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Subject: Re: 1998 World Computer Chess Championship.

Author: Chris Carson

Date: 10:33:37 12/04/97

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On December 04, 1997 at 13:00:34, Amir Ban wrote:

>On December 04, 1997 at 12:26:57, Robert Hyatt wrote:
>
>>On December 04, 1997 at 11:47:22, Amir Ban wrote:
>>
>>
>>>>but you have no prayer on fighting "deep blue junior" because they are
>>>
>>>>(1) a tad better known than your program;
>>>
>>>Sadly I think you are right here, although I'm doing my best to catch
>>>up. Maybe I can even get Sharansky interested in playing against Junior
>>>now :( This is the best reason to fight them, by the way. For a large
>>>corporation to try to drown out an old and low-financed established
>>>entry based on nothing more than money, a giant PR machine and a whim is
>>>exactly why the law provides protection.
>>
>>
>>I don't see them doing this.  In the US, there are several hundred
>>thousand
>>"juniors" running around.  It is not uncommon for father/son to have
>>identical
>>names with the son given a "junior" meaning (in this case) younger.
>>When the
>>father dies, sometimes the son drops "junior", particularly if *he* has
>>a son
>>and gives him the same name...
>>
>
>Aw come on. How irrelevant. Are fathers going to stop calling their
>children junior because there will be a confusion of whether they are
>referring to that IBM project ? Everything about trademarks is when
>there is a possible confusion in the eyes of the public. Here we are
>talking of products so close that they may soon find themselves

 Last time I checked, Deep Blue Jr. was not for sale as a product.  :)

 I'm not sure IBM has anything to loose by using this name and
 fighting in court if necessary.  I do not think IBM will release
 a comercial product for chess called "Junior".  Just my opinion.

 Also, IBM has been using this name in public for almost a year
 or more.  Has used IBM PC Jr in the past.  And Bob Hyatt has
 referred to Cray Blitz Jr.  I am not confused, I'll bet not many
 are.

 I'm not sure your program (which seems to have a bright future)
 would benefit from this type of fight.  You might use your
 financial resources better by protecting "Junior" as standalone
 trademark
 in the computer chess community.  Just my opinion.  I wish you
 all the best with your program.

 Best Regards,
 Chris Carson

>competing for the same title. How much closer can you get ?
>
>Of course this is not a vendetta of IBM against us. They are just
>steamrolling their big machine without noticing, like some car drivers
>near a pedestrian crossing. They have been duly warned now in a friendly
>and polite manner, and if they choose to proceed, then they really don't
>care who gets hurt.
>
>Amir



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