Staples Global EcoEasy Challenge


This was the official website for the 2010-2011 Staples Global EcoEasy Challenge.
Content is from the site's 2011 archived pages.

The challenge looked to find the world’s most ingenious concepts for environmentally preferable office products and the prizes were sweet. The challenge was open to all  undergraduate and graduate student teams enrolled at universities within sixteen select countries.

All you needed to do is submit a 1000 word description of your unique idea for an eco friendly office product. Up to eight finalists were invited to Washington, DC in April (2011) to present their idea to a panel of judges. The grand prize team was awarded $25,000 and two runners up were $5,000 each.

2011 Global EcoEasy Challenge

Your Challenge

Individually or in a team of up to four students, develop a business or home office product that allows users to work more easily and in a manner that is more environmentally preferable than existing similar products. 

How It Works

Are you ready for a challenge that tests your innovation to design an environmentally preferable business or home office product?
If so, the following is a list of specifics to follow when crafting your submission.

Your concept must be one of the following:

  • A new design of an existing product that represents greater environmental responsibility or sustainability
  • A product that uses an eco-innovative material
  • A completely new type of product that promotes sustainability

NOTE: All submissions must be an original work that is student-created and student-managed.

Product categories for submission:

  • Adhesives, clamps/clips and staples
  • Binders and clipboards
  • Computer accessories
  • Cutting instruments (scissors, punches, etc.)
  • Desktop accessories
  • Envelopes, packaging and shippers
  • File folders, pockets and dividers
  • Janitorial/sanitation and office cleaning supplies
  • Labels and label makers
  • Marker and bulletin and/or planning boards
  • Media storage products (for CD/DVD, flash drives, etc.)
  • Office Chairs
  • Paper, note/message pads and cards
  • Storage and organization
  • Shredder and document destruction products
  • Technology accessories (for business machines, calculators and computers)
  • Telephone accessories
  • Writing and drawing instruments and accessories
  • Other miscellaneous office supplies

NOTE: Technology hardware (i.e.: computers, PDAs, wireless phones, printers, copiers, telephones and similar durable items) are specifically excluded.

Things to keep in mind:

  • All team members must be currently enrolled as undergraduate or graduate students at colleges/universities within the pre-approved countries.
  • Each team may have a minimum of 1 and a maximum of 4 members.
  • A team leader must be selected to submit the team's entry.
  • Teams may submit more than one entry, however, team members must remain the same and each entry must be unique.
  • Your team must be registered in order to submit an entry.
  • Create and save your submission on your computer before submitting it online to avoid losing content.
  • Once a complete entry has been submitted, it cannot be modified.
  • Submissions must describe your new, original invention in 1000 words or less. Although not required, a sketch or visual of your invention is strongly recommended (.jpg, .gif or .pdf no larger than 10MB is acceptable).
  • All entries must be in English.
  • Inventions that are in the manufacturing process or have been manufactured, sold or offered for sale in the past cannot be submitted. However, submissions for a greener, more cost-effective version of a product that has been manufactured will be considered for entry.
  • It is highly recommended that you conduct an Internet search to confirm your idea is unique.
  • In April, 2011, 4-8 concepts will be invited to compete in the global finals event in Washington D.C., USA.
  • All Finalist teams (up to 4 members from each team) will be invited to present their invention in person, for a maximum of 5 minutes at the event. The presentation must be in English.
  • Prizes: (1) Grand Prize Winner - $25,000, (2) Runners-Up - $5,000 each.

An aside:
I saw this competition and thought of my other daughter who is in college. She is an engineering student at MIT. This kid has so many ideas that are percolating inside her head. The next time she visited I mentioned the competition. We just happened to be having several of our oriental rugs cleaned by our favorite carpet cleaning experts in NYC and she wondered aloud whether she could speak with one of the principals and perhaps come up with a better, more green approach to cleaning both commercial and private rugs. I pointed out that they already offer 100% organic carpet cleaning services, but she said that frequently a greener, more cost-effective version of a product that has been manufactured can be found. She was pumped for this challenge. Update: She and the team of MIT students that she invited to join her did not win one of the prizes, but the methodology they developed in collaboration with our rug cleaning company was adapted and is now being used. My daughter constantly amazes me.



Participation Incentives
Grand Prize: $25,000

1st and 2nd Runners-Up: 
$5,000 each


• Finalists will receive a stipend for further concept development and a paid trip to Washington, D.C. for the finals event in April 2011

• Royalties will be paid to the team for any concept brought to market

Last Year's Highlights
Grand Prize Winner: $25,000
• Team Aunswera - University of 
   New South Wales
Runners-Up: $5,000 Each
• Team Rajas- Indian Institute of 
   Technology Madras
• Team Explosi-Divas - University 
   of California at Berkeley
Click here to read more and watch the video of the event.
Click here to see photos of the 
finals event.

 

Call For Entries
Thank you for your interest in the Staples Global EcoEasy Challenge. The call for entries has ended. Finalists will be notified on or about February 1, 2011.

Vote For Your Favorite Idea

Don't forget to come back and vote 
for your favorite product ideas to help select the winning team.
 

Online Voting 
March 8 – March 22, 2011.

Official Rules

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN.
VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
ENGLISH LANGUAGE CAPABILITY REQUIRED.
PRIZE COLLECTION MAY INVOLVE ENTRY INTO GLOBAL LICENSE AGREEMENT.

 

1. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS: Open only to students, who are 18 years of age or older as of date of entry, pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree, at a University or College in one of the following countries: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada (excluding Quebec), China, Germany, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, The Netherlands, United Kingdom or the United States. Entries shall be made by teams of up to 4 students (collectively, "entrant" or "team") but such teams may consist of only one member; teams shall select a team leader to submit the entry on the team's behalf ("team leader", hereinafter "you" or "your"). Teams may submit more than one entry, however, team members must remain the same and each entry must be unique, and describe a unique (new and novel) and original (not copied) invention ("Invention"). Employees of Staples, Inc. ("Sponsor"), its advertising and promotion agencies, individuals affiliated with the Rochester Institute of Technology, and judges, and all of their respective parent, affiliates, subsidiaries, officers, directors, advisors, advertising and promotion agencies, their immediate family members wherever they reside {parents, siblings, children (natural, adopted, foster), and spouse} and those living in the same household (whether or not related) of each are not eligible to be team members. This offer is void wherever prohibited and subject to all federal, state, provincial, territorial and local laws and regulations and other applicable laws.

2. HOW TO ENTER THE GLOBAL ECOEASY CHALLENGE 2011 ("Challenge"): Beginning 10:00:00 ET (10:00:00 am ET) on October 1, 2010 through 15:00:00 ET (3:00:00 pm ET) on December 23, 2010 ("Challenge Period"), you may enter online only at EcoEasyChallenge.com ("Challenge Website"). The computer of Sponsor's independent judging agency shall be the official clock for purposes of this Challenge. All entries and other communication in the Challenge shall be in English. You must first register (and input all members of your team, up to a maximum of 4, including you as the team leader, as well as your team name and password) and either submit your complete entry at that time or come back at any time during the Challenge Period to complete the entry process. To complete the entry process, your entry ("Entry") must include all information requested on the Entry form, and describe your Invention in 1000 words or less. Your Entry must include your team name, and your complete contact information (as the team leader), including complete mailing address, email address, daytime and evening phone number, date of birth, and complete name, email address and date of birth for each additional team member, if any (up to 3 additional), your school name, Invention category (please see below for categories) and the name you would assign to your Invention in 5 words or less. By entering your information in the Entry form and submitting the Entry form, you acknowledge and agree that the Challenge is administered by Staples, Inc., a United States company, and that all information collected in connection with the Challenge is being voluntarily transferred by you to Staples, Inc. for processing in the United States. Following submission of your team's Entry, each team member will then be required to respond to an email sent to the email address provided in the Entry also acknowledging the foregoing. Remember that Internet access and usage charges imposed by your online service will apply. All Entries and email acknowledgments must be received by the end of the Challenge Period. Sponsor is not responsible for Entries and email acknowledgments not received in time for judging. Entries that do not contain all the required information will not be eligible. Once a complete Entry has been submitted by entrant and received, it cannot be modified, changed or altered in any way for any reason. The eligibility of Entries and team members for the Challenge shall be determined in Sponsor's sole and absolute discretion.

Sketches or visual materials: Although not required, we strongly recommend that you upload a sketch or visual of your Invention as part of your Entry. 3-D renderings will not be accepted during the Entry submission phase. Entrants can upload a file of their sketch or visual when submitting their Entry. The file can contain multiple images, but only one file will be accepted. The file must be a .jpg, .gif or .pdf format and no larger than 10MB.

Limit on Entries: All Entries must be in English. Your Invention described in your Entry must neither be in the manufacturing process nor could it have been manufactured in the past essentially as you submitted, except if your Invention could produce a greener, more cost-effective product than what has been manufactured in the past, then your Invention may be considered for entry. Your Invention must also never have been sold or offered for sale or publicly disclosed. Sponsor requires that you complete a search on Staples.com(r) and other web sites to confirm your idea is unique (new). Entrants must ensure to the best of their knowledge that there are no intellectual property issues (for example, the Invention is not patented or subject to copyright or other proprietary rights by another) prior to submitting a description of the Invention (this may also be checked by Sponsor). Your Entry, including the Invention, must be in keeping with Sponsor's image and may not be offensive, as determined by Sponsor in its sole and absolute discretion, nor can it defame or invade publicity rights or privacy rights of any person, living or deceased, or otherwise infringe upon any person's personal or proprietary rights.

Entries shall not contain, include or involve any of the following:

  • Obscenity
  • Crude, vulgar or offensive sketches, depictions, images, language and/or symbols
  • Gang signs or symbols
  • Commercial products (e.g., clothing, toys, food) and/or their trademarks, brands, logos or endorsements
  • Unauthorized trademarks and copyrighted material
  • License plates, phone numbers, personal addresses - physical or email or otherwise
  • Website web page links
  • Derogatory characterizations of any ethnic, racial, sexual or religious groups, or anything that may humiliate other people (publicly or otherwise), any assault or threatening of others
  • Conduct or activities in violation of these Official Rules
  • Any other content, display, materials and/or images that is or could be considered inappropriate, unsuitable or offensive, as determined by the Sponsor, in its sole and absolute discretion.

The Challenge: For purposes of this Challenge, Sponsor is interested in any Invention for a business or home office product that allows users to work more easily and in a manner that is more environmentally responsible than existing similar products. This concept could be a new design to an existing product that represents greater environmental responsibility or sustainability; a product or product line that uses an eco-innovative material; or a completely new type of product that promotes sustainability (either through the construction or use of that item). Sponsor, in its discretion, will accept Entries describing an Invention in the following product categories:

  • Adhesives, clamps/clips and staplers 
  • Binders and clipboards 
  • Computer accessories
  • Cutting instruments (scissors, punches, etc.) 
  • Desktop accessories 
  • Envelopes, packaging and shippers
  • File folders, pockets and dividers 
  • Janitorial/sanitation and office cleaning supplies 
  • Labels and label makers
  • Marker and bulletin and/or planning boards 
  • Media storage products (for CD/DVD, flash drive, etc.) 
  • Office chairs
  • Paper, note/message pads and cards 
  • Storage and organization 
  • Shredder and document destruction products
  • Technology accessories (for business machines, calculators and computers) 
  • Telephone accessories
  • Writing and drawing instruments and accessories 
  • Other miscellaneous office supplies


Sponsor may consider inventions that do not fall into these categories, in its sole and absolute discretion.

3. JUDGING:

The Challenge shall consist of two rounds of judging of Inventions for all eligible Entries: a first round of judging via Sponsor-selected judges (the "Finalist Judging Round") and a second round that combines a public online voting component with an in-person presentation to judges (the "Grand Prize Judging Round").

The Finalist Judging Round: Inventions for all eligible Entries will be judged in the Finalist Judging Round to determine the top 5 to 12 selected Inventions, by a panel of judges who shall be selected by Sponsor and whose decisions shall be final and binding on all matters relating to this first round of judging. The top 5 to 12 Inventions will be determined based on the following judging criteria: degree to which the Invention represents a unique and effective approach to sustainability (30%); relevant market potential and product life of the Invention within Staples' target business (25%); the Invention's overall function and benefits (20%); the Invention's originality of concept (10%); ability to manufacture and distribute the Invention to the mass market effectively and in a sustainable way (10%); and degree to which the Invention is free of risks to Staples and Staples' customers (5%) (collectively hereinafter the "Judging Criteria"). Those top 5 to 12 Entries will be reviewed by Sponsor, to determine a minimum of 4 and a maximum of 8 Finalists, based on the Judging Criteria, as well as the viability of an Invention's intellectual property (for example, the Invention is novel and is neither already for sale in a substantially similar form nor is it already covered in the claims in an existing patent or published patent application, etc.) and environmental claims ("Finalists"). Finalists (once confirmed) are eligible to receive the Finalist Prizes as outlined below, subject to these Official Rules. EACH MEMBER OF THE FINALIST TEAMS MUST SIGN, AND THE TEAM LEADER MUST RETURN, AN AFFIDAVIT PACKAGE (THE CONTENT OF WHICH IS DESCRIBED IN DETAIL BELOW). FAILURE OF ANY TEAM MEMBER TO SIGN ANY OF THESE DOCUMENTS MAY RESULT IN THE SELECTION OF AN ALTERNATE TEAM AS A FINALIST. See Rule #6 below for details.

The Grand Prize Judging Round: Beginning March 8, 2011 at 10:00:00 ET (10:00:00 am ET) through March 22, 2011 at 15:00:00 (3:00:00 pm ET) (the "Voting Period"), information describing all verified Finalists' Inventions will be posted on the Challenge Website and will be subject to voting by visitors to the Challenge Website. Visitors will have the opportunity to visit the Challenge Website each day to vote for their favorite Invention. Visitors must be at least 18 years of age or older as of the time of voting to be eligible to vote. Limit one vote per person/email address per day. The use of robotic or automatic devices for voting is prohibited and Sponsor reserves the right to nullify all such votes and to disqualify the responsible individual from voting. All Finalists' Inventions will be judged in person as part of the Grand Prize Judging Round based on the Judging Criteria. All Finalist teams (up to 4 members from each team) will be required to present their Invention in person, for a minimum of 2 minutes and a maximum of 5 minutes, at the Grand Prize Judging Round in Washington D.C., USA ("Event Location") in April 2011. Finalists will need to adhere to Sponsor-specified presentation guidelines (provided prior to or at the event) and there must be present at least one member of each team that can communicate effectively in English. Finalists will then be judged based on the Judging Criteria by a separate panel of judges, who shall be selected by Sponsor and whose decisions are final and binding on all matters relating to the Grand Prize Judging Round. Each Finalist's final score will be determined as follows: the Finalist's score from the in person judging portion of the Grand Prize Judging Round will determine 90% of each Finalist's final score and the number of votes received by each Finalist during the Voting Period will determine 10% of the Finalist's final score (together the "Finalist Total Score"). The Finalist with the highest Finalist Total Score will be deemed the Grand Prize Winner. The Finalists with the next two highest Finalist Total Scores will be deemed the Runner-Up Winners. At least one member of each Finalist team (but up to four team members for any one team) must be present at the Grand Prize Judging Round in order to be eligible to win the Grand Prize or a Runner-Up Prize. In the event of a tie in Finalist Total Scores for the Grand Prize Winner and/or Runner-up Winners, Sponsor will make the final determination of the Grand Prize Winner and/or the Runner-Up Winners. Decisions of Sponsor and judges are final with respect to all matters relating to the Challenge.

Odds of winning depend on the number of eligible Entries received, and their respective and comparative quality in terms of the Judging Criteria described above for each round of judging.

4. PRIZES AND APPROXIMATE RETAIL VALUES: Grand Prize (1): USD$25,000, awarded as checks (to be divided up equally among all team members) (ARV USD$25,000). Runner-Up Prizes (2): USD$5,000, awarded as checks (to be divided up equally among all team members). Finalist Prizes (Minimum 4, Maximum 8): USD$2,000 stipend awarded as checks (to be divided up equally among all team members) for use towards further development of their Invention ("Finalist Stipend") and a 3-day/2-night trip for up to four team members of the 4-8 Finalist teams to the Event Location, on a Sponsor-specified date in April 2011, to attend the Grand Prize Judging Round. The Finalist Prize includes round-trip coach air transportation from the major airport nearest to the Finalist team's school, round trip transfers between airport and hotel, standard double-occupancy hotel accommodations (ARV $7,000) ("Finalist Travel"). One Finalist team may win more than one Finalist Prize if more than one of their Entries is determined a Finalist, however, the Finalist Prize for each additional Finalist Invention will be limited to the Finalist Stipend for each Invention selected and will not include the Finalist Travel or its cash equivalent. See Prize Restrictions below.

Sponsor reserves its right to offer an Affidavit Package (described below) to any Finalist provided that there are no intellectual property rights or marketing issues with the Invention. ALL FINALISTS (ALL TEAM MEMBERS) MUST SIGN ALL DOCUMENTS CONTAINED IN AN AFFIDAVIT PACKAGE WHICH SHALL INCLUDE AN EXCLUSIVE GLOBAL LICENSING AGREEMENT WITH TERMS CONSISTENT WITH THE BELOW (see Rule #6 below). The Exclusive Global License Agreement shall have terms in accordance with what is described here as well as other customary licensing terms. Under the Exclusive Global License Agreement, ownership of the Invention shall remain with the Finalist ("Licensor"), unless otherwise agreed in writing with Sponsor ("Licensee"), provided that Licensee shall have the right to make changes, improvements, additions, eliminations, and combinations affecting the form and function of the Invention all of which shall be owned exclusively by Licensee. Licensor shall grant to License an exclusive, world-wide license (under any applicable intellectual property rights in and to the Invention) to make, have made, sell, offer for sale, import, perform, display, reproduce, distribute, prepare derivative works of, modify, and otherwise use and permit the further use of the Invention and also to manufacture, produce, develop, market, export, distribute, lease, transfer, convey, dispose of and sell, at any price, the Invention. In the event Licensee commercializes a product containing the Invention (the "Licensed Product"), Licensee shall have the right to sublicense and permit the further sublicense of the Invention in accordance with the licensing terms above.  Licensee shall pay royalties to Licensor in the percentage indicated below based on the Purchase Order Cost, which is the cost to Licensee to have the Licensed Product manufactured by the manufacturer or distributor before it is loaded onto any mode of transportation for shipment to Licensee. Royalties for an exclusive license are based on six percent (6%) Purchase Order Cost. All royalties, based on Purchase Order Cost shall be paid within forty-five (45) days of the end of each fiscal quarter (Licensee's fiscal year is roughly February 1 through January 31). Licensee shall determine in its sole and absolute discretion the name, packaging and marketing of the Licensed Product, including whether to use any product name or trademark of the Licensor. In the event Licensee chooses to use any product name or trademark of the Licensor on the Licensed Product, the right and fee to do so shall be included in the license and any royalty paid under the Exclusive Global License Agreement. In the event Licensee has not made the Licensed Product commercially available in at least one geographic location or online in the United States within eighteen (18) months of the final event of the Challenge, the Exclusive Global License Agreement may be deemed a non-exclusive license by Licensor upon ten (10) days written notice to Licensee. Licensee may terminate the Exclusive Global License Agreement for its convenience, without cause or penalty, by providing ninety (90) days advance written notice to Licensor. In the event Licensor's rights to the Invention are terminated or expire or if any patent on the Licensed Product is determined to be invalid, or if the Licensed Product is determined to infringe a third party's intellectual property rights and no amicable settlement is reached, then the Exclusive Global License Agreement may be terminated by either party upon thirty (30) days prior written notice to the other party. In the event a product identical or substantially similar to the Licensed Product, which is noninfringing, becomes available through any sales channel of a competitor of Licensee's, Licensee is entitled in its sole and absolute discretion to stop selling the Licensed Product or to continue selling it under a non-exclusive license. In the event the license is deemed a non-exclusive license, and Licensee continues to sell the Licensed Product, the royalty rate set forth above to be paid by Licensee to Licensor shall be reduced to two percent (2%) of Purchase Order Cost. In the event a third party files an action for infringement against Licensor and/or Licensee that relates to the Licensed Product or institutes a proceeding against Licensor or Licensee in any patent, trademark or copyright office in the world, that relates to Licensor's patent, trademark, or copyright rights in the Licensed Product, the party to the Exclusive Global License Agreement first having knowledge of such action or proceeding shall notify the other in writing. Licensee shall have the right, but not the obligation, to defend such action or proceeding or to enter into negotiations to settle such action or proceeding, at Licensor's expense. If Licensee decides not to defend such action or proceeding, Licensee shall provide written notice to Licensor of this decision and Licensor shall defend such action. Notwithstanding which party to the Exclusive Global License Agreement is the defending party, Licensor shall at all times indemnify and hold Licensee harmless from and against all damages, losses, liability, costs and expenses associated with or resulting from such action or proceeding regardless of the outcome of such proceeding (regardless of whether such determination is a settlement or final judgment, time being of the essence). If, as a result of such action or proceeding, Licensee is enjoined from realizing the full rights and benefits of Exclusive Global License Agreement, then Licensor shall procure from the person or persons initiating such action or proceeding a license for Licensee to continue the rights granted to Licensee in the Exclusive Global License Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing, if Licensee is obligated to pay damages as a result of such action or proceeding, then Licensee shall be entitled to offset any future royalty payments that it may owe to Licensor up to the amount of such damages.

5. PRIZE RESTRICTIONS: All prizes will be awarded, provided an equivalent number of eligible Entries are received for the total amount of prizes awarded. Prizes are not transferable; no substitutions or cash equivalents are allowed, except by Sponsor who reserves the right to award a prize of equal or greater value if advertised prize is unavailable. Airline carrier's regulations and conditions apply. Trips may not be combined with any other offer and travel may not qualify for frequent flyer miles. Finalist team members (if applicable) must travel together on the same itinerary. Finalists must possess valid travel documents (i.e., valid government-issued photo ID, passport, VISA, country clearance, etc.) in order to travel. All travel must be completed on dates specified by Sponsor; dates of departure and return are subject to change. Certain restrictions may apply. Seat selection and timing of trip subject to availability and confirmation of reservations. No refunds or credit for changes are allowed. All other expenses and costs, not expressly listed above, including, but not limited to, taxes, tips, check cashing fees, entertainment, transfers, and transportation between the airport and home residence are the Finalists' sole responsibility. In the event any of the Finalists live within 100 miles of the Event Location, ground transportation will be provided from the Finalist's home residence to the Event Location in lieu of airline tickets. Taxes, if any, related to the prize are the responsibility of the individual winning team members (who will share the tax liability equally).

 

6. FINALIST AND WINNER CONFIRMATION: Finalists will be notified by phone, mail or email before the Grand Prize Judging Round. The Grand Prize winning team and Runner-Up Prize winning teams will be notified in person at the Grand Prize Judging Round. To be confirmed as a Finalist, in addition to all other requirements of these Official Rules, each Finalist team member shall complete, and the team leader shall return, fully executed documents contained in the affidavit package including all of the following ("Affidavit Package"):

a) A Public Relations ("PR") data sheet setting out biographical information;

b) An Affidavit of Eligibility representing and warranting that he/she has read these Official Rules and read the Exclusive Master License Agreement and understands and is fully familiar with them and that, if necessary, Finalist sought independent legal advice;

c) A Liability Release releasing the Releasees (defined below - see Rule #14) from liability arising out of entrant's participation in the Challenge as set out below in the Conditions of Entry And Release section;

d) A Publicity Release (where legal) granting Sponsor, without further compensation and except where prohibited by law, permission to use, reproduce, promote, publicize, distribute, have distributed, publicly or privately display, communicate and transmit Team Members' names, likenesses, hometowns, school names and photographs and Entry or a brief description of Entry (as such may be edited and modified by Sponsor in its discretion) for editorial, commercial, promotional and all other purposes, including without limitation, publicizing the description of his/her Invention (as originally submitted, or as edited or modified by Sponsor); and

e) An Exclusive Master License Agreement granting Sponsor the exclusive license to the Invention, the terms of which shall be consistent with these Official Rules.

The Affidavit Package must be returned within 10 days of notification attempt or the prize will be forfeited and an alternate Finalist will be determined, based on the Judging Criteria set forth above. The Affidavit Package may be emailed or mailed. Return of any Affidavit Package as undeliverable may result in disqualification and determination of an alternate Finalist. No responsibility or liability is assumed for damages, losses or injury resulting from acceptance or use of any prize.

7. GENERAL RULES: By participating, entrants agree to the Official Rules and the decisions of the Judges and Sponsor, which shall be final and binding in all respects. Entries become the property of Sponsor and will not be acknowledged or returned. Entries and any information about the Entries or the judging of Entries, which are not confirmed to be a Finalist or prize winner, will not be disclosed to the Entrant, Sponsor or the public. Entries that are not confirmed as Finalists shall be deleted and purged. Ownership of the Invention shall remain with the entering team unless otherwise agreed in writing with Sponsor. Sponsor and its agents are not responsible for deliveries or any failure to deliver by any courier or postal service, technical, hardware, software or telephone or facsimile malfunctions of any kind, lost or unavailable network connections, or failed, incorrect, incomplete, inaccurate, garbled or delayed electronic communications caused by the user or by any of the equipment or programming associated with or utilized in this Challenge or by any human error that may occur in the processing of the Entries in this Challenge. Sponsor reserves the right, at its sole and absolute discretion, to disqualify any individual that tampers or attempts to tamper with the entry process or the operation of the Challenge or Challenge Website; violates the Official Rules; or acts in an unsportsmanlike or disruptive manner, or with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass any other person. Any attempt by any person to deliberately undermine the legitimate operation of the Challenge may be 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 that provision. Sponsor and each of its parent, affiliates, officers, directors, agents, and employees shall have and assume no liability or responsibility for any claim arising from, in connection with, or otherwise related to this Challenge, participation in this Challenge, the Challenge Website, the disclosure, use, manufacture, offer for sale, or sale of Finalists Invention or a Licensed Product, or any prize awarded. Winners and entrants assume all liability for any injury or damage caused, or claimed to be caused, by participation in this Challenge or use or redemption of any prize.

8. CONDITIONS OF ENTRY & RELEASE: In order to be eligible to be a Finalist, you must execute the documents contained in the Affidavit Package as represented in these Official Rules. By submitting an Entry you (including all team members) represent and warrant that: (i) to the best of your knowledge, understanding and belief, the Invention neither infringes on any patent, trademark or copyright or any other third party right nor does it violate any applicable law or regulation, (ii) to the best of your knowledge, you have the right to grant any and all necessary rights and licenses provided herein, including without limitation, all necessary patent, trademark, copyright and other related rights to the Invention, free and clear of all claims and encumbrances without violating the rights of any person or entity, including any right to privacy or publicity; (iii) to the best of your knowledge, the information contained in your Entry is accurate, complete and correct and represents your own unique (new and novel) and original (not copied) Invention; (iv) if you are confirmed a Finalist and/or a Grand Prize or Runner-Up Prize winner, you authorize Sponsor and its representatives to use your name, likeness, hometown and brief description of your Invention when contacting the local press; (v) if you are selected as a member of a Finalist team, you will make a good faith effort to attend the Grand Prize Judging Round of the Challenge; (vi) you will promptly provide to Sponsor all information reasonably requested by Sponsor; (vii) if you are confirmed a Finalist and/or a Grand Prize or Runner-Up Prize winner, you agree that your Entry may be reproduced, promoted and publicized by Sponsor in any way Sponsor sees fit, and grant Sponsor, its parent, affiliates, subsidiaries, assigns, licensees, and legal representatives the irrevocable, perpetual, worldwide right to edit the Entry, distribute, have distributed, publicly and privately display, communicate, transmit, have transmitted, and promote the Entry (as such may be edited and modified by Sponsor in its discretion) for editorial, commercial, promotional and all other purposes, including, without limitation, publicizing the description of your Invention (as originally submitted, or as edited or modified by Sponsor); (viii) provided that Sponsor has fulfilled its obligations set forth herein, you acknowledge and agree that Sponsor and other Releasees (defined below - see Rule #14) assume and shall have no liability or responsibility (with the exception of intentional misconduct or gross negligence on their part), and you release and hold Sponsor and other Releasees harmless from and against any claim or liability, of whatever nature or kind, arising from, in connection with, or otherwise related to this Challenge, your participation in the Challenge, the Challenge Website, the disclosure, publication, use, manufacture or sale of your Invention, or any prize, including, without limitation any third party claim arising from use, manufacture or sale of the Invention; (ix) Sponsor and Releasees have no control over travel and accommodations related to the Finalist Travel, as such are controlled by airlines, hotels and other third parties, and you waive any claim against Sponsor and/or Releasees with respect to such Finalist Travel; (x) you waive any right to inspect or approve uses of the Invention or to be compensated for any such uses, except as described in Rule #4 above; (xi) you have been afforded the opportunity to obtain legal counsel at your own expense regarding your participation in the Challenge and the Official Rules and you have either done so or chosen not to do so of your own volition; and, (xii) you further understand and agree that both the Sponsor and its agents are involved in the business of researching and developing many ideas for new products and Sponsor and its agents may have previously received, or may receive third-party inventions, or Sponsor may be developing an idea similar or identical to your Invention, and therefore you agree that participating in the Challenge will not in any way limit Sponsor's or its agents' right to use any such similar invention, as Sponsor or its agents deem appropriate and you waive any claim against Sponsor and/or any of its agents with regard to any such similar idea or invention.

9. GOVERNING LAW & VENUE: The Commonwealth of Massachusetts courts (state and federal) located in the United States of America shall have sole jurisdiction of any controversies regarding the Challenge and the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the United States of America shall govern the same. Each entrant waives any and all objections to jurisdiction and hereby irrevocably submits to the venue of those courts within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States of America. Where applicable under law, Sponsor acts according to the Dutch Code of conduct for promotional games of chance 2006.

10. RULES GOVERN: In the event of any discrepancy or inconsistencies between these Official Rules and disclosures or other statements contained in any Challenge related materials, including, but not limited to, the Challenge entry form, these Official Rules shall prevail, govern, and control, except that with respect to any inconsistency between these Official Rules and the terms of the Exclusive Master License Agreement executed by you and Sponsor, the latter shall control.

11. PRIVACY: Sponsor respects your right to privacy. By entering this Challenge and voluntarily providing your information, to Staples, Inc. for processing in the United States, you and your team members consent and agree to Sponsor's collection and use of the personal data you provided in your Entry in order to administer the Challenge and award the prizes. By participating in the online voting portion of the Grand Prize Judging Round, you consent and agree to Sponsor's collection and use of the personal data you provided in the voting necessary to administer such voting portion of the Grand Prize Judging Round and to tabulate such voting results. Participants have a right of access to, modification and withdrawal of their personal data whereupon such withdrawal will necessarily lead to the participants' drop out from the Challenge. To exercise such rights, participants may send an email to ecoeasychallengehelp@dja.com. The personal data collected from participants outside the United States will be transferred voluntarily by each participant to Staples, Inc. in the United States.

12. WINNERS' NAMES: The names of the Finalists will be posted on the Winners' link at EcoEasyChallenge.com after April 30, 2011. The Grand Prize Winner and Runner-Ups will be posted on the Winners' link at EcoEasyChallenge.com after the Grand Prize Judging and no later than May 30, 2011.

13. SPONSOR: The Sponsor of the Challenge is Staples, Inc., 500 Staples Drive, Framingham, MA, USA 01702.

14. RELEASEES: Sponsor, its advertising and promotion agencies, individuals affiliated with the Rochester Institute of Technology, judges, and all of their respective parent, affiliates, subsidiaries, officers, directors, and advisors.

15. FORCE MAJEURE: Sponsor shall not be liable for any delays or other non-performance of, or relating to, the Challenge resulting from circumstances or causes beyond its reasonable control, including, without limitation, fire or other casualty, act of God, war, terrorism, or other violence, any law, order or requirement of any governmental agency or authority or other causes beyond the reasonable control of Sponsor.

16. QUESTIONS: For any questions or concerns about the Challenge please send an email to: ecoeasychallengehelp@dja.com. While Sponsor shall make every reasonable effort to respond to such inquiries, Sponsor and its agents shall have no obligation to do so.

 



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