USA Rules - McDonalds "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire" Game

THE WHO WANTS TO BE A MILLIONAIRE
GAME AT McDONALD'S®
OFFICIAL U.S. RULES

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Official Game Cards ("Game Cards") for the Who Wants to Be a Millionaire Game at McDonald's (the "Game") are available at participating McDonald's restaurants in the U.S., Guam, Saipan, Bahamas, Curacao, Aruba, St. Maarten, St. Thomas and Canada (excluding the Province of Quebec) (the "Territory"), and only legal residents of the Territory are eligible to participate. The Game begins on or about April 19, 2001 in the Territory (see Canadian Official Rules at participating McDonald's restaurants in Canada for dates and details regarding the Game in Canada).

The Who Wants to Be a Millionaire Game at McDonald's is a trivia-based Game in which a player attempts to correctly answer a question on a Game Card for a chance to win a cash or food prize. The Game is played as set forth below and is subject to these Official Rules.

1. HOW TO OBTAIN A GAME CARD

There are two ways to obtain a Game Card in the Game, while supplies last:

(a) at participating McDonald's restaurants, one Game Card is attached to the following packaging items: Medium, Large, and Super Size® Fry Cartons (5 oz., 6 oz. and 7 oz.), sizes may vary depending on market; and

(b) a Game Card may be obtained without a McDonald's purchase, by mailing, postage prepaid, a hand-printed self-addressed, stamped envelope (SASE) to: Who Wants to Be a Millionaire Game at McDonald's, Game Card Request, P.O. Box 466134, Lawrenceville, GA, 30042-6134. Vermont residents may omit return postage. You may submit as many requests (SASEs) as you wish, but only one request (SASE) for one Game Card per outer mailing envelope. Requests must be postmarked no later than May 17, 2001 and received no later than May 24, 2001. DO NOT SEND POTENTIAL WINNING GAME CARDS OR ANY OTHER GAME CARDS, GAME MATERIALS, COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS TO THIS ADDRESS.

2. HOW TO PLAY

PLEASE NOTE: Your Game Card will be VOID and ineligible for any prize if more than one answer, more than one prize or the silver "Void if Removed" oval in the lower left corner of the Game Card is revealed in whole or in part. The degree of difficulty of the question does not reflect the level of prizes on the Game Card.

A. STEPS TO PLAY

Carefully punch out the Game Card from the Fry Carton along the dotted lines. The entire perforated section of the Fry Carton must be presented for redemption in order to be eligible to claim your prize.

Step 1: With the edge of a coin or a similar object, gently rub off the large silver box at the top of the Game Card to reveal the question and carefully read that question.

Step 2: Select ONE answer only by gently rubbing off the silver box labeled "Final Answer" ("Final Answer Box") BELOW the ONE printed answer you believe to be correct. If the word "SORRY" is revealed in the Final Answer Box you selected, then you do not win a prize.

Step 3: If the word "CORRECT" is revealed in the Final Answer Box you selected, then gently rub off ONLY ONE of the silver boxes labeled "Prize" ("Prize Box") to reveal the prize you have won, subject to these Official Rules, including redemption and verification as described in Rule 3 and Rule 8 below. There is a prize listed under each of the 6 Prize Boxes.

Do not touch or tamper with the silver "Void if Removed" oval in the lower left corner of the Game Card. If this silver oval is rubbed off in whole or in part, or is otherwise tampered with in any way, the Game Card is VOID and ineligible for a prize.

All prizes are detailed in Rule 14 below, including abbreviations for McDonald's food items that are prizes in the Game ("McDonald's Food"), the odds of winning and the approximate retail values (ARVs). All potential winning Game Cards must be redeemed in accordance with Rule 3 and verified in accordance with Rule 8 below.

B. 50/50 LIFELINE ON ABC.COM

Participants in the Game may log-on to the ABC web site located at www.abc.com (the "ABC Site") to access a 50/50 Lifeline similar to the 50/50 Lifeline option available to contestants on ABC's Who Wants to Be a Millionaire television show ("50/50 Lifeline"). The 50/50 Lifeline will eliminate two of the wrong answers, leaving you with one wrong answer and the correct answer to choose from in selecting your "Final Answer". Therefore, the 50/50 Lifeline will not eliminate all incorrect answers. Follow the instructions on the ABC Site to access the 50/50 Lifeline. You will be asked to enter the 4-digit/character code that appears in the question box on your Game Card in order to use the 50/50 Lifeline. Use of the 50/50 Lifeline is subject to the ABC Site terms and conditions and privacy policy. Use of the 50/50 Lifeline is optional and is not required in order to play the Game. Participants use the 50/50 Lifeline at their own risk and the Released Parties (as defined in Rule 6 below) shall not be responsible for any errors or omissions contained therein. By using the 50/50 Lifeline, participants expressly waive any and all claims arising from said use including, without limitation, any claims arising from any incorrect, misleading or incomplete answers or information conveyed in any way by the 50/50 Lifeline.

3. HOW TO REDEEM

Only the one prize revealed will be awarded for each verified winning Game Card. No prize will be awarded if the "Final Answer" chosen is incorrect, if more than one Final Answer Box is revealed in whole or in part, if more than one Prize Box is revealed in whole or in part, if the silver "Void if Removed" oval in the lower left corner of the Game Card is revealed in whole or in part or if the Game Card is otherwise tampered with in any way.

A. TO REDEEM McDONALD'S FOOD AND $1, $2, $3, $4 AND $5 CASH PRIZES

If the prize revealed on your Game Card is McDonald's Food or $1, $2, $3, $4 or $5 Cash ("In-Store Cash"), sign your initials in ink across the face of your Game Card. Do not sign over the silver "Void if Removed" oval in the lower left corner of the Game Card. McDonald's Food prizes may be redeemed only during the hours the food product is served and only on a future visit, except where prohibited by law. Not valid in combination with any other offer or discount. McDonald's Food prizes may be redeemed upon presentation and verification of your McDonald's Food Game Card, including verification of your correct answer, at a participating McDonald's restaurant. The winning food prize descriptions on the front of the Game Card are abbreviations of the McDonald's Food prizes. Please refer to Rule 14 of these Official Rules for a legend that describes which McDonald's Food prize you have won. A potential winning Game Card for a McDonald's Food prize must be presented for redemption before placing your order. Participating McDonald's restaurants reserve the right to substitute a food product of equal or greater retail value if the McDonald's Food prize won is unavailable. In-Store Cash prizes must be presented for verification and redemption to a restaurant MANAGER at a participating McDonald's. In the event that an In-Store Cash prize is won by a minor, he/she must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian in order to redeem. Only one McDonald's Food or In-Store Cash prize redemption per eligible person per future visit. All visits to the same restaurant within a two-hour period constitute a single visit. SEE RULE 3C FOR REDEMPTION DEADLINES.

B. TO REDEEM HIGH-LEVEL PRIZES (Prizes of $100 or more as specified in the Odds Chart in Rule 14 below)

If your Game Card directs you to call a toll free number, do so immediately for instructions on how to claim your prize. IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED WHEN YOU CALL THE TOLL FREE NUMBER, SIGN YOUR INITIALS IN INK ACROSS THE FACE OF YOUR GAME CARD (DO NOT SIGN OVER THE SILVER "VOID IF REMOVED" OVAL IN THE LOWER LEFT CORNER OF THE GAME CARD), AND MAIL YOUR HIGH-LEVEL POTENTIAL WINNING GAME CARD TO THE REDEMPTION CENTER FOR VERIFICATION. REGISTERED OR EXPRESS MAIL IS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED. YOU ARE ENCOURAGED TO SEND YOUR SUBMISSION FOR OVERNIGHT DELIVERY WITH A RECEIPT OF MAILING. DO NOT SHOW OR GIVE ANY POTENTIAL HIGH-LEVEL WINNING GAME CARD TO ANY McDONALD'S EMPLOYEE. HIGH-LEVEL PRIZES WON BY A MINOR WILL BE AWARDED IN THE NAME OF WINNER'S PARENT OR LEGAL GUARDIAN IN TRUST FOR THE MINOR, AND SUCH PARENT OR LEGAL GUARDIAN WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR EXECUTING ALL REQUIRED DOCUMENTS ON BEHALF OF MINOR AND FOR CAUSING ALL APPLICABLE TAXES TO BE PAID. McDonald's employees or Managers cannot verify or redeem potential winning Game Cards for prizes other than McDonald's Food and In-Store Cash prizes.

C. REDEMPTION DEADLINES

ALL McDONALD'S FOOD AND IN-STORE CASH PRIZES MUST BE REDEEMED AT A PARTICIPATING McDONALD'S RESTAURANT ON OR BEFORE JUNE 1, 2001, OR 15 DAYS AFTER THE GAME OFFICIALLY ENDS (See Rule 9 below for Game Schedule), WHICHEVER IS LATER.

YOU MUST CALL THE TOLL FREE NUMBER FOR HIGH-LEVEL PRIZE CLAIMS, AND YOUR CALL MUST BE RECEIVED ON OR BEFORE JULY 7, 2001. AS INDICATED IN THE INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED WHEN YOU CALL THE TOLL FREE NUMBER, ALL GAME CARDS FOR HIGH-LEVEL PRIZE CLAIMS MUST BE RECEIVED FOR VERIFICATION AND REDEMPTION BY THE REDEMPTION CENTER ON OR BEFORE JULY 19, 2001. WINNERS WILL BE REQUIRED TO EXECUTE AN AFFIDAVIT OF ELIGIBILITY/LIABILITY RELEASE AND, WHERE LEGAL, A PUBLICITY RELEASE, WHICH MUST BE COMPLETED AND RETURNED WITHIN A SPECIFIED TIME AFTER NOTIFICATION OR PRIZE MAY BE FORFEITED.

All Game Cards and other Game materials received after the above deadlines are VOID and will be ineligible for prizes. Game Cards and other Game materials submitted to the Redemption Center will be verified within 8 weeks from the date of receipt, or as soon thereafter as is reasonably possible. Verified High-Level prize winners will be notified by mail.

Note: You may win more than one prize, but you are not a winner of any prize until your Game Card(s) and other Game materials, and your compliance with these Official Rules, have been verified at either the Redemption Center or at a participating McDonald's restaurant, whichever is applicable, in accordance with these Official Rules.

4. PRIZES

SEE RULE 14 FOR ODDS CHART AND PRIZE DETAILS.

ALL CASH PRIZES WON BY CANADIAN RESIDENTS WILL BE AWARDED IN THE AMOUNT INDICATED, IN CANADIAN DOLLARS ONLY. ALL OTHER CASH PRIZES WILL BE AWARDED IN U.S. DOLLARS. NO INTEREST WILL BE PAID ON ANY CASH PRIZES, INCLUDING CASH PRIZES PAID IN INSTALLMENTS. ALL DETAILS AND SPECIFICS OF PRIZES TO BE PROVIDED ON NOTIFICATION TO WINNER. NUMBER OF PRIZES AVAILABLE TO BE WON WILL DIMINISH AS PRIZES ARE AWARDED.

ANY AND ALL APPLICABLE TAXES ON A PRIZE ARE THE SOLE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PRIZE WINNER. IF REQUIRED BY LAW, McDONALD'S CORPORATION (THE "SPONSOR") OR ITS AGENTS SHALL REQUIRE PAYMENT FROM PRIZE WINNER TO REMIT TO THE APPROPRIATE TAXING AUTHORITIES THE AMOUNT OF ANY TAX OR TAXES DUE.

5. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

The degree of difficulty of the question does not necessarily reflect the prize levels on your Game Card. The questions and the Final Answers designated as "CORRECT" on Game Cards have been determined as of approximately January 1, 2001. The Final Answer designated to be "CORRECT " on each Game Card is final and conclusive. Game Cards will contain only one Final Answer designated as "CORRECT". Sponsor and its agents assume no responsibility for the correctness of these answers. In the event that Sponsor determines there is an ambiguity in a question or answer, more than one correct answer or an incorrect answer designated as "CORRECT" through a printing or other error, Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to treat such a question as correctly answered and award the one prize selected by the participant, in accordance with these Official Rules, and participants in the Game acknowledge that Sponsor shall have no further obligation in such event.

6. GENERAL CONDITIONS OF PARTICIPATION

The submission of Game Cards and other Game materials for verification is solely the responsibility of the participant. Participant assumes all risk of loss, theft, damage, destruction, delay and misdirection of Game Cards and other Game materials and is advised to obtain insurance where appropriate. Proof of mailing does not constitute proof of delivery. Game Cards and other Game materials submitted become the property of Sponsor and will not be returned. An officially verified winner may transfer his/her Game Card(s) without consideration, to another eligible person prior to award ONLY if authorized in writing by the Redemption Center, at Sponsor's sole discretion. Requests for transfer must be in writing and should be included in the envelope with the potential winning Game Card. The Released Parties (as defined below) will not be responsible for incomplete, illegible, misdirected, late, lost or postage-due submissions of Game Cards and other Game materials, which may be judged void. Further, the Released Parties are not responsible for any technical, hardware or software malfunctions or failures, lost or unavailable connections, or failed, incorrect, inaccurate, incomplete, corrupted, misdirected, garbled or delayed transmissions or information, or for service provider/Internet/web site accessibility or availability, in connection with the use of the 50/50 Lifeline on the ABC Site or otherwise in connection with the Game, whether caused by the web site user, any of the equipment or programming associated with or utilized for the 50/50 Lifeline, by any human error, unauthorized human intervention, system failures or otherwise. The Released Parties are not responsible for any error or omission (including the incorrect or inaccurate capture or dissemination of information or the failure to capture or disseminate information) or any injury or damage to any person's computer, relating to or resulting from accessing or using the 50/50 Lifeline on the ABC Site or any other portion of the ABC Site. Any attempt by any individual to deliberately interfere with or damage on-line service or the 50/50 Lifeline on the ABC Site or undermine the legitimate operation of the web site and/or Game is a violation of criminal and civil laws and may result, among other things, in disqualification from the Game.

Participant is solely responsible for selection of a correct answer. Sponsor and the other Released Parties assume no responsibility or liability in the event that a participant requests or receives assistance in answering a question or relies upon any outside source, including the 50/50 Lifeline available on the ABC Site.

By participating in the Game, participant agrees to abide by and be bound by these Official Rules and by the decisions of the Sponsor and the Redemption Center, which are final and binding in all respects. Prizes will be awarded only if a participant fully complies with these Official Rules. Participant waives the right to assert as a cost of winning any prize, any and all costs of verification and redemption or travel to redeem said prize and any liability and publicity which might arise from redeeming or seeking to redeem said prize.

Potential prize winner will be required, as a condition of winning a prize, to sign and return within a specified time, an affidavit of eligibility/liability release, and where legal, a publicity release, and any applicable forms required by tax authorities. Should a prize winner make any false statement in any document referenced above, the winner will be required to promptly return to Sponsor, upon demand, his/her prize. By participating, winner releases and agrees to hold harmless Sponsor, ABC, Inc., ABC Multimedia, Inc., Valleycrest Productions Ltd., and their licencees, franchisees, parents, affiliates, subsidiaries, local corporate advertising cooperatives, advertising and promotion agencies, and all of their respective directors, officers, employees, representatives and agents (the "Released Parties"), from and against any and all liability for any loss, property damage or damage to persons, including, without limitation, death, and injury, due in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from or arising out of participation in this Game, use of the 50/50 Lifeline, use of the ABC Site, or participation in any Game related activity, or the receipt, use or misuse of any prize. By submitting potential winning Game Cards and other Game materials, verified winners authorize McDonald's, ABC, Inc., ABC Multimedia, Inc., and their promotional partners to use their name, address (city, state and country) and/or their photograph, any taped appearance or interview with them or any likeness of them, their voice and/or any statements made by or attributed to them, in perpetuity, in connection with the publicity, advertising or promotional activities for the Game or any other like or similar future promotion (where legally permissible), in any and all media now known or hereafter developed (including, without limitation, print, broadcast and Internet), and to use statements made by or attributed to winner relating to McDonald's, and any and all rights to said use, without further compensation.

Subject to any governmental approval which may be required, Sponsor reserves the right, without prior notice and at any time, to terminate or suspend the Game, in whole or in part, or to modify the Game in any way, should any factor (including but not limited to fraud or security breach) interfere with the Game's proper conduct as contemplated by these Official Rules, or if the Sponsor believes that the Game has been or will be compromised in any way. In addition, Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to suspend or cancel the 50/50 Lifeline portion of this Game should a virus, bug, computer problem, unauthorized human intervention or other cause beyond Sponsor's control corrupt the administration, security, fairness or proper use of the 50/50 Lifeline. Further, Sponsor reserves the right to void any Game Card submitted for a prize, if Sponsor believes such Game Card was obtained other than through regular channels of business as contemplated by these Official Rules or that the Game Card has been tampered with in any manner. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, if through printing, production or other errors, or for any other reason, more winning Game Cards than intended, as indicated in these Official Rules, are printed, distributed or received for any prize, the winners, or remaining winners, as the case may be, at Sponsor's sole discretion, may be selected in a random drawing from among all unfulfilled winning prize claims received for that prize. Only the prizes described and quantity of prizes offered in these Official Rules will be available to be won in this Game. It is the participant's responsibility to ensure that he/she has complied with the conditions contained in these Official Rules. Unclaimed prizes shall not be awarded. Game is void in whole or in part where prohibited by law.

7. ELIGIBILITY

The Game is offered at participating McDonald's restaurants in the Territory and it is open only to legal residents of the U.S., Guam, Saipan, Bahamas, Curacao, Aruba, St. Maarten, St. Thomas and Canada (excluding the Province of Quebec). There is no age limit to play or to redeem McDonald's Food prizes. In the event that an In-Store Cash prize is won by a minor, he/she must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian in order to redeem. High-Level prizes won by a minor will be awarded only in the name of his/her parent or legal guardian in trust for the minor. Persons in any of the following categories are NOT eligible to participate or win prizes in the Game: (a) persons who on or after June 1, 2000, were or are employees or agents of Sponsor, ABC, Inc., ABC Multimedia, Inc., Valleycrest Productions Ltd., or their respective parents, subsidiaries, affiliated companies, franchisees, or service agencies, or independent contractors of any of the above organizations; (b) individuals engaged, or employed by a company that is engaged, in the development, production or distribution of materials for this Game; and (c) persons who are immediate family (defined as mother, father, sister, brother, daughter, son or spouse) of any person in any of the preceding categories, regardless of where they live; or who reside in the same household, whether related or not, as any person in any of the preceding categories.

8. VERIFICATION

All Game Cards and other Game materials are subject to verification at a participating McDonald's restaurant or the Redemption Center, whichever is applicable according to Rule 3 above. Game Cards and other Game materials are null and void and will be rejected if tampered with in any way (except for the signed initials of the potential winner), if obtained where the Game is prohibited or not obtained legitimately, if any part is counterfeited or reproduced, or if they are from other games or promotions, and may be rejected if any part is illegible, incomplete, damaged, mutilated, or if they contain or reflect printing, production, typographical, mechanical or other errors. All decisions of Sponsor and the Redemption Center are final, binding and conclusive in all matters. Only Game Cards with artwork featuring the words "2001" "McD" and "Millionaire Game" printed under the Prize Boxes will be accepted for verification. Winning Game Cards contain special points of identification that have been verified by an independent accounting firm.

IMPORTANT: ANY PERSON ATTEMPTING TO FORGE GAME CARDS OR OTHER GAME MATERIALS OR TO DEFRAUD McDONALD'S IN ANY WAY IN CONNECTION WITH THIS GAME WILL BE PROSECUTED TO THE FULLEST EXTENT OF THE LAW.

9. GAME SCHEDULE

The Game will begin on or about April 19, 2001 and is scheduled to end on May 17, 2001. Regardless of the scheduled end date, the Game will officially end when all Game Cards have been distributed, subject to redemption deadlines for High-Level prize claims outlined in Rule 3C. Therefore, some participating McDonald's restaurants may complete distribution of their supply of packaging containing Game Cards before others, and as the Game progresses, Game Cards may be available at some McDonald's restaurants, and not others. Game Cards may be depleted on some sizes of packaging before others. Although a participating McDonald's restaurant may have exhausted its supply of packaging containing Game Cards, it will continue to redeem McDonald's Food and In-Store Cash Game Cards through the redemption period.

10. ARBITRATION

Except where prohibited by law, as a condition of participating in this Game, participant agrees that (1) any and all disputes and causes of action arising out of or connected with this Game, or any prizes awarded, shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action, and exclusively by final and binding arbitration under the rules of the American Arbitration Association and held at the AAA regional office nearest the participant; (2) the Federal Arbitration Act shall govern the interpretation, enforcement and all proceedings at such arbitration; and (3) judgment upon such arbitration award may be entered in any court having jurisdiction. Under no circumstances will participant be permitted to obtain awards for, and participant hereby waives all rights to claim, punitive, incidental or consequential damages, or any other damages, including attorneys' fees, other than participant's actual out-of-pocket expenses (i.e., costs associated with participating in this Game), and participant further waives all rights to have damages multiplied or increased.

11. CHOICE OF LAW

All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Official Rules, or the rights and obligations of participant and Sponsor in connection with the Game, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the substantive laws of the State of Illinois, USA without regard to Illinois choice of law rules.

12. LIST OF PRIZE WINNERS or OFFICIAL RULES

For a list of major prize winners (available after September 19, 2001) or a copy of these Official Rules, mail, postage pre-paid, a hand-printed self-addressed stamped envelope to: Who Wants to Be a Millionaire Game at McDonald's, Winner's List or Official Rules, P. O. Box 466144, Lawrenceville, GA, 30042-6144. Only one request for a Winner's List or Official Rules per outer envelope mailed separately. All requests must be received between April 19, 2001 and July 19, 2001. DO NOT SEND POTENTIAL WINNING GAME CARDS OR ANY OTHER GAME CARDS, GAME MATERIALS, COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS TO THIS ADDRESS.

13. ADDITIONAL GAME CARDS

Approximately 195,400,000 Game Cards will be distributed in the Game. McDonald's reserves the right, in its sole discretion, at any time during the Game, to distribute up to 39,075,000 additional Game Cards (the "Additional Game Cards") in the Territory, excluding Canada, if and only if, McDonald's determines, in its sole discretion, that consumer demand substantially exceeds McDonald's expectations. Within the Additional Game Cards, winning Game Cards will only be redeemable for the following types of prizes: McDonald's Food or In-Store Cash prizes. With respect to the Additional Game Cards, the odds of winning such McDonald's Food and In-Store Cash prizes will be the same as the odds of winning those prizes prior to the time the Additional Game Cards are distributed, if at all. See Rule 14 for complete details.

14. ODDS CHART. EFFECTIVE APRIL 19, 2001

This promotion is sponsored by McDonald's Corporation ("Sponsor"), Oak Brook, IL 60523. There is no sales presentation or McDonald's purchase required.

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