MAX Awards FAQ

The annual Adobe MAX Awards is a global awards program that recognizes the best uses of Adobe software for creating engaging experiences. The call for entries is now closed. Your 2009 MAX Awards entry represents many hours of hard work. This page will help you make sure that it is submitted correctly for consideration by the judges. Be sure to read the Rules to determine the exact requirements for entries. What are the contest dates? Contest opens the week of May 26th, 2009 and ends at 11:59 pm Pacific Time on July 31, 2009. All entries must be uploaded to the competition website no later than 11:59 pm Pacific Time on July 31, 2009. DEADLINE EXTENDED TO AUGUST 7, 2009, at 11:59 pm. The Finalist Gallery will open September 28th. Winners will be announced on October 6th, 2009.	MAX News MAX Awards Winners Selected! Get the MAX widget Win a free pass to MAX 2009 along with some of the software used to create this widget, a copy of Flex Builder and a copy of ColdFusion Standard! Stay connected:

What is the cost to enter the MAX Awards?

There is no cost to enter the MAX Awards competition. Should your submission be selected as a finalist, your conference pass will be provided for you by the MAX Awards team. You will be responsible for providing your own travel and lodging for the MAX Conference.

Who is eligible to enter?

Contest is open to all individuals 18 years of age or older. The contest is not open to any resident of the following countries: Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, and Syria. U.S. export regulations prohibit the export of goods and services to Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan and Syria. Therefore residents of these countries/regions are not eligible to participate.

Employees, officers, and directors of Sponsor, its affiliates, and legal advisors, the judging panel, and the immediate family members and persons living in the same household of such persons are not eligible to participate in the Contest.

Independent contractors, subsidiaries, advertising, promotion and fulfillment agencies affiliated with a MAX 2009 sponsor may enter so long as the submission was not commissioned by Sponsor or MAX sponsors named prior to August 17, 2009.

Additionally, projects that are funded or sponsored by Adobe or designed specifically for Adobe are not eligible to participate in the Contest. All federal, state, provincial, autonomous, and local laws and regulations apply. Void where prohibited.

When is the deadline to submit entries?

All entries must be uploaded to the competition website no later than 11:59 pm Pacific Time on July 31, 2009. DEADLINE EXTENDED TO AUGUST 7, 2009, at 11:59 pm

How do I submit an entry?

All entrants must complete the official online form for the 2009 MAX Awards.

Entries should include a URL to access the submitted work. If the project is not publicly accessible via a public URL, please provide a Web URL with special Adobe-only login (preferred).

How do I nominate a project that isn't mine?

You may also nominate a project that is not yours. You must have the project name, project creators name, contact information and be able to determine which category it should compete in. This information will be reviewed by the 2009 MAX Award Team. Notification will then be sent directly to the project creator to officially enter the 2009 MAX Awards Contest. The deadline for nominations is July 17, 2009.

What information do I need to include in the online submission form?

Detailed project information and contact information must be supplied. Before submitting your nomination form, you will have an opportunity to review it in the confirmation section. Also, all entrants must accept the terms of the 2009 MAX Awards Submission Agreement in order for a nomination to be valid and considered.

Submission Form Information:

• Select the appropriate Category to enter.
• Project Name: Provide the name of your project or application.
• Project Access: Provide the web URL, or Submit a URL with login and password.
• Contact Information: This section requires the basic contact details including name, phone number, and email address for the company contact, as well as developer contact details if applicable.
• Project Purpose: Describe the application/project's general purpose.
• Challenge: Describe the challenge or problem your organization faced that lead to the development of the application/project.
• Benefits: Describe how has the organization benefited from the application/project. Give specific metrics and/or ROI numbers.
• Adobe solutions: List which versions of which Adobe products you used, and what benefits they offered.
• Other solutions: List other non-Adobe products you used.
• Considered solutions: List other technology solutions considered but NOT used for this project.
• Additional details: Please provide any additional details you would like to share about this project.
• If your project is a website, is the site accessible (available to people with visual disabilities)?
• Does the site include security features such as digital rights management, digital signatures, etc?

What kinds of projects can be entered?

The project should meet the three criteria applicable to all categories: Quality of User Experience, Breadth of Adobe Solutions Used to Develop Application, Quantified Business Impact of Application. The final criterion is category specific. (see Category Descriptions)

Each project submitted must contain at least one product from Adobe. Projects completed with multiple Adobe products of the most recent version are encouraged.

Your project must be in production or in an active pilot stage by the start of MAX 2009 and live and accessible up to 120 days after the conference.

All work must be original (no plagiarized images, text, or other content).

No projects containing pornography or other offensive materials as solely determined by Adobe will be considered for a MAX Award.

Projects cannot be created specifically for or funded by Adobe.

Any entry not complying with the above entry requirements will not be eligible for consideration or any prize.

How many entries may I submit?

There is no limit on the number of qualified entries you can submit. Entries may be submitted for consideration in more than one category but will only be selected as a finalist or other distinction in one (1) category. Each project will only be recognized once. If the same or similar project is submitted by two independent organizations, at Adobe's discretion the project and each organization will be at risk of being disqualified from the contest. Adobe accepts no responsibility for entries that are lost or damaged in transit.

What would disqualify an entry?

Any incomplete entries will be disqualified. In addition, any entries received without accepting the terms of the 2009 MAX Awards Submission Agreement will not be reviewed. Please keep in mind the following:

• A full name, address, and email address for the entrant are required in the online application.
• All sections and questions in the online application should be completed.
• Entries that do not provide a way for judges to view a project or application will be disqualified. Judges prefer to review projects through a web URL.
• If you are including a demo with your project submission be sure that the demo is no longer than five minutes. The portion of such an entry that extends beyond five minutes will not be judged.
• Any non-conforming entries will be disqualified. Altered, defaced, mutilated, illegible, or incomplete entries are not eligible and will result in disqualification of entry.
• Entries that contain any content that is pornographic in nature, lewd, or sexually explicit, at Adobes sole discretion, will be disqualified.
• URLs and or digital files that do not open or do not play will be disqualified.
• If selected as a finalist, you must be able to attend the Adobe MAX 2009 conference and show the project to attendees at the conference. Some amount of code should be able to be viewed by attendees. If selected as a finalist, you must supply a computer, mouse, speakers (if necessary) and extra power supply to show the project at the 2009 MAX conference. Adobe will supply the connection to the Internet, monitor, and an additional power supply. If a submission requires more than the peripherals provided by Adobe, the submitter must supply the necessary items. No additional promotional materials are allowed at the conference including but not limited to flyers, giveaways, etc.

Be sure to read the Rules completely.

May I send in a project that I did more than a year ago?

No. All work must have been created or updated after November 18, 2008.

How will the entries be judged?

After each entry is screened for compliance with the entry requirements, it will be judged by a panel of Adobe experts and industry representatives. The entries, whether submitted by an individual or a group, will be judged together in each category on a points system based on four criteria. Three criteria are applicable to all categories: Quality of User Experience, Breadth of Adobe Solutions Used to Develop Application, Quantified Business Impact of Application. The final criterion is category specific. (see Category Descriptions). All point calculations will be kept confidential.

Who will judge the entries?

The MAX Awards Judging Councils are comprised of Adobe experts and industry representatives with extensive knowledge of Adobe's products and solutions. The Judging Councils will select three finalists in each of the eight categories. The Category Winner will be selected from one of the top three finalists from each of the eight (8) categories through online public voting. Entrants will also be eligible for Honorable Mentions. Honorable Mentions honor outstanding achievement, granted at the discretion of the Judging Councils and are announced prior to the MAX Conference October 4-7, 2009. Adobe reserves the right to not award any Honorable Mentions. See the Judging tab for more information.

My website requires a password. Will you be able to view it?

Please include a valid login and password with your entry, and we will make a reasonable effort to access your files.

I have used various movie and TV clips in my entry. Is this OK?

No. Unauthorized use of copyrighted or trademarked materials will disqualify you. If you do use such material, you must provide legal proof of such permission along with your entry if you are chosen as a finalist. If your work is selected as a finalist, it may be displayed in its entirety on a public web page that is viewable by anyone, and Fair Use copyright conventions will not apply.

How do I find out if I am selected as a finalist?

Entries will be judged between July 6, 2009 and August 21, 2009. Twenty-four Finalists, three in each category, will be notified by e-mail or telephone the week of August 24, 2009. Finalists will have 2 days (48 hours) from receipt of notification to acknowledge finalist status and must confirm attendance at the Event by e-mail.

Does Adobe pay for all finalist expenses including, travel, lodging, etc.?

No, however, Adobe will provide one complimentary event pass to each finalist (total value $1500).

How do I find out if I won?

Winners will be announced during the 2009 MAX Awards Ceremony at MAX 2009 in Los Angeles, California.

Where is the Awards Ceremony?

The Awards Ceremony will be held at the MAX 2009 event in Los Angeles.

Who may attend the Awards Ceremony?

All attendees of the MAX event are invited to the Awards Ceremony.

Who should I contact with additional questions?

Please email maxaward@adobe.com.