In case you weren't thinking "interoperability" was EMC's middle name, EMC hopes to convince the world otherwise with its EDN Monster Mash -- a Developer Challenge designed to showcase the mashability of EMC's Celerra, Centerra, Documentum, and Atmos Online product lines. The Grand Prize: $15,000 in cash, with additional $5,000 prizes going to winners in separate Atmos and Documentum xCelerated Composition Platform categories.

Details are still somewhat sketchy (EMC says it will publish complete rules -- including a deadline for entry -- come March 1). But according to the contest FAQ, the challenge is to build a composite application / solution / integration using two or more EMC platforms and optionally any other non-EMC industry technologies. EMC says it will judge entries on:

• Correct use of APIs
• Number of EMC technologies used
• Innovative use of EMC technologies
• Adherence to EMC and Industry best practices

Some Documentum developers will argue that the first bullet is the hardest.  Meantime, extra points for using CMIS? Actually, that's not in the rules. Maybe it would help if it were, though. After all, it does have "Interoperability" in it. And that's the point of the contest, yes?