-----Original Message-----
From: Rogers Cadenhead <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>There's nothing in that policy to indicate that Wizards believes people
>who follow the policy are stealing from them. I've been following this
issue
>since the Morpheus netbooks controversy first arose in 1994, and I have to
>say it's a complete shock to me that a Wizards executive believes online,
>not-for-profit, derivative work is illegal. It's a throwback to the bad old
>days when TSR seemed determined to antagonize its customers.
I apologize, I should have said "violating their intellectual property
rights" instead of stealing. Although, I have heard such violations
referred to as "theft of intellectual property" and in that context, calling
it stealing is appropriate.
"Failure to comply with the terms of this policy is a violation of
intellectual property laws and may compel Brian Lewis, one of our in-house
attorneys, to take corrective action. "
The policy does not give anyone express written permission to use any
materials copyrighted or Trademarked by WotC. If my understanding of IP
law is correct, then any unauthorized use of the IP ("fair use" aside) is a
violation of the law, and therefore illegal. The rights holder can sue for
damages, whether or not the violator was making money off it. If the
illegal use was not for profit, it only limits the amount of money they can
be sued for. While I don't necessary like this, it is the law as I
understand it.
Chris
www.IDrankWhat.org
www.coincidental.net
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