Sony Ericsson Blog Contest: Write a Football Story, go to the 2010 World Cup

Posted on March 1st, 2010. Written by Rico.

I would love to join this contest by Sony Ericsson called “Extra Time”: Participants write about their “most compelling football story” on their blog, and the winner is sent to South Africa and blog about the 2010 World Cup.

Unfortunately, I can’t see how that kind of writing is relevant to Technograph, a tech site. As the contest covers blogging and also promises Sony Ericsson phone giveaways for those who vote in the final competition, there’s nothing wrong with publishing the contest mechanics below. Be prepared for some reading!

GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR THE SONY ERICSSON FIFA WORLD CUP 2010 DIGITAL CAMPAIGN: “MY LOCAL FOOTBALL STORY”

Sony Ericsson hereby invites you to participate in the SONY ERICSSON FIFA WORLD CUP 2010 DIGITAL CAMPAIGN: “MY LOCAL FOOTBALL STORY” (the “Competition”). As a participant in the Competition you must post on your blog and submit the permanent link to extratime@waggeneredstrom.com on your most compelling local football story. In doing so, you can win one return ticket between the periods 16 to 19 June 2010 to Cape Town, South Africa and watch the FIFA World Cup 2010’s England vs. Algeria match on 18 June 2010 (Package code: F-23-APC-06)

In addition to the Sony Ericsson Legal Notice including User Terms and Privacy Notice available at www.sonyericsson.com/Legal, you hereby accept and agree that the following rules apply without limitation to the Competition and your use of this website. In addition, any instructions on how to enter this Competition form part of these terms and conditions.

1. Each participant (“Participant”) may enter the Competition by publishing a post on your blog on your “most compelling local football story” and submitting the permanent link to extratime@waggeneredstrom.com to before 15 March 2010 to qualify. In doing so, you agree that the Sony Ericsson Mobile Communcaitions AB has a worldwide, non-exclusive, and royalty-free rights to use, reproduce, distribute and prepare derivative works of your postings.
2. This Competition is organized and hosted by Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB, Nya Vattentornet, 221 88 Lund, Sweden (“Promoter”).
3. This Competition is without any obligation to make a purchase for Entry.
4. This Competition shall be subject to local availability and is only available in the following countries: Australia, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
5. The period for Entry in the online Competition commences 16 February 2010 and runs to 15 March 2010, which is the closing date for the Competition.
6. The Competition is open to residents of countries where this Competition is locally available provided the Participant is of minimum age 18. However, employees and immediate relatives of employees of the Promoter or of its respective parent, subsidiary or affiliated companies or any other person connected with this Competition are excluded from participation. Participants cannot be legal entities.
7. Only one (1) Entry in the online Competition per Participant will be accepted. Each Entry’s permanent link must be emailed to extratime@waggeneredstrom.com from a valid email address. Entries from an invalid email address, or an email address to which any email sent is returned undelivered, will be considered invalid.
8. The winner of the prize (“Prize”) will be the Participant who has successfully published a post on their blog entry on their “most compelling local football story” and submitting their permanent link to extratime@waggeneredstrom.com to before 15 March 2010 (“Winner”). Only one winner over all participating countries (Australia, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam) will be selected.
9. Judges appointed by the Promoter will select the 2 shortlisted entries from each country, based on the posts with the most compelling local football story. Thereafter, the shortlisted posts will be subject to the general public who will vote for their favorite shortlisted entries. The post with the most votes wins the competition.
10. The Prize Winner must claim his or her Prize no later than 5 April 2010. He or she must also be available to travel between 16 to 19 June 2010. After the deadline on 5 April 2010 has lapsed, Sony Ericsson reserves the right to retain the Prize and pick another Prize Winner. The Winner must also agree to blog and post updates to Sony Ericsson’s social networks and his/her social networks between April 2010 to July 2010 (the “Event”). The winning blogger (also known as a “netizen journalist”) must
    agree to blog about other experiences such as:
    • Pre: His/her Pre-World Cup preparations e.g. what he/she is packing and going to buy; any football “rituals” he/she is looking to perform as part of his/her support for a certain team
    • During: His/her experiences during the World Cup; including time other than soccer (travelling to and attending the World Cup, with images and video captured on his Sony Ericsson device); gathering five local football stories from people around the world attending the World Cup.
    • Post: A reflection/summary post about his/her “Sony Ericsson World Cup Experience”; any other stories he has to share
11. The dates of the Event may be subject to change due to rescheduling of the event beyond Promoter’s reasonable control. In the event of a rescheduling of the Event the winner will be offered the Prize on alternative dates instead, such dates to be communicated to winner by Promoter within reasonable time from rescheduling. If Participant of winning Entry is not available for travel on such alternative dates, Promoter reserves the right to select the next runner-up as winner instead, in which case the other Participant forfeits his right to the Prize.
12. The Prize will include and cover the following: One return ticket between the periods 16 to 19 June 2010 to Cape Town, South Africa, one ticket to watch the FIFA World Cup 2010’s England vs. Algeria match on 18 June 2010 (Package code: F-23-APC-06).
13. Subject to Clause 11 above, no alternative dates for attending the Event are available. If necessary, Winner must obtain any approval appropriate for travel and absence during the above mentioned time period.
14. In the event Winner is not available for travel during the said time period, Winner forfeit all rights to attend the Event and Promoter reserves the right to select another Winner.
15. Winner must have valid travel documentation such as passport (minimum validity six months from outbound travel date) and/or visa as applicable and comply with any customs, immigration or other regulatory requirements for full
    and unlimited attendance. Winner must also have valid and appropriate travel insurance. Any costs for obtaining required travel documentation or insurance shall be borne by Winner and will not be reimbursed by Promoter.
16. Winner is responsible for all costs not expressly described in Clause 12 above.
17. Winner will be notified by e-mail no later than 1 April 2010.
18. The Judges’ decision is always final and binding. In their impartial evaluation the Judges will ensure that the winning Entries comply with these general Term and Conditions. No correspondence will be entered into regarding this Competition, including but not limited to the selection procedure and its results.
19. The Promoter reserves the right to select an alternative Winner in the event that the Promoter has reasonable grounds for believing that a Participant has contravened any of these Terms and Conditions.
20. The Winner will be required to provide a written acknowledgement of acceptance of all Terms and Conditions and sign a separate release form as provided by Promoter.
21. All Participants are responsible for any costs or expenses incurred by them as a result of participation in the Competition (including without limitation cost for sending a sms, mms or accessing the Internet). Costs to enter the Competition via the Internet may vary so please check with your service provider for current charges.
22. A Participant is responsible for any costs, taxes, duties or levies incurred as a result of participating in or winning the Competition. In addition, Participant hereby agrees and accepts that by winning the Competition Participant may incur taxes, duties or other levies including but not limited to any prize tax etc under any applicable laws and regulations. Participant hereby unconditionally accepts to bear any such tax, duty or other levy on behalf of Participant or an accompanying guest.
23. No responsibility will be accepted for Entries lost, delayed, misdirected, damaged, or undelivered, whether due to technical difficulties affecting electronic communication or else.
24. The Prizes are as stated and are non-transferable and cannot be exchanged. No cash or credit alternatives will be offered. If due to circumstances beyond the Promoter’s control the Promoter is unable to provide the stated Prize(s), the Promoter reserves the right to award as substitute a Prize of equal or higher value. All Prizes are subject to the terms and conditions of the supplier of the relevant service included in the Prize.
25. The Winner agrees and accepts that the terms and conditions of other parties (airline, travel agency, hotel, transportation provider etc) may be additionally or exclusively applicable (whether in part or in whole) while attending the Event or for the Prizes.
26. Participants and Winner agree that they may be required to take part in publicity or other promotional activities without further consent or payment as later determined by Promoter. Such publicity may include their names, images and/or likenesses as well as any contributions in the online Competition. The Participant hereby grants Promoter any and all rights necessary for distribution and public display of any submitted text, image, or other intellectual property rights that may arise from participation in this Competition, the Prizes or related
    publicity, and hereby grants Promoter the perpetual right to exclusively, royalty-free and without limitation freely use, modify, edit, copy, reproduce, distribute, translate, create derivative works from, alter and publicly display or publish any such intellectual property rights, for whatever purpose, in any form or medium, either on this web-site or elsewhere, whether promotional or in other activities or events arranged by Promoter, whether locally or world-wide.
27. Any personal information, including, without limitation, the Participant’s name, age, address (including postcode), mobile phone number and/or email address will be used solely in connection with this Competition and will not be disclosed to any third party except for the purpose of the Competition (including subsequent promotions as stated in these Terms and Conditions) or fulfilling Prizes where applicable. The Sony Ericsson Privacy Notice displayed at www.sonyericsson.com/Legal under “Privacy” applies to any processing of data performed in connection herewith. Participant agrees to keep his user name and password secure and not to divulge it to any third party.
28. By accessing the Web-site Participant agrees to be bound by these Terms and Conditions, which may be amended or varied at any time by the Promoter.
29. The Promoter will not be responsible for any failed connection by the Participant’s attempt to access the Web-site for whatever reason.
30. The Promoter will under no circumstance whatsoever irrespective of the cause therefore, be liable for any loss, damage or personal injury to the winner, nor to their property, luggage or else caused or suffered in connection with this Competition or any Prizes awarded in connection herewith. The Promoter shall not be liable for death or personal injury suffered by the Winner except where such death or personal injury is caused by negligence on the part of the Promoter. The Winner must comply with any customs, immigration, safety or other regulatory requirements. Winner shall be in good health and appropriately fit for travel required as communicated by Promoter.
31. The Promoter will under no circumstance whatsoever be liable for any delays, changes, disruptions, cancellations, diversions or substitutions, unavailability of the Prizes due to local public holidays or other conditions affecting availability or enjoyment of the Prizes, nor any act or omission whatsoever by any form of
    transportation and/or accommodation included in the Prizes. The Promoter shall not be liable in respect of any non-performance of its obligations by reason of any act of God, civil war or strife, hostilities, act of foreign enemy, invasion, war, satellite failure, legal enactment, governmental order or regulation or any other cause beyond its respective control.
32. The Web-site may contain links to other Web-sites, resources and advertisers. The Promoter shall not be responsible for the availability of these external sites nor does Promoter endorse or agree to be responsible for the contents, advertising, products or other materials made available on or through such external sites. Under no circumstances shall the Promoter be held responsible or liable, directly or indirectly, for any loss or damage caused or alleged to have been caused to a user in connection with the use of or reliance on any content, goods or services available on such external site. Participants should direct any concerns directly to such external site’s administrator or webmaster.
33. The Web-site shall be used for lawful purposes only. Entries shall not contain any material and/or statement which violates or infringes in any way upon the rights of others, which is unlawful, threatening, abusive, defamatory, invasive of privacy or publicity rights, vulgar, obscene, profane, indecent or otherwise objectionable, which encourages conduct or is conduct that would constitute a criminal offense, gives rise to civil liability or otherwise violates any applicable law. Entries failing to comply with this provision will be disqualified without
    prior notification.
34. Promoter reserves the right at any time and from time to time without any liability whatsoever, to modify or discontinue, temporarily or permanently this web-site, including this Competition, with or without prior notice to
    Participants.
35. Participant may direct any question regarding this Competition by mail to extratime@waggeneredstrom.com.
36. The Sony Ericsson logo is the trademark or registered trademark of Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB. Sony is the trademark or registered trademark of Sony Corporation. Walkman® and the Walkman® logo are the trademarks or registered trademarks of Sony Corporation. Ericsson is the trademark or registered trademark of Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson.
37. Disclaimer of Warranty and Limitation of Liability
    • IN NO EVENT WILL THE PROMOTER OR ANY PERSON OR ENTITY INVOLVED IN ARRANGING, HOSTING, CREATING, PRODUCING OR DISTRIBUTING THE WEB-SITE OR THE COMPETITION BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF THE USE OF OR INABILITY TO USE THE WEB-SITE OR OUT OF THE BREACH OF ANY WARRANTY, PARTICIPATION IN THE COMPETITION OR ELSE.
    • TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, PROMOTER’S LIABILITY OR OF ANY PERSON OR ENTITY INVOLVED IN THE COMPETITION AS STATED IN A. ABOVE SHALL FOR ANY REASON WHATSOEVER BE LIMITED TO MAXIMUM EUR 10.
    • THE PROMOTER NEITHER ENDORSES NOR IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ACCURACY OR RELIABILITY OF ANY OPINION, ADVICE OR STATEMENT ON THE WEB-SITE, NOR FOR ANY OFFENSIVE, DEFAMATORY OR OBSCENE POSTING MADE ON THE WEB-SITE.

That is all. Hope all that reading has inspired you to write!