Independent online competition rules
Applicable until further notice
Published: 01 January 2005
The following rules are applicable to all competitions, promotions and offers conducted by or on behalf of Independent News and Media Limited and the INM Group (referred to here as INM). These rules will be deemed incorporated in each competition or promotion except to the extent that any instruction in an individual competition or promotion provides otherwise.
These rules, which may be amended from time to time, and any such specific instructions, shall be binding on all entrants.
1. All competitions are open to persons aged 18 or over unless any other age restriction is specified. Employees of INM, the promoters and any company involved in the competition, and agents and members of the immediate family of the above people will not be eligible to participate.
2. Subject to any different entry rules specified in any individual competition:-
2.1 All entries must be made on the official page on the site, if there is one. They must be clearly marked with the entrant's name, full address, e-mail address and telephone number.
2.2 Entries must be made in accordance with the competition instructions. They are invalid if they are received any later than the specified closing time (which shall be London time and date).
2.3 Only one entry per entrant (or household if so specified) will be permitted.
2.4 All questions in the instructions must be answered and all other entry requirements fulfilled.
2.5 Proof of submission of a form will not constitute proof of delivery and no responsibility will be accepted for lost, corrupted, delayed or mislaid entries.
3. In the event of the closing time being extended, which the Judges may do in their absolute discretion, there will be an announcement of any such extension at the first reasonable opportunity.
4. Subject to Rule 10:
4.1 The winner will be chosen in accordance with the competition instructions, and will either be the first correct entry drawn from the total entries or all entries will be examined and the prize will be awarded to the entry that the Judges (who, unless provided otherwise in the competition specific instructions shall be the Editor of The Independent or his nominated representative) consider to be the best.
4.2 Other prizes will be awarded in accordance with the order of priority as stated in the individual competition.
4.3 At their discretion the Judges shall have the right to invoke a tie-breaker.
5. INM reserves the right to publish the names of the winners and runners-up and the winning entries.
6. Unless otherwise stated in the rules of a particular competition, there will be no cash or other alternative to the prize offered and prizes are not transferable.
7. INM will not be liable for any circumstances beyond its reasonable control that prevent a prize being taken up by a winner, and excludes liability to the extent permitted by law for any cost, claims or losses howsoever caused that arise by reason of any person's entry into a competition or the award to them of a prize.
8. No correspondence will be entered into. The decision of the Judges shall be final and unchallengable and in their absolute discretion they may declare void any entry or the competition itself should they consider that there are no entries reaching a required standard, whereupon they can award prizes or not, as they think fit. The Judges may also decide, in their absolute discretion, to change the rules of a competition while it is running if it appears to them that it would be equitable or desirable to do so
9. A condition of entry is that entrants are deemed to have assigned the copyright of their entries to INM. All entries, however submitted, shall become the property of INM. Entrants agree that INM will have the right, with no further permission or payment, to publish all or part of any winning entry or use it in any way INM thinks fit including syndication or other commercial reasons.
10. In any competition where there are only a limited number of prizes so that not every entry can win some prize, it is hereby provided (and the competition rules should state this fact clearly and prominently) that there may be a tiebreaker stage which includes a significant element of skill. Other competition instructions, clearly specified, may also apply.
11. By entering the competition/promotion entrants are agreeing to abide by these rules and any conditions set out in the competition instructions.
DATA PROTECTION
Entrants may be asked to indicate their wish, by ticking a box provided in the competition instructions or otherwise, to receive communications with information or carefully selected commercial opportunities from INM or agents on their behalf. If they agree, INM will hold their personal details on its own or a duly authorised agent's registered database. From time to time other carefully selected organisations may be licensed by INM to use that data.
You can also indicate your willingness to allow us to store your details by e-mailing customerservices@ independent.co.uk
