Rules, Regulations, and Judging Procedure

The Cryptogram Challenge: qPCR will run from October 15 until it is solved.
A new clue will be provided every Monday.
All reports of inaccurate clues under the Cryptospotter Challenge must be submitted via email to challenge@genengnews.com.
You can submit a report under the Cryptospotter Challenge for as many clues as you like, up to once per clue.
Reports under the Cryptospotter Challenge must detail why the clue is inaccurate.
The first three contestants to correctly identify the problem with each clue will receive the correct clue ahead of the others.
The correct clue will be posted to the Cryptogram Challenge website once we have three Cryptospotters or the following Monday, whichever comes first.
Evaluation of submissions will occur on a rolling basis.
Dr. Peter Johnson, creator of the Cryptogram Challenge: qPCR, will be the judge of the qPCR Cryptogram Challenge and the Cryptospotter Challenge.
A sealed solution for the qPCR Cryptogram Challenge will be held in escrow.
All solutions for the qPCR Cryptogram Challenge must entered in a text box and submitted electronically via the Challenge website.
You can submit a solution for the qPCR Cryptogram Challenge as many times as you like up to once a day.
Entries for the qPCR Cryptogram Challenge will be compared to the original answer key. GEN, Scintellix, LLC, and Bio-Rad employees and their families will be ineligible to win.
The first correct solution to the qPCR Cryptogram Challenge will be named the winner.
The winner of the qPCR Cryptogram Challenge will receive $1,500.
He/she will also be given the opportunity to choose one of five benchtop devices from Bio-Rad.
The winner will also be featured in GEN, so he/she needs to agree to be interviewed, photographed, and have his/her name and affiliation published.
The first 150 registrants will receive a T-shirt depicting the Cryptogram image.

Terms of the Contest

General Conditions: All federal, state, and local laws and regulations apply. Those who enter the contest agree to abide by the terms of these official rules and by the decisions of Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News (GEN) and Scintellix, LLC, which are final and binding on all matters pertaining to the Cryptogram Challenge: qPCR (contest).
qPCR Cryptogram Challenge Prize: The winner will be awarded $1,500. The winner is solely responsible for the reporting and payment of any tax liabilities incurred. For purposes of compliance with tax regulations, the winner must provide his or her social security number or taxpayer ID to claim the prize. Only the winner will need to provide this information. Additionally, he/she will also be given the opportunity to choose from one of five benchtop devices from Bio-Rad.
qPCR Cryptospotter Challenge Winner Notification: The winner will be notified via email and will be required to respond to that email.
qPCR Cryptogram Challenge Winner Notification: The winner will be notified via email and will be required to respond to that email.
Release: By entering the Cryptogram Challenge: qPCR, each entrant releases and holds harmless GEN, Scintellix, and Bio-Rad agents as well as their respective affiliates, subsidiaries, divisions, and advertising and promotion agencies from: (i) any incorrect or inaccurate information caused by any technical or human error that may occur in the operation of the contest; (ii) any problems or technical malfunctions (errors, omissions, interruptions, deletions, defects, delays in operation or transmission, etc.) of any computer, online system, server, or provider; (iii) any failure of email on account of internet traffic congestion (proof of transmission does not constitute proof of delivery); or (iv) any stolen, misdirected, incomplete, lost, late, or ineligible entries.
Termination: If, at any time, GEN or Scintellix is unable to operate the contest as planned (due to financial or administrative difficulties, fraud, or technical failures such as a computer virus/bug, or any other form of unauthorized intervention that corrupts the administration, security, fairness, integrity, or proper conduct of this contest), GEN and Scintellix reserve the right, at their sole discretion, to suspend, modify, or terminate the contest.
Intellectual Property: The contest and all related pages and code are copyrighted by GEN and Peter C. Johnson, M.D. The copyright for "qPCR" (the image used in the contest) belongs to Peter C. Johnson, M.D. Copying or unauthorized use of any copyrighted materials, trademarks, or any other intellectual property without the express written consent of the owner is strictly prohibited.