MIX 10K - The Rules


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THE MICROSOFT MIX 10K CHALLENGE OFFICIAL RULES

PLEASE NOTE: It is your sole responsibility to review and understand your employer’s policies regarding your eligibility to participate in trade promotions. If you are participating in violation of your employer’s policies, you may be disqualified from entering or receiving prizes. Microsoft disclaims any and all liability or responsibility for disputes arising between an employee and their employer related to this matter, and prizes will only be awarded in compliance with the employer’s policies.

GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES: Microsoft is committed to complying with government gift and ethics rules and therefore government employees are not eligible for this offer.

COMMON TERMS USED IN THESE RULES:

These are the official rules that govern how the Microsoft MIX 10K Challenge promotion will operate ("Contest").

In these rules, "we," "our," and "us" refer to Microsoft Corporation, the sponsor of the Contest. "You," "yourself," "I," "me," and "my" refers to an eligible Contest entrant.

  1. CONTEST DESCRIPTION:

    This is a skill-based Contest. The object of this Contest is to create a small web application using either the Microsoft® Silverlight™ browser plug-in development tool or Windows Presentation Foundation. For purposes of this Contest, each web application that you create and submit in the Contest will be called an "entry." The Contest seeks entries in two (2) separate Contest Categories: Judge's Choice and Community Choice. All eligible entries received will be automatically entered into each Contest Category and will judged using the Contest Category-specific judging criteria described in Section 7 below.

  2. WHAT ARE THE START AND END DATES?

    This Contest starts at 12:01 a.m. Pacific Time (PT) on November 20, 2008, and ends at 11:59 p.m. PT on January 30, 2009 ("Entry Period"). Entries must be received within the Entry Period to be eligible.

  3. CAN YOU ENTER?

    This Contest is a trade promotion and is not open to the general public.

    You are eligible to enter this Contest if you meet the following requirements at time of entry:

    • You are employed as a web developer or designer, or in a web developer or designer role and you are 18 years of age or older and a legal resident of an eligible geography; and
    • You are NOT an employee of Microsoft Corporation or an employee of a Microsoft subsidiary; and
    • You are NOT involved in any part of the administration and execution of this Contest; and
    • You are NOT an immediate family (parent, sibling, spouse, child) or household member of a Microsoft employee, an employee of a Microsoft subsidiary, or a person involved in any part of the administration and execution of this Contest.

    If you are otherwise eligible to enter, but you have not yet reached the age of majority in your place of legal residence, then you should ask your parent's or legal guardian's permission prior to submitting an entry in this Contest.

    This Contest is void in the Province of Quebec.

    This Contest is void in the following US embargoed countries and wherever else prohibited by law: Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, and Syria.

  4. WHAT CONSTITUTES AN ELIGIBLE ENTRY?

    To be eligible for judging an entry must meet the following content / technical requirements:

    • The source files and embedded images of the web application cannot exceed a size of 10 kilobytes, not compiled.
    • The web application must either use Microsoft® Silverlight™ or Windows Presentation Foundation, run as a XAML Browser Application or deployed using ClickOnce.
    • The web application cannot include third party source code, libraries, or assembiles. Data from third-party web services is permitted, provided that you have obtained all consents, approvals, or licenses required to use the data and submit it into this Contest as part of the web application that you create.

    In addition:

    • Your entry must be your own original work; and
    • Your entry cannot have been selected as a winner in any other contest; and
    • You must have obtained any and all consents, approvals or licenses required for you to submit your entry; and
    • Your entry must not otherwise violate the rights of any other person or company by using their copyrighted material, trademarks, music, logos, names or images without their express written consent; and
    • Your entry must not depict any material that we, in our sole discretion, deem to be obscene or otherwise inappropriate for any reason.
  5. HOW WILL MY ENTRY BE POTENTIALLY USED?

    Other than what is set forth below, we are not claiming any ownership rights to your entry. However, by submitting your entry, you:

    • agree that, to the extent you have any rights in and to the entry, you are granting us a non-exclusive, irrevocable, royalty-free, worldwide, sublicenseable and transferable right and license to: (i) use, review, assess, test and otherwise analyze your entry and all its content in connection with this Contest; (ii) reproduce, copy, modify or alter your entry with all known all later developed means; and (iii) feature your entry and all into content in connection with the promotion of this Contest and the Microsoft MIX event in all media (now known or later developed).
    • agree to sign any necessary documentation that may be required for us and our designees to make use of the rights you granted above;
    • understand and acknowledge that we may have developed or commissioned materials similar or identical to your submission and you waive any claims you may have resulting from any similarities to your entry;
    • understand that we cannot control the incoming information you will disclose to our representatives in the course of entering, or what our representatives will remember about your entry. You also understand that we will not restrict work assignments of representatives who have had access to your entry. By entering this Contest, you agree that use of information in our representatives' unaided memories in the development or deployment of our products or services does not create liability for us under this agreement or copyright or trade secret law; and
    • understand that you will not receive any compensation or credit for use of your entry, other than what is described in these Official Rules

    Please note that following the end of this Contest your entry may be posted on a website selected by us for viewing by visitors to that website. We are not responsible for any unauthorized use of your entry by visitors to this website. While we reserve these rights, we are not obligated to use your entry for any purpose, even if it has been selected as a winning entry.

    If you (or, if you are otherwise eligible to enter, but you have not yet reached the age of majority in your place of resident, your parent or legal guardian) do not want to grant us these rights to your entry, please do not enter this Contest.

  6. HOW DO YOU SUBMIT YOUR ENTRY?

    To submit your web application, navigate to http://2009.visitmix.com/MIXtify/TenKSubmission.aspx and register for the Contest by uploading your web application, as instructed. All eligible entrants that submit a valid entry during the Entry Period will receive a MIX 10K Limited Edition t-shirt, while supplies last. For purposes of this offer, a valid entry is an entry posted in the Community Gallery for community rating. MIX 10K Limited Edition t-shirt offer is non-transferable, and not redeemable for cash. Please allow 4-6 weeks after the close of the Contest for receipt. Eligible entrants will be contacted by email for their mailing address following acceptance of entry in the Community Gallery and t-shirts will be shipped the address provided. Any t-shirts returned as non-deliverable will not be re-sent.

    We will only accept one (1) entry per person and e-mail address. We are not responsible for entries that we do not receive, or that we are unable to access, for any reason, or for entries that we receive but are not decipherable for any reason.

    We will automatically disqualify:

    • Any incomplete or illegible entry; and
    • Any entries that we receive from you that are in excess of the entry limit described above.
  7. HOW WILL ENTRIES BE JUDGED?

    All eligible entries received will be automatically considered for each Contest Category, Judge's Choice and Community Choice. Winners in each Contest Category will be determined as described below.

    Judge's Choice

    On or around the close of the Entry Period, a panel of judges will review all eligible entries received and, based on the judgng criteria set forth below, select one grand prize winner and up to three runners-up. In the event of a tie between any eligible entries, the tie will be broken by an additional judge who will the judge the tied entries based on the criteria listed below.

    Judging Criteria (equally weighted):

    • Originality
    • Graphic Design/User Experience
    • Functionality

    Community Choice

    We will present eligible entries online in the Public Rating Gallery within five (5) business days of receipt. Between 12:01 a.m. PT on November 21, 2008, and 11:59 p.m. PT on February 13, 2009 8 a.m. PT on February 16, 2009 ("Public Voting Period"), visitors will be asked to rate each eligible entry in the Rating Gallery, taking into consideration the Judging Criteria described above. Limit one (1) rating per person per eligible entry.

    At the conclusion of the Public Rating Period, we will tally all valid ratings received, and determine one winner, based on total weighted ratings received. In the event of a tie between any eligible entries, the tie will be broken by judges, who will judge the tied entries based on the criteria listed above.

    We, in our sole discretion, reserve the right to void suspect ratings or take other remedial actions if we suspect any use of robotic, automatic, macro, programmed or similar methods, known or unknown, to impact the integrity of the public rating result.

    For both Contest Categories, the decisions of the judges are final and binding. If we do not receive a sufficient number of entries meeting the entry requirements, we reserve the right to not select any winners.

  8. WHAT IS THE PRIZE?

    Judge's Choice:

    • One (1) Grand Prize. A trip for winner to attend the Microsoft MIX 09 event, March 18-20, 2009 in The Venetian Hotel, Las Vegas (Approximate Retail Value (ARV), $3,500 USD).

      Trip includes:

      • Three (3) nights standard hotel accommodations (for up to two people) at The Venetian Hotel, Las Vegas.
      • Admission for winner to attend the Microsoft MIX 09 event March 17-20, 2009. If the event is cancelled for any reason, Sponsor shall have no further obligation to the winner other than to provide the opportunity to attend event.
      • $1500 USD Visa Gift Card (or equivalent) to be applied towards travel

    • Three (3) Runners Up Prizes. $500 USD Visa gift card gift card

    Community Choice:

    • One (1) Community Choice Prize. $1500 USD Visa gift card

    All prize values are stated in U.S. dollars.

    If for any reason the advertised prize is unavailable, we reserve the right to substitute a prize) of equal or greater value. We will only award one (1) prize per person.

    If you are selected as a potential winner of this Contest:

    • The prize will be awarded to you and you shall ensure it is used and/or distributed in accordance with your company's policies (Note: We are not responsible for the re-distribution of prizes within your company, if required);
    • You may not exchange your prize for cash or any other merchandise or services;
    • You may not designate someone else as the winner. If you are unable or unwilling to accept your prize, we will award it to an alternate potential winner; and
    • If you accept a prize, you will be solely responsible for all applicable taxes related to accepting the prize.
  9. HOW WILL YOU KNOW IF YOU'RE A WINNER?

    If you are a potential winner, we will notify you by sending a message to the e-mail address listed on your entry within seven (7) days following winner determination. If the notification that we send is returned as undeliverable, or you are otherwise unreachable for any reason, we may award the prize to an alternate randomly selected winner.

    If there is a dispute as to who is the potential winner, we will consider the potential winner to be the authorized account holder of the e-mail address used to enter the Contest.

    If you are a potential winner, we may require you to sign an affidavit of eligibility, liability/publicity release and W-9 or W8-BEN tax form. If you do not sign and return these required forms within the time period listed on the winner notification message, we may disqualify you and select the next highest-scoring entry.

  10. WHAT OTHER CONDITIONS ARE YOU ARE AGREEING TO BY ENTERING THIS CONTEST?

    By entering this Contest you (your parent or legal guardian if you are a minor) agree and understand that:

    • To abide by these Official Rules;
    • To the extent allowed by law, to release and hold harmless Microsoft, their respective parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, employees and agents from any and all liability or any injury, loss or damage of any kind arising from or in connection with this Contest or any prize won;
    • That Microsoft's decisions will be final and binding on all matters related to this Contest; and
    • That Microsoft may use of your proper name and state of residence online and in print, or in any other media, in connection with this Contest, without payment or compensation to you, except where prohibited by law.
    • This Contest will be governed by the laws of the State of Washington, and you consent to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of Washington courts (state and federal) for any disputes arising out of this Contest.
  11. WHAT IF SOMETHING UNEXPECTED HAPPENS AND THE CONTEST CAN'T RUN AS PLANNED?

    If someone cheats, or a virus, bug, catastrophic event, or any other unforeseen or unexpected event that cannot be reasonably anticipated or controlled, (also referred to as force majeure) affects the fairness and / or integrity of this Contest, we reserve the right to cancel, change or suspend this Contest. This right is reserved whether the event is due to human or technical error. If a solution cannot be found to restore the integrity of the Contest, we reserve the right to select winners from among all eligible entries received before we had to cancel, change or suspend the Contest.

    Computer "hacking" is a crime. If you attempt to compromise the integrity or the legitimate operation of this Contest by hacking or by cheating or committing fraud in ANY way, we may seek damages from you to the fullest extent permitted by law. Further, we may ban you from participating in any of our future Contest, so please play fairly.

  12. HOW CAN YOU FIND OUT WHO WON?

    We will post the name of confirmed winners online after Feb 13, 2009 February 16, 2009 at http://2009.visitmix.com/MIXtify/TenKGallery.aspx. This posting will remain active for at least 30 days.

  13. WHO IS SPONSORING THIS CONTEST?

    Microsoft Corporation is the sponsor of this Contest.

    Microsoft Corporation
    One Microsoft Way
    ATTN: 24/2051
    Redmond, WA 98052
    USA

  14. PRIVACY

    Microsoft's Privacy Policy will apply to this Contest, and to all information that we receive from your entry. Please read the Privacy Policy on the Contest entry page before accepting the Official Rules and submitting your entry. Please note that by accepting the Official Rules you are also accepting the terms of the Privacy Policy.