Official Rules:
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCE OF WINNING. Contest begins at 12:00:01 a.m. Central Time (“CT”) on April 1, 2008, and ends at 11:59:59 p.m. CT on December 31, 2008 ("Contest Period").
1. Eligibility:
Contest is open only to legal residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia, 18 years of age (19 in AL and NE) or older who are registered Doctors, Nurses, Healthcare Professionals or those enrolled in a graduate or undergraduate program studying to be a Doctors, Nurses, Healthcare Professionals who use a 3M Littmann Stethoscope. Void where prohibited by law. Government employees, employees, directors, officers and agents of 3M ("Sponsor"), its subsidiary companies, sales representatives, advertising and promotion agencies involved in this Contest (collectively, "Promotional Parties"); and members of the immediate families (parent, child, sibling and spouse of each) or households of any of the above are prohibited from entering the Contest.
2. How to Enter:
Go to www.littmann.com/stories during the Contest Period, click on the Littmann Stethoscope contest icon and follow the instructions to submit your essay. Each entry must convey how "My Littmann Stethoscope made the difference”. Essay should not exceed 1200 characters in length and must be written primarily in English. Limit one entry per person/e-mail address for the duration of the Contest Period.
3M and its officers, directors, employees or agents are not responsible for interrupted or unavailable network, server or other connections, miscommunications, failed telephone or computer hardware or software or telephone transmissions or technical failures, Internet Service Provider/network/website accessibility or availability, garbled or jumbled transmissions or other errors of any kind, whether human, mechanical or electronic; including without limitation the incomplete, incorrect or inaccurate capture of entry information. Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to disqualify any individual found tampering (or attempting to tamper) with the entry process, the website, or the Contest. Any attempt by an entrant to deliberately damage the website or undermine the legitimate operation of the Contest is in violation of criminal and civil laws and should such an attempt be made, Sponsor reserves the right to seek remedies and damages from any such entrant to the fullest extent permitted by law, including criminal prosecution. In case of dispute as to identity of entrant, entry will be declared made by the authorized account subscriber of the email account, who must comply with these Contest Rules. Sponsor reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to cancel/suspend/modify the Contest, if it becomes corrupted in any manner, or due to fraud or other occurrences beyond Sponsor's control it cannot be conducted as originally planned.
3. Entries:
By submitting an entry, each entrant represents that the essay submitted is true, entirely original; has never been published and has not previously won any other contest award; that use thereof does not infringe third party rights; is suitable for publication; and that entrant has the right to submit the essay without violating the rights of any third party, including copyrights. Entry cannot defame or invade publicity rights or privacy of any person, living or deceased, or otherwise infringe upon any person's personal or proprietary rights, including but not limited to containing references to any identifiable person, copyrighted materials not owned by entrant or any third party trademarks other than trademarks owned by 3M, including Littmann®. Entries not complying with all rules are subject to disqualification at Sponsor's sole discretion. No correspondence regarding entries will be entered into with entrants. Essay submitted becomes the exclusive property of Sponsor and will not be returned. With respect to essay entered, entrant unconditionally assigns and transfers to Sponsor all rights, title, interest and claims, including, without limitation, the copyright therein. Sponsor shall have right to use, alter, assign or dispose of such entries however it sees fit without approval of entrants. As a condition of acceptance of a prize, except where prohibited, winner will be required to grant the Sponsor the right to use entrant's name, image, likeness and biographical materials, as well as entrant's essay, for advertising, publicity and promotion purposes including, without limitation, online announcements without additional compensation, unless prohibited by law.
4. Monthly Judging:
Sponsor-selected qualified judges will evaluate all eligible entries on a monthly basis with one winner determined per month. For purposes of this contest, a "month" begins on the first day of the month and ends on the last day of the month. Judging will be completed within approximately 2 weeks of the end of a contest month. Non-winning entries will NOT be carried over to the next month's judging, and may not be resubmitted. All entries will be judged based on 4 criteria: Reflection of professional auscultation techniques (25%); Importance of auscultation to the outcome of the story (25%); ability to communicate how "My Littmann Stethoscope made the difference" (25%); and Uniqueness (25%). In the event of a tie of total score between 2 or more entries, the entrant with the highest combined score in “Importance of auscultation to the outcome of the story” and “My Littmann Stethoscope made the difference” will be declared the winner. The judges’ decisions on all matters pertaining to this contest are final. Winners will be notified by mail and / or e-mail.
5. Prizes/Approximate Retail Value (ARV):
Monthly Prize (9) (one for each month of the contest): A 3M Littmann Stethoscope, actual make and model to be selected by winner. ARV up to $520 each. Taxes on prizes are winners’ responsibility. Limit on prize per person/household.
6. Prize/Winner Verification:
No transfer of prize allowed. Winners will be notified by telephone and/or mail. If Prize notification letter or any prize is returned as undeliverable, or any prize documentation is not submitted as required by Sponsor, the corresponding prize will be forfeited.
7. General:
By participating in this Contest, entrants agree to abide by and be bound by these Contest Rules and the decisions of the judges which are final in all matters relating to this Contest. Participants waive the right to assert as a cost of winning a prize any and all costs of redemption and any liability which might arise from redeeming or seeking to redeem said prize, or from use, misuse, acceptance or possession of said prize. By participating, entrants agree to release 3M, its affiliates, subsidiaries and agents, including without limitation its advertising and promotion agencies, and each of their respective directors, employees and officers (collectively "Releasees"), from any and all liability arising from or in connection with participation in this Contest, or the awarding, receipt or use of any prize. By entering, entrants further agree that all issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Contest Rules, participant’s rights and obligations, or the rights and obligations of the Sponsor in connection with the Contest, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the state of Minnesota, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules (whether of the State of Minnesota or any other jurisdiction), which would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Minnesota. By entering, entrants consent to the jurisdiction and venue of the federal, state and local courts located in Minnesota.
8. Limitations of Liability:
Sponsor and other Releasees are not responsible for any attempt by an entrant or other individual to deliberately damage or undermine the legitimate operation of this Contest, including but not limited to any fraudulent claims, may be a violation of criminal and civil laws. Should such an attempt be made, Sponsor reserves the right to seek remedies and damages from any such individual, to the fullest extent permitted by law, including criminal prosecution. Sponsor’s failure to enforce any term of these Contest Rules shall not constitute a waiver of that provision. Participant engaging in any of the foregoing activities may be disqualified and will forfeit any prizes won.
9. Winners List:
For the name of the Prize winners visit www.littmann.com/stories by January 31, 2009.
Sponsor: 3M Health Care, 3M Center, Building 275-4W-02, St. Paul, MN 55144-1000.
