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Fishing for Ideas

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the ask-slashdot dept.

FyreWyr writes "Whether Microsoft is searching for new ideas, or supporting inventors outright is up for grabs, but they're stabbing at it with $300,000 for 12 spanking ideas (that's $25k each). But as with everything Microsoft, the devil's in the details, or rather, the fine print. At first, you'd swear it was "Brought to you by VISA" - the logo is ubiquitous - but the very last statement in the contest rules reads: "The sponsor...is Microsoft ... VISA...have not sponsored or offered this contest in any way". They also retain a spectrum of rights, and responsibily suggest that you go out and patent really good ideas first. Okay, how much does that cost again? (see end of this article)."

4 of 234 comments (clear)

  1. Anybody look at the site? by diggem · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Most of the people are going looking to win the money to do something with it. Mostly it falls into two categories.

    1. Help myself
    2. Help others

    Not sure how MS is going to make more money by building libraries in Ghana. :P Unless they put Windows computers in the library and bring the kiddies and people up using their software of course!

  2. Not a technical competition by woodja · · Score: 5, Insightful

    From what I can tell from the entries so far the competition isn't for technical ideas. It is mostly social ideas, like starting a school program or helping out in a third world country. I would not expect to see their target audience submit an idea for developing a new video compression technique.

    I personally would not bash Microsoft or Visa for this one. The aim is promote MSN and Visa, not a way to get ideas for free. Besides, I highly doubt Microsoft would be able to patent a method for paying off Grandma's medical bills.

  3. Not completely unusual by Flamesplash · · Score: 4, Insightful

    This happens in other arenas, in particular book rights and movies.

    Richard Bach spent a lot of time and money buying the rights of his first couple books back from his publisher, but as I understand it he wouldn't have been able to publish those books without having given the rights away in the first place. Not that he did profit from the books even though he didn't own them.

    I want to say the same happens in the movie industry, but I'm not sure.

    The only real difference is that people will always want to know who wrote a book or movie, and don't really care about the individual behind research.

    --
    "Not knowing when the dawn will come, I open every door." - Emily Dickinson
  4. There's an age restriction! by Espressoman · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I'm 32, which is too old to have an idea. Apparently ideas come from 18-29 year olds...