HOWARD HUGHES MEDICAL INSTITUTE IDEA SUBMISSION POLICY AND AGREEMENT
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The Howard Hughes Medical Institute (“HHMI”) creates documentary films and other creative works on science topics. HHMI welcomes ideas for films, stories, or other creative works (each, an “Idea”) from all sources, including persons both inside and outside the organization. To avoid possible misunderstanding, HHMI requires everyone who submits an Idea to agree to the terms and conditions of this Idea Submission Policy and Agreement (the “Agreement”).

1. Submissions Must Be In Writing. HHMI will consider your Idea only if you submit it in writing.
   
2. Not A Minor. HHMI requires that anyone submitting an Idea must be at least eighteen years of age. By submitting an Idea, you represent to HHMI that you have attained that age.
   
3. Ownership of Ideas. HHMI respects the patent, copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property rights of others, including those who submit Ideas for consideration. Regarding ownership of Ideas, you agree that:
   
   
   
   1. If trademark, copyright, patent, or other legal protection is available for your Idea, it is your responsibility to take the steps required to apply for that protection, prior to submitting your Idea to HHMI.
      
   2. More than one person may conceive the same Idea or may conceive an Idea that is similar to an Idea conceived by someone else. To avoid disputes, you should only submit to HHMI Ideas that you alone have created, or that you otherwise have the legal right to submit. No other person should have any right to your submitted Idea.
      
   
   
4. Obligation for Ideas Submitted. HHMI is under no obligation to you for any Idea you submit, including any obligation to compensate you for it or to keep it confidential. If HHMI wishes to use your Idea and the Idea is legally protectable, HHMI will contact you to discuss entering into a separate agreement that would spell out your and HHMI’s obligations to one another.
   
5. No Prejudice. Your submission of an Idea, HHMI’s review of it, and/or HHMI’s offer to negotiate with you is not an admission of novelty, priority, or originality and does not waive HHMI’s right to contest the validity of any patent, copyright, trademark, or other intellectual property right in the Idea.
   
6. Use of Ideas by HHMI. Your Idea may be identical or similar to another idea that HHMI has independently developed or that has or may come to HHMI from other sources. Receipt of your Idea does not affect HHMI’s right to use any idea it has developed or received from another source. By submitting an Idea, you waive any claim that HHMI misappropriated your Idea or any portion of your Idea.
   
7. Return of Submitted Materials. HHMI does not return submitted materials. You should keep a duplicate of any material submitted, as well as a copy of this Agreement.
   
8. Form of Acceptance of this Agreement. You may indicate acceptance of the terms and conditions of this Agreement by any legally permissible means, including acknowledgement by email, by so indicating on a web site created by or on behalf of HHMI, or by signing and returning to HHMI an original or facsimile copy of this Agreement.
   
9. Term. This agreement shall apply to any further ideas submitted by you to HHMI for a period of ten (10) years.
   
10. No Modification of this Agreement. This Agreement may not be modified nor may any of its terms be or waived except in writing by an employee of HHMI authorized to agree to any such changes. HHMI will not accept an altered copy of this agreement.