A few days ago we wrote about Texas Instruments’ crazy contest rules. Participants have to hand over everything to enter, including ‘enjoyment’ of the project. TI noticed and updated the rules. From the comments:
Thanks for bringing this to our notice. The terms and conditions in question have been corrected. The contest in question does not, in any way, intend to own the rights of the participants. All rights of the project ideas reside with the participants. We appreciate your feedback.
Yeah! Good TI!
Thanks to Bertho for checking the fine print.
Great!! Now is the time to dive in with some ideas.
Some of our work on TI Chips
Good to see the dangerous prototypes has a little clout. Move over eevblog. :)
haha.Well said!
Yes! I thought that was weird, coming from TI, this is more like it.
Too bad they didn’t change this for last year’s senior design competition, otherwise I would have participated.
Hello,
I just review the T&C again and found this in the second clause:
By making a submission as part of the TIIMDC, you expressly agree to irrevocably, perpetually and exclusively grant and assign in favour of Texas Instruments (India) Private Limited (TI), without any geographical restriction and on a royalty free basis, all rights, title and interest, including but not limited to patents, designs, mask-works, copyright and rights of reproduction, re-use and moral rights, in respect of the materials, designs and/or ideas submitted by you to TI. Upon submission to TI, you shall cease to enjoy or retain any right, title or interest over the material, design or idea in question. You agree to duly sign and execute all documents as may be needed by TI to give effect to the above grant/assignment. The fact that such materials, designs and/or ideas could potentially make you eligible for awards offered by TI to a winning participant of the TIIMDC forms sufficient consideration for the above grant and assignment, irrespective of whether or not you are finally selected as the winner of the TIIMDC or provided any award or recognition by TI.
This means that the person submitting the entry gives right to TI for all the work, on pretext that TIIMDC would be provide the prize.
This is a serious flaw that is sure to be exploited.
Be Careful!
Warm Regards,
Boseji
Hi Boseji they changed their T and C found here
http://www.timcucontest.com/t_c.html
now it no longer has the annoying paragraph, and instead it has these two
2nd paragraph
Participants will own their project ideas.IP will reside with the participants. TI India will use any material submitted by the participants only after the express approval of the participants. TI India will help in promoting any project ideas only after the approval of the participant.
and then again on the 8th paragraph
IP will reside with the participants. TI reserves the right to use the collateral submitted for publicity unless otherwise specified by the participant.