Virtual Earth Competition Official Rules
Content Overview
The Microsoft "Virtual Earth API Developer Contest" Contest ("Contest") is a skill game in which participants are asked to create an application using the MSN Virtual Earth API, and submit it for judging based on the criteria listed below.
The Contest Promotion begins at 12:01 a.m. (Pacific Coast Time) on September 8, 2005, and ends at 11:59 p.m. (Pacific Coast Time) on October 14, 2005 (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 software development professionals and serious enthusiasts ("Entrants"); however, residents of the following countries are ineligible to participate: Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Sudan, and Syria. 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. This Contest is subject to and governed by the laws of the United States. Void wherever prohibited by law.
How to enter
Entrants must access http://viavirtualearth.com/vve/Dashboard/Default.ashx to download the free MSN Virtual Earth API. Entrants must use the API to develop a web-based or client side application and submit it online by following the instructions listed on the contest homepage at http://viavirtualearth.com/vve/Dashboard/Default.ashx. Entries submitted in any manner other than the email and website online methods described on the contest homepage, or those received after the Entry Period has concluded, will be disqualified. An Entrant may submit multiple entries, so long as each entry is substantially unique from the others.
Entries may address any appropriate subject matter. By way of example, subject categories may include, but are not limited to the following areas:
- Application entries may Unique Layers
- Original Use of Public Data (data that is available to the public for free)
- Transportation application
- Sports/Outdoor Activity application
- Non-Profit support application
- Family/Home application
- Entertainment/Shopping/Dining application
The application must have been created solely by the entrant, and the entrant must have a non-restricted right to submit it in this Contest. 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 does not qualify as entrant's original creation. Entries will be disqualified if they feature any content determined by Sponsor (in its sole discretion) as vulgar, inappropriate for public viewing or morally objectionable in any way.
The application interface may be localized in the entrant's language; however, it must be accompanied by an English transcript of the instructions and interface for English speaking judges.
All applications and their associated code have the potential to be published on a Microsoft.com website for visitors to download. By submitting an application and entering this contest you are giving Microsoft permission to publish your Entry and any related software code on our website. Further, none of the entry materials submitted by an entrant (except for their personally identifiable information) will be treated as confidential, so please do not submit proprietary information. If you do not agree to these terms, please DO NOT enter this contest.
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 e-mailing or 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 in each category will be judged and ranked by a panel of qualified Microsoft experts based on the following criteria, each of which are weighted equally:
- Ease of use / interaction model
- Graphic execution (cool & sexiness factor)
- Technical challenges overcome while developing
- Use of other technologies on application
- Size of potential audience
The Judges' decisions are final and binding in all matters relating to this Contest.
Winner Selection / Prizes
On or about October 26, 2005, the Grand Prize winner will be announced on www.viavirtualearth.com and notified via email. The Grand Prize winner will receive US $1,000.
In addition, the first 25 Entrants to submit an eligible entry will receive Microsoft Streets & Trips 2005 software with GPS Locator (Estimated Retail Value US$129.99).
Prize Conditions
All prizes and gifts will be awarded, provided a sufficient number of qualified eligible entries are received in each category. Non-selected entrants will not be contacted. 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. No barter, transfer, or assignment of any prize permitted, except by Microsoft at its sole discretion.
General Conditions
Entry may not be offensive, as determined by judges in their sole discretion. Any entrant whose work includes likenesses of third parties or contains elements not owned by the entrant (such as, but not limited to depictions of buildings, trademarks or logos) must be able to provide legal releases ("Releases") for such use including Sponsor's use of such entry, in a form satisfactory to judges. Entries not complying with all rules are subject to disqualification. By entering, each entrant grants to Microsoft (including its affiliates, employees, agents, and contractors), and the Contest Judges an permission to use, review, assess, test and otherwise analyze the Application and all its content in connection with this Contest. Microsoft shall be free to use for any purpose the residuals resulting from access to or work with the Entrants' Applications. The term "residuals" means information in intangible form, which is retained in memory by persons who have had access to the Applications, including ideas, concepts, know-how, or techniques contained therein. Microsoft shall not have any obligation to limit or restrict the assignment of such persons or to pay royalties for any work resulting from the use of residuals. However, this paragraph shall not be deemed to grant to Microsoft a license under the Entrants' copyrights or patents. The Applications 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. Permission is also granted for Sponsor to promote winning entries in perpetuity in any medium it may see fit including, but not limited to, website, television, radio and/or printed materials. 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.
The laws of the State of Washington in the United States govern this Contest. All federal, , state, and local laws and regulations apply. Potential winners may be required to 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 prize/prize notification as undeliverable may result in disqualification and selection of an alternate winner.
Where prohibited by law, 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.
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 October 24, 2005, at www.viavirtualearth.com.
Sponsor
The Sponsor of this contest is Microsoft Corporation, One Microsoft Way, Redmond, Washington, 98052-639