MICROSOFT PREDICT THE NEXT APP STAR CHALLENGE

OFFICIAL RULES

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING.

Please Note: It is your sole responsibility to review and understand the policies of your employer regarding your eligibility to participate in trade promotions such as the Sweepstakes and Contests sponsored by Microsoft Corporation. Some employers have policies permitting employees to engage in online training exercises, but forbidding employees from entering Sweepstakes and Contests. If your employer has such a policy, you may not enter Sweepstakes and Contests sponsored by Microsoft. If you have any questions about your eligibility, please contact your employer to confirm that a) your employer is an Authorized Retailer (as defined below), and b) your employer’s policies allow you to enter Sweepstakes and Contests.

If you participate in violation of your employer's policies, you may be disqualified from a) participating in Sweepstakes and Contests sponsored by Microsoft Corporation, or b) receiving any prizes. We disclaim any and all liability or responsibility for disputes arising between an employee and their employer related to this matter. Prizes will only be awarded in compliance with the policies of your employer.

WHAT ARE THE START AND END DATES?

The Microsoft Predict the Windows Phone Next App Star Challenge(“Sweepstakes”) begins on March 19, 2013 at 9:01 a.m. EST and ends on April 8, 2013 at 11:59 p.m. EST (“Promotion Period.”)

WHAT IS THE OBJECTIVE?

The object of the Sweepstakes is to earn as many points as possible by correctly predicting the winner of each game in the Windows Phone Next App Star Contest. To participate in the Sweepstakes, each entrant must attempt to predict the winner of each individual game for every round in the tournament schedule (a “Prediction”). Each contestant may only make one (1) Prediction per Game.  A Prediction needs to be correct in order to earn points.

CAN I ENTER?

You are eligible to participate in any Sweepstakes or Contest that is a part of this Promotion if you meet the following requirements at time of entry:

• You are a legal resident of the fifty (50) United States or the District of Columbia 16 years of age or older; and
• You are employed in a retail sales and/or support role at any Authorized Retailer in the 50 United States or the District of Columbia; and
• For purposes of this Promotion and all Sweepstakes or Contests that are part of this Promotion, “Authorized Retailer” means a retailer Microsoft has authorized to offer Xbox or Microsoft products and services in the 50 United States. Prize claims are subject to verification of your employment status.
• You meet any additional eligibility requirements described in the corresponding Sweepstakes or Contest Details; and
• You are NOT an employee, affiliate, agent or independent contractor of Microsoft Corporation or a Microsoft subsidiary; and
• You are NOT involved in any part of the administration and execution of this Sweepstakes or Contest; and
• You are NOT an immediate family (parent, sibling, spouse, child) or household member of an employee, affiliate, agent or independent contractor of Microsoft or a Microsoft subsidiary, or a person involved in any part of the administration and execution of this Promotion or any Sweepstakes or Contest.
• This Promotion and each Sweepstakes or Contest is void outside the geographic area identified above and wherever else prohibited by law.

HOW DO I ENTER?

There are two opportunities to enter and win in this challenge.

1)      You can enter the Predict the Next Windows Phone App Star 64 Bracket Challenge between March 19, 2013 at 9:01 a.m. EST and March 22, 2013 at 11:59 p.m. EST by logging in, registering, submitting a bracket, and answering the “tie-breaker” question, at the Tourneytopia web page located at http://www.tourneytopia.com/winphoneNASbracketology/retailprochallenge.  You may only enter this challenge once during the Promotion Period.

2)      You can also enter the Predict the Windows Phone Next App Star  Second Chance Final 16 Bracket Challenge between March 26, 2013 at 9:01 a.m. EST and March 29, 2013 at 11:59 p.m. EST by logging in, registering, submitting a bracket, and answering the “tie-breaker” question, at the Tourneytopia web page located at http://www.tourneytopia.com/winphoneNASbracketology/retailprochallenge16. You may only enter this challenge once during the Promotion Period.

Only Retail Pros that login and register on the Tourneytopia Page and create and submit their brackets are eligible to win any prizes and they must adhere to contest rules and submission timelines.

We will automatically disqualify:

• Any incomplete or illegible entry; and
• Any entries that we receive from you that are in excess of the entry limit described in the challenge details.

WHAT IS/ARE THE PRIZE(S)?

• Early Predict the Windows Phone Next App Star Bracket Builder Awards: Between March 19, 2013 and March 22, 2013 ONLY, the first 500 RSPs to create and submit their 64 Bracket Challenge will be eligible to receive a $5.00 Currency Store token (aka CSV) to be used/redeemed in the Windows Phone App Store. Approximate Retail Value (ARV) of $5.00 USD. The tokens will be emailed to winners upon verification of eligibility.
• Predict the Windows Phone Next App Star 64 Bracket Challenge Award: One (1) winner will receive an unlocked Nokia Lumia 920 Windows Phone device*. ARV $599.99 USD. 

• Predict the Windows Phone Next App Star Second Chance Final 16 Bracket Challenge Award: One (1) winner will receive an unlocked Nokia Lumia 920 Windows Phone device*. ARV $599.99 USD. 

The Total Approximate Retail Value of all Prizes is $3,699.98 USD.

If for any reason an advertised prize is unavailable, we reserve the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value as permitted. We will only award one (1) prize per person per challenge.

If you are selected as a potential winner of a Sweepstakes or Contest, subject to verification of your employment status:

• The prize will be awarded to you and you shall ensure it is used and/or distributed in accordance with your employer’s policies; and
• 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 accept a prize that is Microsoft software, you acknowledge that Microsoft software is licensed, not sold, to end users. All ownership, title and intellectual property rights in and to the software (including any associated media) and services, including any documentation or printed materials, are owned by Microsoft or its suppliers. ALL PRIZES THAT ARE MICROSOFT SOFTWARE ARE SUBJECT TO YOUR CONSENT TO ANY APPLICABLE LICENSE THAT IS DELIVERED OR INCLUDED WITH THE SOFTWARE (the "End User License").

HOW ARE WINNERS SELECTED AND NOTIFIED?

• Predict the Windows Phone Next App Star Early Bracket Builder Winners: Between March 19, 2013 and March 22, 2013 ONLY, the first 500 RSPs to create and submit their 64 Bracket Challenge will be eligible to receive a $5.00 Currency Store token (aka CSV) to be used/redeemed in the Windows Phone App Store. Approximate Retail Value (ARV) of $5.00 USD. Winners will be notified via email. The tokens will be emailed to winners upon verification of eligibility.

• Predict the Windows Phone Next App Star 64 Bracket Challenge Winner: One (1) winner with the most cumulative 64 Bracket Challenge points and who selects the winning final App, will receive an unlocked Nokia Lumia 920 Windows Phone device*. In the case of a tie, the winner will be determined by whose answer is the closest to the question’s actual answer. The winner will be notified via email.

• Predict the Windows Phone Next App Star Second Chance Final 16 Bracket Challenge Winner: One (1) winner with the most cumulative Second Chance Final 16 Bracket Challenge points and who selects the winning final App, will receive an unlocked Nokia Lumia 920 Windows Phone device*. In the case of a tie, the winner will be determined by whose answer is the closest to the question’s actual answer. The winner will be notified via email.

 How are Points calculated for each round?

• First Round correct picks receive 2 point(s)

• Second Round correct picks receive 4 point(s)
• Sweet Sixteen correct picks receive 8 point(s)
• Elite Eight correct picks receive 16 point(s)
• Final Four correct picks receive 32 point(s)
• Championship correct picks receive 64 point(s)

The Apps shown in the Brackets are determined by Microsoft.

HOW IS THE WINDOWS PHONE NEXT APP STAR CONTEST VOTING CALCULATED?

Every day during the Promotion Period, the remaining Apps in the Windows Phone Next App Star Contest are paired-off in rounds and are voted on by anyone visiting www.windowsphone.com/nextappstar.

The Apps which tally the most votes compared to their pared-App are determined to be the Winning Apps, and advance to the next round. For complete details, including dates of each round, public voting instructions, and prizes, please visit  www.windowsphone.com/nextappstar.

HOW WILL WINNERS BE NOTIFIED?

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) provided at time of entry within fourteen (14) days following the random drawing. 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 randomly selected 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 Sweepstakes.

If you are a potential winner:

• We may require you to provide verification of your employment status; and
• We may require you to sign an affidavit of eligibility, liability / publicity release and W-9 tax form; and

If you meet the stated eligibility criteria for the Sweepstakes, but you have not yet reached the age of majority in your state of residence, we may require your parent or legal guardian to sign the affidavit of eligibility, liability/publicity release and W-9 tax form on your behalf.

If you (or your parent/legal guardian if applicable) do not sign and return the documentation that we require within the time period listed on the winner notification message, we may disqualify you and select an alternate, randomly selected winner.

WHAT ARE YOUR ODDS OF WINNING?

Your odds of winning a Sweepstakes that is a part of this Promotion depend on the number of eligible entries we receive.

WHAT OTHER CONDITIONS ARE YOU ARE AGREEING TO BY ENTERING THIS SWEEPSTAKES?

By participating in this Promotion or any Sweepstakes that is part of this Promotion you agree:

• To abide by these Official Rules; and
• To release and hold harmless Microsoft, and its respective parents, subsidiaries, affiliates including but not limited to FACEBOOK, employees and agents from any and all liability or any injury, loss or damage of any kind arising from or in connection with this Promotion or any prize won; and
• That Microsoft’s decisions will be final and binding on all matters related to this Promotion; and
• Microsoft may use of your first name and last initial, city and state of residence and employer name online and in print, including without limitation within the Winner Announcement area of the Microsoft Retail Advisor Mobile Application, or in any other media, in connection with this Promotion, without payment or compensation to you, except where prohibited by law.
• The information is provided to the Sponsor and not to Facebook.
• THIS PROMOTION IS IN NO WAY SPONSORED, ENDORSED, ADMINISTERED BY OR ASSOCIATED WITH FACEBOOK.

WHAT LAWS GOVERN THE WAY THIS SWEEPSTAKES IS EXECUTED AND ADMINISTRATED?

This Promotion is 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 Promotion.

WHAT IF SOMETHING UNEXPECTED HAPPENS AND THE SWEEPSTAKES CAN’T RUN AS PLANNED?

If cheating, 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 Promotion or any Sweepstakes or Contest that is a part of this Promotion, we reserve the right to cancel, change or suspend this Promotion including any Sweepstakes or Contest that is a part of it. 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 Promotion, we reserve the right to select winners from among all eligible entries received in a Sweepstakes or Contest before we had to cancel, change or suspend the Sweepstakes, Contest or Promotion.

If you attempt to compromise the integrity or the legitimate operation of this Promotion or any Sweepstakes or Contest that is a part of this Promotion 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 promotions, so please play fairly.

HOW CAN YOU FIND OUT WHO WON?

For a list of winners, send a self-addressed stamped envelope to: MICROSOFT PREDICT THE NEXT APP STAR CHALLENGE, c/o CMD, 1631 NW Thurman, Portland, Oregon 97209. Please reference the specific sweepstakes for which you're requesting a list on the outside back of the return envelope. Residents of VT may omit return postage.

WHO IS SPONSORING THIS PROMOTION?

Microsoft Corporation is the sponsor of this Promotion.

Microsoft Corporation
One Microsoft Way
Redmond, WA 98052