Microsoft Surface™ Developer Challenge

Official Contest Rules

This is a skill-based trade Contest. As an authorized representative submitting an entry, 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.

These are the official rules that govern how the touch first Microsoft Surface Developer Challenge contest will operate (“Contest”).

In these rules, “we” “our” and “us” refer to Microsoft Corporation and “You” “yourself,” “I,” “me,” and “my” refers to an authorized representative of an eligible Microsoft Partner Company.

Who is eligible?

-Authorized representatives of Microsoft Partners* who are at least 18 years of age at the time of entry and are legal residents of one of the following eligible jurisdictions: Austria, Belgium, Canada (excluding the Province of Quebec), France, Germany, Republic of Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Qatar, Spain, Sweden, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and United States/DC (void outside these jurisdiction and where prohibited by law); AND

*To become a Registered Member of the Microsoft Partner Program, go to https://partner.microsoft.com/40032508 and follow the instructions to create a Windows Live ID, sign in to the Partner Membership Center, answer a few questions about yourself and your organization and confirm acceptance of the Microsoft Partner Program Agreement;

-Who have completed Microsoft Surface Quick Start (LEARN >> DESIGN >> DEVELOP) and either downloaded the Microsoft Surface Software Developer Kit (SP1 Workstation Edition) available at http://partner.surface.com/EN/Pages/Learn.aspx or have access to a Microsoft Surface unit for purposes of participating in this Contest; AND

-Who have or establish prior to Contest entry a Facebook account at www.facebook.com.

Who is NOT eligible?

-Any employee of Microsoft Corporation or an employee of a Microsoft subsidiary; or

-Any 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.

What constitutes an eligible entry?

For purposes of this Contest, a tendered “Entry” (subject to verification) consists of the full business name of the Microsoft Partner together with the title, brief description (including industry designation, per below), a video recording (up to a maximum of two (2) minutes) of an “Application” developed for Microsoft Surface and submitted in the Contest as of 5 PM PT Monday, October 12, 2009 by an eligible person on the touch first Contest Facebook fan page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/touch-first-developer-challenge/99041713561, in accordance with general Facebook specifications for postings on fan pages and pursuant and subject to the official rules for the Contest available in the NOTES tab of the touch first Contest Facebook fan page, and completion of a Contest Submission Form on the Surface QuickStart site at http://www.facebook.com/pages/touch-first-developer-challenge/99041713561 that must be emailed to surfacep@microsoft.com. All entries must be in English.

The Application subject of the video must additionally meet the following specifications:

The Application must be developed for Microsoft Surface built with Microsoft Surface SP1 SDK (Workstation Edition) or Microsoft Surface SP1 Developer Unit AND include one (1) additional Microsoft product:

For example:

-Windows Mobile

-SharePoint Services

-Microsoft Dynamics

-Silverlight

-Windows Server

-Microsoft Healthvault

The above combinations are examples; for a full list of Microsoft products, see “All Products” at www.microsoft.com.

The Application must pertain to one of the following six (6) standard industry categories:

-Automotive

-Retail

-Healthcare

-Financial

-Hospitality

-Public Sector (e.g. Education, Government)

The Application must: NOT HAVE any prerequisites that are not a standard part of the Microsoft Surface commercial units; HAVE a single MSI that correctly installs them into the launcher; compatible with currently shipping Microsoft Surface applications (Concierge, Photos, Music); RUN in user mode (without debug box checked);; and NOT REQUIRE props or tag values unless those tag values / props are made available in print-ready digital form within the installer. Applications with memory leaks, crashes, or other performance issues that impact the usability of the Microsoft Surface units will be disqualified. All Entries and their associated Applications are subject to verification at Sponsor’s discretion, including submission to Sponsor/Contest agents for inspection, review and testing for conformity with these official rules (absent which such Entries may be disqualified).

Entrants must have obtained any and all consents, approvals or licenses required to submit the Entry and/or create the Application subject of the submitted video. There is no limit set on the number of applications a single Microsoft Partner company can enter. All eligible Entries received will be judged using the criteria described below to determine the winner.

How are Entries submitted?

Entries, as described above, must be submitted to http://www.facebook.com/pages/touch-first-developer-challenge/99041713561 from Monday, July 13, 2009 beginning at 5 am Pacific Time through no later than 5 pm Pacific Time, Monday, October 12, 2009.

How will Entries be used?

Microsoft is not claiming any ownership rights to your Entry. However, by submitting an Entry, you (or, if you are a minor, your parent or legal guardian):

are granting us an irrevocable, royalty-free, worldwide right and license to: (i) use, review, assess, test and otherwise analyze your Entry and all its content in connection with this Contest; and (ii) feature your Entry and all into content in connection with the promotion of this Contest in all media (now known or later developed);

agree to sign any necessary documentation that may be required for us and our designees to make use of the rights you granted above;

understand and acknowledge that the Sponsor may have developed or commissioned materials similar or identical to your submission and you waive any claims you may have resulting from any similarities to your entry;

understand that we 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 we 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 our products or services does not create liability for us under this agreement or copyright or trade secret law;

understand that you will not receive any compensation or credit for use of your entry, other than what is described in these Official Rules

How will the winner be selected?

Round 1: On or about October 13, 2009, an independent, qualified panel of judges selected by Sponsor in its sole discretion, will judge all eligible Entries based on the following equally-weighted criteria:

Innovative way Surface is used to help solve business problem or entertain users

Application scenario involves more than one simultaneous user

Business Value of the application scenario

Application scenario use of identity tags or byte tags

Application is accessible/usable when approached from any side of Surface

Application scenario use of blobs/real life objects

How well application follows interaction design guidelines document located on the Quickstart and Community sites. (Quickstart guide can be found here)

How well the Application incorporates Microsoft products.

The ten (10) highest scoring Entries (provided a sufficient number of eligible entries are received) will advance to Round 2 of judging (“Finalists”). Finalists will be notified by Facebook message within approximately two (2) days following the judging with instructions to submit their Application for verification by the judges. Failure by a potential winner to acknowledge and/or respond to an initial Facebook message from Sponsor within two (2) days of transmission will result in disqualification.

Round 2: The ten (10) highest scoring Entries from Round 1 of judging will be re-judged on or about October 15, 2009, by an independent, qualified panel of judges selected by Sponsor in its sole discretion, based on the same criteria listed above. The Entry receiving the top score will be declared the potential Grand Prize winner, subject to verification.

In the event of a tie, the Entry receiving the highest score in the first criteria shall be the winner and if such criteria is tied, then the next ordered criteria shall be evaluated until a winner is determined.

Application of the judging criteria shall be at the judges’ sole discretions, including equalization for any discrete differences between videos of Applications created with Microsoft Surface SDK (Workstation Edition) and with SP1. The potentially winning Entry and associated Application will be subject to verification for conformity with these official rules, as prescribed in the winner notification.

    

What will the winning Partner receive?

The Contest Grand Prize is a Microsoft Surface 1.0 Developer Unit (approximate retail value US $15,000). In the event of a dispute all decisions of Microsoft are final. Grand Prize will ship to Microsoft Partner within approximately four to six (4-6) weeks following winner verification.

If you are confirmed as a winner of this Contest:

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 may award it to a runner up; and

If you accept a prize, you will be solely responsible for all applicable taxes related to accepting the prize and prize award may be subject to reporting requirements in your local jurisdiction.

If the actual value turns out to be less than the stated ARV, the difference will not be awarded in cash. Winner will be notified by Facebook message within approximately seven (7) days following the judging with instructions to claim their prize. Failure by a potential winner to acknowledge and/or respond to an initial Facebook message from Sponsor within seven (7) days of transmission will result in disqualification.

Prize winners may be required to sign and return an Affidavit of Eligibility and Liability Release or W-8 BEN form within fourteen (14) days of notification. If a selected winner cannot be contacted, is ineligible, fails to claim a prize as specified above or fails to return the Affidavit of Eligibility and Liability Release or W-8 BEN form, the selected winner will forfeit their prize and an alternate winner will be selected. In the event of a dispute all decisions of Microsoft are final.

General Conditions:

By entering, participants release and hold harmless Microsoft, their respective parents, 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 Contest or the use of any prize won. Acceptance of prize constitutes permission for Microsoft to use winner's names and likenesses for advertising and promotional purposes without additional compensation unless prohibited by law. By entering this Contest, you signify your acceptance of the Official Rules.

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

If you attempt to compromise the integrity or the legitimate operation of this Contest by hacking or by cheating or committing fraud in ANY way, we may seek damages from you to the fullest extent permitted by law.

Sponsor:

This contest is sponsored by Microsoft, 1 Microsoft Way, Redmond, Washington 98052 USA. Facebook does not sponsor, endorse, approve or have any responsibility for this Contest.

Privacy Statement

At Microsoft, we are committed to protecting your privacy. Microsoft uses the information you provide to notify prize winners, and to send you information about other Microsoft products and services, if requested by you. Microsoft will not share the information you provide with third parties without your permission except where necessary to complete the services or transactions you have requested, or as required by law. Microsoft is committed to protecting the security of your personal information. We use a variety of security technologies and procedures to help protect your personal information from unauthorized access, use, or disclosure. Your personal information is never shared outside the company without your permission, except under conditions explained above.

 

If you believe that Microsoft has not adhered to this statement, please contact Microsoft by sending email to sbizdesk@winse.microsoft.com or postal mail to Surface Business Desk Microsoft Privacy, Microsoft Corporation, One Microsoft Way, Redmond, Washington 98052 USA, and we will use commercially reasonable efforts to remedy the situation.