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The purpose of the Wickedlocal.com Pet Idol Contest (the “Contest”) is to raise funds to support the Wickedlocal.com Newspapers in Education Program (“NIE”).
PHOTO SUBMISSION PERIOD
The photo submission period for the Contest begins at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time (“ET”) on September 12, 2011 and ends at 9:00 p.m. ET on October 8, 2011 (the “Submission Period”).
ELIGIBILITY
The Contest is open only to legal residents of the United States who reside in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and who are thirteen (13) years of age or older at the time of entry (the “Entrant” or “Entrants”). Entrants under the age of majority in Massachusetts must obtain the consent of a parent or legal guardian before participating in the Contest, and by participating represent that they have done so. Employees of Wickedlocal.com and GateHouse Media, Inc., George W. Prescott Publishing Company, LLC and GateHouse Media Massachusetts I, Inc. (collectively, “GateHouse Media”), and the businesses appearing on this page, and each of their respective divisions, affiliates, parent companies, subsidiaries, advertising and promotion agencies (including, in each case, immediate family members or those living in the same household) are not eligible to enter the Contest. In order to enter the Contest or win the prize, the Entrant (or parent/legal guardian if Entrant is deemed a minor in Massachusetts) must comply fully with these official rules (the “Rules”), and by entering agrees to be bound by these Rules and the decisions of GateHouse Media, whose decisions shall be binding and final in all respects.
The Contest is open only to amateur photographers (individuals who directly or indirectly receive no more than 5% or less of their personal annual gross income from selling their original photos).
HOW TO ENTER THE CONTEST AND SUBMIT A PHOTO
Entrants should go to www.newenglandnie.com (the “Website”), to access the contest link and then must enter the required information, upload a pet photo (the “Photo” or “Photos”) as instructed on the Website and click “submit” to be entered in the Contest (the “Entry” or “Entries”). Entries will not be accepted through e-mail or postal mail. There is a $5.00 non-refundable submission fee.
All Entries must be received by 9:00 p.m. ET on October 8, 2011 (the “Submission Deadline”).
CONTEST RULES
1.The object of the Contest is to showcase to the Website audience the unique qualities of the Entrant’s pet. The Contest is open to dogs, cats, and "other" animals (the “Pet” or “Pets”).
2.The Photo must be submitted by the photographer of the Pet.
3.Entrants are limited to one (1) Photo of one Pet during the Submission Period. Photos with more than one animal in them will not be accepted.
4.The Photo must have been originally taken on or after January 1, 2011 and must not have been published or be under consideration for publication or prizes elsewhere.
5.The Photo must be of a living Pet only. No human subjects should appear in the Photo. Photos that are submitted that have a person in them, will not be approved for the contest.
6.The Photo must be in natural color or black and white. Sepia tone and duotone Photos are not acceptable.
7.Photos that have been altered, manipulated or enhanced using computer software programs will not be accepted. Minor adjustments to the Photo such as lightening or darkening areas of the Photo, slight contrast or color adjustments and cropping are acceptable. If Wickedlocal.com determines a Photo has been altered, manipulated or enhanced, the judges reserve the right to disqualify the Photo.
8.By entering the Contest, Entrant (or parent/legal guardian if Entrant is deemed a minor in Massachusetts) represents, acknowledges and warrants that the submitted Photo is an original work created solely by the Entrant, that the Photo does not infringe on the copyrights, trademarks, moral rights, rights of privacy/publicity or intellectual property rights of any person or entity, and that no other party has any right, title, claim or interest in the Photo.
9.The Photo must not, in the sole and unfettered discretion of Wickedlocal.com contain obscene, provocative, defamatory, sexually explicit, or otherwise objectionable or inappropriate content. Any Photo that shows an animal being stressed, inappropriately handled or treated or in danger will be disqualified from the Contest. Wickedlocal.com and GateHouse Media retains sole discretion as to what constitutes inappropriate content.
10.If the Photo contains any material or elements that are not owned by the Entrant and/or which are subject to the rights of third parties, the Entrant (or parent/legal guardian if Entrant is deemed a minor in Massachusetts) is responsible for obtaining, prior to submission of the Photo, any and all releases and consents necessary to permit the exhibition and use of the Photo in the manner set forth in these Rules without additional compensation.
11.All Photos become the property of Wickedlocal.com and GateHouse Media and will not be returned to the Entrant.
CATEGORIES
All Photos submitted in the Contest by the Submission Deadline will be placed in one of the following Pet categories (the “Category” or “Categories”) by GateHouse Media:
Category 1-Dogs
Category 2-Cats
Category 3-Other
VOTING
Members of the general public will be invited to view Photos of the Pets on the Website and vote for their favorite Pet (the “Vote” or “Votes”) in each Category by going to the Website and following the instructions. The use of any automated system to submit Votes is prohibited.
Voting Fee
A non-refundable fee of $.25 (credit or debit card) per Vote will be assessed (the “Fee”). A minimum is set of 20 for Votes in each Category per e-mail address will be accepted. If the required Fee is not submitted with the Vote, the Vote will not be entered in the Contest.
Voting Period 1
Voting on the Photos will begin at 9:00 a.m. ET on October 9, 2011 and end at 9:00 p.m. ET on October 15, 2011 (“Voting Period 1”). The ten (10) Photos in each Category to receive the most Votes during Voting Period 1 will be declared the winners of Voting Period 1 in that Category (the “Round 1 Category Winners”). In the event of a tie in any Category, a random drawing will be conducted at the offices of the Publication to determine the Round 1 Category Winners. ROUND ONE VOTES DO NOT CARRY OVER TO ROUND TWO.
Voting Period 2
All Round 1 Category Winners will be featured on the Website beginning at 9:00 a.m. ET on October16, 2011. Members of the public will be invited to view the Round 1 Category Winners on the Website and vote for their favorite Pet in each Category by going to the Website and following the instructions. Voting on the Round 1 Category Winners will begin at 9:00 a.m. ET on October 16, 2011 and end at 9:00 p.m. ET on October 23, 2011 (“Voting Period 2”). The Round 1 Category Winner to receive the most Votes during Voting Period 2 will be declared the winner of Voting Period 2 in that Category (the “Round 2 Category Winner” or “Round 2 Category Winners”). In the event of a tie, a random drawing will be conducted at the offices of the Publication to determine the Round 2 Category Winners. One (1) Round 2 Category Winner will be named in each Category.
PRIZES
A prize will be awarded in the Contest to those Entrants submitting winning Round 2 Category Photos or the grand prize winning Photo as follows (the “Winner” or “Winners”):
Round 2 Winners
Three (3) Round 2 Category Winners will be awarded prizes. Each Entrant who submitted a Photo that was a Round 2 Category Winner will be awarded a $300.00 cash prize.
Grand Prize Winner
One (1) grand prize winner will be awarded a prize. The Round 2 Category Winner with the highest number of Votes across all Categories in Voting Period 2 will be declared the grand prize winner of the Contest (the “Pet Idol Winner”). The Entrant who submitted the Photo of the Pet Idol Winner will be awarded a $1000.00 cash prize. In addition, the Photo of the Pet Idol Winner will be featured on the NIE website www.newenglandnie.com for the 2011-2012 school year.
Odds of winning depend on the number of eligible Votes received.
The Winners will be notified by email, phone or overnight mail in accordance with the contact information provided on the Entry Form. The Winners (or parent/legal guardian if Winner is deemed a minor in Massachusetts) must sign an Affidavit of Eligibility, Liability and Publicity Release in order to be eligible to accept the prize. This includes pertinent identification information. The Entrant is required to have the form Notarized and return the form in order to receive the prize money. No substitution or transfer of the prizes will be allowed, except at the sole discretion of Wickedlocal.com/GateHouse Media. Wickedlocal.com/GateHouse Media reserves the right to substitute prizes of equal or greater value. All local, state and federal taxes incurred by accepting a prize will be the sole responsibility of the prize winners. Prizes have no cash value and no compensation will be given for lost or expired certificates. The gift certificate must be surrendered upon redemption and no photocopies will be honored. Fulfillment of the gift certificate is the sole responsibility of the merchant, not GateHouse Media.
Decisions of GateHouse Media regarding the Contest are final.
INTERNET
It is the Entrant’s (or parent/legal guardian if Entrant is deemed a minor in Massachusetts) responsibility to enter in the appropriate manner. Each Entrant (or parent/legal guardian if Entrant is deemed a minor in Massachusetts) is responsible for all costs or charges involved in accessing the www.newenglandnie.com and the Pet Idol website and warrants that the cost of accessing the site, if any, is part of a larger agreement with an Internet Service Provider or some other means, and that the cost of this access is not an incremental cost. If for any reason the internet portion of the program is not capable of running as planned, including infection by computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures, or any other causes beyond the control of GateHouse Media which corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity, or proper conduct of this Contest, GateHouse Media reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to disqualify any individual who tampers with the entry process, and to cancel, terminate, modify, or suspend the Contest. Should the online portion of the Contest be terminated prior to November 12, 2010, finalists will be drawn in each Category at days-end from eligible entries received online up to the time of cancellation. GateHouse Media assumes no responsibility for any error, omission, interruption, deletion, defect, delay in operation or transmission, communication line failure, theft, or destruction or unauthorized access to, or alteration of entries. GateHouse Media is not responsible for lost, misdirected, illegible, damaged or undelivered entries. GateHouse Media is not responsible for any problems or technical malfunctions of any telephone network or lines, computer online systems, services or providers, computer equipment, software, failure of any email or entry to be received due to technical problems or traffic congestion on the internet or at any web site, or any combination thereof, including any injury or damage to participant's or any other person's computer related to or resulting from participation or downloading of any material in this Contest. CAUTION: Any attempt by an Entrant to deliberately damage any web site or undermine the legitimate operation of the Contest is a violation of criminal and civil laws and should such an attempt be made, GateHouse Media reserves the right to seek damages from any such person to the fullest extent permitted by law. In the event of a dispute, entries made by Internet will be declared made by the authorized account holder of the e-mail address submitted at 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 institution, etc.) that is responsible for assigning e-mail addresses for the domain associated with the submitted e-mail address. Automated entries are prohibited, and any use of such devices will cause disqualification. Collection and use of personally identifiable information will be in accordance with the www.newenglandnie.com Privacy Policy as posted on www.newenglandnie.com.
CONDITIONS
By entering, Entrants (or parent/legal guardian if Entrant is deemed a minor in Massachusetts) agree to comply with these Official Rules and the decisions of GateHouse Media, which are binding and final, and release GateHouse Media, and each of its divisions, affiliates, parent companies, subsidiaries, advertising and promotion agencies and anyone associated with the production of this Contest, and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents from any and all liability for any claims, injuries, losses or damages (including attorneys fees) of any kind arising out of their participation in this Contest or resulting from acceptance, possession, use or misuse of any prize. The potential prize winners (or parent/legal guardian if Winner is deemed a minor in Massachusetts) waive the right to assert as a cost of winning the prize any and all costs of verification and redemption or travel to redeem said prize and waives any liability or claims (including attorneys fees) which might arise from redeeming or seeking to redeem said prize. In the event of non-compliance with these Official Rules, or if prize notification is returned to GateHouse Media as undeliverable, if prize is refused or cannot be accepted for any reason, the prize will be forfeited and an alternate winner will be selected in a random drawing. Upon forfeiture, no compensation will be given. Acceptance of prize (from parent/legal guardian if Winner is deemed a minor in Massachusetts) constitutes permission to use the winner's name, photograph, likeness, Contest submissions and/or statements attributed to winners regarding the Contest, for advertising and publicity purposes without further compensation or consent. All entries become the property of GateHouse Media. This Contest shall only be construed and evaluated according to the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, without regard to the principles of conflicts of laws and submission of any entry constitutes acceptance of such laws. This Contest is void where prohibited. All federal, state and local laws and regulations apply.
This Contest is not intended for gambling. If it is determined that an Entrant is using the Contest for gambling purposes, he/she will be disqualified and reported to authorities.
GateHouse Media and its affiliates reserve the right to use any and all information related to the Contest, including information on Entrants obtained through the Contest, for marketing purposes or any other purpose, unless prohibited by law.
GateHouse Media and their affiliates reserve the right to change the rules of the Contest at any time.
WINNERS LIST
To obtain the names of the winners, mail a stamped, self-addressed legal size envelope (to arrive by December 1, 2011) to:
Sharon M. Tango
33 New York Ave.
Framingham, MA 01701
Attn: Pet Idol Contest
SPONSORS
George W. Prescott Publishing Company, LLC, 350 WillowBrook Office Park, Fairport, New York 14450
GateHouse Media Massachusetts I, Inc., 350 WillowBrook Office Park, Fairport, New York 14450.
No purchase necessary. One valid entry per contestant.
You must be 13 years of age or older at time of entry to be eligible for this contest. This contest is void where prohibited by law.
Winners will be notified by email. If a winner is unreachable after seven (7) days, or if that winner is unavailable for prize fulfillment, an alternate winner will be selected. If Wicked Local cannot find an eligible winner for the prize, that prize will not be awarded.
Odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received.
Automated voting of any kind is not allowed.
Detection of said automated voting will lead to votes being voided.
Only one registered account per voter. If multiple accounts are detected for a single voter, they will be disabled and votes disqualified.
Wicked Local reserves the right to substitute any prize with another prize of equal or greater value.
Wicked Local reserves the right to restrict the local winners to only persons whose primary residence is within a 60 mile radius of the affiliate's' office.
Employees of Wicked Local, its respective parent, affiliates, subsidiaries, advertising sponsors and promotional agencies, and the immediate family members of each are not eligible.
Contest entrants agree to abide by the terms of these Official Rules and by the decisions of the contest commissioners, which are final on all matters pertaining to the contest.
Entrants further grant to Wicked Local the right to use and publish their proper name and state online and in print, or any other media, in connection with the Contest.
Wicked Local reserves the right to use any and all information related to the Contest, including information on contestants obtained through the contest, for marketing purposes or any other purpose, unless prohibited by law.
The Contest and all of the related pages, contents and code are copyright, UPICKEM, and/or Wicked Local. Copying or unauthorized use of any copyrighted materials, trademarks or any other intellectual property without the express written consent of its owner is strictly prohibited.
Each winner, by acceptance of the prize, agrees to release all Sponsors, and their parent and subsidiary companies, their officers, directors, employees, agents, shareholders, affiliates, suppliers, distributors, and advertising agencies from all liability, claims, or actions of any kind whatsoever for injuries, damages, or losses to persons and property which may be sustained in connection with the receipt, ownership, or use of the prize.
UPICKEM and Wicked Local are not responsible for Internet crashes or slowdowns caused by network congestion, viruses, sabotage, satellite failures, phone line failures, electrical outages, natural disasters or acts of man or God.
All results posted are unofficial until winners respond to e-mail notification.
Each winner is responsible for all federal, state and local taxes and will be required to complete an IRS form W-9. Sponsor reserves the right to withhold prizes until completed form W-9 is received.
This contest is not intended for gambling. If it is determined that a contestant is using the contest for gambling purposes they will be disqualified and reported to authorities.
Wicked Local reserves the right to change the rules at any time.
This contest is officially sponsored by Wicked Local.
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