Systems and methods for providing online sweepstakes

Abstract

A sweepstakes solution-generating computer system includes a processor and a memory for storing computer-executable instructions causing the computer system to receive sweepstakes parameters for a proposed sweepstakes (the sweepstakes parameters including sponsor information and prize information) and provide an indication of whether the value of the prizes identified by the prize information exceed a predetermined amount which requires consulting an attorney in order to generate a sweepstakes solution. Based on the indication that the value of the prizes does not exceed the predetermined amount, the system generates a sweepstakes solution.

We claim: 
     
         1 . One or more computer-readable storage devices comprising computer-executable instructions causing a computer to perform a method of implementing a sweepstakes, the method comprising:
 receiving a request for production of a sweepstakes proposal from an online user via a server;   responsive to the request, generating and delivering to the user a series of queries regarding the sweepstakes proposal;   receiving a plurality of responses to the queries that have been generated and delivered to the user; and   based on the plurality of responses to the queries, developing a sweepstakes solution,   wherein the sweepstakes solution comprises generating a sweepstakes rules for publication based, at least in part, on plurality of responses to the queries.   
     
     
         2 . The one or more computer-readable storage devices of  claim 1 , wherein the acts of generating and delivering a series of queries and receiving the plurality of responses comprises:
 requesting sponsor information about the name and contact information of a sponsor of the sweepstakes proposal;   receiving the sponsor information;   requesting prize information about the prizes that are to be distributed by the sponsor via the sweepstakes solution; and   receiving the prize information.   
     
     
         3 . The one or more computer-readable storage devices of  claim 2 , wherein the method further comprises:
 responsive to the prize information, determining whether the sweepstakes solution can be generated without consulting an attorney.   
     
     
         4 . The one or more computer-readable storage devices of  claim 3 , wherein the act of determining whether an attorney needs to be consulted comprises:
 determining a total value of the prizes associated with the prize information, the total value being determined by assigning a value to each prize that is to be distributed and summing up all of the values assigned to the prizes to obtain the total value of the prizes;   comparing the total value of the prizes to a predetermined value to determine if the total value exceeds the predetermined value; and   if the total value exceeds the predetermined value, providing an indication that an attorney must be consulted by the user.   
     
     
         5 . The one or more computer-readable storage devices of  claim 2 , wherein the prize information comprises prizes of monetary value. 
     
     
         6 . The one or more computer-readable storage devices of  claim 5 , wherein at least some of the prize information is received via a dropdown menu listing possible prizes, each of the possible prizes having a pre-assigned value associated with the possible prizes. 
     
     
         7 . The one or more computer-readable storage devices of  claim 6 , wherein the possible prizes comprise at least one downloadable music file. 
     
     
         8 . The one or more computer-readable storage devices of  claim 6 , wherein the possible prizes comprise at least one physical item that has been autographed. 
     
     
         9 . The one or more computer-readable storage devices of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 based on an indication that no attorney consultation is required, generating the sweepstakes solution and publishing a sweepstakes rules, the sweepstakes rules identifying the sponsor of the sweepstakes solution and the prizes that are to distributed by the sponsor; and   receiving entries from a plurality of participants in the sweepstakes solution.   
     
     
         10 . The one or more computer-readable storage devices of  claim 9 , wherein the entries are restricted to participants who are pre-registered. 
     
     
         11 . The one or more computer-readable storage devices of  claim 10 , wherein pre-registration comprises:
 linking a profile of a participant to a profile of another entity on a social networking site.   
     
     
         12 . The one or more computer-readable storage devices of  claim 9 , wherein the acts of generating and delivering a series of queries and receiving the plurality of responses comprises:
 requesting information about the sweepstakes period, the sweepstakes period being the period in which entries can be received from the plurality participants; and   receiving the sweepstakes period information from the user.   
     
     
         13 . The one or more computer-readable storage devices of  claim 12 , wherein a graphical user interface is provided to the user, the graphical user interface being configured to show a calendar view to facilitate generation of the sweepstakes period information by the user. 
     
     
         14 . The one or more computer-readable storage devices of  claim 13 , wherein the graphical user interface permits the user to select non-continuous blocks of time for the sweepstakes period. 
     
     
         15 . The one or more computer-readable storage devices of  claim 9 , wherein the method further comprises:
 restricting the entries of participants to a certain demographic, the certain demographic being limited by age and appreciation of a musical genre by the participant.   
     
     
         16 . A method implemented at least in part by one or more computing devices, the method comprising:
 receiving sweepstakes parameters for a proposed sweepstakes, the sweepstakes parameters including sponsor information and prize information;   receiving an indication of whether the total value of the prizes identified by the prize information exceed a predetermined amount which requires consulting an attorney in order to generate a sweepstakes solution;   based on an indication that the total value of the prizes does not exceed the predetermined amount, generating the sweepstake solution;   receiving entries from a plurality of participants, the entries being responsive to the publication of the sweepstakes solution;   selecting one or more winners of the sweepstakes solution from the entries received from the plurality of participants; and   distributing the prizes identified by the prize information to the one or more winners.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the entries are restricted to participants who are pre-registered by linking a profile of the participant to a profile of another entity on a social networking site. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the sweepstakes parameters further comprise a time period for the sweepstakes solution, the method further comprising:
 providing a graphical user interface on the computing device which permits selection of the time period in which the sweepstakes solution can be run; and   receiving the time period identified by a user of the computing device.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein after receiving the prize information, the method further comprises:
 prompting the user of the computing device to consider additional prizes, the additional prizes being selectable via a dropdown menu listing possible prizes, each of the possible prizes having a pre-assigned value associated with the possible prizes; and   adjusting the total value of the prizes based on the selection of additional prizes.   
     
     
         20 . A sweepstakes solution-generating computer system comprising:
 a processor; and   memory storing computer-executable instructions causing the computer system to:   receive sweepstakes parameters for a proposed sweepstakes, the sweepstakes parameters including sponsor information and prize information;   provide an indication of whether the value of the prizes identified by the prize information exceed a predetermined amount which requires consulting an attorney in order to generate a sweepstakes solution;   based on an indication that the value of the prizes does not exceed the predetermined amount, generate the sweepstake solution;   receive entries from a plurality of participants, the entries being responsive to the publication of the sweepstakes solution;   select one or more winners of the sweepstakes solution from the entries received from the plurality of participants; and   distribute the prizes identified by the prize information to the one or more winners.