The Contest is open to any company employed in the creation of online advertising in the 50 United States (includes District of Columbia). Employees of Microsoft Corporation or any person or agency directly involved in the creation or execution of this Contest are not eligible to enter.

What materials are eligible for consideration?

Any advertising that was created on behalf of Microsoft or any of their subsidiaries or affiliates, or advertising that features a Microsoft licensed trademark or logo is NOT eligible for entry.

The online advertising submitted for judging must have appeared on an MSN website between 6/1/2004 and 5/31/2005 to be eligible. MSN Web sites are listed at http://advertising.msn.com/msnsites/msnsites.asp and include: Astrology, Autos, bCentral, Careers, Chat, City Guides, CNBC on MSN Money, Encarta, Entertainment, Family, Fitness & Recreation, Games, Groups, Hotmail, House & Home, Kids, Maps & Directions, Member Directory, Messenger, Mobile, MSN Explorer, MSN Home Page, MSNBC, Photos, Search, Shopping, Slate, Tech & Gadgets, Windows Media, Women, and Yellow Pages. Entries must consist of a single advertising element, not an entire campaign, and must meet the requirements of the category in which they are entered. Entries may be in the form of any ad type supported by MSN, including advertorial, banner, button, content module, email, exit ad, mid-page ad, news alert, over-the-page ad, pop-under ad, pop-up ad, showcase ad, skyscraper, streaming, transition ad, vertical ad, MSN rich media and supported third party rich media solutions, and MSN Video ad. Each element in a Package or Sponsorship ad must be submitted as a separate entry. Entries will be considered in the following categories:

1. Rich Media (For example, HTML, Third-Party Served HTML, Flash, DHTML, JavaScript, and other scripted ads)
2. Branding (For example, ad elements in brand awareness campaign)
3. Direct Marketing (For example, ad elements in customer acquisition/lead generation campaign)
4. Video (For example, MSN Video ad).

How do you submit Entries?

To enter, visit advertising.msn.com/contest and complete and submit the online entry form. Entries must include: (1) the online entry form, (2) the advertising element (as individual files, ZIP archives, or via third party served Web site), and (3) specific instructions on how the ad element should run, rotate, and/or replace other creative. Advertising element files should be sent as WinZip attachments to ccontest@microsoft.com, or propped to a Web/FTP site with location and instructions sent to ccontest@microsoft.com for pick up. For 3rd party served ads, you must specify the name of the 3rd Party Web site the ad was originally served through (e.g., Unicast, Eyeblaster, or Point.Roll) on the entry form.

Only online entries will be considered. No other form of entry, will be accepted.

All entries must be written in English or be translated with an accompanying English script. All information requested on the entry form must be completed; incomplete entry forms may be disqualified.

Limit 3 entries per person, however, a single entry may not be submitted in multiple categories. Each entry must be submitted on a separate entry form. All entries must be received by 11:59 PM PT on May 31, 2005 to be eligible. Entries received by 11:59 PM PT on April 15, 2005, will be eligible for the Early Bird sweepstakes drawing described below.

All materials submitted must be the original work of the entrant or the company submitting the entry. The entrant must have the authority to submit the entry on behalf of their employer and/or the advertising client. No responsibility is assumed by Microsoft for lost, late, misdirected, or illegible entries or for any computer, online, telephone or technical malfunctions that may occur. Selected winners may be required to provide additional materials required for editorial or promotional purposes. Additional materials may include, but are not limited to, photographs of the creative development team and a company logo.

How are entries judged?

Entries will be judged in each category by a panel of selected third party industry experts based on published criteria that includes creative execution within the category, innovative marketing tactic and/or innovative use of technology, and assessment of the ad's effectiveness as described on the entry form. Judging criteria are posted on the Contest Web page at advertising.msn.com/contest. Prizes will only be awarded in the categories for which qualified entries are received, and the judges reserve the right to award multiple prizes in one category based on merit. Winners will be notified within 2 months following the entry deadline and announced to the public via the MSN Advertising Marketing Web site (http://advertising.msn.com/contest)

Entries may be displayed on the MSN Advertising Marketing website and other MSN websites. By submitting an entry, you are granting Microsoft the right to publicly display your entry in any and all media for the purpose of advertising and promoting Microsoft web sites, products and this Awards program. Microsoft makes no guarantees that an entry will be showcased on its websites. Microsoft disclaims any and all liability for any infringement of any entrant's rights in any submission caused by any third party.

What are the awards?

$10,000 will be awarded to the First Place winner and $5,000 will be awarded to the Second Place winner in each category, provided a qualified number of entries are received. $25,000 will be awarded to the Best Overall entry from among all submissions across the four (4) categories.

The prize will be awarded to the company responsible for submitting the entry, not to the individual submitting the entry on their behalf. It is the company's sole responsibility to determine any subsequent prize distribution, and Microsoft disclaims any liability with regards to their decisions regarding prize distribution, if any.

Early Bird Sweepstakes Drawing

On or around April 20, 2005, 12 winners will be selected in a random drawing from among all eligible entries received by April 15, 2005, to win one of 12 Xbox game packages consisting of an Xbox console, Xbox Live kit, and 12 Xbox game titles.

Specifics of prize package are subject to availability and sponsor's sole discretion.

General Conditions:

Entrants agree to abide by the terms of these Official Rules and by the decisions of the judges which are final on all matters pertaining to this contest. All federal, state, local, provincial and municipal laws and regulations apply. This contest is subject to the laws of the United States. Taxes on prizes, if any, are the sole responsibility of the prize winners. If Microsoft is unable to contact the potential winner after reasonable effort, or if the potential winner fails to respond within three days of first attempted notification, the prize may be forfeited and awarded to an alternate winner. The potential winner may be required to execute and return an affidavit of eligibility and liability/publicity release within seven (7) days following the date of first attempted notification. Non-compliance within this time period may result in disqualification and selection of an alternate winner. Return of any prize/ prize notification as undeliverable may result in disqualification and selection of an alternate winner. Entrants further grant to Microsoft the right to use and publish their proper name and state online, in print and in any other media in connection with the Contest. Acceptance of a prize constitutes permission for Microsoft to use winner's name and likeness and entry submission for advertising and promotional purposes without additional compensation, unless prohibited by law. By entering, participants release and hold harmless Microsoft, its respective parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, directors, officers, employees and agents from any and all liability or any injuries, loss or damage of any kind arising from or in connection with participation in this Contest or receive or use of any prize won.

If for any reason the Internet portion of the program is not capable of running as planned, including infection by computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures, or any other causes beyond the control of Microsoft which corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity, or proper conduct of this Contest, Microsoft reserves the right at its sole discretion, to disqualify any individual who tampers with the entry process, and to cancel, terminate, modify, or suspend the Contest. 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 lines, computer online systems, servers, or providers, computer equipment, software, failure of any email or entry to be received by Microsoft on account of technical problems 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 related to or resulting from participation or downloading any materials in this Contest. CAUTION: ANY ATTEMPT BY A CONTESTANT 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 RESERVES THE RIGHT TO SEEK DAMAGES FROM ANY SUCH CONTESTANT TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW. Entries made by Internet will be declared made by the authorized account holder of the email address submitted at time of entry. "Authorized account holder" is defined as the natural person who is assigned to an email address by an Internet access provider, online service provider or other organization (e.g., business, educational, institution, etc.) that is responsible for assigning email addresses for the domain associated with the submitted email address.

Sponsor: Microsoft Corporation, One Microsoft Way, Redmond, WA 98052-6399.