AMERICAN BLACK PLAYWRITING COMPETITION

                                    

SUBMIT BY:  January 15, 2025

PRIZES AWARDED: March 2025

 

PRIZES: 

• $7500 Grand Prize and a premiere production in the IBTC 2025 season
• $2500 Second Place Prize
• $1500 Indiana Favorite

 

RELEASE FORM FOR AMERICAN BLACK PLAYWRITING COMPETITION

This Release Form (“Agreement”) is made and entered into as of {date} by and between Indianapolis Black Theater Company, Inc. (hereinafter referred to as "IBTC"), an Indiana nonprofit corporation with a principal place of business at 627 Massachusetts Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46204, and the undersigned writer (hereinafter referred to as "Writer").

1. Submission of Content
The Writer agrees to submit their original copyrighted work (the “Content”) to IBTC for the sole purpose of review by panelists and judges of the American Black Playwriting Competition (the “Competition”)

2. Release of Liability

The Writer acknowledges and agrees that:

• IBTC may have, or in the future may develop, content similar to the Writer’s Content.
• IBTC shall not be liable for any claims or disputes related to similarities between the Writer’s Content and any content currently in production or development by IBTC.
• The Writer releases IBTC from any liability or claims related to the similarity of the Content with other works developed or produced by IBTC.

3. Confidentiality and Non-Disclosure
IBTC agrees that:

• All panelists, judges, and readers reviewing the Content have signed non-disclosure agreements that ensure the confidentiality of all material under review.
• The Content will not be shared, disclosed, or otherwise made available to any third party without the express written consent of the Writer.

4. Retention of Intellectual Property Rights
The Writer retains all copyrights and intellectual property rights in the Content. Submission to IBTC for review does not transfer any ownership rights. IBTC acknowledges that the Writer remains the sole owner of all rights, title, and interest in and to the Content.

5. No Expectation of Compensation
By submitting their Content, the Writer agrees that IBTC is not obligated to provide any compensation, payment, or financial remuneration for the review, workshopping, or feedback unless the Writer and IBTC enter into a separate written agreement. This Agreement does not constitute an employment relationship or guarantee any future contract or compensation.

6. Release of Liability
The Writer acknowledges that IBTC may currently have, or may in the future develop, content or creative works similar to the Writer’s Content. The Writer agrees to release IBTC from any liability or claims of

 

infringement in relation to any similar content that IBTC may have in production or development, whether coincidental or not, at the time of the Writer's submission.

7. Use of Content
The Content is submitted to IBTC solely for the purpose of evaluating entries in the Competition. IBTC
agrees that the Content will be used only for the review process and will not be used for any other purpose
without the Writer’s express written consent.

8. Dispute Resolution
Good Faith Negotiations: In the event of any dispute, claim, or controversy arising out of or related to this Release Form, the parties agree to first seek to resolve the issue through good faith negotiations. The parties shall engage in discussions and attempt to resolve the dispute amicably within thirty (30) days of written notice of the dispute.

Mediation: If the dispute is not resolved through good faith negotiations, the parties agree to submit the matter to mediation. The mediation shall be conducted by a mutually agreed-upon
mediator or, if the parties cannot agree, by a mediator selected by the American Arbitration Association (AAA) in accordance with its rules. The mediation process shall be conducted in Indianapolis, Indiana. Each party shall bear its own costs and expenses related to mediation, and the parties shall equally share the mediator’s fees.

Injunctive Relief: Notwithstanding the foregoing, either party may seek injunctive or other equitable relief from a court of competent jurisdiction to protect its rights or interests under this Release Form.

9. Governing Law
This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Indiana, without regard to its conflict of law provisions.

10. Entire Agreement
This Agreement constitutes the entire understanding between the Writer and IBTC concerning the submission of the Content to the Competition. It supersedes any prior agreements or discussions and may not be modified except by a written agreement signed by both parties.

11. Notices: Any notices required or permitted under this Agreement must be in writing and sent to the addresses
listed below. Notices may be delivered either by personal delivery, U.S. mail, overnight mail, or email.

1. Mail: Notices sent by U.S. mail or overnight mail will be deemed effective upon receipt, as indicated by the delivery receipt or tracking confirmation.
2. Email: Notices sent by email will be deemed effective on the date the email is sent, as indicated by the email’s sent timestamp.

Please submit your $75 registration fee to enter the American Playwriting Competition.