Hello,

Hypothetical question: If a contestant makes first place position and/or wins milestone prizes, is it legally binding that they must win the final prize if they remain in first place at the end of the competition?

Thank you,

Bobby

Hi Bobby,

Can you clarify what you mean by this? Are you asking if they are obliged to share their model if they finish in first place?

Anthony

Hi Anthony,

Yes, for the most part. It might sound strange, but assume the entrant is working with their own software and future direction/legalities are unclear at the present time. My concern is, in the event that you should somehow come into first place rank, are you legally obliged to take the grand prize (and everything that comes with it)?

Thanks for your reply,

Bobby

To paraphrase the rules, to collect the Grand Prize, the leader must:

 (1) give Kaggle/Heritage a copy of the algorithm purportedly used to create the winning best solution,

(2) within the prescribed time-frame (?21 days), and

(3) Kaggle must then be able to replicate the winning results using the leader's submitted algorithm without too much fiddling around.

Plenty of opportunities there to be disqualified and have Kaggle turn to the second leader, if the leader really does not want to take the prize for whatever reason.

So yes, someone can opt out of The THREE MILLION DOLLARS U.S. Grand Prize if he/she/they really want/s to.

Along the way in this conversation, just in passing did we ever mention THREE MILLION DOLLARS ? Three million dollars.

I'd like a show of hand of all the contestants who think they have a legit shot of being The Brainiac of Brainiacs in this contest, AND expect to be unable to accept the Grand Prize. Hands up, please, contestants!

That's what I thought. Cough cough *three million dollars* cough cough.

MODEL ON !!!

I have checked with HPN and a milestone prize winner can choose not to disclose their method but will not be eligible for the milestone prizes.

In which case, the Alternative Miss America Universe would be given a chance at the tiara, correct ?

:). Correct