MSDN Community Terms of Use
1. Introduction
Welcome to the Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) Community. These Terms of Use (the "Terms") govern your access to and use of the MSDN Community websites, forums, blogs, wikis, code repositories, and other services (collectively, the "Community"). By accessing or using the Community, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree to these Terms, please do not use the Community.
The Community is provided by Microsoft Corporation and its affiliates ("Microsoft", "we", "us", or "our"). These Terms are in addition to any other terms and conditions that may apply to specific Microsoft products or services you may access through the Community.
2. Eligibility and Registration
You must be at least 16 years old to use the Community. By using the Community, you represent and warrant that you meet this age requirement.
To participate fully in certain aspects of the Community, such as posting content or asking questions, you may be required to register for a Microsoft account. You agree to provide accurate, current, and complete information during the registration process and to keep this information up to date.
You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials and for all activities that occur under your account. You agree to notify Microsoft immediately of any unauthorized use of your account.
3. Code of Conduct
You agree to use the Community responsibly and respectfully. You shall not:
- Post, upload, or distribute any content that is unlawful, harmful, threatening, abusive, harassing, defamatory, vulgar, obscene, or otherwise objectionable.
- Impersonate any person or entity, or falsely state or otherwise misrepresent your affiliation with a person or entity.
- Post, upload, or distribute any content that infringes on any patent, trademark, trade secret, copyright, or other proprietary rights of any party.
- Post, upload, or distribute any unsolicited or unauthorized advertising, promotional materials, "junk mail," "spam," "chain letters," or any other form of solicitation.
- Upload or transmit any material that contains viruses, Trojan horses, worms, time bombs, cancelbots, or any other computer code, files, or programs designed to interrupt, destroy, or limit the functionality of any computer software or hardware or telecommunications equipment.
- Interfere with or disrupt the Community or servers or networks connected to the Community.
- Attempt to gain unauthorized access to any part of the Community, other accounts, computer systems, or networks connected to the Community.
- Engage in any activity that could damage, disable, overburden, or impair the Community.
- Collect or harvest personal information about other users without their express consent.
- Violate any applicable local, state, national, or international law.
Microsoft reserves the right, but has no obligation, to monitor, edit, or remove any content or user activity that violates these Terms or is otherwise deemed inappropriate.
4. User Content
Any content you submit, post, or display on the Community ("User Content") remains your property. However, by submitting User Content, you grant Microsoft a perpetual, irrevocable, worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free, sublicensable, and transferable license to use, reproduce, distribute, prepare derivative works of, display, and perform the User Content in connection with the Community and Microsoft's business, including for promotion and redistribution of part or all of the Community (and derivative works thereof) in any media formats and through any media channels.
You are solely responsible for your User Content. You represent and warrant that you have all the rights necessary to grant the licenses granted in these Terms and that your User Content does not infringe on the rights of any third party.
5. Intellectual Property Rights
All materials, including but not limited to text, graphics, logos, icons, images, audio clips, video clips, digital downloads, data compilations, and software available on the Community (collectively, "Microsoft Content"), are owned or licensed by Microsoft and are protected by copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws. You may not copy, modify, distribute, display, perform, or reproduce any Microsoft Content without the prior written consent of Microsoft.
The MSDN name, logo, and other Microsoft trademarks and service marks are trademarks of Microsoft. All other trademarks, service marks, and logos used in the Community are the property of their respective owners.
6. Privacy
Your privacy is important to us. Please review our Microsoft Privacy Statement, which explains how we collect, use, and disclose personal information. By using the Community, you consent to the collection, use, and disclosure of your personal information as described in the Privacy Statement.
7. Disclaimers and Limitation of Liability
THE COMMUNITY IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT. MICROSOFT DOES NOT WARRANT THAT THE COMMUNITY WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED OR ERROR-FREE, THAT DEFECTS WILL BE CORRECTED, OR THAT THE COMMUNITY OR THE SERVER THAT MAKES IT AVAILABLE ARE FREE OF VIRUSES OR OTHER HARMFUL COMPONENTS.
IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT, ITS AFFILIATES, OR THEIR RESPECTIVE OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, LICENSORS, OR SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO YOUR USE OF OR INABILITY TO USE THE COMMUNITY, EVEN IF MICROSOFT HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. THIS LIMITATION OF LIABILITY APPLIES WHETHER THE ALLEGED LIABILITY IS BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT, NEGLIGENCE, STRICT LIABILITY, OR ANY OTHER BASIS.
8. Termination
Microsoft may, in its sole discretion, terminate or suspend your access to the Community at any time, without notice, for any reason, including but not limited to, if you violate these Terms or if Microsoft ceases to operate the Community.
You may cease using the Community at any time. If you wish to close your Microsoft account, please follow the instructions provided by Microsoft.
9. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution
These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Washington, without regard to its conflict of laws principles. Any legal action or proceeding arising out of or related to these Terms or your use of the Community shall be brought exclusively in the federal or state courts located in King County, Washington.
10. Amendments to Terms
Microsoft reserves the right to modify these Terms at any time. Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated "Last Updated" date. Your continued use of the Community after any such changes constitutes your acceptance of the new Terms. We encourage you to review these Terms periodically.