The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced that marketing campaign regulations for the upcoming 80th Academy Awards have been approved by its Board of Governors.
According to the Academy's press release, "this year's Regulations strongly encourage companies to reduce the volume of surface mail by consolidating multiple mailings into a single one whenever possible or by using email instead."
The Regulations also state that companies should, "whenever possible," allow members to opt out of receiving any mailings. (The loophole "whenever possible" all but invalidates that "regulation.")
Additionally, the Regulations allow companies to place downloadable versions of screenplays on a Web site, though eligible music "may no longer be sent to any members at any time. This prohibition includes recordings, sheet music and music videos."
And in case you didn't know…
"Campaign Regulations are issued by the Academy each year to ensure fairness in the Awards competition and to remind all involved that the Academy's decisions are based solely on the merits of the eligible films and achievements. Violations of the Regulations are subject to penalty, though in recent years the level of compliance has been very high."
(I assume there are people — even at the Academy — who actually believe that Oscars nominees and winners are picked "solely on the merits of the eligible films and achievements.")
The next Academy Award nominations will be announced on January 22, 2008. The 80th Academy Awards presentation will be telecast live by the ABC Television Network on Sunday, February 24, 2008.
More details at http://www.oscars.org/regulations.
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