RE: Genetic Programming or breeding Perls

[dumpest]

WOW... this was really fun and interesting code... I have a question...isn't there a patent on Genetic Programming algorithms? I remember hearing about this once before...but maybe it was in relation to something else... Anyone have any information about this...?

[Petruchio]

I know that the general idea is not new... if I remember correctly, these sort of ideas run at least back to the '60s, when they were known as "branch and bound algorithms". Thus my hunch is that while a particular implementation might well be under active patent, loads of prior art could be found for anything more general. So there's $0.02 worth of insight from someone with only $0.01 worth of knowledge on the topic. :-)

[gumpu]

If I remember correctly, these sort of ideas run at least back to the '60s,

Yup, and even further back. The bibliography of Genetic Algorithms by David Goldberg lists books from 1951 and 1952. Also they basically 'stole' the idea from mother nature :)

Have Fun

[Anonymous Monk]

No, sorry, branch-and-bound is not genetic. Actual true genetic programming started in the '70's, with Holland.