THE AMERICAN STUDENTS' FUND, INC

"SPEAK NEW WORDS" INTERNET VIDEO CONTEST

TWO $5,000 Grand Prizes

TWO $1000 Second Place Prizes

TWO $500 Third Place Prizes

OFFICIAL RULES
OPEN ONLY TO ALL U.S. CITIZENS THE UNITED STATES ("U.S."), WHO ARE AT LEAST 13 YEARS OF AGE.

THERE ARE TWO ENTRY CATEGORIES. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED OR RESTRICTED BY LAW.

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY

    1. ELIGIBILITY: "Speak New Words" video contest (the "Contest") is open to:

      • Category One: U.S. citizens age 13 to 20 as of the launch date of the contest, May 16, 2008. ("Student category")

      • Category Two: U.S. citizens age 21 and above. ("21+ category")

    Entrants must also have Internet access and be a registered member with a valid YouTube account in order to compete in the Contest.

    Employees, officers, directors, advisory board members, and independent contractors of the American Students' Fund, Inc. (the "Sponsor") and the immediate family members (or members of the same household whether related or not) of the abovementioned individuals are not eligible for the contest. Entrants who are minors, under the age of 18, or under the age of majority in their state, must submit a parental release form to the Sponsor. Before any prize money is released to the winner, age will be verified. If the winner is a minor, under the age of 18, or under the age of majority in his or her state, a parent/legal guardian release form must be validated before funds are released to the winner. Release forms can be obtained at: www.americanstudentsfund.org/snw2008/. Signed and witnessed release forms should be faxed or mailed to the Sponsor:

    The American Students' Fund

    Speak New Words Internet Video Contest

    Parental Release Forms

    PO Box 4957

    Lutherville, Maryland 21030

    Facsimile: 410-628-0833

      Disclaimer: The American Students' Fund ("ASF" or "Sponsor") supports the option of parents to monitor the Internet activity of their children. The ASF "Speak New Words" Internet video contest will utilize the Internet site YouTube as the venue where entrants will upload their video entries. YouTube is an Internet site that allows the general public to upload self-produced video. YouTube discourages usage by those less than 13 years of age. Although the American Students' Fund has made and will continue to make available all information and rules regarding its "Speak New Words" Internet contest to the legal guardians and parents of potential entrants, the ASF has no control over who – regardless of age – may upload videos to YouTube which includes, specifically, the YouTube "Speak New Words" contest. Although submissions – as well as each entrant's YouTube channel - will be reviewed for content before they are added to the "Speak New Words" YouTube group, the ASF has no control over what may be added and/or viewed on personal channels of Contest entrants. Parents are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the YouTube site and "Terms of Use" policy at: www.youtube.com

    1. CONTEST DESCRIPTION: The American Students' Fund "Speak New Words" Internet video contest entry period begins at 12:01 AM (Eastern Standard Time) on May 16, 2008 and ends at 11:59 PM on September 7, 2008 (Eastern Standard Time). The prize winners will be announced in November 2008. The contest offers U.S citizens who are 13 years of age or older the opportunity to compose original lyrics for an audio-visual video work of pop, reggae, hip-hop, rock, spoken word, poetry, and/or R & B. Each entrant to the contest will endeavor to compose words (lyrics) that will "inspire the rising generation to greatness" (the "Theme")

    1. TO ENTER: Create an audio-visual video, no shorter than one (1) minute and no longer than four (4) minutes, in which you perform original (created by you) WORDS (LYRICS) (spoken or sung) that will include 13 character traits that you believe are necessary if true change is to be realized in our countrywww.americanstudentsfund.org/snw2008. Please make careful note of the following guidelines:
        • All entrants must be registered users, with an active account, at www.youtube.com where all entries will be submitted and uploaded. Additionally, each entrant must register his or her video submission as well as WORDS (lyrics) (collectively, "Submission") at the official contest website at www.americanstudentsfund.org/snw2008 (failure to register YouTube submission (including typed lyrics) at official Contest website will result in entrant's disqualification in the contest)
        • The words (lyrics) performed in each video entry must be completely ORIGINAL. Each entrant must separately submit the lyrics of each video entry via the link provided at www.americanstudentsfund.org/snw2008.
        • Entries may contain musical accompaniment. However, the musical component and/or accompaniment of any video entry must be: royalty-free karaoke accompaniment or other royalty-free instrumental accompaniment or in the public domain or entirely original (created and performed by you)
        • IMPORTANT: Submissions must not contain racial and/or religious slurs, profanity, and commonly used words in popular music that might offend, such as, but not limited to, the N word, the H word, the B word, the F word, the S words and all other profane words or phrases. Furthermore, an entry must not include violent phrases or promote the imagery of violence, physical violence and/or the usage of weapons of violence. Submissions may not contain sexual content or imagery, or content that may be considered adult in nature. The Sponsor retains the exclusive right to disqualify – at its sole discretion – any entry that does not follow the above-stated guidelines for content. In addition, the Sponsor reserves the right to disqualify any submission entered by a YouTube user whose personal channel does not reflect the above stated guidelines.
        • FOR MINORS, THOSE UNDER THE AGE OF 18, OR THOSE UNDER THE AGE OF MAJORITY IN THEIR HOME STATE: Entrants which fall into this age category must have a signed, witnessed release form from parents or legal guardians. Release forms can be obtained at www.americanstudentsfund.org/snw2008 Please see Rule #1 of this document for further explanation.
        • No purchase is necessary, nor is there a requirement to submit to any promotion.

    1. FORMAT/TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS: Each entry must be in video format and be at least one (1) minute in length and not exceed four (4) minutes in length. The maximum file size for any video file uploaded to YouTube is 100 MB. Video file(s) submitted to your YouTube account must be provided in one of the following file formats: avi, mov, mpg, or wmv. See the YouTube User Terms of Use for additional details at www.youtube.com/t/terms

      Complete the Following Steps:

        1. On the Speak New Words homepage, click on the "Upload Your Video on YouTube" link to go to the Speak New Words Contest Group on YouTube. If you are not already an officially registered user of YouTube, you will be required to create a free user account. Registration on YouTube must be completed before a video can be submitted. When you register your YouTube account, you will be required to agree to the YouTube Terms of Use, (www.youtube.com/t/terms) and the YouTube Privacy Policy, located at (www.youtube.com/t/privacy). Once registered with YouTube, go to the Speak New Words Contest on YouTube and join the Contest Group. (The easiest way to find the Contest Group is to type "speak new words" (with the quotation marks) into the general search box on the homepage of YouTube.) When you have successfully joined the Contest Group, click "Upload Videos" and follow the instructions to upload your video Submission. Make sure you upload only after making final edits to your submission. Submissions that do not include all required information and adhere to the above and following requirements will be disqualified.
        2. Second, after you have uploaded your Submission on YouTube, you must return to the Contest web site (www.americanstudentsfund.org/snw2008) to register your Submission (video and typed lyrics). To register, click on the "Submit Your Video and Lyrics" link and enter the requested information. You will be asked to provide your contact information, the name of your Submission and the unique YouTube URL that will link to your Submission on YouTube. Finish by clicking the "Register Your Submission" button.

        If entrants do not complete this registration step his/her Submission will not be entered into the Contest or be eligible for a prize even though your Submission may be posted on the Speak New Words Contest Group at YouTube. Entrant's failure to timely complete each step of the registration process will result in disqualification. Registration must be completed by 11:59:59 pm ET on September 7, 2008 or your Submission will be disqualified.

        You may enter up to five (5) Submissions as long as the same (or substantially similar) Submission is not uploaded more than once. IMPORTANT: Be sure to SAVE any Submission in the original format after uploading it to the YouTube Speak New Words Contest Group. If you are a semi-finalist, you will need to provide the Sponsor your Submission in its original format in order for the Submission to be posted on the Speak New Words website where the grand prize winner will be chosen. Failure to save your Submission in its original format will result in entrant being disqualified as a semi-finalist in the Contest.

    1. PRIZE:> Six prizes will be awarded amounting to a total of $13,000 prize money, to be divided between first, second and third place winners in both the student and non-student categories. In both categories, the award for first place will be $5000, the award for second place will be $1000, and the award for third place will be $500. Distribution of prize money is subject to confirmation of eligibility of winning entrants.

    1. SELECTION OF WINNERS: >The official entry period ends on September 7, 2008. Ten (10) semi-finalists will be chosen from student entries, and ten (10) semi-finalists will be chosen from non-student entries, for a total of twenty (20) semi-finalists, by an independent panel of judges, appointed at the sole discretion of the sponsor. Entries will be judged based on creativity, appropriateness for the theme and overall presentation. On or about October 16, 2008, the twenty semi-finalists will be identified on YouTube and posted at the Contest website where visitors may vote for the winners. The Winners Website, and the American Students' Fund website. The winning videos, along with the videos of all semi-finalists will remain posted on YouTube, the contest website, and the American Students' Fund website for as long as the Sponsor deems appropriate. After November 30, 2008, a list of semi-finalists and the winners, can be obtained by writing to:

    The American Students' Fund

    Speak New Words

    Semi-Finalist/Grand Prize List

    PO Box 4957

    Lutherville, Maryland 21030

      8. DISTRIBUTION OF PRIZE MONEY: >Once an entry is determined to be a winning entry, the individual who registered the entry on YouTube, as identified by his or her registered username on YouTube, as well as his or her secured contact information submitted to the official Contest website, will receive his or her prize payable by check from the American Students' Fund, Speak New Words escrow account. Six prizes will be distributed, a first, second and third place prize for student entries and a first, second, and third place prize for non-student entries. A first place video will receive a $5,000 prize; a second place video will receive a $1,000 prize; and a third place video will receive a $500 prize. The American Students' Fund will not distribute multiple checks to reflect a division of the prize money to multiple performers on any submitted entry video. In the case of a tie for any of the six prizes available, the Sponsor will choose the winner via an independent panel of judges chosen at the complete discretion of the Sponsor.

      9. CONDITIONS OF ENTRY: >As conditions of entry into this Contest, and by uploading and entering a Submission, each entrant represents and warrants that the Submission is original and does not infringe the copyright or other intellectual property right, privacy, publicity rights or any other rights of any third party. Each entrant represents that he/she owns all rights to his/her submission, including without limitation the copyrights in the recording, lyrics and the performance contained therein. Each entrant further represents and warrants that the entrant has obtained permission from each person whose name, image, likeness or voice ("Likeness") is included in the Submission, and that such person(s) have granted the entrant all necessary rights to use the person's Likeness as described in these rules, and that the entrant can make written copies of such permissions available to the Sponsor upon request. If the likeness of a minor is included, entrant has secured written permission from the minor's parent or legal guardian authorizing the use of the minor's Likeness on behalf of the minor. In being considered for the prizes by uploading a submission, each entrant irrevocably grants Sponsor and its affiliates, legal representatives, assigns, agents and licensees, the non-exclusive unconditional and perpetual right, license, and permission to reproduce, store, copy, transmit, publish, post, broadcast, display, publicly perform, create derivative works, exhibit and/or otherwise use or reuse, the entrant's Submission, in whole or in part, in Sponsor's sole and absolute discretion, as well as to use the entrant's name, likeness, photograph, and/or statements regarding his/her participation in this Contest (with or without using the entrant's name) in any and all media without limitation as to time or territory, and without additional compensation or approval from the Entrant or any other party. Each entrant waives any and all intellectual property rights, privacy/publicity rights or other legal or moral rights that might preclude the Sponsor's use of the submission, and agrees not to sue or assert any claim against the Sponsor for the use of the Submission or entrant's Likeness or statements. Each entrant agrees to indemnify and hold Sponsor, its agencies and their respective affiliates, officers, directors, agents, and any of their employees (collectively, the "Indemnities"), harmless from any and all claims, damages, expenses, costs (including reasonable attorneys' fees) and liabilities (including settlements), brought or asserted by any third party against any of the Indemnities due to or arising out of the entrant's Submission, or the entrant's conduct in creating a Submission or otherwise in connection with this Contest, including but not limited to claims for trademark infringement, copyright infringement; violation of an individual's right of publicity or right of privacy; or defamation. Each entrant further agrees to release Sponsor from any and all Claims that any advertising subsequently produced, presented, and/or prepared by or on behalf of Sponsor infringes the entrant's rights with regard to any elements, characters or ideas contained in any submission.

    1. GENERAL CONDITIONS: >The Sponsor reserves the right to cancel contest due to non-participation, i.e., if there are fewer than twenty-five (25) entrants. Semi-Finalists will be required to complete, sign and return an Affidavit of Eligibility, Liability Release, and, where lawful, Publicity Release. Semi-Finalists will also be required to obtain signed publicity releases from all identifiable individuals featured in Semi-Finalists' chosen Submission. All completed documents must be returned to Sponsor within 5 days of date notice was sent or Semi-Finalist status will be forfeited and an alternate Semi-Finalist may be selected. The winners may also be required to sign additional documents, as deemed necessary by Sponsor in its sole discretion. A winner is solely responsible for any taxes on his or her prize, and will receive an IRS Form 1099 for the value of their prize. No substitution of prize is offered, except at the sole discretion of the Sponsor. Prizes are non-transferable. If for any reason the Contest is not capable of running as planned, including but not limited to, infection by computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures, or any other causes which corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity or proper conduct of the Contest, Sponsor reserves the right, at its sole discretion to cancel, modify or terminate the Contest. Further, Sponsor reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to disqualify any individual deemed to be (a) tampering or attempting to tamper with the entry process or the operation of the Contest or YouTube; (b) violating the Official Rules; (c) violating the YouTube Terms of Service, or (d) acting in an offensive manner, or with intent to abuse, threaten or harass any other person. Winners agree to consent to a confidential background check if requested by Sponsor in order to confirm eligibility and/or to help ensure that the use of any such person in advertising or publicity for the Contest will not bring Sponsor into public disrepute, contempt, scandal or ridicule or reflect unfavorably on the Contest as determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion. The Sponsor – at its sole discretion - reserves the right to alter the rules and conditions of the Contest. Any dispute arising out of this Contest will be resolved in accordance with the laws of the State of Maryland, exclusive of conflicts of laws principles. All entrants consent to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in Baltimore, Maryland for the resolution of any disputes arising hereunder.


      11. LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY AND RELEASE: Sponsor disclaims any and all liability resulting from any user's participation in or attempt to participate in the Contest or ability or inability to upload or download any information in connection with participating in the Contest or from technical problems or technical malfunction arising in connection with any hardware or software errors; faulty computer, telephone, cable, satellite, network, electronic, wireless or Internet connectivity or other online communication problems; errors or limitations of any Internet service providers, servers, hosts or providers; faulty data transmissions; failed, late, delayed, or intercepted e-mail transmissions; inaccessibility of the Contest or YouTube web site traffic congestion on the Internet or any web site; unauthorized human or non-human intervention of the operation of the Contest, including without limitation, unauthorized tampering, hacking, theft, virus, bugs, worms; or destruction of any aspect of the Contest, or loss, miscount, misdirection, inaccessibility or unavailability of an email account used in connection with the Contest. Sponsor and Contest Parties are not responsible for any typographical errors in the announcement of prizes or these Official Rules, or any inaccurate or incorrect data contained on the Web Site. Use of Sponsor's or YouTube web site is at user's own risk. Sponsor is not responsible for any personal injury or property damage or losses of any kind which may be sustained to user's or any other person's computer equipment resulting from participation in the Contest, use of Contest web site or the download of any information from such site. By participating in the Contest, the entrant releases Sponsor and Contest Parties from any and all claims, damages or liabilities arising from or relating to such Entrant's participation in the Contest. By accepting a prize in the Contest, winners agree that the Sponsor shall not be liable for any loss or injury resulting from participation in the Contest, acceptance or use of any prize. Sponsor is not liable in the event that the Contest or any portion thereof is cancelled due to weather, fire, strike, acts of war or terrorism, or any other condition beyond their control.

    1. SPONSOR: The American Students' Fund
      PO Box 4957
      Lutherville, Maryland 21094-4957

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