Earlier this year, Google held a contest in which users could submit ideas of what would they do if they had a copy of the Google Glass, the company's innovative hands-free wearable device. By entering their ideas into Google Plus and Twitter with #IfIHadGlass, some won the opportunity to buy the prototype "Explorer" version of the device for $1,500 (more than the device is expected to retail for.) The 8,000 winners of the contest have been getting notifications about their winnings this week, however, some supposed winners are now being told that they will not actually be receiving the device.
The confusion stems from Google declaring in retrospect that some entries into the contest have broken the terms of the contest. A submission can be declared ineligible for being "derogatory, offensive, threatening, defamatory, disparaging... or otherwise does not comply with the theme and spirit of #ifihadglass."
Google has been notifying disqualified winners with this rather brief message:
"Unfortunately your application didn't comply with our terms, and has been disqualified. We're sorry for the confusion."
The confusion probably comes from the fact that Google simply couldn't pay enough attention to the large quantity of submissions they received. There's no word yet on how many users have had their winning entries declared void, or if it has started major backlash against the contest or the company as a whole.
Users who did not win or were disqualified will have a chance to buy Google Glass when it comes out later this year.
Thanks to ABC News
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