BOING BOING CONTEST RULES

OFFICIAL RULES

NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT OF ANY KIND IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN THIS CONTEST. A purchase will not improve chances of winning.

CONSUMER DISCLOSURES

The Sponsor (Boing Boing) is not able to predict the number of expected entrants. After this Contest has ended, and upon receiving an email request from any person, the Sponsor will identify the approximate number of total Entrants and the approximate percentage of Entrants who won prizes.

OPEN ONLY TO LEGAL RESIDENTS OF THE 50 UNITED STATES AND DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA WHO ARE AT LEAST 18 YEARS OLD AND HOLDING A VALID DRIVER'S LICENSE AS OF THE DATE OF ENTRY. PARTICIPANTS CANNOT BE EMPLOYED BY SPONSOR, PRIZE PROVIDER OR ANY OF THEIR AFFILIATES.

By entering this Contest, each entrant ("Entrant") accepts and agrees to be bound by these Official Rules. Any violation of these rules may, at Sponsor's discretion, result in disqualification. All decisions of the judges regarding this Contest are final and binding in all respects.

The Contest period begins upon announcement and ends at 11:59 p.m. seven days later.

2. ELIGIBILITY. This contest (the "Contest") is only open to legal residents of the 50 United States and District of Columbia who are at least 18 years old and holding a valid driver's license or state-issued ID as of the date of entry, except officers, directors, members, and employees of the Sponsor, Prize Provider, or any of the Sponsor or Prize Provider, the judging organization (if applicable), or any other party associated with the development or administration of this Contest, and the immediate family (i.e., parents, children, siblings, spouse), and persons residing in the same household, as such individuals. This Contest is void outside the 50 United States and the District of Columbia, and where prohibited.

3. HOW TO ENTER. Visit www.boingboing.net (the "Website") during the Contest Period and follow the instructions to complete and submit the entry form. The Submission must be appropriate for viewers of all ages, and should reflect Sponsor's values and sensibility. Entrant must be the sole owner (or have written permission from the owner) to use the Submission in this manner, must have written permission from any people depicted or whose contribution is included in the Submission, and the Submission must not contain any copyright, trademarked or other material that violates the rights of any third party. Entrant represents and warrants that: (a) his or her Submission is the original work of such Entrant, that it has not been copied from others, and that it does not violate the rights of any other person or entity; (b) his or her Submission adheres to the fundamental spirit of the Contest, and (c) the Submission shall contain no virus, worm, Trojan Horse or other spyware or malware whatsoever. Limit: One (1) entry per person and per e-mail address during the Contest Period. All Entrant information, including e-mail addresses, is subject to the Privacy Policy of the Sponsor. .

4. WINNER SELECTION AND NOTIFICATION.

(a) All entries will be judged after the entry period closes. In its sole and absolute discretion, and based upon entirely subjective and personal artistic, aesthetic, intuitive and intellectual criteria and judgments, the Sponsor (through one or more designated persons) will determine the entries subjectively deemed to be "best" and to be winners based on the following criteria: creativity/originality (25%); humor (25%); awesomeness (25%); and appropriate expression of the Sponsor's editorial viewpoint (25%). The judges will select prize winners based on the highest overall score. In the event of a tie, the entry with the higher score in the creativity criteria will prevail.

(b) Any potential winners will be notified by mail, email and/or telephone. If a potential winner: (i) cannot be contacted; (ii) does not respond within one (1) day from the date the Sponsor first tries to notify him/her; (iii) fails to return the Affidavit and Release as specified in Rule 9; (iv) refuses the prize; and/or (v) the prize or prize notification is returned as undeliverable, such potential winner forfeits all rights to win the Contest or receive the prize, and an alternate potential winner may be selected. Upon contacting a potential winner and determining that he/she has met all eligibility requirements of the Contest, including without limitation the execution of required waivers, publicity and liability releases and disclaimers, such individual will be officially declared a winnner of the Contest.

(c) All winners' submissions will be posted online at the Website.

5. PRIZES. Awarding the prizes is subject to Winner's execution of Prize Provider's standard terms and conditions in connection with its services. Winners may receive additional prizes as determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion.

6. TAXES. All federal, state and/or local income and other taxes, if any, are the winner's, as applicable, sole responsibility. As a condition of receiving any prize, an Entrant shall have to fill out all tax documentation required by Sponsor.

7. OWNERSHIP AND LICENSE. Any entry materials become the property of the Sponsor and will not be acknowledged or returned. The copyright in any Submission shall remain the property of the Entrant, but entry into this Contest constitutes Entrant's irrevocable and perpetual permission, consent and license, without further compensation or attribution, to use, reproduce, print, publish, transmit, distribute, perform, adapt, enhance, or display such Submission in connection with the Website, the Contest, the Sponsor and the Prize Provider and the advertising and Contest of the foregoing. In connection with the foregoing, Sponsor and/or Prize Provider and/or others authorized by the Sponsor or Prize Provider shall have the right to edit, adapt, and modify the Submission. Sponsor disclaims all other rights in the Submission.

8. NO PRIZE TRANSFER OR SUBSTITUTION. No prize or any portion thereof is transferable or redeemable for cash. Any portion of the prize that is not used is forfeited. No substitutions for prize are allowed except by Sponsor and Prize Provider, in which case a prize of equal or greater value will be substituted.

9. CONSENT AND RELEASE. By entering the Contest, each Entrant releases and discharges the Sponsor, the Prize Provider, the judging organization (if applicable), and any other party associated with the development or administration of this Contest, their parent, subsidiary, and affiliated entities, and each of their respective officers, directors, members, shareholders, employees, independent contractors, agents, representatives, successors and assigns (collectively, "Contest Entities"), from any and all liability whatsoever in connection with this Contest, including without limitation legal claims, costs, injuries, losses or damages, demands or actions of any kind (including without limitation personal injuries, death, damage to, loss or destruction or property, rights of publicity or privacy, defamation, or portrayal in a false light) (collectively, "Claims"). Except where prohibited: (i) acceptance of a prize constitutes the consent of any Winner (as applicable), without further compensation, to use the name and likeness of such Winner (as applicable) and his/her Submission for editorial, advertising and publicity purposes by the Sponsor and/or Prize Provider and/or others authorized by the Sponsor or Prize Provider; (ii) acceptance of a prize constitutes a release by any Winner (as applicable) of the Contest Entities of any and all Claims in connection with the administration of this Contest and the use, misuse, or possession of his/her Submission or any prize; (iii) any potential Winner (as applicable) may be required to sign an affidavit of eligibility (including social security number) and a liability/publicity/copyright release; and (iv) if prize involves travel or activities, any potential Winner (as applicable) may be required to execute releases of the Sponsor from any and all liability with respect to participation in such travel/activities and/or use of the prize. Affidavits and releases must be returned promptly from the date that Sponsor first tries to notify the potential Winner (as applicable). If Winner (as applicable) is deemed to be a minor under the jurisdiction of his/her residence, any prize will be awarded in the name of his/her parent or legal guardian who must execute the necessary affidavit and release.

10. INDEMNIFICATION. Each Entrant agrees to indemnify and hold the Sponsor, the Prize Provider and their respective affiliates, officers, directors, agents, co-branders or other partners, and any of their employees (collectively, the "Contest Indemnitees") harmless from any and all claims, damages, expenses, costs (including reasonable attorneys' fees) and liabilities (including settlements), brought or asserted by any third party against any of the Contest Indemnitees arising out of or in connection with (a) any Submission; (b) any breach by the Entrant of any warranty, agreement or representation contained in these Official Rules or terms of service or in any documentation submitted or agreed to by the Entrant; (C) the Entrant's conduct during and in connection with this Contest, including, without limitation, trademark, copyright, or other intellectual property rights, right of publicity, right of privacy or defamation; (D) the acceptance, use or misuse of any award or prize; or (E) any virus, worm, Trojan Horse or other spyware or malware of any kind in connection with a Submission.

11. OTHER TERMS AND CONDITIONS. (i) Contest Entities not responsible for entries that are lost, late, misdirected, incorrect, garbled, or incompletely received, for any reason, including by reason of hardware, software, browser, or network failure, malfunction, congestion, or incompatibility at Sponsor's servers or elsewhere. In the event of a dispute, entries will be deemed submitted by the authorized account holder of the e-mail address submitted at the time of entry. "Authorized account holder" is defined as the natural person who is assigned to an e-mail address by an Internet Access Provider, online service provider, or other organization (e.g., business, educational institute) that is responsible for assigning e-mail addresses for the domain associated with the submitted e-mail address. (ii) Sponsor, in its sole discretion, reserves the right to disqualify any person tampering with the entry process or the operation of the web site or otherwise attempting to undermine the legitimate operation of the Contest. Use of bots or other automated process(es) to enter or vote is expressly prohibited and may result in disqualification at the sole discretion of Sponsor. (iii) Sponsor further reserves the right to cancel, terminate or modify the Contest if it is not capable of completion as planned, including by reason of infection by computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, force majeure or technical failures of any sort. (iv) Contest Entities are not responsible for errors in the administration or fulfillment of this Contest, including without limitation mechanical, human, printing, distribution or production errors, and may modify or cancel this Contest based upon such error at its sole discretion without liability. In no event will Sponsor be responsible for awarding more than the number of prizes specified in these rules. (v) Contest ENTITIES MAKE NO WARRANTIES, REPRESENTATIONS OR GUARANTEES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, IN FACT OR IN LAW, AS REGARDS THIS Contest OR THE MERCHANTABILITY, QUALITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE REGARDING ANY PRIZE OR ANY COMPONENT OF ANY PRIZE. (vi) CAUTION: ANY ATTEMPT BY AN ENTRANT TO DELIBERATELY DAMAGE THE WEBSITE OR UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THIS Contest MAY BE A VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND/OR CIVIL LAWS, AND SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, SPONSOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO SEEK REMEDIES AND DAMAGES (INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION ATTORNEYS' FEES) FROM ANY SUCH ENTRANT TO THE FULLEST EXTENT OF THE LAW, INCLUDING CRIMINAL PROSECUTION. (vi) The value(s) of the prize(s) set forth above represent Sponsor's good faith determination of the approximate retail value(s) thereof, and the actual fair market value(s) as ultimately determined by Sponsor and/or Prize Provider, are final and binding and cannot be challenged or appealed. In the event the stated approximate retail value(s) of a prize is more than the actual fair market value of that prize, the difference will not be awarded in cash or otherwise. No substitution or compensation will be given for any portion of the prize that is not used. (vii) If any provision of these Official Rules is found to be unlawful, void or for any reason unenforceable, then that provision shall be deemed severable from these Official Rules and shall not affect the validity and enforceability of any remaining provisions. Headings and captions are used in these Official Rules solely for convenience of reference, and shall not be deemed to affect in any manner the meaning or intent of these Official Rules or any provision hereof. (viii) All provisions of these Official Rules which, by their express or implied terms, are intended to survive the termination of the Contest, shall do so.

12. SPONSOR'S RIGHT TO DISQUALIFY: At any time during the Contest, the Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to disqualify and remove any Submission for any reason including, but not limited to, if the Sponsor believes that such Submission, or any component thereof, contains any inappropriate content, infringes the rights of any third party, violates any applicable laws or regulations, is harmful to any Sponsor's or Prize Provider's business, goodwill or reputation, or otherwise does not meet the requirements set forth in these Official Rules. The decisions of the Sponsor on this and all matters relating to the Contest are final and binding. The Sponsor reserves the right at its sole discretion to disqualify any Entrant or the vote of any individual found to be (a) tampering or attempting to tamper with the entry process or the operation of the Contest or the Website, (b) violating these Official Rules, (c) violating the terms of service, conditions of use and/or general rules or guidelines of any Sponsor property or service, or (d) acting in an unsportsmanlike or disruptive manner, or with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass any other person. Further, the Sponsor reserves the right to disqualify any Submission which, in the Sponsor's sole discretion, is deemed to be offensive, libelous, slanderous, inflammatory, or otherwise inappropriate in any way for this Contest. NONCOMPLIANCE WITH ANY OF THE OFFICIAL RULES MAY RESULT IN DISQUALIFICATION. ANY VIOLATION OF THESE OFFICIAL RULES BY AN ENTRANT OR ANY BEHAVIOR BY AN ENTRANT THAT WILL BRING SUCH ENTRANT OR THE Contest ENTITIES INTO DISREPUTE (IN THE SPONSOR'S SOLE DISCRETION) WILL RESULT IN SUCH ENTRANT'S DISQUALIFICATION AND ALL PRIVILEGES AS AN ENTRANT WILL IMMEDIATELY BE TERMINATED. CAUTION: ANY ATTEMPT BY AN ENTRANT OR ANY OTHER INDIVIDUAL TO DELIBERATELY DAMAGE ANY WEBSITE OR UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THE Contest MAY BE A VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS. SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, THE SPONSOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO SEEK DAMAGES FROM ANY SUCH PERSON TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW.

13. SPONSOR NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ERRORS. This Contest utilizes and relies upon various communication technologies, the proper functioning of which is entirely beyond the control of Sponsor. This Contest also utilizes and relies upon the services of various companies, including but not limited to Internet service providers, electrical utilities, and wireless telephone service providers, the performance of which is entirely beyond Sponsor's control. Sponsor is not responsible or liable in any way for the consequences of incorrect, inaccurate, interrupted, defective, or untimely transmission or transcription of entry information, or for any human error, technical malfunctions, lost data, transmission line failure, wireless service gaps, power outages and spikes, computer hardware and software errors and malfunctions, computer viruses and glitches, Internet or wireless service inaccessibility, or any other technical, electronic, transmission, computer error or malfunction or similar error or malfunction. Should any communication by Sponsor impose a substantively unreasonable burden on Sponsor or yield an unanticipated windfall for one or more Entrants that presumptively was not intended by Sponsor, such communication is deemed to have been null and void and of no effect.

14. DISPUTES: Except where prohibited, entrant agrees that any and all disputes, claims and causes of action arising out of, or connected with, the Contest or any prize awarded shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action, and exclusively by the appropriate court located in the State of California. All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Official Rules, entrant's rights and obligations, or the rights and obligations of the Sponsors in connection with the Contest, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of California, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules (whether of the State of California or any other jurisdiction), which would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of California. To the extent permitted by applicable law, all judgments or awards shall be limited to actual out-of-pocket damages (excluding attorneys' fees) associated with participation in this Contest and shall not include any indirect, punitive, incidental and/or consequential damages and in any event, no party may be awarded punitive damages more than three (3) times the amount of proven compensatory damages, no matter how large or small such compensatory damages may be.

15. PRIVACY. By entering the Contest, each Entrant agrees to the Sponsor's use of his or her personal information, as described in Sponsor's Privacy Policy, presently located at http://www.boingboing.net/policies.html#Privacy

16. WINNER LIST. Winners names will be published at the website. For a list containing the names of the winners, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope, within six (6) months of end of the Contest Period, to: Winner List, "Boing Boing Compeitions", c/o Happy Mutants, LLC, 60 29th Street #662, San Francisco, CA 94110, Attn: David Pescovitz.

17. SPONSORSHIP. This Contest is sponsored by Happy Mutants, LLC, 60 29th Street #662, San Francisco, CA 94110.

10 Comments Add a comment

#1 6:56 PM, Aug 30 Reply
GoingBoing

I hope this is the right place to enter the contest!

#2 8:52 AM, Aug 31 Reply
GoingBoing

I hope this is the right place to enter the contest!

#3 10:19 AM, Aug 31 Reply
Jim Woodring

Hi There-

I can't find an application form for this contest, either on the site of the contest rules page. Please advise!

Thanks,

Jim

#4 1:15 PM, Nov 8 Reply
feminismisfun

is "Sponsor" boingboing.net or HP?

#5 5:09 AM, Nov 9 Reply
Rob Beschizza

Boing Boing is the sponsor. HP is a prize provider.

#6 8:18 AM, Jun 13 Reply
Anon

*sigh* I already have an awesome Saddleback bag and I would love another one. But I live in Canada... so sad I can't enter.

#7 8:20 AM, Jun 13 Reply
Lazlo Panaflex

Ontario, Canada isn't a state yet, izzit?

dang...

#8 9:22 AM, Jun 13 Reply
princessalex in reply to Jim Woodring

Jim, you have to go to the entry for the contest, which will take you here: http://www.boingboing.net/2011/06/13/contest-design-a-min.html. Then, the instructions say to submit a link to your submission in the comments for that entry. That's how you enter it!

#9 11:32 AM, Jun 13 Reply
Josefrancisco

are they going to supply the content that we can play with? standardize that part, leaving room maybe for headlines etc? grain of salt, sadly no Canadians allowed... come on... how fair is that...

#10 1:03 PM, Jun 13 Reply
Anon

Well, after glancing over the Official Rules for this contest, I've gotta believe that you're going to receive a couple of inspired Official Rules concepts. "Popular Official Rules" rules!

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