THE MICROSOFT DARE TO DREAM DIFFERENT CHALLENGE CONTEST
OFFICIAL RULES

PLEASE NOTE: 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 the Professional Contest Category 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.

GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES: Microsoft is committed to complying with government gift and ethics rules and therefore government employees are not eligible for this offer.

1) PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: The Microsoft (the “Sponsor”) “Dare to Dream Different Challenge” (the "Contest") is a skill contest in which Entrants are invited to propose, build and demonstrate an embedded application that uses the Microsoft .NET Micro Framework. The Contest seeks entries in two (2) separate Contest Categories: Hobbyist and Professional. Each Contest Category consists of three (3) separate stages of competition. At the close of Stage 1, up to fifty (50) of the top eligible Entrants in each Contest Category (“Semi-Finalists”) will be invited to advance to compete in Stage 2. During Stage 2, each Semi-Finalist will build a prototype of the embedded application proposed during Stage 1 using the Development Kit that we provide, and submit a video demonstration of the prototype for consideration. At the close of Stage 2, up to five (5) Semi-Finalists in each Contest Category (“Finalists”) will receive an invitation to compete in Stage 3 of the Contest. During Stage 3, each Finalist will make a demonstration of the final, fully functional embedded application. The top entry in each Contest Category, as determined by the judges, will be named a Grand Prize Winner.

2) IMPORTANT DATES: The Contest begins at 12:01 a.m. Pacific Time (PT) on October 8, 2008 and ends at 11:59 p.m. (PT) on May 31, 2009 (“Contest Period”). The Start and End Dates for each Stage of each Contest Category are set forth in the following table:

 

*Start and End Dates of Live Demos will be determined at time on or around the close of Stage 2, and will depend on availability of selected Finalists to travel to a designated Demonstration location.

3) HOW TO PARTICIPATE/WINNER SELECTION: In each Contest Category, Entrants will compete in three (3) separate stages of competition as follows:

Stage 1 – Submit Idea

Entry Creation and Submission

To submit a Stage 1 entry, access the Microsoft “Dare to Dream Different” Contest website online at http://microsoft.com/netmf, and complete and submit the online entry form as instructed. At time of entry, you will be asked to: (i) designate the Contest Category (Professional or Hobbyist) into which you are submitting a Stage 1 entry, and (ii) answer the following questions:

• What would you create if you were picked as a Semi-Finalist?
• Why do you think your idea is a great idea?
• Why should the judges pick you?
• What is your favorite programming language?

The answer to each question must not exceed 1,200 characters (roughly 250 words). You cannot submit a proposal for an embedded application that you have already built. Entries describing completed embedded applications existing at the time of submission will not be accepted.

Entries must be created solely by the Entrant and up to two (2) additional persons, which will constitute a “Team.” (NOTE: If you are submitting an entry on behalf of a Team, then at time of entry, you must provide the name and e-mail address of each Entrant associated with the entry, and designate a Team Leader.  If your Team is selected as a prize winner, we will award the prize to the Team Leader.  Once you submit an entry, you can't change Teams and/or remove yourself and/or any other person from a Team.  Each Team is solely responsible for its own cooperation and teamwork. In no event will Sponsor officiate in any dispute regarding the conduct or cooperation of any Team or its members.) The Stage 1 entry must not include source code; however, you may upload one (1) image file containing a technical sketch, layout, or process flow diagram of your proposed embedded application. Submission of the technical sketch, layout, or process flow diagram is encouraged, but not required. Image files may be no larger than 250 kb and must be in .jpg or .gif format. Each Entrant may be listed on up to a maximum of three (3) entries. Each entry must be a proposal for a unique embedded application, and you may be selected as a Semi-Finalist one (1) time only, to build the embedded application proposed in the Stage 1 entry selected by the judges.

Determining Semi-Finalists

On or around the close of Stage 2, all eligible entries received will be screened by a panel of qualified judges, supervised by an independent judging organization, who will score each entry based on the following judging criteria, each of which weighed equally: A.) Creativity B) Degree to which .NET Micro Framework features are utilized C.) Perceived ability to execute the Project. D) Commercial Viability (Professional Contest Category only). In each contest Category, the judges will determine up to fifty (50) of the highest scoring entries (each, a “Semi-Finalist”) based on the judging criteria. We will invite the individual Entrants/Teams associated with each Semi-Finalist entry to advance to compete in Stage 2 of this Contest, as more fully described below. If a potential Semi-Finalist is disqualified, or unable to compete in Stage 2 for any reason, we may invite the next-eligible highest-ranking Semi-Finalist to compete in Stage 2 instead. In order to receive an invitation to advance to compete in Stage 2, each Entrantassociated with the Entry must first execute and return an Affidavit of Eligibility and Liability Release and, where legal, Publicity Release, within 14 days following the date of issuance of notification. Non-compliance within this time period or return of any notification as undeliverable may result in disqualification and selection of an alternate Semi-Finalist. Once we have confirmed your eligibility, we will extend an official invitation to you to compete in Stage 2 of the Contest. Upon accepting the invitation to compete in Stage 2, we will provide you with a Development Kit to build the embedded application you proposed during Stage 1.  Each Development Kit will include a hardware board and documentation (ARV $200 USD). Details of the Development Kit can be found on the Contest website. Any hardware required for the completion of the embedded application beyond this will be the responsibility of the Semi-Finalist.

Stage 2 - Submit Video Demonstration:

Entry Creation and Submission

During Stage 2, you will be required to: (i) create a prototype of the embedded application proposed in Stage 1 using the Development Kit that we provide, and (ii) submit a video demonstration of the prototype. On or before the start of Stage 2, we will establish and provide to all Semi-Finalists via the Contest website instructions/guidelines for creating, posting, and submitting the video demonstration. The video demonstration must clearly demonstrate how you used the .NET Micro Framework to create the prototype as well as the prototype’s setup and functionality. If a Semi-Finalist is disqualified, or decides not to compete in Stage 2 for any reason, we may invite the next-eligible highest-ranking Semi-Finalist to compete in Stage 2 instead.

Determining Finalists

On or around the close of Stage 3, all eligible entries received will be screened by a panel of qualified judges, supervised by an independent judging organization, who will score each Entrant / Team’s entry based on the following judging criteria: A.) Creativity B) Degree to which .NET Micro Framework features are utilized C.) Originality D) Commercial Viability (Professional Contest Category only). In each Contest Category, the judges will determine up to five (5) of the highest scoring entries (each, a “Finalist”) based on the judging criteria. We will invite the individual Entrants/Team associated with each Finalist entry to advance to compete in Stage 3 of this Contest as more fully described below. If a potential Finalist is disqualified, or unable to compete in Stage 3 for any reason, we may invite the next-eligible highest-ranking Finalist to compete in Stage 3 instead.

Stage 3 - Present Final Project

Professional Contest Category

During Stage 3, each Finalist in the Professional Contest Category will be required to present a live demonstration, not to exceed sixty (60) minutes in duration, of the final, fully functioning version of the embedded application to a panel of independent qualified judges supervised by an independent judging organization, who will score each Finalist’s demonstration to determine the winners. The live demonstration must include an explanation of the complete business case for the embedded application, and an actual demonstration of a fully functional version of the embedded application. On or before the start of Stage 3, we will establish and provide to all Finalists complete live demonstration requirements. If the live demonstrations are cancelled, for any reason, final winners will be selected based on video demonstrations, and the Sponsor shall have no further obligation to the Finalists other than to supply the stated prize minus the opportunity to compete in the live demonstrations.

Each entry will be will be scored based on the following judging criteria, each of which will be weighted equally (25% each): A) Code Review (NOTE: All code will be reviewed by an independent team of judges, not Microsoft employees) B) Strength of Business Case C) Seamless Functioning of the System, D) Ability of Entrant/Team to Demonstrate Different Stages of the System.

Hobbyist Submission Category Finalists

During Stage 3, each Finalist in the Hobbyist Contest Category will be required to create post and submit a video demonstration, not to exceed ten (10) minutes in duration, of the final, fully functional version of the embedded application.

A panel of qualified judges, supervised by an independent judging organization, will review and score each Finalist’s entry based on the following judging criteria (50% each): A) Seamless Functioning of the embedded application, B) Ability of Entrant/Team to Demonstrate Different Stages of the embedded application.

Non-selected Entrants/Team’s will not be contacted. Should a potential prize winner decline the prize for any reason whatsoever, we may award the prize to the next-eligible highest-ranking Entrant/Team. If a selected Finalist cannot be contacted, is ineligible, or fails to claim a prize, the selected Finalist will forfeit her or his prize, including the right to present his or her embedded application for consideration for prizes, and an alternate Finalist may be selected. In addition, if a Finalist is otherwise eligible, but considered a minor in his or her place of residence, the parent or legal guardian of the Finalist must accompany the Finalist to the live demonstration. Minor’s travel companion must complete and return a Travel Companion Release of Liability within five (5) days of winner notification. Failure to complete and return the Travel Companion Release of Liability will result in the Finalist forfeiting her or his prize, including the right to present his or her embedded application for prizes, and an alternate Finalist may be selected.

In the event of a tie during any Stage of this Contest, all tied entries will be re-judged by additional judges who will score the tied entries based on the appropriate criteria listed above and those judges will break the tie. The judges' decisions are final and binding in all matters relating to this Contest.

Proof of submission of entry does not constitute proof of delivery. Entries received by the Sponsor will be returned. “Releasees” (as defined below) 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. No mechanically reproduced, illegible, incoherent, unusable, or incomplete entries or Projects will be accepted. Proof of e-mailing or submission does not constitute proof of delivery.

4) PRIZES:

Professional Contest Category Prizes

Up to five (5) Project Demonstration Prizes. A 2 day/3 night trip for Finalist (or Finalist Team) to a Microsoft office location (to be determined by Sponsor at its sole discretion, based on winner’s location of residence) to demonstrate the embedded application. Trip includes round trip coach airfare from major airport closest to Finalist’s home to the designated Microsoft office location, three (3) night's standard double occupancy hotel accommodations and ground transportation to/from airport. Finalists must travel on dates specified by Sponsor. Only one (1) member of any Team selected as a Finalist is required to travel to demonstrate the embedded application.  Approximate Retail Value (ARV) of Prize: $1,000 USD.

One (1) Grand Prize. A prize package consisting of the following items:

• $15,000 USD cash, awarded as a check from the Contest Administrator
• Five thousand (5000) .NET Micro Framework licenses
• One (1) .NET Micro Framework porting kit
• Fifteen (15) hours of consulting time with the Microsoft business development team
• .NET Micro Framework preferred partner privileges for one (1) year

Approximate Retail Value (ARV) of Grand Prize: $38,000 USD

Two Second Prizes. A prize package consisting of the following items:

• A: $7,500 USD cash, awarded as a check from the Contest Administrator
• One thousand (1000) .NET Micro Framework licenses
• One (1) .NET Micro Framework porting kit
• Five (5) hours of consulting time with the Microsoft business development team
• .NET Micro Framework preferred partner privileges for one (1) year

ARV of Second Prize: $17,500 USD each.

Hobbyist Contest Category Prizes

One (1) Grand Prize. A prize package consisting of the following items:

• $10,000 cash, awarded as a check from the Contest Administrator
• One (1) Microsoft Xbox 360 gaming console (subject to availability)
• Two (2) Zune 4GB digital media players (subject to availability)

ARV of Grand Prize: $11,000 USD

Two (2) Second Prizes. A prize package consisting of the following items:

• $5,000 cash, awarded as a check from the Contest Administrator
• One (1) Microsoft Xbox 360 gaming console (subject to availability)

      ARV of Second Prize: $6,000 USD each.

Total ARV of all prizes=$101,000 USD. 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 form. Prizes are not redeemable for cash. Prizes won by a Team will be awarded to the Team Leader, who will be responsible for any distribution of prize elements to other Entrants designated as a member of the Team at time of Stage 1 entry.  Sponsor is not responsible for any disputes arising between members of a Team regarding prize dispersal. Sponsor 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. No barter, transfer, or assignment of any prize permitted, except by Sponsor at its sole discretion. All terms and conditions of the prizes offered will be furnished at the time of prize award. Usage and redemption of gift certificates/gift cards/subscriptions is subject to the terms and conditions of the issuing entity. All terms of use for receipt and usage of the prizes will be furnished at time of prize award.

5) ELIGIBILITY: This Contest is open to legal residents of an eligible geography 18 years of age or older with technical programming education, experience and/or knowledge to create a working prototype of an embedded solution using .NET Micro Framework.  Void where prohibited by law, including the Canada Province of Quebec and countries of Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan and Syria. 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.

6) ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: Entries must be executed solely by Entrant/Team, and, by submitting,   Entrant/Team represents that the right to submit the entry is not restricted in any way. The essay and video portions of your entry must be in the English language.  If applicable, the embedded application portion of your entry may function in the Entrant / Team’s native language, but must be accompanied by an English translation / script for English speaking judges. Potential Semi-Finalists and Finalists may be contacted by telephone to judge feasibility of Semi-Finalist or Finalist (individual or team) to complete their intended embedded application. Sponsor reserves the right to disqualify any potential Semi-Finalist or Finalist if the perceived ability complete embedded application is not acceptable to the Sponsor, at its sole discretion. Entries) 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 does not qualify as Entrant / Team’s original creation. Entriesmay not be offensive, as determined by judges in their sole discretion. If the entry includes likenesses of third parties or contains elements not owned by the Entrant/Team (such as, but not limited to, music, samples, depictions of buildings, trademarks or logos), Entrant/Team must be able to provide legal releases (“Releases”) for such use including Sponsor’s use of such entry, in a form satisfactory to judges. All entry information for this Contest is collected in the United States. Releasees are not responsible for typographical errors or any other errors in entries submitted. Entries not complying with all rules are subject to disqualification. The embedded application portion of your entry submission must not be, in whole or in part, governed by an Excluded License. An Excluded License is any license that requires, as a condition of use, modification and/or distribution of software subject to the Excluded License, that such software and/or other software combined and/or distributed with such software be (a) disclosed or distributed in source code form; (b) licensed for the purpose of making derivative works; or (c) redistributable at no charge

7) USAGE RIGHTS FOR ENTRIES: Other than what is set forth below, we are not claiming any ownership rights to your entry. However, by submitting your entry, you (or, if you are otherwise eligible to enter, but are considered a minor in your place of residence, your parent, or legal guardian):

• agree that, to the extent you have any rights in and to the entry, you are granting us a non-exclusive, irrevocable, royalty-free, worldwide, sublicenseable and transferable right and license to: (i) use, review, assess, test and otherwise analyze your entry and all its content in connection with this Contest; (ii) reproduce, copy, modify or alter your entry with all known all later developed means; (iii) feature your entry and all into content in connection with the promotion of this Contest in all media (now known or later developed); and (iv) use your entry for any purpose including the right to incorporate it or elements from in connection with the promotion of .NET Micro Developers Framework.



• 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 we 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; and



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

Please note that following the end of this Contest your entry may be posted on a website selected by us for viewing by visitors to that website. We are not responsible for any unauthorized use of your entry by visitors to this website. While we reserve these rights, we are not obligated to use your entry for any purpose, even if it has been selected as a winning entry.

If you (or, if you are otherwise eligible to enter, but you have not yet reached the age of majority in your place of resident, your parent or legal guardian) do not want to grant us these rights to your entry, please do not enter this Contest.

8) GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS: Entrants agree to be bound by the terms of these Official Rules. This Contest shall be governed by the laws of the State of Washington, USA, and participants in the Contest hereby consent to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of Washington courts (state and federal) for any causes or controversies arising out of the Contest. 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 (collectively, “Releasees”) 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.

9) INTERNET: The use of any automated launching or entry software or any other mechanical or electronic means that permits the participant to automatically enter or vote repeatedly (as solely determined by Sponsor) is prohibited. 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. Releasees assume 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. Releasees are 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 Project submitted.

10) WHO WON: To receive name of the winners, mail a self-addressed stamped envelope to: The Microsoft Dare to Dream Different Challenge Winners, P.O. Box 723, Sayreville, NJ 08871-0723 or send an e-mail with subject line: “Dare to Dream Different Winner List Request," to msinfo@mardenkane.com. Residents of Canada may omit return postage. Winners Lists will be available after June 15, 2009. Requests received after July 15, 2009 will be disregarded.

11) SPONSOR: The Sponsor of this contest is Microsoft Corporation, One Microsoft Way, Redmond, Washington, 98052-6399. The Contest Administrator is Marden-Kane, Inc., 36 Maple Place, Manhasset, NY 11030.

12) Privacy: Microsoft’s Privacy Policy will apply to this Contest, and to all information that we receive from your entry. Please read the Privacy Policy on the entry page before accepting the Official Rules and submitting your entry. Please note that by submitting an entry, you are also accepting the terms of the Privacy Policy.

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