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                                   PROSPECTUS

                              MICROSOFT CORPORATION
                              323,020 Common Shares
                         Par Value of $.00005 Per Share
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         This Prospectus relates to up to 323,020 shares of common stock (the
"Shares") of Microsoft Corporation, a Washington corporation ("Microsoft"),
which may be offered from time to time by the selling shareholders named herein
(the "Selling Shareholders"). Microsoft will not receive any of the proceeds
from the sale of the Shares. Microsoft will bear the costs relating to the
registration of the Shares estimated to be approximately $19,020.

         The Shares are registered as a result of the merger (the "Merger") of
Microsoft with eShop Inc., a California corporation ("eShop"). Pursuant to the
Merger, Microsoft agreed to register the Shares received by each Selling
Shareholder in connection with the Merger. In an agreement related to the
Merger, each Selling Shareholder entered into an investment agreement with
Microsoft (the "Investment Agreement"). The Investment Agreement limits the
amount of Shares the Selling Shareholder may sell until July 15, 1997.

         Microsoft has been advised by each Selling Shareholder that, subject to
the terms of the Investment Agreement, the Selling Shareholder expects to offer
his, her, or its Shares to or through brokers and dealers and underwriters to be
selected by the Selling Shareholder from time to time. In addition, the Shares
may be offered for sale through the Nasdaq Stock Market, in the over-the-counter
market, through a market maker, in one or more private transactions, or a
combination of such methods of sale, at prices and on terms then prevailing, at
prices related to such prices, or at negotiated prices. Each Selling Shareholder
may pledge all or a portion of the Shares owned by him or her as collateral in
loan transactions. Upon default by such a Selling Shareholder the pledgee in
such loan transaction would have the same rights of sale as the Selling
Shareholder under this Prospectus. The Selling Shareholder also may enter into
exchange traded listed option transactions which require the delivery of the
Shares listed hereunder. Subject to the terms of the Investment Agreement, each
Selling Shareholder may also transfer Shares owned by him, her, or it in other
ways not involving market makers or established trading markets, including
directly by gift, distribution, or other transfer without consideration, and
upon any such transfer the transferee would have the same rights of sale as such
Selling Shareholder under this Prospectus. In addition, any securities covered
by this prospectus which qualify for sale pursuant to Rule 144 of the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), may be sold under Rule 144 rather than
pursuant to this Prospectus. Finally, each Selling Shareholder and any brokers
and dealers through whom sales of the Shares are made may be deemed to be
"underwriters" within the meaning of the 1933 Act, and the commissions or
discounts and other compensation paid to such persons may be regarded as
underwriters' compensation.

         The Shares are traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market. The average of the
high and low prices of the Shares as reported on the Nasdaq Stock Market on July
11, 1996 was $116.0625 per Share.


  THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
     EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR HAS THE COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR
      ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A
                                CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

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                 The date of this Prospectus is August 14, 1996.

     All of the securities to be registered hereby are to be offered for the
                          account of security holders.
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                              AVAILABLE INFORMATION

         Microsoft is subject to the informational requirements of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and files reports and other information with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") in accordance therewith.
Such reports, proxy statements, and other information filed by Microsoft are
available for inspection and copying at the public reference facilities of the
Commission at Room 1024, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Judiciary Plaza, Washington,
D.C. 20549, and at the Commission's Regional Offices located at Room 1028, Jacob
K. Javits Federal Building, 26 Federal Plaza, New York, New York 10278 and Room
3190, Kluczynski Federal Building, 230 South Dearborn Street, Chicago, Illinois
60604. Copies of such material may be obtained by mail from the Public Reference
Section of the Commission at 450 Fifth St., N.W., Judiciary Plaza, Washington,
D.C. 20549, at prescribed rates. Microsoft's Shares are listed on the Nasdaq
Stock Market. In addition to the addresses listed above, reports, proxy
statements, and other information concerning Microsoft can be inspected at the
offices of the Nasdaq Stock Market. 

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                INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE

         The following documents filed by Microsoft with the Commission are
incorporated by reference in this Prospectus:

         1.   Microsoft's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30,
1995.

         2.   Microsoft's Proxy Statement dated September 25, 1995.

         3.   Microsoft's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
September 30, 1995.

         4.   Microsoft's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
December 31, 1995.

         5.   Microsoft's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
March 31, 1996.

         6.   The description of the Common Stock of Microsoft which is 
contained in the registration statement of Microsoft filed on Form S-4, dated
February 17, 1995.

         All documents filed by Microsoft pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14,
or 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date of this Prospectus and prior
to the termination of the offering of the Shares offered hereby shall be deemed
to be incorporated by reference into this Prospectus and to be a part hereof.

         Microsoft hereby undertakes to provide without charge to each person to
whom this Prospectus has been delivered, upon the written or oral request of any
such person, a copy of any and all of the foregoing documents incorporated
herein by reference (other than exhibits to such documents which are not
specifically incorporated by reference into the information that this Prospectus
incorporates). Written or telephone requests should be directed to Investor
Relations Department, Microsoft Corporation, One Microsoft Way, Redmond,
Washington 98052-6399, telephone number (206) 882-8080.

         No dealer, salesman, or any other person has been authorized to give
any information or to make any representation not contained in this Prospectus,
and, if given or made, such information and representation must not be relied
upon as having been authorized by Microsoft. This Prospectus does not constitute
an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities
offered hereby in any state to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such
offer in such state. Neither the delivery of this Prospectus nor any sales made
hereunder shall, under any circumstances, create any implication that there has
been no change in the affairs of Microsoft since the date hereof.

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         This Prospectus constitutes a part of a Registration Statement which
Microsoft has filed with the Commission under the 1933 Act, with respect to the
Shares. This Prospectus omits certain of the information contained in the
Registration Statement, and reference is hereby made to the Registration
Statement and related Exhibits thereto for further information with respect to
Microsoft and the securities offered hereby. Such additional information can be
obtained from the Commission's office in Washington, D.C. Any statements
contained herein concerning the provisions of any documents are not necessarily
complete, and, in each instance, reference is made to the copy of such document
filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement or otherwise filed with the
Commission. Each such statement is qualified in its entirety by such reference.

                                   THE COMPANY

         Microsoft Corporation, a Washington corporation, has its principal
executive offices at One Microsoft Way, Redmond, Washington 98052-6399,
telephone number (206) 882-8080. Microsoft was founded as a partnership in 1975
and was incorporated in 1981. Microsoft develops, manufactures, licenses, sells,
and supports a wide range of software products, including operating system
platforms for personal computers (PCs), workstations, and servers; business and
consumer applications for productivity, reference, education, and entertainment;
and development tools. Microsoft also offers an online service, sells personal
computer books and input devices, and is engaged in the research and potential
development of advanced technology software products. Microsoft's products are
available for 16-bit and 32-bit microcomputers, including AST Research, Acer,
Apple, Digital Equipment Corporation, Dell, Compaq, Gateway 2000,
Hewlett-Packard, International Business Machines (IBM), NEC, Olivetti, Packard
Bell, and Toshiba. Microsoft develops most of its software products internally
using proprietary development tools and methodology. Microsoft markets and
distributes its products domestically and internationally through the original
equipment manufacturer ("OEM") channel and through the finished goods channels
primarily by means of independent distributors and resellers.

                              SELLING SHAREHOLDERS

         All of the Shares described in this Prospectus will be owned
immediately after registration by the individuals listed below. All of the
shares offered below were acquired in connection with the Merger. Certain of the
Selling Shareholders, indicated below with an asterisk (*), have recently become
employees of Microsoft, but otherwise, the Selling Shareholders have no material
relationship with Microsoft.

Microsoft Shares Name of Owned Prior to Received from Shares Selling Shareholders (1) Offering Microsoft Owned (2) - ----------------------------------------- -------------------- --------------- ----------- Kursh, Elroy D 0 3,769 3,769 Kursh, Deanna C 0 3,230 3,230 Merrill, Pickard, Anderson 0 29,866 29,866 MPAE V Affiliates Fund LP 0 1,248 1,248 Technology Venture Investors-IV, L.P. (3) 0 56,225 56,225 Oak Investment Partners V, L.P. 0 39,569 39,569 Nippon Enterprise Dev. 0 9,864 9,864 Oak V Affiliates Fund, L.P. 0 890 890 General Electric Capital Corporation 0 69,013 69,013 Leasing Technologies International, Inc. 0 273 273 AT&T 0 16,430 16,430 Axelrod, Josh* 0 1,017 1,017 Blinn, Arnold* 0 14,742 14,742 Buechler, Kurt* 0 1,915 1,915 Cohen, Michael* 0 1,174 1,174 Craig, Brian* 0 989 989 Hodges, Avril 0 830 830
3 4 Kursch, Matt 0 23,005 23,005 Levinger, Deborah* 0 511 511 Lorton, Michael* 0 574 574 MacInnis, Andrew 0 1,127 1,127 Poole, Will* 0 15,106 15,106 Samaniego, Charlene* 0 128 128 Stein, Greg* 0 12,763 12,763 Weinstein, Jonathan* 0 1,255 1,255 Solomon, Michael 0 1,277 1,277 Flaa, Jennifer 0 172 172 Gonzales, Michael 0 241 241 Katz, Steven 0 426 426 Kursh, Franci 0 396 396 Nugent, Mason 0 61 61 Omidyar, Pierre 0 10,335 10,335 Peterson, Steve 0 3,112 3,112 Podell, Jack 0 176 176 Purnaveja, Audi 0 749 749 Stephen, Craig 0 562 562 Total 0 323,020 323,020
(1) None of the Selling Shareholders held any office with Microsoft during the last three years. (2) All amounts are less than 1% of the issued and outstanding shares of common stock of Microsoft. (3) David F. Marquardt is a general partner of TVI Management-4, L.P., which is the general partner of Technology Venture Investors-4, L.P. Mr. Marquardt is a member of Microsoft's Board of Directors. In addition, a number of the limited partners of TVI Management-4, L.P. have relationships with Microsoft. These include William H. Gates III, Jon A. Shirley, and Paul Allen, all members of Microsoft's Board of Directors, and Steven A. Ballmer, who is the Executive Vice President, Sales and Support of Microsoft. -------------------------------- LEGAL MATTERS The validity of the Shares offered hereby will be passed upon for Microsoft by Preston Gates & Ellis, 5000 Columbia Center, 701 Fifth Avenue, Seattle, Washington 98104. Attorneys who are partners or employed by Preston Gates & Ellis who have provided advice with respect to the Merger in the aggregate own less than 50,000 Shares. EXPERTS The consolidated financial statements of Microsoft as of June 30, 1995, and 1994 and for each of the three years in the period ended June 30, 1995, incorporated by reference in this Prospectus from Microsoft's Annual Report on Form 10-K, have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent public accountants, as stated in their report which is incorporated herein by reference, and have been so incorporated in reliance upon such report given upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing. DISCLOSURE OF COMMISSION POSITION ON INDEMNIFICATION FOR SECURITIES ACT LIABILITIES Article XII of Microsoft's Restated Articles of Incorporation authorizes Microsoft to indemnify any present or former director, officer, employee, or agent of Microsoft, or a person serving in a similar post in another organization at the request of Microsoft, against expenses, judgments, fines, and amounts paid in settlement incurred by him in connection with any threatened, pending, or completed action, suit, or proceeding, whether 4 5 civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative, to the fullest extent not prohibited by the Washington Business Corporation Act, public policy or other applicable law. Chapter 23B.08.510 and .570 of the Washington Business Corporation Act authorizes a corporation to indemnify its directors, officers, employees, or agents in terms sufficiently broad to permit such indemnification under certain circumstances for liabilities (including provisions permitting advances for expenses incurred) arising under the 1933 Act. Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the 1933 Act may be permitted to directors, officers, or persons controlling the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, the Registrant has been informed that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the 1933 Act and is therefore unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the 1933 Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue. 5