I won't rehash November's arguments, but I certainly hope that developers wouldn't be dumb enough to just hand ip over to Apple in exchange for a 40GB iPod. If you're a developer, write your widget. But don't just turn around and give it to Apple. That's stupid.

Please read the rules before you make such comments. They clearly state that the underlying intellectual property remains the property of the entrant and Apple can only use it for purposes of advertizing their contest and technology. So you can win the ipod and still own your widget and sell it to others for profit, while Apple cannot.

I won't rehash November arguments either, but I certainly hope posters wouldn't be dumb enough to just write posts of an emotional nature that criticise others without actually understanding the facts.

What were the results of the first contest?

They have to "represent and warrant that Apple's use, reproduction, display and distribution of the Entry will not infringe any existing copyright, violate the right of privacy or constitute the invasion or infringement of any other personal or property right of any third person, firm, corporation or other entity, or otherwise violate any laws."

Also "party software) become the property of Apple without monetary compensation to Ownership of the underlying intellectual property of the Widget remains the property of the entrant subject to Apple's rights to reprint, display, reproduce, perform, and exhibit the Widget solely for
the purpose of advertising and/or promoting this Contest and Apple technology on Apple's website, at Apple sponsored events or for any other similar lawful purpose."

So, while they may retain ip ownership, Apple retains the ability to do anything with that ip. It's all just pretty sounding words on paper with little to no protection for the developer. And that's not just for the winning entry. That's for every entry.

Oh, and being insulted by an anonymous user...wow, that hurts.

I won't pay money for any widget, unless it changes my life.

So unless somebody has a widget that allows me to read/modify access databases or something of the like, I don't foresee them getting my 39.95 shareware fee.

I just don't see a business model based on widget-creation being sound.

If Konfabulator wasn't so absolutely slow and crappy, it would be a fine piece of software.

If I had to pay by the widget, it would be exponentially more crappy. Can you imagine having to enter a registration code for every single widget on your dashboard, or a nag for each one of them each time you press f12? I squirm just thinking about it.

jfbiii, I see where you're coming from, but as the last Guest said I'd never pay for a widget. If it's free, great. If not I won't bother.

It's not that I don't appreciate the work of shareware developers, but if I paid $15 every time I found some specialized app that I'll use at most couple minutes out of the day, I'd be spending a loooot of money.

Personally, I think the iPod's $400 value is greater than what you'd get trying to sell a widget. You'd have to make a really really good widget if you expect to license it as anything other than freeware or open-source.

I am the guest author of the anonymous piece which followed the original post. I'm sorry if you thought my post was insulting, it wasn't intended as such and I think the tone is respectful - it begins with "please" and does not use inflamatory language. No offense was intended, I just disagree with the strongly worded opinion expressed in your post which I think misrepresents the legal realities.

I'm a lawyer (and I don't work for Apple) and disagree with your reading of the rules and your suggestion that a developer would be "stupid" to enter the contest and that the rules give Apple the right "to do anything" with the author's ip. As previously noted, the rules provide that the ip stays the property of the entrant. Apple gets to keep, free of charge, the physical copy of the widget that the entrant submits. Apple's use of the IP is limited to "reprint, display, reproduce, perform, and exhibit" the widget for advertizing and promotion of the contest and their technology. Any other purpose it is used for must be "lawful" and "similar" to such use. There is no mention of any right to "sell" or "distribute" the widget and I think Apple would have problems if they tried to do that without the owner's permission in light of the language of the rules. That's just my opinion, however, and I offer no warranties or guarantees, developers - use your own judgment:)

jfbili - you're just wrong. That is pretty standard language used by software companies who want to use your software in their marketing ("solely for the purpose of advertising or promoting...."). It does not give Apple the right to distribute or sell your product.

If you don't want to give it to Apple you can always upload your widget to other sites that allow the developer to retain all rights. One such site is http://www.widgettracker.com It just provides a place for developers to post their widgets for sharing with others.