Rules
OFFICIAL GAME RULES OF "EXKALIBUR" (SEE BELOW FOR THE GOLDEN ELIXIR)
Article 1. Organization
The following entities are designated as the “Organizers”:
PUY DU FOU FRANCE, a simplified joint-stock company (SAS), registered under SIREN number 347 490 070, with its registered office at LE PUY DU FOU, 85590 LES EPESSES, represented by Olivier Strebelle, duly authorized for the purposes hereof.
And
UNSOLVED, a simplified joint-stock company (SAS) with a share capital of €1,000, registered with the Paris Trade and Companies Register under number Paris B 912 025 145, SIRET 91202514500026, with its registered office at 249 rue du Faubourg Saint-Martin, Paris, represented by its President, Etienne Picand.
The two entities have joined forces to organize, through the commercialization of the product entitled “Exkalibur” (hereinafter referred to as the “Product”), a competition in the form of a puzzle-solving game (hereinafter referred to as the “Game”), consisting of the search for a chest buried in Western Europe containing a right to a treasure (hereinafter referred to as the “Treasure”).
Article 2. Eligibility
This puzzle-solving Game is open to any natural person, with the exception of the puzzle creator, employees of Unsolved, executive staff of Puy du Fou France, any other employee of Puy du Fou France who participated in the project, as well as their family members (spouses, civil partners, cohabiting partners, ascendants, descendants, and direct relatives), and any person who directly or indirectly participated in the design, production, or management of the Game.
Participation in the Game is strictly prohibited for minors. Participation is strictly individual and may not take place in the form of a group, association, or collective of any kind.
Article 3. Game Mechanics
The Game requires solving the riddles contained in the Product, which is available through authorized physical and online retail outlets. When fully solved and correctly understood, the riddles allow participants to determine the location of the Treasure, which is situated in one of the following six countries: Portugal, Spain, Andorra, France, the United Kingdom, or Ireland.
The Product contains all the clues necessary and sufficient to determine the Treasure’s location. The Organizers’ website, social media channels, and newsletter may provide additional hints, though consulting them is not mandatory.
Article 4. Duration
The Game shall begin on the Product’s launch date, scheduled for April or May 2025, and shall end on the day a natural person is declared the winner in accordance with Article 5.
If, after five (5) years — i.e., on June 1, 2030 — no participant meets the conditions to be declared the winner, the Organizers may decide either to continue the Game or to terminate it, in which case the prize may be allocated to a charitable or humanitarian organization or used for a new event. The Product may also be made freely available to the general public after a period of three (3) years.
Article 5. Designation of the Winner
The winner shall be the person who cumulatively:
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Has correctly solved the riddles contained in the Product, the synthesized solution of which has been deposited with the BLANC GRASSIN notary office;
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Has communicated their full identity and contact details to the Organizer;
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Has explained in detail the correct methodology used to solve the riddles, in the presence of a person designated by the Organizer;
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Is in possession of the Product, either in physical or digital form;
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Is in possession of the chest and of the right to the Treasure it contains.
Failure to meet any of these conditions, or the discovery of any irregularity, shall result in disqualification. Any participant attempting to obtain the solution through harassment, intimidation, violence, or hacking of the Organizer or puzzle creator shall be automatically disqualified.
The declared winner undertakes not to make any public statements, grant interviews, publish or reveal the puzzle solutions or the cache location, or disclose anecdotes related to the treasure hunt for a period of one (1) year following the discovery of the chest. All communications must be reserved exclusively for the Organizer. The winner shall also ensure that any person in their entourage who becomes aware of the discovery complies with this obligation.
Article 6. Prize
Winning the Game entitles the winner to receive the prize, consisting of King Arthur’s sword, Exkalibur, as well as the original physical works of the Product (map and parchment materials).
The sword was forged by Atelier Thibaud (Carcassonne), then set and gilded by Puy du Fou France. The prize has been valued by the Organizer at €250,000. It shall be awarded within six (6) months following the designation of the winner, in the presence of a person appointed by the Organizer.
The winner shall be solely responsible for the payment of any taxes or duties applicable at the time of prize allocation.
Article 7. Prize Award Ceremony
The winner agrees that the prize award ceremony may take place in the presence of the media and may be broadcast via radio, television, internet, or any other distribution platform. The winner also authorizes the use of their name, image, or any filmed material related to the Game or its solutions for promotional purposes, without any financial compensation.
Article 8. Liability
The puzzle creator, Etienne Picand, states that the Treasure is not located on private property. Participants must conduct their searches in full compliance with applicable laws and regulations and shall refrain from causing any damage or harm.
The puzzle creator and the Organizer disclaim all liability in the event a participant’s actions result in damage or legal consequences. Participants fully indemnify the puzzle creator and the Organizer against any claims brought by third parties.
Article 9. Acceptance of the Rules
Participation in the Game implies full and unconditional acceptance of these rules. Any dispute arising from these rules shall fall under the jurisdiction of the competent courts of Paris.
Article 10. Data Protection
Personal data collected as part of the Game newsletter subscription is processed in accordance with French data protection law and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Participants have the right to access, modify, rectify, and delete their personal data by contacting: contact@unsolvedhunts.com.
The winner expressly authorizes the Organizer to use their name for promotional or public relations purposes for a maximum period of two (2) years, without compensation.
Article 11. Deposit
These rules have been deposited with the BLANC GRASSIN notary office, 5 rue du Moulin de Poignet, MELUN, France.
Executed in Paris on October 21, 2024
PUY DU FOU FRANCE
Represented by Olivier Strebelle
UNSOLVED
Represented by Etienne Picand
OFFICIAL GAME RULES OF "THE GOLDEN ELIXIR"
Article 1. Organization
The company UNSOLVED, a limited liability company (SARL) with a share capital of €100, registered with the Paris Trade and Companies Register under number Paris B 912 025 145, SIRET 91202514500018, whose registered office is located at 3 rue des Jeuneurs, 75002 Paris, and represented by its Managing Director, Etienne Picand (hereinafter referred to as the “Organizer”), organizes, through the commercialization of the parchment entitled The Golden Elixir (hereinafter referred to as the “Parchment”), a competition in the form of a puzzle-solving game, consisting of searching for a chest buried in mainland France containing a treasure (hereinafter referred to as the “Treasure”).
Article 2. Evin Law
The Organizer designed this game in compliance with the French Evin Law. The theme of oenology was chosen for the rich history of wine in France, its role in French culture, and its complexity, which lends itself naturally to a puzzle-solving game. This game is in no way an incentive to consume alcohol. Alcohol abuse is dangerous to health and should be consumed in moderation.
Article 3. Participation
This puzzle-solving game (hereinafter referred to as the “Game”) is open to any natural person, except for the author, the Organizer’s staff, their family members (spouses, civil partners, cohabiting partners, ascendants, descendants, and direct relatives), and any person who has directly or indirectly participated in the design, production, or management of the Game.
Participation in the Game is strictly prohibited for minors. Participation is strictly individual and may not take place in the form of a collective, association, or group of any kind.
Article 4. Principle
The Game requires solving the riddles contained in the Parchment, which is available through authorized physical and online retail outlets. When fully solved and correctly understood, the riddles allow participants to determine the location of the Treasure, which is situated in mainland France.
The Parchment contains all clues necessary and sufficient to determine the Treasure’s location. The Organizer’s social media channels and newsletter may provide additional hints, though consulting them is not mandatory.
Article 5. Duration
The Game began on the launch date of the Parchment, April 12, 2023, and ends on the day a natural person is declared the winner in accordance with Article 6.
If the person who finds the Treasure does not meet the conditions required to be declared the winner, as set out in Article 6, the Organizer may decide either to continue the Game or to terminate it, in which case the prize may be awarded to a charitable or humanitarian organization or used for the organization of a new event.
Five (5) years after the launch of the Game, on April 12, 2028, the Organizer shall retain the same discretion.
Article 6. Designation of the Winner
The winner shall be the person who cumulatively:
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Has located the Treasure buried in mainland France;
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Is in possession of the Treasure and the item it contains;
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Has communicated their full identity and contact details to the Organizer;
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Has explained in detail the correct methodology used to solve the riddles, in the presence of a person designated by the Organizer;
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Is in possession of the riddle parchment, either in physical or digital form.
If the person refuses to comply with any of these requirements, or if an irregularity is identified, they shall not be declared the winner.
Any participant attempting to obtain the solution through harassment, intimidation, violence, or hacking of the Organizer or puzzle creators shall be automatically disqualified. The use of metal detectors or probing equipment is strictly prohibited and disqualifying. The Organizer has ensured that the Treasure cannot be detected using such tools and wishes to prevent excessive digging and damage to the site.
The winner undertakes not to make any public statements, grant interviews, publish or reveal the solutions to the riddles or the location of the cache, or share anecdotes relating to the treasure hunt for a period of one (1) year following the discovery of the Treasure. All communications must be reserved exclusively for the Organizer. The winner shall also ensure that any person in their entourage who becomes aware of the discovery complies with this obligation.
Article 7. Prize
Winning the Game entitles the winner to receive a prize in the form of the fictional inheritance of the Count of Saint-Germain. This inheritance includes The Golden Elixir and the contents of the Count’s wine cellar.
The cellar consists of bottles of wine, cognac, and armagnac. The prize may also take the form of the proceeds from the sale of the cellar, at the winner’s discretion. The bottles are supplied by the Organizer’s partners but remain the property of the Organizer.
The cumulative value of the bottles was estimated at €100,000 at the time of the Game’s launch. The prize shall be awarded within three (3) months following the designation of the winner, in the presence of a person appointed by the Organizer. The winner shall be solely responsible for the payment of any applicable taxes or duties.
Article 8. Prize Award Ceremony
The winner agrees that the prize award may take place in the presence of the media and may be broadcast via radio, television, internet, or any other distribution platform. The winner also authorizes the use of their name, image, or any filmed material related to the Game or its solutions for promotional purposes, without any financial compensation.
Article 9. Liability
The author of the Parchment and Organizer of the Game states that the Treasure is not located on private property. Participants must conduct their searches in full compliance with applicable laws and regulations and shall refrain from causing any damage or harm.
The Organizer declines all liability in the event that a participant’s actions result in damage or legal consequences. Participants fully indemnify the Organizer and its representatives against any claims brought by third parties.
Article 10. Acceptance of the Rules
Participation in the Game implies full and unconditional acceptance of these rules. Any dispute arising from these rules shall fall under the jurisdiction of the competent courts of Paris.
Article 11. Data Protection
Personal data collected as part of the Game newsletter subscription is processed in accordance with the French Data Protection Act of January 6, 1978 and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Participants have the right to access, modify, rectify, and delete their personal data by contacting: unsolved.enigmas01@gmail.com.
The winner expressly authorizes the Organizer to use their name for advertising or public relations purposes, on any medium, without compensation, for a maximum period of two (2) years.
Article 12. Deposit
These rules have been deposited with the BLANC GRASSIN office, 5 rue du Moulin de Poignet, 77000 Melun, France.
Executed in Paris on April 4, 2023
UNSOLVED
Represented by its Managing Director, Etienne Picand
BLANC GRASSIN
Judicial Officer