>From: "Doug Meerschaert" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>
>"Dunandralis", though, is an imaginary word. If I were to name a software
>company tfosorcim, it's my understanding that I'd get away with it, even
>though it's microsoft spelled backwards.
Except you can't explain in your FAQ where the name came from (as you do
now) AND (if enough people already know the association) you could be
accused of a violation based on your PAST FAQ.
>>If you go OGL, they could force you to change that name (YOUR TRADEMARK)
>>and
>>to eliminate ALL references to "D&D" in your material, on your website,
>>and
>>in your public online discussions of the project.
>
>I'm not that sure about the last one... does the OGL really prohibit
>discussion of other folks trademarks? Should it? (I'm not talking about
>interviews... I'm talking about the mailing list that's the basis for our
>world creation.)
The OGL and trademark law forbid use of trademark in "advertising" and
"marketing". In view of the fact that YOU are an owner, any interviews and
online posting you make are *definitely* considered marketing activities.
Non-owners and non-employees can talk about you all they want and make
comparisons, BUT as soon as you or your employees start sayin it, it is
marketing.
>>it rational for a fan-based organization to use the OGL over the "Online
>>Use
>>Policy".
>
>Hey, cool... we're irrational!
>
>Add that to the inro, Maggie--not only are we flame-war-free, but we're
>also
>irrational! YES!
I fully accept the validity of the "I just like taking on additional
unnsecessary requirements." argument - you can't work with software people
very long and not get an appreciation for an "order" fetish.
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