Comparison Selection, Ranking, And Anti-Cheating Methods In An Online Contest Environment

The invention includes systems and methods for conducting online contests of user-contributed media works and entertainment works. The invention includes anti-gaming or anti-cheating methods in such contests. The invention includes a method of providing an online media network for user-contributed content. The system quickly and accurately identifies quality content from a vast pool of user-contributed content. User-contributed content is rated by those who contribute and those who view content. Good entries bubble to the top, which means that users can find good music and videos easily. Fraud detection devices automatically detect and remove fraudulent ratings. Contests and prizes associated with specific categories of content provide incentives for contributors to provide quality content and rate many pairs of works. Identified top-rated content is made available individually, or as a continuous stream of user-contributed content. In contests of contributed media works, a pair of media works is presented to a user to be judged and receive an input on which media work is better and to what degree. The contest includes a two-stage rating system where rated media works are initially ranked using a statistical estimation methods, and then subsequently ranked using a ranked pairs or preferential voting process. Behavior and ratings from users are monitored and statistically compared to other users to identify anomalies for taking corrective action. The invention includes other mechanism to prevent users from gaming the system.