Standard Independent newspaper competition rules
Published: 01 January 2006
The following rules are applicable to all competitions, promotions and offers conducted in any publication of Independent News and Media Limited ("IN"). These rules will be incorporated in each competition and, together with any specific rules which may be included in any competition instructions, will be binding on all persons who submit an entry.
1. All competitions are open to UK residents aged 18 or over unless any other age restrictions are specified. Employees of IN and the promoters, their agents or members of their families will not be eligible to participate.
2. Subject to any different rules as to entry specified in any individual competition:-
2.1 All entries must be legible, written in ink or ballpoint pen and made on the official form, if there is one. They must be clearly marked with the entrant's name, full address and telephone number. Any illegible, mutilated or altered entries will be disqualified.
2.2 Entries must be delivered to the address given in the competition instructions and bear the correct postage. They are invalid if they arrive any later than the first post on the specified closing date.
2.3 Only one entry per entrant (or household if so specified) will be permitted.
2.4 In the case of token collect, only original tokens are valid. No tokens or vouchers are redeemable for cash.
2.5 All questions must be answered and all other entry requirements fulfilled.
2.6 Proof of posting will not constitute proof of delivery and no responsibility will be accepted for lost, damaged, illegible, delayed or mislaid entries.
3. In the event of the closing date being extended, which the Judges may do in their absolute discretion, an announcement of any such an extension will be printed in the next available issue of the relevant publication.
4. Subject to Rule 8:
4.1 The winner will either be the first correct entry drawn from the total entries, or all entries will be examined and the main prize will be awarded to the entry that the Judges 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. IN reserves the right to publish the names of the winners and runners-up.
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. IN will not be liable for any circumstances beyond its reasonable control that prevent a prize being taken up by a winner.
8. No correspondence will be entered into. The decision of the Judges (who will normally be the relevant Editor) shall be final and unchallengable and in their absolute discretion they may:
8.1 declare void any entry
8.2 declare a competition void should they consider that there are no entries reaching a required standard, whereupon they can award prizes or not, as they think fit
9. A condition of entry is that entrants are deemed to have assigned the copyright of their entries to IN. All entries, however submitted, shall become the property of IN and will not be returned. IN will have the right, with no further permission or payment, to publish all or part of any entry or use it in any way IN think fit including syndication or other commercial reasons.
10. No purchase is necessary except where the competition instructions clearly specify otherwise.
11. By entering the competition/promotion entrants are agreeing to abide by these rules and any conditions set out in the competition instructions.
12. Unless the entrant specifically requests the contrary (by ticking a box provided in the competition instructions or otherwise), IN will hold their personal data (including sensitive personal data where appropriate) on its own or a duly authorised agent's registered database. From time to time other carefully selected organisations may be licensed by IN to use that data.
13. Where applicable, prize winners will be responsible for organising valid passport(s) and for securing any necessary visas. They are also strongly advised to take out adequate insurance and make the necessary health checks. Dates and destinations are subject to availability.
