Junior Inventor 2010 Competition Rules
The Junior Inventor 2010 competition is being organised to mark the Patents Office contribution to World Intellectual Property Day, which is held annually on 26th April. This competition is aimed at primary school children and the idea is to try and encourage the children to be innovative, thus sowing the seeds of interest in science and engineering at an early age. We would like to hear about new ideas and inventions from primary school children who are Ireland’s future inventors.
Enter any idea or invention for a new product or procedure, an improvement on an existing product, or any idea that solves a problem or makes life better or easier. This can be simply an idea that can be described and drawn or illustrated.
General Rules
1. Students are required to provide a drawing or illustration of their invention and a written description of the invention.
2. Entries will be judged on the criteria of creativity, originality and practicality of the invention, the clarity of the drawing or illustration, and quality of written description.
3. All works entered for the competition must be original and be the sole work of the entrant(s).
4. All entries are sent at the entrant’s risk and the Patents Office is not responsible for any loss or damage to entries.
5. The Patents Office is unable to return entries.
6. By entering the competition, entrants have assigned copyright in their entry to the Patents Office. The Patents Office reserves the right to reproduce in any format, without payment, any entries. The entrant(s) will be acknowledged if the work is reproduced.
7. Children and relatives of staff of the Patents Office are not eligible to enter the competition.
8. A judging panel established by the Patents Office will judge entries.
9. The judges’ decision is final.
10. Any entry not received by the required deadline of 5.30pm on the 26th March 2010 or not on the paper size specified below, shall be deemed ineligible.
11. Full name, class year and details of school (including address, phone number) must accompany each entry.
12. Primary School Students, from 1st to 6th Class, resident in any part of Ireland, are eligible to enter.
Rules about entrants and entries
1. Entries will be accepted from individual students or groups of students from classes in the following class categories.
- First Class to Third Class.
- Fourth Class to Sixth Class.
2. A student or group of students may submit only one entry.
3. Prizes will be awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in each class category and the 1st place winners will also receive a prize for their schools.
4. Drawings or illustrations must be done on A4 size paper [Letter Size (8½” x 11”) and can be done using crayons, coloured pencils, watercolours, etc. The style is free.
5. Drawings or illustrations must not be framed.
6. Drawings or illustrations that have been shown or accepted in other competitions will not be accepted.
7. Drawings or illustrations that include any brand names shall be deemed ineligible.
8. A written description of the invention should accompany the drawing or illustration and should be no longer than 200 words. The description must be submitted on a separate A4 page.
9. Drawings or paintings and descriptions should only be done on one side of the A4 paper so that they are suitable for display – (don’t write on both sides of the paper).
The Patents Office will not regard an entry in this competition as constituting a patent application.
Those entrants wishing to obtain a patent for their invention should make a separate application for the grant of a patent prior to 26th April, 2010. Details on how to apply for a patent can be found on www.patentsoffice.ie. Where an entrant has filed a patent application in respect of the invention entered in the competition, this should be disclosed with the entry.