Proposed Rule Change: Sequence-Mates of Previous Winners
Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2013 4:53 pm
2. Eligibility of Sequence-mates of Previous Winners. According to Submission Rule #5, "Sequence mates of previous winners will be allowed if there is a substantial difference between the two." However, the 2013 organizers found that this places an unfair burden on contestants, as it means that they need to survey all the winners in every category from the start of the contest in 2003 to ensure the eligibility of their entries. (Worse, the first two contests are no longer viewable.)
Further, Rule #4 states, the same cel that won a prize is eligible to compete for a prize again as soon as it changes owners. It seemed illogical that a winner could, theoretically, complete again and again, provided it kept being sold between contests, while nearby sequence-mates held by other contestants were banned for life.
A case of this type arose this year during viewing. The cel in question had won in 2008, making the sequence-mate submitted in 2013 ineligible. The organizers felt this was unfair, but unavoidable, given the present wording of the rules, so the cel was taken down and the contestant allowed to enter a different cel.
For that reason the organizers agreed that a time limit should be added to Rule #5 to ease the burden on contestants and allow sequence-mates to compete a reasonable time after a similar cel had won a prize. So the new wording of the rule would read like this (new wording underlined):
5.) Sequence mates of previous winners will be allowed three years after the previous cel received an award. They may also be eligible sooner if there is a substantial difference between the two. Please inform the contest coordinator which piece you are submitting a sequence mate of. You may not submit a sequence mate if you also own the previous winning piece.
Further, Rule #4 states, the same cel that won a prize is eligible to compete for a prize again as soon as it changes owners. It seemed illogical that a winner could, theoretically, complete again and again, provided it kept being sold between contests, while nearby sequence-mates held by other contestants were banned for life.
A case of this type arose this year during viewing. The cel in question had won in 2008, making the sequence-mate submitted in 2013 ineligible. The organizers felt this was unfair, but unavoidable, given the present wording of the rules, so the cel was taken down and the contestant allowed to enter a different cel.
For that reason the organizers agreed that a time limit should be added to Rule #5 to ease the burden on contestants and allow sequence-mates to compete a reasonable time after a similar cel had won a prize. So the new wording of the rule would read like this (new wording underlined):
5.) Sequence mates of previous winners will be allowed three years after the previous cel received an award. They may also be eligible sooner if there is a substantial difference between the two. Please inform the contest coordinator which piece you are submitting a sequence mate of. You may not submit a sequence mate if you also own the previous winning piece.