Official Rules of the Convenient Truths Contest

These are the Official Rules for the 2006 “Convenient Truths” user-generated video contest.

Sponsors
The 2006 “Convenient Truths” video contest (“Contest”) is sponsored by Seventh Generation, Inc., 60 Lake Street, Burlington, VT 05401, 802.658.3773 and TreeHugger, Inc., c/o Jessica Root, 320 13th St., Brooklyn, NY, 11215, 347.374.8215 (the “Sponsors,” “We,” or “Our). All inquiries should be directed to Convenient Truths Contest, TreeHugger. Inc., c/o Jessica Root, 320 13th St., Brooklyn, NY, 11215.

Eligibility
The Contest is open internationally to those who are 18 years of age or older at the time the Contest commences, subject to limitations on prizes for non-US residents. Employees of Seventh Generation, Inc. and TreeHugger, Inc. are not eligible to participate. The Contest is subject to all federal, state and local laws and regulations. Judges and members of the Review Panel (and their immediate family members and members of the same households, whether related or not) are not eligible to participate. Void outside of the United States, and where prohibited by law.

Participants agree to abide by the terms of these Official Rules and by the decisions of the Sponsors which are final and binding on all matters pertaining to this Contest.

Contest Procedure and Rules
The Sponsors have created a user-generated video contest that offers compelling and pragmatic solutions to combat global warming. Al Gore’s film, An Inconvenient Truth, highlighted the growing and serious threat of climate change and our user-generated video contest offers a way to stem that tide.

This is a chance for concerned citizens to share the ways in which we can all save our planet. An Inconvenient Truth presented a problem; we want entrants to show us how to solve this problem.

Videos can discuss various components of everyday life including transportation, home and garden, work, recreation, etc. and in this, the subsequent actions being taken to reduce one’s carbon footprint.

Entrants who want their videos to be eligible for the "EPIC International Prize" can discuss the aforementioned components but must address conscious consumerism and its relationship to global warming.

How to enter the contest: Beginning at 12:00:01 pm Noon EST on November 21, 2006 and continuing until 11:00:00pm ET on February 28, 2007, you can visit www.truths.treehugger.com (“Web site”) to find out where to upload your video(s). Video(s) should be:

• Inspiring (Does it make the viewer want to get up and do something similar?)
Pragmatic (Does it provide the viewer with answers or tools so that they can take action?)
• Compelling (Is your storytelling as appealing as your actions?)

Videos must be in .mov, .wmv, .mp4, .3g2, or .3gp compressed video at 320x240. Mobile phone video can be uploaded in its original, smaller dimensions. Videos may not exceed 200MB in size. In the event of broadcast, all finalists must have a high-resolution version readily available and submit all relevant paperwork in regards to clearance of all elements included in the video submission(s).

To be eligible for the EPIC International Prize, entrants must state or subtitle their name and "EPIC International Prize" at the beginning of their video.

Videos may NOT contain:

• Any copyrighted material not in the public domain or for which you have not obtained the rights to use;
• 3rd party voice-overs for which you have not obtained the rights to use;
• 3rd party stock photography or artwork for which you have not obtained the rights to use;
• Nudity, lewd or vulgar behavior; offensive language and/or gestures

All ideas submitted will be posted to the Contest Web site with your first name and the state where you live, but no other identifying information.

If a submitted video is less than 1 minute in length or longer than 2 minutes in length, the submission will be disqualified and not considered for review.

All entries must be appropriate for all audiences. Videos referencing sex, drugs, or violence will not be accepted as entries. Any video that includes content that is deemed inappropriate, indecent, obscene, as determined by the Sponsors in their sole discretion, will not be eligible.

Entrants represent and warrant that (i) the videos that they submit: are their own original creations and do not infringe any other person's or entity's rights; (ii) they have obtained permission, if applicable, from the people featured in the Video to enter this Contest; and (iii) the submission of the idea will not violate any enforceable agreements or understandings submitter has with any third party.

You can submit as many ideas as you would like. Submissions must be made in English or subtitled in English. Each video must be submitted in the name of one, and only one, entrant. You must also provide your email address, mailing address, phone number, and confirmation of your eligibility when you submit an entry. By entering the Contest you grant the Sponsors the right to contact you regarding your entry, publicize your entry, promote your entry for any other purpose related to the Contest and/or broadcast your entry.

Review Panel

The judges for the Convenient Truths contest will be continuously updated on the Contest website. They include:

Arianna Huffington, Co-Founder and Editor, The Huffington Post
Bob Perkowitz, President, EcoAmerica and Viva Terra
Cameron Sinclair, Executive Director and Co-founder, Architecture for Humanity
Daryl Hannah, Actress & Environmental Advocate
Dr. David Suzuki, Scientist, Environmentalist and Broadcaster
Graham Hill, Founder, TreeHugger.com
Gregor Barnum, Director of Corporate Consciousness, Seventh Generation, Inc.
Heidi Cullen, Climate Change Expert, The Weather Channel
Hunter Lovins, Founder, Natural Capitalism, Inc.
Jerome Ringo, President, The Apollo Alliance
John Fluevog, Founder, Fluevog Shoes
Laurie David, Founder, StopGlobalWarming.org
Lisa Renstrom, President, The Sierra Club
Martha Marks, President, Republicans for Environmental Protection
Paul Hawken, Author, Natural Capitalism: Creating the Next Industrial Revolution
Perry Farrell, Musician & Environmentalist
Sarah Harmer, Musician

Web viewers will choose 20 videos from among the eligible entries, which will rotate on the Contest website. Out of the 20 videos, judges will narrow the videos to 10 winning entries. Judges, viewers, a combination of both, or a single guest judge selected by the Sponsors, will select the top three entries. The top 10 entries will be posted on the Contest website in addition to other media partner outlets. The winning video will be awarded the Grand Prize.

John Fluevog alone will select the one video that best addresses conscious consumerism and its relationship to global warming. This video will be awarded the EPIC International Prize.

Grant of Rights in Videos Submitted
Submission of a video constitutes the irrevocable right to Sponsors of all rights in the video, all rights to use, copy, sublicense, edit, modify, make derivative works, publish, exploit, transmit, distribute, publicly perform, publish, delete or display the content of and elements embodied in the video and the video itself, in whole or in part, in perpetuity in any and all media (whether now existing or hereafter devised) without limitation, and without consideration or acknowledgment to the entrant and the unconditional right to use the idea and statements about the video for advertising/publicity purposes without additional compensation, except where prohibited by law.

Cost
There is no cost to participate in the Contest. No purchase is necessary.

Prizes
The Grand Prize winner will be awarded an all expense paid eco-tour to Alaskan wildlife refuge, air fare, travel gear, and carbon offsets with an approximate total retail value (TRV US$) of $8,000. The second place winner will be awarded a green home makeover, eco-friendly home products, and carbon offsets with an approximate TRV of $4,100. The third place winner will be awarded two solar bicycles, two solar backpacks, and one, one-year car-share membership with an approximate TRV of $4,000. The Top Ten winners, including the Grand, 2nd, and 3rd place winner, will each receive carbon offsets for one car for one-year, one bamboo skateboard, one solar charger, one repurposed bag, one DVD and book version of An Inconvenient Truth, one copy of Laurie David’s book, The Solution Is You, and eco-home products with an approximate TRV of $600 . The approximate aggregate TRV is $28,200.

The winner of the EPIC International Prize will be awarded CAD $5,000, a Dutch citybike, John Fluevog shoes and round-trip, economy airfare to EPIC Vancouver to receive prizes and attend the EPIC Sustainable Living Expo with an approximate TRV of CAD $6,100.

The Sponsors reserve the right to substitute prizes of equal or greater value. Prizes are non-transferable, assignable or redeemable for cash with the exception of Zipcar, whose membership can be transferred by the winner if winner does not meet Zipcar's eligibility requirements.

**Non-U.S. residents are not eligible for the Grand, Second, Third, or Top 10 prizes.
**U.S. residents and non-U.S. residents are both eligible for the EPIC International Prize. However, to be eligible, an entrant must state or subtitle their name and "EPIC International Prize" at the beginning of their video. By doing this, a U.S. resident entrant will only be eligible for the EPIC International Prize, and forfeits all rights to the Grand, Second, Third and Top 10 prizes.and Top 10 prizes.
**The Sponsors reserve the right to substitute prizes of equal or greater value.

Notification; Provision of Phone Number, Address
Winners will be notified via email within approximately seven (7) business days after determination that they are eligible to receive a prize. They will be asked to confirm their phone number and mailing address. Entrants who do not provide a phone number and mailing address with their initial submission will forfeit any prizes. If an entrant cannot be reached by email within ten (10) business days of the first attempt to notify them, the prizes may be forfeited and the next successful entrant will receive said prizes.

(Notification and response to notification of winner will be much faster for the EPIC International Prize. This date is to-be-determined.)

Criteria
The Review Panel and the web viewers will select the videos that are the most inspiring, pragmatic, and compelling, although, at the discretion of the Sponsors, such criteria may not be given equal weight. Using this criteria, John Fluevog will solely select the winner of the EPIC International Prize based on the video that best addresses conscious consumerism and its relationship to global warming.

Inspiring (Does it make me want to do something?)
Pragmatic (Does it provide me answers, tools so I can take action?)
Compelling (Does it make me laugh, make me sad, make me angry?)

Dates
The Contest will begin on November 21st, 2006. Submissions can be entered starting on November 21st, 2006 and will be accepted until February 28, 2007. The initial voting period to select the top 20 videos chosen by web viewers will be held from March 1, 2007 to March 14, 2007. During this same time period, John Fluevog will select and announce the winner of the EPIC International Prize. Announcement of winners will be made on March 15, 2007. Judges’ voting to narrow the 20 entries down to 10, will commence on March 16, 2007 and continue until March 31, 2007. The next and final round of voting will begin on April 2, 2007 and continue until April 9, 2007. Winners will be announced on or before April 22, 2007. All dates are subject to change at the discretion of the Sponsors.

In the event that an extraordinary number of submissions are received, the date by which the top 20 videos will be chosen by the judges may be extended. In such case, the subsequent dates for voting and announcement of winners will also be extended. Notice of such change will be posted on the Contest website.

Delivery of Prizes
With the exception of the EPIC International Prize, prizes will be sent by mail to the addresses provided; shipping costs are included. The Sponsors shall not be responsible for misdelivery of any documents and/or prizes provided that the Sponsors address the documents and/or prizes to the address provided by the winner.

The winner of the EPIC International Prize will be flown to EPIC Vancouver to be personally awarded their prizes. In the situation that the winner can't fly to Vancouver for the awarding of their prizes, the prizes will be shipped to them.

Announcement of Winners
The Sponsors will announce the winners and post their full names and city and state of residence on the web site following the completion of the Contest.

Use of Winners’ Names and Likeness
Each winner who accepts any prize will be deemed thereby to have granted to the Sponsors the right, at any time and from time to time, to print, publish, broadcast and use, worldwide and in any media now known or hereafter developed, including but not limited to, the Internet and world wide web, the name, portrait, picture, voice, likeness and biographical information of each such winner as news or information and for advertising and promotional purposes without additional consideration, except where prohibited by law.

Disqualification
The Sponsors reserve the right, in its sole discretion, to disqualify any participant that it determines, in its sole discretion, is ineligible to participate in the Contest. Failure to comply with these rules may result in a participant’s disqualification.

Limitation of Liability
If for any reason 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 which corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity, or proper conduct of this Contest, the Sponsors reserve the right at their sole discretion, to disqualify any individual who tampers with the Contest, and to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the Contest. The Sponsors assume no responsibility for any error, omission, interruption, deletion, defect, delay in operation or transmission, communications line failure, theft or destruction or unauthorized access to, or alteration of, entries. The Sponsors are not responsible for any problems or technical malfunction of any telephone network or lines, computer online systems, servers, or providers, computer equipment, software, failure of any e-mail to be received by the Sponsors on account of technical problems or traffic congestion on the Internet or at any Web site, or any combination thereof, including any injury or damage to participant's or any other person's computer related to or resulting from participation or downloading any materials in this Contest.

Limitation of Remedies
UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES, INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE, SHALL THE SPONSORS OR AFFILIATED ENTITIES OR ITS SUCCESSORS OR ASSIGNS, OR ANY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS AND REPRESENTATIVES BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INCIDENTAL, INDIRECT, SPECIAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, OR EXEMPLARY OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO LOSS OF PROFITS OR HARM TO BUSINESS OR REPUTATION, ARISING OUT OF PARTICIPATION IN THE CONTEST, POSTING ON OR ACCESS AND/OR DOWNLOAD OF ANY MATERIALS OR INFORMATION FROM ANY WEB SITE OWNED, OPERATED OR CONTROLLED BY THE SPONSORS OR AFFILIATED ENTITIES, OR ACCEPTANCE OR USAGE OF A PAYMENT, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION DAMAGE TO PROPERTY AND, TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, DAMAGES FOR BODILY OR PERSONAL INJURY, EVEN IF THE SPONSORS OR ANY AFFILIATED ENTITES, THEIR SUCCESSORS OR ASSIGNS, OR ANY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, SHAREHOLDERS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS OR REPRESENTATIVES HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES OR LOSS. THE AGGREGATE LIABILITY OF SPONSORS ARISING OUT OF ANY KIND OF CLAIM (WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT, OR OTHERWISE) SHALL NOT EXCEED $1.00. SOME JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, SO THE ABOVE LIMITATION OR EXCLUSION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.

Amendments
The Sponsors reserve the right to suspend, cancel, terminate or modify the Contest without advance notice, and thereafter to re-commence such Contest, if at all, only at such time(s) and upon such terms and conditions as we shall deem reasonable under the circumstances.

Severability
If any one or more provisions of these Official Rules are held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect the validity, effect or enforcement of any other provision or provisions of these Official Rules.

Winners List
A list of winners will be posted on the web site at the conclusion of the Contest. For a copy of the winners list, send a self-addressed stamped envelope to: Convenient Truths,TreeHugger, Inc., c/o Jessica Root, 320 13th St., Brooklyn, NY, 11215. For a copy of these official rules send a self-addressed stamped envelope to above address marked Convenient Truths Contest, Attn: Rules.

Jurisdiction; Venue
Any dispute that may arise hereunder, if not settled by the parties directly or through alternate dispute resolution, shall be brought solely in the appropriate state or federal court sitting in Vermont, and participants consent to the personal jurisdiction and venue thereof.