5. The Certicom ECC Challenge Rules 5.1 The Rules and Reporting a Solution Each exercise and challenge in the Exercise and Challenge Lists is based on the problem of computing the ECC private key from the given ECC public key and associated system parameters. An individual or group of individuals reporting a solution must also provide a full explanation of how that solution was reached. No reported solutions will be accepted without a detailed explanation of the steps taken and calculations made to find an ECC private key. As noted in Section 3.3, each particular private key is presently unknown even to the creators of the Certicom ECC Challenge. Unique to all algorithms based on the discrete logarithm problem, a supposed ECC public key can be validated to ensure it conforms to the arithmetic requirements of a public-key. This validation is 100%. When an ECC public key is validated, it is known that a private key for the public key can logically exist. This capability of key validation is used in the Certicom ECC Challenge. The proposed solution must be sent via email to Certicom Corp., following the Format of Submissions specified in Section 5.1.1. The correct solution for an Exercise or Challenge will be the one that was received first, checked and validated by Certicom Corp. Certicom Corp. reserves the right to change the contest rules at any time at its sole discretion, without notice, including the right to change or extend the challenge lists, to change the prize amounts, and/or to terminate the contest. Certicom Corp. is the sole arbiter and administrator for this contest. Certicom's judgement in all matters is final. Queries on the Certicom ECC Challenge can be addressed to: Certicom ECC Challenge Administrator Certicom Corp. 200 Matheson Blvd. West Mississauga, Ontario Canada L5R 3L7 For further information concerning the Certicom ECC Challenge, email inquiries can be sent to certicom-ecc-challenge@certicom.com. For news of the latest developments in the Certicom ECC Challenge, check Certicom's web site at www.certicom.com. 5.1.1 Format of Submissions All solution submissions for any of the exercises or challenges must be sent by email to certicom-ecc-challenge@certicom.com. The report of a solution should clearly state that the submission is being made for the Certicom ECC Challenge. The body of the email message must contain the following information, titled with the respective headers: Name: name(s) of the person or people making the submission; Address: mailing address of the reporting party; Email: email address of the reporting party; Phone: telephone number and area code of the reporting party; Exercise or Challenge: specific exercise or challenge for which the submission is being made (see 4.1 and 4.2 for exercise and challenge tables); Solution: actual private key value being submitted; Method: steps and computations taken to calculate the private key, and any other relevant information such as the estimated time taken to calculate the solution and the type of machine(s) used in the computations. After each field, there must be the word "DONE" to indicate the end of the submission. The "name", "address", "email", "phone", "exercise or challenge", "solution", and "method" fields must be present in every submission. Without these fields, the solution report will be rejected. While it is preferred that the information fields be separated as specified above, information from two fields can be merged into one. Each field must start on a new line. If more than one person is reporting a solution in a group, the names of each individual along with their corresponding address, email and phone number should be contained in separate fields in alphabetical order.

Copyright © Certicom Corp., 1997-2000. All rights reserved. Information subject to change. http://www.certicom.com