S
sungkang83
Guest
Hello. I have a question on laws related to internet photo contests. I was unable to find a source on the internet. It's a little long. Please bear with me.
About a month ago, my friend has entered into a contest offered by a website. The contest was of baby pictures and the initial rules and terms had many missing ends. The only rule/announcement that were posted initially mentioned that the baby that receives the most web comments will win the contest and receive a prize of a toy playset.
I first thought that this contest spelled disaster because the website was not picking the cutest baby but rather a baby who receives many comments based on the popularity of their parents.
My friend did what many other parents who wants to win a toy for their children would do. She asked all of her co-workers to put up comments on her baby's picture (many comments resulting from the same IP Address). It was discovered, and my friend was informed several days later that the web administrator and the overseer of the contest changed the rules during mid contest. The added provision was,
*Two or more comments posted from the same I.P. Address will be deleted.
My friend then called many of her friends, and asked them to post comments from separate computers to avoid multiple comments from the same IP Address. My friend was in the lead with the most comments.
Several days later, the administrator changed the rule again.
*Each comment must be posted by a user with a login ID on the website. Prior to that, a visitor on the website was able to post comments.
While these rules are fair and should be promoted to increase fairness of the contest, I believe that they should have been set from the start. My friend had been disqualified a day before the closing of the contest ranging a period of 2 weeks.
Was a contract formed when my friend entered the contest? Is this considered a breach of contract on the website? Is there any remedies available for my friend?
Not that she would like to seek any legal course of action but would like to know if there are any remedies available for her. The website did not state a clause that said the "Contest terms are subject to changes without approval, etc.", or anything similar.
Thank you.
About a month ago, my friend has entered into a contest offered by a website. The contest was of baby pictures and the initial rules and terms had many missing ends. The only rule/announcement that were posted initially mentioned that the baby that receives the most web comments will win the contest and receive a prize of a toy playset.
I first thought that this contest spelled disaster because the website was not picking the cutest baby but rather a baby who receives many comments based on the popularity of their parents.
My friend did what many other parents who wants to win a toy for their children would do. She asked all of her co-workers to put up comments on her baby's picture (many comments resulting from the same IP Address). It was discovered, and my friend was informed several days later that the web administrator and the overseer of the contest changed the rules during mid contest. The added provision was,
*Two or more comments posted from the same I.P. Address will be deleted.
My friend then called many of her friends, and asked them to post comments from separate computers to avoid multiple comments from the same IP Address. My friend was in the lead with the most comments.
Several days later, the administrator changed the rule again.
*Each comment must be posted by a user with a login ID on the website. Prior to that, a visitor on the website was able to post comments.
While these rules are fair and should be promoted to increase fairness of the contest, I believe that they should have been set from the start. My friend had been disqualified a day before the closing of the contest ranging a period of 2 weeks.
Was a contract formed when my friend entered the contest? Is this considered a breach of contract on the website? Is there any remedies available for my friend?
Not that she would like to seek any legal course of action but would like to know if there are any remedies available for her. The website did not state a clause that said the "Contest terms are subject to changes without approval, etc.", or anything similar.
Thank you.