We're trying to keep this as simple as possible:

• We reserve the right to do other things with these jokes beyond posting them on our Web site (no, not that and get your mind out of the gutter), so don't steal jokes from books, stand-up comics, television shows and pass them off as "one of those old jokes that everybody knows." We'll only have to take the joke off the site. In extreme cases, we will revoke your sense of humor;

• Each month we'll award a prize for what we judge to be the best joke of the month. We honestly have no criteria for this. We'll find a joke we all like and that will be the winner;

• Really offensive jokes won't get posted, so please don't try. You'll probably get a big laugh from Eddie here in our office, but that's as far as it will go. We all know Eddie has no taste. He's kind of like our canary in the coal mine;

• We don't display your email address, but we do need it to let you know if you won the prize. Or, if we have a question about the joke (like, "Did you leave out the punch line or something?"). Otherwise, we don't use your email address for anything, and we don't sell, trade or give it away;

• Void where prohibited by law or where this contest would cost us any more money than we've already put into it (which, as you can guess, is not much);

• If we revise these rules we'll post the changes here. Check back often. We know how much fine it is to read stuff like this;

• No shirts, no shoes, no service.

If You Think We Stole Your Joke

We don't believe in stealing other people's material. However, it's darn near impossible to check every submission against all the joke books, Web sites and comedy performances in the world. If you find a joke in the Punch Bowl to which you, or someone you represent, holds the copyright, contact Jay with the details. If we did, indeed, infringe on your rights we will take the offending material off our site immediately.