# Understanding the Dispute Process When **proposing**, you must submit an accurate answer. In contrast, when **disputing**, no answer is required. You simply click **Dispute**, and UMA stakeholders will vote to determine the correct resolution. If the proposed answer is found to be incorrect for **any reason**, the dispute succeeds and the disputer wins the bond. This creates an imbalanced risk-reward dynamic: * **Proposers** must be completely accurate and align with all criteria and precedents. They stake a $750 bond to earn a $5 reward, plus $250 if the proposal is disputed but ultimately upheld. * **Disputers** only need to identify a single flaw to succeed. They stake a $750 bond and receive a $250 reward if the dispute is successful. Statistically, disputers tend to be more experienced and knowledgeable than proposers. #### Submitting Proof of Evidence When proposing, there is no option to attach evidence in your proposal onchain. Submitted answers are expected to be accurate, but you can discuss your evidence on the UMA Discord. The market price can also indicate whether shareholders believe a market has been resolved. ### Precedents and Implicit Rules Even if a market seems resolved according to its description, there are often **implicit rules** or **precedents** not written in the market. A typical resolution criteria might state: > This market will resolve to the temperature range that contains the highest temperature recorded at the LaGuardia Airport Station in degrees Fahrenheit on February 28, 2025. Any revisions to temperatures recorded after data is finalized for this market's timeframe will not be considered for this market's resolution. You might think it's safe to propose at **12:01 AM on March 1**, but if the temperature data has not yet been **published and finalized**, your proposal is considered **too early** and will likely be disputed. The correct approach is to wait for the next data point **after 12:00 AM on March 1** to be published and finalized. Many first-time proposers are unaware of these rules. While the market description may seem clear, experience and precedent often reveal otherwise. ### The Most Common Dispute Reason The most common reason for a dispute is **P4** **(Too Early)**. #### P4 Examples * **Sports Games**: Proposing a winner before the game officially concludes or results are confirmed. A post-game review may change the outcome. * **"No" Before Deadline**: In a market like *Will the US confirm that aliens exist in 2025?*, proposing **No** before **December 31, 2025, 11:59 PM ET** will be disputed, as the deadline has not passed. * **Before Resolution Criteria Is Met**: In markets such as *Will the US leave NATO by June 30?*, proposing **Yes** without official confirmation from both the US government and NATO, even if media reports exist, will result in a dispute. This is why some markets remain unresolved for weeks or months after an event: the criteria simply have not been met yet. Additionally, some markets may remain unproposed for a period of time even after an initial event appears to have resolved the market, in order to lower the risk of being disputed. ### The Four Main Reasons for Disputes Most disputes fall into one of these categories: 1. **P4 (Too Early)**\ \&#xNAN;*Example:* Proposing before data or official confirmation is available. 2. **Ambiguous Market**\ \&#xNAN;*Example: Did Kanye sell his Twitter account?* relies on unclear or conflicting sources. 3. **Contentious Interpretation**\ \&#xNAN;*Example:* In *Gold missing from Fort Knox?*, whether a monthly report qualifies as an audit is debatable. 4. **Mistake**\ \&#xNAN;*Example:* Proposing the wrong sports winner due to bot or human error, or misinterpreting an event. ### Caveats and Observations * Most disputers tend to be more experienced than proposers. * While the overall dispute rate is low, most disputed proposals are resolved in favor of the disputer. * The majority of disputed proposals come from first-time proposers. * In general, disputing offers a more favorable expected value (EV) than proposing. #### What's Next Congratulations. You have learned the essentials of the proposal, dispute, and resolution process. You can now move on to [Precedents](/polymarketguide-archive/precedents/what-is-precedence.md) or [Case Studies](/polymarketguide-archive/case-studies/index.md) to see how these concepts are applied in real markets. --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://polymarketguide.gitbook.io/polymarketguide-archive/basics/understanding-the-dispute-process.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. 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