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Lanie’s Backyard Photo Contest (“Sweepstakes”)

Official Rules

THIS SWEEPSTAKES IS INTENDED FOR PLAY IN THE 50 UNITED STATES AND D.C. (EXCLUDING RESIDENTS OF MAINE) ONLY AND WILL BE GOVERNED BY U.S. LAW. DO NOT ENTER IF YOU ARE NOT ELIGIBLE AND LOCATED IN ONE OF THE 50 UNITED STATES OR D.C. AT THE TIME OF ENTRY. MANY WILL ENTER, FEW WILL WIN.

  1. NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT OF ANY KIND NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. Lanie’s Backyard Photo Contest (“Sweepstakes”) is only open to persons who are legal residents of the fifty (50) United States and District of Columbia (excluding residents of Maine) and are between the ages of 8 and 13 years of age, at the time of entry. Void where prohibited. Employees, officers and directors of The Hewlett-Packard Company (“Sponsor”) and the Sponsor’s Affiliates (and their immediate families—children, spouse, parents, siblings—and those living in their same households whether or not related) are not eligible; “Sponsor’s Affiliates” includes American Girl Brands, LLC and all entities associated with Sponsor for purposes of this Sweepstakes, such as subsidiaries, parent companies, affiliated companies, retailers, advertising agencies, promotional agencies, and judges. By participating, each entrant (“Entrant”) agrees to be bound by these Official Rules (the “Rules”) and the decisions of the judges, which are final and binding in all respects. Sweepstakes is subject to applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations.
  2. SWEEPSTAKES ENTRY PERIOD: The Sweepstakes Entry Period begins at 12:00:01 a.m. Central Time (CT) on January 1, 2010 and ends at 11:59:59 p.m. CT on March 15, 2010 (the “Sweepstakes Entry Period”). Entries must be received and recorded by Sponsor’s computer during the Sweepstakes Entry Period. Sponsor’s computer is the official time keeping device for the Sweepstakes.
  3. SWEEPSTAKES ENTRY GUIDELINES: For how to enter see Rule #4. The Sweepstakes invites people to submit five (5) photos (may be photos previously shot prior to the Sweepstakes start date) (“Photo[s]”) and one (1) short essay (“essay”), up to 1,000 characters, answering the question “I am inspired by nature when”. Each Photo should represent one (1) of the photo choices as outlined on the Website (see Rule #4). There are twenty (20) total options to choose from. Photo and Essay together, may hereinafter be referred to as "Photo/Essay Entry". Each Photo’s format and size must follow the photo upload guidelines available at snapfish.com. Only submit five (5) Photos per Entry; all five (5) Photos and the Essay must be submitted at the same time. Essay must also follow the guidelines on Website. PHOTO/ESSAY ENTRIES WILL NOT BE JUDGED. The Photo/Essay Entry: cannot be sexually explicit or suggestive, unnecessarily violent or derogatory of any ethnic, racial, gender, religious, professional or age group, profane or pornographic, contain nudity or any materially-dangerous activity; cannot promote alcohol, illegal drugs, tobacco, firearms/weapons (or the use of any of the foregoing), any activities that may appear unsafe or dangerous, or any particular political agenda or message; cannot be obscene or offensive, endorse any form of hate or hate group; cannot defame, misrepresent or contain disparaging remarks about Sponsor, American Girl or their products, or other people, products or companies; cannot contain trademarks, logos or trade dress owned by others, or advertise or promote any brand or product of any kind, without permission, or contain any personal identification, such as license plate numbers, personal names, e-mail addresses or street addresses; cannot contain copyrighted materials owned by others (including photographs, sculptures, paintings and other works of art or images published on or in Websites, television, movies or other media) without permission; may not include images of corporate logos, trademarks, identities, or other proprietary materials owned by others such as television shows, magazines, or Web pages, without permission; cannot contain materials embodying the names, likenesses, photographs, or other indicia identifying any person, living or dead, without permission; cannot communicate messages or images inconsistent with the positive images and/or goodwill to which Sponsor wishes to associate; and cannot depict, and cannot itself, be in violation of any law. If you think that any Photo/Essay Entry infringes your intellectual property rights, click here if you wish to report it http://www1.snapfish.com/privacy. PHOTO/ESSAY ENTRIES POSTED TO THE WEBSITE WERE NOT EDITED BY SPONSOR AND ARE THE VIEWS/OPINIONS OF THE INDIVIDUAL ENTRANT AND DO NOT REFLECT THE VIEWS OF SPONSOR IN ANY MANNER. Any waiver of any obligation hereunder by Sponsor does not constitute a general waiver of any obligation to entrants.
  4. TWO WAYS TO PARTICIPATE: BY SUBMITTING A PHOTO AND ESSAY: (a) ONLINE: To participate in the Sweepstakes, visit www.americangirl.com/girloftheyear (“Website”), during the Sweepstakes Entry Period, and click on the icon, banner or text link to access the registration form. (i) Enter your first name and your parent or legal guardian's email address. Your parent or legal guardian will be sent an email from the Sponsor and will be required to respond to the email to provide their permission for your participation in the Sweepstakes to be legally valid. If your parent does not respond, or declines permission, you will still be able to access the contest elements, but will not be officially entered. If your parent or guardian does wish to grant permission, your parent or legal guardian will click to a website where they will register for a free Snapfish account, or provide an existing Snapfish account ID, and then check the box to provide permission for entry. Once they have completed that registration and followed the directions, they will receive an email stating that you have been officially registered for this Sweepstakes. (ii) To participate in the contest, go to www.americangirl.com/girloftheyear, tell us which five (5) Photos/activities you have selected and fill in the text box finishing this phrase, “I am inspired by nature when…”. (iv) Upload your five (5) Photos as instructed on the website. Each Entrant must follow the online instructions for attaching the Photos and Description and submitting a Photo/Essay Entry into the Sweepstakes. All online Photo/Essay Entries must comply with contest instructions and the Terms and Conditions of snapfish.com, located at http://www.snapfish.com/termsandconditions Online Entries must be received by 11:59:59 p.m. CT on March 15, 2010 to be eligible for the random drawing (b) MAIL-IN: To enter by mail complete the following steps: (i) Print out the official entry form (available in American Girl catalogs, at American Girl stores or found at the above-named Website) and complete it to include your name, parent or legal guardian's name, complete mailing address, age, date of birth, your parent or legal guardian's name, email address, phone number and parent or legal guardian's signature. Indicate on the form which 5 Photos/activities you have selected and complete the phrase, “I am inspired by nature when…”. (ii) Print or have your five (5) Photos printed; (iii) Place all of the above items (the entry form and five [5] Photos) into an envelope and mail in a first-class, stamped envelope (correct postage affixed) to: Lanie’s Backyard Photo Contest Sweepstakes, c/o American Girl, PO Box 620497, Middleton, WI 53562. Entries must be postmarked by March 15, 2010 and received by March 20, 2010 to be eligible for the random drawing. Each mailed entry must be in a separate postmarked outer envelope. No facsimiles or mechanical reproductions of entries allowed. Entries received without all required information will not be accepted. All Entries and materials submitted become the property of the Sponsor and will not be acknowledged or returned. Please see the Website's privacy policy located at www.snapfish.com and www.americangirl.com for details of Website's policy regarding the personal information collected in connection with this Sweepstakes. Limit one (1) Entry per person regardless of method of Entry.
  5. DRAWING: Winners will be selected in a random drawing by an independent judging organization, to be held, on or about April 1, 2010, from among all eligible entries received from all entry methods. Judges' decisions are final and binding in all matters relating to this Sweepstakes. Sponsor is not responsible for any changes in e-mail, mailing address and/or telephone number. Prizes cannot be transferred, redeemed for cash or substituted, but Sponsor reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value at its sole discretion.
  6. PRIZES: Five (5) Grand Prizes: Each Grand Prize winner will receive a complete Lanie™ Doll Collection. Approximate Retail Value (ARV): $559.00 each. Twenty (20) First Prizes: Each First Prize winner will receive a Lanie™ Doll and Book. ARV: $95.00 each. Total ARV of prizes awarded is $4,695.00. Winner must accept prize as stated, or prize will be forfeited. ARV is as of date of printing of these Official Rules. The difference in value of prize as stated herein and value at time of prize notification, if any, will not be awarded. Odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received. Taxes, if any, on prize are the sole responsibility of the winner. The difference between any stated prize value and actual prize value will not be awarded. Limit one (1) prize per person/email address/household. Prizes are non-transferable and no cash equivalent or substitution of prize is offered, except at the sole discretion of the Sponsor. If a prize, or any portion thereof, cannot be awarded for any reason, Sponsor reserves the right to substitute prize with another prize of equal or greater value. Prizes will be awarded to minor's parent of legal guardian, who must sign and return all required documentation.
  7. WINNER NOTIFICATION: Potential Winners will be notified by mail, email, overnight mail and/or phone on or about April 5, 2010. If a Potential Winner is found not to be eligible or not in compliance with these Rules, the Potential Winner will be disqualified. Sponsor is not responsible for any change of email, mailing address and/or telephone number of Entrants.
  8. GENERAL CONDITIONS: BY SUBMITTING A PHOTO/ESSAY ENTRY AND PROVIDING PARENTAL PERMISSION, ENTRANT AND HIS/HER PARENT OR LEGAL GUARDIAN ACKNOWLEDGES THAT ENTRANT'S PHOTO/ESSAY ENTRY MAY BE POSTED ON THE WEBSITE, SPONSOR’S WEBSITE OR SNAPFISH.COM, IN SPONSOR’S DISCRETION. By participating in this Sweepstakes and providing parental consent, Entrant and Entrant's parent or legal guardian agree to these Official Rules, which are final and binding in all respects. Winner’s parent or guardian may be required to complete, execute, and return an Affidavit of Eligibility and, where lawful, Publicity Release (“Release(s)”) upon request. If Affidavit/Release is not returned within ten (10) business days of notification or winner is found to be ineligible or not in compliance with these Rules, prize will be forfeited. If release is not required, prizes will be shipped within 4-6 weeks upon the completion of the Drawing. If any prize notification or prize is returned as undeliverable or if winner is disqualified for any reason, prize will be forfeited. By approving the Entrant's Entry, each Entrant’s parent or legal guardian agrees to release and hold Sponsor, Sponsor’s Affiliates, and the officers, directors, employees, representatives, contractors, and agents of each such entity ("Released Parties") harmless from any and all liability whatsoever for any injury, loss, or damage of any kind to any person or property resulting from (i) acceptance, possession, or use or misuse of any prize, (ii) participation in this Sweepstakes or any Sweepstakes-related activities, or (iii) use of an Entry in any manner. Except where legally prohibited, each winner's parent or legal guardian grants (and will confirm that grant in writing) permission to Sponsor and Released Parties, exercised in their sole discretion, the right to use the winner’s name, picture, likeness, voice, biographical information, and Photo/Essay Entry, if applicable, (whether altered, changed, modified, edited, used alone, or used with other works) at any time, in any form, in any media, without compensation of any kind and without notice, review, or approval. By approving your child’s entry, each Entrant’s parent or guardian warrants that (i) the Photo/Essay Entry, if applicable, does not violate any law or regulation or any right of any third party, including those laws, regulations, and rights related to copyrights, trademarks, publicity, or privacy, (ii) the Entrant has followed the Rules and has the right to grant the rights to a Photo/Essay Entry as provided in these Rules, (iii) the Photo/Essay Entry has not been published or submitted in any other Sweepstakes or competition; (iv) the Photo/Essay Entry is the Entrant’s original work; (v) the Photo/Essay Entry has not won previous awards; (vi) the Entrant has obtained permission from any person whose name or likeness is used in the Photo/Essay Entry; and (vii) that publication of the Photo/Essay Entry via various media including Web posting, will not infringe on the rights of any third party. Any such Entrant and Entrant's parent or legal guardian will indemnify and hold harmless, Sponsor and Released Parties from any claims to the contrary. Any Entrant, or Entrant's parent or legal guardian, whose work includes likenesses of third parties or contains elements not owned by the Entrant (such as, but not limited to, depictions of persons, buildings, trademarks or logos) must be able to provide legal releases for such use including Sponsor’s use of such Photo/Essay Entry, in a form satisfactory to Sponsor, upon request, prior to award of prize and/or naming of Entrant as a winner. Further, by approving your child’s entry, each Entrant’s parent or guardian grants permission for Sponsor and Released Parties to publish, post, adapt, edit, display, and/or modify or otherwise use the Photo/Essay Entry in any form, in any manner, and in any media, without any time or territorial limitation, deemed appropriate by Sponsor or the Released Parties, without compensation of any kind to Entrant. By providing permission, each Entrant’s parent or guardian further agrees that submission of a Photo/Essay Entry is gratuitous and made without restriction, and will not place Sponsor under any obligation, that Sponsor is free to disclose or otherwise disclose the ideas contained in the Photo/Essay Entry on a non-confidential basis to anyone or otherwise use the ideas without any additional compensation to Entrant. Entrant’s parent or guardian acknowledges that, by acceptance of your child's submission, Sponsor does not waive any rights to use similar or related ideas previously known to Sponsor, or developed by its employees, or obtained from sources other than Entrant. Sponsor reserves the right to screen Entries, but may post Photo/Essay Entries to the Website without editing or other prior review. Entrant’s parent or guardian acknowledges that Sponsor has no obligation to use or post any Photo/Essay Entry you submit. Accepting a prize further constitutes the winner's parent or guardian’s consent to irrevocably assign and transfer to Sponsor any and all rights, title and interest in the winning Photo/Essay Entry, including, without limitation, all copyrights. By accepting a prize, the winner’s parent or guardian agrees that his/her Photo/Essay Entry will be deemed a Work Made For Hire under the Copyright laws of the United States, but if it cannot be so deemed, then the winner’s parent or guardian irrevocably assigns and transfers to Sponsor all of his/her right, title and interest in and to his/her Photo/Essay Entry, including all but not limited to all copyright and trademark rights which he or she may have, in the United States and worldwide, therein, for consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged. Winner’s parent or guardian hereby waives in favor of Sponsor, all rights of “Droit Moral” or “Moral Rights of Authors” or any similar rights or principles of law that winner may now or later have to their Photo/Essay Entry. Sponsor and Sponsor affiliates reserve the right to alter, change or modify a winning Photo/Essay Entry, in its sole discretion. Upon request of Sponsor, winner’s parent or guardian shall execute and deliver such additional instrument of assignment, as may be solely deemed by Sponsor, reasonably necessary to establish the ownership of record of the right, title and interest in and to the Entry and of the copyrights transferred and “Moral Rights of Authors” waived under these Rules. Should Sponsor fail to request the said assignment as stated, that shall not be deemed a waiver of Sponsor’s rights and Sponsor may at a later time request the assignment. approving your child’s Entry, each Entrant’s parent or guardian agree that all issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Rules, participant’s rights and obligations, or the rights and obligations of the Sponsor in connection with the Sweepstakes, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of State of California without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules. By entering, Entrants consent to the jurisdiction and venue of the federal, state and local courts located in Santa Clara County, California.
  9. LIABILITY LIMITATIONS: Neither Sponsor nor Released Parties are responsible or otherwise liable in any manner for any (i) lost, late, stolen, illegible, misdirected, non-delivered, or improperly captured Entry, or postage-due mail or Entries, (ii) lost, interrupted, or unavailable satellite, network, server, or other connection, (iii) accessibility or traffic congestion, miscommunication, or failed computer, network, telephone, satellite, cable, transmission line, or communication line, (iv) technical failure, malfunction, or difficulty, whether related to software or hardware, (v) jumbled, scrambled, delayed, or misdirected transmission, (vi) incorrect, incomplete, or inaccurate information or typographical errors, (vii) unauthorized access to, tampering with, or hacking into any Website or electronic device, or (viii) other error, omission, interruption, deletion, defect, or delay of any kind whether human, mechanical, electronic or network. Sponsor may, at its sole discretion, disqualify any individual who tampers with any Entry or with the operation of the Sweepstakes, who acts in violation of these Rules or otherwise in a non-sportsmanlike or disruptive manner, or who displays any intent to threaten, abuse or harass any other person. If, for any reason, the Sweepstakes is affected by any computer virus, worm, bug, tampering, hacking, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failure or other cause which, in the sole opinion of Sponsor, corrupts or otherwise affects the administration, security, fairness, integrity or proper conduct of this Sweepstakes, Sponsor may in its sole discretion cancel, terminate, modify, or suspend the Sweepstakes, and determine winners from Entries already received or as otherwise deemed fair and equitable by Sponsor. As a condition of entering, Entrants (and their parent or legal guardian) agree (and agree to confirm in writing) that: (a) under no circumstances will Entrant be permitted to obtain awards for, and participant hereby waives all rights to claim, punitive, incidental, consequential, or any other damages, other than for actual out-of-pocket expenses; (b) all causes of action arising out of or connected with this Sweepstakes, or any prize awarded, shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action; and (c) any and all claims, judgments, and award shall be limited to actual out-of-pocket costs incurred, excluding attorneys’ fees and court costs. Winner’s parent or guardian acknowledges that Sponsor nor Released Parties have not made nor are in any manner 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. Any and all warranties and/or guarantees on a prize (if any) are subject to the respective manufacturers’ terms therefore, and winners agree to look solely to such manufacturers for any such warranty and/or guarantee. IN NO EVENT WILL SPONSOR OR RELEASED PARTIES BE RESPONSIBLE OR OTHERWISE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES OR LOSSES OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES RELATED TO THE SWEEPSTAKES, INCLUDING ANY ACCESS TO OR USE OF THE WEBSITE OR ANY DOWNLOADING FROM OR PRINTING MATERIAL FROM THE WEBSITE. EVERYTHING ON THE WEBSITE IS PROVIDED “AS IS” WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OR NON-INFRINGEMENT.
  10. WINNERS LIST: To request a list of winners, please mail a self-addressed, stamped envelope to: Lanie’s Backyard Photo Contest WINNERS, c/o American Girl, PO Box 620497, Middleton, WI 53562, for receipt by May 17, 2010.

SPONSOR: Hewlett-Packard Company, 3000 Hanover Street, Palo Alto, CA 94304-1185.