DEAR ALIENS
a writing contest for humans
DEAR ALIENS is a fairly straightforward writing contest but we need a terms page to outline the specific details. We aren't sure about alien law, so the stuff here applies to us and to you. By entering the contest, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by everything on this page.
What you write is yours. You retain full copyright ownership of it. However, by entering, you also grant DEAR ALIENS a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide, perpetual license to reproduce, publish, and distribute your submission in any format (including online and in print) for any purpose relating to the contest. This can include promotion, publication of results, and inclusion in paid print or digital products featuring the contest entries. This license applies to everybody who enters, including those who did not win a prize. The license does not prevent you from publishing your work elsewhere.
We will always credit you for your work.
For the prize winner, the prize constitutes full and final compensation for the license granted above. For non-winning entrants whose work is selected for publication, compensation consists of publication credit and recognition in the form of an author byline (like we said: we'll credit you). DEAR ALIENS gets to decide which pieces do and do not get published. Entering the contest does not guarantee publication. DEAR ALIENS owes no additional royalties or payments to any entrant for use of submitted work within the scope of this license.
Okay, deep breath, hopefully the rest of this will be shorter.
We'll send the prize money via our transfer service of choice, like (though not necessarily) Wise or Revolut. Our total financial obligation is the stated USD prize amount. You will receive whatever amount remains after currency conversion (if applicable) or any other fees.
We are not responsible for exchange rates, conversion losses, or fees.
It is also true that sending money to some countries is about as difficult as sending money to the aliens (i.e. impossible). We will make reasonable efforts to pay the winner. But if the winner is unable to receive payment due to sanctions, restrictions, the laws of their country or residence, or other logistical obstacles, the prize will pass to the next eligible entrant. What this section basically means is that if you enter from somewhere like North Korea or Cuba (as two examples) we may literally not be able to send you the money. So keep that in mind if you enter.
By entering, you confirm that you are at least 18 years old (or the age of majority in your state or jurisdiction, if higher). This contest is void where prohibited by law. It is your responsibility to ensure you meet all eligibility requirements before entering.
You forfeit your prize and/or entry if you: (a) fail to comply with the submission rules; (b) submit more than one entry; (c) submit work that is not your own original writing or that infringes the copyright or other rights of any third party; or (d) are unable to receive payment as described in Section 2.
Disqualification decisions are made at the sole discretion of DEAR ALIENS. While we will act in good faith, we are under no obligation to provide reasons for disqualification. All judging decisions are final and not subject to appeal or correspondence.
By entering, you represent and warrant that: the submission is your own original work; you have full authority to grant the license described in Section 1; the submission does not infringe any third-party intellectual property, privacy, or other rights; and the work has not been previously published in any format. "Previously published" means published anywhere, in any format, in any language, whether in print, online, on a blog, on social media, in a newsletter, on a personal website, or in any other medium. If people could have read it before, it counts as published.
Simultaneous submissions are not allowed. Your entry must not be under consideration by any other contest, publication, or outlet at the time you submit it to DEAR ALIENS. If you have submitted the same work elsewhere, you must withdraw it from those submissions before entering here.
If it turns out that your submission infringes anyone else's copyright, trademark, or other rights, or if any claim, dispute, or legal action arises because your work is not actually your own or includes material you did not have the right to use, that is your responsibility, not ours. You agree to indemnify and hold harmless DEAR ALIENS, its organizers, judges, and affiliates from any and all claims, damages, losses, costs, and expenses (including legal fees) arising out of or related to any breach of the warranties in this section.
TL;DR: This should not be a problem as long as you write your own original work.
DEAR ALIENS reserves the right to withhold any or all prizes and to decline to publish any submission if, in its sole judgment, the contest has not produced a result that meets the required standard. This right may be exercised if, for example, fewer than 30 eligible entries are received, or if no submission meets the minimum quality threshold established for the contest. This clause will not be invoked except in genuine exceptional circumstances, and DEAR ALIENS fully intends to award all prizes.
To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, DEAR ALIENS is not liable for: submissions lost, delayed, or corrupted due to technical issues beyond our control; any tax obligations arising from prize receipt (winners are solely responsible for compliance with their local tax law); or any indirect, incidental, or consequential losses arising from participation, disqualification, or any decision made under these terms.
DEAR ALIENS reserves the right to amend these terms at any time. Changes will be posted on our website. Amendments will not apply retroactively to entries already submitted at the time the change takes effect. Where reasonably practicable, we will notify entrants of material changes directly.
These terms are governed by the laws of Delaware, without regard to conflict of law principles. Any disputes arising under these terms shall be resolved exclusively in the courts of Delaware, within the United States.