Official Rules for 'What Would You Do?'s' 'How Would You Do It?' Contest

Dec. 17, 2010— -- We put ordinary people on the spot in our hidden camera, ethical dilemma series, "What Would You Do?" Now, we're turning the tables and asking: How would you do it?

We want you to dream up and tell us what hot, controversial -- even wild -- situation, scenario, dilemma or pet peeve -- you'd like us to put to the test and put on our show!

Please submit an essay in 200 words or less describing the scenario that you would like to see featured as a "What Would You Do?" segment. The winner(s) will receive roundtrip airfare for two to New York, where they'll visit a "What Would You Do?" taping location. All entries must be received by 11:59 p.m. Monday, Jan. 17, 2011.

Read the official rules below and click here to enter the "How Would You Do It?" contest online.

OFFICIAL RULES:

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY.

I. NAME OF SPONSOR: ABC News ("ABC"), 47 W. 66th Street, New York, NY 10023 and American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. 77 W. 66th Street, New York, NY 10023 (Hereinafter collectively referred to as "Sponsor").

II. ELIGIBILITY: Entrants must be legal residents of the 50 United States or the District of Columbia 21 years of age or older at time of entry.

Any individuals (including but not limited to employees, consultants, independent contractors, and interns) who have, within the past six months, performed services for ABC News, American Broadcasting Companies, Inc., any organizations responsible for sponsoring, fulfilling, administering, advertising or promoting the contest or supplying the prize, and their respective parent, subsidiary, affiliated and successor companies, and immediate family and household members of such individuals, are not eligible to enter or play. "Immediate family members" shall mean parents, step-parents, children, step-children, siblings, step-siblings, or spouses. "Household members" shall mean people who share the same residence at least three months a year.

III. HOW AND WHEN TO ENTER: Submit an essay 200 words or less describing the scenario that you would like featured as a segment on What Would You Do and the social significance of that scenario. Contest start date: December 17, 2010.

To submit on-line, go to abcnews.com/wwyd, follow the links to the How Would You Do It? Contest page and then the instructions on how to submit your essay. ABC is not responsible for failed, partial, delayed or garbled computer transmissions, or for technical failures of any kind in connection with submissions or the submission process, including but not limited to electronic malfunction or damage of any network, hardware or software. Electronic submissions must be received by 11:59 PM ET, January 17, 2011.

To submit by U.S. Mail, send 200 words, or less, essay on an 8½"x11", or smaller, sheet of paper to: "How Would You Do It?", Ansonia Station, P.O. Box 230234, New York, NY 10023-0013. Be sure to include your name, address, and contact phone number(s) with your essay, this personal contact information does not count toward your 200 word limit. ABC is not responsible for mail that is lost, stolen, late, illegible, incomplete, damaged, mutilated, misdirected, altered, tampered with, or postage-due. Mail-in submissions must be received by January 17, 2011. No deliveries to any other address will be accepted; only entries mailed via the USPS will be considered.

Entrants understand and accept that their entries may be the same as or similar to scenarios that have been produced, are currently in production and/or have been submitted by another entrant. To avoid the possibility of any future misunderstanding, Entrants understand and accept that ABC may produce scenarios based on ideas that might seem to others to be similar to those submitted. All entries are subject to the complete Terms of Use, remain the property of Sponsor and will not be returned or acknowledged. Entrants acknowledge and agree that any and all submissions may be used, in whole or in part, by ABC to produce future scenarios regardless of the status of that submission in relation to this contest and no prize of any kind will be awarded unless chosen as a finalist or winner. Entrant agrees that any submission made is not being made in confidence or trust and that no confidential or fiduciary relationship is intended or created between Entrant and Sponsor in any way, and that Entrant has no expectation of any compensation or consideration of any type (other than any prize that may be awarded if Entrant is selected as a Finalist or Winner).

Mass entries or entries generated by a script, macro or use of automated methods may be disqualified. If for any reason the contest is not capable of running as planned, for reasons including infection by computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures, or other causes that corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity or proper conduct of the contest, Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to disqualify any individual who tampers with the entry process, and to cancel, modify or suspend the contest. If canceled, Sponsor reserves the right at its discretion to determine the winner using all non-suspect eligible entries received up to the time of cancellation. Sponsor is not responsible for failed, partial, delayed or garbled computer transmissions, or for technical failures of any kind in connection with entries or the entry process, including but not limited to electronic malfunction or damage of any network, hardware or software. In the event of a dispute over an electronic entry, prize will be awarded to the authorized subscriber of the e-mail account, not the name on the entry form.

IV. HOW AND WHEN WINNERS WILL BE SELECTED AND NOTIFIED: Eligible entries will be judged on the basis of potential for on-air appeal, and overall readability of essay. Entries will be judged on a rolling basis. Up to fifty (50) Finalists may be selected for further consideration. Finalists may be contacted for a phone interview. Up to three (3) Winner(s) will be selected from the Finalists on the basis of compelling nature of scenario and feasibility of scenario. Any winning scenario may be altered, for content, feasibility of production or for any other reason deemed necessary, by and at the sole discretion of ABC.

Decisions of the judges are final as to all contest-related matters. Potential winners would be required to submit to a background check prior to being named a winner and receiving any prize. In the event any Winner is deemed ineligible, fails to comply with contest procedures, or is unwilling or unable to claim prize, then the prize will be awarded to the judges' next choice.

Finalist selection will be completed on or before January 24, 2011. Winner(s) will be selected on or about February 1, 2011. Winner(s) will be notified by phone and/or mail.

Final determination of Finalists and Winner(s) is always conditional on verification of eligibility and compliance with all rules and procedures.

V. PRIZES: Up to three (3) Winners will each receive the opportunity to visit a location where a taping of a What Would You Do segment taping location. Grand Prize will include travel for Winner and one (1) guest to the location where filming of that scenario will occur ("Destination"). Travel includes: round-trip coach class airfare for two (2) from an airport near the Winner's residence to and airport near the Destination; 2 nights' hotel accommodations (one room double-occupancy) in Destination city; ground transportation to/from Destination airport, hotel and filming location. Approximate Retail Value: $ 2,500.

Semi-Finalists will each receive a t-shirt and mug prize package. Approximate Retail Value: $ 30.

If the actual value of the prize is less than the stated ARV, the difference will not be awarded. Final actual value of the Grand Prize at time of booking and travel may be substantially more or less depending on dates of travel, point of origin and ticket availability. All expenses not specifically provided for herein are the winner's sole responsibility. Some restrictions may apply. Due to production constraints, travel may be required of Winner(s) on considerably short notice, all efforts will be made by Sponsor to provide as much advance notice as possible.

Federal, state and local taxes, if any, are the sole responsibility of the winner, who will receive an IRS Form 1099 reflecting the final actual value of any prize valued at $600 or more. Winners are not entitled to exchange or transfer prizes or to obtain cash or other substitutes, but Sponsor in its sole discretion may substitute prizes of equal or greater value.

Attendance portion of the Grand Prize is subject to availability. Sponsor is not responsible for cancellation or preemption of filming of a What Would You Do scenario or for other circumstances that make it impractical or impossible to fulfill this element of the prize. This element of the prize has no approximate retail value, and if it becomes impractical or impossible to fulfill this element, Sponsor's only obligation will be to provide the remainder, if any, of the prize. In the event that a Winner is unable to travel on the dates required by Sponsor to attend the taping of a scenario, Destination city will be New York City. All travel must be completed within one year of contest end date.

VI. RELEASES: By participating, entrants agree to be bound by these official rules and the decisions of the Sponsor and/or Judges, which shall be final in all respects.

By participating in the contest and/or accepting any prize that they may win, entrants agree to release ABC News, American Broadcasting Companies, Inc., their parent, subsidiary, affiliated and successor companies, advertising and promotion agencies and prize suppliers, and each of their respective officers, directors, agents, representatives and employees, as well as each of their respective successors, representatives and assigns (collectively, the "Released Parties") from any and all actions, claims, injury, loss or damage arising in any manner, directly or indirectly, from participation in the contest and/or acceptance or use of the prize.

Entrants authorize the Released Parties to use their name, voice, likeness, biographical data, city and state of residence and entry materials in programming or promotional material, in any media now known or hereafter created or conceived, worldwide in perpetuity, or on a winner's list, if applicable, without further compensation unless prohibited by law. Sponsor is not obligated to use any of the above mentioned information or materials, but may do so and may edit such information or materials, at Sponsor's sole discretion, without further obligation or compensation.

By submitting entry materials, entrants certify that such materials have not been submitted for consideration to any other entity, have not been entered into any other contest, fulfillment or related promotion or service, are original and created by entrant, that entrants have the necessary rights, permission and authority to submit such materials, and, if applicable, that entrants maintain a valid copyright in the materials. Entrants acknowledge that such materials may be included and/or discussed in a broadcast, that such discussion may include statements or opinions by the broadcast talent or others about the entrants, the entrants' appearances and/or the materials, and that those statements and opinions may be considered surprising, embarrassing, defamatory or otherwise offensive or injurious to them. Entrants release the Released Parties from any actions, claims, injury, loss or damage allegedly caused, directly or indirectly, by any such statements or opinions made during a broadcast.

To claim the Grand Prize, winner must: (a) provide proof of winner's age, residency, and legal status; (b) sign and return eligibility, publicity, liability, rules compliance and any other releases requested by Sponsor; and (c) have winner's intended guest(s) or travel companion(s), if any, sign and return releases requested by Sponsor; all within the time period(s) specified by Sponsor.

VII. MISCELLANEOUS; WINNERS' LIST: Void where prohibited. All federal, state and local laws and regulations apply.

Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to disqualify any individual who tampers with the entry process and to cancel, terminate, modify and/or suspend the contest in the event of tampering or other circumstances, including but not limited to acts of God or civil disturbance that render it impractical or impossible to complete or fulfill the contest as originally planned.

Winners List will be posted at abcnews.com/wwyd after contest end date.