2026 WILLET ART PRIZE CONTEST
CONTEST TERMS AND CONDITIONS
These Contest Terms and Conditions (the “Agreement”) govern the 2026 Willet Art Prize Contest (the “Contest”) sponsored by Willet Stained Glass Studios (“Sponsor”). This Agreement constitutes a binding legal contract between Sponsor and each individual submitting an entry (the “Artist”).
BY CHECKING THE ACCEPTANCE BOX AND SUBMITTING AN ENTRY , THE ARTIST AGREES TO BE LEGALLY BOUND BY THIS AGREEMENT, INCLUDING THE LICENSE GRANTED TO SPONSOR, THE COMMISSION STRUCTURE DESCRIBED HEREIN AND THAT SPONSOR MAY USE ANY SUBMISSION COMMERCIALLY , EVEN IF THE ARTIST DOES NOT WIN. PLEASE READ THIS AGREEMENT CAREFULLY BEFORE PROCEEDING. IF THE ARTIST DOES NOT AGREE TO THESE TERMS, THE ARTIST MUST NOT CHECK THE BOX OR SUBMIT AN ENTRY .
1. PURPOSE OF THE CONTEST; THEME. The Contest is designed to solicit original digital artwork suitable for adaptation into stained glass or art glass products for fabrication, marketing, and commercial sale by Sponsor, an art-glass design and manufacturing company. Theme for the Contest is Quest for Gold. Sponsor reserves the right to modify or clarify theme at any time prior to the end of the Submission Period by posting notice on the Contest website.
2. ELIGIBILITY. The Contest is open to legal residents of the fifty (50) United States and the District of Columbia who are at least eighteen (18) years of age at the time of entry and who possess the legal capacity to enter into a binding contract under applicable law. Employees, officers, directors, contractors, agents, and representatives of Sponsor, and members of their immediate families or households, are not eligible to enter. The Contest is void where prohibited or restricted by law. Sponsor reserves the right to verify eligibility and disqualify any individual who does not meet the eligibility criteria or who violates this Agreement. No purchase necessary. A purchase will not increase chances of winning. The Contest is not a sweepstakes.
3. SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS. All entries must consist of original artwork created solely by the Artist. Artwork must be created with consideration for adaptation into stained glass or art glass, including but not limited to segmentation, color blocking, structural feasibility, and fabrication constraints. Entries must principally reflect theme in some manner, though no specific style or interpretation is required. Submissions must not include third-party logos, brands, copyrighted characters, or recognizable trade dress. Furthermore, entries must not contain any defamatory, hateful, harassing, sexually explicit, or illegal content. No Artist may submit more than one (1) entry into the Contest. Any entries exceeding this limit will be disqualified and not considered for judging. However, an Artist may request that Sponsor replace a prior submission before the expiration of the Submission Period (as defined below) by emailing Sponsor at [●].
Sponsor reserves the right to reject any submission that it determines, in its sole discretion, does not comply with these requirements. In addition, Sponsor may disqualify any submission for rule violations, tampering, use of bots, falsified information or suspicious activity. No AI-generated or AI-assisted image generation is permitted; limited use of AI tools solely for non-substantive technical editing (e.g., cropping, format conversion, color correction, noise reduction, and similar technical adjustments that do not alter the creative content or composition) is allowed. Sponsor reserves the right to request proof of eligibility and originality (e.g., source files, layered files).
4. SUBMISSION PERIOD. The Contest submission period begins at 12:00 a.m. Central Time on [Start Date] and ends at 11:59 p.m. Central Time on [End Date] (the “Submission Period”). All entries must be submitted in digital format at [Website] in accordance with the technical requirements set forth thereon. An entry is deemed submitted when received on the foregoing website. Sponsor is not responsible for transmission errors, outages, lost/corrupted uploads, technical failures, or incompatibility issues. Entries submitted before or after the Submission Period will not be eligible. Sponsor’s computer is the official time-keeping device for the Contest. All entries must be received by the end of the Submission Period to be eligible for consideration. Sponsor reserves the right to extend or shorten the Submission Period at its sole discretion and will provide notice of any such changes.
5. NO CONFIDENTIALITY; IDEA SUBMISSION WAIVER. Submissions are not confidential. Sponsor has no obligation to treat any submission as proprietary or confidential. The Artist acknowledges that Sponsor may already be developing, or may in the future develop, designs, concepts, or products that are similar or identical to a submission. The Artist agrees that no claim for misappropriation, breach of implied contract, or unjust enrichment shall arise against Sponsor based solely on similarity between a submission and Sponsor’s past, current, or future products or designs, provided that Sponsor does not directly copy protectable expression from the Artist’s submission outside the scope of the license granted in Section 8.
16. JUDGING AND SELECTION. Entries shall be evaluated based on creativity, originality, reflection of theme, suitability for stained glass adaptation, and commercial viability, as determined by a panel selected by Sponsor in its sole discretion, which may include Sponsor employees, contractors, or third-party consultants. All judging decisions are final and binding, and not subject to challenge or appeal, except in cases of fraud or manifest error. Sponsor reserves the right not to award a prize if no entry meets its standards.
7. GRAND PRIZE. One selected winner will receive a prize of Seven Thousand United States Dollars (US $7,000). The prize is non-transferable, has no cash surrender value, and is subject to applicable tax reporting requirements. Sponsor may require the winner to complete IRS Form W-9 or other appropriate tax documentation prior to payment. Winner is solely responsible for all applicable taxes.
The winner will be selected on or around [●], 2026. Sponsor will notify the winner within five (5) business days following the selection date. Notification will be sent via the contact information provided at the time of entry. The selected winner must respond to Sponsor’s notification and complete all requested tax documentation within ten (10) business days of the date of Sponsor’s notification. If the winner does not respond within this timeframe or fails to provide complete and accurate documentation, the prize will be forfeited and the winner will have no further claim to the prize. Sponsor reserves the right to select an alternate winner from the remaining eligible entries. The alternate winner will be subject to the same notification and response conditions.
8. OWNERSHIP AND LICENSE GRANT. The Artist retains ownership of the copyright in the original artwork submitted to the Contest, subject to the license granted herein.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in consideration of participation in the Contest, the opportunity to compete for the prize, and the potential receipt of commissions described below (which consideration the Artist acknowledges as adequate and sufficient), the Artist hereby irrevocably and unconditionally grants to Sponsor and its affiliates and their respective successors and assigns a perpetual, worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free (except as expressly provided in Section 9 below), fully paid, transferable, sublicensable, and unrestricted license to use, reproduce, copy, display, perform, publish, distribute, transmit, market, advertise, promote, modify, adapt, alter, combine with other works, prepare derivative works from, manufacture, fabricate, install, and otherwise exploit the submitted artwork, in whole or in part, in any manner and in any media now known or hereafter developed, for any lawful commercial or non-commercial purpose. This license expressly includes, without limitation, the right to authorize third parties, manufacturers, distributors, installers, affiliates, licensees, and customers to do any of the foregoing.
The Artist acknowledges that stained glass/ art glass fabrication requires technical reinterpretation and that final fabricated works may differ materially from the original digital submission. In addition, Sponsor reserves the right to modify submissions as needed to accommodate stained glass fabrication requirements and customer requests. Customers may dictate specific modifications, and Sponsor will endeavor to fulfill such requests to the extent feasible. The Artist acknowledges that customer-requested modifications may result in alterations to the original design. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Artist consents to and waives any claim based on distortion, modification, alteration, mutilation, attribution, or integrity of the artwork, including any rights under the Visual Artists Rights Act of 1990 (17 U.S.C. §106A) or similar state or foreign moral rights laws; where this waiver is not enforceable under applicable law, the Artist agrees not to assert those rights against Sponsor to the maximum extent permitted by law, and Sponsor will provide attribution where commercially reasonable and practicable.
Without limiting the foregoing, Sponsor shall use commercially reasonable efforts to credit the Artist in connection with marketing or online descriptions of products based on the submission. Failure to provide credit in any particular instance shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement.
In addition to the foregoing, Sponsor may display, publish, reproduce, and promote all submitted entries, including non-winning entries, for purposes of advertising the Contest, showcasing participants, promoting Sponsor’s brand, or marketing stained glass products. Such use may include website galleries, social media, digital advertising, press releases, and promotional materials. No additional compensation shall be owed for such uses beyond the prize or commissions described herein.
9. COMMISSIONS. If Sponsor manufactures and sells a stained glass product that is based on an Artist’s submission at any time within three (3) years following the expiration of the Submission Period (the “Commission Period”), the Artist shall be entitled to receive a fixed-fee commission of $[●] for each qualifying sale, regardless of whether the Artist is selected as the Contest winner. Sales occurring after the Commission Period shall not be subject to commission payments.
A stained glass/ art glass product shall be deemed “based on” an Artist’s submission if the final product retains substantial, recognizable creative elements of the original design, including core composition, distinctive arrangement, identifiable subject matter, or overall artistic concept, such that an ordinary observer familiar with the original submission would recognize it as the source of the product. Sponsor shall determine, in good faith and in its reasonable business judgment, whether a particular product 2is based on a submission. The Artist may dispute Sponsor’s determination by providing written notice within thirty (30) days of becoming aware of the product, and the parties shall attempt to resolve the dispute in good faith. Modifications, adaptations, technical alterations, customer-requested changes, or derivative developments shall not negate commission eligibility if substantial protected expression remains recognizable.
Commissions shall be payable only on completed sales to third-party customers where Sponsor receives monetary payment and shall not apply to prototypes, internal samples, promotional displays, complimentary products, donations, replacements, warranty work, discounted replacements, internal builds, or unsold inventory. Payments shall be made in U.S. Dollars on a quarterly basis within thirty (30) days after the end of each calendar quarter in which Sponsor receives full payment from the customer (and
Sponsor may deduct amounts from future commissions to the extent of any returns, refunds, chargebacks or cancellations of prior stained glass products on which the Artist received a commission). The Artist is solely responsible for providing accurate payment and tax information, and Sponsor shall have no obligation to make payment until such information is received. Sponsor may issue IRS Form 1099-NEC or other required tax documentation and may withhold taxes if legally required.
The commission is not a royalty. The Artist shall have no approval rights over pricing, marketing, fabrication methods, distribution channels, or customer modifications, and no ownership interest in any physical stained glass product created.
Nothing in this Agreement obligates Sponsor to manufacture, market, promote, or sell any submission. Sponsor has sole discretion whether to commercialize any design and shall have no liability for electing not to do so. No minimum sales, minimum revenue, or minimum commission is guaranteed.
Nothing in this Agreement creates an employment, partnership, joint venture, agency, or fiduciary relationship.
10. PUBLICITY RELEASE. The Artist acknowledges that the Contest is intended, in part, to enhance the Artist’s professional visibility and branding within the Willet Art Prize community. By entering the Contest, and regardless of whether the Artist wins, the Artist hereby irrevocably grants to Sponsor and its affiliates, licensees, agents, partners, and assigns the perpetual, worldwide, royalty-free, fully paid, transferable, and sublicensable right to use, reproduce, publish, display, broadcast, edit, adapt, and otherwise exploit The Artist’s name, portrait, photograph, voice, likeness, biographical information, statements, testimonials, social media handles, city and state of residence, and submitted artwork, alone or in combination with other content, for any promotional, advertising, publicity, marketing, educational, or editorial purpose, in any media now known or hereafter developed, including without limitation print, broadcast, digital, online, social media, streaming, and out-of-home advertising, without additional compensation, except where expressly prohibited by applicable law.
The Artist waives any right to inspect or approve any finished materials, content, or other works that incorporate the Artist’s name, likeness, or artwork prior to their publication, broadcast, or other use. Sponsor shall have sole discretion over the manner, context, and presentation of any such use. Sponsor shall have no obligation to use the Artist’s name, likeness, biographical information, or artwork for any purpose.
To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Artist hereby releases, discharges, and agrees to hold harmless Sponsor and its affiliates, officers, directors, employees, agents, licensees, successors, and assigns from and against any and all claims, damages, liabilities, losses, costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising out of or relating to Sponsor’s authorized use of the Artist’s name, likeness, biographical information, or artwork in accordance with this Section, including without limitation any claims based on rights of publicity, rights of privacy, defamation, or false light. Nothing in this Section shall be construed to authorize Sponsor to make false statements of fact about the Artist.
11. REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES, AND INDEMNIFICATION. By submitting an entry, the Artist represents and warrants that the submission (a) is original, (b) has not been copied in whole or in part from any other work, (c) does not infringe any copyright, trademark, trade dress, patent, right of publicity, moral right, or other proprietary right of any third party, and (d) is not subject to any interest held by an employer or commissioning party (e.g., “work-made-for-hire”). The Artist possesses full authority to grant the rights described in this Agreement. The Artist agrees to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Sponsor and its officers, directors, employees, affiliates, agents, licensees, successors, and assigns from and against any claims, damages, liabilities, losses, costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising from breach of these representations or from any claim that the submission infringes or violates the rights of any third party to the extent caused by the Artist’s breach.
12. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY; WAIVER OF INJUNCTIVE RELIEF. To the maximum extent permitted by law, Sponsor shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, consequential, special, punitive, or exemplary damages arising out of or relating to the Contest or this Agreement. Sponsor’s total aggregate liability shall not exceed the greater of (a) the commission payable for a specific product at issue, or (b) one thousand United States dollars (US $1,000). In addition, the Artist agrees that monetary damages shall be the sole remedy for any dispute arising under this Agreement and waives any right to seek injunctive or 3equitable relief that would restrict Sponsor’s manufacture, marketing, or sale of products. The foregoing shall not apply with respect to fraud or willful misconduct on the part of Sponsor.
13. CONTEST MODIFICATION OR TERMINATION. Sponsor reserves the right to modify, suspend, or terminate the Contest if technical failures, fraud, legal requirements, or other factors impair the integrity or feasibility of the Contest. Such modification shall not revoke licenses already granted for submitted entries.
14. GOVERNING LAW AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Minnesota, without regard to conflict of law principles. Any dispute arising out of or relating to this Agreement shall be resolved exclusively in the state or federal courts located in the State of Minnesota, and the Artist consents to exclusive jurisdiction and venue therein.
15. ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement, together with the official online entry form, constitutes the entire agreement between the Artist and Sponsor concerning the Contest and supersedes all prior or contemporaneous communications. No physical signature is required; the Artist’s electronic acceptance via the checkbox and submission of an entry shall constitute full and binding acceptance of this Agreement. Sponsor may retain a timestamped record of the Artist’s electronic acceptance.
16. SEVERABILITY. If any provision of this Agreement is found to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, such provision shall be deemed modified to the minimum extent necessary to render it valid, legal, and enforceable.
If such modification is not possible, the relevant provision shall be deemed severed from this Agreement and shall not affect the validity, legality, or enforceability of the remaining provisions.
17. ASSIGNMENT. Sponsor may assign its rights and obligations under this Agreement, in whole or in part, to any affiliate or to any successor in interest without the consent of The Artist. The Artist may not assign or transfer any rights or obligations under this
Agreement without the prior written consent of Sponsor, and any attempted assignment without such consent shall be null and void.
18. NO WAIVER. The failure by Sponsor to enforce any provision of this Agreement shall not constitute a waiver of that provision or any other provision of this Agreement. No waiver shall be effective unless it is in writing and signed by an authorized representative of Sponsor.
19. CONTACT INFORMATION. For any inquiries or communications regarding this Agreement or the Contest, the Artist may contact Sponsor at the following address and coordinates: Willet Stained Glass Studios, [Address], [Email], [Phone Number]. All written notices required or permitted under this Agreement shall be deemed given when delivered personally, sent by nationally recognized overnight courier, sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, or upon confirmed receipt (if sent by email) to the address or email address above. Sponsor will use commercially reasonable efforts to respond to inquiries within ten (10) business days, but shall have no liability for delays in responding except as may be required by applicable law. For Contest-specific questions, the Artist should include “2026 Willet Art Prize Contest” in the subject line of any email correspondence. Failure to include this subject line may result in delayed responses but shall not affect the validity of any notice required under this
Agreement.
BY CHECKING THE ACCEPTANCE BOX BELOW AND SUBMITTING AN ENTRY THROUGH THE ONLINE PORTAL, THE
ARTIST ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THE ARTIST HAS READ, UNDERSTANDS, AND AGREES TO BE LEGALLY BOUND BY
THIS AGREEMENT IN ITS ENTIRETY , INCLUDING THE LICENSE GRANTED TO SPONSOR, THE COMMISSION STRUCTURE DESCRIBED HEREIN AND THAT SPONSOR MAY USE ANY SUBMISSION COMMERCIALLY , EVEN IF THE ARTIST DOES NOT WIN. THE ARTIST FURTHER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THIS ELECTRONIC ACCEPTANCE IS AS LEGALLY BINDING AS A HANDWRITTEN SIGNATURE.
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