>You've missed the point. Just because you've trademarked something >doesn't mean people can't continue to use your trademark to talk about >things in general since they aren't using your trademark when they do so. >It just means no one else can use what you've trademarked (or something >sufficiently similar to cause confusion) as their trademark. Nor can they >use your trademark when marketing their products.
but "D20 System" being a trademark *would* prevent another game from saying "Uses the d20 system" on it's back-cover blurb, right? even if that is a perfectly accurate descriptive phrase (using the generic meaning of "d20 system")? it seems to me that WotC is potentially *creating* consumer confusion by pursuing the phrase "D20 System", rather than just the logo(s). if i have to jump through hoops just to tell people about my game (in plain text, but ad copy), because the accurate descriptor is taken away, there's a problem. now, if the above person were deliberately trying to get confused with WotC products/licensees, then i see the problem. but i'm not worried about them--i'm worried about those of use who are trying to talk about something else, and get mistaken for The D20 System, because of an overly-generic trademark. -- woodelf <*> [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://members.home.net/woodelph/ Finding consensus and common ground is *dull*! Nobody whants to watch a civilized discussion that acknowledges ambiguity and complexity. We want to see fireworks! We want the sense of solidarity and identity that comes from having our interests narrowed and exploited by like-minded zealots! --Calvin _______________________________________________ Ogf-l mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://mail.opengamingfoundation.org/mailman/listinfo/ogf-l
