Clone Protection System
Clone Protection System
StratBase.ai employs a 3-phase clone protection system to detect copied strategies, protect original creators, and maintain catalog integrity.
Phase 1: Config Hash (Instant)
At backtest creation, a SHA-256 hash is computed from the strategy's defining fields (indicators, conditions, parameters). Identical configurations produce the same hash.
- Detection: Exact same configuration → instant flag
- Purpose: Prevent exact clones from appearing in the catalog
- Catalog dedup: Only one card per (hash + instrument) pair
Phase 2: Equity Curve Fingerprint (Automatic)
After completion (if trade count >= 10), the equity curve is analyzed:
- Normalize equity to percentage of deposit
- Quantize to hourly intervals
- Hash the quantized values (SHA-256)
- Compare against all existing fingerprints
Fast Path
If the equity hash matches exactly → instant clone verdict.
Slow Path
For candidates on the same symbol with overlapping periods (>= 7 days):
- Calculate Pearson correlation on clean windows (periods without open positions)
- Clone threshold: r >= 0.93
- Minimum 48 comparison points (2 days of hourly data)
Result
Confirmed clones are automatically archived (hidden from catalog and profiles).
Phase 3: Signal Comparison Report (On Request)
Users can report suspected copies via the Report Copy button:
- System compares trade entries and exits with ±1 candle tolerance
- Calculates signal match rate (percentage of matching trades)
- Assigns verdict:
| Match Rate | Verdict | Action | |-----------|---------|--------| | >= 95% | Auto Clone | Archive backtest, apply strike | | 80–95% | Suspicious | Marked for manual review | | < 80% | Not Clone | No action |
Strike System
Repeated clone violations result in progressive catalog bans:
| Strike | Ban Duration | |--------|-------------| | 1st | 30 days | | 2nd | 90 days | | 3rd+ | Permanent |
During a ban, the user's strategies are hidden from the public catalog.
How It Protects You
As a Creator
- Your original strategies are protected from unauthorized copying
- Clones are automatically detected and removed from the catalog
- You can report suspected copies for deeper analysis
As a User
- The catalog shows only original strategies (deduped)
- Cloned content is automatically filtered out
- Quality and originality are maintained
FAQ
Q: What if I independently create a similar strategy? A: The system compares equity curves, not just indicators. Two strategies with similar logic but different parameters will produce different equity curves. Only nearly identical results trigger clone detection.
Q: Can I clone my own strategy? A: Yes. Self-cloning (same author) is allowed and won't trigger protection. It's a valid workflow for iterating on strategies.
Q: How do I report a suspected copy? A: Open the suspected clone, go to the results page, and click Report Copy. The system will run a signal comparison and provide a verdict.