Author: Dann Corbit
Date: 16:27:58 12/22/04
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On December 22, 2004 at 10:45:20, Rafael Vasquez wrote: >Hello, > >I´ve seen a lot of controversy on the "Crafty Clones" threads. > >But when Fritz implemented the null move algoritm in 1995, did beat >Deep Thought (Hong Kong). > >Afterwards several engines (or most?) are using the null move technique. > >Can we call them "Fritz Clones" and ban then forever? > > >:))) > >Rafael The idea of Null move was first desribed by Beal in 1989, and then by Goetsch and Campbell in 1990. The null move algorithm was never patented, and therefore anyone can write an implementation of it. There is a difference between copyright protection (which covers a single implementation [or 'instance'] of an algorithm) and a patent (which covers the underlying idea). As an allegory, I can write a story about a bicycle race called "Le Malliot Jaune" and publish that story. Another person cannot take my story, xerox it, change 10 words and publish it under his own name. That is a copyright violation. He can (however) write his own story about a bike race with very similar ideas in it. On the other hand, I can invent a new cheese grater machine and get a patent on it. If someone else uses elements of my design that are covered by the patent, then I could sue them. Software patents are like that -- they protect the fundamental ideas of the algorithm. I don't like software patents (and hence agree with this): http://swpat.ffii.org/players/knuth/index.en.html But I would (of course) obey any laws regarding them.
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