Culture Trip x Sony Challenge

Travel opens up a world of possibilities and Italy, with its rich history, stunning landscapes, and vibrant culture, is a dream destination for many. From the ancient ruins of Rome to the picturesque Amalfi Coast, Italy offers endless opportunities for breathtaking photography. Whether it’s the charming streets of Florence, the romantic canals of Venice, or the culinary delights of Naples, we want to see how Italy inspires your wanderlust.

Share your travel images that showcase your passion for exploring the world through our Alpha Universe Instagram account and be in with a chance of winning an amazing prize comprising a Sony camera kit and an unforgettable trip to Naples, Italy. The contest entry will be valid from photos and videos posted on Instagram between 6th February and 21st February 2025, and one winner will be chosen by Culture Trip and Sony teams.

This incredible prize is:

Entries will be judged on the basis of creativity, originality and visual/emotional impact of the image and the winning entries will be announced on Alpha Universe and social media channels.

Culture Trip x Sony Challenge Terms and Conditions

1. The promoter of The Culture Trip x Sony Challenge (“Contest”) in the UK is Sony Europe B.V., incorporated in the Netherlands, registered office in The Heights, Brooklands, Weybridge, Surrey, KT13 0XW, United Kingdom (“Sony”). The Contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Instagram. Instagram is hereby completely released of all liability by each participant in this Contest.
2. The Contest is open to individuals aged over 18 who have a personal Instagram account and are resident in United Kingdom (“Qualifying Region”). Employees of Sony group companies and their family members and any agency employees/ family members involved in running the Challenge are not eligible to enter.
3. The Contest will start on the 6^th February and will end on the 21^st February (including) (“Contest Period“).
4. One winner will be awarded with the following two prizes (product plus travel):
   • Interchangeable-lens vlog camera ZV-E10 II + E 11mm f/1.8 lens + E 16–55mm f/2.8 G lens + Wireless Bluetooth® Shooting Grip and Tripod (GP-VPT2BT) + Wireless microphone (ECM-W3) (approx. value of £2600).
   • An airplane trip (round trip) to Naples, Italy for one (1) person including 3 nights accommodation (bed and breakfast), and up to £350 (EUR 414) towards other travel and expenses.
   • Accompanied by a photographer expert (“Sony Ambassador”) during a portion of the trip, teaching the winner the use of the camera to enable the winner to create content documenting its journey to Naples.
5. To enter the Contest you must complete the following steps:Step 1: follow the @alphauniversebysony.eu and @culturetrip Instagram accounts
   Step 2: upload your video to your Instagram account during the Contest Period (which must be set to public at least until one week after the end of the Contest period) with following conditions:
   • Use the hashtags #CaptureCultureTripSony and #ZVE10II.
   • Tag 2 friends in the description of your video. If one of them is selected to win the competition, you will win a £250 coupon to use on Culture Trip’s website*
     *The person who first tagged the winner qualifies for the prize. Only one referrer can win the £250 prize.
   • Add the following keyword “Culture Trip x Sony Challenge” to the title of your video

   The video should contain/ include and will be judged based on the following criteria:

   • Theme: Show us how you capture the beauty of your world and tell us why Italy is your dream destination
   • Post a travel-related photo or short video (15-30 seconds) on your Instagram account.
   • Creativity in visual storytelling and use of travel and exploration themes will be key judging criteria.
   • Tag @alphauniversebysony.eu and @CultureTrip in the caption.
   • Agree, that as part of the trip to Naples, the winner will create content (at least 15 high resolution photographs and a recap Instagram reels) documenting the Italy journey and provide the Content to Sony and Culture Trip to be used in accordance with sec. 19 below; and be available for an interview with Culture Trip for an article about the Trip to be published on Culture Trip’s website theculturetrip.com.
6. Submitted videos can be taken using any devices. Once posted, your videos must remain on your Instagram account until one week after the end of the Contest Period set out at section 3 above, otherwise your entry may not be acknowledged.
7. By submitting videos in accordance with section 5 above and entering the Contest, participants will be deemed to have accepted and to be bound by the Contest rules and these terms and conditions. Any further entry instructions given by Sony and posted on this webpage or @alphauniversebysony.eu Instagram account will form part of the Contest rules.
8. There is no limit to the number of videos that you can upload to participate, but each video must be unique and comply with the Contest rules and these terms and conditions.
9. Video(s) that are modified with any image editing software or equivalent programs are accepted. Participant guarantees that video enhancement was made via use of legally acquired software.
10. Participants are prohibited from tagging or entering any defamatory, libelous, obscene, pornographic, profane, threatening, or unlawful material (both in respect of videos and any associated comments/tags) or any material that could constitute or encourage conduct that would be considered a criminal offense or give rise to civil liability, or otherwise violate any law, Instagram’s terms of use (https://en-gb.facebook.com/help/instagram/478745558852511/). Participants may not submit videos that include watermarks, video credits or any third-party brands. Participants shall not manipulate metrics on the Instagram service, including numbers of views, likes, dislikes, or subscribers, such that those metrics fail to reflect genuine user engagement with the Instagram service.
11. Sony and Culture Trip will review all eligible entries submitted through Instagram during the Contest Period and the videos will be judged, at Sony’s and Culture Trip’s sole discretion, on the basis of the level of creativity, originality and visual/emotional impact of the image. The winner will be selected by Sony and Culture Trip on the basis of the preceding criteria. The winning entry will be selected based on the overall composition and creativity/originality of the video.
12. Winning candidate will be contacted after the Contest Period from end of February 2025 using Instagram Direct from the Instagram account and will be required to submit the file relating to the selected video to demonstrate compliance with the Contest rules and these terms and conditions. Sony will subsequently follow up with the winning candidates via Instagram Direct or email with instructions on how to claim the prize. If a potential winner does not respond and comply with the instructions in the initial Instagram Direct message within five (5) days, or if the data reveals that the video does not comply with these terms and conditions, the participant will not be eligible to receive the prize and an alternative winner will be selected.
13. No cash or credit alternative is available. Prizes are not exchangeable or transferable. Should the prize(s) become unavailable for any reason, Sony reserves the right to provide a substitute prize of equivalent value.
14. Winners shall be fully and solely responsible for any individual tax liability relating to receipt of the prize(s) and, by accepting their prize, winners agree to release Sony from any such liability.
15. Prizes will be sent out to the winner from beginning of March 2025, at no cost to the winner. Prizes will only be delivered to addresses in the UK. It will take several days to receive the prize. The winning entries will be announced on the ＠eu Instagram account or other Sony’s official media in March 2025.
16. Acceptance of prizes shall constitute consent on the winner’s part to allow the use of the winner’s name, image and/or likeness by Sony for editorial, advertising, promotional, marketing and/or other purposes without further compensation except where prohibited by law. Other than notification of winners, no inquiries will be accepted regarding entries and selection of winners.
17. By entering videos into the Contest, the participant warrants that: (1) the submitted videos and the manners of entering the Contest and such submission comply fully with Instagram’s terms of use, the Contest rules and these terms and conditions; (2) the submitted videos are original videos taken by the participant; (3) the participant owns all rights (including copyright) to grant the license to Sony pursuant to these terms and conditions the submitted video(s); (4) the submitted videos do not infringe the rights of any third party (including the right of publicity, privacy or any other equivalent rights of a person); (5) permission (including permission from parents or guardians, in case any image and any other personal information of children is included in the submitted videos) has been obtained to use the image and any other personal information of any person included in any of the submitted videos in accordance with these terms and conditions; and (6) the appropriate licenses, permissions and/or releases have been obtained to use any music, images, video, audio, photos, text, or other materials contained in such videos from the owners thereof. The participant acknowledges that the submission of videos from third party sources (including, for example, other websites or blogs) is prohibited and use of such videos without permission may constitute infringement of copyright.
18. Entries may be disqualified, excluded or prizes rescinded if Sony reasonably determines that there has been an infringement of the Contest rules, these terms and conditions, the Instagram’s terms of use or public order and morality.
19. The participant grants Sony an irrevocable, non-exclusive, free of charge licence to copy, modify, edit, adapt, publish, reproduce, display, distribute or otherwise use (including commercial and/or PR use) the submitted videos, photos and trip Content in any form or medium, anywhere in the world, forever (including a right to sub-license to other Sony group companies). In particular, the participant acknowledges and agrees that submitted videos and Content may be published on Sony group companies’ websites and social media accounts. The participant agrees to waive all moral rights in the use of the submitted videos to the extent legally possible.
20. Sony accepts no liability in respect of the use of publication of submitted videos and the participant shall be solely responsible for resolving any disputes with third parties relating to the videos they have submitted, at their own cost. The participant agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Sony, Sony group companies, directors, employees and agents from and against any claims, damages, losses, costs or expenses of any kind howsoever arising in connection with his/her participation in this Contest, including the use by Sony of submitted videos and the participant’s acceptance or use of the prizes.
21. Sony makes no representations or warranties whether express or implied, regarding this Contest or the prizes, other than as expressly set out in the Contest rules or these terms and conditions. Sony shall not be liable for any technical errors or errors on the Instagram platform that may prevent a participant from entering the Contest or from receiving or sending direct messages. Sony does not seek to exclude liability for death or personal injury arising from its own negligence.
22. Sony may, without advance notice cancel, suspend or postpone or change duration of the contest at any time.
23. Participants’ personal information will be processed in accordance with Sony’s privacy policy  and will only be used for the purpose of the administration and publicity of the Contest, including for communications relating to the Contest, management of entries, dispatch of prizes, display of winning entries, and for purposes incidental to these activities. By entering the Contest you agree that your name and country or region may be published together with your submitted video.
24. All personal information provided by participants will be destroyed or deleted after the Contest is finished, except in the case of prize winners and participants whose videos will be used.
25. If Sony is required to disclose any information of participants by government authorities or required by law, ordinance, rule, regulation (including U.S. sanctions) or court order applicable to Sony, notwithstanding any other provisions of these terms and conditions, Sony may so disclose such information; provided that Sony shall take reasonable steps to obtain reasonable treatment of such information.
26. Failure by Sony to enforce any of these rules or terms shall not constitute a waiver of that provision.
27. Unless local law in the participant’s country or region of residence provides otherwise, the Contest, including the Contest rules and these terms and conditions are governed by English law. Any dispute will be subject to jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.