Climb the ranks, and become eligible for Profit Sharing

Patent Study Responses

In addition to Study Rewards, Researchers can track their progress and earn rewards through points, levels, and profit-sharing.  Points identify both the quality and consistency of a Researcher’s contributions to Article One Studies.  

Submission Points

References will be marked as Submitted until they are reviewed and either Accepted to the Study or Declined.  Once a reference is accepted, it will receive a Rank of 1-5 (5 being highest).  This rank signifies how closely your reference describes the technology in the Study.  Higher ranked references receive more points and have a better chance of winning the Study.  References ranked 3-5 are considered "In-Scope" since they are the most closely related to the Study.  Visit the FAQ page for more information about the Status of your Submissions.

Reference Characteristics

Certain types of references can be both more valuable and more challenging to find.  Therefore, Researchers are also rewarded additional points based on the type of reference they submit.  These points are only rewarded for in-scope references.

Participation

In addition to individual submissions, Researchers can earn points for their consistency and support of the Community.  The extra participation points are only rewarded for months in which a Researcher submits an in-scope reference. 

If you refer a friend to Article One, you will receive 25 points.  The first time that your friend wins an AOP Study, you will also receive 200 bonus points and a $200 reward.

Researcher Levels

Researchers will earn points toward their level on a rolling 12-month basis.  A Researcher can move to a higher level at any time, and once a Researcher achieves a level, he cannot move down for 12 months.  As a result, once a Researcher achieves a level, he is guaranteed to be paid at that level for at least one profit-sharing cycle.  Levels are reviewed 12 months after being attained, and will be reset based on the number of points earned over the past 12 months.

Each Researcher who joined before 2012 will be assigned to the level that is equivalent to his existing title.  That level will be retained through December 31, 2012, when 2012 profit-sharing will be determined.  The level will then be reviewed and reset beginning January 1, 2013.  Continue to the Profit-Sharing page to learn more about Researcher levels and Profit-Sharing.

Now browse our Patent Studies and choose one to respond to. We’re keeping our fingers crossed for you.