Climb the ranks, and become eligible for Profit Sharing

We recognize with points each Researchers' valuable contribution to Article One. Each point gets you closer to the next rank of Researcher, and increases your eligibility 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 either Accepted to the Study or Declined. Once a reference is accepted, it may also be marked as either Background or one of the In-Scope levels listed below. In-Scope references are within the technology of the study, while Background references provide basic information about the technology area. Winning references will be identified from among the top references. When a Study closes, In-scope references will be rewarded the following points:

Activity	Points
Primary Prior Art You submitted Prior Art that is primarily and substantially relied upon for a technical mapping that can support a path to patent invalidity or state of the art.	200
Secondary Prior Art You submitted Prior Art that provides secondary reliance for a technical mapping that can support a path to patent invalidity or state of the art.	100
Honorable Mention You submitted Prior Art not classified as Primary or Secondary, but is closely related to the technology of the subject patent and hence deserves recognition.	50

Activity

Points

Primary Prior Art

You submitted Prior Art that is primarily and substantially relied upon for a technical mapping that can support a path to patent invalidity or state of the art.

200

Secondary Prior Art

You submitted Prior Art that provides secondary reliance for a technical mapping that can support a path to patent invalidity or state of the art.

100

Honorable Mention

You submitted Prior Art not classified as Primary or Secondary, but is closely related to the technology of the subject patent and hence deserves recognition.

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.

Characteristics	Points
Non-Patent Literature	25
Non-US Patent Literature	50
English Translation	75

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 50 points. If that friend wins an AOP Study, you will also receive 250 bonus points and a $100 reward.

Participation	Activity	Points	Activity	Points
Studies per Month	3/Month	300	6/Month	600
Consecutive Months Submitted	6+ Months	300	12 Months	750
Referrals	Each Referral	25	Winner	250 + $100

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.

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