Here is one suggestion what WCG/IBM should have done a long time ago...but didn't: "make contract with the scientist for 5% in patent rights"!

Why?
In this world all is moved by money...buying, selling stuff, paying for bills...so 5% isn't much, but also would be enough!
Also, all projects except Beta's would get paid.

How would that be distributed?
Well, here is my suggestion:
0,5% goes to WCG/IBM for operational costs.
4,5% goes to distributors in a way:
- 1,5% for the amount of points
- 1,5% for the years of CPU time
- 1,5% for the results returned (only good results returned, so overclockers - don't get greedy)
That way all of us are paid equally...somebody uses faster computer so more results returned, somebody uses slower so more CPU time for them.... ;)

How would that function?
Well, lets say that WCG/IBM patents some drug in FightAIDS@home project...and it gets $1 per every drug...1.000.000 doses per year = $1.000.000/year...
so the 1,5:1,5:1,5:0,5 equals to 30:30:30:10 in percentages...so that would mean $100.000/year to WCG/IBM and $300.000/year in one of the criteria for the crunchers...

Could we earn points or something else?
Points system is adequate, but for distribution of wealth, we would need something else.
So WCG/IBM could invent something called World community grid Coins (WCGC)...now it would be worth 1Grid Coinf for $1x10power12...but as the money from the patents start pouring, GC would worth more US$ or GBP. You could hold on to the GC and exchange them later for more (as the IBM could reinvest that money that the users wouldn't get out of the system or the patents start to earn more money) or take them out immediately.
And yes, WCG/IBM would have their own internal exchange of GC to $, GBP or EU. More valuates would be added in later.

So we have to have some exchange?
Yes, right here on WCG we can have exchange...and send money to our linked Paypal account (so only one Paypal account can be admitted in the system, to prevent multiple accounts from some people)...and the Paypal either returns the money to us on the end of the month or we buy some stuff (invest in equipment, like better: CPUs, new MBO, new lapzop, new Android phone, more RAM, new SDD/HDD, etc.) over an eBAY or something similar which uses Paypal.

How to distribute $300.000/year?
Well there are some badges, so let's start there - list of badges:
1. bronze - 14days
2. silver - 45d
3. gold - 90d
4. ruby - 180d
5. emerald - 1year
6. sapphire - 2y
7. diamond 5y
8. diamond 10y
9. diamond 20y
10. diamond 50y
11. diamond 100y
The 1st badge gets 4% (all users in it), 2nd gets 5%, 3rd gets 6%, ...., 11th get 14%...added all, you paid out 99% of the money or GC...while 1% stays for the transactions costs.
That would work for total time of CPU/project/user.

What about the points?
Something similar would be don for the total amount of points earned on WCG. My suggestion is same rules from the "badges compensation" but for points:
0. up to 50.000 - nothing
1. 50.000 - 99.999 - 4%
2. 100.000 - 199.999 - 5%
3. 200.000 - 499.999 - 6%
4. 500.000 - 999.999 - 7%
5. 1.000.000 - 1.999.999 - 8%
6. 2.000.000 - 4.999.999 - 9%
7. 5.000.000 - 9.999.999 - 10%
8. 10.000.000 - 19.999.999 - 11%
9. 20.000.000 - 49.999.999 - 12%
10. 50.000.000 - 99.999.999 - 13%
11. 100.000.000+ - 14%
All points are "project based", 'cause the project gets the money from the patents!

What about the results?
my suggestion is the similar to points, only divided by 1.000, example:
0. up to 50 - nothing
1. 50 - 99 - 4%
2. 100 - 199 - 5%
3. 200 - 499 - 6%
4. 500 - 999 - 7%
5. 1.000 - 1.999 - 8%
6. 2.000 - 4.999 - 9%
7. 5.000 - 9.999 - 10%
8. 10.00 - 19.999 - 11%
9. 20.000 - 49.999 - 12%
10. 50.000 - 99.999 - 13%
11. 100.000+ - 14%
All results are "project based", similar to points system.

Do we have to "qualify"?
In order to be "qualified" for the $ or getting GC, each member has to be constant in crunching with drop which is not more than 30% (or 20%) compared to previous month. So that would mean only the ones who continuously crunch data & develops their own grid could participate in share of the money pot.

And how do we split that monthly pay?
Easily,in last month you get all members who are qualified.
Then you add all their points/time/results to the percentage for the badge (example diamond 5y = 10% = $30.000/year = $2.500/month).
And then you divide their points/time/results from the total amount of points/time/results in that badge...so if they got 1% of all the users in that badge in that month, they get $25 of equal GC or $ - payable to Paypal.
Not much, but that is only 1/3 of payment (don't forget you get paid for CPU time, points and results returned)...and quarterly you can make $200+ in diamond badge - enough for a more efficient & faster CPU...

What would that do?
Well WCG would be "profitable" or "self sustained" with input of the money. We would easily pay for our equipment or pay or electrical bills (mine is about $80/month, currently).
We could attract more people to the "cause", but also we could keep more people in with giving them back for the job that they are doing (there is another topic about that).

Can this be done?
Of course it can. There are some of us here that can make this project working. If WCG/IBM is up to it!
And if they can't do that - they can appoint supervisor in WCG/IBM for some of us. Make a hidden part of the forum, for the development of the project. Make project guidelines. Supervisor needs to connect to us on a weekly basis on Sunday's or Saturday's. And we can make this happen.

But what about AIDS in Africa?
OK, no problem...link all accounts to Facebook or LinkedIn (to check & verify that 1 account is 1 user) and make a referendum - example of question on WCG: "Should WCG renounce the profit from the cures for AIDS in undeveloped countries? Yes/No"...so all of us gets an e-mail, we get 2weeks for voting...and that is it! We either give that money back to charity or send more drugs to Africa for curing the disease.

And last...YES, all the previous badges/time/points would be accounted from the projects that sign up the patent rights. ;)


So what do you think about suggestion?