Next Big Thing Contest Terms & Conditions

1. Eligibility: This contest is being offered by Vispero and is open to all individuals 18 years or older who are residents of the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Australia. Excluded from participation in this contest are employees of Vispero, their immediate families, and any person affiliated with the contest (each a participant or contestant). This contest is also void and not open to any contestant prohibited by any law, rule, or regulation. 
2. How to Enter: To participate, contestants must submit a video entry detailing their idea for the software products JAWS, ZoomText, or Fusion. The video should be no longer than 3 minutes in duration. First, upload your video to Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, or YouTube. To enter the contest, complete the submission form at the following link: Next Big Thing – Freedom Scientific. The submission form includes a section to share your video link URL. 
3. Contest Duration: This contest will be open for entries from September 5, 2023, to October 16, 2023. Eligible contestants must comprise an individual entry or a group entry comprising no more than three (3) individuals. The top three finalists will be contacted no later than October 23, 2023, and will be invited to present their ideas at the “Sharkvember, Next Big Thing” online event on November 14, 2023.  
4. Intellectual Property Rights: By submitting a video entry in the Next Big Thing contest, contestants acknowledge and fully and unconditionally agree that Vispero is and shall be considered for all purposes the exclusive owner of all rights, title, and interest in and to any and all work product, materials, and content produced, submitted, or relating to the contest  (the “Deliverables”) including, but not limited to the video entry, whether provided individually or that are used as part of a contribution to a collective work, together with any and all related intellectual property rights.  All Deliverable(s) shall constitute “works made for hire” for Vispero within the meaning of the Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C. § 101 et seq., and shall be the sole and exclusive property of Vispero. To the extent that any Deliverable does not constitute a “work made for hire,” each contestant does hereby assign and transfer all of its rights, title, and interest in and to such Deliverable to Vispero. Contestants shall perform all lawful acts and execute and deliver all documents deemed necessary, useful, or appropriate by Vispero to vest in Vispero the entire right, title, and interest in and to such Deliverable(s) and to obtain and record title thereto, and to enable Vispero to prepare, file and prosecute applications for and obtain and defend trademarks, copyrights, and other forms of intellectual property protection on such Deliverable(s). Vispero has the right to edit, revise, expand, or otherwise change or combine any or all parts of  the Deliverables and/or delete any copy as required in Vispero’s sole opinion. Vispero’s ownership includes both the print and electronic versions of Deliverables. Contestants represent and warrant that any submission is their original work and does not infringe upon any third-party rights. 
5. Judging: All video entries will be reviewed by a panel of judges selected by Vispero. The decisions of the judges are final and binding in all respects. Judges’ names will be made available upon request. 
6. Prizes: Winners will be selected resulting from the Judging and be recognized for the Deliverables and rewarded as determined by Vispero in its sole discretion, but in no event shall the consideration for any such award or recognition, in total, exceed $5,000.00 USD. The winner’s names will be made available upon request. 
7. Grand Prize: The grand prize winner(s) will receive a $1,000 gift card from Amazon and a 5-year, no-cost, non-transferable software license for use with JAWS, ZoomText, or Fusion. 
8. Second Place Prize: The winner(s) will receive a 5-year, no-cost, non-transferable software license for use with JAWS, ZoomText, or Fusion. 
9. Third Place: The winner(s) will receive a 5-year, no-cost, non-transferable software license for use with JAWS, ZoomText, or Fusion.   
10. Limitations of Liability: Vispero is not responsible for any incorrect or inaccurate information, technical errors, transmission errors, video entry errors, or URL errors, whether human or otherwise, which may occur during the video entry submission process. 
11. General Conditions: By entering, participants agree they have read, understand, and agree to be bound by these official rules. Vispero reserves the right to cancel, modify, or suspend the Next Big Thing contest without notice and without the naming of a winner or the provision of any award or recognition. 
12. Personal Data: All personal data collected from participants will be used solely for the purpose of the contest and will not be shared or sold to third parties. 
13. Disputes And Binding Arbitration: Any dispute arising from or related in any way to this contest, the Deliverables, the party’s Intellectual Property rights herein, or the video entry submitted by a contestant shall be exclusively subject to resolution pursuant to a mandatory, binding arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association. 
14. Publicity: Any winner agrees to permit Vispero to license and allow for the use of his/her name, photograph, likeness, statements, biographical information, voice, and city and state address for promotional or publicity purposes in any media worldwide regarding the contest, without additional compensation or permission, except where prohibited by law. 
15. Promoter: Vispero, 17757 US Highway 19 N, Suite 200, Clearwater, Florida 33764, USA 

Contestants should thoroughly read and understand the terms and conditions before entering the contest and submitting any video entry. By participating, contestants indicate their acceptance of these terms and conditions.