Code7 Contest. Official rules

Remember, this is not about slick production value on your video. The brilliance of your idea is key, so just tell it like it is, and follow these simple rules:

Official Rules

PLEASE NOTE: If you are entering as an authorized representative of a business or company, 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.

COMMON TERMS USED IN THESE RULES:

These are the official rules that govern how the Microsoft Windows 7 “Code 7” Contest promotion will operate (“Contest”).

In these rules, “we,” “our,” and “us” refer to Microsoft Corporation, the sponsor of this Contest. “You” refers to an eligible Contest entrant.

CONTEST DESCRIPTION:

This is a skill-based Contest. The object of this Contest is to recognize and reward software applications running on Windows 7 that are innovative, provide value to users, and which most fully utilize technology features in Windows 7 software. For purposes of this Contest, each application and demonstration video you create and submit in the Contest will together be called an “Entry.” All eligible Entries received will be judged using the criteria described below to determine the winners of the prizes described below.

This Contest is hosted in the United States, and entry information is collected on computers in the United States. This Contest 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 Contest. If you do not agree with this provision and these Official Rules, please do not enter this Contest.

WHAT ARE THE START AND END DATES?

This Contest starts at 12:01 a.m. Pacific Time (PT) on July 13, 2009, and ends at 11:59 p.m. PT on October 10, 2009 (“Entry Period”). Entries received by 11:59 p.m. PT on August 15, 2009, will be eligible to win an “Early Bird” prize described in the Winner Determination section below. Non-US participants should visit http://www.worldtimeserver.com/ , or similar time zone calculator, to determine local time.

CAN I ENTER?

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

You are a technology student, professional or enthusiast at least 18 years of age or older

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 Contest; 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.

You are NOT a resident of any of the following countries/jurisdictions: Cuba; Iran; North Korea; Sudan and the Province of Quebec, Canada;

This Contest is void in the geographic areas described above and wherever else prohibited by law.

WHAT CONSTITUTES AN ELIGIBLE ENTRY?

To download the free Windows 7 SDK please visit: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/bb980924.aspx

To enter, you must

build an original, consumer-oriented client application that runs natively on Windows 7

(for example Win32, WPF, MFC or Winforms) and addresses one or more of the following category topics:

Simplify My Life

More Media, More Places

Gaming

Work From Anywhere

Safeguard Your Work

Applications for a Better Tomorrow

The application must utilize at least one of the following Windows 7 technology features; however more weight in judging will be given to entries that utilize multiple features:

Libraries

Windows Touch

Shell Integration

DX11 (DirectX 11)

Sensor and Location Platform

Then you must create and submit a video in which you describe and demonstrate your application. The application and your video together constitute your Entry. Your Entry will be included in a pool with all eligible Entries based on geography, as described further below in the HOW DO I SUBMIT AN ENTRY? Section.

To be eligible for judging, your Entry must meet the following content / technical requirements:

your video must be in English, cannot exceed 3 minutes in length, cannot exceed 10 MB in file size, and must be in .wmv format; and

if selected as a Finalist and your application is not localized in English, when submitted it must be accompanied by a translation document for English speaking judges; and

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 trademarks, music, logos, names or images without their express written consent.

Entries may NOT contain, as determined by us, in our sole and absolute discretion, any content that:

is sexually explicit, unnecessarily violent or derogatory of any ethnic, racial, gender, religious, professional or age group; profane or pornographic;

promotes alcohol, illegal drugs, tobacco, firearms/weapons (or the use of any of the foregoing) or a particular political agenda;

is obscene or offensive;

defames, misrepresents or contains disparaging remarks about other people or companies;

contains trademarks, logos, or trade dress (such as distinctive packaging or building exteriors/interiors) owned by others;

contains copyrighted materials owned by others (including photographs, sculptures, paintings, and other works of art or images published on or in websites, television, movies or other media) without their express written consent;

contains materials embodying the names, likenesses, voices, or other indicia identifying any person (other than a member of your family or community for whom you have received consent) including, without limitation, celebrities and/or other public or private figures, living or dead;

contains look-alikes of celebrities or other public or private figures, living or dead;

communicates messages or images inconsistent with the positive images and/or good will to which we wish to associate; and/or violates any law;

We reserve the right to reject any entry, in our sole and absolute discretion, that we determine does not meet the above criteria.

HOW DO I SUBMIT AN ENTRY?

Entries will be divided into seven geographic pools (“Regions”) as follows:

China

Europe and United Kingdom

India and Southeast Asia

Japan, Korea, Australia, Antarctica, and New Zealand

Middle East and Africa

North America

South and Central America

To enter, visit www.code7contest.com and follow instructions to register and upload your video. Videos must be received no later than 11:59 p.m. PT on August 15, 2009 to be eligible for an “Early Bird” prize and no later than 11:59 p.m. PT on October 10, 2009 to be eligible for the Contest.

We will accept up to three Entries per person, however, each Entry must be substantially unique as determined in the judge’s sole discretion.

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 limits described above.

HOW ARE WINNERS DETERMINED?

Early Bird and Finalists:

Following the close of the Entry Period, a panel of judges will select Early Bird winners (independent of Region). The panel will also select two runner-up winners and one Finalist from each Region based on the following judging criteria:

33.3% - The application performs as described in the video, and aligns with one of the six scenarios

33.3% - The application showcases technology innovation and Business feasibility

33.3% - The application utilizes Windows 7 technology features

An Early Bird winner may also be selected as a Finalist or runner-up winner. Following judging, all winners and Finalists will be notified and provided instructions for submitting their application to Microsoft for evaluation. Applications must be received by the date instructed to continue qualification.

Finalists will be invited to present their application to a panel of judges at the Microsoft Professional Developers Conference 2009 (PDC09) in Los Angeles, CA, USA. The event takes place November 17th-November 20th, 2009, and Finalists will be notified in advance which day they will be required to give their presentation. While Finalists are encouraged to attend and present, they may send an alternate representative to present on their behalf. If a Finalist cannot attend or provide an alternate representative, they will be disqualified from the Finals event.

PDC09

Following Finalist presentations, the judges will select winners based on the following judging criteria:

30% The application performs as described in the video, and aligns with one of the six scenarios

30% The application showcases technology innovation and Business feasibility

30% The application utilizes Windows 7 technology features

10% Overall presentation

Finalists and winners will receive the prizes listed below.

The decisions of the judges are final and binding. If we do not receive a sufficient number of entries meeting the entry requirements, we may, at our discretion, select fewer winners than described above.

In the event of a tie between any eligible entries, an additional judge will break the tie based on the judging criteria described above. The decisions of the judges are final and binding.

What are the prizes?

Early Bird Prize – 7 selected from among all eligible entries received by 11:59 p.m. PT on August 15, 2009:

A Code7 Award; and

$ 1,000 Cash, paid in the form of a check from the Sponsor or an American Express gift card

Approximate Retail Value US$1,000 each

Runner-up Prize - 2 selected per Region:

A Code7 Award; and

A laptop computer

Approximate Retail Value US$1,000 each

Finalist Prize - 1 selected per Region