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Subject: Re: The SSDF TOP-Meeting Fritz 5.32 - Hiarcs 7 starts today!!!!

Author: Harald Faber

Date: 01:40:45 02/16/99

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On February 15, 1999 at 13:06:44, Thoralf Karlsson wrote:

> >BTW is there a plan to test WChess2000 and Zarkov5?
>
>If we publish results with these programs, we are threatened to be severely
>punished under German and European law. At least Ossi Weiner says so in a recent
>email. See copy below:
>
> "Our license conditions *do not allow* anybody to publish computer games
>(neither with or without autoplayer) or results of computer games of our
>chess programs without our written consent. Violating these license
>conditions can severly be punished under German law, even if such person or
>organisation is located outside Germany. Violations can also be pesecuted
>under European laws."
>
>Thoralf Karlsson

The question is: Is this condition legal?
In general we have 2 comparisons:
1) what about e.g. the German "Stiftung Warentest" which compares (almost?)
everything, washing machines, hi-fi, fans etc. And they publis their results
2) (uncommented) chess games are not copyrighted as we found out some months
ago.
[3) "Elchtest", poor Mercedes A-class...also published...]

OK, they leave the questions:
1) would Stiftung Warentest be allowed to publish their comparisons if they were
forbidden with a text in the manual?
2) same with Mercedes A-class?

For it is a general product and no proto-type I GUESS it is OK.

Any lawyer to state it clearly? In CSS there is only some wischi-waschi
statement.



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