Official Rules: "Times Mom Stood Up for Me" Writing Competition

THE FOLLOWING CONTEST IS INTENDED FOR RESIDENTS OF THE 50 UNITED STATES AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA ONLY (EXCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, PUERTO RICO AND OTHER US TERRITORIES) AND SHALL ONLY BE CONSTRUED AND EVALUATED ACCORDING TO UNITED STATES LAW AND AMERICAN ENGLISH. MUST BE AT LEAST 18 YEARS OF AGE TO ENTER.

Official Rules: Times Mom Stood Up For Me Contest

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED.

1. Contest Period: Times Mom Stood Up For Me Contest: (the "Contest")

Entry Period: runs from 6:00 AM EDT, Wednesday, April 11, 2007 to 11:59 PM EDT Wednesday, April 25, 2007.

Voting Period: 6:00 AM EDT, Wednesday, April 11, 2007, to 11:59 PM EDT Sunday, April 29, 2007.   

Winner Notified: Winner will be notified before Thursday, May 10, 2007. 

Winner Announced: Winner will be announced and will appear with Mitch Albom on the CBS Early Show on Thursday, May 10, 2007.

Sponsor's computer clock governs time stamp.

2. Eligibility: This Contest is run only on the Internet. You may enter the Contest if you are a legal resident of the 50 United States or the District of Columbia, are 18 years of age or older at the time of entry and have Internet access as of April 10, 2007. Void outside of listed states and where prohibited. Employees, officers, directors, agents and representatives of Gather Inc. ("Sponsor"), CBS, Borders Group, Inc., and their respective parent companies, subsidiaries, affiliates, promotion, advertising, design, web design, web hosting, publicity, production and print production agencies and anyone connected with the production, hosting and distribution of this Contest (collectively, "Contest Entities"), and Royal Caribbean International (a “Prize Supplier”), their immediate family members (parents, children, siblings, spouse and each of their respective spouses, regardless of where they live) and members of any of their households are not eligible to enter or be awarded a prize.

3. How to Enter: Before 11:59 PM EDT Wednesday, April 25, 2007, you must complete two (2) activities in order to enter this Contest. 1) Join the Borders Mitch Albom “Times Mom Stood Up For Me” Group on Gather.com. When you have landed on the join page, follow the directions (for Gather and non-Gather members) on how to register for the group. All information collected on Gather.com will be subject to Gather.com’s Privacy Policy.  After you have completed the group registration, you may enter the “Times Mom Stood Up For Me” Contest. 2) Go to http://borders.gather.com and sign in. Click on the "Publish" button on top of the page, select article and enter your title. You may type directly into the body of the submission page or paste in your entry, if you have written it elsewhere. To add a JPEG image of the person you are honoring this Mother’s Day, click on "Add Images to Your Article" and then "Browse." Then upload your JPEG image and click "Save." When you have finished adding your image and completed the text of your article click "Next." Photos are NOT required, but are encouraged. In the Tags field, you must insert the tag “Mom” into the tags field and under "Who can view my article," you must enter "Everyone" and select the "Borders" Group. Click "Publish".  Entrants should submit an original, previously unpublished, article/essay relaying a childhood memory of a particular moment in which a mother stood up for them.

Submissions should be no longer than 300 words and can include one or more JPEG images.  Photos are NOT required, but are encouraged. Please type the word count at the end of your entry. Entries longer than 300 words will be disqualified. Only one entry allowed per participant. All entries must be: in English, original material, unpublished, not previously submitted elsewhere, and may not be submitted elsewhere. Contest entries should not contain pornography, sexual or racial slurs, offensive language or obscenities. Please do not publish the same entry on Gather.com more than once. Sponsor and Contest Entities reserve the right to disqualify any entry that is determined to be in violation of these guidelines (Please see Borders.Gather.com for more details).

4.  Article/Photo/Publicity Rights: By entering this Contest, you acknowledge that you have read and understood these Official Rules and you accept these Official Rules and agree to abide by the governing terms and conditions.  By entering this Contest you also explicitly (i) certify that you meet the eligibility requirements as set forth in these Official Rules; (ii) grant to the Contest Entities ownership of the article and any photos submitted therewith (including all rights embodied therein) and that they and their designees may exploit all elements of such entry and/or photo in any and all media now known or not currently known, without compensation to you or any third party; (iii) represent and warrant that you have not used licensed material or any material owned by someone other than you; and (v) represent and warrant that your entry is original, is true and verifiable, that you own or otherwise control all the rights to your article and photo (if submitted),  that your entry does not violate any law, regulation or any right of any third party, and that you have not copied or plagiarized the concept for your entry from other material. All entries become the property of Contest Entities and will not be returned.

5. Judging and Winner Selection: Gather.com members will read and rate entries based on the following 3 criteria:  originality and creativity, appropriateness to topic, and clarity of essay.  Gather.com members will rate the entries using Gather.com's rating system. Ten (10) finalists will be chosen based on a standard weighted formula that includes average rating and number of votes. If, in Sponsor and Contest Entities’ discretion, there are not a sufficient number of eligible and qualified entries, Sponsor and Contest Entities reserve the right to send fewer than ten (10) finalists to Mitch Albom for his ultimate selection of the top three (3) finalists. 

Sponsor, Contest Entities, and Mitch Albom’s decisions on finalists are final and binding, and are not subject to challenge or appeal.

You may make tiny edits to correct a spelling or grammatical error by clicking the "edit" button next to your submission. You may NOT edit your entry after the end of the submission period. You may not materially change the review you submit once it has been published. Any review that contains substantive changes will be disqualified.

Once the ten (10) finalists are determined, Mitch Albom will select his favorite essay and the top three (3) finalists will be notified for additional information.  Then, subject to a background check, verification of the entry, compliance with these Official Rules, and completion and return of all required documents, the Grand Prize winner will be chosen from the top three (3) finalists.  A background check may be conducted on potential winner.  At the discretion of Contest Entities, potential winner may be disqualified for any of the following: if charged with or convicted of a felony or misdemeanor, if not eligible based on the eligibility requirements set forth above, or if delinquent on a government ordered payment, such as but not limited to: child support, spousal support, alimony, tax payments, etc.  In the event it is determined that potential winner has not complied with these Official Rules, has failed to execute and return any required documents within the specified time period, or has made false statements, then potential winner may be disqualified. Should it be determined winner made a false statement(s) in any document required by Contest Entities or Prize Supplier after prize has been awarded, winner will be disqualified and required to promptly return to Contest Entities his/her prize.  If potential winner is disqualified for any reason, at Contest Entities’ discretion, the winner will be chosen from among the other top three (3) finalists.

The top ten (10) finalists will be notified before Thursday, May 10, 2007 (via email) and the Grand Prize winner will be announced on in the Borders Shortlist and on CBS Early Show on May 10, 2007. If the Grand Prize winner is unable to accept the prize or does not respond to winner notification email within 24 hours, the Grand Prize may be forfeited and Sponsor and Contest Entities may choose another Grand Prize winner from among the other top three (3) finalists.

6. Quantity, Prize, Approximate Retail Value (ARV):
One (1) Grand Prize: Trip for two (2), including round-trip airfare (coach class) and standard hotel accommodations (1 room, double occupancy), to New York City to appear with Mitch Albom on the CBS Early Show on May 10, 2007.  Ground transportation to and from a New York metropolitan area airport, and to and from the hotel to the CBS Early Show studios, is included.  Grand Prize winners also win a seven (7) night cruise vacation to the Caribbean for two (2) (based on interior stateroom) from Royal Caribbean, onboard Liberty of the Seas, Royal Caribbean International’s newest addition.  Cruise includes: round trip coach air transportation to/from major U.S. gateway airport (to be determined by Contest Entities) nearest winner’s residence to airport nearest embarkment/disembarkment point, round trip ground transportation between airport and embarkment/disembarkment point, standard interior stateroom for two (2) (one (1) cabin, double occupancy) and select meals, beverages and entertainment aboard the vessel. If any Grand Prize winner resides within a 100 mile radius of embarkment/disembarkment point, ground transportation may be provided in lieu of air transportation and no compensation or substitution will be provided for difference in prize value.  Grand Prize does not include taxes, insurance, telephone charges, personal expenses, gratuities, shore excursions, some beverages, photographs, service fees, medical services, incidental charges, or any other costs or expense not specifically described in these Official Rules as being awarded, and all such costs and expenses are the responsibility of the Grand Prize Winner. The actual value of the Grand Prize may vary depending upon the point of departure, dates of travel, and fare fluctuation.  Grand Prize Winner must book cruise within six (6) weeks of winner notification and cruise must be taken within 12 months of date of issuance of certificate or prize will be forfeited in its entirety and Sponsor shall have no further obligation to winner.  No extension or change of dates permitted once Sponsor has confirmed dates. Cruise is subject to air travel, ground transportation, hotel and cruise availability, blackout dates as well as other prize and travel restrictions.  Not all ship itineraries may be available to Grand Prize Winners.  Grand Prize Winner and his/her travel companion must travel together on the same itinerary and must have valid travel documents, including passports and visa (if applicable), prior to departure. Travel companion must be of legal age of majority in his/her state of residence (and at least 18) at time of winner notification. Travel arrangements must be made through Contest Entitie’s agent on a carrier of Contest Entitie’s choice. Airline carrier’s and cruise line’s regulations and conditions and any other restrictions apply to prize travel. Grand Prize Winner and travel companion must sign and return a Release of Liability/Publicity Release prior to prize award.  All federal, state and local taxes and any other expenses or costs associated with prize acceptance and use not specified as being awarded herein are the sole responsibility of the winners.  No substitution, cash alternative or transfer of any prize permitted, except Sponsor may, at its discretion, substitute a prize (or portion thereof) of comparable or greater value.  Prizes are awarded “as is” with no warranty or guarantee, either express or implied, offered by Contest Entities.  All prize details are at the sole discretion of Contest Entities.  Limit one (1) prize per person/email address/household.

Nine (9) Second-Place Prizes:  The top nine (9) runner-ups will receive a $100 Borders Gift Card.  Gift cards are subject to certain terms and conditions as specified by Borders.

One (1) Grand-Prize: The grand prize winner will receive a 7-night cruise vacation onboard Royal Caribbean’s Liberty of the Seas valued at $4,000 with airfare.


7.  General: Contest administration and verification will be supervised by Sponsor and Contest Entities, whose decisions are final. By participating in this Contest, you agree to be bound by these Official Rules, Sponsor's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, and the decisions of the Gather.com members and the Contest Entities. The submission of entries will be conducted on the Internet at www.gather.com only. By entering this Contest, an entrant explicitly releases, discharges and holds harmless the Sponsor and Contest Entities and their shareholders, successors and assigns, one and all, from any and all liability, actions, causes of action, damages, actual, incidental or consequential, claims and demands whatsoever in law or equity, including all "costs," which he/she now has or may acquire, by reason of any personal injury, death, loss of or damage to property, or any reason, occurring during or arising out of his/her participation in the Contest and the acceptance, possession, use or misuse of a prize. 
Potential winner and guest must sign and return an Affidavit of Eligibility and Liability and Publicity release within four (4) days of attempted notification certifying that entry submission is entrant’s own original work, has not been previously distributed or promoted, has not won a previous prize or award and that he/she has followed the Official Rules of this contest.  Noncompliance within this time period or return of any prize notification as undeliverable may result in disqualification and an alternate winner will be determined, time permitting.  By submission of entry, entrants agree to waive any and all rights, title and interest in the submitted material and assign all such rights, title and interest to Contest Entities. 
All travelers must execute a Release of Liability prior to ticketing and must possess required travel documents (i.e., valid photo I.D.) prior to departure.  Acceptance of prize constitutes permission to Contest Entities to use winner’s entry, image, name, voice and/or likeness for purposes of advertising and trade without further compensation, notification, or approval, unless prohibited by law.  By accepting a prize, winner waives the right to 1) assert as a cost of winning the prize any and all costs of verification and redemption or travel to redeem said prize, and 2) claim any liability (including attorney's fees and costs) that might arise from redeeming or seeking to redeem said prize. There will be no substitution or compensation for the prize or part of the prize forfeited for any reason. Sponsor and Contest Entities, and their officers, directors, employees, affiliates, related entities, partners, partnerships, principals, representatives, agents, licensees, successors and assigns (i) make no warranty, guarantee or representation of any kind concerning the prizes; and (ii) disclaim any implied warranty. The right to receive any prize is non-assignable and non-transferable and no prize substitution, extension, transfer, exchange or cash equivalent will be allowed except as expressly provided in these Official Rules or by the Contest Entities who reserve the right to substitute a prize (or portion of prize) of equal or greater value in case of unavailability of the prize or any portion thereof, the price of the specified cruises rises materially prior to booking, Force Majeure, or any other cause. All federal, state and local laws and regulations apply.

8.  Internet Disclosure:  Sponsor and Contest Entities are not responsible for incomplete, lost, late, damaged, corrupted entries, or for any technical problems, malfunctions of any computer systems, servers, providers, hardware/software, lost or unavailable network connections or failed, incomplete, garbled or delayed computer transmission or any combination thereof.  Sponsor and Contest Entities are not responsible for any damage to entrant’s or any other person’s/entity’s computer system/software or communications network, regardless of cause.  CAUTION: ANY ATTEMPT TO DELIBERATELY DAMAGE ANY WEB SITE OR UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THIS PROMOTION IS A VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAW.  SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, SPONSOR AND CONTEST ENTITIES RESERVE THE RIGHT TO SEEK DAMAGES FROM ANY SUCH INDIVIDUAL TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW.  Any use of robotic, automatic, programmed, or the like methods of participation will void all such submissions by such methods.  Sponsor and Contest Entities reserve the right to terminate/cancel or modify the online entering process or disqualify any entrant if, in Sponsor's and/or Contest Entities’ judgment, it is determined that the integrity or fairness of the Contest has been, or could be, compromised or that the Contest is not capable of running as planned or fairly, including infection by computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention (hacking), fraud, technical failures, Force Majeure or any other cause. Should this Contest be terminated/cancelled during the Contest Entry Period, judging will take place in the manner detailed above from all entries received up to the point of termination/cancellation. In the case of a dispute regarding the identity of the person submitting an online entry, the entry will be deemed submitted by name on the registration form.
If for any reason the promotion is canceled, including infection by computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures or any other causes outside control of Sponsor and Contest Entities which impair or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity, or proper conduct of this promotion, Sponsor and Contest Entities reserve the right to disqualify any individual who tampers with the entry process and to cancel, modify, terminate or suspend the contest. 

9.  If any provision of this Contest shall be deemed to violate any federal, state or municipal law, it shall be amended to conform to such law and all other provisions shall remain in full force and effect. All taxes are each winner's responsibility; the value of the prizes will be treated as ordinary income to prize recipient for income tax purposes and an IRS Form 1099 for the year 2007 will be sent to winners by the Prize Suppliers for prizes valued over $600.

10. Sponsor, Contest Entities, and all production and hosting agencies shall not be responsible for technical, pictorial, typographical or editorial errors or omissions in any marketing materials or these Official Rules, or other error in the administration of the contest, or in the announcement of the prizes.  In the event there is a discrepancy or inconsistency between disclosures or other statements contained in any contest materials and the terms and conditions of the Official Rules, the Official Rules shall prevail, govern and control.  This Contest is conducted in American English.

11. By entering this Contest, each entrant agrees that any and all disputes, claims, actions and causes of action arising out of or connected with this Contest or the prize awarded and all issues and questions concerning the validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Official Rules shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action, and exclusively in a court of competent jurisdiction sitting in Michigan. Any and all claims, judgments and awards shall be limited to actual out-of-pocket costs incurred and never shall include consequential, incidental or punitive damages, and in no event attorneys' fees or "costs." Some jurisdictions do not allow the limitation or exclusion of liability for incidental or consequential damages, so the above may not apply to you.

12.  For Winner announcement, check http://mom.gather.com.   For winner’s list, send a self-addressed stamped envelope to Borders, 100 Phoenix Drive, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109. Attn: Denise Chamers.

13. Sponsor: Gather Inc., 85 Devonshire Street, 3rd floor, Boston, MA 02109.

14.  Contest Entities:  Borders Group Inc., 100 Phoenix Drive, Ann Arbor, MI, 48108; CBS Early Show, 524 West 57th, New York, NY, 10019.

15.  Prize Suppliers:  Borders Group Inc., 100 Phoenix Drive, Ann Arbor, MI, 48108; CBS Early Show, 524 West 57th, New York, NY, 10019; Royal Caribbean International, 1050 Caribbean Way, Miami, FL 33132-2096.