Machiya Renovation Ideas Contest – Terms and Conditions

1. Participation in the Contest

• (1) All submissions must be the original idea of the entrant, and must not have been previously published in any form within or outside Japan. Entries should not be submitted simultaneously to any other competition.
• (2) Submitted entries will not be returned. If required, make copies for your own use before submitting your entry.
• (3) Entries that fall under the followings are prohibited. Entrant shall submit their ideas with discretion after fully confirming that they do not fall under items as below:
  ・ Items that infringe intellectual property rights, such as copyrights, trademark rights, registered design rights, and other rights of any other third parties, either in whole or in part
  ・ Items that violate the public order and morals, or the provisions of any national laws and regulations
  ・ Items that smear, slander, defame or harm the reputations of a third party
• (4) Entrants are responsible for taking measures such as protecting the rights of the submitted ideas as necessary.
• (5) Entrants are responsible for all costs required for entry.
• (6) For minor entrants, prior consent from their legal parent or guardian is required.
• (7) Hachise Co. Ltd. (“the organizer”) does not guarantee the establishment or practical implementation of the entry ideas.
• (8) The organizer reserves the right to unilaterally revise, amend or update the terms of the registration at any time without any special notice to the entrants. In the event that the entrant disagrees with the updated terms and conditions, their entries will be automatically withdrawn. The organizer accepts no responsibility for any cost or loss arising from the entries.

2. Attribution of Rights and Publicity

• (1) Winning entries
  ① In the event of an entrant being selected as a prize winner of the contest (“the winner”), the domestic and overseas copyrights (including rights in compliance with Articles 27 and 28 of the Copyright Act of Japan), patent rights, utility model rights, design rights and trademark rights (hereinafter collectively referred to as "intellectual property rights") of the winning ideas shall be transferred to the organizer. In addition, the winner shall not exercise any moral rights of the author regarding the winning ideas.
  ② The consideration for the transfer of the rights in the previous item shall be applied with the prize specified by the organizer.
  ③ The organizer may modify, if considered necessary, part of the content of the winning idea to be demonstrated or put into practical use.
• (2) Other entries
  ① In principle, the entrant, other than the prize winners, shall retain the intellectual property rights on his/her entry ideas.
  ② However, entrants shall acknowledge and agree that all aspects of any submission may be used by the organizer for publicity activities, announcement of the contest results, and other publications (including but not limited to Hachise official website [Japanese/English], social media platforms, etc.).

3. Judgement and Announcement of Results

• (1) The organizer reserves the right to evaluate contest entries and announce or publish the contest results.
• (2) At the screening, the organizer may contact the entrants and inquire about their submitted ideas.
• (3) The organizer will not answer any questions regarding the criteria and progress of judgement.
• (4) Any submissions that conflict with the above "1. Participation in the Contest" statement will be excluded from the evaluation or canceled even after the result announcement.
• (5) Any submissions that look identical or show a high degree of similarity with a third-party work that has already been published will be excluded from the evaluation or canceled even after the result announcement.
• (6) Each winner will be contacted directly at the registered email address. In addition, the registered name or pen name will be posted on the Hachise website [Japanese/English].
• (7) Depending on the results of the evaluation, prizes and awards may not be granted in some cases.

4. Disclaimer from the Organizer

• (1) As the organizer works on numerous plans and proposals on a daily basis, it is possible that ideas originally devised by the organizer may happen to be the same or similar to those submitted by the entrants. In such cases, the organizer shall not take any responsibility unless the entrant can prove the intention of the organizer.
• (2) The organizer takes no responsibility for any problems or arguments that may occur between the entrant and a third party regarding the submitted ideas or works.

5. Collection and Usage of Personal Information

• Personal information will only be collected for the appropriate means of the contest and will be only used for inquiries regarding the submitted ideas, notification of contest results, other tasks necessary for the operation of this contest, and other notices from future events. Personal information will not be transferred or resold to a third party without consent.

Date of publication: July 1, 2024