{"id":120195,"date":"2024-11-12T18:21:15","date_gmt":"2024-11-13T02:21:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cncf.io\/?page_id=120195"},"modified":"2025-07-03T20:17:57","modified_gmt":"2025-07-04T03:17:57","slug":"heroes","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.cncf.io\/heroes\/","title":{"rendered":"The Cloud Native Heroes Challenge"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div style=\"height:90px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer is-style-70-90\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-style-blob-grid is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading is-style-page-title\">The Cloud Native Heroes Challenge<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:90px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer is-style-60-70\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"is-style-opening-paragraph\">Be a cloud superhero! Vanquish patent trolls by contributing prior art for a chance to win cash and other prizes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Be a Cloud Native Hero! We need your help to deter patent trolls, so we\u2019re running some contests for a chance to win money and other prizes. Our <strong>Cloud Native Heroes Challenges <\/strong>are designed to get our community involved in weakening trolls\u2019 ability to weaponize their patents against open source adopters &#8211; something we can *all* get behind! The Cloud Native Heroes Challenge contests are co-hosted by CNCF and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.unifiedpatents.com\/\">Unified Patents<\/a>, our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cncf.io\/blog\/2024\/09\/16\/cncf-and-the-linux-foundation-partner-with-unified-patents-on-a-community-driven-approach-to-safeguard-open-source-innovation-from-patent-trolls\/\">partner in patent troll deterrence<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>See below to learn more about <a href=\"#what-are-patent-trolls\">what patent trolls are<\/a>, <a href=\"#why-are-trolls-a-threat\">why trolls are a threat to cloud native<\/a>, <a href=\"#what-is-prior-art\">how prior art can be used to defeat them<\/a>, and how you can participate in this challenge and become a Cloud Native Hero.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:60px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer is-style-40-60\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading is-style-spaced-uppercase\"><strong>Table of Contents<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer is-style-20-40\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list is-style-table-contents\">\n<li><a href=\"\/heroes\/contest-list\">List of contests<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#the-broad-objectives\">The broad objectives<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#understand-the-contest-details\">Understand the contest details<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#how-to-participate\">How to participate<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#additional-resources\">Additional resources<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#frequently-asked-questions\">Frequently asked questions<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-style-default\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2172\" height=\"2312\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cncf.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/cncf_up_110724a.svg\" alt=\"Cartoon heroes defeating a troll\" class=\"wp-image-120196\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:60px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull is-style-gradient-down-section is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-content-justification-left is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-bf3c7f81 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"list-of-contests\">List of contests<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>See our <a href=\"\/heroes\/contest-list\/\">list of contests<\/a> for information about current and former challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:70px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"the-broad-objectives\">The broad objectives<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>We\u2019re asking Cloud Native Heroes to find examples of what\u2019s known as \u201cprior art\u201d which is publicly available information that an invention already existed prior to the date the patent application was filed. Patents are meant to protect new or \u201cnovel\u201d inventions, so the existence of \u201cprior art\u201d can be used to show that the patent is invalid and therefore neutralize the troll\u2019s ability to weaponize it.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is complicated, and likely an area new to many participants in our community. Due to the success and increasing ubiquity of cloud native, patent troll aggression towards adopters of Kubernetes and other CNCF projects is on the rise, so this is going to potentially have a widespread impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:70px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"understand-the-contest-details\">Understand the contest details<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Swag gift for all participants<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:40px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Each entrant in a Cloud Native Heroes Challenge contest who submits a qualified entry will receive a \u201cCloud Native Heroes\u201d branded swag item (e.g., a t-shirt or water bottle) that you can pick up from the CNCF store at any KubeCon+CloudNativeCon conference. After the contest closes and we confirm that your entry meets the requirements in the instructions and rules for the contest, we will send you instructions by email for how to pick up your swag gift.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Prize for winner<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:40px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The winner will receive the prize described in the contest description. The price for most contests is a cash award ranging from USD $1,000 to $3,000+. Some contests may also include other benefits, such as a complimentary ticket to attend an upcoming CNCF conference as the prize. All prizes are non-transferable and non-substitutable, except at the sole discretion of the contest hosts, Unified Patents and CNCF.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Winner selection and announcement<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:40px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Each contest will have a single winner. The winner will be notified by email that they are the winner after the close of the contest period. The winner\u2019s first name and last initial will be published on the contest website.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If the winner gives us permission, we may also recognize them (using their full name and photo) in a CNCF blog post or onstage at a CNCF conference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Publication of winning submission<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:40px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The prior art from the winning submission for each contest will be published on the <a href=\"https:\/\/patroll.unifiedpatents.com\/contests\">Unified Patents website<\/a> so that any company can use the prior art to defend itself if the patent being challenged in the contest is asserted against them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Judging criteria<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:40px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The winner will be selected by Unified Patents prior art experts based on the following criteria:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Adherence to contest rules<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Quality, strength, and usefulness of the prior art reference<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Depth of analysis, and<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Attention to detail.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>If multiple contestants submit the same prior art and would be tied as the winner, Unified will at its discretion select the winner based either on either (a) who submitted their entry first or (b) clarity, quality, and readability of the entry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Eligibility requirements<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:40px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>You must be the age of majority in the country and region where you reside.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Employees of Unified Patents, the Linux Foundation, or CNCF, and their immediate family members or members of the same household are <strong><em>not<\/em><\/strong> eligible to participate.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:60px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"how-to-participate\">How to participate<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>See our <a href=\"http:\/\/cncf.io\/heroes\/contest-list\">List of Contests<\/a> for information about current contests that you can enter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>See the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cncf.io\/heroes\/participation-instructions\/\">Participation Instructions<\/a> for step-by-step instructions and detailed information about&nbsp; how to conduct a prior art search and submit an entry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:70px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"additional-resources\">Additional resources<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Instructions &amp; \u201chow to\u201d videos<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:40px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cncf.io\/heroes\/participation-instructions\/\">Participation Instructions<\/a> contain step-by-step instructions, helpful hints, FAQ, and links to \u201chow to\u201d videos and tutorials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Have questions? Want one-on-one help?&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:40px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>After you review our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cncf.io\/heroes\/participation-instructions\/\">Participation Instructions<\/a>, if you still have questions, or would like to schedule a one-on-one help session with a member of our Heroes Challenge team, please message us at <a href=\"mailto:heroes@cncf.io\">heroes@cncf.io<\/a> or in the CNCF Slack channel <a href=\"https:\/\/cloud-native.slack.com\/archives\/C07UZJRHZPY\">#heroes-challenge<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We are happy to provide guidance on any aspect of the process\u2013whether it\u2019s how to search for prior art, how to use the contest platform, or how to construct a claim chart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Onsite support at Project Pavilion @ KubeCon+CloudNativeCon<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:40px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>If you have questions, you can also come find us at the Project Pavilion at any KubeCon+CloudNativeCon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull is-style-gradient-down-section is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-content-justification-left is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-bf3c7f81 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"frequently-asked-questions\">Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"what-are-patent-trolls\">What are patent trolls?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:40px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Patent trolls are businesses whose sole purpose is to threaten technology adopters with patent lawsuits in order to extract money from them. They typically buy their patents from companies that are going out of business. Then they threaten as many companies as they can with patent litigation. Even when a patent troll\u2019s legal claims are frivolous and meritless, companies will sometimes pay settlement fees to trolls to avoid the even higher cost of litigation. You can learn more about patent trolls and their business model from <a href=\"https:\/\/vimeo.com\/322908815\">this video<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"why-are-trolls-a-threat\">Why are patent trolls a threat to cloud native open source?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:40px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Patent trolls target any broadly adopted successful technology\u2013whether open source or closed source\u2013because it\u2019s profitable to do so. Due to the success and increasing ubiquity of cloud native open source, patent troll aggression towards adopters of Kubernetes and other CNCF projects is on the rise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"what-is-prior-art\">What is prior art and how can it help deter patent trolls?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:40px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cPrior art\u201d means information about an invention that was already publicly available at the time the patent application was filed. Prior art can be used to invalidate a patent, because it demonstrates that the patent invention wasn\u2019t new or \u201cnovel\u201d at the time of the patent application, and thus the patent shouldn\u2019t have been granted in the first place. Thus, prior art can neutralize or weaken a patent troll\u2019s ability to weaponize their patent.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Who is Unified Patents?&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:40px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.unifiedpatents.com\/\">Unified Patents<\/a> is the<strong> only<\/strong><strong><em> <\/em><\/strong>organization that deters abusive patent trolls using offensive community-driven strategies. The Linux Foundation has partnered with Unified Patents since 2019 on patent troll deterrence programs to safeguard open source innovation. CNCF recently launched an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cncf.io\/blog\/2024\/09\/16\/cncf-and-the-linux-foundation-partner-with-unified-patents-on-a-community-driven-approach-to-safeguard-open-source-innovation-from-patent-trolls\/\">expanded partnership<\/a> with Unified Patents to deter trolls from preying on CNCF projects.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How can I participate in the Cloud Native Heroes Challenge?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:40px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>For more information about how to participate, read our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cncf.io\/heroes\/participation-instructions\/\">Participation Instructions<\/a>, which contain step-by-step instructions and links to \u201chow to\u201d videos and tutorials. If you still have questions, please message us via the CNCF Slack channel <a href=\"https:\/\/cloud-native.slack.com\/archives\/C07UZJRHZPY\">#heroes-challenge<\/a>&nbsp;or <a href=\"mailto:heroes@cncf.io\">heroes@cncf.io<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Cloud Native Heroes Challenge Be a cloud superhero! Vanquish patent trolls by contributing prior art for a chance to win cash and other prizes. Be a Cloud Native Hero! We need your help to deter&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3294,"featured_media":120197,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"templates\/no-page-title.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"content-type":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-120195","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cncf.io\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/120195","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cncf.io\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cncf.io\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cncf.io\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3294"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cncf.io\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=120195"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/www.cncf.io\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/120195\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":136940,"href":"https:\/\/www.cncf.io\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/120195\/revisions\/136940"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cncf.io\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/120197"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cncf.io\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=120195"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}