Cottages and Bungalows Christmas Tree Contest 2024 Official Rules
NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT OF MONEY IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN THIS CONTEST. A PURCHASE OR PAYMENT OF MONEY WILL NOT IMPROVE THE CHANCES OF WINNING.
The Cottages and Bungalows 2024 Christmas Tree Contest (the “Contest”) is intended for legal residents of the United States and shall only be construed and evaluated according to applicable U.S. law and state law. Do not enter this Contest if you are not located in the United States or are otherwise ineligible to enter in accordance with these Official Rules at the time of entry.
SPONSOR/ADMINISTRATOR: The Contest is sponsored and administered by EG Media Investments LLC, (“EG Media”) 3622 Lyckan Parkway, Suite 3003, Durham, NC 27707 including any of its affiliate groups, partners, vendors, independent contractor, employees, and/or agents, etc. (collectively the “Sponsor”).
ELIGIBILITY: The Contest is open to legal U.S. residents residing in the fifty (50) United States (including the District of Columbia) who are at least eighteen (18) years of age or the age of majority, whichever is older, in their respective states of permanent residence as of November 18th, 2024 (the “Entrants”). Employees, officers and representatives of the Sponsor, their respective parent companies, employees, officers, directors, subsidiaries, affiliates, distributors, sales representatives and advertising and promotional agencies, and the officers, directors, agents, and employees of each of the foregoing, and members of their immediate families (defined as including spouse, biological, adoptive and step-parents, grandparents, siblings, children and grandchildren, and each of their respective spouses, regardless of where they reside) or households (whether related or not) of any of the above (collectively, the “Released Parties”) are NOT eligible to participate in this Contest. Non-eligibility or non-compliance with any of these Official Rules will result in disqualification. Void in Puerto Rico, U.S. territories, and where prohibited or restricted by law. (For the avoidance of doubt, any references in these Rules to Entrants shall also include the Entrant who is deemed the Winner (as defined below)).
AGREEMENT TO OFFICIAL RULES: By participating, Entrants (“Entrants”) agree to abide by and be bound by these Official Rules and the decisions of the Sponsor, which are final and binding in all matters relating to the Contest. Winning a Prize (as defined below) is contingent upon fulfilling all requirements set forth herein.
HOW TO ENTER: Beginning at 12:00:01 AM Eastern Time (“ET”) on November 18th, 2024, until 11:59:59 PM ET on December 2nd, 2024, (the “Submission Period”), you may submit an entry for the Cottages and Bungalows 2024 Christmas Tree Contest (the “Contest”) in any of the following ways: (i) online, by visiting the Cottages and Bungalows website, https://www.cottagesandbungalowsmag.com/, (the “Website”) and completing an official entry form (limit one (1) online submission, per valid email address, per eligible person). Incorrect, illegible, corrupt and incomplete entries are void. The Sponsor’s computer is the official timekeeping device for the Contest. These official rules are available at the Website or by writing to the Cottages and Bungalows 2024 Christmas Tree Contest Rules Request, 3622 Lyckan Parkway, Suite 3003, Durham, NC 27707. The Sponsor reserves the right to choose the finalist from all eligible entries received. When you enter through the Website, you give consent to receive promotional emails and reminders for upcoming promotions from EG Media, and its affiliates Consent to receive such emails does not improve your chances of winning. EG Media. (“Sponsor”) and “Promotional Courier ”, and their affiliates, subsidiaries, parent corporations, advertising and promotion agencies, all local sponsors, and their respective officers, directors, shareholders, employees and agents, and any and all Internet servers and access provider(s) (collectively, “Released Parties”) are not responsible for: any incorrect or inaccurate entry information; human error; technical malfunctions; failures, omission, interruption, deletion, or defect of any telephone network, computer online systems, computer equipment, server providers, or software, including any injury or damage to participant’s or any other person’s computer relating to or resulting from participation in this Contest; inability to access the Websites; theft, tampering, destruction, or unauthorized access to, or alteration of entries; entries that are processed late or incorrectly or are incomplete or lost due to computer or electronic malfunction or traffic congestion on the Internet or at any website; printing, typographical, human or other errors; and any entries which are late, lost, incomplete, delayed, misdirected, stolen, mutilated, inaccurate, illegible or any combination thereof. Entries are considered only upon receipt. Proof of online submission is not considered proof of delivery or receipt. All entries become the property of Sponsor and will not be returned. A purchase will not increase your chance of winning.
CAUTION: ANY ATTEMPT BY AN ENTRANT TO DELIBERATELY DAMAGE THE WEBSITE OR UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THE CONTEST MAY BE IN VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS AND SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, SPONSOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO SEEK REMEDIES AND DAMAGES (INCLUDING ATTORNEY’S FEES) FROM ANY SUCH ENTRANT TO THE FULLEST EXTENT OF THE LAW, INCLUDING CRIMINAL PROSECUTION.
If by reason of a printing or other error, more prizes are claimed than the number set forth in these rules, all persons making purportedly valid claims will be included in a random drawing to award the advertised number of prizes available in the prize category in question. No more than the advertised number of prizes will be awarded. You further understand and agree that all rights under Section 1542 of the Civil Code of California (“Section 1542”) and any similar law of any state or territory of the United States that may be applicable with respect to the foregoing release are hereby expressly and forever waived. You acknowledge that Section 1542 provides that: “A GENERAL RELEASE DOES NOT EXTEND TO CLAIMS WHICH THE CREDITOR DOES NOT KNOW OR SUSPECT TO EXIST IN HIS OR HER FAVOR AT THE TIME OF EXECUTING THE RELEASE, WHICH, IF KNOWN BY HIM OR HER MUST HAVE MATERIALLY AFFECTED HIS OR HER SETTLEMENT WITH THE DEBTOR.” The releases hereunder are intended to apply to all claims not known or suspected to exist with the intent of waiving the effect of laws requiring the intent to release future unknown claims.
Limit one (1) entry per person. Sponsor reserves the right to disqualify any person or email address that submits more than the maximum allowed entries. Released Parties (as defined above) are not responsible for: lost, late, incomplete, invalid, unintelligible, illegible, misdirected or postage-due mailed entries. All entries become the exclusive property of Sponsor and will not be acknowledged or returned. By participating, you consent for Sponsor to obtain, use, and transfer your name, address, submitted images, and other information for the purpose of administering this Contest and for other purposes as set forth below. Entrant hereby represents and warrants that the information it provides in the Contest shall be true and accurate, to the best of Entrant’s knowledge, and that Entrant has not purported to be anyone other than Entrant.
By participating in the Contest, Entrants hereby grant to Sponsor an irrevocable, non-exclusive license or other right to use, license or sub-license (without payment of royalty or other compensation to Entrant or any Person) any and all information and content disclosed by Entrant, whether confidential, proprietary, or otherwise, including but not limited to Intellectual Property. Entrant further grants Sponsor an irrevocable and non-exclusive license to use Entrants personal information, name, image and likeness for promotional or marketing purposes, including, but not limited to, publication in magazines, social media posts, and/or advertisements, etc., which is granted without payment of royalty or other compensation to either Entrant or any Person.
Entrant hereby indemnifies Sponsor and their respective parent companies, employees, officers, directors, volunteers, members, subsidiaries, affiliates, distributors, sales representatives, advertising, and promotional agencies (collectively, the “Released Parties”) from any third-party claim arising out of use of Entrants information, image, likeness, etc.
RELEASE AND LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY: By participating in the Contest, Entrants agree to release and hold harmless the Released Parties from and against any claim, action, injury, loss, damage or cause of action arising out of lost, late, incomplete, damaged, inaccurate, stolen, delayed, misdirected, undelivered, or garbled entries, or for lost, interrupted or unavailable network, server, Internet Service Provider (ISP), website, or other connections, availability or accessibility or miscommunications or failed computer, satellite, telephone or cable transmissions, lines, or technical failure or jumbled, scrambled, delayed, or misdirected transmissions or computer hardware or software malfunctions, failures or difficulties, or other errors or difficulties of any kind whether human, mechanical, electronic, computer, network, typographical, printing or otherwise relating to participation in the Contest, acceptance or receipt of any prize, use or misuse of any prize, or participation in any prize-related activity, including, but not limited to: (a) any technical errors that may prevent an Entrant from submitting an entry; (b) unauthorized human intervention in the Contest; (c) errors in the administration of the Contest or the processing of entries; or (d) injury, death, or damage to persons or property which may be caused, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, from Entrant’s participation in the Contest or receipt or use of any prize. Released Parties assume no responsibility for any error, omission, interruption, deletion, defect, delay in operation or transmission, theft or destruction or unauthorized access to, or alteration of, entries. Entrant further agrees that in any cause of action, the Released Parties’ liability will be limited to the cost of entering and participating in the Contest, and in no event shall the Released Parties be liable for attorney’s fees. Entrant waives the right to claim any damages whatsoever, including, but not limited to, punitive, consequential, direct, or indirect damages.
GENERAL CONDITIONS: If for any reason the operation or administration of this Contest is impaired or incapable of running as planned for any reason, including but not limited to (a) infection by computer virus, bugs, (b) tampering, unauthorized intervention, (c) fraud, (d) technical failures, or (e) any other causes beyond the control of the Sponsor which corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity or proper conduct of this Contest, the Sponsor reserves the right at its sole discretion, to disqualify any individual who tampers with the entry process, and to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the Contest in whole or in part, at any time, without notice and award the Prizes using all non-suspect eligible entries received as of, or after (if applicable) this cancellation, termination, modification or suspension date, or in any manner that is fair and equitable and best conforms to the spirit of these Official Rules. Sponsor reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to disqualify any individual deemed to be (a) tampering or attempting to tamper with the entry process or the operation of the Contest or Sponsor’s Website; or (b) acting in violation of these Official Rules or in an unsportsmanlike or disruptive manner.
CAUTION: ANY ATTEMPT TO DELIBERATELY DAMAGE ANY WEBSITE OR UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THE CONTEST IS A VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS AND SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, THE SPONSOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO SEEK DAMAGES OR OTHER REMEDIES FROM ANY SUCH PERSON (S) RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ATTEMPT TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW.
Failure by the Sponsor to enforce any provision of these Official Rules shall not constitute a waiver of that provision. In the event of a dispute as to the identity of a Winner based on an email address, the winning entry will be declared by the authorized account holder of the email address submitted at time of entry. “Authorized account holder” is defined as the natural person who is assigned to an email address by an Internet access provider, online service provider or other organization (e.g., business, educational, institution, etc.) that is responsible for assigning email addresses for the domain associated with the submitted email address.
SELECTION AND NOTIFICATION: The potential Prize Winner will be selected by Cottages and Bungalows Brand Leader, regardless of results on the Cottages and Bungalows 2024 Christmas Tree Contest voting page. The Prize Winner will be selected from among all eligible entries received by the Sponsor whose decisions are final and binding. The Prize Winner selection will each be conducted on or about December 30th, 2024. There will be one (1) potential Prize Winner selected. Odds of winning a Prize will depend on the total number of eligible entries received. The potential Prize Winner will be contacted by the Sponsor via email of prize confirmation.
PRIZES & PRIZE CONDITIONS: There will be one (1) Prize awarded at the end of the Contest Period. Prize Winner (“Prize Winner” or “Winner”), upon the Sponsor’s confirmation of eligibility, will be featured in the 2024 Holiday issue of Cottages and Bungalows and receive a one-year print subscription to Cottages and Bungalows. ALL EXPENSES OR COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH ACCEPTANCE OF A PRIZE NOT MENTIONED HEREIN ARE THE SOLE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PRIZE WINNER. No substitution or transfer of Prize will be permitted. The Sponsor reserves the right at its sole discretion to substitute the Prize with another prize of equal or greater value in the event that the aforementioned Prize is not available.
By accepting a Prize, the Prize Winner agrees to release and hold harmless the Released Parties from and against any claim or cause of action arising out of participation in the Promotion or receipt or use of the prize in question. The potential Prize Winner will be notified by phone and/or email, and must sign and return to the Sponsor within seven (7) days of the date of notice or attempted notice is sent, an Affidavit of Eligibility, Liability & Publicity Release in order to claim his/her prize. Note: The Affidavit sent to a potential Prize Winner will require that the potential Winner provide their Social Security Number to the Sponsor, which will be used solely for tax reporting purposes. The Prize winner will be responsible for all local, state, and federal taxes associated with the receipt of their accepted Prize. The Prize Winner must also note that the value of their accepted Prize is taxable as income and an IRS Form 1099 will be filed in the name of the winner for the value of their Prize. The Prize Winner is solely responsible for all matters relating to their Prize after it is awarded. If a Prize or prize notification is returned as unclaimed or undeliverable to the potential Winner, if a potential Winner cannot be reached within three (3) calendar days from the first notification attempt, or if a potential Winner fails to return requisite document(s) within the specified time period, or if a potential Winner is not in compliance with these Official Rules, then such person shall be disqualified and, at Sponsor’s sole discretion, an alternate Winner may be selected for the Prize at issue.
By accepting a Prize, where permitted by law, the Prize Winner grants to the Released Parties and those acting pursuant to the authority of Sponsor and the Released Parties (which grant will be confirmed in writing upon Sponsor’s request), the right to print, publish, broadcast and use worldwide IN ALL MEDIA without limitation at any time a Winner’s full name, portrait, picture, voice, likeness, submitted content and/or biographical information for advertising, trade and promotional purposes without further payment or additional consideration, and without review, approval or notification.
IN NO EVENT WILL RELEASED PARTIES BE RESPONSIBLE OR LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES OR LOSSES OF ANY KIND (INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, LOSS PROFIT, CLAIMS OF THIRD PARTIES, DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES) ARISING OUT OF PARTICIPATION IN THIS CONTEST OR THE ACCEPTANCE, POSSESSION, USE, OR MISUSE OF, OR ANY HARM RESULTING FROM THE ACCEPTANCE, POSSESSION, USE OR MISUSE OF THE PRIZE.
By participating, Entrants release and agree to hold harmless the Released Parties from any and all liability for any injuries, death or losses or damages to persons or property AS WELL AS CLAIMS/ACTIONS BASED ON PUBLICITY RIGHTS, DEFAMATION, AND/OR INVASION OF PRIVACY that may arise from participating in this Contest or its related activities or the acceptance, possession, use or misuse of, or any harm resulting from the acceptance, possession, use or misuse of the Prize. The Prize Winners also acknowledge that Released Parties have neither 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 the Prize.
DISPUTES: By entering the Contest, Entrants agree that 1.) Any and all disputes, claims, and causes of action arising out of or connected with the Contest, or any prizes awarded, shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action; 2.) Any and all claims, judgments and awards shall be limited to actual out-of-pocket costs incurred, including costs associated with entering the Contest but in no event attorneys’ fees; and 3.) Under no circumstances will any Entrant be permitted to obtain any award for, and Entrant 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. All issues v.and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Official Rules, or the rights and obligations of the Entrants and Sponsor or the Released Parties in connection with the Contest, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with United States law. Any legal proceedings arising out of this Contest or relating to these Official Rules shall be instituted only in the federal or state courts of North Carolina, 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.
WINNERS LIST REQUEST: To request confirmation of the name, city, and state of residence of each Prize Winner, please send a self-addressed, stamped business size envelope, by July 12, 2024 to: EG Media 3622 Lyckan Parkway, Suite 3003, Durham, NC 27707.
