The Contest begins at 12:01 a.m. (PT) on January 28th 2006, and ends at 11:59 p.m. (PT) on March 13th 2006. (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.

This Contest is open to both professional and amateur web designers and web developers who are 18 years or older at the time of entry, however, residents of the following countries are ineligible to participate due to legal constraints: 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.

Entrants must access www.mix06.com web site and navigate to the Contest submission page. From there, the participant must submit through the submission engine a single Zip file. The Zip file must contain one CSS file at root of the zip file and one images directory containing all images for the CSS located under the root. The submitted CSS file may not contain content that Microsoft, in its sole discretion, deems inappropriate for public display. Content deemed inappropriate includes, but is not limited to, vulgarity, pornography or messaging that is overtly political in nature. The CSS should conform to commonly accepted CSS practices. The Zip file should then be submitted via the submissions form to the supplied email address. Once submitted, all eligible entries will be posted on a publicly accessible website for voting by website visitors.

An entrant may submit a total of 5 entries, however, each entry must be substantially unique in content and appearance. Microsoft reserves the right to disqualify any entry not meeting the above criteria.
The website interface may be localized in the entrant's language; however, it must be accompanied by an English transcript of the interface for English speaking judges.

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.

All eligible submissions will be judged and ranked by a panel of qualified experts based on the following criteria, each of which is weighted equally:

• Creativity: Creative and innovative of the design.
• Design Navigation: Clean, easy-to-understand and well designed navigation.
• Community Voting: The community's interest measured by the rating assigned to a given entry. Ties will be broken in this category based on page hits from within the CSS Gallery.

In the event of a tie during the winner selection process, all tied entries will be re-judged by additional successive judges based on the criteria listed above and that judge will break the tie. The Judges' decisions are final and binding in all matters relating to this contest.

On or about October March 14th, 2006, three winners will be announced and notified via email.

Each winner will receive a MIX branded Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system, and a trip to attend the MIX Conference in Las Vegas, NV, March 20-22. Trip includes round trip coach airfare from major airport closest to winner's home; 3 night standard hotel accommodations, and entrance into the Mix06 Conference. Approximate retail value ("ARV"): $2,500.00. Actual value depends on date/time/destination, and difference between actual value and stated value will not be awarded. If the winner resides within 100 miles of Las Vegas, NV, Microsoft reserves the right to provide alternative means of transportation to and from destination.

No substitution, transfer, or assignment of prize permitted, except that Sponsor reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value in the event an offered prize is unavailable. If a winner cannot or will not accept a prize, then prize will be forfeited and awarded to an alternate winner. Sponsor reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value if entire prize or a portion of the prize is unavailable. Specifics of prize package are subject to availability and sponsor's sole discretion. No cancellation of reservation or transfer of reservation to another date after reservation has been made. If the MIX conference is canceled, for any reason, Microsoft sponsor shall have no further obligation to the winner and guest other than to supply the stated prize minus the opportunity to attend the conference. Travel must be completed on dates specified by sponsor or prize will be forfeited and awarded to an alternate winner. Please Note: The dates for the trip are subject to change at the sole discretion of Microsoft. Therefore, the winner must have flexible travel plans.

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. Prize awards may be subject to country specific restrictions.

The entry must have been created solely by the entrant. 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, with the sole exception being the Microsoft supplied base CSS, does not qualify as entrant's original creation. Entry may not be offensive, as determined by judges in their sole discretion. Entries not complying with all rules are subject to disqualification.

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.

In the event of a dispute, the laws of the State of Washington in the United States govern this Contest. All federal, provincial, state, and local laws and regulations apply. Potential winners will be required to execute and return an Affidavit of Eligibility and Liability Release and where legal, Publicity Release, within 7 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. 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 unless prohibited by law.

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.

A list of winners will be posted online after March 14, 2006 at www.mix06.com .

The Sponsor of this contest is Microsoft Corporation, One Microsoft Way, Redmond, Washington, 98052-6399