May 5, 2005

Dangers of Copy/Paste

Microsoft Game Studios has teamed up with GameSpy to have a multiplayer beta for Dungeon Siege II. They're also holding a sweepstakes. Unfortunately, someone was copy/pasting stuff in their legal agreement. See for yourself in the Official Rules.

In case they nuke it, here is the section they goobered (emphasis mine):

7. General Rules: By entering, you agree to be bound by these Official Rules. The Sweepstakes is offered by IGN and prizes are supplied by Microsoft Games Studio, Gas Powered Games, and ATI none of which are responsible for late, lost, delayed, damaged, postage-due, incomplete, illegible, or misdirected entries, responses, or other correspondence, whether by e-mail or postal mail or otherwise, or for theft, destruction, unauthorized access, or alterations of entry materials; or for phone, electrical, network, computer, hardware, software program, or transmission malfunctions, failures, or difficulties. By participating and winning or accepting a prize, Winner releases Sony Online Entertainment and IGN, their respective parents, affiliates, subsidiaries, directors, officers, employees, sponsors, and agents, including dealers, advertising and promotion agencies, independent judging organization, from any and all liability with respect to the Sweepstakes or the acceptance, possession or use of any prize, including without limitation (i) any condition caused by events beyond IGN's, Microsoft Games Studio or Gas Powered Games control that may cause the Sweepstakes to be disrupted or corrupted; (ii) any injuries, losses, or damages (compensatory, direct, incidental, consequential or otherwise) of any kind arising in connection with or as a result of the prize, or acceptance, possession, or use of the prize, or from participation in the Sweepstakes; and (iii) any printing, computer or typographical errors in any materials associated with the Sweepstakes. Microsoft Games Studio, Gas Powered Games and IGN’s decisions in all respects relative to the Sweepstakes are final. Microsoft Games Studio, Gas Powered Games and IGN reserve the right, in their sole discretion, to cancel, modify or suspend the Sweepstakes in whole or in part, for any reason, but in particular in the event of fraud, technical or other difficulties or if the integrity of the Sweepstakes is compromised, without liability to the entrant. Microsoft Games Studio, Gas Powered Games and IGN reserve the right to disqualify any winner, as determined by Microsoft Games Studio, Gas Powered Games or IGN in their sole discretion. The winner is responsible for paying all applicable taxes, including income taxes, on the value of the prize received. Void where prohibited or restricted by law. All federal, state and local regulations apply.
Anyone care to tell me why I'm indemnifying Sony Online Entertainment for a Microsoft Game Studios sweepstakes?

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