3. Requirements.

Each submitted Entry must be no more than 200 words and authored by the Contestant. The subject matter must address the question, “Who is Your Favorite American Idol and Why?” Contestants can write about any American Idol contestant from any season, starting from the inception of the American Idol show.  Each entry must be typed or handwritten in legible print.  Each Entry must be wholly original and must not incorporate or include material owned by a third party, or that violates any proprietary or privacy rights of any third party, or contains any defamatory, obscene, threatening, or illegal content.  Failure to meet the terms of this paragraph, as determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion, will render the Entry ineligible, and may subject the Contestant to liability in accordance with the indemnification obligations below. If Contestant is under the age of majority in the state or province in which Contestant resides, the Entry and the Official Entry Form must be accompanied by a written authorization from Contestant’s parent/guardian in order to complete eligibility and to participate in the Contest

4. Odds. Odds of winning depend on the number of entries and the skill and talent of the entrants.

5. Winner Selection. Between April 1st and April 7th of 2008, twelve (12) Entries (1 Grand, 1 First Place and 10 Second Place) will be selected as potential Winners by a panel of judges consisting of book editors, marketers and authors, based upon the following criteria: (i) originality and creativity, (ii) adherence to the Chicken Soup for the American Idol Soul Contest guidelines, and (iii) ability to involve and impact the panel of judges.  The decision of the judges is final and binding in all regards.

6. Winner Notification and Validation. Contestants who are the potential Winners will be notified by email and/or telephone, at the address and phone number identified in their Entry on or about April 8, 2008.  In order for the Contestants who have submitted the selected Entries to become validated Winners, each Contestant who has submitted the selected Entries (or parent/guardian of Contestant if Contestant is under the age of majority in the state or province in which Contestant resides) must sign and return the Chicken Soup for the Soul Publishing, LLC standard Contributing Author Release within ten (10) days after date notification of winning is sent to potential Winner. Failure of any potential Winner (or parent or guardian of potential Winner if potential Winner is under the age of majority in the state or province in which potential Winner resides) to complete, sign, and return any requested documents within such period; or the return to the Sponsor of any Winner notification; or Winner notification remaining undeliverable for seven (7) days from the first attempt, will result in disqualification of such potential winner and an alternate potential Winner will be selected by the judges.  The Contestants who have submitted the selected Entries do not become Winners until the validation process is complete.

7. Grand Prize; First Prize; Second Prize. One Grand Prize, one First Prize and ten (10) Second Prizes will be awarded. The Grand Prize Winner will receive two (2) tickets to the American Idol Finale show for the seventh season (May 2008) plus two (2) round-trip coach airline tickets from the airport closest to Winner’s hometown and Los Angeles, three (3) nights stay at a hotel in Los Angeles (one (1) room) and ground transportation to and from the Finale.*   (The value of the Grand Prize is dependent on the location of the winner.  The range of possible values of the Grand Prize is approximately $1500.00 U.S. Funds to $4000.00 U.S. Funds. In no event shall the value of the Grand Prize exceed $4000.00 U.S. Funds.) The First Prize Winner will receive two (2) tickets to the American Idol Finale show for the seventh season (May 2008) and a check for $350.00 U.S. Dollars (Three Hundred and Fifty U.S. Dollars).  (The total value of the First Prize is $350.00 U.S. Dollars.) The ten (10) Second Prize Winners will each receive one (1) autographed Chicken Soup for the American Idol Soul book (approximate retail value of the book: $14.95 U.S. Dollars; Ten (10) Second Prizes total approximate retail value: $149.50 U.S. Dollars). If a Grand Prize Winner’s guest is under the age of majority in the state or province in which such guest of the Winner resides, guest/minor must be 8 years of age or older at time of travel and the Grand Prize Winner must be the minor’s parent/legal guardian.   Winners may not substitute, assign or transfer prize(s) for cash or to another party.  All federal, state, provincial and local taxes, and all prize-related expenses not expressly noted above, are each Winner’s sole responsibility. All prizes will be awarded. Sponsors reserve the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value. In the event the American Idol Finale Show is cancelled or postponed for any reason, Sponsor will have no obligation to award compensation in lieu thereof but the remainder of the trip prize will be awarded.

8. Prizes will be sent to Winners no later than thirty (30) days after each Winner’s validation is complete. Total of all prizes will not exceed $4499.50 U.S. Dollars.

9. Use of submission. By accepting a prize, each Winner (or parent/guardian of Winner if Winner is under the age of majority in the state or province in which Winner resides) grants to Chicken Soup for the Soul Publishing, LLC, a non-exclusive, perpetual license to print, re-print, translate, publish, sell and otherwise exploit his/her entry in any Chicken Soup for the Soul book, or other product displaying the Chicken Soup for the Soul trademark, and in any marketing and publicity in connection therewith; and consents  to the use of his/her name, photograph, and likeness for such marketing and publicity purposes and for publicity purposes in connection with this Contest  without any claim to further compensation, except where prohibited.

10. Restrictions. By submitting an Entry to the Contest, each Contestant (or parent/guardian of Contestant if Contestant is under the age of majority in the state which Contestant resides) agrees to (a) be bound by the decisions of the judges and these Official Rules; (b) comply with all federal, state, provincial, and local laws and regulations; and (c) indemnify, release and hold harmless the Sponsors, FremantleMedia North America, Inc., American Idol Productions, Inc., 19 TV Limited, 19 Merchandising Ltd., CKX, Inc., and their respective directors, officers, employees, representatives, agents, successors, assigns, subsidiaries and affiliates from any liability (including legal and attorneys’ fees) from any claims, injuries, losses, damages, deaths, causes of action, actions, suits, debts, sums of money, or other liabilities, either at law or equity, whether known or unknown, asserted or non-asserted, arising from or in any way relating to the Winner’s or any Contestant’s participation in the Contest, the awarding, acceptance, use, or misuse of any prize, or the use of any submission. Any Winner under the age of majority in the state in which such Winner resides, such Winner must be accompanied by a parent or guardian for all travel.  Sponsors reserve the right to utilize Winner’s name for promotional and/or publicity materials and Contest Entries will be deemed automatically approved of such utilization.  Contestant also agrees that he/she shall have no claim (including, without limitation, claims based on invasion of privacy, defamation, or right of publicity) arising out of any use of his/her name, address (city and state or province only) and approved biographical information by Sponsor. Contestant represents and warrants that Contestant has the full right and authority to enter the Contest and to grant the rights granted herein and that Contestant’s agreement to the terms hereof does not conflict with any existing commitment on Contestant’s part. By participating in the Contest, each Contestant agrees that California law will apply to the Contest, and that any dispute with respect to the Contest will be resolved in either the federal or state courts located in the State of California. Sponsor is under no obligation to use submitted Entries for any purpose.  Sponsor is not responsible and shall not be liable for: any human error or electronic, hardware, software, browser, network, Internet or computer error, failure, malfunction, congestion or incompatibility or difficulties of any kind or any condition caused by events beyond the control of Sponsor which may cause the contest to be disrupted or corrupted.  Sponsor reserves the right in its sole discretion to cancel or suspend the contest or any portion thereof should any cause beyond Sponsor’s control disrupt, corrupt and/or compromise the administration, security or proper play of the contest.

11. Official Rules/Winners List. Copies of these Official Rules and the Contributing Author Release form can be obtained at www.chickensoup.com, or by sending a self-addressed stamped envelope to: The Chicken Soup for the American Idol Soul Contest Official Rules, c/o Chicken Soup for the Soul Publishing, LLC P.O. Box 30880, Santa Barbara, CA 93130.  VT residents may omit return postage. Written requests for Official Rules must be received no later than February 28, 2008.  To obtain the names of the prize winners, send a self-addressed stamped envelope no later than May 30, 2008, to: The Chicken Soup for the American Idol Soul Contest Winners List, c/o Chicken Soup for the Soul Publishing, LLC, P.O. Box 30880, Santa Barbara, CA 93130.

12. Sponsor.The Sponsor of the Contest is Chicken Soup for the Soul Publishing, LLC, P.O. Box 30880, Santa Barbara, CA 93130.

13. Contest is void where prohibited, taxed, or otherwise restricted.

*The Sponsor will coordinate with the Grand Prize Winner to select airline flights that are mutually agreeable and such flights will be booked by the Sponsor as E tickets. If the Grand Prize winner resides in the Southern California area, airline tickets will not be applicable; however, in place of airline tickets, in addition to the round-trip ground transportation between the Finale and the hotel, Winner will be also be awarded round-trip ground transportation from their home and the hotel.   Choice of hotel and ground transportation provider will be at the sole discretion of the Sponsor.