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Subject: Re: Question for Dan Corbit

Author: Dann Corbit

Date: 23:09:17 07/15/02

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On July 16, 2002 at 02:04:15, K. Burcham wrote:

>On July 16, 2002 at 01:47:57, Dann Corbit wrote:
>
>>On July 16, 2002 at 01:44:57, Dann Corbit wrote:
>>
>>>On July 16, 2002 at 01:39:57, K. Burcham wrote:
>>>
>>>>
>>>>I expect that they consult everything at their disposal.  That would include all
>>>>the latest FIDE, SSDF and correspondence games looking for a bust, as well as
>>>>Encyclopedia if Chess Openings, Modern Chess Openings, Batsford Chess Openings,
>>>>books on theory for each of the individual openings, and anything else they can
>>>>get their hands on.  It's their job, after all.
>>>>Dan
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>ok this is what I was talking about. everyone here knows these guys
>>>>are consulting other GM moves and lines---all these moves and lines have been
>>>>played by GMs. These GM have spent years studying to be able to play these
>>>>opening lines on a GM level. then these non GM level "book builders" come along
>>>>and move around a few positions in the lines and call this "his own book".
>>>>I do not doubt at all what you say that these special program books add elo.
>>>>I am amazed that these guys claim "ownership" with these books and are offended
>>>>by someone else using them.
>>>>what would a 2700 GM think if they read here where some "book builder", with a
>>>>FIDE rating of 1800, posts one of the GM lines or close enough to it and claims
>>>>that some other programmer stole the "book builders" moves or lines?
>>>
>>>The moves of an opening book can be copyrighted only as a collection.
>>>
>>>If someone takes an opening book and makes a few modifications, then claims it
>>>as their own, that is a copyright violation and punishable by law.  You cannot
>>>go beyond what is "fair use" in copying intellectual property.  In the same way,
>>>you cannot take a novel, change a few sentences, and claim that you wrote it.
>>>
>>>On the other hand, PGN collections without annotations, are not copyrightable.
>>>And information gleaned by hand from a large number of sources to create an
>>>opening book clearly constitues fair use.
>>
>>I should qualify the above statement.  There is some question whether a
>>particular set of games can be copyrighted as a distinct set (e.g. Fisher's "60
>>memoriable games").  A game in isolation is clearly not copyrightable, and a
>>large collection of games gathered from several different source is not
>>copyrightable.
>>
>>If an individual game were copyrightable, could you sue for copyright violation
>>if someone else played the same line?
>>:-)
>>
>>>I doubt if most of the book builders are anywhere near GM level, but that is
>>>irrelevant.  They are not inventing the move sequences.  They are only compiling
>>>them.  There is an enormous difference.
>
>If the GM cannot copyright his new "variation" in his own original work, then
>why do these "book builders" assume ownership in their work?

Like any other intellectual property, their many years of hard effort is
protected by law.

>It would seem if a GM has studied a new line and ends up playing it in a world
>tournament, he knows that if other GM approve of his new opening theory, this
>new line will be used by all GM and the GM that had the new variation will never
>have that advantage again.

Yes, of course.  Otherwise, if you found an escape from an otherwise winning
line, then nobody else could play it.  Wouldn't that be ridiculous?

> Yet these "book builders" want to hold on to their
>lines for their own advantage.

As is their right.

>So if after a comp tournament we all go home and study--study---study the
>opening lines used, and incorporate something played by another program in our
>own program, some say this is stealing, or not the correct thing to do.

Whoever said that?  If a program plays a line in a public game, then that
becomes public knowledge.  For instance, the SSDF games are all free game for
opening book inclusion.

>
>kburcham



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