I always find it a bit disingenuous when I see this kind of competition. I quickly went through the official rules [1] and they're unclear about the true motivations behind this offer. Sure, you get $10k if you develop a great spell checking algorithm, and Microsoft claims no ownership over your implementation. But then there's two clauses that I feel weird about:
* "are granting us an irrevocable, royalty-free, worldwide right and license to: (i) use, review, assess, test and
otherwise analyze your entry and all its content in connection with this Contest; and (ii) feature your entry
and all content in connection with the marketing, sale, or promotion of this Contest (including but not limited to internal and external sales meetings, conference presentations, tradeshows, and screen shots of
the Contest entry in press releases) in all media (now known or later developed)"
* "understand and acknowledge that the Promotion Parties may have developed or commissioned materials
similar or identical to your submission and you waive any claims you may have resulting from any similarities
to your entry"
I'll admit that this kind of contest pokes my CS brain and that other people will be at least curious enough about it to participate. But then you're getting $10k whereas Microsoft would be getting a bunch more out of your work. Am I wrong? Possibly. But my eyebrow moved when I read these pages.
Comments
I always find it a bit disingenuous when I see this kind of competition. I quickly went through the official rules [1] and they're unclear about the true motivations behind this offer. Sure, you get $10k if you develop a great spell checking algorithm, and Microsoft claims no ownership over your implementation. But then there's two clauses that I feel weird about:
* "are granting us an irrevocable, royalty-free, worldwide right and license to: (i) use, review, assess, test and otherwise analyze your entry and all its content in connection with this Contest; and (ii) feature your entry and all content in connection with the marketing, sale, or promotion of this Contest (including but not limited to internal and external sales meetings, conference presentations, tradeshows, and screen shots of the Contest entry in press releases) in all media (now known or later developed)"
* "understand and acknowledge that the Promotion Parties may have developed or commissioned materials similar or identical to your submission and you waive any claims you may have resulting from any similarities to your entry"
I'll admit that this kind of contest pokes my CS brain and that other people will be at least curious enough about it to participate. But then you're getting $10k whereas Microsoft would be getting a bunch more out of your work. Am I wrong? Possibly. But my eyebrow moved when I read these pages.
[1] http://web-ngram.research.microsoft.com/spellerchallenge/Doc...