RoboChamps 2008 Official Rules
COMMON TERMS USED IN THESE OFFICIAL RULES

These are the Official Rules that govern how RoboChamps 2008 ("Contest") will operate.

In these Official Rules, "we," "our," and "us" refer to Microsoft Corporation, the organizer of the Contest. "You," "yourself" refers to an eligible Contest entrant.

1. CONTEST DESCRIPTION

This Contest is a skill-based contest designed to recognize excellence in robotics programming. This Contest consists of separate challenges (each, a “Challenge”) that we will offer from time to time. Each Challenge will have unique start and end dates, entry criteria, judging criteria and prizing, as specified in the applicable Challenge Details for the Challenge.

Each Challenge is governed by these Official Rules, the RoboChamps Terms of Use, RoboChamps Code of Conduct, and the applicable Challenge Details. If there are any inconsistencies between the Official Rules, the RoboChamps Terms of Use, the RoboChamps Code of Conduct and/or the Challenge Details, the Official Rules will govern.


2. START AND END DATES

Each Challenge has unique start and end dates. Please review the Challenge Details for more information.


3. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

You are eligible to enter any Challenge that is a part of this Contest if you meet the following requirements at time of entry:
  • You are 18 years of age or older and have technical programming education, experience and/or knowledge to create a simulated, autonomous robot; and
  • You are not an employee or intern of Microsoft, or a Microsoft subsidiary; and
  • You are not involved in any part of the execution or administration of this Contest; and
  • You are not an immediate family member of (parent, sibling, spouse, child) or household member of a Microsoft employee or intern, or a person involved in any part of the administration and execution of this Contest; and
  • You are not a resident of Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, or Syria; and
  • This Contest is governed by the laws of the State of Washington, USA. U.S. export regulations prohibit the export of goods and services to Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan and Syria. Therefore, residents of those countries / regions are not eligible to participate in this Contest.
  • You are not a resident of the Province of Quebec, Canada.
This Contest is void in the countries / regions / provinces described above and wherever else prohibited by law.


4. WHAT CONSTITUTES AN ELIGIBLE ENTRY?

Each Challenge will have some unique content and technical requirements. Please review the Challenge Details for more information.

In addition to any applicable Challenge-specific content and technical requirements, while the actual entry may be localized in any language, any supporting entry materials must be presented in English.

By submitting an entry into this Contest you confirm that, to the best of your knowledge:
  • your entry is your own original work; and
  • your entry only includes material (including music, video and images) that you own, or that you have permission from the owner to use; and
  • you have obtained permission from any recognizable person (parent/guardian, if a minor) that appears in your entry to submit your entry in this Contest; and
  • your entry complies with the RoboChampsTerms of Use, the RoboChamps Code of Conduct and any license terms governing the content that we provide to you in connection with this Contest.

5. HOW WILL MY ENTRY BE POTENTIALLY USED?

Other than what is set forth below, we are not claiming any ownership rights to your entry. However, by submitting your entry, you:

  • 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) in any manner, throughout the world, in perpetuity; and
  • agree that if you are selected as a winner in this Contest, as a condition of being confirmed as a prize winner, you will: (i) assist us in the creation of case studies or white papers (together "Studies"); (ii) make yourself available to us and our designees for multiple promotional events and activities that may include, but are not limited to, showcases of your entry and/or Studies on-stage at industry events (ii) allow us and our designees to record you by any means (i.e., video, audio, photography, etc.) during promotional appearances, and as otherwise requested (the, “Recordings”); (iii) grant to us and our designees the right to use your name, image and/or likeness, voice and biographical information in connection with the exploitation of the Recordings, your entry and/or the Studies in all media (now known or later developed), in any manner, throughout the world, in perpetuity; and (iii) sign any necessary documentation deemed necessary for Microsoft and its designees to make use of the Recordings as described herein. If you are unwilling or unable to do this and/or to grant us these rights, then you should not participate in this Contest, and you may be disqualified; and
  • agree to sign any necessary documentation that may be required for us and our designees to make use of the rights you granted above; and
  • 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; and
  • 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 and/or Studies 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 the rights described above, we are not obligated to use your entry for any purpose, even if it has been selected as a winning entry. If you do not want to grant us these rights to your entry, please do not enter this Contest.


6. HOW DO YOU SUBMIT YOUR ENTRY?

Each Challenge has unique entry submission requirements and entry limits. Please review the Challenge Details for more information.

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: (i) any incomplete or illegible entry, or (ii) any entries that we receive from you that are in excess of the entry limit described in the applicable Challenge Details.


7. HOW ARE WINNERS SELECTED?

Each Challenge has unique judging criteria including tie breaker criteria. Please revise the Challenge Details for more information.

The decisions of the judges are final and binding. In any Challenge, if we do not receive a sufficient number of entries meeting the entry requirements, we may, at our discretion, select fewer winners than described in the Challenge Details.


8. WHAT ARE THE PRIZES?

Challenge Prizes

Each Challenge offers unique prizing and has unique prize limits. Please review the Challenge Details for more information.


9. PRIZE CONDITIONS

If for any reason the advertised prize is unavailable, we reserve the right to substitute a prize) of equal or greater value.

If you are selected as a potential winner in this Contest:
  • 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
  • If you are otherwise eligible for this Contest (i.e., 18 years of age or older), but are considered a minor in your place of residence, we may award the prize to your parent/legal guardian on your behalf; and
  • Unless otherwise noted, all prizes are subject to their manufacturer’s warranty and / or terms and conditions.

10. HOW WILL YOU KNOW IF YOU’RE A WINNER?

If you are a potential winner, we will notify you by sending a message to the e-mail address, the phone number, or mailing address (if any) listed on your entry within seven (7) days of winner determination. If the notification that we send is returned as undeliverable, or you are otherwise unreachable for any reason, we may award the prize to an alternate winner. 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 e-mail address used to enter the Contest, or the person residing at the mailing address listed on your mail-in entry. If you are a potential winner, we may require you to sign an affidavit of eligibility, liability/publicity release and W-9 tax form or W8-BEN tax form. If you are a potential winner and are a minor in your place of residence, we may require your parent or legal guardian to sign all required forms on your behalf. If you do not complete the required forms as instructed and/or return the required forms within the time period listed on the winner notification message, we may disqualify you and select an alternate winner.


11. WHAT OTHER CONDITIONS ARE YOU ARE AGREEING TO BY ENTERING THIS CONTEST?

By entering this Contest you agree:
  • To abide by these Official Rules, RoboChamps Terms of Use, RoboChamps Code of Conduct, and any license terms governing the content that we provide to you in connection with the Contest; and
  • To release and hold Microsoft and its 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 Contest or any prize won; and
  • That Microsoft’s decisions will be final and binding on all matters related to this Contest; 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 Contest, without payment or compensation to you, except where prohibited by law.

12. WHAT LAWS GOVERN THE WAY THIS CONTEST IS EXECUTED AND ADMINISTRATED?

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.


13. WHAT IF SOMETHING UNEXPECTED HAPPENS AND THE CONTEST CAN’T RUN AS PLANNED?

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. Further, we may ban you from participating in any of our future Contest, so please play fairly.


14. HOW CAN YOU FIND OUT WHO WON?

We will post the names of confirmed major winners online at http://www.RoboChamps.com/rc/Winners/ after each Challenge. This list will remain posted for at least 30 days after posting.


15. WHO IS SPONSORING THIS CONTEST?

Microsoft Corporation
One Microsoft Way
Redmond, WA 98052
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Must be at least 18 years old, a qualified resident from an eligible geography, and have technical programming education, experience and/or knowledge to program a simulated, autonomous robot using Microsoft Robotics Developer Studio 2008. Void where prohibited. See Rules for details.
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