Author: Jeroen Noomen
Date: 00:21:40 05/01/02
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On April 30, 2002 at 23:56:32, Timothy J. Frohlick wrote: Hi Tim, Thanks a lot. Still, I don't think it is that easy. If they want to use something, they should ask me. And when I say NO, they should leave my book alone. The shameless copying and using of other's books are not only violating the rights of the openingbook makers, it is also very bad for the tournaments where the books are used. So if Program X gets 9 out of 10 good positions in a tournament, thanks to the copied book, that is cheating IMO. I am already thinking of other ways to protect my work. And about ways to keep important tournaments free from this kind of piracy. Best wishes, Jeroen >Dear Jeroen, > >I appreciate your work and that of Sandro Necchi. If I were you I would not >worry too much about the jerks who are using parts of your work in their >non-commercial programs. They are too stupid to do the original work >themselves. > >You should just request that they refer to you when they make use of your work. >This is similar to quoting an author when writing about something. > >We are grateful for your many man-years of effort. > > >Tim Frohlick > >On April 30, 2002 at 14:42:50, Jeroen Noomen wrote: > >>During the last 6 - 12 months I have noticed a trend that there are very clear >>indications that non-commercial programmers of chess programs make use of (parts >>of) commercially available books. As I was in Maastricht during the WMCCC in >>2001, lots of speculations and complaints were heard about this topic. From >>several sources I know that also the Rebel books have been ‘hacked’ by people (I >>will not mention their names, I am sure they know themselves whom I am talking >>about). As the Rebel books are my lifework I want to put a very clear statement >>in this forum. >> >>The Rebel books have been developped by me during a period of almost 14 years. >>Not only is it handmade, it also contains lots of stuff you will not find in >>other books. In the past it has happenend a few times that chess programs were >>caught as not being made by the programmer himself. Examples are Quick Step back >>in 1989, Greif, the several Crafty clones. As we can see from todays rules by >>the ICCA, such programs are not tolerated anymore. And in my view this is fully >>correct. >> >>What about the openingbook of a chess program? Of course programs using a very >>good book have an advantage over programs using a less good book. Here is a >>point where especially the commercially available programs have an advantage. I >>need only to name Alex Kure, Sandro Necchi and myself who have produced high >>quality books. One thing is sure: These books are wanted, because when using >>them, other programs will get the strength of these books as well. >> >>Of course the copying of books is morally not to be tolerated. You can even call >>it piracy. By simply copying (parts of) one of the best books available other >>programs suddenly get the same elo boost, without a single second of work to be >>done. Also this is very suspect in tournaments: Such programs suddenly have a >>big advantage against others, who make their own book and do NOT use this >>illegal copying. A trend that is very worrying in my view and also break the >>rules of sportmanships. I think that the ICCA should make strict rules for >>openingbooks as well. There is a clear rule that it is not allowed to use f.e. a >>crafty source code. In this respect IMO it should also be forbidden to use >>(parts of) books of authors that have not given permission to use them. >> >>As far as the Rebel books are concerned: It is very easy for me to verify >>whether somebody has stolen parts of my book. If programmers think they can use >>my book and hide this from me: Sorry, that will not work. In the past I have >>seen this happen and I have taken proper steps. >> >>I want to make it clear that if I find out (at a tournament or elsewhere) that >>somebody is using my book, that I will undertake steps. As far as I am >>concerned, such programs are banned from all the important events, or something >>like that. I will also suggest such a rule to the ICCA. >> >>Jeroen Noomen >>Bookauthor for Rebel and Chess Tiger
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