MICROSOFT MSN #MSNChallenge Twitter SWEEPSTAKES
OFFICIAL RULES-NO PURCHASE NECESSARY.
COMMON TERMS USED IN THESE RULES:
These are the official rules that govern how the Microsoft #MSNChallenge Twitter 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” refers to an eligible Sweepstakes entrant.
WHAT ARE THE START AND END DATES?
This Sweepstakes starts at 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time (“PT”) on May 23, 2013, and ends at 12:00 a.m. PT on June 26, 2013 (“Entry Period”). Entries must be received within the Entry Period to be eligible for the drawing.
CAN I ENTER?
You are eligible to enter this Sweepstakes if you meet the following requirements at time of entry:
· You are a legal resident of the 50 United States and District of Columbia, are 18 years of age or older, and;
o If you are 18 years of age or older, but are considered a minor in your place of residence, you should ask your parent’s or legal guardian’s permission prior to submitting an entry into this Sweepstakes; and
· You are NOT an employee of Microsoft Corporation or an employee of a Microsoft subsidiary.
· 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.
· You have not won a Bing sweepstakes or contest since November 1, 2012.
This Sweepstakes is void outside of the geographic area described above and wherever else prohibited by law. All federal, state, and local laws and regulations apply.
HOW DO I ENTER?
To enter, you must do all of the following:
- Sign in to your Twitter account. If you do not have an account, visit www.twitter.com to create one. Twitter accounts are free. All terms and conditions of Twitter.com apply.
- Once logged into your Twitter account, follow the links and instructions to become a follower of @KnowMSN at http://twitter.com/knowmsn.
- On the day of the Sweepstakes, an official tweet will be posted from the @KnowMSN handle, prompting you to take a specific action to enter using the hashtag #MSNChallenge. You have until the end of the Entry Period to retweet this tweet and receive a Sweepstakes entry.
- You must remain a follower until at least June 30, 2013 in order to be contacted if you are selected as a potential winner.
Limit of one (1) entry per entrant or Twitter ID. We are not responsible for entries that we do not receive 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.
- Any entry that contains profanity and/or is deemed defamatory.
This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Twitter. We will contact you only if you are a winner (pending verification of eligibility).
WINNER SELECTION AND PRIZES
On or about May 29, 2013, and every Wednesday thereafter until June 26, 2013, we will randomly select (1) winner, from among all eligible entries received during the above stated Entry Period, of the prize designated below.
Prizes
(5) Each winner will from May 29 – June 19 will receive a $250 Microsoft Store gift card redeemable online only.
(1) The winner selected on June 26 will win one a $600 Microsoft Store gift card redeemable online only.
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Gift card subject to terms and conditions and is only redeemable at the Microsoft Store website. A random drawing will occur on or around every Wednesday during the entry period. If you are a potential winner, we will notify you via Direct Message on Twitter to the account provided at time of entry within seven (7) days following the random drawing. You must remain a follower until June 30, 2013 to be contacted if you win.
If the notification that we send is returned as undeliverable, or you are otherwise unreachable for any reason within three (3) business days of the drawing, we may award the prize to an alternate, randomly selected winner. Winners will be required to provide an active email address in order to be contacted by Microsoft for prize notification.
If you have won an MSN Sweepstakes in the last six (6) months, you are not eligible to win this Sweepstakes.
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 account used to enter the Sweepstakes. If you are a potential winner, we may require you to sign an Affidavit of Eligibility, Liability/Publicity Release within five (5) 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.
WHAT ARE YOUR ODDS OF WINNING?
Your odds of winning this Sweepstakes depend on the number of eligible entries we receive.
WHAT OTHER CONDITIONS ARE YOU 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 and its 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.
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.
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 randomly select a winner 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.
HOW CAN YOU FIND OUT WHO WON?
We will post the winners’ names online at www.twitter.com/knowmsnfor approximately 30 days following winner confirmation.
WHO IS SPONSORING THIS SWEEPSTAKES?
Microsoft Corporation
One Microsoft Way
Redmond, WA 98052