BLOGHER SURVIVAL SWEEPSTAKES
OFFICIAL RULES

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY.

COMMON TERMS USED IN THESE RULES:

These are the official rules that govern how the BlogHer Survival Sweepstakes ("Sweepstakes") promotion will operate. This promotion will be simply referred to as the "Sweepstakes" throughout the rest of these rules. 

In these rules, "we," "our," and "us" refer to Microsoft Corporation, the sponsor of the Sweepstakes. "You" refers to an eligible Sweepstakes entrant.  

WHAT ARE THE START AND END DATES?

This Sweepstakes starts at 12 p.m. Pacific Time (PT) on July 27, 2011 and ends at 1:00 p.m. PT on August 2, 2011 ("Entry Period").  Winners will be selected at approximately 1:00 PM PT on August 2, 2011, from among all eligible entrants who are logged into Twitter and participating in the #win7tech live chat.   

CAN I ENTER?

You are eligible to enter this Sweepstakes if you meet the following requirements at time of entry:

  • You are a legal resident of the 50 United States and District of Columbia, and are 18 years of age or older.
  • If you are 18 of age or older, but are considered a minor in your place of residence, you should ask your parent's or legal guardian's permission prior to submitting an entry into this Sweepstakes; and
  • You are NOT an employee of Microsoft Corporation or an employee of a Microsoft subsidiary; and
  • You are NOT involved in any part of the administration and execution of this Sweepstakes; and
  • You are NOT an 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 Sweepstakes.

This Sweepstakes is void outside of the geographic area described above and wherever else prohibited by law.

HOW DO I ENTER?

To enter, you must complete all of the following 3 steps:

Step 1: During the Entry Period, visit the website http://www.5minutesformom.com and leave a comment with your response to the question "What would you do with 15 hours of battery life"

  • Your comment must include the Twitter account that you will use to participate in during the #win7tech chat (described in step 2 and 3)

Step 2: On August 2, 2011 between 12:00 - 1:00 PM PT, sign into your Twitter account and participate in the live online #win7tech chat on by tweeting a comment, a question or an answer.

  • To be eligible for entry, your tweet must include #win7tech and must be relevant to the discussion topic

Step 3: Be signed into the #win7tech chat at 1:00 PM PT on August 2, 2011, to be eligible for the prize drawing 

  • If you do not have an account, visit www.twitter.com to create one. Twitter accounts are free. Once signed into your Twitter account, you must become a follower of Microsoft Windows at http://twitter.com/windows to participate in the #win7tech chat. Limit of one entry per person.

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.

In addition:

  • your entry must be your own original work;
  • your entry cannot have been selected as a winner in any other contest;
  • you must have obtained any and all consents, approvals or licenses required for you to submit your entry;
  • your entry may not include any third party trademarks (logos, names) or copyrighted materials (images, recognizable people) unless you have obtained permission to use the materials. You may include Microsoft trademarks, logos, and designs, for which Microsoft grants you a limited license to use for the sole purposes of submitting an entry into this Contest.

Entries may NOT contain, as determined by us, in our sole and absolute discretion, any content that:

  • is sexually explicit, unnecessarily violent or derogatory of any ethnic, racial, gender, religious, professional or age group; profane or pornographic;
  • promotes alcohol, illegal drugs, tobacco, firearms/weapons (or the use of any of the foregoing) or a particular political agenda;
  • is obscene or offensive;
  • defames, misrepresents or contains disparaging remarks about other people or companies;
  • communicates messages or images inconsistent with the positive images and/or good will to which we wish to associate; and/or violates any law;

We will automatically disqualify:

  • Any incomplete or illegible entry; and
  • Any entries in excess of the entry limit described above,
  • Any entries that do not comply with Twitter.com terms of use.

Twitter does not sponsor or endorse this Sweepstakes. 

WINNER SELECTION AND PRIZES

At approximately 1 PM PT on August 2, 2011, we will randomly select one (1) potential prize winner from among all eligible entrants participating in the #win7tech live chat to win the following prize pack:

  • A Sony VAIO SA laptop (Approximate Retail Value, $1,120)
  • A Windows Phone 7.  Specific manufacturer and model to be determined by Sponsor (ARV, $450)
  • A gift certificate for a 50 minute Swedish Massage, at Artesia Day Spa in San Diego, CA.  Prize must be redeemed by August 9, 2011 or forfeited. (ARV $110)
  • A $50 allowance paid in the form of a hotel credit (if winner is attending BlogHer conference) or a Visa gift card, at Sponsors discretion.

Total ARV of prize package: $1,730

Winners must be logged into Twitter and the #win7tech live chat at the time of prize drawing to claim their prize.  The ARV of electronic prizes is subject to price fluctuations in the consumer marketplace based on, among other things, any gap in time between the date the ARV is estimated for purposes of these Official Rules and the date the prize is awarded or redeemed.  We will determine the value of the prize to be the fair market value at the time of prize award.

If you are a potential winner, we will notify you via Direct Message on Twitter to the account provided at time of entry within five minutes the random drawing.  If the notification that we send is returned as undeliverable, or you are otherwise unreachable for any reason, or if you do not respond within the time period listed on the winner notification message, we may disqualify you and 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 Twitter account used to enter the Sweepstakes. If you are a potential winner, we will require you to sign an Affidavit of Eligibility, Liability/Publicity Release within 10 days of notification.  If you are a potential winner and you are 18 or older, but are considered a minor in your place of legal 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, randomly selected winner. Winners can expect to receive their prize within two (2) to three (3) weeks following verification of eligibility.

If you are confirmed as a winner of this Sweepstakes:

Gift cards subject to all terms and conditions set by retailer.  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 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 Sweepstakes, but are considered a minor in your place of residence, we may award the prize to your parent/legal guardian on your behalf; and

WHAT ARE YOUR ODDS OF WINNING?

Your odds of winning this Sweepstakes depend on the number of eligible entries we receive.

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

By entering this Sweepstakes you agree:

  • To abide by these Official Rules; and
  • To release and hold harmless 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 Sweepstakes or any prize won; and
  • That Microsoft's decisions will be final and binding on all matters related to this Sweepstakes; 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 Sweepstakes, without payment or compensation to you, except where prohibited by law.

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

This Sweepstakes 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 Sweepstakes.  

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

If you attempt to compromise the integrity or the legitimate operation of this Sweepstakes 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 Sweepstakes, so please play fairly.

HOW CAN YOU FIND OUT WHO WON?

The winners will be listed online at http://windowsteamblog.com/windows/b/windowsexperience/ and will remain posted until September 2, 2011.

WHO IS SPONSORING THIS SWEEPSTAKES?

Microsoft Corporation
One Microsoft Way
Redmond, WA 98052