From: Ben F B AOL COM> Date: 26 may 1998 Subject: Good guys and bad guys Sam Sloan wrote: "This problem had to do with a legal dispute between Reilly of the American Shogi Foundation in Seattle and George Hodges in England. Someody only today criticized me for saying something bad about George Hodges two years ago, and this makes me very reluctant to reveal what was behind this. However, essentially, Hodges, whose organization was called "The Shogi Association" as opposed to "The British Shogi Association" or "The UK Shogi Asssociation", claimed that he had the exclusive right and monopoly to organize shogi everywhere in the world outside of Japan. Essentially he claimed an international copyright or patent on the game of shogi. Therefore, when Reilly started the American Shogi Association and my friend Blummers started a shogi association in Holland, Hodges wrote them both threatening letters to cease and desist because they were organizing shogi in their respective countries without his permission or authorization." I was in Seattle in 1985-86, and I helped Reilly on a volunteer basis. It was very sad when he surrendered to George Hodges, and the American Shogi Association collapsed. I had a subscription to Shogi World (or whatever it was called) and bought materials from Ishi Press (CA) until Hartland Snyder destoryed it. I remember talking to Sam once on the phone (although he won't remember me), and comparing our frustrations over people like Hodges and Snyder. So with people like these out to control or destroy shogi, why do we need to fight among ourselves? Sam and Peter can disagree without it becoming personal. And surely the rest of us are better served by not promoting this dispute? I watch people line up to take sides, and can only think that Satan (or his shogi equivalents) is laughing with joy. Each time you stand up for one side or the other, you may think you are contributing some small good, but you are also aiding a much larger evil. I suggest we all stop talking about Rights and who is right, and simply do what is right: talk about shogi, play shogi, and stand united against those who would destroy it. Ben Bednarz