Lincoln Lounge Spotlight

Official Rules

 

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN.  THIS CONTEST IS SPONSORED BY LINCOLN MERCURY AND UNIWORLD GROUP, INC. (the “Sponsor”).

1. OVERVIEW


The Lincoln Lounge Spotlight Contest (“Contest”) is an online talent competition that provides a FREE opportunity for unsigned and undiscovered artists to showcase their lyrical talents.  Participants will create an original video submission (“Submission”) using tracks provided by Sponsor that will be posted on www.Lincolnlounge.com for public comment and voting.  After several rounds of competition, a judging panel will select the Grand Champion who will be announced on Tuesday, May 6, 2008.

2. REGISTRATION

Any individual or group wishing to enter the Contest or participate in the voting process, must first register at www.Lincolnlounge.com, thereby becoming an eligible participant (“Participant”).  Registration is free.  As part of the registration process, Participants will be required to click where indicated to signify that they accept and agree to be bound by these Official Rules, the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy of www.Lincolnlounge.com, and the decisions of the judges and the Sponsor which are final and binding in all respects.  By registering, Participants agree that Sponsor and its agents are authorized to display any Submissions, voter ratings, comments and reviews on www.Lincolnlounge.com in connection with the Contest.  Limit one registration per person and per e-mail address.  Sponsor reserves the right to cancel the registration of and/or disqualify any individual who, in the sole discretion of Sponsor, attempts to register or is suspected of registering more than once by any means, including but not limited to establishing multiple e-mail accounts.

3. HOW TO ENTER

Participants may enter the Contest beginning 12:00 PM (EST) on Monday, February 4 2008 and must enter no later than 5:00 PM (EST) on Monday, March 17, 2008.  Any Submissions received after the deadline will be disqualified.
It’s easy to enter.  Simply:

  1. Download the Official Rules and Register at www.Lincolnlounge.com.
  2. Select and Download one of the free tracks for the Contest provided by the Sponsor (“Contest Tracks”).
  3. Create a song and video over one (1) selected Contest Track using the Guidelines for Submission below.
  4. Upload your video Submission at www.Lincolnlounge.com.

With these four steps, you will be entered for your chance to win the Lincoln Spotlight Grand Championship Prize.  Limit one individual and one group entry per person.  Limit one entry per group.  If more entries are received per person or group only the first such entry received will be eligible. 

4. GROUP SUBMISSIONS

Groups of up to three (3) persons are eligible to enter.  Each member of the group must meet the eligibility requirements and must register.  The group must designate one member as the primary contact person on behalf of the group (“Group Representative”).  NOTE:  All official Contest communications will be directed to the Group Representative only.  By making a group Submission, the Group Representative and all group members agree that Sponsor may rely upon the statements of the Group Representative as representative of each member in the group.  Sponsor assumes no responsibility for any internal disputes among group members, including with respect to ownership and/or interest in or to the Submission or any part of the Submission, or failure of the group members to communicate with each other.  Groups may be disqualified based on the conduct of any one member of the group.

5. CONTEST ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

All Submissions must meet the following requirements to be eligible:

  • The Lincoln Mercury brand stands for superior American luxury.  All Submissions must include lyrics that address one or more of the following themes: (1) Advancing the American Dream; (2) Being proud of where you came from; (3) Doing more and daring more; or (4) An exploration of what it means to” reach higher.”
  • Submissions must be no less than two (2) minutes in length and no more than five (5) minutes in length.
  • Submissions must be the entrant’s original work and lyrics. Submissions must not infringe the copyright, trademark, privacy, publicity or other intellectual property rights of any person or entity.
  • Submissions must use one (1) of the Contest Tracks.  Submissions that contain more than one Contest Track, or other music, tracks, videos or content owned by third parties will be disqualified.
  • Submissions may not contain the image, likeness or voice of any identifiable person, other than the entrant(s).
  • Submissions must not contain any profane, sexually explicit, unnecessarily violent, disparaging, defamatory, libelous, obscene, offensive, derogatory of any ethnic, racial, gender, religious, profession or age group or other inappropriate content or hate language.  Submissions must not communicate messages or images inconsistent with the positive images and/or good will to which Sponsor wishes to associate, as determined in the sole discretion of Sponsor.

6. FINALIST SELECTION PROCESS

Once a Submission is entered, registered visitors will have the opportunity on www.lincolnlounge.com to view, comment on, and rate Submissions on a scale of 1 to 5 stars, with 1 star being the lowest score and 5 stars being the highest score.  A Submission’s “Score” is the average of its ratings from online registered visitor voting (i.e. the sum of all ratings divided by the total number of ratings).  Scores are cumulative (i.e., they reflect all voter ratings for a Submission from the beginning of the Contest).  In the event of a tie, the winner of the tie will be deemed the entrant that has the most 5 star ratings, or if the tied contestants all have the same number of 5 star ratings, the winner will deemed the entrant that has the most 4 star ratings, and so forth, until a winner of the tie is determined.
Beginning 12 noon EST on Monday, February 4, 2008, Submissions will be posted at www.lincolnlounge.com for public voting.  Throughout the Contest, entrants may update their profile page, but Submissions may not be altered, updated or modified after they are first submitted.

  1. The top 25 Submissions based on their Score as of Tuesday, March 18 at 5:00 pm EST will advance to the First Round.
  2. The top 20 Submissions based on their Score as of Tuesday, April 1 at 5:00 pm EST will advance to the Second Round.
  3. The top 10 Submissions based on their Score as of Tuesday, April 15 at 5:00 pm EST will advance to Third Round.
  4. The top 5 Submissions  based on their Score as of Tuesday, April 29 at 5:00 pm EST will be posted on www.lincolnlounge.com and will advance to the Finalist Round.  The 5 finalists will be notified that they are in the finalist round via email at the email addressed provided during the registration process. 

7.  JUDGING PANEL:
A judging panel of music executives and Lincoln top brass will select the Lincoln Spotlight Grand Champion from among the five finalists.  On Tuesday, May 6 at Noon EST, the Grand Champion will be announced.
The judging panel will determine FINAL scores using the following guidelines:

    • 40% Originality (including how the Lincoln theme(s) were addressed)
    • 30% Verbal Technique
    • 30% Visual Sophistication of Video

The decision of the judges shall be final and binding.  In the event of a tie, the tie will be broken on the basis of the highest score in Originality.

8. PROMOTE YOURSELF:

The LINCOLN SPOTLIGHT Contest makes it easy to promote yourself and your talent all over the web (See Fig. 1-a below).
Each time a Submission is uploaded, the video will have a unique URL and a unique embed code (see Fig 1-a below).
The URL and embed code easily can be copied and pasted onto any other web pages/web sites of your choosing (example: MySpace, etc.)  This makes it easy to promote your own songs (or a friend’s song or just one you like) on other sites, and encourages others to come vote for the songs on www.lincolnlounge.com.
CAUTION:  Participants are solely responsible for compliance with the terms of use and privacy policies of any website on which the Participant pastes the URL and embed code for their Submission.  Such posting is outside the control of Sponsor and Participants should review such terms of use and privacy policies prior to linking to, posting to and/or pasting and embedding a Submission URL on any such websites.

9. PRIZES AND APPROXIMATE RETAIL VALUE

  1. $10,000 cash, and
  2. Featured as opening act for Common at a Lincoln Lounge event (with travel).

If the Grand Prize Winner is an individual, the prize includes the opportunity to perform as Common’s opening act at a Lincoln Lounge event, roundtrip coach class air transportation for winner and a guest from the airport nearest to the winner’s home to the destination city, two (2) nights Sponsor-selected hotel accommodations (based on double occupancy) and $10,000, awarded in the form of a check (ARV: $12,000). 
If the Grand Prize Winner is a group, the prize includes the opportunity to perform as Common’s opening act at a Lincoln Lounge event, roundtrip coach class air transportation for each group member and each member’s guest from the airport nearest to the Group Representative’s home to the destination city, two (2) nights Sponsor-selected hotel accommodations (based on double occupancy) for each group member and $10,000 awarded in the form of a check payable to the Group Representative (ARV: $16,000).  In the event the Grand Prize Winner is a group, all members of the group must be available to perform at the Common Lincoln Lounge event; if all group members are not available, the group will forfeit this portion of the prize.
Actual retail value of Grand Prize may vary due to winner(s)’ residence and fares at time of travel.  Winner(s) and guest(s) must travel on dates specified by  Sponsor.  Accommodations are subject to availability.

10. ELIGIBILITY

Open to legal residents of the fifty (50) United States and the District of Columbia who are sixteen (16) years of age or older at the time of entry.  Void where prohibited by law.  Employees of Sponsor, its affiliates, parents, subsidiaries, participating advertising and promotion agencies and prize suppliers, and the immediate family members and/or those living in the same household of such persons, are not eligible. You are ineligible if you or any member of your group has entered into an agreement with any record company, publishing company, or any other company if such agreement might interfere or conflict with your ability, or the ability of any member of your group, to participate in this Contest, or perform for or enter into agreements with Sponsor as described herein.  All determinations under this paragraph will be made by Sponsor in its sole and absolute discretion. 

11. VOTING RULES

Limit one vote (rating), per registered voter, per Submission during the Contest.  Any individual who, at the sole discretion of Sponsor, abuses the voting process in anyway, including without limitation mass voting, votes generated by a script or macro, use of automated devices, or the use of multiple voter or email accounts will be disqualified from further voting in the Contest and will have all of their prior votes disqualified.

12. DISQUALIFICATIONS

Sponsor reserves the right, at any time, in its sole and unfettered discretion to:  (1) disqualify and remove any Submission that it believes potentially or actually infringes upon the copyright, or other rights of any third party, is inconsistent with Sponsor’s image, or otherwise does not comply with these Official Rules; and (2) disqualify and revoke the registration of any person whose Submission, profile page, and/or comments, in the sole opinion of Sponsor, contains any content or hate language, or otherwise communicate messages or images that are inconsistent with the positive images and/or good will to which Sponsor wishes to associate.
The Lincoln Spotlight Contest is a stage on which undiscovered artists should showcase their talent and skill.  Please respect the fellow members of the Lincoln Spotlight community.

13. GRANT OF RIGHTS

Upon entering this Contest, Sponsor grants to Participant the non-exclusive, non-assignable, worldwide right for a limited period commencing February 4, 2008 and ending December 15, 2008 to use the Contest Tracks on the Internet solely in connection with Participant’s Submission (i.e., use together with Participant’s original lyrics) as contemplated by these Official Rules.  Participant understands and agrees that it otherwise acquires no rights in or to the Contest tracks.


Participant agrees that after December 15, 2008, the Participant no longer has the right to use or display their Submission or otherwise use the Contest track.  Use or display of the Submission or the Contest track after December 15, 2008 may subject Participant to legal action, including action for copyright infringement, for which Participant agrees that Sponsor will not be liable.


By entering this Contest, Participant irrevocably grants to Sponsor and its advertising and promotion agencies for a period of one (1) year commencing February 4, 2008, a non-exclusive, worldwide right to use Participant’s name, stage name(s), likenesses, voice, biographical information, photographs, performances, logos, profile and Submission in connection with the Contest for advertising, publicity and promotion purposes, in any and all media, now and hereafter known, without further compensation to Participant, unless prohibited by law.


Sponsor has no obligation to use, publish or exploit any materials or Submission, including the songs submitted by the Participants, finalists or Grand Prize Winner.  At no time may an entrant use any Submission content, specifically including but not limited to the Contests Tracks, for their own use, whether in a promotional or commercial capacity.

14. GRAND PRIZE WINNER REQUIREMENTS/OBLIGATIONS

The Grand Prize Winner acknowledges and agrees that Sponsor will own all right, title and interest in and to the Grand Prize Winner’s Submission, including the lyrics, and the Submission will be the property of Sponsor, and shall be considered “work-for-hire” as defined in the US Copyright Code.  Sponsor shall own all rights in and to the master recording of such Submission.  Sponsor has the right to edit, adapt, modify, publish, promote, exploit and otherwise use or not use the Submission and any materials or information contained therein in any way, in any media throughout the world, without any compensation to the Participant for any purposes, including commercial purposes.  The Grand Prize Winner understands and agrees that he/she (or each group member) will retain no rights whatsoever in or to the Submission, including the rights to the Contest Tracks.  Before the Grand Prize is awarded, the winning Participant(s) agree to do all things and execute all documentation necessary to effect the assignment and/or waiver herein described.


In addition, the winning Participant(s) will be required to submit any applicable documentation deemed necessary by Sponsor, including a Publicity Release and an Affidavit of Eligibility certifying that he/she meets the Contest eligibility requirements, has complied with these Official Rules, holds all rights to the Submission (other than to the Contest Tracks) and that the Submission or any part of the Submission, including the lyrics, has not been previously published and has not won a previous prize or award.
The above-described agreements must be signed, notarized and returned by the winning Participant or all members of the winning Participant group  within seven (7) days of Sponsor’s issuance.  Noncompliance within this time period, with these Official Rules, or the return of any notification as undeliverable may result in disqualification and the selection of an alternate (or cancellation of the Contest and no awarding of a Prize), if Sponsor so elects at its sole and absolute discretion. 
In the event a winning Participant (or group member) is less than the age of majority in his/her state of residence, all required documents must be signed by the winning Participant’s (or group member’s) parent/legal guardian on his/her behalf.

15. GENERAL RULES

Void where prohibited by law.  All federal, state and local laws and regulations apply.  In the event there is a discrepancy or inconsistency between disclosures or other statements contained in any Contest materials and these Official Rules, these Official Rules shall prevail, govern and control.  ALL FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL TAXES ARE THE SOLE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE WINNER.  No substitution or transfer of prize by winner permitted.  Sponsor reserves the right to substitute prize of equal or greater value.


Sponsor reserves the right to change these Official Rules or cancel or modify the Contest at any time, for any reason.  Changes to these Official Rules, if any are made, will be posted on the Official Rules page at www.lincolnlounge.com.
Sponsor is not responsible for any typographical or other errors in the printing of the offer, administration of the Contest or the announcement of the prizes or finalists, or for lost, late, misdirected, damaged, incomplete or illegal entries.  Proof of Submission does not constitute proof of receipt.  Sponsor’s clock shall be deemed the official clock for the Contest.  Any use of robotic, automatic, programmed or the like methods of participation will disqualify all Submissions by such methods.


Sponsor is not responsible for injury or damage to any person’s computer related to any persons’ participation in the Contest, as an entrant or voter, or otherwise related to the Contest.  Sponsor is also not responsible for any electronic transmission errors resulting in any omission, interruption, deletion, defect, delay in operations or transmissions, theft or destruction or unauthorized access to or alterations of any entries/photographs/videos submitted, or for any technical, network, telephone equipment, electronic, computer, hardware or software malfunction or limitations of any kind, or any inaccurate transmissions of or failure to receive entry information on account of technical problems or traffic congestion on the Internet. If for any reason the Internet portion of the Contest is not capable of running as planned, including infection by computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures, or any other causes beyond the control of the Sponsor which corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity, or proper conduct of this Contest, the Sponsor reserves the right in its sole and unfettered discretion to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the Contest and to award any prizes based on entries received prior to termination. THE SPONSOR RESERVES THE RIGHT IN ITS SOLE AND UNFETTERED DISCRETION TO DISQUALIFY ANY PERSON WHO TAMPERS OR IS SUSPECTED OF TAMPERING WITH THE ENTRY AND/OR VOTING PROCESS.  NOTICE TO ENTRANTS: ANY ATTEMPT BY PARTICIPANT TO DELIBERATELY DAMAGE ANY WEBSITE, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE LINCOLN OR LINCOLN SPOTLIGHT WEB SITES, OR UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THE CONTEST IS A VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS, AND SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, THE SPONSOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO SEEK DAMAGES AND/OR OTHER RELIEF FROM ANY SUCH PARTICIPANT TO THE FULLEST EXTENT OF THE LAW.


Any damage made to www.lincolnlounge.com by a registered visitor or Participant will be the responsibility of the authorized e-mail account holder of the e-mail address registered.  “Authorized e-mail account holder” is defined as the natural person who is assigned to an e-mail address by an Internet access provider, online service provider or other organization (e.g., business, educational institution etc.) that is responsible for assigning e-mail addresses for the domain associated with the submitted e-mail address.”


Participant agrees and understands that Sponsor has access to and/or may create or have created film, tape and/or other materials, ideas and concepts which may be similar or identical to the Submissions in theme, idea, style and/or other respects.  Participant understands and agrees that he/she will not be entitled to any compensation or other consideration because of the use by Sponsor of any such similar or identical material, ideas and/or concepts and further understands and agrees that Sponsor’s use of material containing elements similar to or identical with those contained in the Submission shall not obligate Sponsor to negotiate with nor entitle Participant to any compensation or other claim.


Participant agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Sponsor and its respective affiliates, subsidiaries, licensees and assigns, and their respective officers, directors, employees, agents’ representatives, independent contractors and from and against any and all claims, liabilities (including, but not limited to, attorneys’ fees), demands and actions of every kind and nature, whether or not now known or suspected (collectively, “Claims”), arising out of or in connection with (a) any Submission submitted by Participant (including, but not limited to, any and all claims of third parties, whether or not groundless, based on the Submission of such other material); (b) any breach by Participant of any warranty, agreement or representation contained in these Official Rules or the Terms of Service of lincolnlounge.com or in any documentation submitted by Participant, including Participant’s continued use or display of the Submission, including the Contest Track after December 15, 2008.  Further, by participating in this Contest, each Participant hereby releases Sponsor, and its affiliates, subsidiaries, licensees and assigns, and all such parties’ respective officers, and affiliates from any and all liability whatsoever for any claims, costs, injuries, losses or damages of any kind arising out of or in connection with Participant’s participation in the Contest or the acceptance of any prize.

16. DISPUTES/GOVERNING LAW

  • Under no circumstances will Participants be permitted to obtain awards for, and each hereby waives, all rights to claim punitive, incidental and/or consequential damages, and/or any other damages, including attorney’s fees or other such related costs of pursuing a claim, in connection with this Contest.  The Contest is governed by, and will be construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Michigan, and the forum and venue for any dispute shall be in Dearborn, Michigan.  If any controversy or claim arising out of or relating to the Contest, the Official Rules, or the breach of any term hereof, cannot be otherwise resolved, it shall be resolved by binding arbitration conducted in Wayne County, and administered by JAMS in accordance with its Streamlined Arbitration Rules and Procedures or subsequent versions thereof (the “JAMS Rules”).  The JAMS Rules for selection of an arbitrator shall be followed, except that the arbitrator shall be an experienced arbitrator licensed to practice law in Michigan.

17. WINNER

A winners list will be available at www.lincolnlounge.com commencing approximately 2 weeks after the conclusion of the Contest, for approximately 16 weeks.  In addition, the winner’s list and these Official Rules are also available by sending a stamped, self-addressed envelope marked “LINCOLN SPOTLIGHT”  c/o THE UNIWORLD GROUP, Attn: ACCOUNT SUPERVISOR, LINCOLN MERCURY, 100 Avenue of the Americas -16th Floor, New York, NY 10013 RE: Request for Winners List or Request for Competition Rules.”

The Sponsor of this Contest is LINCOLN MERCURY, One American Road, Dearborn, MI 48126 and UNIWORLD GROUP, INC, 100 Avenue of the Americas, 16th Floor, New York, NY 10013.