HOT DOGS, COOL CATS PHOTO CONTEST

OFFICIAL RULES

1. NO PURCHASE IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN.

2. The Hot Dogs, Cool Cats Photo Contest (the “Contest”) is sponsored by Media General Operations, Inc. d/b/a WSLS-TV (“WSLS”), Nature’s Emporium and Roanoke Valley Mobile Vet (collectively “Contest Entities”).  The geographic scope of this Contest is the following Virginia counties: Roanoke, Grayson, Wythe, Bland, Carroll, Floyd, Pulaski, Giles, Montgomery, Craig, Franklin, Botetourt, Bedford, Amherst, Campbell, Appomattox, Henry, Pittsylvania, Halifax, Charlotte, Nelson, Rockbridge, Alleghany, Bath, Highland and Pocahontas County, West Virginia.  Contest is subject to all federal, state and local laws.  Void where prohibited by law.  By entering, entrants agree to these Official Rules.

3. Contest begins on April 18, 2013 and ends on May 31, 2013 (“Promotion Period”).  Entry deadline is May 12, 2013 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (“ET”). WSLS’ computer is the official time-keeping device for this Contest.  Potential winner will be announced on or about June 3, 2013.

ELIGIBILITY

4. As of the date of entry, you must be eighteen (18) years old or older and a resident of any of the following Virginia counties: Roanoke, Grayson, Wythe, Bland, Carroll, Floyd, Pulaski, Giles, Montgomery, Craig, Franklin, Botetourt, Bedford, Amherst, Campbell, Appomattox, Henry, Pittsylvania, Halifax, Charlotte, Nelson, Rockbridge, Alleghany, Bath, Highland or of Pocahontas County, West Virginia.

5. Employees of Contest Entities and the members of their immediate family (defined as spouse, parents, siblings or children) and households (whether or not related) are not eligible to enter or win.

PRIZE / PRIZE RESTRICTIONS

6. Prize (1): $100 Gift Certificate redeemable at Nature’s Emporium, 3912 Brambleton Ave., Roanoke, VA 24018 (valid at Roanoke location only) and a $200 Gift Certificate a redeemable towards pet supplements sold by the Roanoke Valley Mobile Vet.  Approximate Retail Value: $300.00.  Gift certificates are subject to any additional terms or restrictions imposed by their respective issuers.  

7. All prize details shall be at WSLS’ sole discretion.  Winner assumes sole responsibility for all costs associated with the prize not explicitly outlined above, including without limitation, all federal, state and local taxes (if any), fees, and surcharges on a prize.  Prize is not redeemable for cash and may not be sold, bartered or auctioned.  Prize may not be transferred or substituted except that WSLS in its discretion may substitute a prize, or portion thereof, with a prize or portion of equal or greater value if it deems necessary.  Any such changes will be announced. 

8. Any portion of any prize not used by winner is forfeit and no cash substitute will be offered or permitted.  Prize offered is provided “as is” with no warranty or guarantee either express or implied by Contest Entities.  Any merchandise prize carries no warranty other than that offered by manufacturers.  Contest Entities have neither made nor are responsible or liable for any warranty, representation, or guarantee, express or implied, in fact or in law, relative to any prize, including but not limited to its quality, mechanical condition or fitness for a particular purpose.  Other restrictions apply.

ENTRY PERIOD (4/18/13 – 5/12/13)

9. Entries will be accepted beginning April 18, 2013 at 12:01 a.m. ET and ending May 12, 2013 at 11:59 p.m. ET (“Entry Period”).  To enter, visit www.wsls.com/contests (“Contest Site”) and follow the instructions to complete an Official Entry Form and upload your “Cutest Pet Photo” (together an “Entry”).   The Contest Site is powered by UPICKEM software and you will be required to register a free user account with Upickem.net, and to agree to its Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, in order to enter or vote in the Contest.   

10. Each Photo must satisfy all of the applicable “Submission Requirements” below. An Entry is only complete when the confirmation box alerts you that your Photo has been successfully uploaded.  This is the only method of entering this Contest and entries will not be accepted via e-mail, regular mail or any other method.

11. There is no limit on the number of Photos you may submit.  However, any use of robotic, repetitive, automatic, programmed, script, macro, or any other automated means or similar entry methods or agents (including, but not limited to, contest-entry services) are prohibited and will void all Entries submitted by that entrant.

12. Entries must be received by WSLS no later than May 12, 2013 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Proof of sending is not proof of receipt by WSLS.  WSLS will not accept screen shots as proof of entry.  Contest Entities are not responsible for, and entrants assume all risk of, Entries that are lost, misdirected, mutilated, garbled, distorted, truncated, incomplete, illegible, or containing errors or if for any reason they are not received by WSLS prior to the stated deadline, and all such Entries are void.  Entrants who fail to provide any of the information required above will not be eligible to win and may not be notified by WSLS. 

13. Each Entry must include a valid e-mail address; enter using only an e-mail address registered in your name.  In the event of a dispute as to the identity or eligibility of a winner based on an e-mail address, the winning Entry will be declared made by the Authorized Registered User of the e-mail address submitted at time of entry. “Authorized Registered User” is defined as the natural person eighteen (18) years of age or older 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.

14. The information that you provide to WSLS in connection with the Contest may be used by WSLS in accordance with its Privacy Policy, which is found at www.wsls.com and which may be updated from time to time.

Submission Requirements

15. All Photos submitted during the Contest must satisfy the following Submission Requirements:

1. The Photo must have been original to, i.e., taken by, the submitting Entrant.
2. Maximum total file size of each Photo is 60 MB.
3. No watermarks, signatures, or copyright notices may be added to any Photo.
4. Any individual whose face is shown in your Photo must have previously given you written permission for the use of his/her image and you must provide WSLS with a copy of such permission upon request. 
5. Photos must not depict any identifiable trademark, logo or trade name. 
6. Photos must not depict any obscene, provocative or otherwise inappropriate content, including but not limited to nudity. 

16. Any Photo that is determined by WSLS, in its sole discretion and at any time during the Promotion Period to violate the Submission Requirements or the Official Rules, or to otherwise be unsuitable, offensive, or in poor taste, may be rejected and the corresponding Entry disqualified, even if the Entry has already been submitted for Public Voting. WSLS’ decisions are final.

Warranty/Indemnification By Entrant

17. By entering a Photo, each entrant warrants that (a) the Photo is original to and was created solely by the entrant and has not been copied, in whole or in part, from a copyrighted or proprietary work belonging to someone else, (b) the Photo does not violate any copyright laws, and does not plagiarize, libel, slander, defame, disparage, or otherwise infringe on or violate the rights of any third parties, (c) any and all persons depicted in the Photo have provided the entrant with signed, written permission to take or create the Photo and to submit it in this Contest; (d) entrant is legally entitled to submit the Photo in the Contest; (e) the distribution, reproduction, display and any other uses of the Photo by WSLS as permitted herein will not infringe any third party rights, including those of any person who is depicted in, or whose property is depicted in, the Photo; and (f) the Photo and Entry comply with the Official Rules and the Terms of Use of the Contest Site.  Each entrant agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Contest Entities, their respective parent companies and subsidiaries, and their respective officers, directors, employees and affiliated organizations, from and against any and all claims, demands, damages, costs, liabilities and causes of action of whatsoever nature that are based upon or arise out of any breach by the entrant of these Official Rules or the warranties and/or representations made by entrant pursuant to these Official Rules.

18. By submitting a Photo, entrant grants to WSLS (and to those acting on WSLS’ behalf) a non-exclusive, perpetual, world-wide royalty-free license to display or otherwise use the Photo on the Contest Site and any related sites in connection with this Contest.

PUBLIC VOTING PERIOD (5/13/13- 5/31/13)

19. All Entries that are timely and properly submitted at the Contest Site during the Entry Period will be judged by visitors to the Contest Site during the Public Voting Period, beginning on May 13, 2013 at 12:01 a.m. ET and ending on May 31, 2013 at 11:59 p.m. ET. 

20. During the Public Voting Period, any Contest Site visitors (including entrants) (collectively “Voters”) may visit the Contest Site to view the Entries and to vote for their favorite Photos. Voting is limited to one (1) vote per person per day.  Any use of multiple Upickem accounts, or of robotic, repetitive, automatic, programmed, script, macro, or any other automated means or similar entry methods or agents to vote are prohibited and will void all votes submitted by that Voter.

21. At the conclusion of the Public Voting Period, the voting results will be tabulated.  Subject to verification of eligibility, the Photo that receives the highest number of votes will be declared the winner.  In the event of a tie, the Public Voting Period will be extended for successive twenty-four (24) hour periods in order to break the tie. WSLS’ decisions shall be considered final and binding in all results.

WINNER NOTIFICATION (6/3/13)

22. WSLS will contact potential winner in accordance with the information supplied at the time of entry.  Winner may be asked to execute an affidavit or declaration of eligibility, liability release and publicity release (where legal), and return these documents, along with valid identification (government-issued photo ID), to WSLS within ten (10) days of notification.  Upon verification of eligibility, the winner’s name may, in WSLS’ sole discretion, be posted at www.wsls.com.

23. In the event that any potential winner (a) cannot be contacted directly by WSLS within forty-eight (48) hours from initial attempted notification, (b) fails to satisfy any eligibility or verification requirement herein, (c) declines to accept the prize, (d) or is otherwise determined to be ineligible, WSLS in its discretion may disqualify that individual and an alternate winner will be determined in accordance with the previously described selection process as soon as reasonably practicable after initial winner is determined to be ineligible.  Any alternate winners are subject to all eligibility requirements and restrictions of these Official Rules.

PUBLICITY RELEASE

24. By accepting a prize, winner agrees to award WSLS the right to publicize his/her name, photograph (including the use and appearance of winner's photograph on WSLS’ web page), likeness, biographical information, e-mail address, voice and details of winning for purposes of this and future promotions without further compensation, except where prohibited.

LIMITATION OF LIABILITY/DISCLAIMER OF LIABILITY

25. Entrants agree that Contest Entities and a range of subsidiaries, directors, agents, agencies, affiliates, franchisees, promoters, officers, directors, employees and related persons (a) are not responsible for technical failures of any kind, including but not limited to lost, disconnected, interrupted, or unavailable network, server, or other connections, late, lost, undeliverable, damaged or stolen mail, or for any failed telephone or computer hardware or software, or for any failed, delayed, misdirected, corrupted, or garbled transmissions or errors of any kind, whether human, mechanical, or electronic, or for Entries or votes that for any reason are not received by WSLS by the deadlines stated above; (b) are not responsible for any incorrect or inaccurate information, whether caused by entrants, Voters, printing, typographical or other errors or by any of the equipment or programming associated with or utilized in in aspect of the Contest; (c) are not responsible for any injury or damage to any computer, modem or other electrical device as a result of participation in this Contest or in the Public Voting, or downloading of any software or materials; (d) are not responsible for unauthorized human intervention in any part of the Contest, including without limitation, the entry process or in the Public Voting process; (e) are not responsible for any printing, typographical, technical, computer, network or human error that may occur in the administration of the Contest, the uploading of Entries or votes or the tabulation of votes, the announcement of the winner or prize, or otherwise in any Contest-related materials; (f) are not responsible for any unauthorized third party use of any Entry (including any Photo); (g) are not responsible for the inability to select a winner because of postal failure, equipment failure, or data storage failure; and (h) are released from any and all alleged, existing, or future actions, claims, and/or liabilities of whatever nature including, but not limited to, personal injury, bodily injury (including, without limitation, wrongful death and disability), property damage, and expense (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees) and loss or damage of any other kind, arising in whole or in part directly or indirectly, from participating and/or voting in the Contest (in whole or in part), the use (including modification, adaptation, and reproduction) of entry materials (including Photos) during or after the Contest, and the delivery, acceptance, possession, use, misuse, loss, or misdirection of any prize. 

26. CONTEST ENTITIES AND THEIR SUBSIDIARIES, AFFILIATES, AGENTS, DISTRIBUTORS, RETAILERS, AND ALL OF THEIR RESPECTIVE ADVERTISING AND PROMOTIONAL AGENCIES, REPRESENTATIVES, EMPLOYEES, CONTRACTORS, OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, AND AGENTS (COLLECTIVELY, THE "RELEASED PARTIES") EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM ANY AND ALL WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND (WHETHER EXPRESS, IMPLIED, STATUTORY OR OTHERWISE), INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT. RELEASED PARTIES SHALL NOT BE LIABLE OR RESPONSIBLE FOR THOSE GUARANTEES OR WARRANTIES MADE OR OFFERED BY ADVERTISERS, PARTNERS, MANUFACTURERS OR SUPPLIERS, INCLUDING THOSE RELATED TO THE PRIZE. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHALL RELEASED PARTIES BE HELD RESPONSIBLE OR LIABLE FOR YOUR USE OF THE INFORMATION AND/OR PRODUCTS PROVIDED AND/OR MADE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE CONTEST OR FOR ERRORS OR ANOMALIES RESULTING IN THE UNINTENDED OR ERRONEOUS PARTICIPATION, AWARD OF PRIZE OR OTHER BENEFITS UNDER THESE OFFICIAL RULES. RELEASED PARTIES OFFER NO ASSURANCES, GUARANTEES OR WARRANTIES THAT THE CONTEST OR RELATED WEBSITES WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED OR ERROR-FREE AND DO NOT GUARANTEE THE ACCURACY OR RELIABILITY OF ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED THROUGH THE CONTEST. RELEASED PARTIES WILL NOT BE LIABLE, AND ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE, FOR DAMAGES OF ANY KIND RELATED TO YOUR PARTICIPATION IN OR INABILITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CONTEST, WHETHER THE DAMAGES ARE DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL.

27. BY ENTERING THE CONTEST AND/OR ACCEPTING A PRIZE, YOU AGREE THAT THE RELEASED PARTIES SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR, AND WILL BE HELD HARMLESS BY YOU AGAINST, ANY LIABILITY FOR ANY DAMAGE, INJURY OR LOSS TO PERSON (INCLUDING DEATH) OR PROPERTY RELATED IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, TO ACCEPTANCE, POSSESSION, USE OR MISUSE OF PRIZE, PARTICIPATION IN ANY PRIZE-RELATED ACTIVITY, USE BY A RELEASED PARTY OF ANY ENTRY, PARTICIPATION IN THE CONTEST, OR ANY OTHER CLAIM OR CAUSE OF ACTION YOU MAY HAVE AGAINST A RELEASED PARTY.

28. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE LIMITATION OR EXCLUSION OF LIABILITY FOR INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, SO THE ABOVE LIMITATIONS OR EXCLUSIONS MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU IN WHOLE OR IN PART.

MISCELLANEOUS

29. All federal, state and local laws apply.  WSLS shall be entitled to interpret these Official Rules as needed — including but not limited to any rules regarding Entries, votes, winner selection, deadlines, prize restrictions, eligibility, etc. — and all of its decisions are final and binding in all respects.  By entering or voting, you agree to these Official Rules. 

30. WSLS reserves the right to cancel, terminate or suspend this Contest or any part of this Contest should any non-authorized intervention, network failure, information storage failure, telecommunications failure, malfunction, or other causes, corrupt or impair the security, administration, fairness and/or operation of this Contest as determined by WSLS in its sole discretion, at which time, WSLS will determine the winner from among all non-suspect eligible Entries received at the time of the Contest termination in accordance with previously described selection process if possible or in such other method as is fair under the circumstances.

31. WSLS reserves the right to prohibit any entrant or Voter from participating in the Contest or the Public Voting if, at WSLS’ sole discretion, WSLS finds such entrant or Voter to be colluding to unfairly affect the outcome of the Contest, or to be tampering with the entry process, the Public Voting process or the operation of the Contest in any other way, or if such entrant or Voter repeatedly shows a disregard for, or attempts to circumvent, these Official Rules, or acts: (a) in a manner WSLS determines to be not fair or equitable; (b) with an intent to annoy, threaten or harass any other entrant, Voter or any of the Contest Entities; or (c) in any other disruptive manner.  Any person attempting to defraud or tamper with any part of this Contest in any way will be ineligible to win and may be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.  Any failure by WSLS to enforce any of these Official Rules shall not constitute a waiver of such Official Rules. CAUTION: ANY ATTEMPT BY ANY INDIVIDUAL TO DELIBERATELY UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THE CONTEST MAY BE A VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND/OR CIVIL LAWS AND SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, WSLS RESERVES THE RIGHT TO SEEK DAMAGES FROM ANY SUCH INDIVIDUAL TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW.

32. All activity arising out of and relating to the Contest is subject to verification and/or auditing for compliance with the Official Rules and you agree to cooperate with WSLS concerning verification and/or auditing. All references to an entrant's status as a "winner" are subject to verification and/or auditing by WSLS. If verification activity or an audit evidences non-compliance of an Entry or entrant with the Official Rules, or any suspicious or irregular activity during the Public Voting, as determined by WSLS in its sole discretion, WSLS reserves the right to take such action as it deems fair under the circumstances, including without limitation, disqualifying the entrant and remove the corresponding Entry from the Contest at any time or disqualifying suspect voting activity.

33. WSLS reserves the right to correct typographical, printing or clerical errors in any Contest-related materials.  No more than the stated number of prizes will be awarded. In the event that production, technical, seeding, programming or any other reasons cause more than the stated number of prizes as set forth in these Official Rules to be available and/or claimed, WSLS reserves the right to award only the stated number of prize by selecting the winner from all legitimate, un-awarded, eligible prize claims in accordance with the previously announced selection process. 

DISPUTES

34. By entering the Contest and/or participating in the Public Voting, entrants and Voters agree that (a) any and all disputes, claims, and causes of action arising out of or connected with the Contest, the Public Voting, or any prize awarded, shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action; (b) any and all claims, judgments and awards shall be limited to actual out-of-pocket costs incurred, including costs associated with entering and/or participating in the Contest or Public Voting but in no event attorneys' fees; and (c) under no circumstances will any entrant or Voter be permitted to obtain any award for, and each entrant and Voter hereby waives all rights to claim punitive, incidental or consequential damages and any and all rights to have damages multiplied or otherwise increased and any other damages, other than for actual out-of-pocket expenses, and any and all rights to have damages multiplied or otherwise increased.  Some jurisdictions do not allow for limitations on the ability to pursue class action remedies, or certain kinds of damages, and so these limitations may not apply to you.

35. By entering the Contest and/or participating in the Public Voting, entrants and Voters agree that all issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Official Rules, or the rights and obligations of the entrants, Voters and Contest Entities in connection with the Contest, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules or provisions that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the Commonwealth of Virginia.  Any legal proceedings arising out of this Contest or relating to these Official Rules shall be instituted only in the federal or state courts located in the Independent City of Roanoke, Commonwealth of Virginia, and the parties consent to jurisdiction therein with respect to any legal proceedings or disputes of whatever nature arising under or relating to these Official Rules. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of these Official Rules shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision. In the event that any provision is determined to be invalid or otherwise unenforceable or illegal, these Official Rules shall otherwise remain in effect and be construed in accordance with their terms as if the invalid or illegal provision were not contained herein.

WINNER’S LIST/OFFICIAL RULES COPY

36. For a copy of the Official Rules or the final Winner’s Name, visit www.wsls.com/contests or mail a self-addressed stamped envelope to: “Hot Dogs, Cool Cats Photo Contest” c/o Media General Operations, Inc. d/b/a WSLS-TV, 401 3rd Street SW Roanoke, VA 24011, specifying either “Winner’s List Request” or “Official Rules Request.”  Winner’s name will be available after July 3, 2013.

TRADEMARKS

37. Any third party trademarks mentioned herein are the property of their respective trademark owners. The use or mention of such third party trademarks in these Official Rules or in the Contest is solely for descriptive purposes and shall in no way imply an endorsement or sponsorship of the Contest.