Online Marketing Challenge

Terms & Conditions

In these terms and conditions: “Google” means Google Inc., whose principal place of business is at 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, United States. “Student” means a student who (a) is enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate course at any higher education institute in any of the following regions: Americas, Europe, MEA (Middle East or Africa) or Asia Pacific, (b) studies under the direction of a professor (or similar senior academic) affiliated with the Higher Education Institute, and (c) is over the age of majority in the country where they reside.
The Google Online Marketing Challenge 2012 (the “Competition”) is open to teams made up solely of Students (the minimum team size being three Students and the maximum being six students) in a class which has been registered for the competition by their professor in accordance with clause 3 (each a “Student Group”). Each Student may only be in one Student Group. Employees (and their families) of Google Inc and any affiliates, as well as representatives or agencies of Google or other persons professionally connected with the Competition, are excluded. Residents and nationals of Iran, Syria, Cuba, Sudan, North Korea and Myanmar (Burma), and other persons and entities restricted by U.S. export controls and sanctions programs are not eligible to participate. Students who were members of winning teams in previous Google Online Marketing Challenges are also excluded from entering.
In these terms and conditions: “Professor” means a faculty member, lecturer or instructor currently employed by any higher education institute. Professors must register their class using the online registration procedure accessible via www.google.com/onlinechallenge. Google will not accept registration requests received by any other route. The closing date for receipt of class registration requests by Google from professors is midnight Pacific Time on May 1, 2012..
Each Student Group will select either a business or an Eligible NGO (as defined below) that (a) has a website, (b) is not already advertising using Google AdWords or has not used it in the last 6 months, (c) has not been selected by any other Student Group, and (d) agrees to have a campaign devised and run for the purposes of the Competition. A business or Eligible NGO which satisfies the criteria set out in these terms and conditions is referred to as a “Competition Client”. If there is any dispute about whether a business is eligible for the Competition, Google’s decision shall be final and shall be made in Google’s absolute discretion.
Any nonprofit organization with public charitable status (“Eligible NGO”) will be considered for the Social Impact Award. Each finalist organization will be asked to provide proof of its charitable status by providing relevant official documentation appropriate to the organization's country. The following organizations are ineligible:
1. Organizations requiring membership and providing benefit solely to members, such as clubs, sports teams, alumni, networking and other membership organizations
2. Organizations that use religion or sexual orientation as a factor in hiring or populations served
3. Organizations serving a primarily political function such as lobbying, think tanks and special interests
4. Schools, childcare centers, academic institutions and universities
5. Organizations which promote illegal or disruptive tactics
6. Governmental entities and organizations or public international organizations
7. Please note, non-profit organizations in countries which are restricted by U.S. export controls and sanctions programs are not eligible for selection as Competition Clients in any circumstances. Google’s decision about whether a non-profit organization satisfies the eligibility criteria referred to above or is otherwise eligible for participation in the Competition shall be final and shall be made in Google’s absolute discretion.
If you choose a business or an Eligible NGO as your Competition Client, you will be entered into the Global and Regional Awards section of the Competition. If you choose an Eligible NGO, you will also be entered into the Social Impact Awards section of the Competition (as detailed below). If you choose to participate in the optional Social Media section (as detailed below), you will be entered into the competition for the Social Media Award.
Each Student in a Student Group will be jointly and severally responsible for:
1. ensuring that their selected Competition Client approves the campaign (including the creative(s)) in writing before the campaign is run live;
2. following the instructions given by Google to open a limited AdWords account for use by the Student Group in the Competition; and
3. complying with the terms and conditions applicable to the AdWords programme (available here) including all AdWords advertising policies (available here). The AdWords account must not be used in connection with any advertising or marketing except the Competition campaign, and cannot be used after the Competition campaign has finished.
Each Student in a Student Group which chooses to compete in the optional Social Media Award section of the competition will be jointly and severally responsible for:
1. ensuring that their selected Competition Client creates a Google+ Page and provides Page Manager access to one or more members of the Student Group; and
2. complying with the terms and conditions which apply to users of Google+ (available here) as well as the additional terms and conditions applicable to Google+ Pages (available here), and the policies which apply to contests and promotions which take place on Google+ pages (available here). After the completion of the Competition, the Student Group must inform the Competition Client so that the Owner of the Google+ Page can remove the Student Group’s access.
Google will give to each Student Group free online advertising spend for Google AdWords worth USD$250 solely for use in the Competition. Use of the AdWords vouchers is subject to the terms and conditions applicable to the AdWords vouchers, which are available here.
Each Student Group will:
1. upload to Google and submit to their Professor a report outlining their online marketing strategy for their selected Competition Client (“Pre-Campaign Report”) at least one day prior to the start of their campaign;
2. run the online campaign in accordance with the Pre-Campaign Report during a window which must fall between midnight Pacific Time on January 31, 2012 and midnight Pacific Time on June 8, 2012 inclusive (“Competition Window”);
3. ensure the online campaign does not exceed the maximum allowed duration of 21 consecutive days. Campaigns which serve impressions for less than 7 days or for more than 25 days in total will be deemed ineligible for inclusion in the Competition;
4. upload to Google and submit to their Professor a report assessing the results of their campaign, what they learned and how the Competition Client can improve its online marketing campaigns (“Post-Campaign Report”) within four weeks after the end of the campaign (and at the latest by midnight Pacific Time on June 15, 2012). Each report must be in the format set out in the “Competition Guidelines to the Google Online Marketing Challenge” document (“Competition Guidelines”) distributed by Google; and
5. in respect of the Social Impact Awards only, an additional 2 page report (“Impact Statement") is required in the format set out in the Competition Guidelines.
Each Student Group who chooses to compete for the optional Social Media Award will:
1. have the opportunity to also use a Google+ page to create and execute a social media marketing strategy for their business Competition Client or Eligible NGO Competition Client (based on the requirements described in the Competition Guidelines);
2. upload to Google and submit to their Professor a 2 page report outlining their social media marketing strategy for their selected Competition Client (“Social Media Strategy Writeup”) at least one day prior to the start of their social media campaign;
3. run the social media campaign in accordance with the terms and conditions for Google+ Pages outlined in clause 8 above and in accordance with the Social Media Pre-Campaign Writeup during a 42-day window which must fall between midnight Pacific Time on January 31, 2012 and midnight Pacific Time on June 8, 2012 inclusive (“Social Media Competition Window”);
4. ensure the social media campaign does not exceed the maximum allowed duration of 42 consecutive days; and
5. upload to Google and submit to their Professor a 2 page report on the performance of their social media campaign (“Social Media Execution Writeup”) which can be submitted anytime after the AdWords campaign ends but must be received by Google at the latest by midnight Pacific Time on June 15th, 2012). Each Writeup must be in the format set out in the Competition Guidelines.
In order to protect the Google brand and to promote a good experience for each selected Competition Client, each Student Group undertakes to communicate to their selected Competition Client information about how the Competition Client can continue to use Google AdWords and Google+ Pages after the Competition, should the Competition Client so choose.
Professors will ensure their Students send copies of the Pre-Campaign and Post-Campaign Reports (and the Social-Media Pre-Campaign Writeup and Social Media Execution Writeup, if the Student Group is participating in that section) in electronic format to Google as directed in subsequent email communications by the deadlines specified in clauses 10 & 11 above. Google will not accept Student Group reports or writeups by any other route. The closing dates for receipt of these documents by Google is midnight Pacific Time on June 15, 2012. Documents received after this date will not be eligible for judging in the Competition.
After the winners in the Business Awards, Social Impact Awards, and Social Media Awards categories have been announced, Google will grant recognition by mentioning or otherwise featuring the names of all participating Higher Education Institutes and winning Student Groups on the Competition website maintained by Google. By entering the Competition, each Student featuring in a Student Group is indicating his/her consent to have their name published on the Competition website should their Student Group be deemed a winner.
In submitting a report or writeup during the Competition, each Student jointly and severally with his/her fellow group members warrants that the group or a member of the group wrote the report and the campaign creative(s) and is the owner of the copyright in it, and that each member of the group consents to its being used in whole or in part within future Google communications, worldwide, across any or all media, in whatever way Google sees fit, including for press and media purposes in perpetuity. If the group is not the copyright owner, the group represents and warrants that it has obtained the consent of the owner(s) to use the report and the campaign creative(s) in the manner set out in these terms without any payment.
Google accepts no responsibility for entries lost, delayed, damaged, defaced, or mislaid, howsoever caused.
Reports or other documents sent to Google or the judging panel during the course of the Competition will not be returned. Only one entry per Student Group.
If you are a Professor, by registering your class in the Competition you (a) agree to be involved in media activity (including any press interviews which Google may reasonably arrange) regarding the Competition, and (b) you represent and warrant that your Higher Education Institute permits Google to mention the Higher Education Institute, and to include in offline and online marketing materials the Higher Education Institute’s logo or other brand identifiers.
If you are a Student, by participating in the Competition, you agree to be involved in media activity (including any press interviews that Google may reasonably arrange) regarding the Competition.
Any personal information collected during the course of the competition by Google will only be used for administering this Competition.
1. "For residents of the European Union": pursuant to European Union law pertaining to data collection and processing, you are informed that:
  1. the data controller is Google and the data recipients are Google and its agents; b. your data is collected for purposes of administration of the promotion and for marketing purposes; c. you have a right of access to and withdrawal of your personal data. You also have a right of opposition to the data collection, under certain circumstances. To exercise such right, you may write to: Google Online Marketing Challenge c/o Marketing Department 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway Mountain View, CA 94043, United States. Email: onlinechallenge@google.com d. your personal data will be transferred to the U.S
  2. Entry in the Contest, the awarding of a prize, or anything in these Rules should not be construed as an offer or contract of employment with Google. You acknowledge that you have entered voluntarily and not in confidence or in trust. You acknowledge that no confidential, fiduciary, agency or other relationship or implied-in-fact contract now exists between you and Google.
  3. PAYMENTS TO POTENTIAL WINNERS ARE SUBJECT TO THE EXPRESS REQUIREMENT THAT THEY SUBMIT TO GOOGLE ALL DOCUMENTATION REQUESTED BY GOOGLE TO PERMIT IT TO COMPLY WITH ALL APPLICABLE FEDERAL, STATE, PROVINCIAL, LOCAL AND FOREIGN TAX REPORTING AND WITHHOLDING REQUIREMENTS. ALL PRIZES WILL BE NET OF ANY TAXES GOOGLE IS REQUIRED BY LAW TO WITHHOLD. ALL TAXES IMPOSED ON PRIZES ARE THE SOLE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE WINNERS. In order to receive a prize, potential winners must submit the tax documentation requested by Google or otherwise required by applicable law, to Google or the relevant tax authority, all as determined by applicable law, including, where relevant, the law of the potential winner’s country of residence. The potential winner are responsible for ensuring that (s)he complies with all the applicable tax laws and filing requirements. If a potential winner fails to provide such documentation or comply with such laws, the prize may be forfeited and Google may, in its sole discretion, select an alternate potential winner.
By entering:
1. participants release and hold harmless Google and its respective parent, subsidiaries, affiliates, directors, officers, employees, panelists and agents from any and all liability for any damage, loss or delay (including personal injury and death, and property damage) resulting in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from acceptance, possession, misuse or use of any prize, participation in this Competition, or while traveling to, preparing for, or participating in any prize-related activity, except for personal injury or death caused by Google’s negligence or any other liability which cannot be excluded by applicable law, and
2. grant to Google the right to use and publish their proper name and winning entry online, in print and in any other media in connection with the Competition. Google will not be responsible for any damage, loss or delay incurred by any business which agrees to have a campaign devised and run for the purposes of the Competition, except for personal injury or death caused by Google’s negligence or any other liability which cannot be excluded by law.
Void where prohibited by applicable law.
To request a copy of these rules and/or the winners’ list please write to Google at the address below.
Promoter and Data Controller: Google Inc with its registered office located at 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, United States.
All enquiries should be directed to: Google Online Marketing Challenge c/o Marketing Department, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, United States. Email: onlinechallenge@google.com.

Business Awards

Google will use the campaign statistics from the relevant AdWords account to determine the top five Student Groups working with business Competition Clients in each of four regions (Americas, Europe, Asia Pacific and MEA - Middle East and Africa). An independent panel of academic judges will then review the Pre-Campaign and Post-Campaign Reports to select from these Student Groups:
1. One winning Student Group (the “Global Winner”); and in addition
2. Four regional winners (one Student Group for each of the Americas, Europe, Asia Pacific and MEA - Middle East and Africa regions, excluding the Global Winner) (each “Regional Winners”);
3. based on the quality of the Pre-Campaign and Post-Campaign Reports (weighted in accordance with the judging criteria available in the Competition Guidelines document. Google will provide assistance as required to the judging panel in assessing any metrics/effectiveness data. In addition Google will use the campaign statistics to determine the top fifty Student Groups in each region (outside of the Global Winner and Regional Winners) (each “Semi-Finalist”).
The winners and their Professor will be notified before July 31, 2012.
Global Winners’ Prize. The Global Winners and their Professor will win a week's holiday to San Francisco, USA, including a full day visit to the US Googleplex offices to meet the Google Online Marketing Challenge team. The Global Winners’ prize includes for each Student and their Professor, traveling together as a single group, economy return flights from an airport in the country where their Higher Education Institute is located, seven nights' accommodation in San Francisco on a bed and breakfast basis, transfers from San Francisco airport to the hotel and back, and a trip to Googleplex in Mountain View, California, but does not include any other transport and/or supplementary charges, the cost of other meals, personal expenses, incidentals, and/or ancillary products or services. Holiday to be taken within 12 months of date of notification, with date of holiday to be arranged with Google, subject to availability. In addition, each student in the Global Winners' team will receive a laptop to the value of approximately USD$1,500 (although residents of some countries will receive alternate prizes of equal or greater value at Google’s discretion). Actual retail value of the Global Winners Prize for the team approximately USD$35,000 (based on a Student Group of 6 Students), but may vary depending on the region from which winners are flying.
Regional Winners’ Prize. The Regional Winners and their Professor will be invited to spend a day at a major Google office within their region. The Regional Winners’ prize includes, for each Student and their Professor traveling together as a single group, economy travel to the chosen Google office, plus 1 night's hotel accommodation near the Google office. Trip to be made within 12 months of date of notification, with date of the trip to be arranged with Google, subject to availability. In addition, each student in the Regional Winners' team will receive a laptop to the value of approximately USD$1,300 (although residents of some countries will receive alternate prizes of equal or greater value at Google’s discretion). Actual retail value of each Regional Winners’ Prize for each team approximately USD$8,000 (based on a Student Group of 6 Students), but may vary depending on the locations from and to which winners are traveling.
Semi-Finalists' recognition. Each student in a Semi-Finalist Student Group will receive a personalized certificate noting their status as a semi-finalist in the Competition.

Social Impact Awards

Google will use the campaign statistics from the relevant AdWords account to determine the top ten Student Groups working with Eligible NGO Competition Clients. An independent panel of leaders from the non-profit sector will then review the Pre-Campaign and Post-Campaign Reports, together with the Non-Profit Impact Statement, to select from these Student Groups the winners of the:
1. 1st place prize of a $15,000 donation by Google to the winning Student Group’s Competition Client;
2. 2nd place prize of a $10,000 donation by Google to the winning Student Group’s Competition Client;
3. 3rd place prize of a $5,000 donation by Google to the winning Student Group’s Competition Client,
4. based on: (i) the quality of the Pre-Campaign and Post-Campaign Reports (weighted in accordance with the judging criteria available in the Competition Guidelines document) and (ii) the judging panel’s assessment of the overall impact of the campaign on the Chosen Client as set out in the Non-Profit Impact Statement. Google will provide assistance as required to the judging panel in assessing any metrics/effectiveness data.
Each Student in the Student Groups which win the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place prizes in the Social Impact Awards will receive a personalized certificate of appreciation noting their status as a prize winner in the Competition.
Each Student Group eligible for the Social Impact awards can win at most one prize.
The winners and their Professor will be notified by August, 2012.

Social Media Awards

Google will use the campaign statistics from each team’s AdWords campaign to determine the top 15 Student Groups from each of the following regions: the Americas, Europe, Asia Pacific and MEA - Middle East and Africa) (each “Social Media Semi-Finalist”).
After Google has determined the Social Media Semi-Finalists, Google will score each of the Social Media Semi-Finalists on the performance of their social media campaign. Key performance indicators for the Google+ Page will include, but not be limited to: number of +1s, number of followers, effective use of features such as Hangouts and Social Extensions, and the number and quality of the posts. The top three Semi-Finalists in each region will each be a “Social Media Finalist.”
An independent panel of academic judges will then judge the quality of each Social Media Finalist’s Social Media Pre-Campaign Writeup and Social Media Execution Writeup to select from these Student Groups:
1. One winning Student Group (the “Global Social Media Winner”); and in addition
2. Four regional winners (one Student Group for each of the Americas, Europe, Asia Pacific and MEA - Middle East and Africa regions, excluding the Global Social Media Winner) (each “Regional Social Media Winners”);
Google will provide assistance as required to the judging panel in assessing any metrics/effectiveness data.
The winners and their Professor will be notified by August, 2012.
Prizes will be awarded to the Global Social Media Winner and Regional Social Media Winners as follows:
1. The Global Social Media Winners and their Professor will be invited to attend a major social media conference to be held within their region. The Global Social Media Winners’ prize includes, for each Student and their Professor traveling together, economy travel to the city of the chosen conference, plus 2 night's hotel accommodation near the conference site. Trip to be made within 12 months of date of notification, with date of the trip to be arranged with Google, subject to availability. In addition, each student in the Global Social Media Winners' team will receive a will receive a tablet to the value of approximately USD$500 (although residents of some countries will receive alternate prizes of equal or greater value at Google’s discretion). Actual retail value of the Global Social Media Winners’ Prize for the winning team is approximately USD$11,500 (based on a Student Group of 6 Students), but may vary depending on the locations from and to which winners are traveling.
2. Regional Social Media Winners and their Professor will receive a tablet to the value of approximately USD$500 (although residents of some countries will receive alternate prizes of equal or greater value at Google’s discretion). Actual retail value of each of the Regional Social Media Winners’ Prize is approximately USD$3500 (based on a group of 6 Students).
3. All Social Media Award Winners will be invited to participate in a Hangout with Google senior executives (to be scheduled at Google’s discretion).
The members of all of the various winning Student Groups (including those for the Business Awards, the Social Impact Awards, and the Social Media Awards) may be required to sign, notarize and return an affidavit of eligibility and liability/publicity release (except where prohibited by law) and provide any additional information (such as social security number) that may be required by Google. Except where prohibited by law, each winner must return all such required documents within seven (7) days following attempted notification or the relevant prize winner’s prize(s) may be forfeited.
There is no cash alternative and the prizes must be taken as offered. Google reserves the right to substitute prize(s) of an equivalent value should the prizes become unavailable for any reason. If the winning group is not able for whatever reason to accept their prize then Google reserves the right to award the prize to another participant.
It is the responsibility of each Student who is rewarded with a prize involving travel, to ensure that he/she holds a valid passport, visa (if required) or other necessary travel authorization(s) and travel/medical insurance. Acceptance of the prize is subject to permission from a parent or legal guardian if applicable.