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NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. Contest starts 4/3/13 and ends 11/30/13. Phase 1 ends 6/30/13. Open to individuals 18 yrs or older and to valid legal entities. Void where prohibited and restricted by law. Total approx retail value of all prizes awarded: $10,005,000. For official rules, go to powerfulanswersaward.com. Sponsor: Verizon Communications.

Powerful Answers Award Q&A

Q: Why is Verizon sponsoring the Powerful Answers Award?
There are many ways to uncover new, innovative solutions and to give inventors, entrepreneurs or academics ways to fund or advance their concepts. Verizon is in a unique position to provide a platform - - through our wireless, broadband and cloud networks – for these innovators to develop and deliver solutions that provide social benefit as well as grow markets.

We firmly believe that innovation can lead to social good. You’ve seen that in our Powerful Answers campaign, which debuted earlier this year. There are powerful solutions in health care, in education and making the world a more sustainable place, and Verizon’s technology plays an ever-increasing and important role in delivering these solutions.

Q: Verizon works with innovators every day. Why have you introduced the Powerful Answers Award?
A: Verizon is committed to the idea of Powerful Answers and how technology can help advance good causes and provide solutions. There’s magic in ideas. And, the Powerful Answers Award may help them become reality with recognition and support.

Q: Why is it structured as a contest?
A: We thought a contest, structured to run throughout the remainder of 2013, was a great opportunity for many people or companies to participate.

Q: What are the Awards categories?
A: The Powerful Answers Award will focus on three core areas – health care, education and sustainability.

Q: Why did you choose these three areas?
A: Healthcare, education and sustainability are broad categories where solutions can have a significant impact on the world around us. They track with much of the work we are doing across Verizon to bring powerful answers to market and to support these ideas through our philanthropy/Foundation.

Q: Must all entries for the Powerful Answers Award utilize Verizon technologies?
A: Yes, entries in the contest should use one or more of Verizon’s core capabilities, such as broadband networking, wireless or cloud solutions, or others described on Verizon’s website.

Q: What other criteria will be used to judge entries in the Powerful Answers Award?
A: Judges will be looking at how entrants’ innovations or products use one or more of Verizon’s core capabilities and applies them to solve problems and create solutions in one of the Award’s core focus areas. Other criteria include, but are not limited to, how the solution addresses a societal challenge, the strength of the product or innovation, and the feasibility of bringing that product to market.

Q: This is a year-long effort. How will the contest play out over the year?
A: Beginning today through June 30, people are invited to submit concepts that focus on the three core areas. Entrants will be selected to submit full proposals of their ideas to address the social challenges no later than July 15, 2013 and proposals for the second phase of the contest must be submitted by August 15, 2013.

On or about Oct. 1, 2013, the final phase of the Powerful Answers Award will begin with the submitters of the top 10 proposals in each core focus area (healthcare, education, sustainability) being asked to pitch their idea to a panel of judges. The pitches will take place between Oct. 15 and Nov. 15, 2013, with winners expected to be announced at or around CES in early 2014.

Full details on the timeline for the Powerful Answers Award can be found in the Official Rules.

Q: Who will judge the entries?
A: We are actively putting together blue-ribbon panels of judges who will look at the entries at each phase of the contest. We expect the judges for each phase of the contest to represent a wide range of innovative companies, academic leaders and industry experts. Verizon leaders could be involved in judging the concept and proposal stages.

Q: Where can I find a full set of the rules?
A: The rules, and other information including how to submit a concept, can be found by clicking on the "Official Rules" link.

Q: Who is eligible to enter?
A: The Powerful Answers Award is open to individuals who are at least 18 years old (or the age of majority in their jurisdiction, whichever is older) as of date of entry and to all validly formed legal entities, except as prohibited, regulated or restricted by law, decree or regulation. Employees of Verizon are not eligible to enter the Award. Full details about who is eligible to participate are available in the Official Rules.

Q: What are the prizes for the Powerful Answers Award?
A: The Powerful Answers Award carries with it $10 million in cash prizes. Judges will select five winners from the finalists in each category, with the top prize being $1 million. The other four winners, as determined by the judges, will receive $850,000, $700,000, $500,000 and $285,000 respectively.

Q: Are there benefits to the winners beyond the prize money?
A: Yes, the winners of the Powerful Answers Award will be introduced to people throughout Verizon to discuss their ideas/concepts and technology, among other potential benefits.

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The Verizon Powerful Answers Award
Official Rules

General Overview of the Contest. The Verizon Powerful Answers Award (the “Contest”) is a challenge to inspire innovation and ideas that utilize Verizon’s empowering technologies to address society’s biggest challenges. These Official Rules of the Contest (the “Official Rules”) describe the manner in which the Contest will be conducted. As described in detail below, there are three separate phases (each, a “Phase”) in this Contest: the Initial Concept Submission Phase (“Phase 1”), the Full Proposal Phase (“Phase 2”), and the Finalist Phase (“Phase 3”).
Eligibility. The Contest is only open to individuals who are at least 18 years old (or the age of majority in their jurisdiction, whichever is older) as of date of entry and to all validly formed legal entities, except as prohibited, regulated or restricted by law, decree or regulation. Employees, officers and directors of Sponsor and its parent companies, subsidiaries, affiliates, partners, dealers, agents, advertising and promotion agencies, manufacturers or distributors of Contest materials and their immediate families (parents, children, siblings, spouse) or members of the same household (whether related or not) of such employees, officers, and directors are not eligible to enter.
Individual Entrants must comply with the applicable laws, decrees, regulations and guidelines, and Sponsor will have no obligation to change or modify any of the Official Rules or take any further action as a result of such laws, decrees, regulations or guidelines, except as is otherwise provided in the Official Rules.
How to Enter: Initial Concept Submission Phase or Phase 1. To enter the Contest, visit http://www.powerfulanswersaward.com (the “Contest Website”), follow all instructions to create a profile, submit a description in the form provided via the Contest Website of your initial concept submission (“Concept Submission”), read the Official Rules, and select the “Submit” option. Entrants can submit their Concept Submission from 12:01 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time on April 3, 2013 through 11:59 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on June 30, 2013. All submissions in all Phases must be in the English language.
Verizon Communications (“Sponsor”) reserves the right to cancel or modify this Contest in the event an insufficient number of eligible or satisfactory entries are received that do not meet the minimum judging criteria, and Sponsor further reserves the right to cancel or modify this Contest as a result of any applicable law, regulation, decree or guideline.
1. Contest Submission: Each Contest Submission must:
  1. select one of the Core Focus Categories (as defined below);
  2. select one or more of the Verizon Core Capabilities;
  3. provide a title for Entrant’s Concept Submission;
  4. describe the problem Entrant plans to solve, and how Entrant intends to solve the problem;
  5. describe how Entrant’s innovation or product utilizes one or more of the Verizon Core Capabilities. More details regarding Verizon Core Capabilities can be found at www.verizon.com;
  6. discuss why and how Entrant expects his/her innovation/product will create a significant social benefit;
  7. describe what makes Entrant’s innovation/product different from solutions or technologies currently available in the market;
  8. describe who will buy the product or service and the potential market size; and
  9. provide an economic analysis of the solution.
  The Core Focus Categories (“Core Focus Categories”) are:
  1. Education;
  2. Healthcare; and
  3. Sustainability.
  By entering, each Entrant warrants and represents the following with respect to their Concept Submission: (a) Entrant is the sole and exclusive owner of the Concept Submission and such Concept Submission is not subject to any claim of ownership by your current employer, a former employer, or any third party; (b) the Concept Submission is Entrant’s own creation and is 100% original; (c) the Concept Submission will not infringe on any intellectual property, proprietary, moral, or other rights of any third parties; (d) any third parties appearing in the Concept Submission have given Entrant appropriate consent to be used as permitted herein; (e) the Entrant has all appropriate rights to use, and to grant Sponsor the right to use, any third party content or technology used to develop or contained in the Concept Submission; (f) the Concept Submission and the Entrant’s participation does not violate the rights of any third party or any local, state, national or foreign law, including any right of publicity, right of privacy or any other proprietary right; (g) do not contain the confidential information of any third party, and to the extent they contain your confidential information, immediately become non-confidential the moment Entrant submits the Concept Submission; and (h) are submitted by Entrant on Entrant’s personal behalf, and not on behalf of Entrant’s employer or third party.
  All Entrants must have a valid email address. Each Entrant can submit up to five (5) Concept Submissions during Phase 1 of the Contest, but each Concept Submission can only be submitted once. No automated entry devices and/or programs permitted. Receipt of entries will be acknowledged through the submission process. Sponsor is not responsible for lost, late, illegible, stolen, incomplete, invalid, unintelligible, misdirected, technically corrupted or garbled entries, which will be disqualified, or for problems of any kind whether mechanical, human or electronic. Only fully completed entry forms are eligible. Proof of submission will not be deemed to be proof of receipt by Sponsor.
2. Phase 1 Selection Process: Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole and absolute discretion, to disqualify any Concept Submissions that are inappropriate for any reason, including without limitation, for depicting or mentioning sex, violence, drugs, alcohol and/or inappropriate language.
  During Phase 1, a panel of judges (“Judges”), selected by Sponsor in its sole discretion, will evaluate the eligible Concept Submission based on the Phase 1 Criteria (as defined below). Contest Submissions that have been scored and accepted to meet the Phase 1 Criteria, as determined by the Judges, in its sole discretion, will advance to Phase 2 of the Contest. Sponsor and the Judges reserve the right to either disqualify any ineligible Concept Submissions or to request that any Entrant re-submit a Concept Submission to conform to these Official Rules during Phase 1, or within a time-frame communicated by Sponsor. Should any Entrant asked to re-submit an eligible Concept Submission fail to do so during Phase 1 or within the time-frame communicated by Sponsor, such Entrant may be disqualified in Sponsor’s sole discretion.
  Concept Submissions will be evaluated based upon the following Phase 1 Criteria:
  1. clear identification of the social challenge being addressed with one of the Core Focus Categories;
  2. potential for Entrant’s innovation or product to create a significant social benefit;
  3. Entrant’s integral use of one or more of Verizon’s Core Capabilities in the proposed solution;
  4. analysis of the commercial feasibility and economics of the innovation or product; and
  5. creativity and originality of the innovation or product.
  The Concept Submissions accepted by the Judges to advance to Phase 2 of the Contest will be notified by email confirmation once the Concept Submission has been accepted during Phase 1 or no later than July 15, 2013 (such date subject to change, in Sponsor’s sole discretion).
Phase 2- Full Proposal Phase. During Phase 2 of the Contest, Entrant will be required to log into Contest Website and follow the instructions to complete and submit Entrant’s full proposal submission (the “Proposal Submission”) by August 15, 2013.
1. Proposal Submission: Each Entrant’s Proposal Submission must contain the following:
  1. a description of the social challenge that Entrant’s innovation or product is designed to address;
  2. an explanation of how Entrant’s innovation or product incorporates one of the Core Focus Categories and how Entrant’s innovation or product will incorporate one or more of Verizon’s Core Capabilities;
  3. an explanation of the implementation plan of Entrant’s innovation or product and why the Entrant’s innovation/product is original and the compelling need for the innovation or product;
  4. a marketing strategy (i.e., marketing plan, market size, market segmentation, target market, cite valid research data to substantiate Entrant’s claims) to support the business model;
  5. an explanation of why customers will select Entrant’s innovation or product over competitive products/services already in the market and evidence of customer interest;
  6. a detailed business case, including revenue projections and anticipated expenses that will be incurred to develop Entrant’s innovation/product and fund commercialization of Entrant’s innovation or product for Entrant’s target market and for large-scale growth; and
  7. a video, no longer than five (5) minutes in length, to highlight the most significant areas set forth in sections (i) through (vi) above.
  Proposal Submissions must NOT contain:
  1. nudity, lewd, or vulgar behavior;
  2. material that violates or infringes another’s rights, including, but not limited to privacy, publicity or intellectual property rights, including, but not limited to copyright, patent, trademark, trade secret infringement or other proprietary right of any party;
  3. brand names or trademarks;
  4. material that is hateful, tortuous, defamatory, slanderous or libelous, deemed inappropriate or obscene;
  5. material that promotes bigotry, racism, hatred, or harm against any group or individual or promotes discrimination based on race, sex, religion, nationality, disability, sexual orientation or age;
  6. material that is unlawful, in violation of, or contrary to the laws or regulations in any state where the innovation or product is created; or
  7. material that interferes with the functioning of any services of other parties;
  Failure of any Proposal Submission to comply with the above restrictions, as determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion, shall result in disqualification. Sponsor accepts no responsibility for a Proposal Submission if it is lost, delayed, damaged, defaced, or mislaid, regardless of cause. All Proposal Submissions will be deemed made by the Entrant at the time of entry. Once a Proposal Submission is submitted, Entrant may not make any alterations.
2. Phase 2 Judging/Judging Criteria: On or about August 16, 2013 through September 30, 2013, the Judges will evaluate and score each Proposal Submission based upon the following criteria (“Phase 2 Criteria”):
  1. Clear articulation of a significant societal challenge in one of the Core Focus Categories with a technically plausible solution utilizing one or more of Verizon Core Capabilities (25%);
  2. Creativity and originality of the innovation/product and likelihood of its potential to create a sustainable and significant global impact (30%);
  3. Commercial feasibility and the business case for the solution (30%);
  4. Overall presentation of the Proposal Submission (15%)
  In the event of a tied score between Proposal Submissions, the Proposal Submission with the higher score in the “Creativity and originality of the innovation/product and likelihood of its potential to create a sustainable and significant global impact” criterion will be deemed the winner. In the event that such tied Proposal Submissions also have tied scores in the “Creativity and originality of the innovation/product and likelihood of its potential to create a sustainable and significant global impact” criterion, the Proposal Submission with the higher score in the “Clear articulation of a significant challenge in one of Core Focus Categories with a technically plausible solution utilizing one of more of Verizon Core Capabilities” criterion will be deemed the advancing Proposal Submission. In the event that such tied Proposal Submissions have tied scores in the “Creativity and originality of the innovation/product and likelihood of its potential to create a sustainable and significant global impact” and “Clear articulation of a significant challenge in one of Core Focus Categories with a technically plausible solution utilizing one of more of Verizon Core Capabilities” criteria, the Judges will break the tie, based on the Phase 2 Criteria, at their sole discretion.
  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to have a different number of Proposal Submissions (more or fewer) than the number designated in Section 5 of these Official Rules in each Core Focus Category that Sponsor anticipates will be selected to participate in Phase 3 of the Contest.
Phase 3- Finalist Phase. The top ten (10) Proposal Submissions in each of the Core Focus Categories (the “Contest Finalists”) will be selected by the Judges to advance to Phase 3 of the Contest. Contest Finalists will be notified on or about October 1, 2013. Contest Finalists will then be invited to present the Proposal Submission in an in-person presentation (“Final Proposal”) before a panel of judges (the “Finalist Judges”). The Final Proposal will take place from October 15, 2013 through November 15, 2013 (such dates are subject to change) at a location to be determined by Sponsor. The specific dates and locations of the Final Proposal will be determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion and will be posted on the Contest Website. Each Contest Finalist shall be solely responsible for all expenses (including transportation, accommodations and any food/drink/refreshment costs) in connection with their participation in Phase 3 of the Contest.
1. The Final Proposal must contain the following:
  1. clearly and effectively describe and present the scope and nature of the societal challenge that Contest Finalist’s innovation or product is designed to address;
  2. describe how the innovation or product incorporates one of Verizon Core Capabilities;
  3. describe in detail how Contest Finalist’s innovation or product will address and/or solve the problem/issue;
  4. describe in detail how the Contest Finalist would market or distribute his/her solution (i.e., marketing plan, market size, market segmentation, and target market);
  5. describe how the Contest Finalist’s innovation or product will significantly and positively impact society;
  6. provide an economic analysis of the solution;
  7. describe the structure of Contest Finalist’s team (if applicable) and the core expertise, etc…
  8. provide a view into the status of Contest Finalist’s development and, where available, the key milestones associated with the development and commercialization of the solution.
  Each Contest Finalist will be allotted a total of thirty (30) minutes, which includes the presentation of the Final Proposal and a question and answer period with the Finalist Judges. The Final Proposal shall be no longer than fifteen (15) minutes in length. If the Final Proposal is longer than the allotted fifteen (15) minutes in length, Sponsor, in its sole discretion, shall have the right to disqualify the Contest Finalist or consider only a fifteen (15) minute portion of the Final Proposal.
2. Phase 3 Judging/Judging Criteria: The Contest Finalists for each Core Focus Category will be evaluated according the following criteria (“Phase 3 Criteria”):
  1. Scope and urgency of the societal challenge addressed (20%);
  2. Strength of the innovation/product (20%);
  3. Commercial feasibility of market validation and business case/model (20%);
  4. Quality of Individual/Team/Organization (20%); and
  5. Qualitative Assessment/ Overall Presentation (20%).
  In the event of a tied score between Contest Finalists, the Contest Finalist with the higher score in the “Strength of the innovation/product” criterion will be deemed the winner. In the event that such tied Contest Finalists also have tied scores in the “Strength of the innovation/product” criterion, the Contest Finalist with the higher score in the “Commercial feasibility of market validation and business case/model” criterion will be deemed the winner. In the event that such tied Contest Finalists have tied scores in the “Strength of the innovation/product” and “Commercial feasibility of market validation and business case/model” criteria, the Finalist Judges will break the tie, based on the Phase 3 Criteria, at their sole discretion.
Prizes. The following prizes will be awarded in United States currency: (Total Approximate Retail Value (“ARV”) of Prize Awards: $10,005,000).
In each Core Focus Category, five (5) winners will be awarded as follows:
One (1) First Prize Winner - $1,000,000 cash prize each
One (1) Second Prize Winner- $850,000 cash prize each
One (1) Third Prize Winner- $700,000 cash prize each
One (1) Fourth Prize Winner- $500,000 cash prize each
One (1) Fifth Prize Winner- $285,000 cash prize each
AWARDS OF PRIZES TO POTENTIAL WINNERS ARE SUBJECT TO THE EXPRESS REQUIREMENT THAT THEY SUBMIT TO SPONSORS ALL DOCUMENTATION REQUESTED BY SPONSOR TO PERMIT IT COMPLY WITH ALL APPLICABLE FEDERAL, STATE, , LOCAL OR OTHER TAX REPORTING. ALL PRIZES WILL BE NET OF ANY TAXES SPONSOR IS REQUIRED BY LAW TO WITHOLD. TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, ALL TAXES IMPOSED ON PRIZES ARE THE SOLE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE WINNERS. In order to receive a prize, potential winners must submit tax documentation requested by Sponsor or otherwise required by applicable law, to Sponsor or a representative for Sponsor or the relevant tax authority, all as determined by applicable law. The potential winners are responsible for ensuring they comply with all applicable tax laws and regulations and filing requirements, and other requirements relating to the awarding and receipt of a prize or cash in a contest or promotion. If a potential winner fails to provide such documentation or comply with such laws, the prize may be forfeited and Sponsor may, in its sole discretion, select an alternate potential winner. For the purposes of these Official Rules, winner means any person or entity entitled to a prize. Sponsor reserves the right to substitute prizes of comparable or greater value at its sole discretion. Prizes are non-transferable. No substitution or cash redemptions.
Notification of Winners. Winners will be notified by email on or about November 30, 2013 and will be required to sign and return, where legal, an Affidavit of Eligibility and/or Liability/Publicity Release within five (5) days of prize notification. Additionally, winners may be required to obtain releases or appropriate licenses from any and all third parties appearing in, or third party content used in or in connection with, their respective Concept Submission, Proposal Submission, and/or Final Proposal (hereinafter referred to collectively as “Contest Submission”). If any winner cannot be contacted within five (5) calendar days of first notification attempt, if any prize or prize notification is returned as undeliverable, if any winner rejects his/her prize, or in the event of noncompliance with these Official Rules and requirements, such prize will be forfeited and may be awarded to the Contest Submission with the next highest score. Upon prize forfeiture, no compensation will be given.
Intellectual Property Rights. As between Entrant and Sponsor, Entrant retains ownership of all intellectual, industrial, and proprietary rights in and to the Contest Submission (excluding Sponsor’s rights to its logos and trademarks). As a condition of entering into this Contest, and in exchange for valuable consideration hereby deemed as received, Entrant hereby grants Sponsor, its affiliates, subsidiaries, parents, and agents, a perpetual, irrevocable, worldwide, sub-licensable, transferable, royalty-free, and non-exclusive license to, directly and indirectly, use, reuse, publish, republish, modify, edit, repurpose, distribute, publicly perform, create derivative works of, execute, and public display entrant’s Contest Submission (including all ideas, expressions, and other materials) in whole or in part, without prior review, in all media whether now known or later developed, and to, directly or indirectly, make, use, sell, offer for sale, import, export, and otherwise distribute and product or service that incorporated, embeds, or otherwise uses any intellectual property rights of Entrant, including any patent, copyright, trade secret, or other proprietary right disclosed in, reflected in, or otherwise covering any ideas, inventions, technology, methods, systems, or devices disclosed in the Contest Submission, including but not limited to through the use of any process or method of manufacture, in each case without restrictions of any kind and without any payment or other consideration of any kind, or permission or notification, to you or any third party. In granting this license, entrant understands that Sponsor is under no obligation to exercise any of its rights, licenses and privileges herein granted.
Entrant acknowledges and agrees that the relationship between Entrant and Sponsor is not a confidential, fiduciary, or other special relationship. Sponsor shall have the right, but not the obligation, to use Entrant’s name, likeness, biography and other information about Entrant in connection with any use of the Contest Submission Entrant submits.
By making a Contest Submission, Entrant acknowledges and agrees that Sponsor and its designees (i) are continually and independently of the Contest Submission working on ways to improve upon and expand Sponsor’s product and services offerings, and may create on their own new products or services that are similar to the Contest Submission, (ii) may obtain other Contest Submissions from others that may be similar or identical to the Contest Submission you submit. Entrant hereby waives any and all claims Entrant may have had, may currently have, and/or may have in the future related to Sponsor’s review, acceptance, and/or use of the Contest Submission, and agree that Sponsor is under no obligation to review, use, or in any way process your Contest Submission, regardless of the status indicated on the Contest Website.
Entrant agrees that its Contest Submission will not be held as proprietary or confidential information. Entrant grants Sponsor the right to review Entrant’s Contest Submission and to have the Judges and Finalist Judges (as defined herein) review Entrant’s Contest Submission. Entrant also grants to Sponsor the right to post Entrant’s Contest Submission, including the short description of the submission, and any photo or video that entrant submits on the Contest Website and Entrant agrees that visitors to the Contest Website have the right to access the information in accordance with the Terms and Conditions of the Contest Website.
Entrant agrees that entering the Contest may impact Entrant’s legal rights, including, but not limited to, Entrant’s ability to obtain patent rights, copyright registration, trade secret protection, or other intellectual property or proprietary rights with respect to the information disclosed in the Contest Submission. Entrant must seek its own legal counsel prior to entering the Contest or submitting a Contest Submission, and agrees that Sponsor has not induced Entrant to enter the Contest, and is not responsible or liable to Entrant for any loss of right suffered by Entrant for having entered the Contest.
Entrant agrees that nothing in these Official Rules grants Entrant a right or license to use the Verizon or Verizon Wireless name or trademark or service mark. Entrant grants to Sponsor the right to include Entrant’s company name (if Contest Submission is from a company) as an Entrant to the Contest Website and in materials related to Sponsor’s promotion of the Contest. Other than these uses, Entrant is not granting Sponsor any rights to Entrant’s trademarks.
Likewise, nothing in this Contest requires you to negotiate or do business with Sponsor. Entrant is free to discuss entrant’s Contest Submission and the ideas or technologies it contains with other parties, and Entrant is free to contact with any third parties as long as Entrant has not yet signed an agreement with Sponsor regarding Entrant’s Contest Submission. For the purpose of clarity, Entrant acknowledges that the intent of the Contest is to encourage people to suggest their ideas and innovations to Sponsor. But participating in this Contest does not create an obligation to either Entrant’s part or Sponsor’s part to enter into any further business relationship or to sign any commercial agreement.
Conditions. Sponsor shall not be liable or responsible in the event Contest Submission are not used for any reason. Any and all federal, state and local taxes are the sole responsibility of the winners. Participation in Contest and acceptance of prize constitutes each winner’s permission for Sponsor to use his/her name, address (city and state), likeness, photograph, picture, portrait, voice, biographical information, Contest Submission and/or any statements made by each winner regarding the Contest or Sponsor for advertising and promotional purposes without notice or additional compensation, except where prohibited by law. By participating, Entrants and winners agree to release, indemnify and hold harmless Sponsor, its advertising and promotion agencies, and each of their respective parent companies, subsidiaries, affiliates, partners, representatives, agents, successors, assigns, employees, officers and directors, from any and all liability, for loss, harm, damage, injury, cost or expense whatsoever including without limitation, property damage, personal injury and/or death which may occur in connection with, preparation for, travel to, or participation in Contest, or possession, acceptance and/or use or misuse of prize or participation in any Contest-related activity and for any claims based on publicity rights, defamation, invasion of privacy, copyright infringement, trademark infringement or any other intellectual property-related cause of action. Entrants who do not comply with these Official Rules, or attempt to interfere with this Contest in any way shall be disqualified.
Additional Terms. By entering the Contest, entrants fully and unconditionally agree to be bound by these rules and the decisions of the Judges and Finalist Judges, which will be final and binding in all matters relating to the Contest. Any attempted form of entry other than as set forth in Section 3 and Section 4 above is prohibited; no automatic, programmed, robotic or similar means of entry are permitted. Sponsor, its affiliates, partners and promotion and advertising agencies are not responsible for technical, hardware, software, telephone or other communications malfunctions, typographical or other errors in printing, offering, or description of any prize or in any other materials produced in connection with the Contest, failures of any kind, lost or unavailable network connections, web site, Internet, or ISP availability, unauthorized human intervention, traffic congestion, incomplete or inaccurate capture of entry information (regardless of cause) or failed, incomplete, garbled, jumbled or delayed computer transmissions which may limit one’s ability to enter the Contest, including any injury or damage to participant’s or any other person’s computer relating to or resulting from participating in this Contest or downloading any materials in this Contest. If for any reason, including infection by computer virus, bugs, non-authorized human intervention, fraud or other causes beyond Sponsor’s control corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness or proper conduct of the Contest, Sponsor reserves the right at its sole discretion to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the Contest. In addition, if for any reason, in it its sole discretion, Sponsor determines that the Contest should not or cannot run as planned, Sponsor may cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the Contest. 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 web site. Sponsor may prohibit an Entrant from participating in the Contest or winning a prize if, in its sole discretion, it determines that said Entrant is attempting to undermine the legitimate operation of the Contest by cheating, hacking, deception, or other unfair playing practices (including the use of automated quick entry programs) or intending to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass any other entrants or Sponsor representatives. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of these Official Rules shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision. In the event that any provision is determined to be invalid or otherwise unenforceable or illegal, Sponsor reserves the right to cancel, terminate or modify the Contest or any provision of these rules, or shall have the right to have that determination not affect the remainder of these Official Rules, which shall be construed in accordance with their terms as if they did not contain the invalid or illegal provision. All decisions of Sponsor related to the Contest are final and binding.
CAUTION: ANY ATTEMPT BY AN ENTRANT TO DELIBERATELY DAMAGE ANY WEB SITE OR UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THE CONTEST MAY BE A VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS AND SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, THE SPONSOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO SEEK DAMAGES FROM ANY SUCH PERSON TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW.
No Obligation. Entrant acknowledges that multiple participants may submit Contest Submissions that contain concepts or technologies similar to your Contest Submission and that Sponsor, its respective parent companies, subsidiaries, affiliates, partners, representatives, agents, successors, assigns, employees, officers and directors may already be pursuing technologies that are related or similar to those that you disclose in your Contest Submission. Entrant acknowledges and agrees that Sponsor’s action with respect to another Contest Submission, even if similar to your Contest Submission, shall not create in Sponsor any liability to you or others. Further, Sponsor is not and shall not be restricted in any way from pursuing, developing, or commercializing, in any way that Sponsor sees fit, independent of you and at Sponsor’s sole discretion, any technology or innovation that is created independent of your Contest Submission. For the avoidance of doubt, entrant acknowledges that Sponsor is not obligated to take any action whatsoever with regard to your Contest Submission.
Warranties. By entering the Contest, each Entrant warrants and represents the following with respect to their Contest Submission: (a) Entrant is the sole and exclusive owner of the Contest Submission and such Contest Submission is not subject to any claim of ownership by your current employer, a former employer, or any third party; (b) the Contest Submission is Entrant’s own creation and is 100% original; (c) the Contest Submission will not infringe on any intellectual property, proprietary, moral, or other rights of any third parties; (d) any third parties appearing in the Contest Submission and Entrant’s participation have given Entrant appropriate consent to be used as permitted herein; (e) the Entrant has all appropriate rights to use, and to grant Sponsor the right to use, any third party content or technology used to develop or contained in the Contest Submission; (f) the Contest Submission does not violate the rights of any third party or any local, state, national or foreign law, including any right of publicity, right of privacy or any other proprietary right; (g) do not contain the confidential information of any third party, and to the extent they contain your confidential information, immediately become non-confidential the moment Entrant submits the Contest Submission; and (h) are submitted by Entrant on Entrant’s personal behalf, and not on behalf of Entrant’s employer or third party.
Use of Data/Governing Law. Sponsor will be collecting personal data about Entrants online, in accordance with its privacy policy. Please review the Sponsor’s privacy policy at http://www22.verizon.com/privacy. By participating in the Contest, Entrants hereby agree to Sponsor’s collection and usage of their personal information and acknowledge that they have read and accepted Sponsor’s privacy policy. Contest shall be construed only according to U.S. law. Entrants agree the Contest is governed by the laws of the state of New Jersey.
List of Winners. For the names of the winners, available after January 10, 2014 visit http://www.powerfulanswersaward.com.
Sponsor. Verizon Communications, One Verizon Way, Basking Ridge, NJ 07920

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At Verizon, we believe that powerful technology can help solve many of society's biggest problems and that a good idea can come from anywhere. So we're proud to present the Verizon Powerful Answers Award.