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Legal Notices

  1. Application & Submission Requirements
    By submitting an entry to the Christian Book Excellence Awards (“the Awards”), the applicant (“Applicant”) affirms and represents that:
    All information provided during the application process is accurate, including author name, book title, publication details, contact information, and category selections.
    The Applicant is the rights holder of the submitted work or has obtained authorization from the rights holder to submit the work for award consideration.
    The submission does not infringe upon the intellectual property rights, privacy rights, or contractual rights of any third party.
    Applicants submitting on behalf of another party warrant that they have the legal authority to do so and agree that both parties are bound by these Terms.
    Applicants must provide a review copy of the book in the format requested for the appropriate category and may be required to provide additional materials as reasonably necessary for evaluation.

  2. Eligibility & Acceptance of Entries

    The Awards reserve the right, at their discretion, to determine eligibility and to accept or decline any submission without obligation to provide justification.

    Entries may come from authors, publishers, ministries, small presses, hybrid presses, or self-published authors. International submissions are accepted provided that all logistical and format requirements can be met.

    Submissions that are defamatory, harmful, obscene, fraudulent, hostile toward the Christian faith, or otherwise inconsistent with the mission and values of the Awards may be declined. 

  3. Publication Eligibility Window

    Submissions must fall within the publication eligibility window for the current award cycle. Works published outside that window may be deemed ineligible without refund.

  4. Fees, Discounts & No Refunds

    Award fees, where applicable, cover administrative processing and evaluator compensation. Entry does not guarantee recognition or award.

    Discounts offered (including but not limited to inaugural discounts or military/first responder discounts) apply solely to entry fees and may not be combined unless expressly stated in writing by the Awards. Discounts have no bearing on judging outcomes.

    All entry fees are final and non-refundable, including but not limited to cases of disqualification, withdrawal, ineligibility, late submission, failure of applicant to schedule interview, operational changes, or dissatisfaction with outcomes. No refunds will be issued after payment for any reason.

  5. Evaluation, Scoring & Outcomes

    Each eligible submission will be evaluated by multiple reviewers with backgrounds relevant to Christian publishing and ministry. Evaluation includes both standardized scoring and qualitative assessment. Evaluator identities are confidential and will not be disclosed. Score sheets, evaluator comments, and internal review documentation are the property of the Awards and are not required to be shared with Applicants. Award decisions are final and not subject to appeal, dispute, or negotiation. The Awards will not enter into correspondence regarding judging decisions. Evaluation and award decisions are made without regard to author platform, marketing reach, social following, endorsements, or distribution channels.

    A submission may receive one of the following outcomes: Category Award, Special Distinction (if applicable), or No Award.

    The Awards reserve the right to decline to issue an award in any category if no submission meets the standard of excellence required for recognition.

  6. No Guarantee of Commercial Benefit

    The Applicant acknowledges that participation in the Awards does not guarantee increased book sales, publishing opportunities, endorsements, publicity, platform growth, distribution, or commercial benefits of any kind.

  7. Communications & Notifications
    Applicants are responsible for providing a valid primary email address for all official communications. The Awards are not responsible for missed communications due to spam filtering, inbox routing, or changes in contact information.

    Award notifications will be delivered electronically. Applicants may be required to supply additional documentation or materials to complete award processing.

  8. Use of Material for Promotional Purposes
    By submitting an entry, the Applicant grants the Awards a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use book information, cover images, author names, and related metadata for promotional and informational purposes, including but not limited to award announcements, program marketing, press releases, social media posts, and website publication.

    Evaluator comments, if shared publicly, will not include identifying evaluator information.

  9. Award Seals, Licensing & Usage
    Award winners may receive access to digital Award Seals for marketing and promotional use. Unless otherwise stated in writing:
    Award Seals may be used on book covers, websites, advertising, print collateral, and other promotional materials.
    Award Seals may not be altered beyond resizing and reasonable formatting adjustments. Changes to color, font, design, or wording are prohibited.

    Award Seals may be used only for the specific title(s) that received the award and may not be applied to revised, expanded, or substantially altered editions without renewed authorization.

    Use of an Award Seal on a book that did not receive and pay for an award is strictly prohibited.

    Failure to comply with seal usage requirements may result in legal action or revocation of award rights and licensing without refund.

  10. Intellectual Property & Representations

    All intellectual property related to the Awards — including seals, marks, logos, designs, methodology, writing, processes, and selection criteria — are the exclusive property of the Awards and may not be reproduced or exploited without written consent.

    Submission materials remain the intellectual property of the Applicant or their publisher.

  11. No Return of Materials

    Print copies submitted for review will not be returned. At the conclusion of the judging process, print copies may be archived, donated, or otherwise disposed of at the discretion of the Awards.

  12. Indemnification

    The Applicant agrees to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the Awards and their officers, employees, evaluators, and contractors from any and all claims, losses, liabilities, damages, or expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising out of or related to the Applicant’s submission, representations, or participation in the Awards.

  13. Compliance With Laws

    The Applicant is solely responsible for ensuring compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, customs, taxes, duties, and shipping practices associated with submitting materials to the Awards, including international submissions.

  14. Right to Revoke Awards

    The Awards reserve the right to revoke or rescind an award if it is later determined that the submitted work violated intellectual property rights, legal obligations, ethical standards, Christian standards, or represented the Awards in a manner inconsistent with their mission or public integrity.

  15. Force Majeure / Operational Adjustments

    The Awards reserve the right to modify timelines, categories, evaluation processes, or event structures in the event of circumstances beyond reasonable control, including but not limited to natural disasters, pandemics, administrative delays, or technical failures. Such changes shall not constitute grounds for refunds or claims.

  16. Limitation of Liability

    The Awards, its officers, employees, contractors, advisers, and evaluators shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, punitive, or consequential damages arising from participation in the Awards, including but not limited to lost profits, reputational harm, or publication outcomes.

  17. Disputes & Governing Law

    All judging decisions are final. The Awards will not enter into debate, negotiation, or arbitration regarding outcomes.

    These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Florida without regard to conflict of law principles. Any legal action must be brought exclusively in the state or federal courts located in Florida.

  18. Agreement to Terms

    By submitting an entry, the Applicant acknowledges that they have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms & Conditions.

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