[2006.08.31] Muji award!!!

[Johnnyhoong]

Muji is launching an international design competition. A project calling for entries from all over the world of designs that shake up and stir people. The results will be announced at the Milan Salone. Our first theme is “SUMI”, We're asking you to focus your design, not on the major pieces that are central to a room, rather to observe the extremes of the space, the unexplored areas of consciousness. We invite anyone in the world to propose a new Muji product!

http://www.muji.net/award/index.html

Entry period From 15th May 2006
Entries must arrive by 31st August 2006

Prize money Gold prize winner (1 award) 20,000 US dollars
Silver prize winners (3 awards) 3,000 US dollars
Bronze prize winners (6 awards) 1,000 US dollars
* Each prize is awarded to 1 work and 1 person. Some entries will be deemed “not applicable” for each prize.

* Prize money is not inclusive of any withholding tax, which will be subtracted from the prize money.

[takesh h]

MUJI is known for their "anonymous non-design".
It may be interesting to follow the result of this Design competition.

"All intellectual property pertaining to the prize winning articles is surrendered to Ryohin Keikaku on acceptance of the prize."
Is this the usual way competiton entries are handled?

[msr]

"For entered works that have been awarded prizes, all rights concerning patents, design, utility models, trade marks in Japan and all other countries shall belong to Ryohin Keikaku Co., Ltd. The prize money shall be regarded as fair compensation for entrants."

I agree with takesh h's reservations. This seems, to me, to be an intellectual property grab at the expense of the contest participants. The contest winner could potentially have an idea that has a world-wide worth of millions of dollars for which Ryohin Keikaku Co. Ltd. pays anywhere from $1,000 to $20,000, less withholding taxes.

I don't regard that as "fair compensation" at all.

[franjayo]

I have seen this practice in other manufacturing companies. They are not willing to pay for a real designer and a real price for design.

As far as I have seen they do not atract worthy designs. It is basically a trick to attract young designers without money or recognition and buy their ideas cheaply. I think it will most probably end up a bad business for both the company and the designers.