, ASSOCIATED WITH THE RECEIPT OR USE OF THE PRIZE ARE THE SOLE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE WINNER. Prize winner cannot assign or transfer the prize to another person, except at discretion of Contest Entities. If a prize cannot be awarded due to circumstances beyond the control of Contest Entities, a substitute prize of equal or greater retail value will be awarded; provided, however, that if prizes are awarded but unclaimed/forfeited by recipient, prize may not be re-awarded, in Contest Entities' sole discretion. Other restrictions may apply. The Grand Prize, and all portions of the prize, are awarded WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, express or implied, without limitation. 10. NATURE OF RELATIONSHIP/WAIVER OF EQUITABLE RELIEF: Each Entrant understands and acknowledges that the Contest Entities have wide access to ideas, stories, designs, and other literary materials, and that new ideas are constantly being submitted to it or being developed by their own employees. Each Entrant also acknowledges that many ideas may be competitive with, similar or identical to the Character Description and/or each other in theme, idea, format or other respects. Each Entrant acknowledges and agrees that such Entrant will not be entitled to any compensation as a result of any Contest Entities use of any such similar or identical material. Each Entrant acknowledges and agrees that the Contest Entities do not now and shall not have in the future any duty or liability, direct or indirect, vicarious, contributory, or otherwise, with respect to the infringement or protection of the copyright in and to the Character Description. Finally, each Entrant acknowledges that, with respect to any claim by Entrant relating to or arising out of a Contest Entities actual or alleged exploitation or use of any Character Description or other material submitted in connection with the Contest, the damage, if any, thereby caused to the applicable Entrant will not be irreparable or otherwise sufficient to entitle such Entrant to seek injunctive or other equitable relief or in any way enjoin the production, distribution, exhibition or other exploitation of the Character Description or any other production based on or allegedly based on the Character Description, and the Entrant's rights and remedies in any such event shall be strictly limited to the right to recover damages, if any, in an action at law. 11. RIGHTS OF CONTEST ENTITIES/ DISCLAIMER OF LIABILITY: Contest Entities, shall have the right and sole discretion to edit, to refuse to publish or cease to publish any Character Description whatsoever which it finds to be in violation of the provisions hereof, does not fully comply with all of Contest Entities requirements in connection with any and all legal clearance issues, or which it finds in its sole discretion to be otherwise objectionable for any reason. Contest Entities also reserve the right to replace the winning Character Description with the Character Description of an alternate eligible Entrant in accordance with these Official Rules if such Character Description and/or Entrant is withdrawn from or removed from the Contest for any reason, including without limitation, Entrant's failure to have documents executed as directed by the Contest Entities. Contest Entities also reserve the right, in their sole discretion, to adjust times and dates reflected in the Description Section of the Official Rules at any time and/or to terminate the Contest for any reason in the event that there is an error, problem or cause which impacts the operation, administration or security of the Contest or the Contest Entities and, in such situation, to select the winner(s) from the eligible Entries received prior to the action taken or in such manner as deemed fair and appropriate by Contest Entities. The Contest Entities are not responsible for any materials provided by Entrants which are deemed harmful or offensive to others or for any harm incurred as a result of the Character Description creation. The Contest Entities are not responsible in any way for any injury, loss or damage which occurs as a result of an opinion expressed or information provided in the on the telecast. The Contest Entities make no warranties, express or implied, as to the content or the accuracy or reliability of any information or statements contained in the Character Description. All statements and opinions made by Entrants are those of such Entrants only, and the Contest Entities neither endorse nor shall be held responsible for the reliability or accuracy of same. Contest Entities are not responsible for the content or practices of third party Web sites that may be linked to the Contest Website. This site may also be linked to Web sites operated by companies affiliated with Contest Entities. Visitors to those sites should refer to each site's separate privacy policies and practices. 12. INDEMNITY: The Contest may also be promoted by a third party or parties (each a "Promotional Partner," collectively "Promotional Partners"). Entrant shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Contest Entities, any Promotional Partners, and each of their respective parents, affiliates, successors, assigns and licensees, and each of their respective employees, shareholders, officers, directors, contractors, agents and representatives from and against any and all liability, claims, loss, damage, injury or expense, including reasonable attorneys' fees, arising out of or in connection with any third party action arising out of or resulting from (i) Entrant's participation in the Contest, (ii) a breach or allegation which if true would constitute a breach, of any of Entrant's representations, warranties or obligations herein, and/or (iii) acceptance, possession, or use of any grant or prize, including without limitation, personal injury, death and property damage arising therefrom. 13. GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS: By participating, each Entrant agrees that the Contest Entities and each of their respective agents, representatives, parent companies, affiliates, subsidiaries and legal advisors, and each of their respective employees, shareholders, officers, and directors are not responsible or liable for, and shall be released and held harmless from: (i) late, lost, delayed, damaged, incomplete, illegible, unintelligible, misdirected or otherwise undeliverable mail, postage-due notices, release forms, affidavits or other correspondence; (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 the Contest Entities that may cause the Contest to be disrupted or corrupted; (iv) any printing, human, typographical or other errors or ambiguities in (or involving) any materials associated with the Contest; (v) any and all losses, damages, rights, claims and action of any kind in connection with or resulting from participation in the Contest; (vi) acceptance, possession, or use of any grant, including without limitation, personal injury, death and property damage arising there from; and (vii) claims based on publicity rights, defamation or invasion of privacy. Contest Entities reserve the right, in its sole discretion, to suspend or cancel the Contest 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 Contest, strikes, lock-outs, acts of God, technical difficulties, and other events not within the reasonable control of Contest Entities. Contest Entities reserve the right, at their sole discretion, to prohibit any Entrant from participating in the Contest or to disqualify any individual it finds, in its sole determination, to be tampering with the entry process or the operation of the Contest; to be attempting to undermine the legitimate operation of the Contest by cheating, hacking, deception, or any other unfair playing practices; to be acting in violation of the Official Rules; or to be acting in a disruptive manner, or with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass any other person. Contest Entities may suspend or discontinue the Contest if, in their sole opinion, there is any actual or suspected tampering of the Contest, or any other malfunction, event or activity that may affect the integrity of the Contest. CONTEST ENTITIES SHALL NOT BE OBLIGATED TO AWARD ANY PRIZE THAT RELATES TO OR ARISES OUT OF IMPROPER OR MISTAKEN PRIZE NOTIFICATION, OPERATION OR FUNCTION OF THIS CONTEST. 14. DISPUTES: All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of the Contest, or the rights and obligations of Entrants and the Contest Entities 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 California or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of New York. In the event of a claim or dispute, Entrants' sole remedy shall be limited to their remedy at law for damages, if any, and Entrants shall not have the right to in any way enjoin or restrain the distribution, advertising, publicizing or other exploitation (in any form of media) of the Contest Website, the Contest, and/or any intellectual property owned or licensed by the Contest Entities or their respective parent companies and affiliated entities. 15. PRIVACY POLICY: Any personal information supplied by you to Sponsor will be subject to the Website privacy policy posted at http://www.fox.com/corporate/privacypolicy.htm. By entering the Contest, you grant Sponsor permission to share your email address and any other personally identifiable information with the other Contest Entities for the purpose of prize fulfillment. Additionally, by opting-in to specific offers from any of the Contest Entities, Entrant's entry information will be subject to their respective privacy policies and terms of service and Entrant agrees to receive additional email communication from those companies. Sponsor will not sell, rent, transfer or otherwise disclose your personal data to any third party other than as explicitly described herein. 16. WINNER/OFFICIAL RULES: To obtain a copy of the Winner's List or a copy of these Official Rules, send your request along with a stamped, self-addressed envelope to The Simpsons® Character Contest Winner/Rules, 100 E. Pine Street, Suite 201, Orlando, Florida 32801. Requests for the names of the winner must be received no later than January 15, 2010. Vermont residents may omit return postage.