SURFACE LAPTOP SWEEPSTAKES | MICROSOFT 50TH ANNIVERSARY
EXCLUSIVE (THE “SWEEPSTAKES”)
OFFICIAL RULES

This Sweepstakes is intended for viewing and participation in the fifty (50) United States, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico only and shall be construed and evaluated according to the laws of the fifty (50) United States, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico. Please do not enter if you are not a legal resident of, and not located in, the fifty (50) United States, Washington D.C., or Puerto Rico at time of entry. VOID IN THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS AND OTHER U.S. TERRITORIES AND POSSESSIONS, AND WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT OF ANY KIND IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN.  A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCE OF WINNING.

  1. SWEEPSTAKES PERIOD:

    Starts April 4, 2025 at 1:00:00 PM Pacific Time (“PT”) and ends April 16, 2025 at 11:59:59 PM PT (the "Sweepstakes Period").

  2. ELIGIBILITY:

    To enter and be eligible to win a prize, you must be a legal resident of the 50 United States, Washington, D.C., or Puerto Rico (excluding residents of the U.S. Virgin Islands and other U.S. territories and possessions, and where prohibited by law), have attained the age of majority in your jurisdiction of residence, and have a valid Instagram account. Persons in any of the following categories are NOT eligible to participate or win a prize: (a) any person who, at any time on or after April 4, 2025, was or is a director, officer, agent, representative, or employee of Microsoft Corporation (“Sponsor”), or its parent, affiliates, subsidiaries, or service agencies, who is directly involved in the planning or execution of the Sweepstakes; (b) any other individuals engaged in the development, production or distribution of materials for the Sweepstakes or engaged in the administration or execution of this Sweepstakes (collectively, with the entities listed in 2(a), the “Sweepstakes Entities”); (c) persons who are or purport to be immediate family members (defined as biological or step-mother/ father, sister, brother, daughter, son, dependent or spouse of any of the foregoing) of any person in any of the preceding categories, regardless of where they live, or who reside in the same household as any person in any of the preceding categories; and (d) persons who Sponsor is prohibited from allowing to participate in the Sweepstakes under applicable law. Sweepstakes is subject to all applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations.

  3. HOW TO ENTER: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY.

    During the Sweepstakes Period, you may enter the Sweepstakes via Instagram by going to https://www.instagram.com/ or using the Instagram mobile application (“Instagram”, or the “Website”) and creating a post on your Instagram account that includes the following three (3) elements:

    • a photo of a Microsoft Surface device exhibiting a “Surface on-the-go” lifestyle;
    • a caption describing “why you love Surface”; and
    • include the hashtag #Microsoft50SurfaceSweepstakes

      (All of the elements above collectively, and subject to the Entry Requirements below, an “Entry”).

    Your Entry photo must show a Microsoft Surface, but you do not need to purchase a Microsoft Surface or any other Microsoft products in order to enter. Microsoft Surface images are available here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/store/collections/surfacelist. You must include the Hashtag for your Entry to be valid. You must be following @Surface and have a non-private Instagram account with your account privacy settings set to allow you to receive a Potential Prize Winner notification from @Surface if you are selected as a Potential Prize Winner (see Rule #6 for details). Entries may initially be screened by the Sponsor for apparent compliance with these Official Rules. For each eligible Entry, subject to the entry limitations herein, you will receive one (1) entry into the Sweepstakes draw (see Rule #4 for draw details).

    Limit: maximum of one (1) Entry per person/email address/Instagram account during the Sweepstakes Period.

    By posting an Entry along with the Hashtags, you confirm that you have read and accept these Official Rules. To register for a free Instagram account, visit https://www.instagram.com/. Entries are subject to all Entry Requirements set forth herein to be valid; see Rule #3.1 below for Entry Requirements. By submitting an Entry, you hereby warrant and represent that your Entry conforms with the Entry Requirements set forth herein.

    Each Entry must be unique; duplicate Entries and/or automated Entries are prohibited, and Entrants may not submit the same post via more than one (1) account. Entrants may not enter with multiple Instagram accounts nor may entrants use any other device or artifice to enter multiple times or as multiple entrants. If it is discovered that you have entered or attempted to enter the Sweepstakes in excess of the stated limits, or that you have attempted to enter multiple times using multiple identities or email addresses, all of your Entries will be declared null and void, and any Prize you might have been entitled to (if any) may be forfeited, in the Sponsor’s sole and absolute discretion.

    In the event of a dispute regarding the identity of an entrant, the Entry will be deemed to have been made by the authorized account holder of the Instagram account corresponding to the Entry. The “authorized account holder” is the natural person assigned to the Instagram account. Each entrant may be required to show proof of being an authorized account holder. If a dispute cannot be resolved to Sponsor’s satisfaction, the entrant may be deemed ineligible. If you do not have Internet access via a personal computer, your local library or Internet café may be able to provide access to the Internet and a number of Internet service providers and other companies offer free email accounts.

    Sponsor reserves the right to post your Entry on the Sponsor’s website and/or via Sponsor’s social media pages/accounts, in its sole and absolute discretion without notification or compensation and you agree to sign a release confirming the same. Posting of an Entry is not a confirmation, representation or warranty by the Sponsor or any of its representatives that the Entry is compliant with these Rules. Sponsor’s decisions with respect to whether an Entry complies with these Official Rules are final and binding and may be made by Sponsor at any time in its sole and absolute discretion. Entries that do not meet the requirements set forth in these Official Rules may not be acknowledged and may be automatically disqualified, in the sole and absolute discretion of the Sponsor and/or the Sweepstakes Judges.

    3.1. Entry Requirements:

    The following requirements set by the Sponsor must be followed for each Entry in order to be eligible for entry into the Sweepstakes:

    • You must own all rights to the Entry and all of its content, and have the right to grant Sponsor a license to use the Entry (including any material embodied in the Entry) for any and all purposes determined by the Sponsor in its sole and absolute discretion, except that 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 Sweepstakes;
    • The Entry cannot contain the name, image, likeness, voice, or other indicia of any other individual (living or dead) other than yourself and the Microsoft Surface;
    • The Entry must be suitable for a family audience and contain only content that, in the sole and absolute discretion of Sponsor, is suitable for a general audience;
    • The Entry must comply with these Official Rules and any Terms of Service on the Website;
    • The Entry must not, in the sole and absolute discretion of Sponsor, incorporate any elements of Entries submitted by other entrants;
    • The Entry cannot be sexually explicit or suggestive, violent or derogatory of any ethnic, racial, gender, religious, professional or age group, profane or pornographic, or contain nudity or any inappropriate content;
    • The Entry cannot promote alcohol or illegal drugs; depict gambling references or tobacco use, firearms/weapons (or the use of any of the foregoing), or any activities that may appear unsafe or dangerous; or convey any particular political agenda or message;
    • The Entry cannot be obscene or offensive, defamatory, libelous, threatening, or harassing, or endorse any form of hate or hate group;
    • The Entry cannot defame, misrepresent or contain disparaging remarks about Sponsor, any other Sweepstakes Entities, or their products or other people, products or companies;
    • The Entry cannot prominently feature, as determined in Sponsor’s sole and absolute discretion, trademarks, logos, copyrighted works, trade dress (such as distinctive packaging or building exteriors/interiors) or any intellectual property owned by others (including but not limited to music, product packaging, photographs, sculptures, paintings and other works of art or images, published on or in websites, television, movies or other media) other than as owned by entrant or as authorized by Sponsor for use by entrants in connection with the Sweepstakes;
    • The Entry cannot (in the sole and absolute discretion of Sponsor) advertise or promote any brand or product of any kind other than Sponsor’s, including, but not limited to, any of Sponsor’s competitors or any of the other Sweepstakes Entities’ competitors.
    • The Entry cannot contain any personal identification, such as license plate numbers, personal names, e-mail addresses or street addresses;
    • No background artwork or material shall appear in the Entry unless it is the original work of the entrant;
    • Entries must be created solely by the entrant or entrant must be the sole owner of all copyright interests therein;
    • The Entry cannot communicate messages or images inconsistent with the positive images and/or goodwill to which Sponsor wishes to associate;
    • The Entry cannot violate any law or otherwise be inappropriate; all as determined by Sponsor in its sole and absolute discretion.

    BY SUBMITTING AN ENTRY, YOU WARRANT AND REPRESENT THAT: (A) IT IS YOUR ORIGINAL WORK, (B) IT HAS NOT BEEN PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED, (C) IT HAS NOT WON PREVIOUS AWARDS, (D) IT DOES NOT INFRINGE UPON OR OTHERWISE VIOLATE THE COPYRIGHTS, TRADEMARKS, RIGHTS OF PRIVACY OR PUBLICITY, MORAL RIGHTS, OR OTHER INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OR OTHER RIGHTS OF ANY PERSON OR ENTITY; AND (E) PUBLICATION OF THE ENTRY VIA VARIOUS MEDIA INCLUDING WEB POSTING, WILL NOT INFRINGE OR OTHERWISE VIOLATE THE RIGHTS OF ANY THIRD PARTY.

    Sponsor reserves the right to waive the Entry Requirements set forth herein in its sole and absolute discretion. By submitting an Entry, you agree that your Entry is gratuitous and made without restriction, and will not place Sponsor under any obligation, that Sponsor is free to disclose the Entry and the ideas contained in the Entry on a non-confidential basis to anyone or otherwise use the ideas without any additional compensation to you. By entering, you acknowledge that Sponsor has no obligation to use or post any Entry you submit. You acknowledge that Sponsor does not waive any rights to use similar or related ideas otherwise known to Sponsor, or developed by its employees, or obtained from sources other than you.

    Each entrant agrees that his/her Entry will be deemed a Work Made For Hire under the Copyright laws of the United States, but if it cannot be so deemed, then the entrant hereby irrevocably assigns and transfers to Sponsor all of his/her right, title and interest in and to his/her Entry, including but not limited to all copyright and trademark rights which he or she may have, in the United States and worldwide, in perpetuity, for consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged. Entrant hereby waives in favor of Sponsor, all rights of “Droit Moral” or “Moral Rights of Authors” or any similar rights or principles of law that entrant may now or later have to their Entry. Sponsor reserves the right to alter, change or modify any Entry, in its sole and absolute discretion. Upon request of Sponsor, entrant shall execute and deliver such additional instrument of assignment, as may be solely deemed by Sponsor, reasonably necessary to establish the ownership of record of the right, title and interest in and to the Entry and of the copyrights transferred and rights of “Droit Moral” and “Moral Rights of Authors” waived under these Official Rules. Should Sponsor fail to request the said assignment as stated, that shall not be deemed a waiver of Sponsor’s rights and Sponsor may at a later time request the assignment in its sole and absolute discretion.

    By participating in the Sweepstakes, entrants agree to indemnify and hold harmless Sponsor and the other Sweepstakes Entities (as defined in Rule #2) from and against any and all claims, demands, actions, causes of action, damages, costs or expenses brought against or suffered or incurred by any of them, arising out of or in connection with the participation by the entrants in this Sweepstakes, or any breach by the entrants of the foregoing warranties or any of the Official Rules. By participating, entrants agree to these Official Rules, and to comply with them, which are final and binding in all respects.

  4. RANDOM SWEEPSTAKES DRAW:

    On April 21, 2025, at approximately 2:00 PM PT, an independent judging organization (the “Sweepstakes Judges”) will randomly draw fifty (50) Entries for the Sweepstakes Prizes (See Rule #5 for prize details) from among all eligible Entries received (each a “Potential Winner” and, if verified, “Winner”). The odds of winning a prize depend on the total number of eligible Entries received during the Sweepstakes Period. Potential Winners will be subject to verification of eligibility and compliance with these Official Rules.

  5. SWEEPSTAKES PRIZES

    (50 available): Each Winner will receive the following prize:

    One (1) “50th Anniversary Exclusive” Microsoft Surface Laptop (Co-Pilot+ PC / 7th Edition, Snapdragon® X-Elite / 13.8” / 32GB RAM / 1TB SSD).

    Approximate retail value (“ARV”) of each Prize: USD $1,999.99.

    Total ARV of all Sweepstakes Prizes available to be won: USD $99,999.50.

    Microsoft products awarded as prizes are awarded “AS IS” and WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, express or implied (including any implied warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose); you assume the entire risk of quality and performance, and should the prizes prove defective, you assume the entire cost of all necessary servicing or repair. This is so even if the Microsoft product mentions a warranty on its packaging, in a manual, or in marketing materials; no warranty applies to Microsoft products awarded as prizes. Microsoft does not give any warranty of any kind, express or implied (including any implied warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose) on products made by a company other than Microsoft that are awarded as prizes. Please contact the manufacturer to see if it is covered by that company’s warranty.

    Any difference between the stated approximate retail value and the actual value of a prize will not be awarded. Prizes are not transferable, or redeemable for cash, and must be accepted as awarded, with no substitutions of any kind, except by the Sponsor, who reserves the right to substitute a prize (or portion thereof) with one of comparable or greater value, at its sole discretion.

    All federal, state and local taxes (including income and withholding taxes), if any, as well as any other costs and expenses associated with prize acceptance and use not specified herein as being provided are each Winner’s responsibility, regardless of whether a prize is used in whole or in part. All prize details are at the Sponsor's sole discretion.

  6. HOW TO CLAIM YOUR PRIZE:

    Potential Prize Winners will each be notified via direct message to the Instagram account associated with their Entry with instructions on how to claim their prize. Before being declared a winner, Potential Winners will be required to execute and return a W9 form in addition to an Affidavit of Eligibility, a Liability Release, and, where lawful, a publicity release, within five (5) business days from the time it is postmarked as having been sent by the Sponsor or its representative, or the prize may be forfeited, and the prize may be awarded to an alternate winner. If a Potential Winner is found to be ineligible or not in compliance with these Official Rules, declines to accept a prize in accordance with the prize claim instructions, if Sponsor is unable to contact a Potential Winner within three (3) business days, or in the event that a prize notification or any prize is returned undeliverable, such prize may be forfeited at the Sponsor’s sole and absolute discretion. Each Potential Winner may be required to furnish proof of identification.

    Allow 4 - 6 weeks for verification and shipment of your prize. The Sweepstakes Entities shall not be held responsible for any delays in awarding a prize for any reason outside of their control. Prizes will only be delivered to verified Winners. Any unclaimed prize(s) will not be awarded. The Sweepstakes Entities are not responsible for any change of mailing address, email address, and/or telephone number of entrants.

    By accepting a prize, each Winner agrees and consents to the use of his/her name, address (city and state of residence), voice, and statements relating to the Sweepstakes or Sponsor, and photographs or other likenesses, without further compensation, notification or permission in any publicity or advertising carried out by Sponsor or any related entities in any and all media now known or hereinafter developed, including the internet, without territorial or time limitation, except where prohibited by law.

CONDITIONS OF ENTRY:

  1. By entering, entrants (i) acknowledge and represent that they are in full compliance with these Official Rules including all eligibility requirements and, (ii) agree to be bound by these Official Rules and the decisions of the Sponsor and/or Sweepstakes Judges, made in their sole discretion, which shall be final and binding in all respects. Entrants who have not complied with these Official Rules are subject to disqualification and all associated Entries will be void.

  2. Sponsor reserves the right to disqualify any entrant's registration in the Sweepstakes (and void all associated Entries) or entitlement to a prize if, in the sole discretion of the Sponsor, it determines or suspects that the entrant has attempted to undermine the legitimate operation of the Sweepstakes by tampering, cheating, hacking, deception, or other fraudulent, deceptive or unfair playing practices (including any Entries generated by script, macro, robotic, programmed, or any other automated means or any other means which subvert the entry process).

  3. As a condition of entering, entrants agree (and agree to confirm in writing): (a) to release Sponsor, and its affiliates, Sweepstakes Entities, and each of their officers, directors, employees and agents, from any and all liability, loss or damage incurred with respect to participating in the Sweepstakes, or the awarding, receipt, possession, and/or use or misuse of any prize or any travel or activity related thereto; (b) that under no circumstances will entrant be permitted to obtain awards for, and entrant hereby waives all rights to claim punitive, incidental, consequential, or any other damages from Sponsor or its affiliates, or the Sweepstakes Entities, other than for actual out-of-pocket expenses; (c) all causes of action arising out of or connected with this Sweepstakes, or any prize awarded, shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action; and (d) any and all claims, judgments, and awards in connection with this Sweepstakes shall be limited to actual out-of-pocket costs incurred, and in no event will entrants be entitled to receive attorneys’ fees and court costs.

  4. All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of the Sweepstakes Official Rules, or the rights and obligations of entrant and Sponsor in connection with the Sweepstakes, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Washington, U.S.A., without regard to Washington or any other conflicts of law principles. All entrants consent to the jurisdiction and venue of the federal, state, and local courts for Redmond, Washington.

  5. Sponsor reserves the right in its sole discretion to cancel, modify and/or suspend this Sweepstakes at any time if fraud, technical failures, including any network server or hardware failure, viruses, bugs, errors in programming, or any other errors or other causes (such as force majeure events) impairs the administration, security, integrity or proper play of the Sweepstakes. In the event of cancellation, Sponsor reserves the right in its sole discretion, to randomly select the Winners from among all eligible, non-suspect Entries received up to time of such cancellation. In no event will the Sponsor be liable for more than the stated number of prizes in these Official Rules.

  6. The Sweepstakes Entities do not warrant that access to the Sweepstakes will be uninterrupted. The Sweepstakes Entities are not responsible for any problems that may arise, including but not limited to: (a) lost, interrupted, inaccessible or unavailable networks, servers, satellites, Internet Service Providers, websites, Instagram APIs (application programming interfaces), or other connection, availability or accessibility problems arising in connection with or over the course of the Sweepstakes; or (b) communications failed, jumbled, scrambled, delayed, or misdirected computer, telephone or cable transmissions or hardware or software malfunctions, failures or difficulties; or (c) failure of personal computers and/or software and hardware configurations, any technical malfunctions, failures, or difficulties, printing errors, clerical, typographical or other error in connection with the administration of the Sweepstakes, the processing of Entries, or the offering or announcement of any prize or in any winner notification documents; or (d) for any other errors of any kind relating to or in connection with the Sweepstakes, whether human, mechanical, clerical, electronic, or technical in nature; or (e) the incorrect or inaccurate capture of information, or the failure to capture any information in connection with the Sweepstakes; or (f) damage to a user's system occasioned by participation in this Sweepstakes or downloading any information necessary to participate in this Sweepstakes. The Sweepstakes Entities are also not responsible for lost, late, delayed, garbled, stolen, incomplete, misdirected, illegible, damaged or undelivered mail, email, or Entries. Proof of transmission (screenshots, etc.) does not constitute proof of delivery.

DISCLOSURES:

  1. Any attempt by an entrant or other individual, to deliberately damage any website or undermine the legitimate operation of this Sweepstakes, including but not limited to any fraudulent claims, may be a violation of criminal and civil laws. Should such an attempt be made, Sponsor reserves the right to seek remedies and damages (including attorneys' fees) from any such individual, to the fullest extent permitted by law, including criminal prosecution. Entrants engaging in any of the foregoing activities may be disqualified (and all associated Entries will be void) and will forfeit any prize won. Sponsor’s failure to enforce any term of these Official Rules shall not constitute a waiver of that provision.

  2. In the event of any conflict with any Sweepstakes details contained in these Official Rules and Sweepstakes details contained in Sweepstakes Materials (including but not limited to point of sale, television, and print advertising, promotional packaging, and other promotion media), the details of the Sweepstakes as set forth in these Official Rules shall prevail.

  3. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of these Official Rules shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision. In the event that any provision is determined to be invalid or otherwise unenforceable or illegal, these Official Rules shall otherwise remain in effect and shall be construed in accordance with their terms as if the invalid or illegal provision were not contained herein. In particular, Sponsor's employees are not authorized to waive, modify or amend any provision or provisions of these Official Rules in any manner whatsoever.

  4. This Sweepstakes is subject to all applicable federal, state, and municipal laws.

  5. This Sweepstakes is solely sponsored by Microsoft Corporation, One Microsoft Way, Redmond, WA 98052.

  6. The winners list for the Sweepstakes will be posted online after the prizes have been awarded.

  7. Information collected from entrants while entering this Sweepstakes will be used by Microsoft and/or its agents and prize fulfillers acting on Microsoft’s behalf only for the administration and operation of this Sweepstakes and in accordance with the Microsoft Privacy Statement. Prize Winners’ names may be included in a publicly available winners list.

  8. This Sweepstakes is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Instagram. Any questions, comments, or complaints regarding this Sweepstakes shall be directed to Sponsor and not to Instagram.