Rules and Regulations

GENERAL rules - applicable to all campaign Events

1. BBC Talent ("the Campaign") is organised by the British Broadcasting Corporation ("the BBC',)

2. In consideration of the BBC agreeing to assess entries to the Events each entrant by entering licenses the BBC for itself and those authorised by it the exclusive right to use an entry for broadcasting and cable programme services (including On-line) and all other rights for the purposes of the Campaign which licence shall subsist in the case of unsuccessful entries until the end of the Campaign (31/12/02) or until the entrant is unsuccessful if sooner and in the case of successful entries until the end of the Campaign or until if later the conclusion of any good faith continuing discussions with the BBC concerning future use of the entry. This will assist the BBC in handling the large number of entries it anticipates receiving. The BBC shall also be entitled to include entries in its BBC Talent BBCi showcase until 31st March 2003.

3. Entrants consent to being filmed and recorded by the BBC where required for the Campaign and for films or recordings made pursuant to this rule being used for all purposes of the Campaign.

4. The BBC reserves the right to refuse any entry for any reason at its absolute discretion.

5. The decisions of the judges are final. Neither correspondence nor discussion concerning any decision shall be entered into.

6. No entries will be returned and shall become the property of the BBC. It is therefore advisable for each entrant to retain a copy where appropriate.

7. Entrants must submit only their own original work and agree that this will not infringe the copyright or any other rights of any third party.

8. The entrant(s) must be the sole author of the entry (except where more specifically provided below).

9. Entrants may submit only one entry per Event.

10. Entrants permit the BBC to edit or change entries in any way it may in its sole discretion consider necessary for the purposes of use in the Campaign.

11.Entrants, by entering an Event, waive in favour of the BBC and those authorised by it any socalled "moral rights" they may have in relation to an entry which waiver shall subsist for the period of the Campaign or if sooner until the entrant is unsuccessful.

1 2.The description of the awards prizes and selection process in any Campaign literature or other medium is not binding and may be subject to change and the BBC shall not be obliged to make any award or prize if it does not consider entries to be of a sufficient standard.

13.Entry to the Campaign by entrants is done at their own risk. Attendance by entrants at any Event staged by the BBC and travel to and from any such Event is also at the entrant's own risk and the BBC accepts no responsibility or liability in this regard.

14.The BBC reserves the right to seek and issue publicity on behalf of entrants.

1 5.Acceptance of these rules is a condition of entry and receipt of an entry by the BBC amounts to acceptance of the rules.

1 6.The BBC shall not be obliged to make use of any entry and shall not be liable for any loss of publicity or enhancement of reputation.

1 7.Entries are made at an entrant's own expense and the BBC shall not be liable to reimburse any expenses incurred in making an entry (except where more specifically provided below).

1 8.Entries must not contain defamatory or obscene material.

1 9.Entrants selected for the second stage or subsequent stages of any Event may be asked to undertake not to accept any engagements of the kind being assessed by such Event for any United Kingdom broadcaster other than the BBC prior to the end of the Campaign without having first entered into good faith discussions with the BBC.

20.Unless specifically stated in the Rules applying to particular Events, unsuccessful entrants in any stage may not be contacted by the BBC due to the large number of entries anticipated.

21. For those Events which offer successful candidates freelance work or employment contracts, all entrants must be eligible to work in the United Kingdom.

22. Where Entrants are asked to submit programme ideas or similar material these will be used only in connection with assessment of entries or as more specifically stated in the rules for a particular Event and such material shall only be made available to those directly responsible for assessment of entries or the management of particular Events. Unless otherwise stated in the rules for a particular Event the BBC shall not use such material for purposes other than those specified in these Rules without the prior agreement of the Entrant.

BBC New Comedy Awards

1. Participation in the Event is only open to those resident in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland. Open to all ages.

2. Entries should be received by the BBC no later than 12 noon on 12 April 2002. Entries received after this date will not be eligible for the Event.

3. For group entries, no more than five in a team, please ensure that all entrants details are included.

4. Entrants should not have regularly performed (paid or unpaid) in comedy venues for more than three years and not appeared as a comedy performer in any network transmission on BBC ONE, BBCTWO,ITV, Channel 4 or Channel 5.

5. Entrants under 18 on 31 August 2002 should obtain written permission from their parent or guardian and produce such permission to the BBC if required.

Stand Up Awards

6. Entrants should submit a standard audio or VHS video cassette of their work of no more than 8 minutes in duration along with a completed application form. Please note that entries on any other format (DV, mini-disc, dictaphone tape, etc.) will not be accepted.

7. Entrants who have previously appeared in BBC New Comedy Awards Semif-inals can only reenter if they are using wholly new material, not used at any stage in their previous progression through the Event.

8. Although every effort will be made to ensure heats are held in cities nearest to Entrants. Entrants should be prepared to travel to any city in the United Kingdom as part of the selection process

9. Entrants are advised that the heats and finals of the Event may be recorded and transmitted by the BBC.

Sketch Writers'Award

10. Entrants should submit their work on written script or VHS video cassette (please note that entries on any other format will not accepted)

11. Entrants must ensure that all contributions to their films or recordings or other submissions and any copyright material included in them (other than music) have been cleared for all purposes of the Campaign. Any films or recordings containing contributions or copyright material which has not been cleared or for which clearance cannot be obtained may be disqualified. The BBCwill endeavour to clear any copyright music or commercial discs but music should be on a separate track so that it can be removed if clearance cannot be obtained from the Mechanical Copyright Protection Society.

12. In the event that the BBC wishes to use your contributions outside the context of the campaign, or should you be shortlisted as a semi-finalist and your material be broadcast or otherwise used by the BBC,you will be offered the BBC's standard contract and terms appropriate to such contribution.

Published: 26 Jan 2002