Re: TSR Internet Policy (was Re: [Open_Gaming] A D20STL caution)

[Russ Taylor]

On 9/28/00 11:44 AM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) wrote

>  Basing an original work on another is not a violation of copyright. Ideas 
>cannot enjoy copyright protection (patents and trademarks are a separate 
>issue); only the expression of those ideas can enjoy copyright protection. 
>Had D&D included portions of text from Lord of the RIngs or some other such, 
>then there may be grounds for copyright infringement. But simply including 
>"orcs" and "elves" in a "fantasy setting" does not in itself constitute a 
>derivative work.

Certain named concepts can be copyrighted as well, especially in regard 
to characters in novels.  This would be why, for example, balrogs, 
hobbits and ents got expunged from the OD&D game.

-- 
Russ Taylor (http://www.cmc.net/~rtaylor/)
CMC Tech Support Manager

"The sooner you fall behind, the more time you'll have to catch up"

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