1. The prize recognises BOOKS that have significant potential and make a cultural contribution to literary history. The author’s name and previous achievements may have a significant but not decisive influence on the award.
2. The publisher will only nominate books that have been published within the last two (three) years and have not been previously nominated for the prize. Books published by other publishers are not eligible for nomination.
3. More than one book by the same author may be nominated for the award.
4. Books are nominated on the basis of feedback from translators and editors, as well as literary critics and other eminent persons. In individual categories, sales data and the author’s professional qualities, such as willingness to cooperate, personal contribution to the promotion of the book and media savvy, are also taken into account.
5. The award can only be presented to the author or his official representative in the case of personal presence. The official representative may be a close relative (spouse, child/nephew), embassy representative, co-author or translator of the book. The participation of third parties is excluded. The representative must also pay for the ‘Official Participant’ format (there is no free entry to the ceremony) and comply with the dress code, otherwise the administration has the right to refuse to allow the representative to attend the ceremony and the nomination will be passed on to the next book on the list.
6. The award is a certificate and a statuette and cannot be obtained in money or services. The statuette is awarded to the book, not the team of creators, including translators, editors and illustrators, and comes in a single copy. Certificates can be personalised for the people who worked on the book (naming all those involved).