Terms and Conditions: The Pitch: Intellectual Property Competition

1. Prize Description and Usage
   • The £10,000 intellectual property funding prize must be used exclusively for new intellectual property applications and associated work, allocated as follows:
     • £8,000 for searching, drafting, and filing a patent application.
     • £2,000 for searching, drafting, and filing a trade mark application.
   • The funding prize cannot be used for assistance with existing contentious legal matters.
2. No Further Commitment
   • The winning business is under no obligation to undertake further business with or make payments to Stevens Hewlett & Perkins (SH&P) beyond the fulfilment of the prize.
3. Eligibility
   • The competition is open to legal residents of the United Kingdom who are 18 years of age or older.
   • Only one entry per business will be accepted.
4. Application and Shortlisting Process
   • Applications must be submitted online through the designated platform.
   • Applicants will be shortlisted based on their responses to the online application.
5. Online Pitch Event
   • Shortlisted applicants will participate in a secure, confidential online pitch event in front of a panel from the SH&P team.
   • Pitches will be conducted via a 20-minute session, including a Q&A, with SH&P’s intellectual property experts.
   • Confidentiality of pitches will be maintained as per SH&P’s standard confidentiality terms and regulations.
6. Confidentiality
   • All data submitted via the online application form will remain confidential.
   • All online interviews and pitches will be confidential. SH&P will provide a confidentiality/non disclosure agreement in advance of applicants interview pitch.
7. Winner Selection and Announcement
   • The winner will be selected based on the strength and potential of their pitch, as determined by SH&P’s experts.
   • The winner will be announced by 31^th August 2026, and work with SH&P must be initiated by 31^st December 2027
8. No Purchase Required
   • No purchase or payment is necessary to enter this competition.
9. Participant Agreement
   • By participating, entrants agree to abide by these terms and conditions and the decisions of SH&P, which are final and binding in all respects.
10. Exclusions
    • SH&P reserves the right to disqualify any entry that does not meet the eligibility criteria or is deemed inappropriate, incomplete, or non-compliant with these terms and conditions.
11. Miscellaneous
    • SH&P reserves the right to amend these terms and conditions at any time without prior notice.
    • Any disputes arising in connection with the competition will be resolved under the laws of England and Wales.
    • By entering the competition, you consent to being contacted by members of the SH&P