Perhaps instead we can just rely on the plain meaning of common language around "lifetime" income streams and sweepstakes companies that offer those kinds of prizes should be required to purchase an annuity to guarantee that payment.
Agreed, feels like the company should have been and should be now required to purchase an annuity or other similar product that protects the winners.
I wonder what happened in 2003. Probably the company’s fortunes were already faltering.
Also the business was probably becoming obsolete at that point. The internet brought easier access to magazine content, magazine subscriptions signups, and sweepstakes. I remember there being a pretty big sweepstakes forum community at that point.
It also seems like the most lucrative customers may have been using the sweepstakes as a form of gambling, and gambling options have just steadily expanded for decades.