The MOUSE Awards celebrate digital creativity on the Microsoft Advertising Network and are judged by a panel of industry leading Creative Directors. Individuals and companies whose campaign has featured on the Microsoft Network are invited to enter, for a chance to win a cash prize, entry to the Cyber Lion Awards and a trip to the Cannes International Advertising Festival in June 2009.
Dates
The closing date for entries is 23:59 GMT on Sunday 1st March 2009.
The MOUSE Awards will be judged at a closed event on 24th April 2009. All entries will be available to view prior to this on http://advertising.micrsoft.com/europe/mouse2009. Winners will be notified by email in the week beginning 27th April 2009.
Eligibility
1. Entries must have run on the Microsoft Advertising Network between 1st March 2008 and 28th February 2009.
2. Websites include: Windows Live™ Hotmail; Windows Live Messenger ™; MSN® Mobile; MSN® Video; Windows Live ™Spaces; Live Search; MSN® portal; Office® Online; Xbox.com; Xbox Live®; Massive®
3. Any creative, media agency or sole operator whose work has featured on the Microsoft Advertising Network in Europe, Asia, South America and Middle East & Africa may enter the MOUSE Awards.
4. Employees of Microsoft may enter, but only if the campaign has been created in partnership with an external agency. All prizes will be awarded to the external agency only.
5. All entries must be the original work of the creative and media agency. The entrant must have the authority to submit the entry on behalf of their employer, the advertising client and the creative agency [in the case of entries being submitted by media agencies].
6. Entries may be in the form of any ad type supported by the Microsoft Advertising Network including: banner, button, content module, email, over-the-page ad, skyscraper, streaming, rectangle, homepage takeover, channel skins, micro-sites, MSN rich media and supported 3rd party rich media solutions.
7. Entries can be a single element or an entire campaign. You may enter up to [5] creative formats for each campaign. All placements entered must have run on the Microsoft Advertising Network.
8. All entries must be available to view on a PC using Internet Explorer 6.0 or higher versions from 2nd March 2009 to June 30th 2009.
9. Only online entries will be considered. No other form of entry will be accepted.
Exclusions
Any advertising created for Microsoft Corp. or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates or any advertising that features a Microsoft licensed trademark or logo is NOT eligible for entry.
In the event that the same campaign is entered by different agencies, only the first entry received will be considered.
Judging
1. All entries will be available to view on http://advertising.microsoft.com/europe/mouse2009.
2. The awards will be judged by a panel of Creative Directors from leading Advertising Agencies and Microsoft Advertising Management.
3. They will be judged on the following criteria: i) Creativity ii) Execution and iii) Strategic Approach; as published on the entry form and judging page.
4. All entries will be pre-judged and the shortlist will be announced on 23rd April 2009.
5. The MOUSE Awards will be judged at a closed event on 24th April 2009.
6. Awards will only be given in categories where qualified entries are received. The judges reserve the right not to award prizes, or to award multiple prizes in one category based on merit.
7. Winners will be notified by email in the week beginning 27th April 2009.
Awards
A Grand Prix will be awarded for the ‘Best use of the Microsoft Network’.
Gold, Silver and Bronze awards are available in each of these five [5] categories:
Telecoms, Media & Entertainment
Transport & Travel (to include Automotive)
Consumer Goods / FMCG
Charity, NGO & Public Services
Financial Services
There will also be a Special Award for In Game Advertising.
The amounts of the Cash Prizes are as follows:
Grand Prix £2,000
5 x Gold £1,500
5 x Silver £1,000
5 x Bronze £750
Special Award £1,500
Grand Prix, Gold and Special Award winners will automatically be entered into the Cyber Lions Awards. Microsoft will pay the cost of entering up to five creative elements per winning campaign.
Grand Prix, Gold and Special Award winners [limited to two people per winning campaign] will be invited to attend the Cannes Advertising Festival (as guests of Microsoft Advertising) and in particular the Cyber Lions award ceremony.
Travel package includes round-trip airfare for [2] persons per winning agency, [3] nights hotel in single occupancy rooms, festival passes and transfers from Nice Airport to Cannes. Winners will be hosted at the Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival as guests of Microsoft Advertising. All other expenses not stated here will be the sole responsibility of the winning agency and their guests. This prize is non-transferrable.
In the event that an entry made by a media agency wins, the prizes will be split equally between the media and creative agency. Where an award is split between the media and creative agency, one representative from each will be eligible for Cannes. Microsoft is not responsible for any disputes that arise.
Prizes will be awarded to the agency(s) not to the individual submitting the entry on their behalf. It is the agency(s) sole responsibility to determine any additional prize distribution and Microsoft disclaims any liability with regards to their decisions. Cash prizes will be paid in the winners local currency at the market exchange rate on the date of payment.
How to Enter
1. To enter you must complete and submit the online entry form.
2. All entries must be written in English and you must submit an English translation of any copy or audio that appears in the advertising creative.
3. Failure to complete all requested fields may result in your entry being disqualified.
4. You must submit one URL per entry that leads the viewer straight into your entry. Do not supply launch pages leading to more than one entry.
5. Entries must be published on an MSN background. These can be downloaded from a ZIP archive on the MOUSE Awards site. If you can’t see the background you need, please email mouse@microsoft.com and we will forward by return.
6. Each entry may comprise up to five [5] creative formats.
7. Your entry must be accessible WITHOUT login or password.
8. Agencies which are unable to provide a URL may email the advertising element as individual files or in a ZIP archive. We will require .fla files, font files, .swf files and any java script to publish a working online demo.
a. You must also submit written instructions on the ad size and how the ad element should run, rotate and expand.
9. There is no limit on the number of entries a single person or agency can submit. However, each entry must be submitted on a separate entry form. All entries must be received by 23:59 GMT on 1st March 2009 to be eligible.
10. Entries made by media agencies must credit the creative agency responsible for producing the campaign.
11. All 3rd Party served entries must specify the name of the 3rd Party website the ad was originally served through (e.g. Unicast, Eyeblaster, Point.Roll) on the entry form.
12. If your entry is shortlisted, you will be contacted and asked to supply offline creative. Failure to provide the requested materials within the stated deadline may result in disqualification.
13. Once submitted, all entry materials become the property of Microsoft and will not be returned.
Promotion
Award winners may be required to provide additional materials for editorial or promotional purposes. These include, but are not limited to, photographs of the creative development team and a company logo.
Entries may be displayed on the Microsoft Advertising marketing website and other Microsoft 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 websites, products and the MOUSE Awards. Microsoft makes no guarantee 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.
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. This contest is subject to the laws of the United Kingdom. Taxes on prizes, if any, are the sole responsibility of the prize winners. 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. 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 competition. 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 competition or receive or use of any prize won.
Sponsor: Microsoft Limited, Thames Valley Park, Reading RG6 1WG, England.
