1. Introduction:
Welcome to the ECDMA Global Awards Judging Program. These Terms & Conditions (“Terms”) govern your participation as a judge (“Judge” or “you”) in the ECDMA Global Awards program (“Awards Program”). By accepting an invitation to judge or by participating in the judging process, you agree to be bound by these Terms, as well as the general ECDMA Global Awards Terms & Conditions.
2. Definitions:
ECDMA Global Awards: Community Management LTD incorporated in England and Wales.
Awards Program: The ECDMA Global Awards program, recognizing excellence in e-commerce and digital marketing.
Judge: An individual selected by ECDMA to evaluate nominations in the Awards Program.
Nomination: An application submitted for consideration in a specific Award Category.
Confidential Information: Any information related to the Awards Program, Nominations, Nominees, or judging process that is not publicly available.
3. Judge Eligibility & Selection:
Judges are selected by ECDMA based on their demonstrated expertise and experience in e-commerce and digital marketing.
The primary pool of judges consists of invited ECDMA Senior Members.
ECDMA may also invite other industry experts to serve as judges.
ECDMA reserves the right to determine eligibility and select judges at its sole discretion.
4. Judging Responsibilities:
Judges are responsible for evaluating assigned Nominations in a timely manner, adhering to all deadlines and instructions provided by ECDMA.
Judges must carefully review each Nomination and supporting materials, using their expertise to assess the Nomination’s merits based on the provided judging criteria and scoring system.
Judges are required to provide a score for each criterion, along with a brief written justification for their evaluation.
Judges must maintain the confidentiality of all Confidential Information.
Judges must promptly disclose any potential conflicts of interest to ECDMA and recuse themselves from evaluating any Nomination where such a conflict exists.
5. Confidentiality and Non-Disclosure:
You acknowledge that all information related to the Awards Program, including, but not limited to, Nominations, Nominee information, scoring, judging deliberations, and Judge identities, is Confidential Information.
You agree to keep all Confidential Information strictly confidential both during and after your participation as a Judge and not to disclose it to any third party without the express written permission of ECDMA.
You are strictly prohibited from taking screenshots, downloading, or copying any Confidential Information. Any breach of this confidentiality obligation may result in immediate termination of your role as a Judge and further action as deemed appropriate by ECDMA.
6. Conflict of Interest:
You must disclose any potential conflicts of interest to ECDMA prior to commencing judging.
A conflict of interest exists when you have a personal or professional relationship with a Nominee or if you work for a company that is a direct competitor of a Nominee. This includes, but is not limited to, situations where:
You have a financial interest in a Nominee’s company.
You have a close personal relationship with a key individual involved in the Nomination.
You have worked for a Nominee’s company in the past three years.
You are currently working on a project with a Nominee’s company.
If a conflict of interest arises during the judging process, you must immediately notify ECDMA and recuse yourself from evaluating the relevant Nomination.
7. Ethical Conduct:
You agree to judge Nominations fairly and impartially, solely based on the established judging criteria and without bias or favoritism.
You will provide constructive and professional feedback on each Nomination, focusing on the strengths and weaknesses of the submission, regardless of whether it is selected as a winner.
You will maintain a professional demeanor throughout the judging process and treat all Nominees with respect. You will abstain from any conduct that could compromise the integrity or reputation of the Awards Program or ECDMA.
8. Judge Recognition:
Reference Letters + Digital Certificates: Judges who complete the evaluation of at least 80 Nominations (or all assigned Nominations if less than 80) will be eligible to request a reference letter and digital certificate from ECDMA. A fee of €269 will apply for non-ECDMA members, and a discounted fee of €90 will apply for ECDMA members. Requests for reference letters should be submitted to [email protected] after the completion of the judging period.
Printed Certificates: Judges may purchase a printed certificate commemorating their participation in the ECDMA Global Awards judging panel for an additional fee. Details about pricing and ordering will be provided separately.
Awards Ceremony Attendance: Judges are welcome to attend the Awards Ceremony by purchasing a ticket. Details regarding the ceremony, including venue, date, and ticket purchase information, will be announced separately.
9. Intellectual Property:
ECDMA retains all ownership rights to the Awards Program, its branding, and any materials provided to Judges.
You may not use any ECDMA intellectual property for any purpose other than participating in the judging process.
10. Disclaimer and Limitation of Liability:
ECDMA makes no warranties or representations, express or implied, regarding the judging process or the outcome of the Awards Program.
ECDMA is not liable for any loss, damage, or expense arising from your participation as a Judge, including but not limited to:
Errors or omissions in the judging process.
Technical issues with the online judging platform.
Decisions made by ECDMA regarding the selection of winners.
11. Indemnification:
You agree to indemnify and hold harmless ECDMA, its affiliates, officers, directors, employees, and agents from and against any and all claims, demands, losses, liabilities, costs, and expenses (including attorneys’ fees) arising out of or relating to:
Your breach of these Terms.
Your violation of any third-party rights.
Your negligent or intentional misconduct in connection with the judging process.
12. Termination:
ECDMA may terminate your participation as a Judge at any time for any reason, with or without notice.
You may withdraw from your role as a Judge at any time by notifying ECDMA in writing. However, you agree to complete the evaluation of any Nominations assigned to you prior to your withdrawal, unless otherwise instructed by ECDMA.
13. Governing Law & Jurisdiction
These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales.
Any dispute arising out of or relating to these Terms will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.
14. Modifications
ECDMA reserves the right to modify these Terms at any time without prior notice.
The latest version of the Terms will be posted on the ECDMA Global Awards website.
Your continued participation as a Judge after any modifications constitute your acceptance of the revised Terms.
15. Entire Agreement
These Terms, together with the ECDMA Global Awards Terms & Conditions, constitute the entire agreement between you and ECDMA relating to your participation as a Judge in the Awards Program and supersede all prior or contemporaneous communications, representations, or agreements, whether oral or written.
16. Waiver
No waiver of any provision of these Terms will be effective unless in writing and signed by an authorized representative of ECDMA.
17. Severability
If any provision of these Terms is held to be invalid or unenforceable, such provision shall be struck and the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.
18. Contact Us
If you have any questions or concerns regarding these Terms, please contact us at [email protected].
By accepting an invitation to judge or by participating in the judging process, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms & Conditions.