NO PURCHASE NECESSARY.  Open only to legal U.S. residents of the fifty (50) United States and D.C who are 18 years of age or older. Entry period begins May 3, 2022 at 12:01 p.m. ET and ends 11:59 a.m. on June 4th, 2022. See Official Rules at www.thepuzzlerbook.com for additional eligibility restrictions, how to enter, prize descriptions/restrictions/ARVs and complete details.  Sponsor: The Puzzler Contest LLC

The “Puzzler Puzzle Hunt” Contest

OFFICIAL RULES

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY.  A PURCHASE WILL NOT IMPROVE YOUR CHANCE OF WINNING.

CONTEST DESCRIPTION:  The “Puzzler Puzzle Hunt” contest (the “Contest”) begins on or about May 3, 2022 at 12:01 p.m. Eastern Time (“ET”) and ends the earlier of (i) when one (1) person completes the “Finals Puzzle” (as defined below) or (ii) May 3, 2023 at 12:00 p.m. ET (the “Contest Period”).  From the start of the Contest Period until June 4, 2022 at 11:59 a.m. ET (the “Regular Puzzles Period”) eligible entrants must complete a series of twenty-two (22) puzzles (each a “Regular Puzzles”).  During the Regular Puzzles Period, one (1) Regular Puzzle is scheduled to be released at approximately 12:01 pm ET every Monday through Friday during the Regular Puzzles Period. Entrants who complete all Regular Puzzles will be invited to compete in a final round (the “Final Round”), which consists of a series of additional puzzles (the “Finals Puzzle”, and collectively with the Regular Puzzles, the “Puzzles”).  One (1) entrant who completes the Finals Puzzle in the shortest amount of time will receive the Grand Prize described in these Official Rules.  Entry in the Contest does not constitute entry into any other promotion, contest or sweepstakes.  By participating in the Contest, each entrant unconditionally accepts and agrees to comply with and abide by these Official Rules and the decisions of The Puzzler Contest, LLC 459 Columbus Avenue, Box 609, New York, NY 10024 (“Sponsor”), which shall be final and binding in all respects.

 

ELIGIBILITY:  Only legal U.S. residents of the fifty (50) United States and District of Columbia who are at least eighteen (18) years of age at the time of entry are eligible to enter.  Entrants under the age of majority in their state of residence (a “minor”), must get their parent or legal guardian’s permission to enter the Contest, and if a minor wins, their parent or legal guardian will need to co-sign the “Prize Claim Documents” (defined below).  Officers, directors and employees of Sponsor and each of its parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, distributors, retailers, sales representatives, advertising and promotion agencies involved in the Contest (all such individuals and entities collectively referred to herein as the “Contest Entities”), and the immediate family members and/or those residing in the same household of each are ineligible to enter the Contest or win a prize.  This Contest is void where prohibited.

HOW TO ENTER:  A password (the “Password”) to enter the Contest will be available in the introduction of the print edition of the book The Puzzler by A.J. Jacobs or on the website www.ajjacobs.com (the “Author Website”).  To enter the Contest, locate the Password and access the website located at: www.thepuzzlerbook.com (the “Puzzler Website” and collectively with the Author Website, the “Websites”) in the location indicated on the Puzzler Website.  Upon entering the Password on the Puzzler Website, entrants will be redirected to an entry form on the Puzzler Website.  To enter the Contest, follow the instructions on the Contest Website to create an account (“Account”) during the Regular Puzzles Period, which will be used to track each entrant’s progress in the Contest. The Contest consists of two (2) periods: (i) the Regular Puzzles Period; and (ii) the Finals Round.  The correct solution to the Puzzles will be determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion.

Regular Puzzles Period

Eligible entrants who create an account during the Regular Puzzles Period will have access to a series of twenty-two (22) Regular Puzzles.  One (1) Regular Puzzle will be released on Monday through Friday each week during the Regular Puzzles Period at approximately 12:01 p.m. ET.  Entrants who successfully complete all twenty-two (22) Regular Puzzles during the Regular Puzzles Period will receive an invitation to the Finals Round and are referred to herein as “Finalists”.  Entrants must log into their Account to complete Regular Puzzles.  Once a Regular Puzzle is released, it can be completed at any time during the Regular Puzzles Period. An entrant is not required to complete a Regular Puzzle on the same day that it is released; entrants will have the opportunity to complete each Regular Puzzle throughout the Regular Puzzles Period.  All Regular Puzzles must be complete by the end of the Regular Puzzles Period to advance to the Finals Round.

Finals Round

Finalists will advance to the Finals Round, which consists of a series of Finals Puzzles.  The Finals Round is scheduled to begin at 12:01 pm ET on June 4, 2022.  All Finalists will receive access to the Finals Puzzles at this time.  During the Finals Round, Finalists must successfully complete each Finals Puzzle to obtain access to the next Finals Puzzle until all Finals Puzzles are complete.  The first Finalist to successfully complete all Finals Puzzles will be the winner of the prize in accordance with the process outlined in the Winner Selection and Notification section below. In the event that two (2) or more Finalists finish the final round at the exact same time, the prize will be split evenly among those two (2) or more Finalists.

Limit one (1) entry per person.  Except as otherwise contemplated in these Official Rules, and to the extent entrants may otherwise elect at the time of entry, personal information collected in connection with the Contest will be used in accordance with Sponsor’s privacy policy located at www.thepuzzlerbook.com/.

Entry must be made by the entrant, only through the entry method described above.  Entries made by any other individual or any entity, and/or originating at any other web site or e-mail address, including but not limited to commercial sweepstakes subscription notification and/or entering service sites, will be declared invalid and disqualified for this Contest.  Tampering with the entry process or the operation of the Contest, including but not limited to the use of any device to automate the entry process, is prohibited and any entries deemed by Sponsor, in its sole discretion, to have been submitted in this manner will be void.  In the event a dispute regarding the identity of the individual who actually submitted an entry cannot be resolved to Sponsor’s satisfaction, the affected entry will be deemed ineligible.  The Contest Entities shall not be responsible for incorrect or inaccurate entry information whether caused by Internet users or by any of the equipment or programming associated with or used in the Contest or by any technical or human error which may occur in processing of the entries in the Contest.  The Contest Entities assume no responsibility or liability for any error, omission, interruption, deletion, theft or destruction, or unauthorized access to, or alteration of entries.

 

WINNER SELECTION AND NOTIFICATION:  The potential winner will be subject to verification and compliance with these Official Rules.  The potential winner will be notified by email using the contact information used by the entrant to enter the Contest. Sponsor shall have no liability for any winner notification that is lost, intercepted or not received by a potential winner for any reason.  If, despite reasonable efforts, a potential winner does not respond within forty-eight (48) hours of the first notification attempt, or if the prize or winner notification is returned as unclaimed or undeliverable to such potential winner, such potential winner will forfeit his or her prize and the prize may be awarded to the next fastest Finalist to complete the Finals Puzzles.  If any potential winner is found to be ineligible, or if he or she has not complied with these Official Rules or declines a prize for any reason prior to award, such potential winner may be disqualified and an alternate winner may be selected. Sponsor may successively attempt to contact up to two (2) potential winner(s) of the Grand Prize in accordance with such procedure, and if there is still no confirmed winner of such prize after such attempts have been made, if any, the corresponding prize may go unawarded.

PRIZE: There is one (1) Grand Prize available.  The Grand Prize consists of Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00).  The Grand Prize will be awarded in the form of a check, electronic funds transfer, or other method of delivery as determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion.

No substitution of prizes will be allowed, except Sponsor reserves the right in its sole discretion to substitute prize(s) of comparable value if any prize listed is unavailable, in whole or in part, for any reason.  Physical checks will only be delivered to addresses in the United States.  The total value of all prizes awarded in this Contest is Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00).

GENERAL PRIZE CONDITIONS:  Prizes will be awarded only if the potential prize winner fully complies with these Official Rules.  All portions of the prize are non-assignable and non-transferable.  Prizes pictured in point-of-sale, online, television and print advertising, promotional packaging, and other Contest materials are for illustrative purposes only.  All details and other restrictions of the prize not specified in these Official Rules will be determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion.  No cash alternative or substitution of the prize will be allowed, except Sponsor reserves the right in its sole discretion to substitute prize(s) of comparable value if any prize listed is unavailable, in whole or in part, for any reason.  The prize winner shall be solely responsible for all federal, state and/or local taxes, and the reporting consequences thereof, and for any other fees or costs associated with the applicable prize.  Sponsor may, in its sole discretion, deduct or withhold the amount of applicable tax on any cash or cash equivalent prize.  The Sponsor will issue and file an IRS Form 1099 or equivalent tax withholding documentation for the retail value of any prize or other items of value transferred to the prize winner by the Sponsor in accordance with IRS requirements, and the Sponsor may also share such documentation with a state or local government agency as required by law. Refusal or failure of the prize winner to satisfy the requirements of all necessary and appropriate tax, withholding or other required compliance terms (including Social Security number, IRS Form W­8BEN, IRS Form W­9, or equivalent information), as determined by the Sponsor in its sole discretion, may result in the prize winner forfeiting the prize and an alternate potential winner may be selected in accordance with these Official Rules. Sponsor will award prizes subject to any applicable withholding taxes, and the amount of the prize transferred, as reduced by any applicable withholding taxes, will constitute full payment of the prize, as applicable.  The potential winner will be required to execute an Affidavit of Eligibility, a Liability Release, and (where imposing such condition is legal) a Publicity Release (collectively, “Prize Claim Documents”).  If a winner is a minor, at Sponsor’s option, the applicable prize either will be awarded in the name of the parent or legal guardian of such minor winner, or the parent or legal guardian of such minor winner will be required to ratify and sign Prize Claim Documents.  If any potential winner (or, in the case of a minor, such minor winner’s parent or legal guardian) fails or refuses to sign and return all Prize Claim Documents by the deadline specified in the prize notification, the winner may be disqualified and an alternate winner may be selected.

Sponsor makes no warranties, and hereby disclaims any and all warranties, express or implied, concerning any prize furnished in connection with the Contest.  WITHOUT LIMITING THE GENERALITY OF THE FOREGOING, THE PRIZE IS PROVIDED “AS IS” WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AND SPONSOR HEREBY DISCLAIMS ALL SUCH WARRANTIES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND/OR NON-INFRINGEMENT.

PUBLICITY RELEASE:  Acceptance of a prize constitutes winner’s permission for the Contest Entities to use each winner’s name, social media handle, photograph, likeness, voice, biographical information, statements and address (city and state) in and in connection with advertising, marketing, promotional, and/or publicity purposes for the Contest, Contest Entities worldwide and in all forms of media and by any and all means and media now known or hereafter developed, in perpetuity, without any obligation, notice, or further compensation to the winners and each winner hereby releases the Contest Entities from any liability with respect thereto.

DATES & DEADLINES/ANTICIPATED NUMBER OF CONTESTANTS:  Because of the unique nature and scope of the Contest, Sponsor reserves the right, in addition to those other rights reserved herein, to modify any date(s) or deadline(s) set forth in these Official Rules or otherwise governing the Contest.  Sponsor cannot accurately predict the number of entrants who will participate in the Contest. 

GENERAL LIABILITY RELEASE/FORCE MAJEURE:  Each entrant (and any minor entrant’s parent or legal guardian) agrees that Sponsor (A) shall not be responsible or liable for, and are hereby released from, any and all costs, injuries, losses or damages of any kind, including, without limitation, death and bodily injury, due in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, to participation in the Contest or any Contest-related activity, or from entrants’ acceptance, receipt, possession and/or use or misuse of any prize, and (B) have not made any warranty, representation or guarantee express or implied, in fact or in law, with respect to any prize, including, without limitation, to such prize’s quality or fitness for a particular purpose.  Sponsor assumes no responsibility for any damage to an entrant’s, or any other person’s, computer system which is occasioned by accessing the Websites or otherwise participating in the Contest, or for any computer system, phone line, hardware, software or program malfunctions, or other errors, failures, delayed computer transmissions or network connections that are human or technical in nature.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Sponsor is not responsible for incomplete, illegible, misdirected, misprinted, late, lost, damaged, stolen, or postage-due entries or prize notifications; or for lost, interrupted, inaccessible or unavailable networks, servers, satellites, Internet service providers, websites, or other connections; or for miscommunications, failed, jumbled, scrambled, delayed, or misdirected computer, telephone or cable transmissions; or for any technical malfunctions, failures, difficulties or other errors of any kind or nature; or for the incorrect or inaccurate capture of information, or the failure to capture any information.  Sponsor reserves the right in its sole discretion to disqualify any individual who is found to be tampering with the entry process or the operation of the Contest or the Websites, to be acting in violation of these Official Rules, or to be acting in an unsportsman-like or disruptive manner, or with the intent to disrupt or undermine the legitimate operation of the Contest, or to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass any other person, and Sponsor reserves the right to seek damages and other remedies from any such person to the fullest extent permitted by law.  No mechanically reproduced, illegible, incomplete, forged, software-generated or other automated multiple entries will be accepted.  If a dispute as to the identity of the individual who actually submitted an entry cannot be resolved to Sponsor’s satisfaction, the affected entry may be deemed ineligible.  Sponsor reserves the right to modify, extend, suspend, or terminate the Contest if it determines, in its sole discretion, that the Contest is technically impaired or corrupted or that fraud or technical problems, failures or malfunctions or other causes beyond Sponsor’s control have destroyed or severely undermined or to any degree impaired the integrity, administration, security, proper play and/or feasibility of the Contest as contemplated herein.  In the event an insufficient number of eligible entries are received and/or Sponsor is prevented from awarding prizes or continuing with the Contest as contemplated herein by any event beyond its control, including but not limited to fire, flood, earthquake, windstorm, epidemic, pandemic, public health crisis, disease, virus, sickness or outbreak or other similar or dissimilar natural disaster; act of God or public enemy; riot or civil disturbance, act of any government or governmental authority, power failure, satellite or equipment failure, failure of telecommunications lines or failure or breakdown of plant, machinery or vehicles operated by a third party; labor dispute, strike, or lockout; actual or threat of war, armed conflict, terrorist attacks, war (declared, undeclared or threatened), explosion, nuclear, or chemical or biological contamination; or a government imposed travel ban, restriction on movement or gatherings, or other government imposed mandate of any kind, order of any court or jurisdiction, or other cause not reasonably within Sponsor’s control (each a “Force Majeure” event or occurrence), Sponsor reserves the right to modify, suspend, or terminate the Contest.  If the Contest is terminated before the designated end date, Sponsor may (if possible) select the winner from all eligible, non-suspect entries received as of the date of the event giving rise to the termination.  Only the type and quantity of prizes described in these Official Rules will be awarded.  These Official Rules cannot be modified or amended in any way except in a written document issued in accordance with law by a duly authorized representative of Sponsor.  The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of these Official Rules shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision.  If any provision is determined to be invalid or otherwise unenforceable or illegal, these Official Rules shall otherwise remain in effect and shall be construed in accordance with their terms as if the invalid or illegal provision were not contained herein.

GOVERNING LAW/JURISDICTION:  ALL ISSUES AND QUESTIONS CONCERNING THE CONSTRUCTION, VALIDITY, INTERPRETATION AND ENFORCEABILITY OF THESE OFFICIAL RULES OR THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF ENTRANTS OR SPONSOR IN CONNECTION WITH THE CONTEST SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO ANY CHOICE OF LAW OF CONFLICT OF LAW RULES OR PROVISIONS THAT WOULD CAUSE THE APPLICATION OF ANY OTHER STATE’S LAWS.

ARBITRATION PROVISION:  By participating in this Contest, each entrant (and any minor entrant’s parent or legal guardian) agrees: (i) that any and all disputes the entrant may have with, or claims entrant may have against, the Contest Entities relating to, arising out of or connected in any way with (a) the Contest, (b) the awarding or redemption of any prize, and/or (c) the determination of the scope or applicability of this agreement to arbitrate, will be resolved exclusively by final and binding arbitration administered by JAMS and conducted before a sole arbitrator in accordance with the rules of JAMS; (ii) this arbitration agreement is made pursuant to a transaction involving interstate commerce, and shall be governed by the Federal Arbitration Act (“FAA”), 9 U.S.C. §§ 1-16; (iii) the arbitration shall be held in New York, New York; (iv) the arbitrator’s decision shall be controlled by the terms and conditions of these Official Rules and any of the other agreements referenced herein that the applicable entrant may have entered into in connection with the Contest; (v) the arbitrator shall apply New York law consistent with the FAA and applicable statutes of limitations, and shall honor claims of privilege recognized at law; (vi) there shall be no authority for any claims to be arbitrated on a class or representative basis, arbitration can decide only entrant’s and/or Sponsor’s individual claims; the arbitrator may not consolidate or join the claims of other persons or parties who may be similarly situated; (vii) the arbitrator shall not have the power to award punitive damages against the entrant or Sponsor; (viii) if the entrant is able to demonstrate that the costs of arbitration will be prohibitive as compared to the costs of litigation, Sponsor will pay as much of entrant’s filing and hearing fees in connection with the arbitration as the arbitrator deems necessary to prevent the arbitration from being cost-prohibitive; and (ix) with the exception of subpart (vi) above, if any part of this arbitration provision is deemed to be invalid, unenforceable or illegal, or otherwise conflicts with the rules of JAMS, then the balance of this arbitration provision shall remain in effect and shall be construed in accordance with its terms as if the invalid, unenforceable, illegal or conflicting provision were not contained herein.  If, however, subpart (vi) is found to be invalid, unenforceable or illegal, then the entirety of this arbitration provision shall be null and void, and neither entrant nor Sponsor shall be entitled to arbitrate their dispute.  For more information on JAMS and/or the rules of JAMS, visit their website at www.jamsadr.com.

WINNERS LIST/OFFICIAL RULES:  To obtain a copy of any legally-required winners list, send a self-addressed stamped envelope to: The “Puzzler” Contest Winners List, 459 Columbus Avenue, Box 609, New York, NY 10024.  All such requests must be received within six (6) weeks after the end of the Contest Period.