<<Interesting revisionist history.
>>
Howdy, Bryant. I wouldn't call it revisionist history entirely. I would say that I wouldn't agree with Ryan that things were per se derivative (since the rules and rules concepts seem to derive minimal or no protection from copyright law, except for the verbatim expression of those rules), but I would say that in the '80s and '90s publishers _were_ threatening legal action based on claims of derivation.
I also think that people, outside the d20 license, are MUCH more likely to run afoul of trademark violation than they would of copyright violation.
Of course, your citations of the Copyright Office are well taken. But I think there's a distinction between what IS derivative, and what the major game publishers were willing to CLAIM back then to be derivative and threaten legal action over.
Lee
