Throughout all of the OGL/D20 discussion, WotC has consistently and
emphaticaly (and reasonably) maintained that they must act to maintian their
trademarks, unless the use is consistent with their online publishing policy
(which allows you to make "netbooks" and give them away for free -but NOT
publish anything and sell it). This means WotC will allow you to write the
books and give them away, but will institute legal action against you if you
use their trademarks in a work that you are selling.
Sorry;
Faust
See the *NEW LOOK* for the OGF FAQ <unofficial> at:
http://www.earth1066.com/D20FAQ.htm
>From: Ole Sebastian Stein <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>Subject: [Open_Gaming] Other's trademarks in my copyrighted material
>Date: Sun, 18 Jun 2000 16:29:59 +0200
>
>I would like to post a question to the list that has been bothering me for
>some time.
>
>Currently, I am writing a setting that I intend to release under GFDL or
>OGL (I don't know which yet, but GFDL seems better). However, say I would
>be interested in using a Ravenloft novel as background and use the names
>from it (Van Richten for instance) in my setting. Is this possible? My
>intuition says NO, but then again I'm not sure.
>
>I got even more uncertain when I downloaded the "Book of S____" series
>net-books from the official Ravenloft site ("http://www.kargatane.com/")
>and read in the beginning (quote from "Book of Souls"):
>
>"Legal Notice:
>AD&D®, RAVENLOFT® and MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH® are registered trademarks of
>TSR, Inc. This book does not represent a challenge to any TSR-held
>trademarks. TSR is not affiliated with this book in any way. All articles
>are copyrighted by their respective creators.
>This netbook may be reproduced for personal use, but may not be used to
>generate revenue."
>
>What does this mean? May I write something that includes TSR trademarks but
>I still hold the copyright and doesn't risk to get sued? What about the
>"revenue" part? If I find another license that says something like "you may
>take this and do whatever you want with it as long as I retain the
>copyright and you make your changes visible, and as long as nobody is
>allowed to make revenue on it". Can I then use TSR trademarks?
>
>I am bevildered.
>
>Thanks.
>--
>Ole Sebastian Stein
>"Computers don't make errors - What they do, they do on purpose."
>
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