there is not only the copyright issue.
there is something completely different.
if vas rajlich sold something, that is not his own property,
the customers were betrayed.
so the rybka customers could now demand their money back because
they were lied, fooled and betrayed about the OWNER/property.
i don't know how it is in other countries, but here in germany
somebody who has stolen something, and tries to sell it, is doing a crime.
and the deals that happen, via contract or whatever, are not legal.
so all the deals vas rajlich did, were illegal deals. and the customers
have to be payed back their money because of this !
also... all companies selling products from such a person
have done illegal deals and have to get their money back !
nobody in germany is allowed to sell stolen stuff.
so if by definition rybka is a fruit clone, all the customers have to
be paid back their money, and chessbase or whatever german company who
sold products from vas rajlich, has to pay back the money to the customers.
all deals were illegal.
and german law does not allow those deals to be made.
german law says:
Strafgesetzbuch
Besonderer Teil (§§ 80 - 358)
21. Abschnitt - Begünstigung und Hehlerei (§§ 257 - 262)
Gliederung
§ 259
Hehlerei
(1) Wer eine Sache, die ein anderer gestohlen oder sonst durch eine gegen fremdes Vermögen gerichtete rechtswidrige Tat erlangt hat, ankauft oder sonst sich oder einem Dritten verschafft, sie absetzt oder absetzen hilft, um sich oder einen Dritten zu bereichern, wird mit Freiheitsstrafe bis zu fünf Jahren oder mit Geldstrafe bestraft.
(2) Die §§ 247 und 248a gelten sinngemäß.
(3) Der Versuch ist strafbar.
so the companies or whoever BOUGHT something from vas rajlich company
has the duty to bring this product to the police, explain the crime
(telling the police that he NOW found out that this is a STOLEN product that is property
of another programmer) and ask the police to investigate.
also i doubt vas rajlich could EVER participate with his program in germany.
because german law could arrest him. the crime for selling something that
is not your property has a punishment up to 5 years in prison or money-punishment.