Microsoft Answers Platform - Terms of Use

The questions/discussions posted by the end customers may be answered by different individuals, such as Microsoft Agents, Independent Advisors, Microsoft Employees, the general public, etc. To learn more about who’s who and each role in Microsoft Answers Platform, please visit Microsoft Community Frequently Asked Questions - Microsoft Community and Training, Certification, and Program Support Community Frequently Asked Questions - Training, Certification, and Program Support (microsoft.com).

All Microsoft’s support options are listed on our support site.

By using Microsoft Answers Platform, you represent you are the legal age of "majority" where you live and agree to be bound by the terms of these Terms of Use.

In addition to the warranty and representation set forth above, by posting a Submission that contain images, photographs, pictures or that are otherwise graphical in whole or in part ("Images"), you warrant and represent that (a) you are the copyright owner of such Images, or that the copyright owner of such Images has granted you permission to use such Images or any content and/or images contained in such Images consistent with the manner and purpose of your use and as otherwise permitted by these Terms of Use, (b) you have the rights necessary to grant the licenses and sublicenses described in these Terms of Use, and (c) that each person depicted in such Images, if any, has provided consent to the use of the Images as set forth in these Terms of Use, including, by way of example, and not as a limitation, the distribution, public display and reproduction of such Images. By posting Images, you are granting to the general public permission to use your Images in connection with the use, as permitted by these Terms of Use (including, by way of example, and not as a limitation, making prints and gift items which include such Images), and including, without limitation, a non-exclusive, world-wide, royalty-free license to: copy, distribute, transmit, publicly display, publicly perform, reproduce, edit, translate and reformat your Images without having your name attached to such Images, and the right to sublicense such rights to any supplier of the Microsoft Answers Platform. The licenses granted in the preceding sentences for Images will terminate at the time you completely remove such Images from the Microsoft Answers Platform, provided that such termination shall not affect any licenses granted in connection with such Images prior to the time you completely remove such Images. No compensation will be paid with respect to the use of your Images.

Your privacy is important to us. Please read the Microsoft Privacy Statement (the "Privacy Statement") as it describes the types of data we collect from you and your devices, how we use that data, and the legal bases we have to process that data. Where processing is based on consent and to the extent permitted by law, by agreeing to these Terms, you consent to Microsoft’s collection, use and disclosure of your content and data as described in the Privacy Statement. In some cases, we will provide separate notice and request your consent as referenced in the Privacy Statement.

The user information you provide (including your My Profile name, avatar image, and any content you may post) will be publicly viewable viewed by other users. Microsoft may also collect and publicly display the date that you registered and your affiliation with Microsoft. You may be able to delete certain types of content after they have been posted, but only with an active Microsoft account. If your Microsoft account is closed (whether by you or us), we’ll delete data, or your content associated with your Microsoft account or will otherwise disassociate it from you and your Microsoft account.

The following Code of Conduct applies to your use of the Microsoft Answers Platform and any associated services. Microsoft reserves the right to update the Code of Conduct at any time, without notice to you. The most current version of the Code of Conduct can be viewed at Microsoft Community Frequently Asked Questions - Microsoft Community and Training, Certification, and Program Support Community Frequently Asked Questions - Training, Certification, and Program Support (microsoft.com)

In addition to upholding this Code of Conduct, you're also responsible for adhering to all applicable local and national laws. This is your community. Help us to keep it safe, friendly, fun, and helpful.

Microsoft reserves the right, at its sole discretion and without any obligation to do so, to review and remove user-created services and content at will and without notice and delete content and accounts. Microsoft reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to permanently ban participants or terminate access to the Microsoft Answers Platform. Microsoft further reserves the right to decommission the Microsoft Answers Platform at any time in the future.

• We encourage you to not share information that others could use to harm you. We encourage parents to be aware of and help exercise control over content posted by and activities of their children to keep them safe online.
• Microsoft isn't responsible for the content of any user-created posting, listing, or message. The decision to view content or engage with others is yours. We advise you to use your judgment.
• You are responsible for protecting your computer against interference, spyware, or viruses that may be encountered. We recommend you install a virus protection program on your computer and keep it up to date.
• You may use the Report Abuse links in the public feedback communities to report violations of the Microsoft Answers Platform Code of Conduct.
• Microsoft reserves the right to amend or change the Microsoft Answers Platform Code of Conduct or any service at any time without notice. We encourage you to periodically review these guidelines to ensure you are in compliance.
• Some information you provide or upload to the service may be stored outside of the country in which you reside.
• All activity on the service is also governed by this Terms of Use and the Microsoft Privacy Statement – Microsoft privacy.
• You acknowledge that you are a volunteer participant in the Microsoft Answers Platform and that you may discontinue your participation at any time. Nothing related to your participation will be construed as creating an employer-employee relationship, a partnership, joint venture, association, or agency relationship, or as a limitation upon Microsoft's right to terminate your access as foreseen above, or upon Microsoft's discretion, to terminate your access as provided herein. You assume all risk for your use.
• You understand that posting content or submitting material is voluntary, and you are under no obligation whatsoever to provide any submissions or contributions. You are solely responsible for your dealings with any third party that relates to your use of the community, or any information or materials you obtain from a third party.
• No Compensation. Microsoft shall not be obligated to provide, and you have no expectation of receiving, any compensation in any form for your voluntary participation in the community, or for your submissions or contributions.

Except as expressly provided under these Terms of Use, Microsoft does not grant you a license or any other rights of any type under any patents, know-how, copyrights, trade secrets, trademarks or other intellectual property owned or controlled by Microsoft or any related entity, including but not limited to any name, trade dress, logo or equivalents. If you give to Microsoft any idea, proposal, suggestion or feedback, including without limitation ideas for the Microsoft Answers Platform, new products, technologies, promotions, product names, product feedback and product improvements ("Supplemental Feedback"), you give to Microsoft, without charge, royalties or other obligation to you, the right to make, have made, create derivative works, use, share and commercialize your Supplemental Feedback in any way and for any purpose. You will not give Supplemental Feedback that is subject to a license that requires Microsoft to license its software, technologies, or documentation to any third party because Microsoft includes your Supplemental Feedback in them.

As a condition of your use of the Microsoft Answers Platform, you will not use Microsoft Answers Platform for any purpose that is unlawful or prohibited by these terms, conditions, and notices. You may not use Microsoft Answers Platform in any manner that could damage, disable, overburden, or impair any Microsoft server, or the network(s) connected to any Microsoft server, or interfere with any other party's use and enjoyment of Microsoft Answers Platform. You may not attempt to gain unauthorized access to Microsoft Answers Platform, other accounts, computer systems or networks connected to any Microsoft server or to Microsoft Answers Platform, through hacking, password mining or any other means. You may not obtain or attempt to obtain any materials or information through any means not intentionally made available through Microsoft Answers Platform.

Microsoft uses the processes set out in Title 17, United States Code, Section 512 to respond to notices of copyright infringement. In appropriate circumstances, Microsoft may also disable or terminate accounts of users of Microsoft services who may be repeat infringers.

THE LINKS IN THIS AREA WILL LET YOU LEAVE MICROSOFT'S SITE. THE LINKED SITES ARE NOT UNDER THE CONTROL OF MICROSOFT AND MICROSOFT IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CONTENTS OF ANY LINKED SITE OR ANY LINK CONTAINED IN A LINKED SITE, OR ANY CHANGES OR UPDATES TO SUCH SITES. MICROSOFT IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR WEBCASTING OR ANY OTHER FORM OF TRANSMISSION RECEIVED FROM ANY LINKED SITE. MICROSOFT IS PROVIDING THESE LINKS TO YOU ONLY AS A CONVENIENCE, AND THE INCLUSION OF ANY LINK DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT BY MICROSOFT OF THE SITE.

The term "dispute" is as broad as it can be. It includes any claim or controversy between you and us concerning this Terms of Use, Microsoft Answers Platform, any advertising, marketing, or communications, any program or services offered or sold, or your participation in Microsoft Answers Platform, under any legal theory including contract, warranty, tort, statute, or regulation, except disputes relating to the enforcement or validity of your, your licensors', our, or our licensors' intellectual property rights.

• Mail a Notice of Dispute First. If you have a dispute and our customer service representatives can't resolve it, send a Notice of Dispute by U.S. Mail to Microsoft Corporation, ATTN: CELA Arbitration, One Microsoft Way, Redmond, WA 98052-6399, U.S.A. Tell us your name, address, how to contact you, what the problem is, and what you want. A form is available here. We will do the same if we have a dispute with you. After 60 days, you or we may start an arbitration if the dispute is unresolved.
• Small Claims Court Option. Instead of mailing a Notice of Dispute, you may sue us in small claims court if you meet the court's requirements in your county of residence (or, if a business, your principal place of business) or King County, Washington, U.S.A.

The AAA will conduct any arbitration under its Commercial Arbitration Rules (or if you are an individual and use the Program Services (including any software) for personal or household use, or if the value of the dispute is $75,000 USD or less whether or not you are an individual or how you use the Program Services or Software, its Consumer Arbitration Rules). For more information, see adr.org or call 1-800-778-7879. To start an arbitration, submit the form available here to the AAA and mail a copy to us. In a dispute involving $25,000 USD or less, any hearing will be telephonic unless the arbitrator finds good cause to hold an in-person hearing instead. Any in-person hearing will take place in your county of residence (or, if a business, your principal place of business) or King County, Washington. You choose. The arbitrator may award the same damages to you individually as a court could. The arbitrator may award declaratory or injunctive relief only to you individually to satisfy your individual claim. Under AAA Rules, the arbitrator rules on his or her own jurisdiction, including the arbitrability of any claim. But a court has exclusive authority to enforce the prohibition on arbitration on a class-wide basis or in a representative capacity.

• Disputes Involving $75,000 USD or Less.

  We will promptly reimburse your filing fees and pay the AAA's and arbitrator's fees and expenses. If you reject our last written settlement offer made before the arbitrator was appointed, your dispute goes all the way to an arbitrator's decision (called an "award"), and the arbitrator awards you more than this last written offer, we will: (1) pay the greater of the award or $1,000 USD; (2) pay your reasonable attorney's fees, if any; and (3) reimburse any expenses (including expert witness fees, and costs) that your attorney reasonably accrues for investigating, preparing, and pursuing your claim in arbitration.

• Disputes Involving More than $75,000 USD.

  The AAA rules will govern payment of filing fees and the AAA's and arbitrator's fees and expenses.

You and we must file in small claims court or arbitration any claim or dispute (except intellectual property disputes—see Section 15.1) within one year from when it first could be filed. Otherwise, it's permanently barred.

You may reject any change we make to section 15 (except address changes) by sending us notice within 30 days of the change by U.S. Mail to the address in section 15.1. If you do, the most recent version of section 15 before the change you rejected will apply.

If any part of section 15 (Disputes. Binding Arbitration, and Class Action Waiver) is found to be illegal or unenforceable, the remainder will remain in effect (with an arbitration award issued before any court proceeding begins), except that if a finding of partial illegality or unenforceability would allow class-wide or representative arbitration, section 15 will be unenforceable in its entirety.

This Terms of Use governs to the extent it conflicts with the AAA's Commercial Arbitration Rules or Consumer Arbitration Rules.