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PayPal Denies Teen Reward For Finding Bug
itwbennett writes "You have to be 18 to qualify for PayPal's bug bounty program, a minor detail that 17-year old Robert Kugler found out the hard way after being denied a reward for a website bug he reported. Curiously, the age guideline isn't in the terms and conditions posted on the PayPal website. Kugler was informed by email that he was disqualified because of his age."
At least provide the link.
Actually, no, you can indeed enter into a contract with a minor. If you couldn't, I'd have my kid click through all those license agreements nobody reads.
The minor can be held to a contract that they signed if the parent knew of the contract and demonstrated acceptance, generally by not protesting it. At least that is (generally) the law in the US.
No, but generally speaking you cannot enter a contract with a minor, which is probably the legal issue. Age of majority is variable, but in California that is 18 ys old.
They should find a way around it, but they can't just give it to him.
I am not a lawyer, but my understanding is that simply paying someone a reward is not entering into a contract.
If Paypal requires that the person who finds the bug enters into a non-disclosure and/or marketing agreement (i.e. to be able to publish their name as the bug finder) prior to receiving the reward then I would agree that this may be the issue. However, there are tons of child actors in Hollywood, so their must be a way that a minor can enter into an agreement. I'm guessing that it would require the legal guardian(s) signature.