Contest Terms
Blue Ocean, LLC Small Business Giveaway 2020 Rules and Regulations
All the details our attorney said we have to include:
1.) How to Enter: Beginning at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time (“ET”) on March 20, 2020 until 11:59 p.m. ET on June 15, 2020 (the “Contest Period”), you may enter the BLUE OCEAN Small Business Giveaway Contest. To enter, an entrant must submit an original ESSAY/STORY titled “Why I’d CRUSH it, running a small business”, submit the required fee of One hundred Ninety-Five U.S. Dollars ($195.00), and a fully completed online entry form. Entries that do not include the required fee or all required information will be disqualified.
2.) Entrants must be twenty-one (21) years of age or older. The following individuals are not eligible to enter: (a) a judge; (b) any immediate family member of, or person who shares finances with, a judge; (c) any member of Blue Ocean, LLC; (d) any immediate family member of, or person who shares finances with, a member of Blue Ocean, LLC; and (e) any individual with access to entries prior to announcement of a winner. Entries received from any such individual will be disqualified.
3.) Entries must be the original work of the contestant. The essay must not have won any previous award or contest.
4.) Entries must be submitted using the online entry form on the contest website by June 15, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. EDT.
5.) There is no limit on the number of entries any one person may submit, but each will be treated as a separate entry for any and all purposes, including the payment of the entry fee. Once an entry is submitted an entrant is not entitled to withdraw their entry or to receive a refund.
6.) A MINIMUM of 2000 ESSAYS/STORYS must be received by June 15, 2020 at which time the Winning Essay will be notified, and the process for closing on a suitable business will begin.
7.) In the event fewer than 2,000 entries are received, Blue Ocean, LLC, the sponsor of this contest, reserves the right to cancel the contest.
8.) In the event of cancellation of this contest, entry fees will be refunded to the entrants, less a $75.00 administrative fee per entry associated with contest expenses, processing and returning payment to entrants.
9.) Entry fees will be held on deposit at a local bank until Contest closes June 15, 2020
10.) All ESSAYS/STORIES entered will be opened by an UNBIASED 3rd Party who will LOG ALL Submissions with a Corresponding Catalog Number and remove any identifying Characteristics from the ESSAYS/STORIES as to the AUTHORS INDENTITY so that we can JUDGE BY COMPARISON WITH OTHER SUBMISSIONS each ESSAY/STORY, BLINDLY and SOLELY on the SUBJECT MATTER without any chance of favoritism. Essays will NOT be judged on grammar, spelling etc. and can be of whatever length the Author feels is required to convey THEIR STORY clearly. 200 Words is the recommended length.
Entries will be judged by an independent panel of judges with experience in the field small business ownership. The judges will consider the subject matter, storytelling impact, composition and creativity of each entry, but their opinions will be entirely subjective and not subject to dispute.
11.) The winner will be announced on or before June 30, 2020.
12.) The Grand Prize, will be a small business with annual revenues of at least $1 Million annually, identified, purchased and located in an area considered local to the winner. The winner will be allowed input in the available businesses for sale in said area, but ultimate decision will be made by Leadership at Blue Ocean, LLC.
13.) The winner will also receive Twenty-Five Thousand U.S. Dollars ($25,000.00), paid at the time of the conveyance of business, to be used by the winner for improvements and operating capital.
14.) No Real Estate will be included in the Grand Prize.
15.) The winner must agree to operate the business in its original form and purpose for a period of twenty four (24) months after closing. Failure to do so will result in the business reverting back to the ownership of Blue Ocean, LLC. Blue Ocean, LLC will be available, however, on a consulting basis to assist the winner to the extent deemed reasonably necessary by Blue Ocean, LLC.
16.) The winner will be subject to completing a background check before receiving the Grand Prize.
17.) Blue Ocean, LLC reserves the right to extend any and all deadlines, in its sole and absolute discretion, by up to ninety (90) days.
18.) By entering an original work, entrants are granting Blue Ocean, LLC the non-exclusive but absolute and irrevocable right and permission to use, re-use, publish, and re-publish the essay in any manner associated, either directly or indirectly, with this contest. Entrant will retain all ownership rights to their work, however, and shall retain the exclusive right to sell the work. By submitting your ESSAY/STORY along with your ENTRY FEE, you are agreeing that if your ESSAY/STORY is deemed the winner you will be AWARDED the Grand Prize with FULL MEDIA COVERAGE.
19.) General Prize Conditions: All costs, taxes, fees, and expenses associated with the Grand Prize or the acceptance and use of any element of the Grand Prize not specifically addressed above are the sole responsibility of the Grand Prize Winner. All federal, state, and local taxes on the Grand Prize are the Grand Prize Winner’s responsibility. The Grand Prize Winner will be issued a 1099 tax form for the ARV of the Grand Prize. The specifics of all aforementioned elements of the Grand Prize in the Contest shall be solely determined by Sponsor. Some restrictions may apply. Grand Prize cannot be transferred, substituted or redeemed for cash except at Sponsor’s sole discretion. Sponsor reserves the right to substitute the Grand Prize, or portions thereof, with a prize of comparable or greater value, at its sole discretion.
20.)This contest will comply in any and all manner with state and federal laws and regulations, and the contest rules will be amended as necessary to ensure such compliance. The contest is void where prohibited.
21.) The winner will be responsible for the payment of any and all taxes and fees, including real estate transfer taxes and attorney’s fees, of any kind imposed upon or arising out of winning this contest.
Disputes/Governing Law: All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these rules, or the rights and obligations of any entrant or the Promotion Entities in connection with the Promotion, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Alabama without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules or provisions which would cause the application or the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Alabama. Any action or litigation concerning this Agreement shall take place exclusively in the federal or state courts sitting in Mobile County, Alabama, and you expressly consent to the jurisdiction of and venue in such courts and waive all defenses of lack of jurisdiction and inconvenient forum with respect to such courts. Any and all disputes, claims, and causes of action arising out of or in connection with this Promotion, shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action. You agree to service of process by mail or other method acceptable under the laws of the State of Alabama. ANY CLAIMS, JUDGMENTS AND/OR AWARDS SHALL BE LIMITED TO ACTUAL OUT-OF-POCKET COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH ENTERING THIS PROMOTION. YOU (AND YOUR PARENTS OR LEGAL GUARDIANS IF YOU ARE A MINOR) HEREBY WAIVE ANY RIGHTS OR CLAIMS TO ATTORNEY'S FEES, INDIRECT, SPECIAL, PUNITIVE, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OF ENTRANT, IDENTIFIABLE PERSONS, OR THIRD PARTY PARTICIPANTS, WHETHER FORESEEABLE OR NOT AND WHETHER BASED ON NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE.
22.) Winner’s List: Beginning on or about June 30, 2020, you may obtain the name of the Grand Prize Winner by going to the BLUE OCEAN Website & Social Media Pages
23.) Sponsor: Blue Ocean, LLC Small Business Giveaway | 24910 Canal Road | Suite O-200 | Orange Beach, Al 36561
