Lizard <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> > JUDGE: "Voivode, you wrote _Dungeon Crawls_. It's just like D&D, even I
can
> > see that. Do you have a good reason for me to dismiss this case, or do
we
> > have to go to trial?"
>
> Voivode:Yes, the only thing copied from D&D is the mechanics. All of the
> descriptive text, from what 'Strength' is to how to conduct a session of
> combat, are my own words.
>
> Judge:Right. Case dismissed.
Probably more like this...
WotC: "He copied our game bit for bit and word for word. All he did was
re-phrase everything. (insert convincing legal argument here)"
Judge: "*sigh* All right. To trial we go."
> The benefit of the OGL is in the trademarks, and in the ability to use
> copyrighted text freely. I do NOT want to replicate the entire D20 SRD
> Combat section 'in my own words' just to publish a D20 game. I want to
> be able to legally take it in one huge cut&paste, then go through it
> piecemeal to modify it as needed for my genre. Unlike simple games like
> chess or Risk, there are a LOT of ways to describe how to conduct a
> melee session, and there's no legal excuse for verbatim copying.
Y'ever notice there aren't very many RPGs that copy another's mechanics,
unless they paid someone some money for it? I wonder why...
(You couldn't hear it, but that was said in a sarcastic tone.)
> I think that the OGF needs to emphasize THIS aspect of it more -- that
> you can use, verbatim, huge chunks of other peoples work, freely placed
> under the OGL for that purpose -- and the 'catch' is you have to let
> people do the same.
I think you're underestimating what "no legal precedent" will do to keep
something off-limits... and what "we gots permissions" will do for the
marketplace.
DM
Looking for a game? I DM in Upstate NY, twice a month in New Hartford, NY (a
suburb of Utica)
Even better, I've got irregular games where I live, in Charlton (near Albany).
Drop me a line and we'll game!
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
AIM: PlanesdragonDM ICQ: 26106342
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