Starlight Celebration Screenshot Contest (NA)

The year is almost over, and you know what that means...it’s time for the Starlight Celebration in Eorzea! It seems like time flew by with all the exciting announcements and thrilling additions to the realm. What better way to wrap up the year than by continuing the tradition of giving to you, our players? We’re pleased to debut a brand-new item that you can win by participating in our Starlight Celebration screenshot contest--the bluebird earring! Take a screenshot that showcases how you’re celebrating the holidays in Eorzea, and the Community Team will select up to 100 entries to receive the bluebird earring! (We promise that no bluebirds were harmed during the crafting of these items.)

Contest Entry Period
Thursday, December 18, 2014 at 12:00 a.m. (PST) through, Sunday, January 4, 2015 at 8:00 p.m. (PST)

*Please note that the in-game Starlight Celebration seasonal event ends on Wednesday, December 31, 2014.

Theme
Celebrating the Starlight Celebration event

Prizes
The FFXIV Development and Operations Teams will choose up to 100 winners for each supported language (North America-English, Europe-English, French, German, and Japanese) from qualifying entries and award them with the prize(s) listed below.

-One (1) Bluebird Earring in-game item
* These are virtual items and have no real world monetary value.
* Please note that prizes are transferable only to the characters’ linked to the Entrant’s service account.

Attachment 1288

How to Enter
Take a screenshot related to the theme of "Starlight Celebration” and post it in the contest entry thread with a brief comment.

Rules for Entry

• The screenshot must be taken by the user who is submitting.
• Please do not submit images of only NPCs or backgrounds.
• Make sure you character is visible in the screenshot.
• You may use image editing software to crop your screenshots.
• You may not use image editing software to alter, enhance or add more features to your screenshot.

When posting your screenshot images, you may utilize image hosting sites such as Flickr, Imgur, Yfrog, etc.
Please note that some image hosting websites, such as Flickr, will delete images when an account is inactive for a certain amount of time, so make sure to verify this when choosing a site to host your entry image.

Please Note

• One entry per person. If multiple entries are posted, only the first submission will be valid.
• You must have a North America Square Enix Account to qualify for the North America region.
• Normal forum rules apply to all posts within the contest thread.
• Square Enix reserves the right to judge whether or not material is appropriate for public display in its sole discretion.

Inappropriate submissions will be moderated. Any entries that fall under any of the below categories will be disqualified and the post will be deleted by a moderator:

• Posts containing obscenity, vulgarity, discrimination, or any other offensive subject matter;
• Infringements upon copyright/intellectual property, personal credit, privacy, etc.;
• Counter to public order and/or morals;
• Submissions with content judged to be grossly deviant from the established theme; and
• Images that have been heavily modified by photo editing software.

Selection
The FFXIV Development and Operations Teams will select winners based on creativity and overall execution according to the criteria listed above.

Winners will be announced on or around Monday, January 19, 2015.


FINAL FANTASY XIV: A Realm Reborn®
“Starlight Celebration Screenshot Contest” Official Contest Rules

IMPORTANT! Please read these rules before entering the Starlight Celebration Screenshot Contest (the “Contest”). By entering the Contest, you agree to be bound by these Official Contest Rules and represent that you satisfy all of the eligibility requirements.

North America Official Contest Rules
1. ELIGIBILITY

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. ALL ENTRANTS MUST AGREE TO THESE OFFICIAL RULES AND HAVE A VALID SQUARE ENIX FFXIV ACCOUNT FOR NORTH AMERICA REGION FFXIV PLAYERS, THE CONTEST IS OPEN TO MEMBERS WHO ARE LEGAL RESIDENTS OF THE U.S. AND CANADA (EXCLUDING QUEBEC) OVER THE AGE OF 13. IF YOU ARE NOT A RESIDENT OF THESE AREAS, YOU MUST AGREE TO THE APPLICABLE CONTEST RULES OF YOUR REGION OR ELSE YOU ARE NOT ELIGIBLE TO WIN A PRIZE, AND SQUARE ENIX RESERVES THE RIGHT NOT TO AWARD PRIZES TO CONTESTANTS WHO RESIDE IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS. If you are under the legal age of majority in your state of residence (a "Minor"), your parents or legal guardians must read, understand, and agree to these Contest rules. To be eligible to win a prize, entries must be completed and received by Square Enix in the format designated below. Directors, officers, and employees of Square Enix and any of their respective affiliate companies, subsidiaries, agents, professional advisors, advertising and promotional agencies, and immediate family members of each are not eligible to win any prizes. All applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations apply. Offer void where prohibited.

2. CONTEST PERIOD
The Contest period is from Thursday, December 18, 2014 at 12:00 am (PST) through Sunday, January 4, 2015 at 8:00 p.m. (PST)

Square Enix will, in its sole discretion, determine the valid and official entry time, should any discrepancies of time occur.

3. PRIZES

Up to one hundred (100) winners will be selected from qualifying entries for each supported language (North America-English, Europe-English, French, German, and Japanese) as winners and will be awarded with the prize(s) listed below.

-One (1) Bluebird Earring FFXIV: ARR in-game item (this is a virtual item and has no monetary value)
*Please note that prizes are transferable to characters under the same account of the player who enters.


ALL FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL TAXES ASSOCIATED WITH THE RECEIPT OR USE OF ANY PRIZES ARE THE SOLE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE WINNER. Winners will be announced on or about January 19, 2015. Prizes will be awarded within one month after winners are announced. No substitutions or exchanges (including for cash) of any prizes will be permitted, except that Square Enix reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value for any prize listed in the table above. Prizes won by a Minor (as determined by the laws of the contestant's state of residence) will be awarded to a parent or legal guardian on the Minor's behalf. Actual retail value of prizes may vary due to market conditions at the time prizes are awarded. All prizes are awarded "AS IS" and WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, express or implied, including, without limitation, any implied warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

IN NO EVENT WILL THE CONTEST WINNERS BE ENTITLED TO ANY FEE, ROYALTY, OR OTHER COMPENSATION OF ANY KIND AS A RESULT OF THE CONTEST. BY ENTERING, EACH CONTESTANT (AND, IF A MINOR, HIS OR HER PARENT OR LEGAL GUARDIAN) IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO COMPENSATION FOR SQUARE ENIX'S USE OF SUCH CONTESTANT'S ENTRY MATERIALS (AS DEFINED BELOW) IN ACCORDANCE WITH THESE RULES.

4. SQUARE ENIX OWNERSHIP OF ENTRIES

All entries and other materials (the "Entry Materials") (including all copyright, trademark, and other proprietary rights associated therewith) submitted by you become the property of Square Enix upon submission. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, you acknowledge that Square Enix will own all rights to use, modify, and make derivative works of the Entry Materials, without separate compensation to you or any other person or entity. You agree to take, at Square Enix's expense, any further action (including, without limitation, execution of affidavits and other documents) reasonably requested by Square Enix to effect, perfect, or confirm Square Enix's ownership rights as set forth above in this paragraph. Entry Materials may be used by contestants only for purposes of the Contest or for private, personal, non-public viewing. Entry materials received by Square Enix may be destroyed by Square Enix at any time following the Contest.

5. ORIGINAL WORK OF AUTHORSHIP

You hereby warrant and represent that (a) as between you and parties other than Square Enix, you own all rights to all Entry Materials submitted by you; and (b) other than the fact that all intellectual property embodied in and related to the FINAL FANTASY® XIV game, including all copyrighted works and trademarks and derivative works thereof, are the exclusive property of Square Enix, all such Entry Materials are original works of authorship on your part and have not been copied, in whole or in part, from any other work and do not violate, misappropriate, or infringe any copyright, trademark, or other proprietary right of any other person or entity.

6. GENERAL RELEASE

By entering the Contest, you (and, if you are a Minor, your parents or legal guardians) release Square Enix, other participating sponsors, and any of their respective parent companies, subsidiaries, affiliates, directors, officers, employees, and agencies (collectively, the "Released Parties") from any liability whatsoever, and waive any and all causes of action, for any claims, costs, injuries, losses, or damages of any kind arising out of or in connection with the Contest or acceptance, possession, or use of any prize (including, without limitation, claims, costs, injuries, losses, and damages related to personal injuries, death, damage to or destruction of property, rights of publicity or privacy, defamation or portrayal in a false light, whether intentional or unintentional), whether under a theory of contract, tort (including negligence), warranty, or other theory. IF YOU ARE A MINOR, YOUR PARENTS OR LEGAL GUARDIANS FURTHER AGREE TO INDEMNIFY EACH OF THE RELEASED PARTIES FROM ANY CLAIMS, COSTS, INJURIES, LOSSES, OR DAMAGES DESCRIBED IN THE PRECEDING PARAGRAPH THAT MAY BE SUFFERED BY YOU.

7. SELECTION OF PRIZE

Actual model, color, accessories, and features of the in-game items awarded as prizes shall be selected by Square Enix in its sole discretion and may vary from photos or images shown in the Contest materials and advertising including the Square Enix web site.

8. USE OF WINNER'S NAME, LIKENESS, ETC.

Except where prohibited by law, entry into the contest constitutes permission to use the winners' voice, names, addresses, likenesses, and/or prize information, without limitation, for promotional purposes without further permission or compensation. As a condition of being awarded any prize, except where prohibited by law, winners may be required to execute consent to the use of their name, address, likeness, and/or prize information, without limitation, for promotional purposes without further permission or compensation.

9. AFFIDAVIT & RELEASE

As a condition of being awarded any prize, winners (and if winner is a Minor, winner's parent or legal guardian) may be required to execute and deliver to Square Enix a signed Affidavit of Eligibility and acceptance of these Official Contest Rules and release of liability.

10. WINNER'S LIST; RULES REQUEST

For a copy of the winners list, send a stamped, self-addressed, business size envelope after January 19, 2015 and before February 19, 2015 to Square Enix at the address listed below (Attention: Starlight Celebration Screenshot Contest Winners List). To obtain a copy of these rules, send a stamped, self-addressed business size envelope to Square Enix at the address listed below (Attention: Starlight Celebration Screenshot Contest Rules Request).

11. COPYRIGHT NOTICE

The Contest and all accompanying Contest materials are Copyright © 2014-2015 by Square Enix, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

12. MISCELLANEOUS

The Contest and these Official Contest Rules will be governed, construed, and interpreted under the laws of the United States. Contestants agree to be bound by these Official Contest Rules and by the decisions of Square Enix, which are final and binding in all respects. Square Enix reserves the right to change these Official Contest Rules at any time, in its sole discretion, and to suspend or cancel the Contest or any contestant's participation in the Contest should viruses, bugs, unauthorized human intervention, or other causes beyond Square Enix's control affect the administration, security, or proper play of the Contest or Square Enix otherwise becomes, as determined in its sole discretion, incapable of running the Contest as planned. Contestants who violate these Official Contest Rules, tamper with the operation of the Contest, or engage in any conduct that is detrimental or unfair to Square Enix, the Contest, or any other contestant, in each case as determined in Square Enix's sole discretion, are subject to disqualification from entry into the Contest. Square Enix reserves the right to disqualify persons whose eligibility is in question or who have been disqualified or are otherwise ineligible to enter the Contest. If you have any questions about these Official Contest Rules or the Contest, please send written questions to Square Enix at the address set forth below.

13. FORCE MAJEURE

Square Enix reserves the right to change, suspend, or cancel the contest if, in Square Enix's sole discretion, intervening circumstances warrant such change, suspension, or cancellation. Intervening circumstances include, but are not limited to, strikes, labor disputes, war, insurrections, revolutions, terrorism, riots or other civil disturbances, earthquakes, fires, floods, or other natural disasters, governmental restrictions, embargoes or other exercises of governmental authority, unavailability of supplies, components, or material, or any other cause beyond Square Enix's control.

14. DISCLAIMER

Square Enix, all participating sponsors, and any of their respective parent companies, subsidiaries, affiliates, directors, officers, professional advisors, employees, and agencies will not be responsible for: (a) any late, lost, misrouted, garbled, or distorted or damaged transmissions or entries; (b) telephone, electronic, hardware, software, network, Internet, or other computer or communications related malfunctions or failures; (c) any Contest disruptions, injuries, losses, or damages caused by events beyond the control of Square Enix or other participating sponsors; or (d) any printing or typographical errors in any materials associated with the Contest.

15. CONTEST SPONSOR

The sponsor of the Contest is Square Enix, Inc. Square Enix is a leading developer and publisher of digital entertainment content. Correspondence regarding the Contest or these Official Contest Rules may be directed to the following address:

Square Enix, Inc.
Attention: Starlight Celebration Screenshot Contest
999 North Sepulveda Blvd., Third Floor
El Segundo, California 90245

After you have read over and agreed to all of the above rules and regulations, please submit your entries in the entry thread.