In this Agreement, the terms "we," "our" "us" or "Project: QueerLit" are used to collectively refer to Promoter. The terms “contestant,” "you" or "your" means YOU—a person who is seeking to participate in the Contest.

1. Contestant Participation Request. By making a Submission, you hereby agree and notify us that you wish to compete in the Contest as a Contestant, and are submitting your Submission as an entry in the Contest in accordance with the Official Rules. You consent to the storage, display, downloading, copying, reviewing, and coverage of your Submission by Project: QueerLit, other Contestants, and Committee members, according to the process set out in the Official Rules. In addition, you will perform all necessary additional steps that may be required for your further participation in the Contest should you be selected as a Finalist (such as any press or media attention).
   
   
2. Contestant - Required Reviews and Assignments. You hereby agree that, as a condition of participating in the Contest, you will be required to (and you hereby agree to) complete a written review of a Submission which will be randomly assigned to you by Project: QueerLit. If you do not submit a Review in accordance with the Official Rules, your Submission will not be complete. You hereby represent, warrant, and agree that any Review submitted by you will be in compliance with the Representations and Warranties set forth in the Official Rules, and in addition thereto, that you will not in any way alter, amend, modify, copy, distribute, or use (other than for purposes of providing your Review) any Submission that you are selected to Review.
   
   
3. Submission Warranties. You hereby represent, warrant, and agree that your Submission complies with all of the Submission Requirements as set forth in the Official Rules, including, without limitation, that any Submission is your own original and previously unpublished work; that it is not based on any other work or anything written or conceived by anyone else; that you own all copyright and other intellectual property rights in and to the Submission; that the Submission does not infringe on the rights of any third parties; and that the Submission does not and will not violate any applicable laws and is not defamatory or libelous.
   
   
4. Submission/Review Ownership; License to Project: QueerLit. At all times during the Contest Period, as between you and Project: QueerLit, you will retain ownership of whatever interest in the Submission's copyright you owned prior to becoming a Contestant; provided, should you become the Winner, that you hereby grant to Suspect Thoughts Press the sole and exclusive option to acquire the Rights for Publication (contract details as below). The Rights for Publication shall be exercised, within ninety (90) days after the expiration of the Contest Period. You hereby grant Project: QueerLit to do any of the following with respect to your Submission in any and all media now known or hereafter devised, all without any payment to you or to any other person or entity:
   
   
   • encode, digitize and store your Submission;
   • reproduce and distribute your Submission to committee members and other Contestants;
   • publish (on website and with participating sponsors) the synopsis and up to twenty pages of your Submission’s manuscript;
   • rank, review, evaluate, and judge your Submission;
   • secure any permission or clearances necessary to publicly display the Submission; and
   • use the Submission (synopsis and up to twenty pages of manuscript only) in perpetuity and without regard to the Exclusivity Period, for the purpose of publicizing, advertising or otherwise promoting the Project: QueerLit contest.
   • You also grant Project: QueerLit the right to use your name, likeness, biographical material, and/or any other indicia of your persona for purposes of publicizing, advertising or otherwise promoting the Project: QueerLit contest without any payment to you or to any other person or entity.
     
     
5. Grand Prize Winners. Rebel Satori Press and Suspect Thoughts Press will offer selected contestant(s) a contract for publication of their novel. This standard contract includes but is not limited to an advance against royalties, an industry standard royalty percentage of sales for English language rights, and an industry standard percentage of subsidiary rights sales.
   
   
6. Waiver. You hereby agree that your Submission is not subject to any obligation, whether of confidentiality, attribution, or otherwise, on our part and we shall not be liable for any use or disclosure of any Submissions. You recognize that other persons may have submitted to us, or may hereafter originate, submit or make public material and/or ideas that may be competitive with, similar or identical to your Submission in theme, idea, plot, format or other respects. You acknowledge and agree that you will not be entitled to any compensation as a result of our use of any such similar or identical material that has or may come to us from other sources. By sending us your Submission, and in order to participate in the Contest, you hereby agree that (a) your Submission is entered voluntarily and is not in confidence; (b) apart from this Agreement and the Official Rules, and any Other Agreements that may be entered into there is no agreement between us, express or implied, relating to Project: QueerLit’s use of the Submission; and (c) you will not assert against the Promotion Entities any claim based on plagiarism, infringement, confidential or fiduciary relationship, implied contract, unfair competition, unjust enrichment, or otherwise arising out of any alleged use of the Submission. If, notwithstanding the foregoing release, you attempt to claim that we have used your Submission, or any portion thereof, without consent or authorization, you specifically agree and understand that any such dispute shall be subject to arbitration as set forth in the Official Rules.
   
   
7. Nature of Our Relationship. You hereby acknowledge and agree that the relationship between you, as a Contestant, on the one hand, and us, on the other hand, is not a confidential, fiduciary, or other special relationship, and that your decision to provide your Submission to us for purposes of the Contest does not place us in a position that is any different from the position held by members of the general public with regard to elements of your Submission or other Material that are not legally protectable. You understand and acknowledge that Project: QueerLit (including each of the Promotion Entities) has wide access to ideas, stories, other literary materials, and that new ideas are constantly being submitted to it or being developed by those assisting in the creation, maintenance, and publication of the contest. You also acknowledge that many ideas or stories are similar to each other and different ideas and stories often relate to one or more underlying themes. You further agree that Project: QueerLit and its affiliates do not now and shall not have in the future any duty or liability, direct or indirect, vicarious, contributory, or otherwise, with respect to the infringement or protection of your copyright in and to the Submission.
   
   
8. Choice of Law; Arbitration. This Agreement along with the Official Rules for and Other Agreements entered into in connection with the Project: QueerLit, shall be governed by the laws of the State of California, without regard to its conflicts of law principles. In the event of any dispute arising out of or in connection with the Contest, this Agreement, your Submission, or your relationship with Project: QueerLit, such dispute shall be submitted to arbitration in the State of California.
   
   
9. Entire Agreement. This Agreement, together with the Official Rules, represents the entire understanding between you and Promoter relating to the subject matter hereof. If any term or provision of this Agreement conflicts with the Official Rules, the Official Rules shall govern. You hereby agree that you have read, understand, and agree to all of the terms and conditions in this Participation Agreement and that you are by bound by the terms of this Agreement and the Official Rules throughout your participation in the Contest and forever afterward.
   
   
10. Certification. You hereby certify that all of the answers and information that you have provided in this registration process are true, accurate, and complete, and that you have read and will comply with the Official Rules and this Agreement, in conjunction with your participation in the Contest and interactions with Project: QueerLit. You intend that your participation in the Contest shall constitute your legally binding signature and acceptance of this Agreement.