NBA.com: STAPLES Road Trip Sweepstakes Rules

NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT OF ANY KIND IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN THIS SWEEPSTAKES.
Staples Road Trip with the L.A. Clippers ("Sweepstakes") is sponsored by Staples the Office Superstore, Inc. (“Staples”), 500 Staples Drive, Framingham, MA 01702, and LAC Basketball Club, Inc. (“Clippers”), 1111 S. Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA 90015 (Staples and Clippers are sometimes collectively referred to herein as “Sponsors”), in connection with the World Wide Web site of the Clippers (the "Site", currently located at http://www.clippers.com). The Sweepstakes entry period begins on January 25, 2003 at 12:01 PM Pacific Standard Time ("PST"), and ends on March 7, 2003 at 12:00 PM PST (such period, the "Sweepstakes Period"). References to Sponsors shall be deemed to include Sponsors’ other designee(s), as applicable.

By entering and participating in the sweepstakes, entrant (1) fully and unconditionally agrees to accept and be bound by these Official Rules and by all decisions of Sponsors, which decisions, including without limitations decisions regarding eligibility, winners and the interpretation of these Official Rules and all terms in these Official Rules, shall be final and binding in all respects; and (2) represents and warrants that all information provided by entrant in connection with the sweepstakes is true, accurate and complete as of the date of entry.

1. ELIGIBILITY: VOID OUTSIDE OF THE ELIGIBILITY AREA (DEFINED BELOW) AND WHERE OTHERWISE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
Participation in this Sweepstakes is open only to any individual who is, as of the beginning of the Sweepstakes Period, (a) a legal resident of one of the 48 contiguous United States and the District of Columbia ("Eligibility Area"); and (b) 21 years of age or older. Employees, officers, directors, shareholders, and agents of Sponsors, the National Basketball Association and its member teams, NBA Properties, Inc., and their respective representatives and agents (such entities, collectively, the "Sweepstakes Entities"), the respective employees, officers, and directors of the Sweepstakes Entities, and the immediate family members (spouse, mother, father, sister, brother, daughter, or son, regardless of where they live) or members of the same households (whether related or not) of the foregoing individuals, are not eligible to participate in the Sweepstakes or to win any prize. VOID in Colorado and where prohibited.

2. HOW TO ENTER:
a. Two (2) ways to enter. (1) To enter online: visit the home page on the Site (currently located at http://www.clippers.com), click on the Staples advertisement, click on the online Sweepstakes entry form, fill out the online Sweepstakes entry form by providing your name, company name, address, daytime phone, business phone and email address, and click "Submit." Limit one entry per person per day, regardless of means of entry. (2) To enter by mail: Print your name, company name, address, daytime phone, business phone and email address on the official entry form or a 3.5 x 5 card and mail to: Staples Road Trip with the L.A. Clippers Sweepstakes, P.O. Box 3010, Rogers, MN 55374-3010. Mail-in entries must be postmarked on or before 3/7/03 and received by 5:00 p.m. on 3/14/03. Email entries must be received no later than 11:59 p.m. PST on 3/7/02.

b. ENTRY GUIDELINES AND RESTRICTIONS:
Sponsors are not responsible for lost, interrupted or unavailable network server or other connection, miscommunications, failed phone or computer or telephone transmissions or technical failure, jumbled, scrambled or misdirected transmissions, or late, lost, illegible, incomplete, damaged, destroyed, delayed, misdirected or postage-due mail or other error of any kind whether human, mechanical or electronic. In the case of multiple Internet entries in a given day, only the first entry will be accepted. Use of automated devices is not valid for entry. If there is a dispute over the identity of an online entrant, entry will be deemed submitted by the Authorized Account Holder regardless of the individual that submitted the entry. “Authorized Account Holder” is defined as the natural person who is assigned an email address by an Internet access provider, online service provider or other organization (e.g. business, educational, institution, etc.) responsible for assigning email addresses for the domain associated with the submitted email address. CAUTION: Any attempt by an entrant to deliberately damage any Web site or undermine the legitimate operations of the Sweepstakes is a violation of the criminal and civil laws. Should such an attempt be made, the Sponsors reserve the right to seek damages from any such entrant to the fullest extent permitted by law and to disqualify such entrant from the Sweepstakes. In the event the Sweepstakes is compromised by virus, bug, non-authorized human intervention or other causes beyond the control of Sponsors, which corrupts or impairs the administration, security, fairness or proper play of the Sweepstakes, Sponsors reserve the right in its sole discretion to suspend or terminate the Internet portion of the Sweepstakes. Online entries must be actually received by Sponsors before the end of the Sweepstakes Period to be deemed eligible; online entries received by Sponsors after the end of the Sweepstakes Period will be discarded and deemed VOID. In the event of a dispute as to who submitted an online entry, the individual who was, at the time of entry (in Sponsors’ sole discretion), the registered subscriber/holder of the email account used to enter the Sweepstakes will be deemed the eligible entrant. Odds of winning are determined by and depend on the total number of eligible entries received. Any attempt to enter the Sweepstakes that is made in a manner other than as permitted in this Section 2 will, upon discovery thereof by Sponsors, be deemed VOID and ineligible. Proof of entering Sweepstakes online will not be deemed by Sponsors to constitute proof of delivery or receipt of entry. Any use of entry methods prohibited by these Official Rules may, upon discovery thereof by Sponsors and in Sponsors’ sole and absolute discretion, VOID some or all entries made by such methods and subject entrant to disqualification from further participation in the Sweepstakes and/or any future Sponsors’ sweepstakes or other promotions. No changes to any entry materials or information will be permitted once submitted. All entries become the property of Sponsors and will not be acknowledged or returned.

3. THE GRAND PRIZE: a. SELECTING THE WINNER:
On or around March 17, 2003, one (1) Grand Prize Winner ("Winner") will be selected at random by Sponsors from among all eligible entries received during the Sweepstakes Period. Winner and guests must be 21 years or older to claim the prize. Inability of Sponsors to contact Winner, or return of Sponsors emails or prize notification as "undeliverable" for any reason, may result in disqualification of Winner and selection of an alternate Winner from among all remaining eligible entries. Winner and guests, where permitted by law, may be required by Sponsors to execute and return an Affidavit of Eligibility and a Liability/Publicity Release (the "Affidavit/Release") and a completed IRS W-9 form within seven (7) days following Sponsors’ notification. Noncompliance within such seven (7) day requirement, or inability or unavailability of Winner to accept a prize for any reason, may result in disqualification of Winner and selection by Sponsors of an alternate Winner from among all remaining eligible entries.

b. PRIZES:
One (1) Winner will be awarded the Grand Prize, which will consist of round trip coach air travel for Winner and up to three (3) additional persons who meet all eligibility requirements contained in these Official Rules from the airport nearest to Winner’s place of residence that offers flight service to Los Angeles, CA, hotel accommodations (at a hotel selected by Sponsors in or near Los Angeles, CA) for Winner and up to three (3) additional persons (maximum of up to two (2) rooms for not more than two (2) nights stay), four (4) game tickets to L.A. Clippers vs. Dallas Mavericks game on March 26, 2003 at STAPLES Center®, round trip airfare to Sacramento, CA on team charter, hotel accommodations (at a hotel selected by Sponsors in or near Sacramento, CA) for Winner and up to three (3) additional persons (maximum of up to two (2) rooms for not more than one (1) nights stay), ground transportation (from the Sacramento area airport to the hotel, from the hotel to the arena in Sacramento for the game on March 27, 2003, from the arena back to the hotel following the game, and from the hotel back to the Sacramento airport), and four (4) tickets to the NBA regular season game between the Los Angeles Clippers and Sacramento Kings on March 27, 2003. Grand Prize Winner and guests must be available to travel between following dates: March 26, 2003 and March 28, 2003. The total approximate retail value of the Grand Prize is $4,999. The value of the Grand Prize represents Sponsors’ good faith determination of the maximum retail value thereof. All persons accompanying the Winner must meet all eligibility requirements otherwise specified in these Official Rules, and must execute the Affidavit Release in order to be allowed to accompany Winner or receive any other portion or benefits of the Prize.

c. ADDITIONAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS GOVERNING PRIZE:
The Sweepstakes Entities assume no responsibility for cancellation due to labor strike, industry conditions, commercial viability, or any other cause. The Grand Prize awarded in connection with the Sweepstakes is nontransferable and nonendorseable. The Grand Prize (or any portion thereof) cannot be sold or transferred. All taxes (including without limitation Federal, state, and local taxes) on or in connection with the Prize, and the reporting consequences thereof, are the sole and exclusive responsibility of Winner. No substitution of the Prize will be permitted, except that Sponsors reserve the right in its sole discretion to substitute all or any portion of the Prize with either the cash value of the Prize or such portion thereof, or a Prize or prizes of equal or greater value thereto, in the event that (i) such Prize or portion thereof is or becomes unavailable, or (ii) the Winner is unable to receive, accept, or assume responsibility for the Prize or any portion thereof for any reason. Except where otherwise expressly noted in these Official Rules, the selection of all vendors, prizes, products, and services is subject to Sponsors’ sole and absolute discretion.

4. DISQUALIFICATION/INELIGIBILITY:
Without limiting any other provision of these Official Rules, Sponsors reserve the right, at any time and in its sole discretion, to disqualify and/or deem ineligible to participate in this Sweepstakes or any future Sponsors’ sweepstakes or other promotions, any individual Sponsors suspect or determine: to be tampering with the entry process or the operation of the Sweepstakes or Site; to be in violation of the Site's Terms of Use [http://www.nba.com/clippers/terms_of_use.html], Privacy Policy [http://www.nba.com/clippers/private_policy.html], or other terms, conditions, or guidelines; to have failed to agree to these Official Rules; to be in violation of these Official Rules; to be acting in bad faith, or in a non-sportsmanlike or disruptive manner; or to be annoying, abusing, threatening, or harassing any other person in connection with the Sweepstakes or the Site. Furthermore, Sponsors reserve the right, in its sole and absolute discretion, to disregard and/or deem VOID any or all of such entrant's entries in the Sweepstakes. ANY ATTEMPT TO DAMAGE THE SITE OR TAMPER WITH OR UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THE SWEEPSTAKES IS A VIOLATION OF THESE OFFICIAL RULES AS WELL AS CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS. SHOULD SPONSORS BELIEVE OR BECOME AWARE THAT SUCH AN ATTEMPT HAS BEEN, IS BEING, OR WILL BE MADE, SPONSORS RESERVE THE RIGHT TO SEEK REMEDIES AND DAMAGES FROM ANY RESPONSIBLE ENTRANT(S) AND OTHER RESPONSIBLE INDIVIDUAL(S) TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION CRIMINAL PROSECUTION.

5. LICENSE:
Where permitted by law Winner agrees to grant to Sponsors, the Sweepstakes Entities, and their respective licensees, affiliates, and assigns, the right to print, publish, broadcast, and use, worldwide in any media now known or hereafter developed, including without limitation the World Wide Web, at any time or times, the Winner’s name, likeness (actual or simulated), voice (actual or simulated), and biographical information as news or information and for advertising and promotional purposes without additional consideration; and further without such additional compensation, appear for, or provide biographical information for use in, any presentation or other activity which may include filming/audio/video/electronic or other recordings and/or interviews, as may be determined from time to time by Sponsors in its sole discretion. In addition, prior to accompanying Winner on any portion of the trip or otherwise participating in or receiving any portion of the Prize or any benefits relating thereto, any and all persons selected by Winner to accompany Winner on the trip or otherwise receive any portion of benefit of the Prize must also execute and deliver to Sponsors the Affidavit/Release, granting to Sponsors, the Sweepstakes Entities and their respective licensees, affiliates, and assigns, the same rights.

6. RELEASE AND INDEMNIFICATION: BY ENTERING THE SWEEPSTAKES, ENTRANTS RELEASE AND HOLD THE SWEEPSTAKES ENTITIES HARMLESS FROM AND AGAINST ANY AND ALL LOSSES, DAMAGES, RIGHTS, CLAIMS, AND ACTIONS OF ANY KIND ARISING IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, FROM THE SWEEPSTAKES OR PARTICIPATION IN ANY SWEEPSTAKES-RELATED ACTIVITY (INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION THE REMOVAL FROM THE SITE OF, OR DISCONTINUATION OF ACCESS TO, ANY MATERIALS), OR RESULTING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, FROM ACCEPTANCE, POSSESSION, USE, OR MISUSE OF ANY PRIZE AWARDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE SWEEPSTAKES, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION PERSONAL INJURY, DEATH, AND/OR PROPERTY DAMAGE, AS WELL AS CLAIMS BASED ON PUBLICITY RIGHTS, DEFAMATION, AND/OR INVASION OF PRIVACY.

7. DISCLAIMERS; LIMITATION OF LIABILITY.
The Sweepstakes Entities make no warranties, and hereby disclaim any and all warranties, express or implied, concerning any prize furnished or made available in connection with the Sweepstakes. No responsibility is assumed by the Sweepstakes Entities for lost, late, incomplete, stolen, misdirected, mutilated, postage-due, illegible, unreadable, inaccurate, incorrect, inaccessible, corrupted, or unusable online entries; incorrect or inaccurate online or printed information relating to the Sweepstakes (including typographical errors); any computer, telephone, cable, network, satellite, server, service provider, Site, electronic, power, or Internet or other hardware or software malfunctions, failures, connections, or availability; data loss or late or incorrect data processing; Internet traffic congestion; service provider/Internet/Site inaccessibility, unavailability, or malfunction; garbled or jumbled transmissions; or unauthorized human intervention. Although Sponsors attempt to ensure the integrity of the Sweepstakes, Sweepstakes Entities are not responsible for the actions of entrants or other individuals in connection with the Sweepstakes, including entrants' or other individuals' attempts to circumvent the Official Rules or otherwise interfere with the administration, security, fairness, integrity, or proper conduct of the Sweepstakes. Sweepstakes Entities are not responsible for injury or damage to entrant’s or to any other person's computer(s), other equipment, or person(s), related to or resulting from participation in the Sweepstakes or downloading materials from or using the Site. If, for any reason, the Sweepstakes is not capable of running as planned by reason of damage by computer virus, worms, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical limitations or failures, strikes, industry conditions, bankruptcy or liquidation, marketplace demands, applicable law, unforeseen obstacles, or any other causes which, in the sole opinion of Sponsors, could corrupt, compromise, undermine, or otherwise affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity, viability, or proper conduct of the Sweepstakes, Sponsors reserve the right in its sole and absolute discretion to modify these Official Rules and/or to cancel, terminate, modify, or suspend all or any part of the Sweepstakes, and to select a Winner from among all eligible entries received up to the time of such cancellation, termination, modification, or suspension, as applicable, in accordance with Section 3(a) above.

IN NO EVENT WILL THE SWEEPSTAKES ENTITIES BE RESPONSIBLE OR LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES OR LOSSES OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, ARISING OUT OF ANY ACCESS TO AND/OR USE OF THE SITE, THE DOWNLOADING FROM AND/OR PRINTING MATERIAL DOWNLOADED FROM THE SITE, THE REMOVAL FROM THE SITE OF, OR DISCONTINUATION OF ACCESS TO, ANY MATERIALS, OR THE ACCEPTANCE, POSSESSION, USE, OR MISUSE OF, OR ANY HARM RESULTING FROM THE ACCEPTANCE, POSSESSION, USE OR MISUSE OF, OR PARTICIPATION IN, ANY PRIZE AWARDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE SWEEPSTAKES. WITHOUT LIMITING THE FOREGOING, THE SWEEPSTAKES, ALL PRIZES, AND ALL MATERIALS PROVIDED ON OR THROUGH THE SITE ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT.

8. GOVERNING LAW; LEGAL PROCEEDINGS:
a. GOVERNING LAW:
THE SUBSTANTIVE LAWS (AS DISTINGUISHED FROM THE CHOICE OF LAW RULES) OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AND THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA APPLICABLE TO CONTRACTS MADE AND PERFORMED ENTIRELY IN CALIFORNIA AND WHERE THE RELEVANT CONTACTS ARE WITH SUCH STATE SHALL GOVERN (i) THE VALIDITY AND INTERPRETATION OF THESE OFFICIAL RULES; (ii) THE PERFORMANCE BY ENTRANT AND SPONSORS OF THEIR RESPECTIVE OBLIGATIONS HEREUNDER; AND (iii) ALL OTHER CAUSES OF ACTION (WHETHER SOUNDING IN CONTRACT OR IN TORT) ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THE SWEEPSTAKES.

b. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS:
The parties hereby agree to submit any disputes or controversies relating to any of the matters referred to in subparagraph (a) above to a Rent-A-Judge mutually selected by the parties (or if they cannot agree, to a Rent-A-Judge appointed by the Presiding Judge of the Superior Court for the County of Los Angeles) and appointed and serving pursuant to Subsection 1 of California Code of Civil Procedure, Section 638 or any amendment, addition or successor section thereto, which Rent-A-Judge shall sit in Los Angeles County, California, without a jury, and shall hear, try and determine all issues in the case, whether of fact or law, and report a statement of decision thereon; provided, however, that if prior to the appointment of the Rent-A-Judge, Sponsors desire to obtain a preliminary injunction, temporary restraining order or similar provisional judicial order or decree, Sponsors may seek and obtain such order or decree from any court of competent jurisdiction, but the foregoing shall not limit or affect the application of this subparagraph (b) to all other matters, including any other relief sought by either party with respect to the dispute or controversy giving rise to such judicial order or decree. The parties intend this general reference agreement to be specifically enforceable. If the parties do not agree upon the fees to be paid to the selected or appointed Rent-A-Judge, the fees shall be fixed and paid, as if the reference to such Rent-A-Judge were involuntary, pursuant to California Code of Civil Procedure Sections 645.1 and 1023. Any retrial of any issue shall be subject to the provisions of this Paragraph in the same manner as specified hereinabove.

9. MISCELLANEOUS:
a. DATES AND DEADLINES:
Because of the unique nature and scope of the Sweepstakes, Sponsors reserve the right, in addition to those other rights reserved herein, to modify any date(s) or deadline(s) set forth in these Official Rules or otherwise governing the Sweepstakes.

b. PRIVACY:
Information submitted in connection with the Sweepstakes will be treated in accordance with these Official Rules and Sponsors’ Privacy Policy (as may be amended from time to time), currently located at http://www.nba.com/clippers/private_policy.html); provided, that in the event of any conflict between these Official Rules and such Privacy Policy, the terms and conditions of these Official Rules shall prevail.

c. NON-ENDORSEMENT:
The use of any non-Sponsors’ trademarks, service marks, logos, or other marks in connection with this Sweepstakes or any prize is not meant by Sponsors to imply the endorsement of the respective owner(s) of such marks, or any affiliation of the respective owner(s) of such marks with the Site or the Sweepstakes.

d. SEVERABILITY; HEADINGS:
If any provision of these Official Rules is found to be unlawful, void, or for any reason unenforceable, then that provision shall be deemed severable from these Official Rules and shall not affect the validity and enforceability of any remaining provisions. Headings and captions are used in these Official Rules solely for convenience of reference, and shall not be deemed to affect in any manner the meaning or intent of these Official Rules or any provision hereof.

e. WINNER LIST:
For the name of the Winner available after April 1, 2003, please send a self addressed stamped envelope to P.O. Box 3001, Rogers, MN 55374-3001. Residents of VT may omit postage.

f. You may have your name removed from our mailing list by writing to Staples Road Trip with the L.A. Clippers Sweepstakes DNSolicit: P.O. Box 3001, Rogers, MN 55374-3001.