Have you guys read this summary?
>In practical terms, the WotC "open gaming license" makes games less open in
many ways than working under normal copyright and >trademark restrictions.
For example, I can in theory make a game which is similar in mechanics to a
"closed" game and even claim to be >compatible with its supplements, as long
as I am careful in use of trademarks. Trademark law allows non-deceptive use
such as "compatible >with Wizards of the Coast's D&D". This is impossible
for an OGL project. Similarly, copyright law allows "fair use" of small
subsets of >copyrighted works, but the OGL demands that absolutely no
non-open content be used.
I'd worry about the careful in use of trademarks thing. As long as someone
is not fooling people into thinking they are part of WotC and making a RPG
called DND you seem fine by regular copyright and trademark laws.
It's kind of like making a commercial and saying Coke is better than Pepsi.
And afterwords mentioning that Pepsi is a trademark owned by Pepsi Co. ( I
like Pepsi personally)
Seems like the d20 thing is alot more restrictive but shines the safe ground
for you. Plus you don't have to reprint and re make the entire rules
contained in the SRD. Though if you wanted to you could rewrite them
completely using the same mechanics. Then publish a game or suppliment and
say This is not a product of Wotc. This product is compatable with the D20
Rules and can be used with the Dungeons and Dragons game.
Anyone know more about the Fair Use Laws?
But it would suck having to rewrite the game text and other SRD type stuff.
I guess stat blocks are copyrighted?? but Open when using them in accordance
with the OGL and D20 STL- or are they copyrightable at all?
Sidebar: IMHO DJ is in no way similar to DND, they were just scared of the
Gygax name appearing on another product.
--
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Bandpage: http://unit-1.iwarp.com
Some Mistakes Like Life Itself are Good Things
_______________________________________________
Ogf-l mailing list
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://www.opengamingfoundation.org/mailman/listinfo/ogf-l
