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The Risks of Entering Programming Contests

Posted by Soulskill on from the no-such-thing-as-a-free-lunch dept.

snydeq writes "Fatal Exception's Neil McAllister warns developers of the hidden risks of entering programming competitions, which are on the rise since NetFlix awarded $1 million to BellKor's Pragmatic Chaos in 2009. 'Web and software companies offer prizes for a variety of reasons. Chief among them is simply to raise awareness, interest, and participation in a given software platform or service,' McAllister writes. But the practice of offering and entering software prizes is not without concerns. Privacy implications, class-action lawsuits — many of the prizes leave participants vulnerable to prosecution. Worse is the possibility of handing hard work over to a company without reward. 'Contests like the Netflix Prize are sponsored by commercial entities that stand to profit from the innovations produced by the entrants. Those who participate invest valuable time toward winning the prize, but if they fail to meet the deadline (or to produce the leading results) their efforts could go completely unrewarded. Depending on the terms of the contest, however, the sponsor might still be able to make use of the runners-up's innovations — which, of course, would be a whole lot cheaper than hiring developers.'"

10 of 154 comments (clear)

  1. Pardonez-moi by MrEricSir · · Score: 5, Insightful

    But aren't these risks, for the most part, kind of obvious? It's sort of like saying your employer might exploit you for free labor from your unpaid internship. Duh!

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    1. Re:Pardonez-moi by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I for one was shocked to find out that if I entered a contest, there was a possibility I might not win. My mom always told me I would succeed at whatever I tried. Does this mean that I might not get $75 million dollars for the lottery ticket I bought this morning? I wish someone had told me that before I quit my job.

    2. Re:Pardonez-moi by biobogonics · · Score: 5, Insightful

      But aren't these risks, for the most part, kind of obvious? It's sort of like saying your employer might exploit you for free labor from your unpaid internship. Duh!

      How is this situation different from any other so called "talent" contest? Look at the dancers who did not win on "So You Think You Can Dance?". It's the same reason for the spread of "reality" TV. These shows are inexpensive to produce - just like game shows were.

    3. Re:Pardonez-moi by edmicman · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Yes, if the people entering the contests agree to the terms and conditions before-hand. If I say 'hey, do this work for me for free, and I won't offer you any compensation' and someone willingly does it, what the heck is the problem? Are we in Bizarro World today?

  2. Re:GPL by Lunix+Nutcase · · Score: 4, Insightful

    That will most likely disqualify you based on the terms of the competition which usually contains clauses about them being able to use your work or some sort of copyright transfer.

  3. what about pre / in interview code samples or prob by Joe+The+Dragon · · Score: 4, Insightful

    what about pre / in interview code samples or probation period coding?

    what stop them from firing you right at the end of the probation period and getting free work.

  4. Let's see some examples of... by John+Hasler · · Score: 5, Insightful

    "...prizes leave participants vulnerable to prosecution." I don't see any in the article.

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    Warning: this article may contain humor, sarcasm, parody, and perhaps even irony. Read at your own risk.
    1. Re:Let's see some examples of... by godefroi · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Of course, if your code pisses off the recording or music industry, then there's no functional difference...

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  5. Drama by Voulnet · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Let's not make a big corporate drama over everything. Every programmer that enters a contest knows (or should know) that his work may go unrewarded AND into the hands of the contest arrangement panel. If the programmer has enough free time to make something really great for a contest, then he's already a big name or capable of making lots of money and great projects, so somebody making use of his contest entry should be but a little blip on his radar; if his contest entry was that great then he surely can go big time.

  6. Re:what about pre / in interview code samples or p by berzerke · · Score: 3, Insightful

    A desperate for work idiot.