These rules are for the Tampa Bay Times Newspaper in Education Program’s Tampa Bay’s Cutest Pet Photo Contest 2012 promotion. This Promotion is open to entries from November 1, 2012 at 8:00 AM ET, through 11:59 PM ET November 13, 2012.  All entries must be received by 11:59 AM ET November 13, 2012.  The sponsor of this Promotion is the Times Publishing Company.  Entry into this Promotion constitutes the Entrant’s full and unconditional agreement to and acceptance of these rules, terms and conditions.

ELIGIBILITY:  NO PURCHASE IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN.  Purchase will not improve chances of winning.  The Promotion is open to legal residents of the United States and Florida who, with the pet whose photo is entered, reside in one of the following Florida counties: Citrus, Hillsborough, Hernando, Pasco, Pinellas, and Manatee. Eligible Entrants will have reached their 18th birthdays on or before November 1, 2012. Employees of the Times Publishing Company, its affiliates and subsidiaries, advertising and promotion agencies, contest prize suppliers, and participating advertisers and their immediate family members are not eligible to win. Contractors of or for such entities or persons, and their immediate family members, are also ineligible to win. “Immediate family members” means parents, siblings, spouses, children, grandparents and grandchildren, whether by current or past marriage, remarriage, adoption or cohabitation, and anyone living in the same household, whether related or not. Times Publishing Company’s determination as to eligibility is final and binding.

HOW TO ENTER: Entries may be made by following the Tampa Bay’s Cutest Pet Photo Contest link at tampabay.com/nie. No other method of entry will be accepted. All information provided at the time of entry must be accurate and all required data fields in the entry form must be complete, including a valid email address of which the Entrant is the authorized account holder at the time of entry. “Authorized Account Holder” means the person to whom the email address is assigned by an Internet access or online service provider, or other organization (such as a business or educational institution) that is responsible for assigning email addresses for the domain name associated with the email address submitted.  Only one entry per pet is allowed.  Only one pet per photograph is allowed.

To enter, the Entrant must submit an original photograph of his or her pet taken within the previous 12 months.  Each Entrant must enter personally and must have full authority to provide the photograph. Any entry submitted by or on behalf of another person will be disqualified. Any photograph considered indecent by the Sponsor will be disqualified.

Incomplete entries are void and ineligible to compete or win. The odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received and the number of votes received. The Times Publishing Company is not responsible for lost, late, incomplete, misdirected, garbled, jumbled, damaged or illegible entries or votes, for any computer, electronic, telephone, cable, or network hardware or software malfunction or failures of any kind, for any other problems or errors in modes of transmission, or for any other human or technical error.

By entering the contest, Entrant gives Sponsor permission to use his or her contact information to contact him or her concerning this Promotion, or concerning other goods or services offered by Sponsor.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR ENTRY:  The entry must be the original work of the Entrant.  Entries must comply with all applicable law governing intellectual property, including all laws governing copyright.  Entry into the contest constitutes the Entrant’s warranty that the entry is free of content infringing any rights of third parties. Depictions of violence, graphic sexual content, and material derogatory to any individual or group based on race, gender, nationality, age, disability, religion or any other similar characteristic will result in disqualification of that entry by the judges. Entries must not have been previously published. 

GRANT OF RIGHTS UPON ENTRY:  Submission of an entry constitutes the Entrant’s grant to the Times Publishing Company of a full, unconditional, royalty-free worldwide license to publish the entry in print, electronic or other media, including online, and in any other form of media now existing or later invented, and to use the entry for promotional purposes without obligation to compensate the Entrant.

INDEMNIFICATION:  Submission of an entry constitutes the Entrant’s agreement to indemnify the Times Publishing Company, including its officers, directors, agents and employees, against any claim of copyright infringement and any other legal claim arising out of the publication of the entry.

HOW WINNERS WILL BE SELECTED:  The winning entries will be selected by means of a voting popularity contest.  Beginning on November 14, 2012, at 12:00 AM ET, and ending November 30, 2012 at 11:59 AM ET, votes will be accepted online by means of the link at tampabay.com/nie. Voting constitutes the voter’s full and unconditional agreement to and acceptance of these rules, terms and conditions and consent to contact by the Sponsor concerning this Promotion, or other goods or services the Sponsor offers.  Entrants are not eligible to vote.

To cast a vote, submit it online along with $1.00 in accordance with the instructions on the website. Each $1.00 will count as one vote.  Eligible voters may vote as many times as they like. However, the use of any scheme, program or device to automate voting is prohibited. Any attempt by any voter to tamper with or undermine the legitimate operation of the Promotion or tally of votes will, in the Sponsor’s sole discretion, result in the disqualification of the Entrant and any suspect votes. The Sponsor reserves the right to disqualify any Entrant or vote, or to modify, cancel, terminate or suspend voting or the Promotion if, in the Sponsor’s view, the Promotion becomes incapable of being operated fairly or securely. Decisions of the Sponsor are final and binding.

The Entries receiving the highest numbers of votes will be named winners. The Entrant of the pet photograph receiving the highest number of votes will be the Grand Prize Winner.  There will also be four (4) Top Runner-Up Winners.  In the event of a tie, the Sponsor will break the tie by means of a random drawing from among the tied entries.

The Times’ Newspaper in Education (NIE) program is a cooperative effort among local schools, the Tampa Bay Times, and sponsorships provided by community-minded companies, agencies, foundations and individuals, to provide newspapers, companion curriculum, instructional materials, and support to teachers, students and their families at no cost to them. Although each $1.00 given will go to support the NIE program, NIE is not a charity and your contribution is not tax deductible. For more information concerning the Times’ NIE program, and additional ways you can participate in supporting it (such as by donating your Times newspapers while you are out of town, or adopting a classroom) go to tampabay.com/nie.

Every online voter must be the authorized account holder of the email address submitted at the time of voting. “Authorized account holder” means the person to whom the email address is assigned by an Internet access or on-line service provider, or other organization (such as a business or educational institution) that is responsible for assigning email addresses for the domain name associated with the email address submitted.  Times Publishing Company’s determination as to voter eligibility is final and binding.

NOTIFICATION OF WINNERS:  A Times Publishing Company representative will notify winners on or before December 7, 2012, by phone or email by using the information on the entry.  If the company representative is unable to speak directly to a winner by 5 p.m. on business day following the date of contact first attempted, the winner will be disqualified and forfeit all rights to the prize, and an alternate winner will be chosen based on the vote tally and, if necessary because of a tied vote, by random drawing.  If the company representative is unable to speak directly to an alternate winner by 5 p.m. two business days following the date of contact first attempted, the alternate winner will be disqualified and forfeit all rights to the prize, and another winner will be chosen as described above.  If any  winner chosen and notified does not meet all eligibility requirements including signing the Affidavit and Release referred to below, an alternate winner will be selected as described above.

PRIZES: One Grand Prize Winner will receive $500 in cash and a prize pack valued at $300.  First Runner-Up Winner will receive a prize pack valued at $150.  Three (3) Runner-Up Winners will each receive a prize pack valued at $125. The total value of all prizes is less than $1,400.

No alternative prize, cash or other substitution is permitted except in the event of prize unavailability.  Sponsor reserves the right to substitute a prize or prizes of equal or greater value.  Prizes are not transferable or assignable by the Winners.

HOW TO CLAIM THE PRIZE: To claim prize, winner must appear in person at the Times Publishing Company Office during regular business hours and present valid, government-issued photo identification showing age and residency. Winners may be required to sign legal documents or provide additional proof of eligibility. Winners must complete an affidavit of eligibility, release of claims and consent to publicity (which releases sponsors, affiliates, and suppliers from any and all liability related to this promotion or use or acceptance of the prize), without making changes, and return the properly completed affidavit for receipt by Times Publishing Company within 5 days of the date the winner received prize notification. Failure of Times Publishing Company to receive a properly executed affidavit within 3 days of winner notification will result in disqualification and forfeiture of prize. Alternate winner is subject to all requirements and limitations in these Official Rules. By accepting a prize, a winner agrees to allow the use of his or her name, voice, photograph, likeness and any information provided on the entry form, along with the photograph entered, in any media now known or hereafter invented and for any purpose, including advertising, promotional or other purposes by Tampa Bay Times and its affiliates, without further compensation.

PRIZE RESTRICTIONS: Winner is responsible for any charges not specifically listed as part of the Prize, including but not limited to: transportation, parking, tax, gratuities, and incidentals.  Prize cannot be transferred or substituted, except that Times Publishing Company may substitute a Prize or Prizes of equal or greater value when necessary, as determined in its sole discretion. Winner should allow up to four days for delivery of the Prize.

All federal, state and location taxes fees and surcharges and any necessary or appropriate insurance are the responsibility of the Winner.  The Winner agrees to pay all such taxes, fees and surcharges as required by law. Winner must complete a W-9 tax form provided by the Times Publishing Company prior to taking possession of the Prize. Any transportation required for the Winner to take possession of the Prize is the Winner’s responsibility and will not be furnished by the Sponsor. 

AFFIDAVIT AND RELEASE: As noted above, Winners will be required to sign and return an Affidavit of Eligibility and General Release, which includes an affirmation of eligibility, a release and waiver of legal claims, and consent to publicity.  Winner agrees to hold harmless the Sponsor, their parent, related, affiliated and subsidiary companies and their respective officers, directors, employees, agents and assigns (collectively, the “Released Entities”) from any and all liability for damages or losses of any nature incurred in connection with the use or misuse of the Prize.  Failure to complete and sign the Affidavit of Eligibility and General Release will result in forfeiture of the Prize and its award to another Winner.

SPONSOR: The Sponsor of the Contest is Times Publishing Company, 490 First Avenue South, St. Petersburg FL 33701.

WINNERS’ LIST: For a list of Prize Winners send a self-addressed stamped envelope before March 1, 2013 to: Tampa Bay’s Cutest Pet Photo Contest, Times Publishing Company- Newspaper In Education, 490 First Ave. South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701.

ADDITIONAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS: All federal, state, and local laws and regulations apply.  Void where prohibited by law. Promotion rules shall be governed and enforced pursuant to Florida law, excluding choice of law provisions. By entering the Contest, the entrant, for him/herself and for his/her heirs, executors, administrators, assigns and anyone else claiming by or through him/her, waives, covenants not to sue and fully releases and forever discharges any and all rights, claims or causes of action whatsoever that he/she may have against any of the Released Entities arising directly or indirectly out of entrant’s participation in the Contest.  This waiver and release covers, without limitation, any damage, liability, cost, attorneys’ fees and expenses whatsoever, whether known or unknown and whether foreseeable or not. Sponsor reserves the right to make changes in the rules of the Contest, including the substitution of a Prize of equivalent value, which will become effective upon announcement. None of the Released Entities are responsible for typographical or other errors in printing, the offering, or the administration of the Contest or in the announcement of the Prize. 

Sponsor is entitled to interpret these rules as needed and such decisions are final. Sponsor reserves the right to correct typographical, clerical or printing errors in any promotion materials. For a copy of the Official Rules, send a self-addressed, postage pre-paid envelope to Official Rules Request, Tampa Bay’s Cutest Pet Photo Contest, Times Publishing Company, 490 First Ave. South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701.

Copyright 2012 Times Publishing Company.  All Rights Reserved