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Digital Darkroom Sweepstakes and Contest

Join the Digital Darkroom Photo Group for your chance to win a $500, $300 or $200 Sony Style gift card! You will be automatically entered when you join the group or each time you post a photo to any of the public galleries or assignment galleries. Random drawings will occur in October and November.

In addition, we'll be holding a photo contest with a $1,000 Sony Style gift card as the grand prize, $300 Sony Style gift card first prize and $200 Sony Style gift card as second prize. The highest-rated photos in each of the public galleries and assignment galleries in October, November and December will become finalists. All finalists photos will be judged based on the following criteria:

1. Exposure
2. Focus and clarity
3. Composition
4. Creativity
5. Color and contrast

The more you participate, the greater your chances of winning, so get started today!

Digital Darkroom Giveaways Sweepstakes (“Sweepstakes”) Official Rules

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. PURCHASE DOES NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. OPEN ONLY TO LEGAL RESIDENTS OF THE FIFTY (50) UNITED STATES AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA WHO ARE LOCATED IN THE UNITED STATES AT THE TIME OF ENTRY. VOID ELSEWHERE AND WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

1. Eligibility: Open only to legal residents of the fifty (50) United States and the District of Columbia 13 years of age and older. The following are not eligible: employees, contractors, directors and officers of Sony Electronics Inc. (the “Sponsor”), its parent, subsidiaries and affiliated companies, distributors, web design, advertising, fulfillment, legal, judging and Sweepstakes agencies involved in the administration, development, fulfillment and execution of this Sweepstakes (collectively, “Sweepstakes Parties”), and the immediate family members of each (spouse, parent, child, sibling, grandparent, and spouse or "step" of each) and those living in their same households (those persons whether related or not who live in the same residence for at least three months during the twelve-month period preceding the start date of the Sweepstakes).

2. Sweepstakes Period: The Sweepstakes begins at 12:00:01 am Central Daylight Time ("CDT") on 8/21/2008 and ends on 10/31/2008 at 11:59:59 pm CDT.

3. To Enter: You must be registered on Backstage 101 site and a member of the Digital Darkroom. You can register by going to www.sony.com/darkroom, clicking on the “Register” link in the upper right corner, and filling out the registration form. Registration is free. You can join the Digital Darkroom by selecting the “Join” button below the registration form on the right hand side of the page, or by uploading a photo one of the five public photo galleries or five assignment galleries in the Digital Darkroom. You will receive one entry for joining the Digital Darkroom during the Sweepstakes Period. You will receive one additional entry each time you upload a photo to the Digital Darkroom in any of the five public photo galleries or five assignment galleries. Submission of photos is subject to the terms of use for the Digital Darkroom at http://backstage101.learningcenter.sony.us/page/p/title/backstage_101_terms. Members who violate the terms of use may be disqualified.

4. Drawings, Prizes and Approximate Retail Value ("ARV"): Winners will be selected in a series of random drawings which will be held on or about 10/6/08 and 11/6/08 (“Drawings”) from all entries received by the end of the previous month. Non-winning entries will be carried over into subsequent Drawings. Odds of winning any of the Drawings depend on the number of eligible entries received. Winners are subject to verification.
Two (2) Grand Prizes: a $500 Sony Style Gift card.
Two (2) First Prizes: a $300 Sony Style Gift card.
Two (2) Second Prizes: a $200 Sony Style Gift card.
Gift cards are subject to the terms and conditions set by issuer. Limit one (1) prize per person/registered user.

5. General Conditions: Winners are solely responsible for any taxes on the prizes. By participating, entrants agree to these Official Rules and Sponsor’s Privacy Policy (available at http://products.sel.sony.com/SEL/legal/privacy.html) which are final and binding in all respects. No cash equivalent or substitution of prize is offered, except at the sole discretion of the Sponsor. No transfer of prize. Winners will be notified by email. If any prize or prize correspondence is returned as non-deliverable, prize will be forfeited and may be awarded to an alternate winner. If a prize, or any portion thereof, cannot be awarded for any reason, Sponsor reserves the right to substitute prize with another prize of equal or greater value. If for any reason the Sweepstakes is not capable of running as planned for any reason, including infection by computer virus or bug, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures, or any other causes which corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity or proper conduct of the Sweepstakes, Sponsor reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to cancel, modify or terminate the Sweepstakes. In the event of cancellation, prizes will be awarded in a random drawing from eligible non-suspect entries received prior to cancellation and mail-in entries. Sponsor reserves the right to disqualify any individual who is responsible or who tampers with the entry process. This Sweepstakes is offered only in the United States governed by the laws of California with venue in San Diego County, California and all claims must be resolved in the federal or state courts located in San Diego County, California.

6. Limitations of Liability and Release: No liability or responsibility is assumed by Sponsor or Sweepstakes Parties resulting from user's participation in or attempt to participate in the Sweepstakes or download any information in connection with participating in the Sweepstakes. No responsibility or liability is assumed by the Sponsor or Sweepstakes Parties for technical problems or technical malfunction arising in connection with any of the following occurrences which may affect the operation of the Sweepstakes: hardware or software errors; faulty computer, telephone, cable, satellite, network, electronic, wireless or Internet connectivity or other online communication problems; errors or limitations of any Internet service providers, servers, hosts or providers; garbled, jumbled or faulty data transmissions; failure of any e-mail transmissions to be sent to or received; lost, late, delayed or intercepted e-mail transmissions; inaccessibility of the Web Site in whole or in part for any reason; traffic congestions on the Internet or the Web Site; unauthorized human or non-human intervention of the operation of the Sweepstakes, including without limitation, unauthorized tampering, hacking, theft, virus, bugs, worms; or destruction of any aspect of the Sweepstakes, or loss, miscount, misdirection, inaccessibility or unavailability of an account used in connection with the Sweepstakes. Sponsor is not responsible for any typographical errors in the announcement of prizes or these Official Rules, or any inaccurate or incorrect data contained on the Web Site. Use of Web Site is at user’s own risk. Sponsor is not responsible for any personal injury or property damage or losses of any kind which may be sustained to user's or any other person's computer equipment resulting from participation in the Sweepstakes, use of the Web Site or the download of any information from the Web Site. By participating in the Sweepstakes, the entrant thereby releases Sponsor from any and all claims, damages or liabilities arising from or relating to such entrant’s participation in the Sweepstakes. By acceptance of prize, Winner agrees to release Sponsor and Sweepstakes Parties from any and all liability, claims or actions of any kind whatsoever for injuries, damages or losses of any kind to person or property resulting in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from participation in the Sweepstakes; from acceptance, possession, misuse or use of any prize; or any typographical or other error in the Official Rules or the offering and announcement of prize. Except if Winner is a resident of TN or where prohibited by law, Winner grants permission for Sponsor and those acting under its authority to use his/her name, photograph, voice and/or likeness, for advertising and/or publicity purposes, in any and all media now known or hereinafter invented without territorial or time limitations and without additional compensation.

7. Winners List Request: For names of the winners, log on to www.sony.com/darkroom. Winner names will be posted for 30 days after winners are verified.

8. Sponsor/Administrator: The sponsor of this Sweepstakes is Sony Electronics Inc., 16765 West Bernardo Drive, San Diego, CA 92127 and the Administrator is Powered, Inc., 206 E. Ninth Street, Fourteenth Floor, Austin, TX 78701.

Digital Darkroom Photography Contest (“Contest”) Official Rules

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. PURCHASE DOES NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. OPEN ONLY TO LEGAL RESIDENTS OF THE FIFTY (50) UNITED STATES AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA WHO ARE LOCATED IN THE UNITED STATES AT THE TIME OF ENTRY. VOID ELSEWHERE AND WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

1. ELIGIBILITY: Open only to legal residents of the fifty (50) United States and the District of Columbia 13 years of age and older. The following are not eligible: employees, contractors, directors and officers of Sony Electronics Inc. (the “Sponsor”), its parent, subsidiaries and affiliated companies, distributors, web design, advertising, fulfillment, legal, judging and Contest agencies involved in the administration, development, fulfillment and execution of this Contest (collectively, “Contest Parties”), and the immediate family members of each (spouse, parent, child, sibling, grandparent, and spouse or "step" of each) and those living in their same households (those persons whether related or not who live in the same residence for at least three months during the twelve-month period preceding the start date of the Contest).

2. CONTEST PERIOD: Contest begins at 12:00:01 am Central Daylight Time ("CDT") on 8/21/2008 and ends on 12/31/2008 at 11:59:59 pm Central Daylight Time ("CDT").

3. TO ENTER: You must be registered on the Backstage 101 site. You can register by going to www.sony.com/darkroom, clicking on the “Register” link in the upper right corner, and filling out the registration form. Registration is free. After you have registered and signed in, post a photograph in the public photography area ("Photo" or "Entry"). You may post an unlimited number of unique photographs. Submission of Photos is subject to the terms of use for the Digital Darkroom at http://backstage101.learningcenter.sony.us/page/p/title/backstage_101_terms. Members who violate the terms of use may be disqualified.

4. SELECTION OF WINNERS: Registered users (including Contestants) will be able to rate photos at www.sony.com/darkroom. Limit one (1) rating per registered user per photo. You must be a registered user to vote. The highest user-rated photo in each public gallery and each assignment gallery as of 10/31/08 (Entry Period #1), as of 11/30/08 (Entry Period #2), and as of 12/31/08 (Entry Period #3) will be deemed a finalist in the Contest and will be eligible for judging (based on the criteria stated below) to win a first, second, or third prize. If more than one user has a photo rated with 5 stars in any category, the tie will be broken based on the photo with the highest number of “ratings” (i.e. the number of times that users rated the photo). Entries are eligible to receive ratings from the time such Entries are posted. Automated methods of rating are strictly prohibited. One user account per person. Rating photos through multiple accounts is strictly prohibited. Each photo may only qualify as a Finalist one time. Photos that qualify as Finalist on 10/31/08 are not eligible to be Finalists on 11/30/08 or 12/31/08, etc., regardless of whether those photos are selected as prize winners in the judging process. Finalists and winners will be displayed on a “Winner’s Circle” page on the Digital Darkroom, displaying the winner’s winning submission, username, and a link to his/her personal gallery. All Winners are subject to verification. Entrants agree that the Sponsor has the sole right to decide all matters and disputes arising from this Contest and that all decisions of Sponsor are final and binding.

5. JUDGING CRITERIA: The finalists entries from each Entry Period will be judged by the Sony Masters or other Subject Matter Experts based on the following equally weighted criteria:
O Exposure
O Focus & Clarity
O Composition
O Creativity
O Color & Contrast

6. PRIZES: The following prizes will be awarded for each Entry Period:
One (1) Grand Prize: a $1,000 Sony Style Gift card. Gift card is subject to the terms and conditions set by issuer and stated thereon.
One (1) First Prize: a $300 Sony Style Gift card. Gift card is subject to the terms and conditions set by issuer and stated thereon.
One (1) Second Prize: a $200 Sony Style Gift card. Gift card is subject to the terms and conditions set by issuer and stated thereon.
Limit: one (1) prize per person/registered user per month.

7. GENERAL CONDITIONS: Winners are solely responsible for any taxes on the prize. Prizes are non-transferable. No substitution of any prize is offered, except as specifically provided herein. By participating, entrants agree to these Official Rules, Sponsors Privacy Policy and Sponsors Terms of Use (available at www.sony.com/darkroom) which are final and binding in all respects. Winner will be notified by mail and will be required to complete, sign and return an Affidavit of Eligibility/Liability Release, and, where lawful, a Publicity Release or a Prize Acceptance Form if applicable within ten (10) days of attempted notification or prize may be forfeited. Unclaimed prizes will not be awarded. Winners will be notified by e-mail. If any prize or prize correspondence is returned as non-deliverable, prize will be forfeited and may be awarded to an alternate winner. If prize, or any portion thereof, cannot be awarded for any reason, Sponsor reserves the right to substitute prize with another prize of equal or greater value. If for any reason the Contest is not capable of running as planned, including infection by computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures, or any other causes which corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity or proper conduct of the Contest, Sponsor reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to disqualify any individual who is responsible or who tampers with the entry process, and to cancel, modify or terminate the Contest. This Contest is offered only in the United States and is governed by the laws of California with venue in San Diego County, California and all claims must be resolved in the federal or state courts located in San Diego County, California.

8. LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY AND RELEASE: No liability or responsibility is assumed by Sponsor or Contest Parties resulting from user's participation in or attempt to participate in the Contest or download any information in connection with participating in the Contest. No responsibility or liability is assumed by the Sponsor or Contest Parties for technical problems or technical malfunction arising in connection with any of the following occurrences which may affect the operation of the Contest: hardware or software errors; faulty computer, telephone, cable, satellite, network, electronic, wireless or Internet connectivity or other online communication problems; errors or limitations of any Internet service providers, servers, hosts or providers; garbled, jumbled or faulty data transmissions; failure of any e-mail transmissions to be sent to or received; lost, late, delayed or intercepted e-mail transmissions; inaccessibility of the Web Site in whole or in part for any reason; traffic congestions on the Internet or the Web Site; unauthorized human or non-human intervention of the operation of the Contest, including without limitation, unauthorized tampering, hacking, theft, virus, bugs, worms; or destruction of any aspect of the Contest, or loss, miscount, misdirection, inaccessibility or unavailability of an account used in connection with the Contest. Sponsor is not responsible for any typographical errors in the announcement of prizes or these Official Rules, or any inaccurate or incorrect data contained on the Web Site. Use of Web Site is at user’s own risk. Sponsor and the Contest Parties are not responsible for any personal injury or property damage or losses of any kind which may be sustained to user's or any other person's computer equipment resulting from participation in the Contest, use of the Web Site or the download of any information from the Web Site. By participating in the Contest, the entrant thereby releases Sponsor and Contest Parties from any and all claims, damages or liabilities arising from or relating to such entrant’s participation in the Contest, and to indemnify and hold Sponsor and Contest Parties harmless from any and all claims, costs, expenses, including but not limited to attorneys' fees, and damages arising from the posting of the Entry or Sponsor's use of the Entry. By accepting a prize in the Contest, Winners agree that the Sponsor and Contest Parties shall not be liable for any loss or injury resulting from participation in the Contest, acceptance or use of any prize.

9. Winners List Request: For names of the winners, log on to www.sony.com/darkroom. Winner names will be posted for 30 days after winners are verified.

10. Sponsor/Administrator: The sponsor of this Sweepstakes is Sony Electronics Inc., 16765 West Bernardo Drive, San Diego, CA 92127 and the Administrator is Powered, Inc., 206 E. Ninth Street, Fourteenth Floor, Austin, TX 78701.