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MICROSOFT MONTHLY HOT SHEET EMPLOYEE SWEEPSTAKES

OFFICIAL RULES (for Microsoft FTEs)

WHAT ARE THE START AND END DATES?

This Sweepstakes starts at 12:01 AM Pacific Time (PT) on August 5, 2009 and ends at 11:59 PM PT on June 30, 2010 (“Entry Period”) and will consist of monthly Prize Periods as described in the table below.

Entries will be eligible for the Prize Period for which they are received only and will not be eligible for subsequent Prize Periods.

CAN I ENTER?

This Promotion is open to any US-based Microsoft employee or intern; however, any person directly involved in the development or execution of this Promotion is ineligible to enter.  Non-exempt (hourly) employees should obtain manager approval before participating.

HOW DO I ENTER?

To enter, you must send out the available monthly hot sheet report to your designated list of partners. The number of entries you will receive is dependent on the partner correctly entering the “Partner Hot Sheet Sweepstakes” according to the requirements listed in their Official Rules.

WINNER SELECTION AND PRIZES

At the close of each monthly prize period, one (1) winner will be selected based on the winning partner who was selected in the “Partner Hot Sheet Sweepstakes”. Your change of winning is dependent on the partner being selected as a monthly winner.  Each monthly winner will receive the following prize:

One (1) $100 Amazon Gift Card. 

Limit one (1) prize per Microsoft employee overall.  Once you have been selected as a winner, you will not be eligible to win again.

The total Approximate Retail Value (ARV) of all prizes: $1100.00

GENERAL CONDITIONS

Taxes on the value of the prize, if any, will be paid by Microsoft in the form of a tax gross up reflected in the winner’s income statement, based on country-specific tax laws.

Microsoft reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value if the offered prize is unavailable.  Unless otherwise noted, all prizes are subject to their manufacturer’s warranty and / or terms and conditions.  If a selected winner cannot be contacted, is ineligible, is no longer a Microsoft employee at the time of drawing, or fails to claim a prize within a reasonable amount of time, he or she will forfeit the prize and an alternate winner will be selected.  In the event of a dispute, the decisions of Microsoft are final.  By entering, you release and hold harmless Microsoft its subsidiaries, affiliates, directors, officers, employees and agents from any and all liability or injuries, loss or damage of any kind arising from or in connection with this Promotion or the use of any prize won.  Acceptance of the prize constitutes permission for Microsoft to use winner’s name and likeness for advertising and promotional purposes without additional compensation unless prohibited by law.  By entering this contest, you signify your acceptance of the official rules.  All federal, state, and local laws and regulations apply.  Void where prohibited by law.

THE MICROSOFT ‘BPOS & Exchange 2010 Netbook’ SWEEPSTAKES

OFFICIAL RULES

NO PURCHASE NECCESARY.  A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING.

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 BPOS & Exchange 2010 Netbook Sweepstakes promotion will operate.  This promotion will be simply referred to as the “Sweepstakes” throughout the rest of these rules. 

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

1.            WHAT ARE THE START AND END DATES? 

This Sweepstakes starts at 12:01 AM Pacific Time (PT) on October 5, 2009 and ends at 11:59 PM PT on June 31, 2010 (“Entry Period”). The Entry Period will consist of monthly prize periods beginning at 12:01 AM PT on the first day of the month and ending at 1:59 PM PT on the last day of the month with the exception of October which will begin on the fifth day of the month.

Entries must be received within the Entry Period to be eligible.

2.            CAN I ENTER?

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

§  You are an authorized representative of a company actively enrolled in the Microsoft Partner Program (MSPP) with a valid MSPP ID and a legal resident of the 50 United States (including the District of Columbia); 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 Sweepstakes; 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 Sweepstakes.

This Sweepstakes is void outside the geographic area described above and wherever else prohibited by law.

3.            HOW DO I ENTER?

You can enter online by registering for and attending any of the qualifying BPOS courses below. You will receive one (1) entry into the corresponding monthly drawing for course you register and attend.  Limit fifty-five (55) entries per person overall for attending all 55 courses. Non-winning entries will carry over into subsequent monthly drawings.

Qualifying courses:

No responsibility is assumed by Microsoft for lost, late, or misdirected entries or any computer, online telephone or technical malfunctions that may occur.

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.

4.            WINNER SELECTION AND PRIZES [EP1] 

On or around the last day of each month we, or a company acting under our authorization, will select one (1) potential winner per qualifying BPOS course in a random drawing from all eligible entries received that month. Each monthly course winner will receive the following prize:

One (1) Grand Prize: One (1) Dell Inspiron 1011 Netbook. Approximate Retail Value (ARV) US $445.00 each.

Overall, a total of fifty five (55) prizes will be awarded. The total Approximate Retail Value (ARV) of ALL prizes combined is $24,475.00

Non-winning entries from one month will carry over into subsequent monthly drawings. Limit 1 prize per person, regardless of the number of courses you register for and attend. If for any reason an advertised prize is unavailable, we reserve the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value as permitted.

If you are a potential winner, we will notify you by sending a message to the e-mail address, the phone number, or mailing address (if any) provided at time of entry within seven (7) days following the random drawing.  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 Sweepstakes. If you are a potential winner, we may require you to sign an Affidavit of Eligibility, Liability/Publicity Release and a W-9 tax form or W-8 BEN tax form within 10 days of notification.  If you are a potential winner and you are 18 or older, but are considered a minor in your place of legal residence, we may require your parent or legal guardian to sign all required forms on your behalf.  If you do not complete the required forms as instructed and/or return the required forms within the time period listed on the winner notification message, we may disqualify you and select an alternate, randomly selected winner.

If you are confirmed as a  winner of this Sweepstakes:

• You may not exchange your prize for cash or any other merchandise or services.  However, if for any reason an advertised prize is unavailable, we reserve the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value; and

• 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; and

• If you are otherwise eligible for this Sweepstakes, but are considered a minor in your place of residence, we may award the prize to your parent/legal guardian on your behalf; and

• Unless otherwise noted, all prizes are subject to their manufacturer’s warranty and / or terms and conditions. 

6.            WHAT ARE YOUR ODDS OF WINNING?

Your odds of winning this Sweepstakes depend on the number of eligible entries we receive.

7.   WHAT OTHER CONDITIONS ARE YOU ARE AGREEING TO BY ENTERING THIS SWEEPSTAKES?

By entering this Sweepstakes you agree: 

·         To abide by these Official Rules; and

·         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 Sweepstakes or any prize won; and

·         That Microsoft’s decisions will be final and binding on all matters related to this Sweepstakes; and

·         That by accepting a prize, Microsoft may use of your proper name and state of residence online and in print, or in any other media, in connection with this Sweepstakes, without payment or compensation to you, except where prohibited by law.

8.            WHAT LAWS GOVERN THE WAY THIS SWEEPSTAKES IS EXECUTED AND ADMINISTRATED?

This Sweepstakes will be governed by the laws of the State of Washington, and you consent to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the courts of the State of Washington for any disputes arising out of this Sweepstakes.  

9.            WHAT IF SOMETHING UNEXPECTED HAPPENS AND THE SWEEPSTAKES CAN’T RUN AS PLANNED?

If cheating, 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 Sweepstakes, we reserve the right to cancel, change or suspend this Sweepstakes.  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 Sweepstakes, we reserve the right to select winners from among all eligible entries received before we had to cancel, change or suspend the Sweepstakes.

If you attempt to compromise the integrity or the legitimate operation of this Sweepstakes 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 Sweepstakes, so please play fairly.

10.          HOW CAN YOU FIND OUT WHO WON?

For a list of winners, send a self-addressed stamped envelope to: PO Box 55459, Shoreline, WA 98115-0459, Attn: USPSC Event Services PM (BPOS & Exchange 2010 Netbook Sweepstakes). Requests received sixty (60) days following the drawing date will not be fulfilled. 

11.          WHO IS SPONSORING THIS SWEEPSTAKES?

Microsoft Corporation

One Microsoft Way

Redmond, WA 98052