Starbucks VIA™ Ready Brew
Starbucks VIA™ Experience Contest Official Rules
This Contest is intended for participation by legal residents of the fifty (50) United States and District of Columbia, who are 18 years or older as of September 29, 2009. Except for Contest Period # 1 "First Taste" is void in Colorado, Maryland, Tennessee and Vermont.
These rules apply to the Starbucks VIA™ Experience Contest ("Contest") being conducted by the Starbucks Corporation, 2401 Utah Ave. South, Seattle, WA 98134 ("Sponsor"), and administered by Marden-Kane, Inc., 36 Maple Place, Manhasset, NY 11030 ("Administrator"). This Contest starts 12:00:01 AM Pacific Time ("PT") September 29, 2009 and ends at 11:59:59 PM PT November 10, 2009. ("Promotional Period").
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR CLAIM A PRIZE.
1. Contest Dates and Times: The Contest starts 12:00:01 AM Pacific Time ("PT") September 29, 2009 and ends at 11:59:59 PM PT November 10, 2009, which is further divided into Six (6) separate and distinct contest periods ("each a Contest Period") each with a different theme. Each of the Contest Periods start on September 29, 2009, but each with its own end date as follows: [1] "First Taste" ends October 6, 2009; [2] "Try it at Home" ends October 13, 2009; [3] "Try it at Work" ends October 20, 2009; [4] "Try it on the Go" ends October 27, 2009; [5] "Try it Far Out" ends November 3, 2009; [6] "Try it in Recipes" ends November 10, 2009;. Each Contest Period starts at 12:00:01AM PT on the first day of the Contest Period and ends at 11:59:59 PM PT on the last day of the Contest Period.
2. Eligibility: Contest Period #1 "First Taste" is open to legal residents of the United States and the District of Columbia, who are 18 years of age or older at time of entry, excluding residents of CO, MD, TN and VT. Contest Periods #2 through #6 is open to all legal residents of the fifty (50) United States and the District of Columbia who are 18 years of age or older at time of entry. Employees of Starbucks Licensed Concepts, its subsidiaries, affiliates, prize suppliers and advertising and promotion agencies, including Marden-Kane, Inc. and each of their company officers, directors, shareholders and the immediate family members (spouse and parents, children and siblings, and their respective spouses regardless of where they live), individuals living in the households of the above (whether related or not) and any all other companies or persons associated with this Contest are not eligible to enter or win a prize. Professional filmmakers, photographers and writers are not permitted to enter. "Professional" is someone who currently or previously has or has had a job and/or contract whereby payment has been received for his/her work for services performed. Entrants, by participating in the Contest, agree to be bound by these Official Rules and the Sponsor's decisions. Void where prohibited or restricted by law. The Contest is subject to all applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations.
3. How to Enter: All entries must be submitted online at www.StarbucksVia.com. For Contest Periods #1-5, you may submit your entry in any one of the following media: [i] an original video no longer than two (2) minutes in length that must be in the English language. Videos must be posted at www.youtube.com and you must provide your unique YouTube URL which links to your video.; or [ii] write an essay that is no more than 250 words in length and must be in the English language; or [iii] a good quality color photograph. Photograph must be posted at www.flickr.com and you must provide your unique flickr URL which links to your photograph. To upload your video or photograph you must be a registered user of www.youtube.com or www.flickr.com and your video or photograph size limitation and file format must adhere to YouTube and/or flickr's specifications. You must agree to their site's "Terms of Use/Service". There is no fee or charge to become a registered user of YouTube or flickr. YouTube and flickr are not sponsors of this Promotion. For Contest Period #6 only a recipe that is no more than 250 words in length and must be in the English language will be accepted. Your recipe must list the ingredients used in order of preparation and must include complete instructions, suggested number of servings and must be capable of being prepared within one hour of less. You may enter all six (6) Contest Periods, but only one entry per media, per Contest Period will be accepted. All entries must be received by 11:59:59 PM PT on the last day of the Contest Period. Your submissions should best convey, illustrate, describe, explain, etc, your or your groups’ experience with Starbucks new instant coffee, Starbucks VIA™, as outlined in each of the Contest Periods. All group entries must be submitted in the name of a single person. Group entries will not be accepted although all participants may have assisted in submitting the entry. All valid entries will be posted on www.starbucksVIA.com for public viewing.
Contest Period #1 First taste: Teachers can't tell the difference, Nurses can't tell the difference, Yellow Belts can't tell the difference. We bet you can't tell the difference between our fresh brewed and Starbucks VIA™. Gather your favorite group and share your First Taste experience. Contest Period # 1 "First Taste" is void in CO, MD, TN and VT.
Contest Period #2 Try it a home: How has Starbucks VIA™ changed your coffee life at home? Is it your new daily ritual? Do you serve it to guests? Do you make it with hot water? Cold water? Milk? Chocolate milk Share your favorite At Home uses.
Contest Period #3 Try it at work: How has Starbucks VIA™ changed your coffee life at work? No more brown swill? Your new 3:00 pick me up? You're now the most popular person at work? Share your At Work Starbucks VIA™ experience.
Contest Period #4 Try it on the go: Planes, trains and automobiles. Are you a Road Warrior? Soccer mom or dad? In a hurry? Procrastinating? Where does Starbucks VIA™ go with you?
Contest Period #5 Try it far out: Think outside the box and show us where Starbucks VIA™ is uniquely perfect. Camping? Hiking? Biking? Triathlons? On the Space Needle? Eiffel Tower? Space? Where will you go with Starbucks VIA™?
Contest Period #6 Try it in Recipes: A little pinch here - a little pinch there! Coffee drinks? Cocktails? Milkshakes or malts? Brownies? Cookies? Cakes? Show us how you can use Starbucks VIA™ in your favorite recipe.
4. CONTEST RESTRICTIONS: By entering Entrant represents (or minor entrant's parent/legal guardian) represents and warrants that he or she has obtained all of the rights, licenses and permissions in writing from any entity for, but not limited to, trademarks, logos, copyrighted material not owned by entrant, company names, music, photographs, motion picture or television program clips or audio tracks, works of art, or images published on or in websites, television, movies, or other media) or from any person who may have helped create or who may appear in the entry (or from an appropriate parent/legal guardian if any such person(s) is considered a minor). The entries submitted (video, photograph or essay) must be the original work of the entrant and must be owned by the entrant and must not feature, refer to, or mention any competing brands of the Sponsor. The essay, photograph or video must not have been submitted in any other competition or previously published (i.e., shown to anyone outside of your family or close friends). Modifying, enhancing or altering a third party’s pre-existing work does not qualify as entrant’s original creation. Entries must be in keeping with Sponsor’s image (does not defame, misrepresent, or contain disparaging remarks or any other content which could adversely affect the name, reputation or goodwill of the Sponsor or any other individuals and/or entities, does not contain pornographic or sexual content, hateful content of any kind (including without limitation racism, sexism, etc.), content which promotes violence or harm to another living creature, or any other offensive, obscene or inappropriate content), as determined in the sole discretion of the Sponsor, nor can it defame or invade publicity rights or privacy rights of any person, living or deceased, or otherwise infringe upon any person’s personal or property rights, including but not limited to, intellectual property rights. Sponsor’s right to use the entry shall not be restricted. Any entrant, whose entry includes the name, image, voice, picture or likenesses of third party or element not owned by the entrant such as, but not limited to depictions of buildings, trademarks or logos, ("Third Party Elements") must be able to provide legal releases for use in compliance with these Official Rules of all Third Party Elements by Sponsor in a form satisfactory to Sponsor at the time of prize notification. Sponsor will provide the appropriate release forms to winners at time of prize notification. Entries that are incomplete or do not comply with these official rules ("Official Rules") in any way are subject to disqualification. No correspondence regarding entries will be acknowledged or exchanged with entrants except as provided herein. Upon submission of an entry, entrant grants Sponsor the right to use, publish, adapt, assign, edit, dispose of, and/or modify such entry and the concepts and Third Party Elements embodied therein in any way, in commerce and in any and all media worldwide, without limitation or approval by or compensation to the entrant and entrant may be required to sign a release to that effect. Submission of an entry further constitutes the entrant’s consent to irrevocably assign and transfer to the Sponsor any and all rights, title, interest and claim, which he/she now has or may have in the future, to the entry, and the concepts and Third Party Elements embodied therein, including without limitation, the copyright therein. Such rights, title and interest shall include, but are not limited to, all intellectual property, sales, and licensing rights. Upon submission, all entries will become the sole property of the Sponsor and will not be returned or acknowledged. "Entry" is defined, for purposes of this Contest, as including both the online entry form plus the video, photograph or essay entry submitted. Personal information collected from an entrant will be used only for the purpose of judging the Contest and to notify the entrant in the event his/her entry is chosen as a Winner, and will not be re-used, sold or shared in any manner by Starbucks (the "Sponsor"), or any third parties unless entrant has opted-in to receive additional information and promotional materials from Sponsor. Once the promotion has ended, all information supplied by entrants who opt not to receive additional information will be removed from the database.
The Sponsor reserves the right to review all entries received and to only post entries on Starbucks VIA™ that conform to these Official Rules, as determined by the Sponsor in its sole discretion. Entries that do not comply with these Official Rules as determined by the Sponsor, in its sole discretion, will be subject to disqualification from the Contest and removal from the contest site. The Sponsor reserves the right to take down any entry from the Site at any time, for whatever reason, including subsequent determination that an entry does not comply with these Official Rules.
5. JUDGING AND WINNER SELECTION: Judging entries per Contest Period will occur as entries are received and will end one day after the end date for each of the six (6) Contest Periods as noted above. The entries will be judged for each Contest Period by a panel of judges selected by the Sponsor whose decisions are final and binding in all matters relating to the Contest. The best valid entry for each Contest Period, as determined by the judges, based upon: Originality and Creativity (50%), Expression of Theme (30%) and Fun (20%), for a total of 100 points. The entry that receives the highest points amongst all eligible entries received per Contest Period using the above criteria will be declared the winner for that Contest Period. (subject to validation and verification of eligibility and compliance with all terms and conditions set forth in the Official Rules). In the event of a tied score in any of the Contest Periods, the entry that received the most points for originality will be declared the winner and in the event of a further tie, the entry that scored the most points for technical execution will be declared the winner. In the event of a further tie, the tied entries will be judged independently by a new of judge and said judge will declare the winner based on the criteria above.
6. PRIZES AWARDED IN EACH CONTEST PERIOD AS FOLLOWS:
Contest Period #1 First taste: One (1) Grand Prize*: Five (5) 1-year Starbucks VIA™ subscriptions, three 12-packs per month for12 months (ARV: $1,800), Five (5) $100 Starbucks Cards (ARV: $500) and Five (5) iPod Touch 32GB, (ARV:) $299 each. Total approximate retail value of all prizes for Contest Period # 1 is $3,795. *The prize will be awarded only in the name of the person who submitted the winning entry. It is the winner's responsibility to distribute the prizes amongst the group as he/she sees fit.
Contest Period #2: Try it at home: One (1) Grand Prize: One (1) 1-year Starbucks VIA™ subscription, three 12-packs per month for 12 months, (ARV: $360), One (1) $100 Starbucks Card (ARV: $100) and a Hewlett Packard ("HP") computer package, package includes One (1) HP TouchSmart IQ 500 Computer (ARV: $1,000), One (1) HP MediaSmart Server EX495 (ARV: $700) and One (1) HP PhotoSmart Premium All-in-One Printer (ARV: $300). Total approximate retail value of all prizes for Contest Period # 2 is $2,460.
Contest Period #3 Try it at work: One (1) Grand Prize: One (1) 1-year subscription to Starbucks VIA™ for your office, three 48-packs per month for 12 months (ARV: $1,300), One (1) $100 Starbucks Card (ARV: $100) and a $2,500 bonus for your hard work, awarded in the form of an American Express gift card (ARV: $2,500). Total approximate retail value of all prizes for Contest Period # 3 is $3,900.
Contest Period #4 Try it on the go: One (1) Grand Prize: One (1) 1-year Starbucks VIA™ subscription, three 12-packs per month for 12 months, (ARV: $360), One (1) $100 Starbucks Mini Card (ARV: $100), One (1) Kindle: Amazon's 6" Wireless Reading Device (ARV: $299), and (One) 1 $1,500 Amazon Gift Card. Total approximate retail value of all prizes for Contest Period # 4 is $2,259.
Contest Period #5 Try it far out: One (1) Grand Prize: One (1) 1-year Starbucks VIA™ subscription, three 12-packs per month for 12 months, (ARV: $360), One (1) $100 Starbucks Card (ARV: $100), and Two (2) economy roundtrip tickets from any United Airlines/United Express gateway city in the fifty (50) United States to any United Airlines/United Express destination city and will be awarded in the form of a United Airlines/United Express travel voucher. Additional restrictions and black out dates may apply. (ARV: up to $3,000). Total approximate retail value of all prizes for Contest Period # 5 is $3,460.
Contest Period #6 Try it in recipes: One (1) Grand Prize: One (1) 1-year Starbucks VIA™ subscription, three 12-packs per month for 12 months, (ARV: $360), One (1) $100 Starbucks Card (ARV: $100), and One (1) $2,500 Williams-Sonoma Gift Card (ARV: $2,500). Total approximate retail value of all prizes for Contest Period # 6 is $2,960.
No prize substitutions, transfer, cash equivalent or assignment of prizes allowed, except at the sole discretion of the Sponsor due to unavailability in which case a prize of equal or greater value will be substituted. All taxes and any incidentals and other expenses associated with the prize and not specified herein as being awarded are the winner's sole responsibility.
7. NOTIFICATION: Potential grand prize winners for each Contest Period will be notified by e-mail by the Sponsor approximately one-two days after each Contest Period end date. Each of the potential winners may be required to complete and sign an Affidavit of Eligibility/Travel/Liability/Release, and, where legal, a Publicity Release and IRS form W-9, all of which must be returned within five (5) calendar days via FedEx to the Sponsor who will furnish a prepaid FedEx envelope. If the above documents are not received within the time period, if the prize notification is undeliverable, or in the event of noncompliance with the official rules, the prize will be forfeited and awarded to the entrant who has received the next highest number of points. By entering the Contest, entrants agree to the use by Sponsor and its designees of their name and photograph/likeness for advertising, promotional and other purposes, worldwide and in perpetuity, in any and all forms of media, now known or hereafter devised (including and without limitation, the Internet) without additional compensation, except where prohibited by law. Upon request, winners consent to such in writing.
8. Limitation of Liability: By participating in the Contest, entrants agree to release, indemnify and hold harmless Starbucks Corporation, Starbucks Licensed Concepts and Business Alliance partners, Marden-Kane, Inc., and all their respective parents, affiliates, subsidiaries, advertising and promotions agencies, and each of their respective agents, representatives, officers, directors, shareholders, and employees (collectively, "Releasees") from and against any injuries, losses, damages, claims, actions, or liability of any kind resulting from or arising from participation in the Contest or acceptance, possession, use, misuse or nonuse of any prize (including any travel related thereto) that may be awarded. This Contest and these Official Rules shall be interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Washington without regard to its principles of conflicts of law. Jurisdiction and venue shall be solely within the State of Washington relating to the administration of the Contest. Releasees are not responsible for computer, technical, printing, typographical, human or other errors relating to or in connection with this Contest, including, without limitation, errors which may occur in the administration of the Contest, the announcement of the prize, the processing of entries or in any Contest related materials; or for transactions that are lost, stolen, late, misdirected, damaged, incomplete, or illegible entries or postage due mail; entries that fail to enter into the processing system, or are processed, reported, or transmitted late or incorrectly or are lost for any reason including computer, telephone, paper transfer, human or other error; or for electronic, computer, or telephonic malfunction or error, or process any transaction thereon. If in the Sponsor's opinion, there is any suspected or actual evidence of electronic or non-electronic tampering with any portion of the Contest, or if computer virus, bugs, unauthorized intervention, fraud, or technical difficulties or failures compromise or corrupt or affect the administration, integrity, security, fairness, or proper conduct of the Contest, the judges reserve the right at their sole discretion to disqualify any individual who tampers with the entry process and or void any entries submitted fraudulently, to modify or suspend the Contest, or to terminate the Contest or that portion of the Contest relating to the suspected or actual tampering of the Contest, and to award the prizes using all eligible non-suspect entries received as of the termination date. Should the Contest be terminated or modified prior to the stated expiration date, notice will be posted on www.StarbucksVia.com. Any attempts by an individual to access any web site associated with this promotion via robotic, automatic entry devices, programs such as, but not limited to, by script, macro or any other automated means, or other unauthorized entry will void all such entries by such methods. Any attempt by an entrant or any other individual to deliberately damage any web site or undermine the legitimate operation of the promotion is a violation of criminal and civil laws and should such an attempt be made, the Sponsor reserve the right to seek damages and other remedies from any such person to the fullest extent permitted by law. As a condition of entering the Contest, participant agrees that: a.) under no circumstances will participant 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 Contest, or the prize awarded, shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action; and c.) any and all claims, judgments, and awards shall be limited to actual out-of-pocket costs incurred, but in no event attorneys’ fees. Sponsor reserves the right to modify prize award procedures. In the event of a dispute as to the identity or eligibility of a winner based on an email address, the winning entry will be declared made by the "Authorized Account Holder" of the email address submitted at time of entry. "Authorized Account Holder" is defined as the natural person 18 years of age or older who is assigned to an email address by an Internet access provider, online service provider, or other organization (e.g., business, education institution, etc.) that is responsible for assigning email addresses for the domain associated with the submitted email address.
9. WHO WON?: For the names of the winners, available after 11/30/09, go to www.starbucksvia.com/contestwinners.
YouTube, flickr, Apple, Hewlett Packard, United Airlines/United Express, American Express, Amazon and Williams-Sonoma are not participants or sponsors of this Promotion and their names, model names and logos are registered trademarks of each.
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