Cheerios%20new%20author%20voting%20rules%202013

CHEERIOS NEW AUTHOR CONTEST VOTING RULES

RULE 1. ELIGIBILITY AND HOW TO VOTE. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. YOU MUST BE 18 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER AS OF NOVEMBER 1, 2013 TO PARTICIPATE. To vote, visit www.spoonfulsofstories.com during the Voting Period (defined below) and follow the online instructions for voting. Voting limited to one vote per person.

RULE 2. VOTING PROCESS General Mills, along with Simon & Schuster Inc. and First Book have selected three (3) finalist stories from all eligible entries received during the entry phase of the Cheerios New Author Contest. The three finalist stories will be posted online at www.spoonfulsofstories.com. The voting period (“Voting Period”) begins at 12:00 p.m. (central time) on November 1, 2013 and ends at 11:59 a.m. (central time) on November 15, 2013. During the Voting Period, eligible voters will be able to vote once for the finalist story they like best.

RULE 3. PRIZE The finalist story receiving the most votes during the Voting Period will receive the Cheerios New Author Contest Grand Prize of $5000 and the opportunity for potential future publication of the winner’s story by Simon & Schuster. The remaining two finalist stories will each receive a Cheerios New Author Contest First Runner-Up Prize of $1000. In the event of a tie between the two stories receiving the most votes, the Cheerios New Author Contest judges will decide which such story will become the Grand Prize winner using the Cheerios New Author Contest judging criteria of appropriate story/content for children ages 2-8, emotional connection, writing quality, uniqueness and read-aloud potential (all criteria weighted on an equal basis). The decision of the judges is final. No prizes will be awarded to voters.

RULE 4. VOTING RESULTS The voting ends on November 15, 2013 at 11:59AM (central time). The finalist story that receives the most votes will be announced on or about November 15, 2013 on www.spoonfulsofstories.com.

RULE 5. CONDITIONS OF PARTICIPATION By participating, you agree to these rules and the decisions of the judges, which shall be final and legally binding in all matters relating to this voting. General Mills reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to modify, cancel or suspend part or all of this voting should virus, bugs, non-authorized human intervention or other causes beyond the control of General Mills corrupt or impair the administration, security, fairness or proper play of the vote. If voting is cancelled or terminated early, General Mills will determine the winner by tallying the votes that General Mills, in its sole discretion, finds to be valid at the time of termination or cancellation. If voting is suspended, General Mills will determine the winner by tallying the votes that General Mills, in its sole discretion, finds to be valid at the time of suspension and the votes accumulated when voting resumes. General Mills is not responsible for technical, hardware, software or telephone failures of any kind, lost or unavailable network connections, fraud, incomplete, garbled or delayed computer transmissions, whether caused by General Mills, participants, or by any of the equipment or programming associated with or utilized in the promotion or by any technical or

human error which may occur in the processing of submissions which may damage a user’s system or limit a participant’s ability to participate in the promotion. General Mills may prohibit a participant from taking part in the vote or disqualify a participant’s vote if, in its sole discretion, it determines that said participant is attempting to undermine the legitimate operation of the vote by cheating, hacking, deception, or other unfair playing practices (including the use of automated quick entry programs) or intending to annoy, abuse, or threaten any other participant or General Mills representatives. Void where prohibited and subject to federal, state and local laws.

Exchange of votes for any consideration or incentive of any kind whatsoever is prohibited, and any such votes will be void. Votes must be entered manually on the voting website. Votes generated by script, macro, bot or other automated means or which subvert or impair the integrity of the voting process will be void, as determined by General Mills in its sole discretion. Voting must be completed by the actual person casting the vote. A person may not vote on behalf of another person.

CAUTION -- ANY ATTEMPT TO DELIBERATELY DAMAGE THE WEBSITE OR UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THE WEBSITE OF VOTING MAY BE IN VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS. SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, SPONSOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO SEEK REMEDIES AND DAMAGES (INCLUDING ATTORNEY’S FEES) FROM ANY SUCH PERSON TO THE FULLEST EXTENT OF THE LAW, INCLUDING CRIMINAL PROSECUTION. Voting sponsored by General Mills Sales, Inc., One General Mills Blvd., Minneapolis, MN 55440.