The "I'm Linux" Video Contest

Calling all Linux users: The Linux Foundation saw the successful I’m a Mac commercials and Microsoft’s versions with Jerry Seinfeld and wants to make its own version. To do so, the foundation is holding a video contest to try to showcase what Linux means to those who use it.

There’s a certain beauty to this David versus Goliath type contest: Just as Linux goes up against rivals Apple and Microsoft all the time, so too, will its user community who develops these commercials go up against the big dollars that Apple and Microsoft put into their ad campaigns.

The winner will receive a free trip to Tokyo, Japan to participate in the Linux Foundation Japan Linux Symposium in October 2009. In addition, the winning video will be unveiled at the Linux Foundation's Collaboration Summit in San Francisco on April 8, 2009. Anyone over 18 is eligible to participate in the contest. The winner will be decided by a panel of judges picked by the Linux Foundation, but in true community spirit, you’ll be able to vote for and comment on your favorites from the site.

With the contest and video, the Linux Foundation is hoping to show why people love Linux, and is hoping to inspire others to try it. Additional details and rules for the contest are available from the site, but in short, videos must be no longer than 60 seconds, you must adhere to the terms of service, and entries must be received by midnight pacific on March 15, 2009. Finally, only one individual can win; in other words, companies can apply, but only the person who submits the winning video would get to go to Japan.

Novell created its own “I’m Linux” spoof for BrainShare 2007, so here’s some inspiration to get you started: