General Questions
Why is HarperCollins running the BookSmash Challenge?
What is the OpenBook API?
What are the key competition dates?
How do I enter?
How do I follow the challenge and get updates?
Who can I contact if I have questions about the BookSmash Challenge?
Who can I contact if I have questions about the BookSmash Challenge?
Eligibility & IP
Who is eligible to enter the competition?
We are an organization. Can we enter?
Do the submitted apps have to be newly created for this competition, or can they be preexisting applications?
Can more than one person work on an application and receive credit for it? And if the application wins a prize, how will the prize money be split among the creators?
Can my application win more than one prize?
Can I enter more than one application?
Do I retain intellectual property ownership?
What will HarperCollins and ChallengePost do with my submission?
Submission Requirements
What do I need to use to build my application? Where can I find it?
Why can’t I distribute my application to the public?
Can I include other APIs or datasets in my app?
Why do I have to upload a video?
Does my application need to be submitted to an online store?
Judging Process
How can I provide ChallengePost with access to test my application?
What are the criteria for judging the submissions?
Public Voting
How does public voting work?
Do I need a ChallengePost account to vote?
How do I vote?
Do tweets and Facebook likes count as votes?
Can I create more than one account to vote?
Can I pay people to vote for me?
Are votes checked for eligibility before the Popular Choice Prize winner is determined?
What do I do if I think someone is cheating to get more votes?
Why is HarperCollins running the BookSmash Challenge?
HarperCollins is committed to making developer engagement a priority in their day-to-day work. Through the BookSmash Challenge, HarperCollins hopes to begin a conversation with developers around the data they want and need to create great apps that will revolutionize how we consume, find, and engage with books.
What is the OpenBook API?
The OpenBook API was created by HarperCollins to give everyone access to the information and tools they need to build their own book and author related apps and mashups.
OpenBook data puts you in control by giving you access to HarperCollins’ book catalog with detailed book, author, tour information, and more – so you can create the apps you want to use and influence the future of reading.
What are the key competition dates?
The submission deadline is September 5, 2013, at 5 p.m. EST. Judging and public voting will begin on September 17, 2013 at 10 a.m. EST, and will end September 27, 2013 at 5 p.m. EST. Winners will be announced on or around October 10, 2013.
How do I enter?
- Click “Register” to sign up.
- Visit the HarperCollins OpenBook API Developer pages to apply for an API key. Be sure to check the “BookSmash Challenge Participant” box to indicate that you are a BookSmash participant.
- Visit the Resources page for app ideas and links to OpenBook documentation.
- Create a working proof-of-concept app* that uses the OpenBook API, or update an existing app to include the OpenBook API! **
- Create a demonstration video (YouTube or Vimeo) that walks through the main functionality of the app via screencast or video.
- Provide a way for us to access your app by including an installation file with your submission, sharing a test build via TestFlight, or by providing a password-protected link where your web app can be accessed for testing and judging.
- Submit your app by providing: 1) access to your app for testing; 2) screenshots of your working app; 3) a video (YouTube/ Vimeo) demonstrating your working app.
*Proof-of-concept apps which include the OpenBook API content must not be made available to the public. The OpenBook API contains exclusive content provided for BookSmash and intended for personal and noncommercial use only. Apps must be native smartphone or tablet apps (iOS, Android, Blackberry, Windows Mobile), or web apps (mobile or desktop), or desktop apps (Windows PC, Mac Desktop).
**If you’re submitting an existing app (developed prior to this competition), you must make sure that: A) it didn’t use the OpenBook API before the competition, B) it includes new features and functionality added after June 6, 2013, and C) the version submitted (which includes OpenBook API content) is not made available to the public.
How do I follow the challenge and get updates?
When you register for the challenge, you’ll automatically be signed up to receive updates regarding the challenge. To be notified when voting begins and the winners are announced, click the “Notify Me” link. Follow us on Twitter at @ChallengePost or join the conversation with #BookSmash
Who can I contact if I have questions about the BookSmash Challenge?
Email Support@ChallengePost.com
Who is eligible to enter the competition?
The challenge is open to individuals, and teams of individuals, who have reached the age of majority in their jurisdiction of residence at the time of entry. The challenge is also open to legally registered corporations or organizations that employ fewer than 50 people at the time of entry. (See the next question for large organization eligibility.)
We are an organization. Can we enter?
Organizations with 50 or fewer employees may enter and compete for cash prizes. Organizations with more than 50 employees may enter and compete only for the HarperCollins Recognition Award, which has no cash prize.
Do the submitted apps have to be newly created for this competition, or can they be preexisting applications?
A submission must either be a new application or if your application is not newly created for the competition, it must not have previously included the OpenBook API and must include new features and functionality added after June 6, 2013.
Applications which were publicly accessible prior to the start of the competition submission period and that have not been substantially modified to use OpenBook API are not eligible.
Can more than one person work on an application and receive credit for it? And if the application wins a prize, how will the prize money be split among the creators?
Yes, teams are encouraged. If a team of individuals or an organization is selected as an award winner, the full prize amount will be sent to the submitter. It will be up to the winning team or organization to reallocate the prize money between the team members, as they deem appropriate.
Can my application win more than one prize?
Yes. All submissions entered by eligible individuals, teams of individuals, and organizations with 50 or fewer employees can compete for the Best Overall App awards (including Category awards) and the Popular Choice award.
Can I enter more than one application?
Yes. There is no limit to how many submissions an eligible person, team or organization may enter. An individual may also participate on behalf of more than one team, corporation, or nonprofit organization. However, if you submit two or more applications that are identical or substantially similar, HarperCollins and ChallengePost reserve the right to disqualify all the submissions or require you to choose one submission to enter into the competition.
Do I retain intellectual property ownership?
Yes. By submitting an application to the challenge, you do not transfer any intellectual property rights to HarperCollins or ChallengePost. HarperCollins and ChallengePost will have the right to feature all applications entered in the competition for promotional purposes. See the Official Rules for details.
What will HarperCollins and ChallengePost do with my submission?
HarperCollins and ChallengePost will have the right to publicly display your submission on the challenge website. They will also be allowed to publicize your name on the challenge website in connection with the submission and the challenge during the competition and for 36 months after its conclusion. For more information on publicity rights, please see the Official Rules.
What do I need to use to build my application? Where can I find it?
Your app must use the OpenBook API, and should enhance and go beyond the traditional ways individuals read and discover books
To get started with the OpenBook API, visit http://developer.harpercollins.com/ and sign up for an API key. You will need to agree to the OpenBook API Terms of Use. Make sure you also review the App Idea Bank and important Author Innovator info on the Resources page.
Why can’t I distribute my application to the public?
A number of authors have agreed to give BookSmash Challenge developers additional resources to work with (such as their full works) via a special BookSmash version of the OpenBook API. This API includes content that you cannot distribute publicly, so your submitted app which includes the OpenBook API content must not be made available to the public via the web or online store.
Can I include other APIs or datasets in my app?
Yes. You may use additional APIs and datasets as long as you are authorized to use and distribute them.
Why do I have to upload a video?
The Popular Choice award is determined by public voting. A video helps ensure that all users can view and experience your application.
The video will also be helpful to the panel of judges and submissions may be judged on the submitted video alone. You may create a screencast or use a handheld video camera to make your video, or choose any other method that demonstrates the functionality of the working app by showing it.
Does my application need to be submitted to an online store?
No, your submitted app cannot be submitted to an online store (per the OpenBook API Terms of Use). The OpenBook API key you sign up for will be licensed to you solely for your personal, noncommercial use. Versions of your app which DO NOT include OpenBook API content may be published publicly.
Although you cannot distribute your submitted app publicly, you must provide access to your app for testing and judging. You must do so by including a URL to access your app (if a web app), sharing a test build via TestFlight of your app, or including an uploaded installation file on the submission form.
How can I provide ChallengePost with access to test my application?
For the challenge, you must provide a way for us to test your application. Please allow us to test using one of the following methods.
Android Applications: Upload an .apk file in the submission form or provide a link for us to download your app in the “Testing Instructions” field on the submission form.
iOS Applications: Send your app to us via TestFlight. Enter our email address and UDID to share a build with us for testing. Our TestFlight account email is: Info@ChallengePost.com
Our UDIDs are:
iPad (iOS 5.0.1) e21acf963c60919f6f0aa23d42cef5f06e25ee2d
iPad (iOS 6.0.1) 6a2cb1d4ba2d242db1db48c59c91744cebfc68a9
iPod Touch 4th Gen (iOS 5.0.1)13d9c9e50d705446c07fc5d2c3c3144c69ffc576
iPhone 4 (iOS 9b208) d6d3f69fde72561928c0fd7c541ea1511acf7729
Windows Phone Applications: Upload a .xap file in the submission form or provide a link for us to download your app in the “Testing Instructions” field on the submission form.
Windows PC: Upload appropriate installation files (.exe) in the submission form or provide a link for us to download your .exe file in the “Testing Instructions” field on the submission form.
Blackberry: Upload appropriate installation files in the submission form or provide a link for us to download your installation file in the “Testing Instructions” field on the submission form.
Mac OS: Upload appropriate installation files in the submission form or provide a link for us to download your installation file in the “Testing Instructions” field on the submission form.
Web/Mobile Web: Provide a password-protected link for us to access your app on the “Testing Instructions” field on the submission form. Don’t forget to also include the password!
What are the criteria for judging the submissions?
All submissions will be judged based on the following criteria for the Best Overall App, Category, and HarperCollins Recognition Awards:
- Quality of the Idea (Includes creativity and originality.)
- Implementation of the Idea (Includes how well the idea was executed by the developer and how well the app integrates with the OpenBook API.)
- Potential Impact (Includes the potential impact on publishing and readers.)
Popular Choice awards will be determined by public voting. For full details, review the Official Rules.
How does public voting work?
Visitors to the site can vote for as many submissions as they like, but no more than once for a single submission. At the end of the public voting period, the votes will be tallied and verified to determine the Popular Choice award winner.
Do I need a ChallengePost account to vote?
Yes. Before you can vote for a submission, please sign up or log in to your ChallengePost account.
How do I vote?
Log in to your confirmed ChallengePost account, go to the submission you’d like to vote for, then click on the VOTE button to vote.
Do tweets and Facebook likes count as votes?
No, they do not.
Can I create more than one account to vote?
No, the use of multiple email addresses or any form of automated vote processes will subject all votes from the person to disqualification.
Can I pay people to vote for me?
Solvers may not pay or otherwise compensate anyone or provide any other type of consideration in exchange for votes.
Are votes checked for eligibility before the Popular Choice Prize winner is determined?
We take the integrity of the competition extremely seriously, and verify all votes using a variety of methods before a Popular Choice Award winner is determined.
What do I do if I think someone is cheating to get more votes?
Send us an email at support@challengepost.com and include a link to the submission in question.