- Can I use music in my video?
Answer: You can use background music in your video. However, you must be careful not to violate any music or lyric copyrights. If you are unsure whether your use is appropriate, then it is best to use music and lyrics that are in the public domain or obtain permission to use them from the owner.
- What is a copyright?
Answer: Copyright gives the author of an original book, song, poem or other creation the sole right to publish, perform, copy, distribute or adapt the work for a certain period of time, after which it enters the "public domain".
- What is the public domain?
Answer: When a work enters the public domain, it means anyone can use it for any purpose.
- May I use trademarks or brands in my video?
Answer: Please take care not to focus on brand name products or logos (e.g. Starbucks, Coca-Cola etc.) in your video. Any display or reference to brands, logos etc. must be incidental, non-promotional, and not infringe on any copyright or trademark rights.
- What is a trademark?
Answer: A trademark is any word, name, or symbol that identifies a product sold, used, or purchased with a particular company, e.g. the yellow arches are a registered trademark of McDonalds.
- Do I need my parent's permission to participate?
Answer: If you are under 18 years of age and you are chosen as a finalist, you will need to have a parent or legal guardian complete a consent and release form, provided by the US Department of Education.
- Do I need obtain permission to include my friends in the video?
Answer: Yes, you should obtain written consent from anyone you wish to videotape. If anyone in the video is under 18 years old, you will need to have his/her parent's or legal guardian's permission in writing.
- Will my personal information be revealed by the US Department of Education?
Answer: Contestants chosen as finalists will be contacted by the US Department of Education through their YouTube accounts. Finalists will be asked to contact the Department to confirm their eligibility through the following information: full name, age, grade, city and state of residence, and school. Students under the age of 18 as of October 20, 2009 will be required to complete and return a parental consent and release form. Only the contest winner's name, city and state of residence, and school will be announced publicly as part of the awards recognition process.
- What constitutes "immediate family" for purposes of submission ineligibility?
Answer: Children, including those by marriage or adoption, of US Department of Education employees, contractors, or grantees are considered immediate family and are ineligible to participate.
- Can I submit more than one video?
Answer: No, you may only enter one submission.
- Can the US Department of Education disqualify a submission?
Answer: The US Department of Education reserves the right to disqualify any submissions that contains offensive material or violates the terms of the application or contest rules in any way.
- Is my video submission subject to any other rules or guidelines?
Answer: Your submission will also be governed by YouTube's Community Guidelines which govern: sex and nudity, hate speech, shocking and disgusting material, dangerous illegal acts, children, copyright, privacy, harassment, impersonation and threats.
- If the winner cannot be contacted, will s/he forfeit the prize and will the prize be awarded to an alternate?
Answer: If we cannot contact the winner within fourteen days of announcing the contest winner, the winner will forfeit the prize and the prize will be awarded to an alternate.
- Can the US Department of Education choose not to award the prize?
Answer: Yes, the US Department of Education reserves the right not to award the prize if it determines no entry is qualified.