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2008 Entertainment Law Initiative Writing Competition

EXPIRED: December 20, 2007.

The 10th Annual Entertainment Law Initiative Writing Competition

The GRAMMY Foundation® Entertainment Law Initiative (ELI) is composed of three major elements: a national legal writing contest, a seminar series held at nationally prominent law schools, and a high-profile scholarship luncheon held during GRAMMY Week. The luncheon, attended by music attorneys, executives, and law students has become a singular event for the entertainment business community during GRAMMY Week. The contest challenges students to identify and research a compelling legal issue confronting the music industry and propose a resolution. A national panel of legal experts will judge the papers, in a blind process, and select the five finalists.

The scholarship is co-sponosred by the American Bar Association (ABA), and the winning papers will be published by the GRAMMY Foundation and the ABA Forum on the Entertainment and Sports Industries in concert with a major legal review journal.

Contest Rules:

  1. This competition is open to juris doctorate candidates currently enrolled at an ABA accredited law school. LLLM candidates are not eligible.
  2. Entrants must be a currently enrolled student as of January 1, 2008.
  3. Co-authorship of a manuscript is not permitted in the contest.
  4. Each author may submit only one entry.
  5. Previous winners and/or finalists are ineligible.
  6. Authors must research and identify a compelling legal issue confronting the music industry, and propose a solution.
  7. Three copies of the manuscript, as well as an electronic copy (on CD, DVD or 3 1/2" floppy disc) must be submitted. Manuscripts must be delivered to the GRAMMY Foundation (3402 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90405) and must be postmarked no later than December 20, 2007. Facsimile, telefaxed or e-mailed submissions are not permitted. Late manuscripts will not be considered.
  8. Manuscripts, including endnotes, shall be no longer then 3,000 words including footnotes. Entrants must use The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation, for citation style. Current contact information including address, phone number and e-mail address should accompany the manuscript.
  9. Entrants' names shall not appear on the manuscript, but shall appear on a separate title page to be removed when a number is assigned to the entry. The title page should also contain a one or two sentence synopsis of the article.
  10. Manuscripts will be judged on: (1) clarity of expression (organization, clarity of presentation, spelling, grammar); (2) originality of thought (uniqueness of topic); (3) depth of analysis; (4) relevance to industry; and (5) essay requirements (whether the essay conforms to the contest rules).
  11. Each manuscript submitted shall be accompanied by a letter from the author in which he or she certifies that the article submitted has not had prior publication, that it is original work prepared by the author alone for this contest, and that the author transfers ownership to the GRAMMY Foundation.
  12. Winners will be announced on or before February 1, 2008.
  13. Awards will be distributed as follows: $5,000 for first place and $1,500 for each of four runners-up. All five finalists receive 1 GRAMMY Awards ticket, hotel accommodations, round-trip airfare, 1 ticket to the Entertainment Law Initiative Luncheon, 1 ticket to MusiCares® Person of the Year dinner, and an invitation to the GRAMMY Nominee Reception.

Additional Information

For additional information, please contact Marisela Huerta at the GRAMMY Foundation; (310) 392-3777, Ext. 8691 or by e-mail at mariselah@grammy.com or loren.fishbein@grammy.com