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Subject: Re: "Pre-patent exemption"

Author: Uri Blass

Date: 18:09:39 06/18/04

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On June 18, 2004 at 20:47:41, Ed Trice wrote:

>
>>>I'm confused. You posted Gothic Chess match results for CapaGNU at:
>>>
>>>http://www.gothicchess.org/matches.html
>>>
>>>How is this possible unless CapaGNU plays Gothic Chess?
>
>
>I referred to this program as "CapaGNU Modified".
>
>>Also why use the term "Pre-patent exemption" if you also say "That program is
>>not even close to intersecting the intellectual property claimed
>>in the Gothic Chess invention."
>>
>>Why not just say that it's not violating the patent?
>>
>
>For three reasons:
>
>1. The program was created prior to the patent.
>2. The program in no way exhibits a "prior art" conflict with Gothic Chess.
>3. Modifying this program to play Gothic Chess cannot infringe on the patent.
>
>>And any program which works like CapaGNU isn't violating the patent either. This
>>means that people can write engines which play Capablanca chess and allow for
>>arbitrary starting positions because they wouldn't even be close to violating
>>your IP. It shouldn't matter if they were written before or after the patent,
>>because CapaGNU establishes prior-art for this behavior. You can't wish away
>>prior-art by granting "exemptions."
>
>Not according to patent law. Your second-to-last statements is 100% false. Your
>last statement is not applicable.
>
>If someone creates a program to play Capablanca Chess today, they are permitted
>to do so. If they create a feature for editing the board that allows the program
>to play Gothic Chess, with alogorithms specific to Gothic Chess, they have
>infringed on the patent.
>
>Patent law prevents modification of "different things" to take on the functional
>equivalent of intellectual property protected by patents.
>
>Think about it.
>
>>
>>I assume that the name "Gothic Chess" is trademarked, you have a lot of
>>copyrighted materials which you sell, and you have good ideas for how to promote
>>Gothic Chess. Why even worry about patenting the starting position?
>
>The starting position is only a subset of the patent. The METHOD of playing the
>entire game is covered.
>
>I am not going to offer a course in Method Patent Law here.
>
>You want to take your chances with me in court, it is your right.
>
>I will win, surely as Capablanca could spank Nimzo.


I hope that somebody will really take his(her) chances with you in court and
that you are going to lose.

Justice simply tells me that you should lose but I am not expert in law.
I do not know about previous case when somebody won in court about similiar
case.

I see no difference between this and a patent about the following position:


bn1qkbnr/1p1p1p1p/r7/p1p1p1p1/P1P1P1P1/R7/1P1P1P1P/BN1QKBNR w Kk

A lot of programs can play it inspite of the fact that they were not design for
this position so for the same reason it is logical that a program for Capablaca
chess will be able to play gothic chess.

If you can complain about a program that can play gothic chess another person
can also complain about many programs that can play the position that I posted.

Uri



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