Identify the Rules for Your Challenge

Challenge Planning—Step 5 of 9

As you look at examples on Challenge.gov and other platforms, you’ll notice each challenge has rules. This is one of the most important parts of planning your challenge.

What you need to include depends on the type of challenge you're doing, but here are some key elements:

• Who is eligible? For example, just U.S. citizens, or anyone around the world?
• How many entries can each person submit?
• Any word limits on text? Time limits on videos?
• Will the public be able to vote on the submissions?
• How many votes can each person cast?
• Intellectual property: 
  • Will the potential winner retain ownership of the solution? 
  • Will the government take ownership?
  • Will the winner retain ownership, but grant the government a license?

Be sure to seek advice from your agency’s general counsel as you draft your challenge rules. 

Next Step

The next step in challenge planning is to determine the resources you need to run your challenge.

Content Lead: Karen Trebon
Page Reviewed/Updated: July 17, 2012