<p>[Google</a> Global Science Fair 2011](<a href=“http://www.google.com/events/sciencefair/index.html]Google”>http://www.google.com/events/sciencefair/index.html)</p>
<p>Anyone with a kid who might be interested should absolutely take a look.</p>
<p>I would be very careful and read the fine print. What if the project contains a valuable invention? By disclosing something to the public, you might be waiving your patent rights to this invention. Here is the fine print:</p>
<p>[11.Ownership</a> of Entry/Grant of Rights](<a href=“Google for Education - Online Resources for Teachers & Students”>Google for Education - Online Resources for Teachers & Students)</p>
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<p>Enter at your own risk. I’m not a lawyer, so take my words with a grain of salt, but if your kid discovered a new way of harnessing solar energy that could potentially be worth millions of $$$, s/he should consult a lawyer specializing in intellectual property prior to disclosing anything related to that invention to the public.</p>
<p>pretty sneaky of Google.</p>
<p>I thought the Google Science Fair was canceled? That’s just word on the street.</p>
<p>And what are the odds some kid is going to discover the next great invention? Probably not too good. Participating, however, would be an excellent way to learn something.</p>
<p>*And what are the odds some kid is going to discover the next great invention? *</p>
<p>true. on the other hand…</p>
<p>[‘Biology</a> Letters’ Science Journal Publishes Study By 8-Year-Old Children On Bumblebee Color And Pattern Vision](<a href=“HuffPost - Breaking News, U.S. and World News | HuffPost”>HuffPost - Breaking News, U.S. and World News | HuffPost)</p>
<p>Google is well known for its commitment to Open Source, both in word and deed, and I think the intent of the above verbiage is is to reflect that philosophy. Many for-profit companies use technology developed under Open Source license, hence the “commercial” stipulation, IMO. Ninety-nine percent of Google’s profit comes from advertising, so it’s unlikely they are counting on high-school researchers as a revenue source. :)</p>
<p>That is not the point. It is not about Google profiting from someone’s invention. There are specific rules whether one can or can not be entitled to patent protection of his/her invention if there has been a public disclosure. Just some food for thought for future inventors… :)</p>
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<p>More like an unnecessary distraction. Our country has a significant deficit when it comes to science teaching and learning when compared to other countries. Our children should take every opportunity to enjoy science rather than worrying about some wording that will never apply to them.</p>
<p>razorsharp, I share your view of the state of science education in our beloved country - it is deteriorating rapidly. However, it was not my point. It was not the silly wordings of the Google disclaimer. Google is not after other people’s inventions (at least it does not say so :)), and fortunately, in this country, they cannot steal someon’e invention. I was bringing up the point of public disclosure, which could be detrimental to someon’e rights to their own invention. In its wishy-washy disclaimer, Google says that it will make the projects publicly available. That was my point! When someone publicly discloses their invention, the clock starts ticking (at least in the US) - according to the patent laws, an inventor has 1 year and not a day longer since the moment of disclosure to the public (and yes, web publications count!) to claim his or her rights to the invention. If that window closes, anyone can practice the invention, but no one can patent it. Stuff like this happens - a scientist who made an incredible invention and published it cannot not make a penny off of it, yet a big corporation that had the $$ to start mass production of the invention rips the profits.
This probably does not apply to 99.9999% of contestants. But as we know, young people are capable of creating incredible things… Ok, I’m singning off of my soapbox. 
At least we are bumping this thread up. :)</p>