OT: M$ Encarta "rebate"

I buy what appears to be a genuine Microsoft Ebcarta 2007 Premium.
But by the coded sticker on the box top, there is this little speil "..if the label..appears to have been tampered with, please e-mail Microsoft at piracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx"
Well it looks like there was some abrasion of the label on the right, enough to show the silvery strip.
So i scan it and send that with the history to the indicated e-mail address, and a query if that would affect the rebate.
That was on Oct 17th.
*ZERO* response.
So i go on their website looking for the rebate, and nevermind it says "Expired 9/15/07" - the website refuses to recognize it!

What kind of BS is going on?
1) does the rebate exist or is it another M$ scam?
2) do they give a s**t about funny labels?
.

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