Name One of The National Zoo’s Cheetah Cubs!

Ohai, Squee Lovers! I Can Has Cheezburger is teaming up with the National Zoo for a cheetah cub naming contest! Starting tomorrow, we’ll post a new picture of a cheetah cub at noon every day through Sunday. All you have to do is add a caption to the photo with your suggested name! Come back every day for new photos of the cubs and more chances to win!

Feline fanatics rejoice! You can receive all kinds of news about the Smithsonian’s National Zoo’s cheetahs, lions, tigers, clouded leopards and fishing cats by signing up for their behind-the-scenes feline news updates and stunning photos! Be sure to also follow the National Zoo on Twitter and Facebook!

Read the official contest rules after the jump!

LOLCAT CONTEST RULES
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY

1. Entrants must be individuals, legal U.S. residents, 18 years of age or older. Employees of Cheezburger, Inc. and the Smithsonian Institution, their respective parent companies, franchisees, partners, retailers, affiliates, subsidiaries, advertising and promotion agencies, printing suppliers and any other individual or company involved in the development or execution of the Contest, and the immediate families (spouse, parents, children, siblings, and their respective spouses) and household members of each such employees (whether related or not), are not eligible to enter.

2. The contest runs from 3 p.m. eastern time December 13, 2011 to midnight eastern time December 18, 2011. At approximately 12 p.m. pacific time each day during the contest period, Cheezburger, Inc. will post a photograph of the cheetah cubs on icanhascheezburger.com. To enter, entrants submit their e-mail contact information along with a name and caption to the designated cheetah photographs through the Cheezburger Network’s lolbuilder online. Name must be clearly identified in entry, for instance, an entrant may submit “Osei says: I can fix this . . . sorta”. The proposed name is “Osei” and the caption is “I can fix this . . . sorta.” Entering is free of charge.

3. The Smithsonian will choose up to ten finalists (up to five names for each cheetah) from the eligible entries, and the public will be invited to participate in a poll to select which two names will be the winning cheetah names. The poll will be operated by Cheezburger and posted on icanhascheezburger.com on December 20, 2011. Voting on this poll will start at 6am PT and close at 5pm PT on December 20, 2011. The winning names will be determined by Cheezburger based on which of the finalist names for each cheetah received the most votes.

4. One entry per person per day. The Smithsonian reserves the right to disqualify multiple entries. The Contest is subject to all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations.

5. The Smithsonian will award two prizes. Each prize is the naming of a cheetah cub, a framed image of the named cub with a personalized message from the keeper, and an adopt-a-cheetah package (the adopt-a-cheetah package has a fair market value of approximately US $65). If a prize becomes unavailable for any reason, the Smithsonian reserves the right to substitute a prize. Winners may not request prize substitution. One prize per individual. The odds of winning depend on the total number of all eligible entries received and the relative performance of all entrants.

6. The Smithsonian will select the winner based on the cleverness, creativity, humor, originality, appropriateness-to-the-cheetah of the name and caption, as determined in its sole discretion. Cheezburger will notify winner via the e-mail address provided at the time of entry. Failure to respond within five business days means the winner forfeits the tangible prize, but the Smithsonian is free to use the name and entry materials as provided in paragraph 7 below.

7. Each entrant who is selected as a winner and accepts a prize gives Cheezburger, Inc. and the Smithsonian permission to use the entrant’s name, image, and likeness (i) in connection with the announcement of the winner(s), (ii) in any publicity Cheezburger, Inc. or the Smithsonian may conduct related to the contest, and (iii) with respect to the Smithsonian, for all standard museum purposes. Each entrant further grants and agrees to grant to Cheezburger, Inc. and the Smithsonian the non-exclusive worldwide, royalty free right and license to exploit, reproduce, modify, use, post, publish, perform, display, and distribute in any medium, the uploaded submission for any purpose, including the promotion and/or advertising of the contest, Cheezburger, Inc., or the Smithsonian.

8. All entrants hold Cheezburger, Inc. and the Smithsonian, and their respective regents, officers, employees, fellows, interns, research associates, and volunteers harmless from and against all claims of any nature arising in connection with entrant’s participation in the contest, acceptance or use of prize. Cheezburger, Inc. and the Smithsonian and their respective regents, officers, employees, fellows, interns, research associates, and volunteers are not liable for any costs, damages, injuries, or other claims incurred as a result of entrants’ participation in the contest or winner’s acceptance and usage of the prize.

9. Winners may be required to execute an affidavit of eligibility, publicity and liability release as a condition of receiving the prize.

10. Cheezburger, Inc. and the Smithsonian are not responsible for incomplete or misdirected entries, technical or network malfunctions or failures, or causes beyond its control. Entrants are solely responsible for their entries. Entrants may not submit materials that introduce any software viruses, worms or other programs designed to damage software, hardware or telecommunications equipment or are off-topic, partisan-political, contain advertising, personal attacks or expletives, or is otherwise abusive, threatening, unlawful, harassing, discriminatory, libelous, obscene, false, pornographic, or that infringes on the rights of any third party. Submitted captions must not (i) contain material that violates or infringes another person’s rights, including but not limited to privacy, publicity or intellectual property rights, or that constitutes copyright infringement; (ii) contain any commercial, advertising content or any other third-party brand names, logos or trademarks; or (iii) make any references to alcoholic beverages, tobacco, drug paraphernalia, or firearms. The Smithsonian reserves the right to disqualify any entrant whose entry or conduct appears in any way to: inhibit the enjoyment of others; tamper with the competition; violate these Rules; infringe on the rights of third parties; or act in an unsportsmanlike or disruptive manner. The Smithsonian reserves the right to cancel the contest or modify these rules at any time for any reason at its discretion. In the event of a dispute regarding the winners, the Smithsonian reserves the right to award or not award the prizes in its sole discretion. By entering this contest, entrants agree to be bound by these Rules and the decisions of the Smithsonian, which are final and binding in all respects. No purchase necessary to enter or win. Contest void where prohibited. Winner is responsible for all taxes on the prize, if any. Entrants also must comply with Cheezburger, Inc.’s Terms of Service and Use, available at: http://corp.cheezburger.com/legal/terms-of-service/ .

11. Cheezburger, Inc. will treat all information submitted online by entrants in a manner consistent with Cheezburger’s Terms of Service and Use located at: http://corp.cheezburger.com/legal/terms-of-service/ and Privacy Policy accessible at: http://corp.cheezburger.com/legal/privacy-policy/.

12. After Tuesday, Dec. 21, you may obtain a list of winners by sending a self-addressed, stamped (first-class postage) envelope to Cheetah Naming Contest, c/o, Smithsonian National Zoological Park, 3001 Connecticut Ave, NW, Washington, DC, 20008.