has this ever been decided by some court, whether you can
claim copyright for chessgames or positions
and then successfully prevent others
from publishing the moves ?


Suppose some tournament, where players agree to submit
the rights on the games to the organizer who claims copyright.
Although the spectators and journalists can follow the moves
they mustn't publish them, else they are sued.

Suppose some players who only play under such conditions,
so they can prevent their bad games from being published later...


is it realistic ?

On Aug 11, 4:04 am, guenter wrote:
has this ever been decided by some court, whether you can
claim copyright for chessgames or positions
and then successfully prevent others
from publishing the moves ?

Suppose some tournament, where players agree to submit
the rights on the games to the organizer who claims copyright.
Although the spectators and journalists can follow the moves
they mustn't publish them, else they are sued.

Suppose some players who only play under such conditions,
so they can prevent their bad games from being published later...

is it realistic ?

Yes. This has been decided many times and the decision is that there
is no copyright to the moves of a chess game.

There may be exceptions. For example, a composed game clearly
identified as such, for example Sam Loyd's famous composition of a
stalemate in 12, would be copyrightable, but the moves to a normal
tournament game between two contestants could not be copyrighted.

Sam Sloan

There may be exceptions. For example, a composed game clearly
identified as such, for example Sam Loyd's famous composition of a
stalemate in 12, would be copyrightable,

I'd like to see an example of any copyrighted chess-position or chess-
game.
Or even better a list of all currently copyrighted chess-positions.

guenter wrote:
has this ever been decided by some court, whether you can
claim copyright for chessgames or positions
and then successfully prevent others
from publishing the moves ?

Yes, it has.



Suppose some tournament, where players agree to submit
the rights on the games to the organizer who claims copyright.
Although the spectators and journalists can follow the moves
they mustn't publish them, else they are sued.

Can't do it. See above.


Suppose some players who only play under such conditions,
so they can prevent their bad games from being published later...

I can't suppose this - the conditions cannot be enforced.



is it realistic ?


No.

--
Kenneth Sloan
Computer and Information Sciences +1-205-932-2213
University of Alabama at Birmingham FAX +1-205-934-5473
Birmingham, AL 35294-1170 http://www.cis.uab.edu/sloan/

samsloan wrote:
On Aug 11, 4:04 am, guenter wrote:
has this ever been decided by some court, whether you can
claim copyright for chessgames or positions
and then successfully prevent others
from publishing the moves ?

Suppose some tournament, where players agree to submit
the rights on the games to the organizer who claims copyright.
Although the spectators and journalists can follow the moves
they mustn't publish them, else they are sued.

Suppose some players who only play under such conditions,
so they can prevent their bad games from being published later...

is it realistic ?

Yes. This has been decided many times and the decision is that there
is no copyright to the moves of a chess game.

There may be exceptions. For example, a composed game clearly
identified as such, for example Sam Loyd's famous composition of a
stalemate in 12, would be copyrightable, but the moves to a normal
tournament game between two contestants could not be copyrighted.

Sam Sloan


The exception is not an exception.

A composed game could perhaps be copyrighted - but this copyright would
only be valid in a "composed games" context. There would be no way to
prevent two players from reproducing that very same game over the board.




--
Kenneth Sloan
Computer and Information Sciences +1-205-932-2213
University of Alabama at Birmingham FAX +1-205-934-5473
Birmingham, AL 35294-1170 http://www.cis.uab.edu/sloan/

guenter wrote:
There may be exceptions. For example, a composed game clearly
identified as such, for example Sam Loyd's famous composition of a
stalemate in 12, would be copyrightable,

I'd like to see an example of any copyrighted chess-position

See any book of compositions.

But, copyright here applie only to publishing the same position as a
composition. It would not bar a player from reproducing the position
during a game.

or chess-
game.
Or even better a list of all currently copyrighted chess-positions.



--
Kenneth Sloan
Computer and Information Sciences +1-205-932-2213
University of Alabama at Birmingham FAX +1-205-934-5473
Birmingham, AL 35294-1170 http://www.cis.uab.edu/sloan/

so, I mustn't publish the moves of Fischer-Spassky 3,1972 on my
webpage ?

On Aug 13, 9:40 am, guenter wrote:
so, I mustn't publish the moves of Fischer-Spassky 3,1972 on my
webpage ?

I'm pretty sure you will not be in trouble for doing that. Many of
Fischer's games have been published before with or without his
permission.

Generally speaking the moves of games cannot be copyrighted, however
the notes, thoughts and annotations can be.

Bobby also complained bitterly about not receiving one cent from
either the book or the movie called SEARCHING FOR BOBBY FISCHER.

guenter wrote:
so, I mustn't publish the moves of Fischer-Spassky 3,1972 on my
webpage ?

does any copyrighted chessgame or chess-position exist or not ? (US-
law)