Author: Russell Reagan
Date: 17:14:17 06/18/04
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On June 18, 2004 at 10:11:49, Ed Trice wrote: > >> >>As a result, everybody can write Gothic chess capable engines without >>paying any license. Only Gothic chess GUI authors need to pay. >> > >Tord, > >The "graphical" representation of the board is not what is protected by the >patent. > >The "method" is what is protected by the patent. Any attempt to bypass the issue >will result in me suing everyone who does so. Even if you are right, you will >have to finance a trip for a nice long stay in Philadelphia. > >I have two ongoing suits right now against companies in the US and Canada who >have been selling the game without a license. > >If you want to roll the dice and take your chances rather than pay a small >licensing fee, go right ahead. > >But every defendant will reference your post, which I have already emailed to my >attorney. They will then be able to sue you for damages. > >I am not going to respond to any more posts about the patent. > >Everyone who wants to try and dance a jig on the head of a pin is welcomed to do >so. I'll take on all challengers. That, in a nutshell, is why I believe that Gothic Chess will never have any realistic chances to become as popular as classical chess, and why I believe that you are not well liked in this circle. At one point, I was considering writing a Gothic Chess program. If standard protocols (like UCI and Winboard) and nice free GUIS were developed, I would have done it without hesitation. After learning of your patent, and seeing the way you post here threatening to sue anyone and everyone who doesn't follow your rules, I would never consider writing a Gothic Chess program. Maybe you are really a nice guy who just wants to "keep tabs" on his baby, or maybe you have other intentions. Who knows. In either case, things can change. Maybe you come on bad financial times and decide that the new price for licenses will be $100,000. I see no significant upside to taking the risk of getting involved in the whole legal mess. Consider risk vs. reward. There is definite legal risk involved in dealing with you. That is clear. There is very little reward, and there are a plethora of other options if someone wants to program board games as a hobby.
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