NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. 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 such as this one. Please verify that receipt of this prize would not violate your company’s internal policies. If you are participating in violation of your employer’s policies, Microsoft may disqualify you from entering this promotion or receiving prizes. Microsoft is not liable or responsible for any disputes arising between you and your employer related to your participation in this promotion, and Microsoft will only award prizes in compliance with your employer’s policies.
Government Employees: In order to comply with all applicable ethics rules, Microsoft cannot provide gifts or prizes to government (federal, state and local - including public education) employees or officials. Government employees or officials are invited to complete the survey, but are not eligible to be entered in the drawing.
COMMON TERMS USED IN THESE RULES:
These are the official rules that govern how the Microsoft “
Thrive” Sweepstakes will operate (the “Sweepstakes”).
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.
- WHAT ARE THE START AND END DATES?
This Sweepstakes starts at 12:01 AM PT on March 11, 2009, and ends at 11:59 PM PT on April 30, 2009 (“Entry Period”). Entries must be received within the Entry Period to be eligible.
- WHAT IS/ARE THE PRIZE(S)?
(1,000) TechNet Plus Direct annual subscription (Estimated Retail Value $349)
(1,000) A Microsoft certification program exam (Estimated Retail Value $125)
If for any reason an advertised prize is unavailable, we reserve the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value as permitted. We will only award one (1) prize per person.
If you are selected as a potential winner of this Sweepstakes:
- You may not exchange your prize for cash or any other merchandise or services; 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
- WHAT ARE YOUR ODDS OF WINNING?
Your odds of winning a prize are 100%. Your odds of winning a TechNet Plus Direct annual subscription are 1:2; your odds of winning a Microsoft certification program exam are 1:2.
- CAN I ENTER?
This is a trade promotion and is not open to the general public. You are eligible to enter this Sweepstakes if you meet the following requirements:
- You are a professional in the field of Information Technology or a related field and have received a “Thrive” card containing a unique entry code from a Microsoft representative; and
- You are a legal resident of the fifty (50) United States (including the District of Columbia), 18 years or older at the time of entry; and
- You are NOT an employee of Microsoft Corporation or an employee of a Microsoft subsidiary; 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 identified above and wherever else prohibited by law.
- HOW DO I ENTER?
To enter, you must have a free Windows Live ID. If you do not have a free Windows Live ID you must register for one here: https://signup.live.com/signup.aspx Then, enter online by visiting www.microsoft.com/thrivecard, completing the registration information, and entering the unique entry code located on the “Thrive” card you received from a Microsoft representative. Once submitted you will receive a “congratulations” message with a description of the prize you have potentially won, pending confirmation of eligibility.
We will only accept one (1) entry per person, e-mail address and unique entry code during the Entry Period. In other words, two people may not enter using the same email address or entry code – you each must enter using a unique email address and entry code. 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.
- HOW ARE WINNERS SELECTED AND NOTIFIED?
Winners will be notified instantly upon submitting their unique entry code, and will be provided instructions on redeeming their prize.
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 Windows Live ID 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 W-9 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 an alternate randomly selected winner.
- 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.
- 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 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.
- HOW CAN YOU FIND OUT WHO WON?
If you send a self-addressed stamped envelope to the address below on or before May 29, 2009, we will provide you with a list of winners
Microsoft Corporation
One Microsoft Way
Redmond, WA 98052
Attn: THRIVE WINNER, Lincoln Square / 23211
- WHO IS SPONSORING THIS SWEEPSTAKES?
Microsoft Corporation is the sponsor of this Sweepstakes.
Microsoft Corporation
One Microsoft Way
Redmond, WA 98052
