“The 2010 University Protein Folding
Challenge“
Official Rules
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN THIS CONTEST. In order to participate in the Contest,
one must have the ability to download and install the Foldit application (the
“Application”) using one (1) of the following operating systems: (a) Windows XP
/ Vista; (b) Intel OS X 10.4 or later; or (c) Linux as further defined in the
“How to Participate” section of these Official Rules.
DATES OF PROMOTION: The “2010 University Protein Folding Challenge” (the “Contest”) begins at 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time (“PT) on November 5, 2010 and ends at 11:59 p.m. PT on November 18, 2010 (the “Contest Period”). For purposes of these Official Rules, all times are given in Pacific Time. Should the Protein (defined below) be cancelled by the Protein provider or should the Protein provider release the solution to the puzzle prior to the end of the Contest Period, Sponsor shall conduct the Contest in a manner which in its sole discretion, is fair, appropriate and consistent with these Official Rules as outlined in the “General Conditions” section.
ELIGIBILITY: The Contest is open only to individuals who are Undergraduate Students, Graduate Students or Post Doctoral Fellows, who are legal residents of the fifty (50) United States, the District of Columbia and the United Kingdom, and are eighteen (18) years of age or older at time of entry (the “Team Captain”). The Team Captain shall be further defined as the individual who creates a Team (as defined in the “How to Participate” section below). Any individual who participates on behalf of a Team Captain in his/her Team (each, a “Team Member” as further defined in the “How to Participate” section below), must also be an Undergraduate Student, Graduate Student or Post Doctoral Fellow, who is a legal resident of one of the fifty (50) United States, the District of Columbia or the United Kingdom, and at least eighteen (18) years of age or older at the time in which they participate in the Contest. Medical Professionals who prescribe, supply or administer medicine(s), or any other person who recommends, buys or sells medicine(s) are not eligible to participate in the Contest as a Team Captain or a Team Member and are not eligible to win a prize. If resident in the USA, each Team selected as the potential grand prize winner (the “Grand Prize Winner”), the potential first prize winner (the “First Prize Winner”) and potential second prize winner (the “Second Prize Winner”) may need to report income to the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) and may be required to complete, sign and return an IRS form W-9. In the event it is deemed during the verification process that a potential prize winner who is resident in the USA does not have a unique, personal and valid social security number for Sponsor to report the tax liability associated with acceptance of the respective Prize, such potential prize winner will be disqualified. Valid social security numbers will be determined by IRS requirements. Employees, officers and directors of the University of Washington Departments of Computer Science, Engineering and Biochemistry (the “Sponsor”), Fold.it, Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide, Inc. ("OgilvyPR"), and each of their respective partners, subsidiaries, and affiliated companies, successors and assigns, and their immediate family members [spouses, parents, children, siblings] and individuals residing in their same household (whether or not related), and any others engaged in the development, production, execution or distribution of this Contest, including the National Sweepstakes Company (the “Independent Administrator”) are not eligible to participate. By participating, Team Captains (and Team Members) agree to these Official Rules and the decisions of the Sponsor, which are final and binding in all respects. Contest is subject to all federal, state and local laws and regulations. Void in Puerto Rico, territories and possessions located outside of the fifty (50) United States, the District of Columbia and the United Kingdom, and wherever else restricted or prohibited by law.
CONTEST OBJECTIVE:
The Contest will test the comparative
abilities of Team Captains and his/her Team Members to use their puzzle solving
skills to predict the structure of the Contest protein (the “Protein”) by using
the puzzle found in the Application to fold the Protein.
HOW TO PARTICIPATE:
To be eligible to participate and win a prize in the Contest, all Team
Captains must first register with http://fold.it (the “Website”), download the
Application and create a Team as outlined below. NOTE: If you
are already a registered user of the Website you may bypass the
registration/Application download process below and proceed to “Step 2” and
“Step 3”. If you have completed
“Step 1”, “Step 2”, and “Step 3” prior to November 5, 2010, you may bypass the
respective steps and proceed to “Step 4”.
1. Registration/Application
Download: Visit the Website during the Contest Period and click “Create a
New Account”. When prompted,
submit a unique username, your email address, a unique password, and complete
the word verification. Then, click
“Create New Account”. Once you
have created your account, download and install the Application by selecting
the icon applicable to your operating system. Then, create a group (the “Team”) by following the
instructions outlined in “Step 2” below;
2. Create
a Team: To create a Team,
click on the “Groups” link found on the Website and select “Create a
Group”. Then in the fields
provided, submit the group/Team title (the “Team Name”), a description of the
group/Team, select your membership requests preferences, provide your Team’s
mission statement (if desired), and click on the “Save” button to create your
Team. Then, invite Team Members to
join your Team by clicking “My Group”, selecting “Invite Players” and
submitting email addresses or usernames of the Team Members you wish to invite
to your Team. Upon clicking “Send
Invitation” the recipient will receive an email invitation with a link to
accept the invitation and join the Team.
3. Submit
your Team Name: All Team
Captains must submit their Team Name to OgilvyPR prior to 11:59 p.m. PT on November
18, 2010 in order to be eligible to participate in the Contest and have their
Team win a prize. To submit your
Team Name, send an email to sarah.marchetti@ogilvypr.com
(must be received no later than 11:59 p.m. PT on November 18, 2010). Be sure to include “Protein Folding
Challenge Team Name” in the subject line of your email. In the body of the email, please type
the exact name of your Team.
A limit of one (1)
Team may be created per Team Captain during the Contest Period. Team Captains and Team Members may only
belong to one (1) Team during the Contest Period. Any attempt by a Team Captain to create more than the
stated number of Teams by using multiple/different email addresses, and /or any
other methods will void that Team Captain’s Teams and that Team Captain may be
disqualified from the Contest. In the event of a dispute about the identity of
a Team Captain or Team Member, the Team Captain or Team Member will be deemed
the authorized account holder of the email address submitted at the time in
which the registration with the Website was submitted. “Authorized account holder” is defined
as the natural person who is assigned to the email address by an internet
service provider.
4. Fold
the Protein: There will be one
(1) puzzle available for this Contest, in which Team Captains and Team Members
can fold the Protein. The
puzzle may be accessed at any time during the Contest Period via the
Application. To fold the Protein,
access the puzzle via the Application and begin folding the Protein using the
tools available in the Application. For a detailed description of the
tools for folding, review the “Introduction to the Tools” found within the
Application or visit http://fold.it/portal/info/faq
at any time during the Contest Period.
The score which each Team Captain and Team Member will
receive, will be based upon how well he/she individually solves the puzzle by
using the tools available in the Application as further defined in the “Winning
/ Notification” section below.
Team Captains and Team Members warrant and represent that their
participation in solving the puzzle is solely their original work, has not been
copied (in whole or in part) from any other source and does not violate any
third party legal rights (including without limitation rights of trademark,
copyright, privacy or publicity). Sponsor reserves the right, at its sole
discretion, to disqualify any Team Captain or Team Member if Sponsor suspects
that such Team Captain or Team Member’s participation in solving the puzzle
violates the legal rights of any third party.
WINNING: On or about November 26, 2010, the Sponsor
will evaluate the final scores received by each Team Captain and each Team
Member. Each Team Captain and Team
Member’s individual scores are calculated using a scientifically-driven
Algorithm built into the Application by Fold.it which is based upon how well
he/she individually solved the puzzle using the tools available. The individual scores received by each
Team Captain and Team Member will determine the Prize Winners, as follows: The potential Grand Prize Winner will
be the Team whose Team Member or
Team Captain received the highest individual score in solving the puzzle out of
all participating Teams. The potential First Prize Winner will be the Team who received
the second highest individual score in solving the puzzle out of all
participating Teams. The potential
Second Prize Winner will be the Team who received the third highest individual score
in solving the puzzle out of all participating Teams. The Sponsor has the right
to evaluate the final ranking order (as outlined above), including requiring top
scoring Team Captains and/or Team Members to submit their top scoring solution
files for verification. All Prizes
will be distributed evenly amongst each winning Team. In the event of a tie, the
Teams involved will split the respective prize equally. The determination of the Team Prize
Winners and the decisions of the Sponsor are based upon their sole discretion
and interpretation of these Official Rules and are final and binding in all
respects.
NOTIFICATION: Upon confirmation of all Team Prize
Winners, the potential Team Prize Winners will be notified by email via the
email address provided at time of Registration via the Website (the “Prize
Notification”) and will be required to submit to Sponsor, his/her complete
mailing address and proof of eligibility (if requested) in order for Sponsor to
award the Prize. If a Prize Notification is returned as “undeliverable”, or if
the Team Prize Winner fails to respond to the Prize Notification by the date
indicated, he/she forfeits his/her right to the Prize, and Prize will be
distributed evenly amongst the remainder of the Team. In the event that none of
the potential Prize Winners on a Team respond to the Prize Notification or all
Prize Notifications are returned as “undeliverable”, Sponsor shall have no
liability or obligation to such individuals, and the Team Captain or Team
Member who received the next highest individual score will be deemed the
respective Team Prize Winner, time permitting. Further details for claiming the
Grand Prize, First Prize or Second Prize is outlined under the “Prize Claims”
Section of these Official Rules. Throughout the Contest Period Prizes shall
be limited to one (1) prize per Team.
PRIZES:
Grand Prize: One (1) Grand Prize of USD $5,000.00 / GBP £ 3,345.39 cash in the form of a check will be awarded and distributed evenly amongst the members of the Team receiving the highest individual score. The approximate retail value (the “ARV”) of the Grand Prize is USD $5,000.00 / GBP £ 3,345.39.
First Prize: One (1) First Prize of USD $3,000.00 / GBP £ 2,007.33 cash in the form of a check will be awarded and distributed evenly amongst the members of the Team receiving the second highest individual score. The ARV of the First Prize is USD $3,000.00 / GBP £ 2,007.33.
Second Prize: One (1) Second Prize of USD $1,000.00 / GBP £ 669.239 cash in the form of a check will be awarded and distributed evenly amongst the members of the Team receiving the third highest individual score. The ARV of the Second Prize is USD $1,000.00 / GBP £ 669.239.
The
total ARV of all Prizes to be awarded in the Contest is USD $9,000.00 / GBP £ 6,022.86. All prizes will be awarded in USD via a
check for both US resident and UK resident winners. For UK Residents, the GBP value will be determined by the
currency conversion rate. Prizes cannot be substituted,
assigned, or transferred; except at Sponsor’s sole discretion or as otherwise
provided herein. Prizes may be taxable
as income and each Prize Winner is solely responsible for any taxes on the
Prize he/she has received, including but not limited to any and all federal,
state and local taxes. Throughout the Contest Period Prizes shall
be limited to one (1) prize per Team. No more than the stated number of
Prizes set forth in these Official Rules will be awarded.
PRIZE CLAIMS: Except where prohibited, each potential Team Prize Winner receiving a Prize in excess of USD $600.00 must sign and return to the Independent Administrator, within seven (7) business days of receipt, an Affidavit of Eligibility/Liability/Publicity Release, a copy of his/her Driver’s License, and (if applicable) an IRS Form W-9 (US Residents only) in order to claim the respective Prize (the “Required Documents”). The awarding of any Prize is subject to the receipt and verification of the Required Documents. If a potential Team Prize Winner fails to sign and/or return the Required Documents within the required time period, the potential Team Prize Winner forfeits his/her right to the respective Prize, Sponsor shall have no liability or obligation to such individual. All Team Prize Winners consent (and agree to sign any additional documents required by Sponsor to formalize, effect or perfect such consent) to Sponsor’s use of their names, likenesses (photograph and/or video), biographical information, and voices in advertising/publicity/trade (including local and/or national television stations, or print publications) without compensation, notice or approval; and, Team Prize Winners disclaim any ownership rights in the content of such advertising/publicity/trade material. The Prizes may be taxable as income and each Prize Winner is solely responsible for any taxes on the respective Prize, including, but not limited to all applicable federal, state, local and income taxes.
GENERAL CONDITIONS: Team
Captains and Team Members agree to be bound by these Official Rules and the
decisions of the Sponsor, which are final and binding in all respects and not
subject to appeal. Sponsor
reserves the right to disqualify from this Contest any Team Captain or Team
Member it believes has violated these Official Rules. Sponsor may prohibit a
Team Captain or Team Member from participating in the Contest or winning a
Prize (Team Captains only) if, in its sole discretion, it determines that said Team
Captain or Team Member is attempting to undermine the legitimate operation of
the Contest by cheating, deception, or other unfair playing practices or
intending to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass any other Team Captain, Team
Member Sponsor or Contest Entities.
Should any portion of the Contest be, in
Sponsor’s sole discretion, compromised by non-authorized human intervention or
other causes (including, but not limited to the early release of the solution
or cancellation of the Protein by the Protein provider) which, in the sole
discretion of the Sponsor, corrupt or impair the administration, security,
fairness or proper play, Sponsor reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to
cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the Contest and conduct the Contest in a
manner which in its sole discretion is fair, appropriate and consistent with
these Official Rules. Notice of
such action by Sponsor will be posted at the Website. In such event, Sponsor reserves the right to judge
from those individual scores received up to the cancellation/suspension date. Sponsor
reserves the right in its sole discretion to disqualify any individual it finds
to be tampering with the entry process or the operation of the Contest or to be
acting in violation of these Official Rules or in an unsportsmanlike or
disruptive manner. Sponsor reserves the right to disqualify or reject any
incomplete, inaccurate or false registration. ANY ATTEMPT BY ANY
PERSON TO DELIBERATELY UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THE CONTEST IS A
VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAW, AND, SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE,
SPONSOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO SEEK DAMAGES FROM ANY SUCH PERSON TO THE FULLEST
EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW. SPONSOR'S FAILURE TO ENFORCE ANY TERM OF THESE
OFFICIAL RULES SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE A WAIVER OF THESE PROVISIONS.
RELEASE: By participating in this Contest, Team
Captains and Team Members agree to release and hold harmless Sponsor, Ogilvy
PR and each of their parent
companies, respective officers, directors, managers, employees, subsidiaries,
affiliated entities, agents, members, shareholders, insurers, servants, guests,
divisions, predecessors, successors, representatives, assigns, attorneys,
dealers, distributors, advertising, promotion, and fulfillment agencies,
including the Independent Administrator, (collectively, the “Released Parties”)
from and against any claim or cause of action arising out of participation in
the Contest or receipt, redemption or use of any Prize.
LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY: Except for UK residents in respect of
death or personal injury caused by the Released Parties’ negligence, the
Released Parties do not have any responsibility or liability whatsoever for:
(i); unauthorized human intervention in any part of the entry process or the
Contest; (ii) electronic or human error which may occur in the administration
of the Contest or the processing of scores; (iii) any property loss, damage, personal injury, or death, in
connection with the prizes provided pursuant to this Contest and/or any
person’s participating in the Contest; (iv) any printing or typographical
errors in any Contest-related materials; (v) stolen, lost, late, misdirected,
corrupted, incomplete, or indecipherable registrations or emails confirming Team
names; or (vi) technical failures of any kind, including but not limited to the
malfunctioning of any computer, mobile device, cable, network, hardware or
software.
DATA PROTECTION: The Sponsor and its agents acknowledge that it is required to comply with its applicable obligations under the Data Protection Act 1998 and any other applicable data protection legislation including, but not limited to the Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003. For the purposes of this Contest and the marketing communications detailed herein, a Team Captain or Team Member’s personal information may be stored and processed on servers overseas. Team Captains and Team Members explicitly consent to the transfer of their data collected in connection with the participation in the Contest to countries outside the European Economic Area, including the US. Team Captains and Team Members acknowledge that these countries may not provide for the same level of data protection as applicable in the EU. However, wherever the Sponsor or its agents process a Team Captain or Team Member’s information they will use their reasonable endeavors to ensure that it is protected at all times in accordance with strict data protection standards. Personal data will be kept confidential and will not be made accessible to third parties other than for the purpose of this Contest and the marketing communications detailed herein.
WINNER’s LIST / RULES REQUEST: For the name of the Prize Winners or a copy of these Official Rules, mail a self-addressed stamped envelope by December 31, 2010 to: “The 2010 University Protein Folding Challenge”, (please specify ‘winner’s list’ or ‘rules request’), PO Box 10505, Rochester, NY 14607. A copy of these official rules may also be obtained at the Website during the Contest Period and for a period of six (6) weeks thereafter.
SPONSOR: Computer Science & Engineering,
University of Washington, AC1010 Paul G. Allen Center, Box 352350, 185 Stevens
Way, Seattle, WA 98195-2350, USA.
These Official Rules may not be
published without the written consent of the Sponsor.