1. KEY DATES:
The Life Sciences, Society and the Law Scholarship Contest (the "Contest") begins on February 1, 2024 at 12:00:01 a.m. Eastern Time ("ET") and ends on April 30, 2024 at 11:59:59 p.m. ET (the "Submission Period").
2. ELIGIBILITY:
Contest is open only to residents or permanent citizens of Canada who: (i) have reached the legal age of majority in their province or territory of residence at the time of entry; (ii) are enrolled in a J.D. or an L.L.B. program at an accredited Canadian law school; and, (iii) have demonstrated an interest in pursuing a future career in Life Sciences; except employees, representatives or agents (and those with whom such persons are living, whether related or not) of Gowling WLG (the "Sponsor"), and its affiliated entities, prize suppliers, advertising/promotion agencies and any other individual(s), entity or entities involved in the development, production, implementation, administration, judging or fulfillment of the Contest (collectively, the "Contest Parties").
3. AGREEMENT TO BE LEGALLY BOUND BY RULES:
By participating in this Contest, you are signifying your agreement that you have read and agree to be legally bound by these Official Rules and Regulations (the "Rules").
4. HOW TO ENTER:
To enter, go to https://gowlingwlg.com/life-sciences-scholarship (the "Website") during the Submission Period and follow the on-screen instructions to obtain the Official Contest Submission Form (the "Submission Form"). Fully complete the Submission Form with all required information, which requires you to:
- enter all required information in the space provided;
- submit an essay (approximately 1,500 words) (the "Essay") in English or French that focuses on the relationship between life sciences and society from a legal perspective (the "Theme");
- signify your agreement that you have read and agree to be legally bound by these Rules (collectively, a "Submission").
Once submitted, you may not make any changes to your Submission – if any changes are required, you must resubmit your Submission. For the avoidance of any doubt, details relating to the internal workings of the judging processes for this Contest are strictly confidential and will not be released publically or otherwise under any circumstances.
When all required steps of the entry process are complete (including fully completing the Submission Form with all required information, uploading the required documents and agreeing to the Rules), follow the on-screen instructions to submit your completed Submission Form to be eligible to earn one (1) Entry (each, an "Entry" and collectively, the "Entries") in the Contest. All materials relating to your Entry (including, but not limited to, the Submission) will hereinafter collectively be referred to as your "Entry Materials". To be eligible, your Entry Materials must: (i) include a Submission that reflects the Theme; (ii) be submitted and received in accordance with these Rules during the Submission Period; and, (iii) be in accordance with these Rules, including, but not limited to, the specific Submission Requirements listed below in Rule 7 (all as determined by Sponsor in its sole and absolute discretion). Any Entry Materials, as determined by Sponsor in its sole and absolute discretion, that do not comply with these Rules (including, but not limited to, the specific Submission Requirements listed below in Rule 7) will be discarded and will not be eligible for entry in this Contest.
5. ENTRY LIMIT:
There is a limit of one (1) Entry per person . If it is discovered by the Sponsor (using any evidence or other information made available to or otherwise discovered by the Sponsor) that any person has attempted to use multiple names, multiple identities, multiple email addresses, any automated, macro, script, robotic or other system(s) or program(s) and/or any other means not in keeping with the Sponsor's interpretation of the letter and spirit of these Rules to enter or otherwise participate in or to disrupt this Contest; then he/she may be disqualified from the Contest in the sole and absolute discretion of the Sponsor. The Contest Parties and each of their respective agents, employees, directors, successors, and assigns (collectively, the "Released Parties") are not responsible for late, lost, misdirected, delayed, incomplete or incompatible Entries (all of which are void).
6. VERIFICATION:
All Entries and Entry Materials are subject to verification at any time and for any reason. The Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole and absolute discretion, to require proof of identity and/or eligibility (in a form acceptable to the Sponsor – including, without limitation, government issued photo identification): (i) for the purposes of verifying an individual's eligibility to participate in this Contest; (ii) for the purposes of verifying the eligibility and/or legitimacy of any Submission, Entry, Entry Materials and/or any other information entered (or purportedly entered) for the purposes of this Contest; and/or (iii) for any other reason the Sponsor deems necessary, in its sole and absolute discretion, for the purposes of administering this Contest in accordance with the Sponsor's interpretation of the letter and spirit of these Rules. Failure to provide such proof to the complete satisfaction of the Sponsor within the timeline specified by the Sponsor may result in disqualification in the sole and absolute discretion of the Sponsor. The sole determinant of the time for the purposes of this Contest will be the official time-keeping device(s) used by the Sponsor.
7. SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS:
BY SUBMITTING AN ENTRY, YOU AGREE THAT THE ENTRY (AND EACH INDIVIDUAL COMPONENT THEREOF – INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE ENTRY MATERIALS) COMPLIES WITH ALL CONDITIONS STATED IN THESE RULES. THE RELEASED PARTIES WILL BEAR NO LIABILITY WHATSOEVER REGARDING: (I) THE USE OF YOUR ENTRY (OR ANY COMPONENT THEREOF – INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE ENTRY MATERIALS); (II) PARTICIPATION IN ANY CONTEST-RELATED ACTIVITIES; (III) ANY USE, COLLECTION, STORAGE AND DISCLOSURE OF ANY PERSONAL INFORMATION; AND/OR (IV) IF DECLARED A WINNER, ANY PRIZES (INCLUDING ANY USE OR MISUSE OF ANY PRIZES). THE RELEASED PARTIES SHALL BE HELD HARMLESS BY YOU IN THE EVENT IT IS DISCOVERED THAT YOU HAVE DEPARTED FROM OR NOT OTHERWISE FULLY COMPLIED WITH ANY OF THESE RULES. THIS RELEASE AND INDEMNITY SHALL CONTINUE IN FORCE FOLLOWING THE TERMINATION OF THE CONTEST AND/OR AWARDING OF ANY PRIZES.
By participating in the Contest, each entrant hereby warrants and represents that the Entry Materials he/she submits:
- are original to him/her and that the entrant has obtained all necessary rights in and to the Entry Materials for the purposes of entering such Entry Materials in the Contest;
- do not violate any law, statute, ordinance or regulation;
- do not contain any reference to or likeness of any identifiable third parties, unless consent has been obtained from all such individuals and their parent/legal guardian if they are under the legal age of majority in their jurisdiction of residence;
- will not give rise to any claims whatsoever, including, without limitation, claims of infringement, invasion of privacy or publicity, or infringe on any rights and/or interests of any third party; and
- are not defamatory, trade libelous, pornographic or obscene, and further that they will not contain, any content that we deem to be inappropriate and relating, without limitation, to any of the following: nudity; alcohol/drug consumption or smoking; explicit or graphic sexual activity, or sexual innuendo; crude, vulgar or offensive language and/or symbols; derogatory characterizations of any ethnic, racial, sexual, religious or other groups; any illegal, inappropriate or risky behaviour or conduct; personal information of individuals, including, without limitation, names, telephone numbers and addresses (physical or electronic); commercial messages, comparisons or solicitations for products or services other than products of Sponsor; any identifiable third party products, trade-marks, brands and/or logos, other than those of Sponsor (e.g. any clothing worn and/or products appearing in your Entry Materials must not contain any visible logos, trade-marks or other third party materials unless the appropriate consents have been obtained --- note: all identifiable third party products, trade-marks, brands and/or logos for which consent has not been obtained by the entrant must be blurred out so as to be unrecognizable); conduct or other activities in violation of these Rules; and/or any other materials that are or could be considered inappropriate, unsuitable or offensive, all as determined by the Sponsor in its sole and absolute discretion.
The Sponsor and/or its designated content moderator (the "Reviewer") reserves the right to screen all Entry Materials. Any Entry Materials that the Reviewer deems, in its sole and absolute discretion, to violate the terms and conditions set forth in these Rules are subject to disqualification. The Reviewer reserves the right, in its sole and absolute discretion at any time and for any reason, to request an entrant to modify, edit and/or re-submit his or her Entry Materials (or any part thereof) in order to ensure that the Entry Materials comply with these Rules, or for any other reason. If such an action is necessary at any point during or after the Contest, then the Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole and absolute discretion, to take whatever action it deems necessary based on the circumstances – including, without limitation, disqualifying the Entry Materials (and therefore the corresponding Entry and/or the associated entrant) – to ensure that the Contest is being conducted in accordance with the Sponsor's interpretation of the letter and spirit of these Rules.
8. LICENSE:
By entering the Contest and submitting an Entry, each entrant: (i) grants to the Sponsor, in perpetuity, a non-exclusive license to publish, display, reproduce, modify, edit or otherwise use their Entry Materials (and each component thereof), in whole or in part, for advertising or promoting the Contest or for any other reason; (ii) waives all moral rights in and to their Entry Materials (and each component thereof) in favour of the Sponsor (and anyone authorized by the Sponsor to use such Entry Materials); and (iii) agrees to release and hold harmless the Released Parties from and against any and all claims, damages, liabilities, costs, and expenses arising from use of their Entry Materials (or any component thereof), including, without limitation, any claim based on publicity rights, defamation, invasion of privacy, copyright infringement, trade-mark infringement or any other intellectual property related or other cause of action whatsoever.
YOUR ENTRY (AND EACH INDIVIDUAL COMPONENT THEREOF – INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE ENTRY MATERIALS) SHALL NOT BE DEEMED TO BE CONFIDENTIAL. FOR THE AVOIDANCE OF ANY DOUBT, THE SPONSOR (AND THOSE AUTHORIZED BY THE SPONSOR) SHALL BE FREE TO USE YOUR ENTRY (OR ANY INDIVIDUAL COMPONENT THEREOF – INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE ENTRY MATERIALS) ON AN UNRESTRICTED BASIS – INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, USING ANY AND ALL IDEAS YOU SUBMIT IN ANY MANNER THAT SPONSOR CHOOSES, WITHOUT ANY NOTICE OR OBLIGATION TO YOU WHATSOEVER.
9. ELIGIBLE WINNER SELECTION PROCESS:
A panel of no less than two (2) judges (collectively, the "Contest Judges") each appointed by the Sponsor will judge the Essay of each eligible Entry (as a blind entry without any identifiable information).
Each eligible Entry will be judged and assigned a score (a "Score") by the Contest Judges. Odds of being selected as an eligible Winner depend on the number and calibre of eligible Entries submitted and received in accordance with these Rules during the Submission Period.
The eligible entrant associated with the highest Score (as determined by the Contest Judges, in their sole and absolute discretion) will each be selected as the eligible winner in the Contest.
Judging is scheduled to be completed no later than June 1, 2023 (the "Final Selection Date").
10. ELIGIBLE WINNER NOTIFICATION PROCESS:
The Sponsor or its designated representative will make a minimum of two (2) attempts to contact each eligible winner within five (5) business days of the Final Selection Date. If an eligible winner cannot be contacted as outlined above, or if there is a return of any notification as undeliverable; then he/she may, in the sole and absolute discretion of the Sponsor, be disqualified (and, if disqualified, will forfeit all rights to be a winner and to receive a prize) and the Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole and absolute discretion and time permitting, to select an alternate eligible winner based on the next highest Score (in which case the foregoing provisions of this section shall apply to such newly selected eligible winner).
11. ELIGIBLE WINNER CONFIRMATION PROCESS:
NO ONE IS A WINNER UNLESS AND UNTIL THE SPONSOR OFFICIALLY CONFIRMS HIM/HER AS A WINNER IN ACCORDANCE WITH THESE RULES, EVEN IF SUCH PERSON IS ANNOUNCED AS A WINNER OR AN ELIGIBLE WINNER. BEFORE BEING DECLARED AS A CONFIRMED WINNER, each eligible winner will be required to sign and return the Sponsor's declaration and release form, which (among other things): (i) confirms continuing compliance with these Rules; (ii) acknowledges acceptance of the Scholarship Prize (as awarded); and (iii) releases the Released Parties from any and all liability in connection with this Contest, their participation therein and/or the awarding and use/misuse of the scholarship or any portion thereof. If an eligible winner: (a) fails to return the properly executed Contest documents within the specified time; (b) cannot be (or is unwilling to be) a winner or accept the Scholarship for any reason; and/or (c) is determined to be in violation of these Rules (all as determined by the Sponsor in its sole and absolute discretion); then he/she will be disqualified (and will forfeit all rights to be a winner and to receive the scholarship) and the Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole and absolute discretion and time permitting, to select an alternate eligible winner based on the next highest Score (in which case the foregoing provisions of this section shall apply to such newly selected eligible winner).
The confirmed winner will be eligible to receive one (1) scholarship.
12. THE SCHOLARSHIP PRIZE:
There is one Scholarship prize available to be won (the "Scholarship Prize") in this Contest. The Scholarship Prize consists of: (i) a scholarship, awarded in the form of a $5,000 CAD cheque payable to the winner; and (ii) a certificate to commemorate the achievement.
The total approximate retail value of each Scholarship Prize is $5,000 CAD. The Scholarship Prize cheque will be issued to the confirmed winner by September 1, 2023. The Scholarship Prize must be accepted as awarded and is not transferable or assignable.
To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the confirmed Winner understands and acknowledges they may not seek reimbursement or pursue any legal or equitable remedy from the Sponsor or any of the Released Parties should the Scholarship Prize fail to be fit for its purpose or is in any way unsatisfactory. For greater certainty and the avoidance of any doubt, by accepting the Scholarship Prize, each confirmed winner agrees to waive all recourse against the Released Parties if their Grand Prize or a component thereof does not prove satisfactory, either in whole or in part.
13. GENERAL CONDITIONS:
This Contest is subject to all applicable federal, provincial and municipal laws. The decisions of the Sponsor with respect to all aspects of this Contest are final and binding on all entrants without right of appeal. ANYONE DEEMED BY THE SPONSOR TO BE IN VIOLATION OF THE SPONSOR'S INTERPRETATION OF THE LETTER AND/OR SPIRIT OF THESE RULES FOR ANY REASON IS SUBJECT TO DISQUALIFICATION IN THE SOLE AND ABSOLUTE DISCRETION OF THE SPONSOR AT ANY TIME.
The Released Parties will not be liable for: (i) any failure of any website or any platform during the Contest; (ii) any technical malfunction or other problems of any nature whatsoever, including, without limitation, those relating to the telephone network or lines, computer on-line systems, servers, access providers, computer equipment or software; (iii) the failure of any Entry, Entry Materials and/or other information to be received, captured or recorded for any reason whatsoever, including, but not limited to, technical problems or traffic congestion on the internet or at any website; (iv) any injury or damage to an entrant's or any other person's computer or other device related to or resulting from participating in the Contest; (v) anyone being incorrectly and/or mistakenly identified as a winner, eligible winner; and/or (vi) any combination of the above.
The Sponsor reserves the right, subject only to the approval of the Régie des alcools, des courses et des jeux (the "Régie") in Québec, to withdraw, amend or suspend this Contest (or to amend these Rules) in any way, in the event of any cause beyond the reasonable control of the Sponsor that interferes with the proper conduct of this Contest as contemplated by these Rules, including, without limitation, any error, problem, computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud or failure of any kind whatsoever. Any attempt to undermine the legitimate operation of this Contest in any way (as determined by Sponsor in its sole and absolute discretion) may be a violation of criminal and civil laws and should such an attempt be made, the Sponsor reserves the right to seek remedies and damages to the fullest extent permitted by law. The Sponsor reserves the right, subject only to the approval of the Régie in Québec, to cancel, amend or suspend this Contest, or to amend these Rules, in any way without prior notice or obligation, in the event of any accident, printing, administrative, or other error of any kind, or for any other reason whatsoever.
By entering this Contest, each entrant expressly consents to the Sponsor, its agents and/or representatives, storing, sharing and using the personal information submitted with his/her Entry only for the purpose of administering the Contest and in accordance with Sponsor's privacy policy (available here). This section does not limit any other consent(s) that an individual may provide the Sponsor or others in relation to the collection, use and/or disclosure of their personal information.
The Sponsor reserves the right, subject only to the approval of the Régie in Québec, to adjust any of the dates, timeframes and/or other Contest mechanics stipulated in these Rules, to the extent deemed necessary by the Sponsor, for purposes of verifying compliance by any entrant, Entry, Entry Materials and/or other information with these Rules, or as a result of any technical or other problems, or in light of any other circumstances which, in the opinion of the Sponsor, in its sole and absolute discretion, affect the proper administration of the Contest as contemplated in these Rules, or for any other reason.
FOR RESIDENTS OF QUÉBEC ONLY: Any litigation respecting the conduct or organization of a publicity contest may be submitted to the Régie des alcools, des courses et des jeux for a ruling. Any litigation respecting the awarding of a prize may be submitted to the board only for the purpose of helping the parties reach a settlement.
In the event of any discrepancy or inconsistency between the terms and conditions of these English Rules and disclosures or other statements contained in any Contest-related materials, including, but not limited to, the French version of these Rules and/or any instructions or interpretations of these Rules given by any representative of the Sponsor, the terms and conditions of these English Rules shall prevail, govern and control to the fullest extent permitted by law.
The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of these 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, these Rules shall otherwise remain in effect and shall be construed in accordance with the terms as if the invalid or illegal provision were not contained herein.
To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, all issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Rules or the rights and obligations of participants, Sponsor or any of the other the Released Parties in connection with the Contest will be governed by and construed in accordance with the domestic laws of the Province of Ontario and the federal laws of Canada applicable therein, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules or provisions that would cause the application of any other jurisdiction's laws. The parties hereby consent to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the courts located in Ontario in any action to enforce (or otherwise relating to) these Rules or relating to this Contest.