PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
The Microsoft "MIX08" Contest (the "Contest") is a skill contest in which
participants are asked to redesign a website using Cascading Style Sheets (CSS)
for judging based on the criteria listed below.
ENTRY PERIOD
The Contest begins at 12:01 a.m. (PT) on January 15, 2008, and ends at 11:59 p.m.
(PT) on February 7, 2008. (Entry Period). This skill contest is organized and administrated
in the United States of America, and all entry information will be collected on
servers in the U.S.A.
ELIGIBILITY
This Contest is open to both professional and amateur web designers and
web developers 18 years or older; however, residents of the following countries
are ineligible to participate: Cuba, Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Sudan, and Syria.
Residents of the Province of Quebec are also ineligible to participate.
Void where prohibited by law. Employees of Microsoft Corporation, and anyone working
directly on Microsoft programs and their respective affiliates, parent companies,
subsidiaries, prize suppliers, promotion, advertising and promotional agencies,
and the immediate family members and persons living in the households of each are
not eligible to enter.
HOW TO ENTER
Entrants must access http://www.visitmix.com/2008/
web site and navigate to the Contest submission page. From there, the participant
must submit through the submission engine a single Zip file. The Zip file must contain
one CSS file at root of the zip file and one images directory containing all images
for the CSS located under the root. The submitted CSS file may not contain Macromedia
Flash or content that Microsoft, in its sole discretion, deems inappropriate for
public display. Content deemed inappropriate includes, but is not limited to, vulgarity,
pornography or messaging that is overtly political in nature. The CSS should conform
to commonly accepted CSS practices. The Zip file should then be submitted via the
submissions form to the supplied email address. Once submitted, all eligible entries
will be posted on a publicly accessible website for viewing by website visitors.
An entrant may submit a total of 5 entries; however, each entry must be substantially
unique in content and appearance. Microsoft reserves the right to disqualify any
entry not meeting the above criteria. The website interface may be localized in
the entrant’s language; however, it must be accompanied by an English transcript
of the interface for English speaking judges. Microsoft assume no responsibility
for lost, late, illegible, garbled or misdirected entries, or for any computer,
online, telephone, human, or other error or for any technical or other malfunctions
that may occur. Proof of mailing or e-mailing submission does not constitute proof
of delivery. All information is collected in the United States. Use of any personally
identifiable information is subject to the terms set forth in the Microsoft Statement
of Privacy.
JUDGING CRITERIA
All eligible submissions will be judged and ranked by a panel of qualified
experts based on the following criteria, each of which is weighted equally:
- Quality: A professional and visually appealing design.
- Creativity: Creative and innovative of the design.
- Design Navigation: Clean, easy-to-understand and well designed navigation.
In the event of a tie during the winner selection process, all tied entries will
be re-judged by additional successive judges based on the criteria listed above
and that judge will break the tie. The Judges' decisions are final and binding in
all matters relating to this contest. On or about February 14, 2008, three winners
will be announced and notified via email.
RIGHTS TO USE ENTRIES
By entering this Contest, you are granting to Microsoft an irrevocable, royalty
free, fully paid up, worldwide license to use, review, assess, test and otherwise
analyze your entry and all its content in connection with the Contest. You’re also
giving Microsoft permission to feature your entry and any associated materials,
and any medium including, but not limited to, website, television, radio and/or
printed materials to promote this Contest and Microsoft products. Further, you understand
that Microsoft 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 Microsoft 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 Microsoft products or services does not create liability
for Microsoft under this agreement or trade secret law. You will not receive any
compensation or credit for use of your entry, other than what is described in these
Official Rules. Other than what is set forth above, Microsoft is not claiming any
license or ownership rights to your entry.
PRIZES
(3) Each winner will receive a trip to attend the MIX08 Conference in Las Vegas,
NV, March 5-7, 2008. Trip includes entrance into the MIX08 Conference, 3 night standard
hotel accommodations, and a $1000 cash travel allowance .
Actual value depends on date/time/destination, and difference between actual value
and stated value will not be awarded.
No substitution, transfer, or assignment of prize permitted, except that Sponsor
reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value in the event
an offered prize is unavailable. If a winner cannot or will not accept a prize,
then prize will be forfeited and awarded to an alternate winner. Sponsor reserves
the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value if entire prize or a portion
of the prize is unavailable. Specifics of prize package are subject to availability
and sponsor's sole discretion. No cancellation of reservation or transfer of reservation
to another date after reservation has been made. If MIX08 conference is canceled,
for any reason, Microsoft sponsor shall have no further obligation to the winner
and guest other than to supply the stated prize minus the opportunity to attend
the conference. Travel must be completed on dates specified by sponsor or prize
will be forfeited and awarded to an alternate winner.
Please Note: The dates for the trip are subject to change at the
sole discretion of Microsoft. Therefore, the winner must have flexible travel plans.
Should a potential winner decline the prize for any reason whatsoever, the next-eligible
highest ranking entry will be deemed the winner of that prize. All prize values
in U.S. Dollars. Any applicable taxes on the prize or expenses not listed herein
are the sole responsibility of the winner. Prizes may be subject to U.S. withholding
taxes and non-U.S. winners (if any) may be required to complete an IRS W8-BEN. Microsoft
reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value if entire prize
or a portion of the advertised prize is unavailable for any reason. Prize awards
may be subject to country specific restrictions.
GENERAL CONDITIONS
The entry must have been created solely by the entrant. The entry cannot defame
or invade publicity rights or privacy of any person, living or deceased, or otherwise
infringe upon any person's personal or proprietary rights. Modifying, enhancing
or altering a third party's pre-existing work, with the sole exception being the
Microsoft supplied base CSS, does not qualify as entrant's original creation. Entry
may not be offensive, as determined by judges in their sole discretion. Entries
not complying with all rules are subject to disqualification.
Entrants shall not receive any compensation or credit for use of entries, other
than that disclosed in these rules. Entrants agree to be bound by the terms of these
Official Rules. In the event of a dispute, the laws of the State of Washington in
the United States govern this Contest. All federal, provincial, state, and local
laws and regulations apply. Potential winners will be required to execute and return
an Affidavit of Eligibility and Liability Release and where legal, Publicity Release,
within 7 days following the date of issuance of notification. Non-compliance within
this time period or return of any prize/prize notification as undeliverable may
result in disqualification and selection of an alternate winner. Acceptance of prize
constitutes permission for Microsoft Corporation and its agents to use winner's
name and likeness for advertising and promotional purposes without additional compensation
unless prohibited by law. By entering, participants release and hold harmless Microsoft
Corporation and its respective subsidiaries, affiliates, advertising and promotions
agencies, prize suppliers, and all of their employees, officers, directors, shareholder's
and agents from any and all liability or any injuries, loss or damage of any kind
arising from or in connection with this Contest, the use of any entry, or the acceptance
or use of any prize won unless prohibited by law.
INTERNET
If for any reason this contest is not capable of running as planned due to infection
by computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical
failures, uploads of malicious files or viruses, or any other causes beyond the
control of Microsoft Corporation which corrupt or affect the administration, security,
fairness, integrity, or proper conduct of this Contest, Microsoft Corporation reserves
the right at its sole discretion, to disqualify any entry or any individual who
tampers with the entry or voting process, and to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend
the Contest and select winners using all eligible, non-suspect entries and/or votes
received as of the date of termination. Microsoft assumes no responsibility for
any error, omission, interruption, deletion, defect, delay in operation or transmission,
communications line failure, theft or destruction or unauthorized access to, or
alteration of, entries. Microsoft is not responsible for any problems or technical
malfunction of any telephone network or telephone lines, computer on-line systems,
servers, or providers, computer equipment, software, failure of any e-mail or entry
to be received on account of technical problems, human error or traffic congestion
on the Internet or at any Web site, or any combination thereof, including any injury
or damage to participant's or any other person's computer relating to or resulting
from participation in this contest or downloading any materials in this Contest.
CAUTION: ANY ATTEMPT TO DELIBERATELY DAMAGE ANY WEB SITE OR UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE
OPERATION OF THE CONTEST IS A VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS AND SHOULD SUCH
AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, MICROSOFT CORPORATION RESERVES THE RIGHT TO SEEK DAMAGES OR
OTHER REMEDIES FROM ANY SUCH PERSON (S) RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ATTEMPT TO THE FULLEST
EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW. In the event of a dispute as to the identity of a winner,
the winning entry will be declared made by the license holder of the Application
submitted.
WHO WON
A list of winners will be posed online after February 14, 2008 at
www.visitmix.com/2008/
SPONSOR
The Sponsor of this contest is Microsoft Corporation, One Microsoft Way, Redmond,
Washington, 98052-6399