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Clause & Effect: <b>Examining Validity Of Game Show Releases and Rules

By Stan Soocher
August 02, 2004

Game shows based on contestants giving answers to questions often use releases signed by contestants to build in leeway into how those questions may be structured. What if a question has a mostly correct, but not the absolutely correct, answer? In the case of the TV game show “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire,” Richard Rosner, a contestant presented with this type of question, filed suit after he was eliminated from the show.

The question was: “What capital city is located at the highest altitude above sea level?” Of the four possible answers, Rosner chose Katmandu, the lowest in altitude of the four cities given. La Paz, Bolivia, which wasn't offered as an answer choice, is actually the highest-altitude capital city in the world. Before participating in the program, Rosner had reviewed and signed a contestant release-and-eligibility form, and a copy of the show's rules.

The release contained the following language:

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