At 06:04 PM 1/26/2002 -0600, woodelf wrote: >>If it is not in the SRD, it is not open content. If it is not open >>content (and you did not create it yourself, natch), you cannot reference it. > >well, you cannot (re)use it. i'm waiting proof that you cannot reference, >within the same constraints that copyright have always imposed.
Whoever you quoted above actually meant: If it is not ... you cannot reference it unless you are willing to pay the consequences of a legal battle with WotC that would set a meaningful precedent. Technically the only thing standing in your way is the threat of lawsuit. IANAL but as I understand it, copyright law is vague about game rules. While WotC has a copyright on the verbatim text of the PHB, they have no right to prevent you from using the ideas therein in your own works. Or maybe they do. The law is unclear. What is clear is trademark usage: don't release a product referencing Dungeons and Dragons or making any references to Bigby's Clenching Fist because WotC wins those cases easily. Although you can say Dungeons and Dragons is a trademark of Wizards of the Coast used without their permission, that just acknowledges that if they say get rid of the reference you know they have the authority to tell you to. Actually it would be kind of funny to see a game book with research style foot/endnotes But as I said, IANAL and I am offering no advice on the subject. I'm sure Clark will chime in about this eventually. Joe _______________________________________________ Ogf-l mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://mail.opengamingfoundation.org/mailman/listinfo/ogf-l
