Microsoft Teams (free) Insider Program terms and conditions

MICROSOFT TEAMS (free) INSIDER PROGRAM

Posted: April 5, 2022

IF YOU LIVE IN THE UNITED STATES, SECTION 15 CONTAINS A BINDING ARBITRATION CLAUSE AND CLASS ACTION WAIVER. IT AFFECTS YOUR RIGHTS ABOUT HOW TO RESOLVE ANY DISPUTE WITH MICROSOFT. PLEASE READ IT.

IMPORTANT NOTICE

Thank you for participating in the Microsoft Teams (free) Insider Program (“Program”). The Program allows Microsoft Teams users to access and use certain pre-release technologies for purposes of providing feedback to Microsoft. Some pre-release technologies may not be available in your territory or on all platforms.

Before signing-up, please carefully review all the Program terms which create a legal agreement between you and Microsoft Corporation.

Acceptance of terms. By signing-up to participate in the Program, you represent you are the legal age of "majority" where you live and agree to be bound by the terms of this Agreement which is required for you to participate in the Program.

1. Program Participation. You are volunteering to participate in the Program with the knowledge that the purpose of this Program is to access, use, and provide us with feedback relating to experimental, preview, beta, or other early pre-release software (“software”) made available to you, including related documentation, materials, updates, supplements and upgrades (“Services”), for the purpose of providing Microsoft with useful information about your experience with the Program Services.

   • You understand that using experimental and early pre-release software means you may experience occasional crashes and data loss. By participating, you acknowledge that it is your responsibility to frequently backup your data and restore it in the event of data loss.

   • Your Program participation is voluntary and free, there is no compensation for your participation. Your participation does not create a legal partnership, agency, or employment relationship between you and Microsoft.

   • Your Program participation does not obligate Microsoft to provide you with Program Services.

   • You agree not to decompile, reverse engineer, disassemble, decrypt, or otherwise attempt to derive the source code of any pre-release software except and only to the extent that the foregoing restriction is (a) permitted by applicable law; (b) permitted by licensing terms governing the use of open-source components that may be included with the software; or (c) required to debug changes to any libraries licensed under the GNU Lesser General Public License which are included with and linked to by the pre-release software.

2. Program. The Program may be substantially different from the commercially released versions. Because the pre-release software may contain more errors or inaccuracies, you should back-up your device before installing any software.

   • Prerelease and Experimental Software and Services. The Program may have not included, reduced, or different security, privacy, accessibility, availability, and reliability standards relative to commercially provided services and software. We may change or discontinue the Program at any time without notice.

   • Recovery. To recover, you may have to reinstall your apps, the operating system, or re-flash your device. In some instances, you may not be able to go back to your prior version of software.

   • Automatic Update. You agree that we may automatically download updates to the pre-release technologies and that you may be required to update the pre-release technologies in order to continue in the Program. You agree to accept such updates subject to these terms unless other terms accompany the updates. If you do not agree, please discontinue use of and uninstall the pre-release technologies.

   • Support. Limited or no support may be provided for the Program.

   • Data and Internet Charges. Some of the Program may require your device to access the Internet. Your access and usage (including charges) may be subject to the terms of your cellular or Internet provider agreement. You are always responsible for (i) understanding and complying with the terms of your own plans and agreements, and (ii) any issues arising from using or accessing networks, including public/open networks.

3. Feedback. We provide the Program to you so you can tell us more about what you like, what you don't like, and what changes you would like to see in the Program. When you provide us comments, suggestions, or other feedback about the Program ("Feedback"), you grant Microsoft and its partners rights to use the Feedback in any way and for any purpose.

   • You acknowledge that Microsoft will be collecting, using, storing, processing, and analyzing diagnostic, technical, error reports, crash dumps, usage, and other related data from your devices that are running software as part of this Program to help Microsoft improve our products and services. If location services are enabled, the real-time geographic location of your device and location search queries may be collected as well.

   • You also acknowledge that your Feedback may be viewed by other Program participants.

4. Data Collection. The Program may automatically collect and provide data to Microsoft, which may include your personal information. We may also share certain data collected in connection with the Program with third parties. The Microsoft Privacy Statement, and this paragraph, applies to the data collected, used, and shared in connection with the Program.

5. Communications with You. Microsoft may use your contact information (i) to communicate with you about your use of the Program, and (ii) to provide you with additional information, about the Program and other Microsoft products or services. This contact may be by email, SMS, instant message, web chat, phone, in the user interface, or other means, and may include offers. You can always choose whether you wish to receive promotional email, SMS messages, telephone calls, and postal mail from Microsoft.

6. Non-Transferable. You may not transfer or share the software or related documentation or materials you receive from Microsoft as part of your participation in the Program, unless otherwise agreed or permitted by Microsoft, or except if the laws where you live (or, if a business, where your principal place of business is located) permit this, even if our Agreement does not.

7. Opt-Out. If you change your mind about participating in the Program, you may voluntarily opt-out at any time via the Microsoft Teams app settings.

8. Termination. Microsoft reserves the right to terminate your access to any or all of the Program at any time, without notice, for any reason whatsoever. Termination of your use of, or your access to, the Program; or the termination of this Agreement terminates your right to possess or use any Program, and you must delete all copies of the software, content and other materials provided as part of the Program. Sections 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 14 survive termination of this Agreement.

9. Additional Terms. Your use of pre-release technologies is also subject to the Microsoft Services Agreement, incorporating the Privacy Statement. To the extent there is a conflict between the Microsoft Services Agreement (including the Privacy Statement) and these terms, these terms control during the term of the program. Use of the final, generally available Microsoft Teams (free) is subject to the Microsoft Services Agreement.

10. Reservation of Rights. Microsoft may have patents, patent applications, trademarks, copyrights, or other intellectual property rights covering subject matter in the Program. Except as expressly provided in any written license agreement from Microsoft, the furnishing of the Program does not give you any license to these patents, trademarks, copyrights, or other intellectual property. Microsoft reserves all rights not expressly granted under this Agreement, and no other rights are granted under this Agreement by implication or estoppel or otherwise.

11. Warranty. Microsoft, and our affiliates, resellers, distributors, vendors, and partners, make no warranties, express or implied, guarantees or conditions with respect to the software or your participation in the Program. You understand that use of the Program is at your own risk and that we provide the Program on an "as is" basis "with all faults" and "as available." You bear the entire risk of using the Program. To the extent permitted under your local law, we exclude any implied warranties, including for merchantability, satisfactory quality, fitness for a particular purpose, workmanlike effort, and non-infringement. You may have certain rights under your local law. Nothing in this Agreement is intended to affect those rights, if they apply.

12. Damages. If you have any basis for recovering damages related to the Program, you agree that your exclusive remedy is to recover, from Microsoft or any affiliates, resellers, distributors, third-party app and service providers, partners, and vendors, direct damages up to the amount that you paid for the Program (or up to $10.00 USD if you acquired the Program for no charge). You cannot recover any other damages or losses, including direct, consequential, lost profits, special, indirect, incidental or punitive damages. These limitations and exclusions apply even if this remedy does not fully compensate you for any losses or fails of its essential purpose or if we knew or should have known about the possibility of the damages. To the maximum extent permitted by law, these limitations and exclusions apply to anything or any claims related to the Program or your participation in the Program.

13. Updates to Agreement. From time to time, we may change this Agreement. We will post a notice of the change on the Program support website. Your use of the Program after the date the change becomes effective will be your consent to the changed terms. If you do not agree to the changes, you must stop using the Program. We recommend visiting the Program Website at least once every 30 days to check for potential notice of changes.

14. Applicable Law. The laws of the state or country where you live (or, if a business, where your principal place of business is located) govern all claims and disputes concerning the Program, including software, your participation in this Program, and this Agreement, including breach of contract claims and claims under consumer protection laws, unfair competition laws, implied warranty laws, for unjust enrichment, and in tort, regardless of conflict of laws principles. In the United States, the Federal Arbitration Act governs all provisions relating to arbitration.

15. Disputes. Binding Arbitration and Class Action Waiver If You Live In (or Are a Business with Your Principal Place of Business In) the United States. We hope we never have a dispute, but if we do, you and we agree to try for 60 days to resolve it informally. If we can't, you and we agree to binding individual arbitration before the American Arbitration Association ("AAA") under the Federal Arbitration Act ("FAA"), and not to sue in court in front of a judge or jury. Instead, a neutral arbitrator will decide and the arbitrator's decision will be final except for a limited right of review under the FAA. Class action lawsuits, class-wide arbitrations, private attorney-general actions, and any other proceeding where someone acts in a representative capacity are not allowed. Nor is combining individual proceedings without the consent of all parties. "We," "our," and "us" includes Microsoft and its affiliates.

    1. Disputes Covered—Everything Except IP. The term "dispute" is as broad as it can be. It includes any claim or controversy between you and us concerning this Agreement, the software, any advertising, marketing, or communications, any services offered or sold, or your participation in the Program, 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.

       1. 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.

       2. 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.

    2. Arbitration Procedure. 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 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.

    3. Arbitration Fees and Payments.

       1. 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.

       2. 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.

    4. Must File Within One Year. You and we must file in small claims court or arbitration any claim or dispute (except intellectual property disputes—see Section 14.1) within one year from when it first could be filed. Otherwise, it's permanently barred.

    5. Rejecting Future Arbitration Changes. You may reject any change we make to section 14 (except address changes) by sending us notice within 30 days of the change by U.S. Mail to the address in section 14.1. If you do, the most recent version of section 14 before the change you rejected will apply.

    6. Severability. 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.

    7. Conflict with AAA Rules. This Agreement governs to the extent it conflicts with the AAA's Commercial Arbitration Rules or Consumer Arbitration Rules.