BioScapes - Internation Digital Imaging Competition

Official Rules and Regulations

  1. HOW TO ENTER/SUBMISSION OF PHOTOS: The Olympus BioScapes Digital Imaging Competition® (the "Competition") is a life science digital imaging competition. All images must depict subjects that are, or at one time were, living. A light microscope must be used as part of the photographic process. Images may be captured using any brand of light microscope, camera and imaging software. Pseudo-colored and other computer-enhanced images are acceptable, as long as image manipulation is done to bring out specific information in the image. LIMIT: Each entrant may submit no more than five (5) images (including image series and/or digital movies). Image sequences must be consolidated into a ZIP file for submission. To enter the Competition, you must submit your images through the online submission form at the official Olympus BioScapes Website (www.olympusbioscapes.com), which may be accessed directly or via a link from the Olympus America Inc. Website, the Olympus Microscopy Resource Center, or the Molecular Expressions Website.

    All entries must be received by 11:59:59 P.M. Eastern Time on September 30, 2010. Olympus is not responsible for late, lost, incomplete or misdirected entries.
  2. ELIGIBILITY: The Competition is open to anyone who is at least 18 years of age as of the date of entry. Employees, officers and directors of Olympus America Inc. ("Olympus"), its affiliates, subsidiaries, advertising, promotion, fulfillment and marketing agencies, companies engaged in the manufacture, marketing or sale of equipment used in photomicrography, and Competition judges and their colleagues; and each of their immediate families (defined as spouse, child, sibling, parent or grandparent) and those living in their same households are NOT eligible to participate in the Competition.

    Images and/or videos that have earned any award, honorable mention or prize in any other commercially-sponsored competition are NOT eligible.

    Entrants may not be named as First Prize winner in two consecutive years, but may earn other prizes in the year immediately following their First Prize year.
  3. COMPETITION JUDGING: All eligible images will be judged by an independent panel of experts selected by Olympus based on the following criteria:
    • Science - Uniqueness of the specimen or processes shown, importance of work, new information revealed, "story" told.
    • Aesthetics - Beauty or impact of the image, balance, composition.
    • Technical merit - Challenge of specimen itself - difficulty of capturing structures or data shown, photographic excellence.
    All judges' decisions are final.
  4. ANNOUNCEMENT OF WINNERS: Winners will be sent their prize-winning notification via electronic mail (e-mail). To claim his/her prize, each potential winner must complete, sign and return certain prize release forms, including, but not limited to, an affidavit of eligibility and release, or an alternate winner will be selected. If a selected potential winner cannot be contacted for any reason, is ineligible or does not comply with these official rules, fails to claim a prize, fails to return the completed and executed prize release forms as required, or if the prize notification or prize is returned as undeliverable, an alternate winner will be selected.
  5. PRIZES: The following Prizes will be awarded through this Competition:
    • 1st Prize: Winner's choice of Olympus products valued at $5,000 (US list at time of awards). Expense paid trip for two to the awards reception in December.
    • 2nd Prize: Winner's choice of Olympus products valued at $2,500 (US list at time of awards).
    • 3rd Prize: Winner's choice of Olympus products valued at $1,500 (US list at time of awards).
    • 4th to 10th Prizes: Winner's choice of any one (1) of the following options:
    • Honorable Mentions: A photographic print or plaque of their winning entry. If making such a print is not possible for any reason, the winner will receive an Honor Certificate.

      With the exception of Olympus products, all prizes are provided as is, without any express or implied warranties.
  6. MISCELLANEOUS: Olympus is not responsible for any problems or technical malfunction of any telephone network or lines, computer online systems, services, or providers, computer equipment, software, failure of any e-mail or entry to be received by Olympus on account of technical problems or traffic congestion on the Internet or at any web site, any combination thereof, or otherwise, including any injury or damage to entrant's or any other person's computer related to or resulting from participation or downloading any materials in the Competition. Persons found tampering with or abusing any aspect of this Competition or the Olympus or Competition websites, as solely determined by Olympus, will be disqualified and Olympus reserves its right to seek damages from any persons to the fullest extent of the law. By entering the Competition or participating in any Competition or prize-related activity, participants agree to release, discharge and hold harmless Olympus, their respective affiliates, subsidiaries, retailers, agencies and their respective officers, directors, employees, retail dealers and agents, from any injury, claim, loss or damages of any kind that may arise out of participation in the Competition or out of the acceptance, use, misuse or possession of Prizes. By participating, you agree to these Official Rules and to the decisions of Olympus and the judges which are final and binding in all respects. Void where prohibited by law, rule or regulation. All federal, state and local laws and regulations apply. Each winner must sign an affidavit of eligibility and compliance with the rules and a publicity release within ten (10) days after the attempted notification. Failure to do so may result in disqualification and/or the selection of an alternate winner. Unless prohibited by law, each winner consents to the use by Olympus America Inc., and anyone employed by or affiliated with Olympus America Inc. of the winner's name and images for publicity purposes, without additional compensation. All taxes, fees and surcharges on prizes won are the sole responsibility of the winner. Prizes are not transferable. This Competition is conducted in English (which will be given its everyday ordinary meaning) and any and all disputes will be resolved in the appropriate courts in the County of Lehigh, State of Pennsylvania in the United States, exclusively, and subject to the laws of the State of Pennsylvania. Should there be a conflict between the laws of the State of Pennsylvania and any other laws, the conflict will be resolved in favor of the laws of the State of Pennsylvania.